staying?
That he knows my name does not surprise me. He knew it before Stephen, before Lance. This creature in his Dolce & Gabbana suit and Ferragamo shoes made himself comfortable in my head. How can you ask? You already know my answer.
He shakes his head, mouth turned down in a frown of disappointment. I was hoping for a more adventurous spirit. I’m sorry you feel so threatened.
Threatened? I want to sink my teeth into his neck, shake him like a wolf with a rattler. Only Lance’s presence keeps me from attacking. I don’t know what hold he has on Lance, what harm he’s capable of inflicting. Best to get away.
He signals to the doorman. “Would you be kind enough to call Ms. Strong a cab?”
I wave the doorman off. “That won’t be necessary. Lance brought me, he’ll take me home.”
Again, a shake of the head. “I’m afraid not. Broderick and I have a lot of catching up to do. If you insist on leaving, it will be alone.”
I look up at Lance. He has shut me out of his head.
My stomach contracts at the thought that he would want to stay. When he meets my gaze his expression is resigned and unafraid. What is wrong with him? He can’t see this man is evil?
Lance takes my shoulders in his hands. “I won’t be long.”
No. Lance, he can’t force you to stay. If it’s a spell—
He kisses me, softly, on the lips. Spell? Why would you think that? Julian is not forcing me. I want to stay.
He drops his hands.
Underwood is watching me. Once again, he signals the doorman, who picks up a telephone at the valet desk.
Lance leaves me with a small wave. Underwood and I stare at each other.
“Don’t fight it, Anna. Broderick and I are old friends. I’ll send him back to you when we’ve caught up.” He drags a finger down the length of my right arm. “He’s safe with me.”
My skin burns where his finger touched my skin. I jerk back, instantly angry with myself for the reaction. It’s just what Underwood expected, his eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
“You fuck.”
But Underwood has already turned away from me. I stare at his back.
I don’t know what to do. I know I can’t stay. When I looked into Underwood’s eyes, I was looking into an abyss—empty, threatening, full of horror. I’m afraid if I stay, I’ll be drawn into that pit. Even the depth of my disgust isn’t enough to protect myself from this kind of evil. How could I imagine I’d be able to protect Lance?
I’ll have to trust Lance’s instincts. Underwood is his sire. It’s too late now to ask the questions I should have asked him earlier. The questions I’ll ask him the minute he gets home.
Underwood is more than an old-soul vampire. He possesses more than vampiric powers. He uses sorcery.
What sort of creature does that? What sort of demon?
CHAPTER 11
I ’M ALONE IN THE HOUSE.
Restless.
Afraid.
Not for myself. For Lance.
I never should have left him. I let that bastard Underwood get to me. Now he’s out there somewhere with Lance, and I’m here making myself crazy with worry. The worst thing? I don’t know why. It’s not as if Lance isn’t capable of taking care of himself.
A clock somewhere chimes the hours. Midnight. Lance has been gone three hours.
I’m not waiting any longer.
I run upstairs, change out of the gown and into jeans and a T-shirt. I grab my keys and head for the garage.
Shit. I realize I don’t know where the restaurant is located. I didn’t pay attention on the ride over. I plug the name into the Jag’s GPS system and the directions flash on the screen.
I’m there in twenty minutes. The parking lot is still full. Music floats on the air from a lounge somewhere to the right.
The doorman stops me at the door. “I’m sorry, miss. No jeans after nine.”
I stare at him. I didn’t think places that had dress codes still existed. I fish a twenty out of my wallet. “I won’t stay long. I just need to see if my friend is inside.”
He waves away the money. “Sorry. Maybe if you
That he knows my name does not surprise me. He knew it before Stephen, before Lance. This creature in his Dolce & Gabbana suit and Ferragamo shoes made himself comfortable in my head. How can you ask? You already know my answer.
He shakes his head, mouth turned down in a frown of disappointment. I was hoping for a more adventurous spirit. I’m sorry you feel so threatened.
Threatened? I want to sink my teeth into his neck, shake him like a wolf with a rattler. Only Lance’s presence keeps me from attacking. I don’t know what hold he has on Lance, what harm he’s capable of inflicting. Best to get away.
He signals to the doorman. “Would you be kind enough to call Ms. Strong a cab?”
I wave the doorman off. “That won’t be necessary. Lance brought me, he’ll take me home.”
Again, a shake of the head. “I’m afraid not. Broderick and I have a lot of catching up to do. If you insist on leaving, it will be alone.”
I look up at Lance. He has shut me out of his head.
My stomach contracts at the thought that he would want to stay. When he meets my gaze his expression is resigned and unafraid. What is wrong with him? He can’t see this man is evil?
Lance takes my shoulders in his hands. “I won’t be long.”
No. Lance, he can’t force you to stay. If it’s a spell—
He kisses me, softly, on the lips. Spell? Why would you think that? Julian is not forcing me. I want to stay.
He drops his hands.
Underwood is watching me. Once again, he signals the doorman, who picks up a telephone at the valet desk.
Lance leaves me with a small wave. Underwood and I stare at each other.
“Don’t fight it, Anna. Broderick and I are old friends. I’ll send him back to you when we’ve caught up.” He drags a finger down the length of my right arm. “He’s safe with me.”
My skin burns where his finger touched my skin. I jerk back, instantly angry with myself for the reaction. It’s just what Underwood expected, his eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
“You fuck.”
But Underwood has already turned away from me. I stare at his back.
I don’t know what to do. I know I can’t stay. When I looked into Underwood’s eyes, I was looking into an abyss—empty, threatening, full of horror. I’m afraid if I stay, I’ll be drawn into that pit. Even the depth of my disgust isn’t enough to protect myself from this kind of evil. How could I imagine I’d be able to protect Lance?
I’ll have to trust Lance’s instincts. Underwood is his sire. It’s too late now to ask the questions I should have asked him earlier. The questions I’ll ask him the minute he gets home.
Underwood is more than an old-soul vampire. He possesses more than vampiric powers. He uses sorcery.
What sort of creature does that? What sort of demon?
CHAPTER 11
I ’M ALONE IN THE HOUSE.
Restless.
Afraid.
Not for myself. For Lance.
I never should have left him. I let that bastard Underwood get to me. Now he’s out there somewhere with Lance, and I’m here making myself crazy with worry. The worst thing? I don’t know why. It’s not as if Lance isn’t capable of taking care of himself.
A clock somewhere chimes the hours. Midnight. Lance has been gone three hours.
I’m not waiting any longer.
I run upstairs, change out of the gown and into jeans and a T-shirt. I grab my keys and head for the garage.
Shit. I realize I don’t know where the restaurant is located. I didn’t pay attention on the ride over. I plug the name into the Jag’s GPS system and the directions flash on the screen.
I’m there in twenty minutes. The parking lot is still full. Music floats on the air from a lounge somewhere to the right.
The doorman stops me at the door. “I’m sorry, miss. No jeans after nine.”
I stare at him. I didn’t think places that had dress codes still existed. I fish a twenty out of my wallet. “I won’t stay long. I just need to see if my friend is inside.”
He waves away the money. “Sorry. Maybe if you
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