“I think you’ve caused a lot of people problems over the years, and Caitlin’s family and coven have been trying for just as long to make you pay.”
“More fools them. I was here first, long before white settlers arrived. My land is not theirs.”
Spencer took another bite of pasta, then another, because it really was good. “I’m not arguing that fact. I’m just saying a lot of people want you dead, and they’re looking to a hell to make that happen.”
Takoma pushed away from the island to clean up the mess he’d made. “Finish your dinner.”
His point made, Spencer wasn’t going to let his pasta go cold. While Takoma cleaned up, Spencer decimated his meal, wishing he had some fresh bread to soak up the garlicky olive oil pooling at the bottom of the shallow dish. For someone who didn’t eat regular food, Takoma was a surprisingly good cook.
Haitao came into the kitchen when Spencer shoved his plate away, a human servant trailing behind the vampire. All his attention was reserved for Takoma. “Some of Rufus’ vampires were sighted in Seattle tonight.”
Takoma looked up from wiping down the counter, body gone eerily still. “Where?”
“Downtown. Near Black Waters. Sitka is tracking them.”
“We’re going into the city.”
“No.” Takoma opened his mouth, and Haitao made a cutting gesture with his hand. “They took Alyona. Now Rufus is dangling his people like bait in our territory. He wants you in the streets and angry. He wants youaccessible, and we’re not giving him or Adler an opportunity to get near you. I’ll handle everything. You’re staying here.”
An incandescent sort of rage crossed Takoma’s face, there and gone in an instant, twisting his features into something monstrous. The flash of fury had Spencer going still, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end, reminding him that for all the kindness Takoma had shown him recently, the master vampire was still a predator.
He really shouldn’t have been turned on by that.
Haitao’s gaze cut to Spencer. “I brought you a distraction. Use it. I will keep you updated.”
“Hey,” Spencer protested.
But Haitao was already leaving, barking orders at the human servant, who was already on her phone, rapidly texting away. Spencer frowned before turning his head to look at where Takoma stood, still and quiet and staring in the direction Haitao had gone.
Spencer cleared his throat. “He’s probably right. You are a target right now.”
Takoma’s brown eyes snapped to him, and the intensity of his glare almost made Spencer flinch. Then that anger was leashed, slipping away and being replaced with a different sort of emotion that had Spencer sliding off the stool to his feet without thinking.
“Come with me,” Takoma said in a low voice.
He came around the island and grabbed Spencer by the wrist, grip an unshakeable hold that Spencer had no inclination to break free of. Takoma led him back to the foyer and the stairs there, heading up to the second floor of the mansion. The hallways were dark, but Takoma didn’t bother turning on the lights, not even when they reached a steel door that was opened by a biometric code. The entrance reminded him of a bank vault door, and he could sense a series of wards etched into the metal.
Takoma tugged him into the master bedroom, flicking on the lights and using the dimmer switch to turn them low. Spencer stood in the windowless space, eyeing the artwork intermixed with weapons and the king-sized bed taking pride of place while Takoma closed and locked the bedroom door. The sound of it had him shivering, knowing there was no way out of this tomb-like space. It shouldn’t have left his cock twitching in his pants, but it did. Spencer turned around, finding Takomaright there, looking at him like he was something to be devoured.
To beowned.
All thoughts about complicating the case with conflicts of interest flew out of Spencer’s head when Takoma kissed him, fingers digging into his jaw, tongue licking past his teeth. He was propelled backward, hands skimming up Takoma’s arms to wrap around his neck, letting the kiss deepen. Fangs nicked his lips, drawing blood, but Spencer didn’t mind.
His legs hit the back of the bed, and Takoma’s hands grabbed the collar of Spencer’s shirt before ripping it open down the front, buttons flying off. Spencer made an affronted sound and broke the kiss. “I need to wear this tomorrow.”
“I have clothes you can wear,” Takoma muttered, mouth on his throat over the throbbing heat of the bite wounds.
Spencer swallowed thickly and tilted his head to the side. “Yours won’t fit.”
“I never said they were mine. I had outfits bought for you other than your dinner one. You will wear those.”
Fangs scraped against bruised skin, and Spencer drew in a shaky breath, cock rapidly growing hard in his pants. He was going to get a complex if Takoma bit him and he shot off early. “You’re so goddamn controlling.”
“You like it.” Takoma sucked on the bruise already there, the spark of pain it caused making Spencer jerk. “You’re used to being told what to do.”
The annoying thing was Takoma wasright. Spencer had spent his whole life trying not to break any rules so no one got the bright idea to bring him up on charges for using his magic how he shouldn’t. Yet here he was, falling into bed with a master vampire, and he couldn’t even blame any sort of mental thrall on how badly he wanted Takoma to fuck him.
He flexed his fingers against Takoma’s neck, tangling them in long, loose hair. “So tell me what to do.”
