“Whatever is most important at the time.”
“So, you’re fickle?”
He really had a beautiful smile. “No, but priorities change in life, so that makes me adaptable.”
“I suppose, you can be anything you want, get anything you want.”
Something fleeted across his face, but it was quickly gone. “All the material things, but not so much the other things.”
She knew she was going to regret this. “Like?”
“Like allowing my mate to continue her daily duties while I’m stuck in the sleep of the dead, protected by two handsome werewolves.”
“You’re—jealous?” Unbelievable. Draco must have women lined up at his door. And indeed the two goons assigned to her were handsome men, though she wasn’t the least bit attracted to them.
“Damn straight. You should let me convert you to a vampire and then you can sleep when I sleep and be awake when I can protect you.”
Lucy recognized the same determination that she’d seen in Rio. She hadn’t liked it then, and she sure as hell didn’t like it now. Did vampires and werewolves think human women would just fall at their feet? Rio’s Cat had been afraid of him and probably of this Alvarez who was hunting her. Lucy, on the other hand, wasn’t afraid of anything except the possibility she was losing her mind.
“I have a business to run.”
“There’s no need for you to work. I have plenty of money to last us for the next thousand years.”
“A thousand years? No thanks.”
“I’m over nine hundred years old. After you’re converted, you won’t age either. We can live anywhere you want.”
“I don’t want to live anywhere else. I don’t want to live another thousand years, and I certainly will not give up my practice.”
Draco turned his attention to his steak. Did vampires even eat, or was this an illusion for her benefit? If she didn’t know better, she’d guess that he was pouting. Fate had stuck her with a vampire who pouts. Lucky me.
After draining her wine glass, she refilled it—the old fashion way. She tried to enjoy her meal, but she’d never been good at dealing with conflict, which was why she owned her own practice, was her own boss, and didn’t have to put up with other people’s shit.
“Okay,” he finally said. “You can run a night clinic, and I can be there to—help. I can be your night security.”
Dressed as he was tonight, he could pass for a human. Certainly not dressed all in black like he was the first time she’d met him.
“You don’t want to spend your waking—nights babysitting me. I’m not worth it.”
“You mean I’m not worth it.”
Her chest ached a little. He looked like a sad puppy, but that was exactly what she meant. “Listen, I appreciate you saving me, and not keeping me hostage. I appreciate what you’ve done for me tonight.”
“But.”
“I…”
“Don’t you find me at least a little bit attractive?”
Was he fishing for a compliment or did he seriously want to know? “I find you very attractive. It’s the whole fang thing that I can’t get past.”
Frustration wasn’t something Draco was familiar with, and he sure as hell didn’t like it. Rio’s plan wasn’t for shit. At least she found him attractive. That helped his ego a tad. His whole life he had lacked for nothing, especially in the female department. And now, with the only one who he’d ever given a damn about, he couldn’t even get out of the batter’s box much less to first base.
“I can’t help that I was converted to a vampire when I was thirty-four. I didn’t ask to be turned even when I lay bleeding and dying in a dirty street in London. The stranger only stated that if I didn’t like what I’d become, I could always seek the sunlight. Of course, I accepted his offer especially since he didn’t want anything else in return.”
“You don’t sound English.”
“Nope. Wherever I live, I always drop my current accent and pick up the local one. Blending in is the best policy.”
Draco waved his hand and the dishes on the tabled quietly hovered to a cart in the corner. Then two more dishes took their place. Before he could wave the covers off, Lucy reached and removed her own. So, she’s not impressed with his tricks. He removed his cover too—by hand.
“Yum, chocolate cheesecake. My favorite.”
He could almost see the joy in her eyes. At least he’d gotten one thing right. He watched her dig in as different ways to serve chocolate cheesecake invaded his mind. He could imagine her licking it off his cock. Him licking it off her clit.
“Are you eating or just pretending to eat?”
“Why do you ask?”
