He gasped then took a deep breath and swallowed. His heart slowed.
She grinned up at him. “Better?”
“Yes. Surprisingly.” He dipped his head toward hers and inhaled. His eyes closed for a second. When he opened them, they were the bluest she’d ever seen them. Still dark, but clearly blue. And they focused on her as though he was looking into her.
Heat rose up her neck and she ducked out from under his arm. “Told you.” She walked back to her seat. “So I take it that means it’s a high number.”
Dragomir rubbed the muscles at the back of his neck.
Sofia held her glass close to her mouth and waited. He’d been around for a while so she could only imagine what he was going to say.
“I am nearly eight hundred years a vampire and a man for twenty-five years before that.”
“I’m older than you?” Her glass clinked the counter. “I never intended to marry anyone younger than me.” She was a cradle robber. She’d robbed a vampire cradle. Great. An eternity married to someone younger than me.
“I’d hardly call you older, darling.”
She inhaled and her mouth opened to say something, but she didn’t. He was right. He was older—sort of.
“Nonetheless, I have been with more than two women.”
She nodded. “I thought so.” She looked away, cheek pinched between her teeth. Her fingers combed through her hair, working to smooth the disheveled tresses. Several more blades of grass dropped to the floor.
“A lot more?” She was sure she didn’t want to know but curiosity made her ask.
He nodded. “Let’s not discuss this. I can’t even think of a number to tell you. Eight hundred years is a long time.”
“Like one a night?” She knew it was foolish to persist. The answer wouldn’t please her but she couldn’t stop herself. “More than that?” She looked down, hoping he wouldn’t notice her worrying. With that much experience he would have certain expectations. He’d notice when she didn’t know what in the hell she was doing.
Two lovers. Neither particularly adept at loving. And nothing about either experience was worth remembering. Oh, they’d both tried and tried and she’d tried, too, but as the saying goes close only counts in horseshoes.
“None since arriving in the States.” He tilted her chin to him. “In eight hundred years I’ve never met a woman the likes of you, Sofia. Not one could compare.”
She couldn’t stop the silly smile from appearing or the warm flush that spread from her neck to her cheeks and chest.
“You should know. I was married before, when I was human.” Dragomir leaned his hip on the counter and rested on his elbow. “She was the only woman I ever loved.”
“What happened?” The giddy sensation tumbling inside her vanished. Now Sofia felt such sadness tears welled in her eyes. Dragomir seemed lost in a memory.
“She died. Our children died of illness, plague or something and she died of a broken heart.” His gaze dropped to the floor. “Her name was Elena.”
“I’m sorry.” Sofia swiped the tear trickling down her cheek. “Were you married long?” How could she possibly feel such grief for not being his first wife? Good Lord, had she already had too much to drink?
“Ten or so years, maybe a bit more.” He sighed. “I did not intend to make you cry tonight. You did enough of that last night.” He caught a tear rolling down her face. “I forgot this happens.”
“Tears? Vampires don’t cry?” Sofia sniffled.
He smiled. “No. I forgot about the emotions of mates. We feel each other’s emotions.” He brushed his fingers along her cheek. “For so long I’ve tried not to think about too many details from my life. It hurt too much. And now you’ve made me remember. Here you shed tears I’ve refused to acknowledge.”
“How many children?” Sofia’s voice was soft, interested but guarded. She didn’t want to make him feel worse, but she wanted to know about his life. Who he was, what he did, and how he became a vampire.
“Three. Two boys. One girl.” Dragomir smiled.
The zing of pride sizzled inside Sofia. Hot, happy pride.
“Energetic. Beautiful. So full of life. Inquisitive, every one of them.” He seemed lost in the memories. “Two like their mother. The boys.” He chuckled. “My girl, like me, only pretty.”
Sofia watched him, her head tilted to the side. She enjoyed the warm feeling of happiness. She doubted he’d felt it in quite a while. “They sound wonderful.”
“They were.” He drained his glass.
