Prima

by Annie Nicholas

  “So when you are fed a strict diet of fear-drenched blood it becomes an…addiction.”

  She stroked his head. “Why choose Nick?” Did he want her to share his tastes? Fear wasn’t something she wanted to inspire in anyone.

  Daedalus ran his hand over her leg until his fingertips reached just under her mid-thigh hem. “He’s a masochist.”

  The hairs on the back of her neck rose. “What kind of kink do you think I’m into?” She bopped him on the forehead. “A few days with fangs and you think I’m ready for BDSM?”

  He blinked with a bemused smile. “It’s not like that. Though there are a few places where we could find that if you ever change your mind.” He gestured at their surroundings. “Babe, this is a respectable restaurant with a wonderful reputation. It’s where vampire couples can come have a romantic dinner.” Lacing his fingers with hers, he pulled her onto his lap. “Relax.”

  “Then why do we need someone like Nick?” She pictured black leather and metal studs. If her heart could race, it would.

  “I’ll do my best to teach you to feed gently.” His hand slid between her knees and crawled higher as he spoke quietly by her ear. “But Nick won’t mind if it hurts.”

  Her breathing grew ragged from both his touch and the thought of finally sinking her teeth into someone. “I’m too hungry. I don’t like feeling out of control.”

  “You don’t seem to mind it when I make you lose it in bed.”

  “That’s different.”

  “Not really. Feeding for a vampire is still passionate.” He gripped her thigh. “But it doesn’t have to be sex.”

  “You’ll stay with me?”

  “Fuck, yes. I’m not leaving you alone in a room with Nick. I’d have to kill him after.” He pressed a tender kiss under her ear. “Someone’s coming.” He lifted her from his lap and set her next to him.

  A young woman in the same professional uniform as the hostess entered. “I’m Rosaline, and I’ll be your service attendant tonight. Can I get you something from the bar?”

  “Bring us a bottle of Sassicaia mixed with your freshest bottled donor. Once we’re done with that, you can send for Nick.”

  She pulled out a list and frowned. “He serves only private clientele, and I don’t see you on his list.”

  “I’ve been away. Tell him it’s me. He’ll come.”

  She hesitated in the doorway, her eyes darting to Daedalus’s features, and Sugar could see Rosaline mentally tallying that something was different about him than other vampires. She nodded and left.

  “You sound very sure of yourself.” It was something she’d been learning to mimic yet still had trouble implementing.

  “I’m Prime. These young girls didn’t work here when I was a regular.” He winked. “It won’t take long for word to spread that I’m back.”

  She pouted and touched his face. “It must have been terrible for you to rough it in Chicago.” Her sarcasm wasn’t wasted on him.

  He grabbed her ass. “I found compensation.”

  An older gentleman arrived with their bottle of wine/blood. “Sorry for the inconvenience, Master Pal Robi. So glad to be of service to you again.”

  Her eyes went wide. Nick wasn’t what she’d imagined.

  “Sugar, this is the manager, Antonio.” A twinkle of amusement lit Daedalus’s eyes. He knew that she’d assumed this was Nick. “I’d like to add Sugar to my account.”

  “Very good, sir and miss.” Antonio poured two glasses and handed them out. “Just ring when you are ready for Nick.” He closed the door behind him.

  “Your account?”

  Daedalus gave her a secretive smile. “Your wine will cool.”

  She sipped and allowed the smooth, warm liquid to roll down her throat. “Different.” She could taste the blood, but it was thinned by the wine. The flavors mixed well. “I like it.” She took a larger gulp.

  “It’s an excellent brand.” He read the bottle. “And year.” Then he filled her glass once again.

  “You’re not drinking.” Her hunger flared. She hated how it made her hands shake.

  “The bottle is for you.” He cupped her trembling glass and brought it to her lips. “Wine will ease your anxiety, and the blood will curb your hunger.”

  She drank, taking gulps, and Daedalus kept her glass full. “You’re going to have to carry me out of here.”

  He chuckled. “We have the room until dawn, so there’s no hurry to return.” Lounging back on the sedan, he set one leg behind her, bending his knee.

  “You shouldn’t have ignored your duties to your people, you know.” She pointed at him, but her finger weaved with poor aim.