“In all those romance novels I read, the vampires don’t eat; they just pretend.”
“I can eat, but I don’t need to.”
“Well, thank you for—eating—since you don’t have to.”
“It was my pleasure.”
After a few more bites, she asked, “So, do you like being a vampire?”
Fuck, that was a tricky question. What was not to like. You lived forever, pretty much had everything you wanted, or had the ability to take it if you wanted it bad enough. But you couldn’t watch the sunrise, go hiking or climbing or waterskiing. “I suppose so since I haven’t walked into the sun. I’ve seen the horrors that man has inflicted on each other over my long lifetime. Wars aren’t pretty. In the end, everyone loses something. A father, brother, sister, mother.” And of course, he’d never known loneliness until now.
“Yes, it is tragic that we all can’t play nice in the same sandbox.”
Shit. He should have kept his mouth shut instead of spewing melancholy thoughts.
“You haven’t eaten your dessert,” she said.
He shrugged. “Tell me about yourself.”
“It’s boring, really.”
“No. I want to know.” Of course, he’d already research her.
“Graduated med school, worked for a couple of jerk doctors, opened my own practice so I didn’t have to take orders from anyone else. Parents died three years back. No siblings. One marriage. One divorce.”
He knew all that. What he wanted to know was her hopes, dreams, and desires.
“Do you want kids?”
Her gaze locked with his. “Wanted, but I’m a little too old now.”
Only in human years. She was just a babe to him, but vampire children were extremely rare. He decided not to point that out. He scooped a dollop of cheesecake on his fork. “I wonder what it would taste like if I ate this off—your clit.”
Her sharp intake of breath pleased him. His spies had reported that she hadn’t had a boyfriend in years.
“Are vamps always sexual?”
“Yes. But humans are too. What’s your favorite sexual fantasy?” She blushed. Draco pushed at her brain, hoping she would allow him in, but of course, her mind was like a steel trap.
“I don’t know. What’s your fantasy?”
“Oh, I have many. One is that you’ll come over here, pull out my cock, and use your hot little mouth to pleasure me.” Her pulse beat frantically at her neck, caused him to force his gaze elsewhere. According to her, showing fangs were a turn off. “Another one would be to lay you on this table, remove your clothes piece by piece, and savor the revealing of your sensuous skin. Then I’d taste every inch of you, suck your clit, but not let you come until you begged me.”
His Lucy shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her sweet musk reached his nose. Ah, so she wasn’t totally immune to him.
“Another fantasy would be to tie you to the bed, so you could be my slave the entire night. I’d torture you with my tongue, my cock. You’d be so sated you’d sleep curled against me the rest of the night.”
Lucy scratched her forehead with a trembling hand. What was that brain of hers thinking? All the reasons not to make love? He needed to get her over her fear, past her logical brain and to the passionate woman the resided inside. “I promise not to use my fangs,�
� he added, not sure if mentioning the offending body part would ruin the mood or soothe her.
She crossed her legs and downed her wine. He’d thought about spiking it with a witch’s aphrodisiac, but decide that even he wouldn’t stoop that low.
“What is it with the fangs and sex?” she asked.
“Drinking from someone during orgasm makes it amazing.” He decided to change tactics, be bold, and hope she hopped on for the ride. “I can’t wait to taste you as I come.”
“That will never happen, buddy.”
“You are my mate. I can’t have sex with anyone else, only you.”
“It’s gotta suck to be you then.”
He had to smile at her quick wit. “Perhaps I stated it incorrectly. I don’t want to have sex with anyone but you. And I can wait.”
“You don’t look like someone who would be good at being celibate.”
Draco was skilled at anything he put his mind too, and she was wrong. Just thinking about all those orgies he used to have turned his stomach. He’d fucked and feasted on lots of women, and always left them wanting more, but things had changed. He had changed. Only his mate would do for him now. It was apparent that she wasn’t ready to let him seduce her.
