than a summary of Ptolomy’s interview. What’s he
like?”
He shrugged. “Like any other vampire. He’s a Dominus , an old one. One of the oldest. Been around longer than Olen’s had gray hair.”
She bit her lip. He could almost feel her nerves, but all she did was square her shoulders
and take a deep breath. It didn’t matter if Ptolomy’s aged power petrified her, he
knew she wouldn’t let her fear stop her. That turned him on so hardcore he wanted
to lick her resolve.
She should be nervous, however. Ptolomy didn’t dance to anyone’s tune, not even his,
and he would tell them nothing. Kade would put money on it. This Dominus was too damned old to care about anything other than his own twisted pleasures. Funny
how the word twisted applied to all the Ancients. Maybe anything living as long as a vampire would eventually
become a perversion of nature.
Kade had never had much real trouble with Ptolomy. The male didn’t exactly fly straight,
but he never put himself on the outs with the Rex and his Domina .
The iron gate in front of Ptolomy’s home swung open automatically when they pulled
up. As they neared his mansion, Val clutched her satchel with a white-knuckled grip.
Her lips trembled, and she pulled her thick black peacoat tighter, readjusting the
tie at her waist. He felt her chill, it was written so plainly in her body language.
Her vulnerability broke open a rare pocket of warmth in him. Without thinking, he
reached for her, pulling her close against his side. She sat stiffly at first.
He stroked his hand up and down her arm, firm and soothing. Her body softened, the
tension easing, and she relaxed her head against his shoulder. Unable to deny himself,
he nuzzled her pale blond curls, stowing her heady lilac scent into his memory. She
felt softer than mink. He turned his head to brush his cheek against the luxurious
sensation.
She lifted her head to meet his gaze. Those eyes were brilliant pools of green Caribbean,
her pupils dilated with arousal. Hell yes, she wanted him. But they were also wide
with surprise. He’d only sought to comfort her, but now his head dipped toward hers.
When she licked her lips in response, it was all he could do to be gentle when he
wanted to ravage her mouth.
He touched his lips to hers, a tender sweep across and back again. An electric charge
zipped all the way to the bottom of his feet, drawing his body tight. Just as he would
have settled more firmly against her sweet mouth and part her lips with his tongue,
the door swung open.
She jerked away from him, her fingers at her mouth and her eyes clouded with confusion
and regret. Fuck . He shot his driver a withering look, and the man cringed. He shook his head sharply
before the man could stumble over an apology. Douchebag had also arrived at the side
of the car, and Kade didn’t want the bastard to know anything was amiss. Holding a
hand out for Val, he guided her out of the car and to the heavy doors of the mansion
where Ptolomy no doubt waited impatiently for them.
…
Her lips tingled where Kade’s had been, but Val’s mind was a jumble. Why had she let
that kiss happen? She’d been at the head of a panic attack; maybe that had weakened
her enough to succumb to Kade. Maybe she would have taken the comfort from anyone.
That didn’t really fly because had it been Graham, she would have turned a cheek.
She knew because Graham had made the attempt before.
Even more surprising than her easy participation was Kade himself. He’d caressed her
hair with his face, like a thoughtful lover, and it had put her body and mind into
a sweet, blissful fog. He’d been so soft, so careful, his lips whispering along hers.
She would have taken him for the caveman-kiss type complete with bruising force and
an invasion of tongue and teeth.
“Ready for this?” Kade asked. With a start, she realized they were in the foyer, and
she still held his
like?”
He shrugged. “Like any other vampire. He’s a Dominus , an old one. One of the oldest. Been around longer than Olen’s had gray hair.”
She bit her lip. He could almost feel her nerves, but all she did was square her shoulders
and take a deep breath. It didn’t matter if Ptolomy’s aged power petrified her, he
knew she wouldn’t let her fear stop her. That turned him on so hardcore he wanted
to lick her resolve.
She should be nervous, however. Ptolomy didn’t dance to anyone’s tune, not even his,
and he would tell them nothing. Kade would put money on it. This Dominus was too damned old to care about anything other than his own twisted pleasures. Funny
how the word twisted applied to all the Ancients. Maybe anything living as long as a vampire would eventually
become a perversion of nature.
Kade had never had much real trouble with Ptolomy. The male didn’t exactly fly straight,
but he never put himself on the outs with the Rex and his Domina .
The iron gate in front of Ptolomy’s home swung open automatically when they pulled
up. As they neared his mansion, Val clutched her satchel with a white-knuckled grip.
Her lips trembled, and she pulled her thick black peacoat tighter, readjusting the
tie at her waist. He felt her chill, it was written so plainly in her body language.
Her vulnerability broke open a rare pocket of warmth in him. Without thinking, he
reached for her, pulling her close against his side. She sat stiffly at first.
He stroked his hand up and down her arm, firm and soothing. Her body softened, the
tension easing, and she relaxed her head against his shoulder. Unable to deny himself,
he nuzzled her pale blond curls, stowing her heady lilac scent into his memory. She
felt softer than mink. He turned his head to brush his cheek against the luxurious
sensation.
She lifted her head to meet his gaze. Those eyes were brilliant pools of green Caribbean,
her pupils dilated with arousal. Hell yes, she wanted him. But they were also wide
with surprise. He’d only sought to comfort her, but now his head dipped toward hers.
When she licked her lips in response, it was all he could do to be gentle when he
wanted to ravage her mouth.
He touched his lips to hers, a tender sweep across and back again. An electric charge
zipped all the way to the bottom of his feet, drawing his body tight. Just as he would
have settled more firmly against her sweet mouth and part her lips with his tongue,
the door swung open.
She jerked away from him, her fingers at her mouth and her eyes clouded with confusion
and regret. Fuck . He shot his driver a withering look, and the man cringed. He shook his head sharply
before the man could stumble over an apology. Douchebag had also arrived at the side
of the car, and Kade didn’t want the bastard to know anything was amiss. Holding a
hand out for Val, he guided her out of the car and to the heavy doors of the mansion
where Ptolomy no doubt waited impatiently for them.
…
Her lips tingled where Kade’s had been, but Val’s mind was a jumble. Why had she let
that kiss happen? She’d been at the head of a panic attack; maybe that had weakened
her enough to succumb to Kade. Maybe she would have taken the comfort from anyone.
That didn’t really fly because had it been Graham, she would have turned a cheek.
She knew because Graham had made the attempt before.
Even more surprising than her easy participation was Kade himself. He’d caressed her
hair with his face, like a thoughtful lover, and it had put her body and mind into
a sweet, blissful fog. He’d been so soft, so careful, his lips whispering along hers.
She would have taken him for the caveman-kiss type complete with bruising force and
an invasion of tongue and teeth.
“Ready for this?” Kade asked. With a start, she realized they were in the foyer, and
she still held his
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