“When did this happen?” She waved her hand at him. “The vampire situation.”
“Ah, the vampire situation.” He chuckled. “Interesting reference.”
Sofia’s stomach growled.
They both looked down and Sofia’s hands pressed to her abdomen.
“I might have something somewhere.” Dragomir opened cupboards. Each door he opened revealed it was truly empty except the cupboards to the right of the sink. Those held glasses, plates, and bowls.
“I’m fine. Really. The vodka is plenty.” Her stomach growled even louder, and she squirmed in her seat.
“You’re hungry.”
“Honestly, Dragomir, I’m fine.” She poured more vodka into her glass then filled his. “You’re avoiding the question.”
He bent to look under the sink. “No. I’m trying to keep you comfortable. You’re my mate, remember?” He walked past her to the pantry. “My job is to care for you.” He unlocked the door and stepped inside.
“I can take care of myself,” Sofia called after him. “The cafeteria is open.”
“Here. These are for you.” He placed a box of Thin Mints on the counter in front of her.
She stared at the box for a moment and then giggled. “For me? You bought these with me in mind?”
“Not exactly,” he mumbled. “Do cookies last long? I bought these in March.” He picked them up and turned them around. “Shouldn’t there be a date on here somewhere?”
“I thought you’d only been in the States a few days?”
“I was here for a board meeting to discuss hiring an Employee Relations Manager.” One eyebrow rose. “For the record I was against it. Crazy to put a human in danger.” He pushed her hair off her shoulder. “But look what I’d have missed if I’d won my argument.”
Sofia didn’t know whether to scream ah-ha or to let the flicker of excitement grow. She’d known he thought her job was foolish but now they were married. He didn’t expect her to quit working, did he?
“I don’t intend to sit around unemployed,” she said.
“I have no doubt you plan to continue your crusade of doing away with violence in our world. I just hope you’ll be much more realistic in your expectations.” He handed her the box of cookies and stood behind her picking grass from her hair. “Eat your dinner.”
“Why do you have a box of Girl Scout Cookies?” She leaned into his touch and Dragomir’s stomach grumbled.
He reached around and tore open the box.
Sofia squirmed. “You’re mushy!” She giggled. “Tell me. Why did you buy them?”
“Who are you calling mushy?” He dumped the box on the counter and two sleeves of cookies tumbled out.
“You. Tough guy.”
“I like to support the local youth.”
She laughed. “Liar.”
He smiled. “I am not.” He ripped open the bag and held it for Sofia to take a cookie. “I do like to support the local youth, especially blue-eyed, toothless-grinning little girls in brown uniforms.”
“Ah, a weakness for women in uniform.” She bit into the chocolate-covered biscuit. “Try one. You might like it.”
He held up a little round disc covered in chocolate, turned it around, and studied it from all angles. Then he sniffed it.
“It’s a chocolate mint cookie, not a poisonous flower. Just put it in your mouth.” She nudged his hand.
He licked the rim, rubbing his tongue back and forth over one spot. Then he sucked his
tongue.
Sofia suddenly felt hotter. She knew full and well his actions had been tactical in nature—understand the cookie, not make Sofia hot and bothered. But his tongue slowly rubbing back and forth over the cookie had just that effect.
She adjusted the straps and neckline of her cami, opened another bottle of water and chugged it.
“When did you run into a Girl Scout? I didn’t know they sold cookies in the woods.” She tossed the empty bottle into the trash. “No wait, wait.” She waved her hands in front of her. “I know. They were selling door-to-door in the Lower Level, right? I wonder what badge they’d earn for that. Definitely survival.” She tossed her head back and laughed. “I can just see them knocking on a door and coming face to face with The Board.” She was near hysterics, holding on to the counter. “A little troop of Girl Scouts pulling wagons of cookies. Ha!” She dabbed the corners of her eyes with her fingers. “Can you imagine the shock on everyone’s faces?”
