hiding out from vampire society?”
Jakob’s face twisted with distaste. “I dislike the term hiding out. It implies fear, where I have none. I simply choose to keep on the down low, as they say, for now.”
“For how long?”
“Not too much longer. Soon I will take my place with you at my side.”
Did soon mean two months or two decades? Vampire time could be tricky depending on the eye of the beholder. “What happens then? When you’re tired of waiting in the wings?” Something flashed in his eyes. Avarice, lust, too much aquavit? It was impossible to tell, but it made me nervous, all the same.
“Wouldn’t you rather know what pleasures await when you take your place by my side ? Shall I share another memory with you?” His voice dropped to a husky throb as he scooted closer, the neck of his shirt stretching wider to reveal the tanned expanse of skin beneath. “Perhaps a bigger taste is in order now, I think.”
Chapter Six
“I think,” I swallowed, trying to steer the conversation away from such a dizzying temptation. “I think we should talk about something a little less… just a little less.”
Jakob regarded me with thinly veiled amusement, but backed off, the predatory gleam in his eyes temporarily fading. “What shall we talk of then?”
“I have a list…” I pulled the folded piece of paper from my beaded purse, smoothing it out against my middle and he laughed, spreading his hands wide.
“Ask away.”
“Okay…” My eyes skimmed over the piece of paper, looking for a good one to open with. I really should’ve made a new list in order of priority, instead of the order in which I happened to think of a question. “Oh, this is a good one, and pretty appropriate, I think. What do you do when you meet other vampires? Who do you tell them you are? I don’t just mean your name, but what do you tell them you are?”
“Most vampires of this day are sadly uneducated and can’t tell what I am. They only know I am alive, but different. Some can sense my power, and some remain blissfully ignorant of my presence.” (I found that hard to believe.) “I avoid them for the most part. It’s none of their business who and what I am.”
“What should I tell people then, if they ask me about you?”
Jakob leaned forward, an intensity flashing in his blue gaze. “Say nothing of my presence here. Use your compulsion if necessary, as I did with your household.”
It occurred to me that both Bishop and Mason knew who and what he was, but I kept my trap shut. “Okay, fair enough,” I agreed, reaching for a sip of aquavit. “What about others like me? Are there any vampires that you sired still around? I remember Bishop said something once about how you’d killed off your progeny once they fell into disfavor with you.” A topic that had cost me more than a few hours staring off into space, wondering if my undead life was in jeopardy if Jakob decided he didn’t feel like waiting for me to love him anymore.
His face instantly clouded with anger. “Don’t speak to me of Ulrik and his lies. He only believes what he wants to.”
It wasn’t much of an answer one way or the other. So much for open disclosure. I took a deep breath and tried again. “Alright, how about this one? What does älskling
mean?”
That brought the smile back to his lips. “I would gladly show you with a bit more privacy.” Somehow my hand ended up in his, and he lifted it to his mouth, pressing an open mouthed kiss to the inside of my wrist.
More privacy? “I um…” Suddenly feeling warm and flushed, I tugged weakly, but he held fast to my arm, lips grazing a slow trail up the tender inside of my arm. “That’s okay, maybe we can save that one for later. Is it me, or is it warm in here?”
“You hunger,” he replied, with a knowing grin. “I would be more than willing to see to all of your
Jakob’s face twisted with distaste. “I dislike the term hiding out. It implies fear, where I have none. I simply choose to keep on the down low, as they say, for now.”
“For how long?”
“Not too much longer. Soon I will take my place with you at my side.”
Did soon mean two months or two decades? Vampire time could be tricky depending on the eye of the beholder. “What happens then? When you’re tired of waiting in the wings?” Something flashed in his eyes. Avarice, lust, too much aquavit? It was impossible to tell, but it made me nervous, all the same.
“Wouldn’t you rather know what pleasures await when you take your place by my side ? Shall I share another memory with you?” His voice dropped to a husky throb as he scooted closer, the neck of his shirt stretching wider to reveal the tanned expanse of skin beneath. “Perhaps a bigger taste is in order now, I think.”
Chapter Six
“I think,” I swallowed, trying to steer the conversation away from such a dizzying temptation. “I think we should talk about something a little less… just a little less.”
Jakob regarded me with thinly veiled amusement, but backed off, the predatory gleam in his eyes temporarily fading. “What shall we talk of then?”
“I have a list…” I pulled the folded piece of paper from my beaded purse, smoothing it out against my middle and he laughed, spreading his hands wide.
“Ask away.”
“Okay…” My eyes skimmed over the piece of paper, looking for a good one to open with. I really should’ve made a new list in order of priority, instead of the order in which I happened to think of a question. “Oh, this is a good one, and pretty appropriate, I think. What do you do when you meet other vampires? Who do you tell them you are? I don’t just mean your name, but what do you tell them you are?”
“Most vampires of this day are sadly uneducated and can’t tell what I am. They only know I am alive, but different. Some can sense my power, and some remain blissfully ignorant of my presence.” (I found that hard to believe.) “I avoid them for the most part. It’s none of their business who and what I am.”
“What should I tell people then, if they ask me about you?”
Jakob leaned forward, an intensity flashing in his blue gaze. “Say nothing of my presence here. Use your compulsion if necessary, as I did with your household.”
It occurred to me that both Bishop and Mason knew who and what he was, but I kept my trap shut. “Okay, fair enough,” I agreed, reaching for a sip of aquavit. “What about others like me? Are there any vampires that you sired still around? I remember Bishop said something once about how you’d killed off your progeny once they fell into disfavor with you.” A topic that had cost me more than a few hours staring off into space, wondering if my undead life was in jeopardy if Jakob decided he didn’t feel like waiting for me to love him anymore.
His face instantly clouded with anger. “Don’t speak to me of Ulrik and his lies. He only believes what he wants to.”
It wasn’t much of an answer one way or the other. So much for open disclosure. I took a deep breath and tried again. “Alright, how about this one? What does älskling
mean?”
That brought the smile back to his lips. “I would gladly show you with a bit more privacy.” Somehow my hand ended up in his, and he lifted it to his mouth, pressing an open mouthed kiss to the inside of my wrist.
More privacy? “I um…” Suddenly feeling warm and flushed, I tugged weakly, but he held fast to my arm, lips grazing a slow trail up the tender inside of my arm. “That’s okay, maybe we can save that one for later. Is it me, or is it warm in here?”
“You hunger,” he replied, with a knowing grin. “I would be more than willing to see to all of your
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