But he could wait. Bide his time until he won her over.
“Would you like some coffee?” he asked. A porcelain cup and saucer floated by the table, along with her favorite brew.
“No thanks. I’m rather tired. I think I’ll turn in early.”
“So, you’re not going to fuck me.”
“No.”
“But you want to?”
Surprise registered in her eyes. Was it because she wanted to or because of his brashness?
“I want a lot of things, Mr. Draco. When I was a child, I wanted to consume mountains of candy. As an adult, I want to eat mounds of sweet chocolate and wine. None of which is good for me.”
“So, I remind you of candy you want to lick, sweet chocolate you want to eat, and refreshing wine you want to drink.”
Lucy’s lips quirked into a smile. “That’s not what I said.”
“But that’s what I heard.” He swirled his fingers and things began cleaning themselves up. His best bet was to plant naughty things in her head and then leave her alone to contemplate them. “How about a movie tomorrow night?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off. “Tomorrow’s Saturday and I know the clinic’s not open on Saturday. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“You own a car?”
“Yes. 1937 Bugatti 57S.”
“Sounds expensive.”
“It’s a classic,” he said.
“Of course it is.”
Draco resisted pulling her into his arms and placing a not so sweet kiss on her luscious lips. But he had one more card up his sleeve for tonight and he couldn’t wait. So, he followed the clattering cart out the back door.
Lucy watched the very sexy vampire walk out of her house and wondered if insanity ran in her family way back when? She couldn’t find any trace of it in her recent genealogical tree. The fact that she was even tempted to get up close and cozy with a mythical creature spoke volumes for her mental state. He was charming, extremely handsome, a tad arrogant, and somewhat amusing. If he weren’t a figment of her imagination, she’d undoubtedly jump his bones.
After turning off the lights, she headed for her bedroom. A bath and a bed was the only thing she needed tonight, not an imaginary man with an attempt to seduce her—a darned good attempt, by the way. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs. More red rose petals were sprinkled on the stair steps. Did he actually think she would take him up on his offer? For some reason, she was compelled to follow the beautiful trail that led directly to her bedroom. Out of the three, how did he know which one was hers? It was nice and neat like she liked it. Was his nose as good as the romance novels portrayed? She’d have to ask him because not knowing the answer would bother her.
The door was slightly ajar. She pushed it open. Vases of red roses and white candles filled her entire bedroom. No space was unadorned. The smell was heaven. She had to admit it was beautiful, would even be sweet—if he was real. The comforter was pulled down, and the rose petals were elaborate against her white sheets. A single long-stemmed red rose was propped against her pillow.
On a whim, Lucy threw herself on the bed. What would it feel like to have an imaginary Draco make love to her on a bed of rose petals? If the petals weren’t real, they sure smelled genuine. She bit the inside of her lip. Why not play out the fantasy—without the hero, of course. She popped up from the bed and shucked her clothes. The candle light was just right, not too bright, and not too dark.
She found her favorite dildo and lubed it. Tonight, she was in a hurry. Not slow. She needed it wild and rough, knowing that Draco wouldn’t go slowly. After lying down on the scented bed, she flopped her legs over the side. Just for fun, she drizzled a handful of petals on her breasts, her belly, and then her curls. They tickled, and she could only imagine Draco doing this.
Lucy pinched her nipple, hard like she knew Draco would do. He would be a powerful lover, of that she was sure. She turned on the vibrating dildo and ran the head over her clit. So good. Just as good as Draco’s lips would be.
When she couldn’t handle the vibe on her bundle of nerves anymore, she angled her hips and shoved the dildo into her pussy, harder than she’d ever had before. She swirled her other hand on her clit. All her senses were firing. Pleasure coiled tightly. The only thing missing besides Draco’s cock was his—fangs. Would they enhance her pleasure too? As she imagined his fangs sinking into her neck, she bucked with her orgasm, a strong, violent one.
