Maisie leans forward, her eyes wide. “What if Anita is hiding them in Arran’s room? Can you pop in and ask him?”
“Girl, if I popped into Arran’s bedroom I might pop myself directly onto his dick.”
Seemingly encouraged by my declaration, Maisie nods excitedly. “Why don’t you make a move?”
“Because I don’t chase.” I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest. “They come to me.”
“In usual circumstances, I totally approve of this. But,” Maisie says slyly, her eyes twinkling with a little bit of deviousness I didn’t know she had. “What if you were a little more obvious with your interest? I think Arran is the type of guy who needs a flashing neon sign of consent before he’d touch you.”
I ponder that for a second, seeing her point. “Maybe.”
Maisie’s grin expands into something brilliant. “I triple dare you to put it to the test. Tonight. Sometimes these males can be real gentlemen and sometimes we want themnotto be.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” I’m already wondering how many ways Arran can disrespect me if I give him a glaringly green light.
“And then you can report back on vampire cum,” Maisie says brightly, almost as if she’s talking about cake flavorings. Which, I guess she could be, considering what I know about Ren now.
Mission accepted.
Chapter 9
Arran
“Where you off to, stud?” Audrey’s sultry question comes from the parlor, the unexpected cadence of her husky voice taking me by surprise as I come down the stairs.
I’m fairly good at sensing wherever Audrey is at all times, but I must’ve been too distracted by thoughts of tomorrow’s Knights & Castles session with my friends to have noticed her presence.
For the past week I’ve taken great care to steer clear of Audrey, my embarrassment too strong after what I did outside her room on her first night here. But mostly, the desire to do it again, to domorewith her, it’s been an inconvenient, inescapable companion, following me all day and all night.
The moment I hear Audrey wake in the mornings, I confine myself to my room, pretending to be asleep as she gets ready forthe day. At night, when she returns to the castle, I set off again, staying out with the stars.
Yet, thoughts of her still persist.
It takes me a second to find my bearings, so when I turn to see Audrey leaning against the stone wall, it’s nearly impossible to stifle my groan of longing.
A skintight black shirt clings to her body, the bodice cut low to draw attention to her pert breasts. Above her trousers, a sliver of bare skin is visible, my fingers aching to explore the exposed flesh.
But what holds me absolutely captive is the cherry-red shade of her plump lips and that ever-present tilt at their corners as her eyes rake over me.
“Town,” I choke out, finally remembering her question.
I need to leave. The temptation to touch Audrey is too great. Especially right now when she’s looking so delectable and I’m feeling utterly ravenous for her.
“If you’re not in too much of a hurry, I could use a little…assistance,” Audrey says coyly, though her rich, velvety scent has me questioning the seemingly innocence of the request. Or could this be the same type of assistance she referred to last time, the one I almost succumbed to before Anita interrupted us and brought sense back to me?
My grip on the stair railing tightens, the old stone thankfully not crumbling under the intense pressure.
“What do you need, Audrey?” This isn’t the first time I’ve asked her this question, but somehow it feels heavier. It’s as if fate herself is waiting in the wings, anticipating Audrey’s answer.
“You.” The pronouncement is confident, inviting, brooking no misunderstandings.
“You don’t want me,” I counter, my body now vibrating with restraint lest I unleash myself on this beautiful human woman.
Audrey props a hand on her hip. “Why not?”
“I’d ruin you,” I confess.
Audrey gives me another assessing look, gaze dragging down my body before meeting my eyes again. “I’d like to see you try.”