Dragomir smirked. “Why do you think I lied?” He bit the edge of the cookie. “It’s not bad.” He broke off another small piece.
“I could feel it.” Sofia sniffed and sighed.
Dragomir handed her a paper towel.
She blew her nose. “You were all warm and gooey and then you got all hard and cold.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Sounds weird but that’s the best I can explain.”
He nodded and licked the chocolate off his lips. “I’ll have to remember that.”
She popped a whole cookie into her mouth and crunched for a bit. “Right. No lying. Your wife will find out.”
“I can tell when you aren’t being truthful as well.” He watched her.
She licked her lips. “When?” She inhaled then held the breath deep in her lungs before glancing up at him. She’d been lying quite a bit around him. From the first moment she laid eyes on him. He couldn’t have possibly known all this time. She picked up the box and pretended to read the ingredients.
“You were afraid of Rick. Even though you said you weren’t.”
“Yeah. I lied.” Well, if that was all he offered, she wasn’t digging for more on this topic.
Her stomach growled.
“I knew you were hungry even when you said you weren’t.”
She smiled. “You still haven’t answered my questions. I know what you’re doing.”
If he thought he’d managed to evade her, he was in for a surprise. She didn’t give up anything that easily.
“We’ll start slow. Tell me how you ended up with Girl Scout cookies.”
His smile made her knees weak. She looked right at him, straight into his eyes. For once she wasn’t afraid he’d somehow turn the tables. She knew she had him running.
“I needed juice and a few other necessities so I went to the grocery store on a Saturday early one evening. The little buggers had a table. They asked me if I wanted to buy some. I couldn’t say no.”
She beamed. “So little girls can wrap you around their fingers with just a box of cookies.” She held up the Thin Mints.
He leaned on the counter only inches from her face. “Big girls can, too.”
She blinked. He pulled the box from her hand and set it on the counter. Then he slid the edge of a cookie along her lips. The smile on his face was absolutely devilish. “Open.”
She did and the cookie touched her tongue. She bit down, and he pulled the remainder of the cookie away, grinning. Then he ate the rest.
“You seem to like cookies,” he said.
She felt his excitement. Wow, but he was good. Well, with enough vodka two could play at this game. She poured another shot. “I like it when you feed me.” She pressed the glass to her lips and sipped. The cool liquid ran down her throat. She slid her tongue over her lips slowly.
He smiled and picked up another cookie. “For a woman with so few lovers you’re quite a flirt.” He touched the cookie to her lip. When she opened her mouth, he pulled it away and bit it.
She watched him wide-eyed. “I do what it takes to get what I want. How did you become a vampire?”
“Really?” He offered the cookie to her, watching her like she might bite him. Sofia opened her mouth and the minty biscuit slid in. His fingers brushed her lips.
She blinked up at him.
Dragomir poured them each more vodka. “After Elena’s death the solitude made me crazy. I searched for trouble. Every chance I got I jumped at the opportunity to meet my death. When I finally thought I’d meet my maker, it didn’t turn out as I’d hoped. Andrei gave me death. Then gave me life. And every day and night since I’ve relived that moment.” He placed the bottle on the counter.
Sofia sat silently. The heat from only moments ago dissipated, replaced by a cold loneliness. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel badly.” She squeezed his hand. “I only wanted to know how it happened.”
“And now you do.” He brushed his thumb over her fingers.
She came around the counter to stand in front of him. “At least you know where you came from. Parts of me are still a mystery.” She laced her fingers around his neck.
He pulled her up into his arms. “One I wouldn’t mind unraveling.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
The anticipation of kissing Sofia was almost more than Dragomir could stand. He pressed his lips to her mouth, and she kissed him with such force he thought she’d consume him. Her tongue danced with his, gliding along his, delving into him with no inhibition.
He carried her to the sleeping chamber and placed her on the bed. The floral woodsy scent of their union perfumed the air.