Draco stood in the corner, a voyeur, his dick in his hand. She was beautiful under the candle light with her body shifting and straining. His fangs ached just like his cock, both needing to sink into her hot flesh. His balls were snug against his body, aching for release. Her pleasuring herself was a turn on. When her body convulsed, and his name slipped from her lips, he came fiercely in his own hand, something he’d never done before. Masturbation was unfamiliar to him, but something he would explore more with his mate.
He smiled. It felt great to get out of the batter’s box.
Chapter Thirteen
Creed caught the baseball and flung it back at his brother. It was a game they’d played since they were old enough to challenge one another. Sitting six feet apart with only a desk between them, Rio snagged the ball before it hit his nose. “You trying to mar my handsome face?”
Creed couldn’t help but grin. “Well, it’s not like you’d be permanently disfigured.”
“No, but Cat would be disappointed until it healed.”
His brother threw the ball wide and Creed almost jerked his arm out of the socket to catch it. The competitive wolf would not allow him to miss. “So, we know Cat probably grew up or lived in North Carolina.”
Rio nodded. “But that’s all we know. Since Draco has found a mate in Lucy, he refuses to pressure her into giving him the letter.”
“Well, we could bring our mate to the brink of orgasm over and over until she told us.”
“That will never work with Cat. She keeps secrets really well. She’d make us pay, and the price would be too steep.”
“You mean withholding her body from us?”
Rio nodded. That was probably true. He sensed her indecisiveness whenever they seduced her. She wanted them, but she always held back. This morning, he’d barely waited until she’d showered, and then stalked her in the steamy bathroom. She hesitated, the battle clearly in her eyes, but once he had her bent over facing the mirror, watching him take her, she’d eagerly melted. “I really need to bite her.”
“I know. My wolf feels the same way. Ila said it wouldn’t hurt the baby, but I don’t want to take any chances. We can do it at the same time after the baby’s born.”
Yeah. Make everything equal. He had to fight his wolf, so he wouldn’t bite her, and Rio had to do the same.
>
The plans were set. All they needed now was the birth of her baby, a couple of months for Cat to heal, and then both could mate her. Oh yeah, kill the bastard who wanted Cat’s baby.
His wolf heard the glide of little feet in the hallway. Rio hitched his brow. Creed bounded up and opened the door two seconds after her timid knock. “Something wrong?” he asked.
Not giving her time to respond, he pulled her into the study, over to his chair, and then into his lap. Her back was ramrod straight until he started nibbling on her ear. His wolf loved the smell of her. Peace. It reminded him of peace. A soothing, tranquil lake after a summer rain.
Creed rested his hand on her belly. Amazing life grew there. He couldn’t wait until she carried his pup. And then Rio’s, of course.
Rio shifted in his seat obviously adjusting his cock. “Do you need something, baby?”
“Well, I was wondering if we had a plan…you know…to get to the hospital?”
Creed’s heart along with his brothers shifted into high gear. “Is it time?”
“No. No. I just want to know how far the hospital is from here. So I’ll know when we should leave.”
“It’s an hour away, so the minute you feel anything, you tell us,” said Rio, panic clearly etched in his voice.
Hell, what had they been thinking? What if something went wrong? A wolf couldn’t bear the loss of a child. The pack was a tight community, even though he and Rio had pretty much left the pack at an early age. The need to touch, especially their mate and her child, was a powerful force. Losing a child would shred the wolf.
“Do you feel like going outside today?” Rio asked.
“Of course.”
“Go put your sweats on and meet us at the backdoor.”
“What are we going to do?”
“You’ll see.”
She unfolded her legs and Creed helped her stand. His wolf instantly missed the skin to skin. Creed waited until she was out of earshot. “How close do you think she is?”
“When I see Ila, I’ll know its time.”
Creed was relieved that Ila would come and take charge like she always did.
Claiming Their Cat Page 15
