“Stars, you’re freezing. Let me call the staff so they can stoke the fire.”
I put more distance between us, cursing myself that I hadn’t been more careful. “No, please. No need. I’m fine.”
“But you’re?—”
“It’s all right.” Plastering a smile to my face, I added, “And we won’t be here long. We’ve only come by to see if you’ve heard from your colleague in Ironcrest.”
His eyes lit up, and thankfully, he didn’t comment further on my temperature. Yet his damned heartbeat was singing to me, and between him and Kole, my vampire urges were returning with a vengeance. Arousal began to fill my core just as Nathaniel said, “I did actually. I received his documents via courier this morning. I was going to send word to you, but now that you’re here, I won’t have to.” He winked. “Let me go fetch them.”
He glided from the chambers and returned a minute later. In his hand was a folder containing parchment.
Nathaniel gestured to the folder. “My colleague didn’t send the originals, stating he didn’t want them out of his possession, but he did send copies of everything.”
Anticipation oozed through me, and I followed him to a table near the window, Kole doing the same. The warrior’s aura warmed my back, and his scent filled my head. Another round of lust shot through me, and the lowest of moans escaped me.
Kole sucked in his breath, and Nathaniel inclined his head.
Embarrassment flooded me as I had no doubtbothhad detected my body’s reaction, given the sound I’d just made.Stars, Primelle, get control of yourself!
Thankfully, other than a cheeky glance my way, Nathaniel didn’t say anything, and I did my best to concentrate as he spread out the parchment in front of us.
“He copied several passages from multiple archives.” Nathaniel pointed at the neat wording written on the sheets. “He said these are his most thorough findings, and he sent a few portraits of the vampires he’s met.”
My focus flew over the sheets, then I glanced out the window at the setting sun. It would take too long to read it all here. “May I take this with me?”
Nathaniel nodded. “Of course. Feel free to keep it for as long as you like.”
He shuffled the parchment back into the folder and handed it over, and I made sure to keep my fingers away from his so we didn’t touch again.
I gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you so much for your help. And please, let me know if I can ever return the favor.”
He bowed, then said flirtatiously, “As long as you dance with me first at the next ball, I shall call us even.”
Kole gave him a side-eye, and the warrior’s hand slipped to my waist. “We should head back, Princess. It’s getting late.”
Hearing him growlPrincessso close to my ear made a shiver run through me, and Nathaniel’s attention dipped to where the warrior was touching me.
An image came to my mind of Kole taking me from behind while I drank from Nathaniel’s neck, and the lordling fondled my breasts. Lust instantly flooded my core. Vampiric lust.
Stars.
I rooted my feet to the spot, but my attention drifted to Nathaniel’s neck, to the strong pulse visible above his sweater.I wonder what he tastes like.
I stepped forward and ran a finger suggestively along Nathaniel’s arm. The second I became aware of my actions, I froze.Did I really just do that?
Given that Kole’s breath hitched behind me, I guessed that I had.
But before I could retreat or disappear in a mistphase, Nathaniel’s eyes widened with interest, and a slow smile curved his lips. “Well, now this is interesting.”
He closed the distance between us, ignoring Kole completely, and placed his hand on my waist too.
Both of them were now touching me, and feeling their large hands flooded me with so much lust that my underthings immediately grew moist.
Nathaniel and Kole inhaled simultaneously.
I sucked in a breath just as a growl of warning rumbled in Kole’s chest. It vaguely registered in my mind that while my uncle’s potion could hide my vampiric stench and emotions, it couldn’t hide the scent that slickened my thighs, and Nathaniel’s heartbeat was right in front of me.
It was calling to me.Owningme.