He tugged her top down without breaking the kiss. Her hands flew to the button of his jeans and she unbuttoned and unzipped them without hesitation. Before she reached inside and took hold of him, he caught her hand. “Slow. There’s no hurry.” He whispered the words against her ear, making sure he breathed along her skin and enjoying the shiver that rocked through her.
“Don’t you want me to touch you?” She panted.
“Yes, of course. But no rush.” Dragomir wasn’t surprised by her rush to touch him. She’d only had two lovers and it didn’t sound like they’d been magnificent. “There is such a thing as foreplay in spite of what you may have been told.” He nibbled her ear.
“Oh.” She swallowed loudly. “You want to do that?” Her body tensed. “I should probably shower first.”
Dragomir pulled back from her and smiled.
“I’m sweaty so it’s probably best if we just…you know…call it quits for a bit.” She wiggled out from under him. “The shower?”
Dragomir pointed toward the bathroom and watched her scurry off to the shower. He rolled onto his back and lay spread across his bed listening to the water run. She had no clothes to put on when she finished and he loved that fact. He waited three more minutes then went to his mate.
The whole room was steamed. He could barely make out the outline of her body inside the glass stall. Her arms were raised above her head working shampoo into her hair. Full round breasts came in and out of focus with the flow of the steam. Shapely hips turned to reveal her lovely round ass.
He dropped his jeans to the floor and opened the glass door.
Sofia gasped when he stepped inside. “What—”
“I worked out, too. A shower seems like a very good idea.” He crowded his way under the stream of water and watched Sofia watch him.
Suds bubbled in her hair. They sluiced down her chest, foamy waves gliding between her breasts to be captured in the dark curls between her legs. Her mouth formed a perfect O and she blinked wide eyes at him. She lowered her hands to cover her breasts.
Dragomir shampooed his hair, then rinsed, keeping his back to the glass door and Sofia in front of him. He lathered his chest and underarms then slid soapy hands downward.
Sofia’s attention followed his hands and one eyebrow arched as she watched his cock harden with every foamy stroke. He took great care to linger with each stroke and enjoyed the way her breasts rose and fell a
s she watched.
She sucked in a fast breath. “My eyes.” She reached out for the water, eyes closed against the suds trailing from her hair.
Dragomir stepped aside and maneuvered her under the water. He tucked his fingers into her hair, working the suds clean and rinsing them from her face. “Better?”
She blinked up and nodded.
He turned her back to him and began soaping her body. First her neck, slow gentle swirls massaging her skin, then he worked his way to her ass.
His hand slid around her waist and he pulled her back against him, wedging his erection between her cheeks.
She gasped and jumped forward but he held her tight to him.
“Easy Sofia,” he whispered against her ear as his free hand slid soap along her breasts and down to her belly.
Her head rested against his chest.
He replaced the soap on its rack and ran a filmy palm over her skin, cupping her breast. Sofia’s heartbeat picked up, pounding through her breast so quickly he felt it vibrating against his palm. Her breaths became rapid though shallow. Dragomir’s lips traced her ear and moved lower.
“Sofia.”
She looked over her shoulder at him, water dripping from long lashes.
His lips came to hers. He held her full breast in one hand and let the other hand slide lower to work its way through the nest of curls.
Her mouth opened and she kissed him. Her hand came up to his neck, holding him to her. She was hungry. He could tell by the soft moans, the way her body molded against his and the scent of her need.
She parted her legs and tilted her hips into him. Her other hand clung to his wrist, nails digging into his skin. He worked her soft wet clit, gently pressing his finger over and over, small circles that made her hips rock.
Her ass pressed against his cock and he moaned into her mouth. He held her tight against him, nearly lifting her from the floor. She pressed herself into his hand and wiggled against his fingers.
Two fingers worked quicker circles over the sensitive area. He squeezed her breast, wanting nothing more than to take it into his mouth and suck. He wanted to drop to his knees and trail his tongue from her nipple to her clit, lapping the water from her skin and driving her over the edge.
Black Magic Rose Page 21