  Giving her a small, crooked smile, he set the full glass back in her hand. “I’m not ignoring them, babe. Time works differently for creatures like us. A few years are nothing. The only thing that dragged me back here were those idiots thinking they could kill me.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, and the light in his eyes faded. “I failed to protect you.”

  “Here or Chicago, something would have eventually happened.” She continued to drink but with less of a frat boy’s enthusiasm. “I’m surrounded by shifters and vampires. You’re not the most peaceful lot to live amongst, and I’m collateral damage.”

  Downcast, his gaze stayed fixed on the floor. “I know.”

  “Spice is happy you turned me. It will be one less thing for her to worry about.” She kicked off one of her heels and slid her toes along his calf.

  He continued to stare at the floor, not reacting to her touch.

  “D?”

  “Can you ever be happy?” Daedalus’s question came out so quiet she wasn’t sure if she’d heard right.

  “It’s not a matter of happiness, sweetie.” She crawled into his arms. “As long as I’m with you that’ll never be an issue. The adjustment will take time though, and I’m not thrilled with how it came about.”

  He continued avoiding her gaze but twirled her engagement ring around her finger. “You’ll still marry me?”

  She lifted his chin and pressed him into the lounger with a kiss. Lips crushed against his, she pinned his hands by his head. Taking advantage of his surprise, she slipped her tongue inside his half-open mouth and plundered him like the harlot.

  He moaned and pulled her against him until her legs straddled his hips. A hard bulge thrust against her panties. Why had she worn those?

  In her passion-fueled hurry, she nicked his bottom lip. He tasted very different from the bottled blood, like electricity in liquid form. The flavor sent a jolt straight to her core, and she ground against him.

  With his hands on her shoulders, he pushed her back on his lap and held up a finger. “Hold that thought, because once we start, I doubt I can stop for your meal.” He pointed to the now-empty bottle.

  She rocked her hips one more time. “I’m feeling very naughty.”

  He groaned and threw his head against the lounger. “It’s taking all my willpower not to seize you now.” With a smirk, he gave her a smoldering glance. “Don’t think you’ll get away afterwards though.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Daedalus stretched his long arm and pressed a button on the wall behind the lounge chair.

  Sugar sat up straighter. “What was that for?” The wine had taken the edge off her anxiety, but it sprang back so easily.

  “It tells them we’re ready for dinner.”

  She crawled off his lap, settling her dress over her hips and tucking the girls deeper in their cups. This was it. She’d be biting some stranger. Breathing grew difficult. “Did they turn up the heat in here?”

  He melted into the chair. “You’re so cute.”

  She smacked his arm. “Stop that.”

  “Relax.”

  “You’re making it worse. I get—”

  The door opened, and a man in his mid-thirties strolled in. Dark brown curls tumbled to his ears, and he moved with a dancer’s grace in the tight black slacks clinging to his thighs. When he closed the
door behind him, he grinned. “I had heard rumors that you had returned, Master. Glad you haven’t forgotten me.” He sauntered across the room and shook Daedalus’s hand in a firm grip as his gaze traced over her. “And who’s this?”

  She offered her hand, head spinning. “I’m Sugar.” She’d never conversed with dinner before.

  Nick reached across the sedan, over Daedalus, and steadied her. “Whoa, sweet thing.” Setting her next to Daedalus, he glanced at the empty wine bottle then at her lover. “Are we sharing?”

  “No, but you’ll be her first feed. I couldn’t think of anyone better to handle this.”

  Nick’s back stiffened. “A fledgling?” He undid the top buttons of his shirt and opened his collar. Scars laced his throat and upper chest in a sorrowful design of old puncture wounds and cuts. Horror must have shown on her face because his expression grew dark. “I ask them to leave the marks.” He traced a rather gruesome bite on his collarbone. “Guess who gave me that one.”

  She couldn’t stop from glancing at Daedalus. Would she ever stop being shocked by his lifestyle? Probably not. Part of his allure was his experience with crossing boundaries when she feared to even tread those edges. Maybe becoming vampire would loosen her restraints and allow her to fulfill some of those forbidden desires.

  Turning her attention back to Nick, she noticed he’d rolled up a sleeve to bare his wrist. “We’ll start here.” He offered her his upturned hand.

  “I take it I’m not your first fledgling?” She held his arm. Bite scars lined his pulse point. If she bit from this angle, would she miss the artery? Maybe she should come at him from a different angle. What if she bit too hard and her teeth went through his arm?

  Daedalus pressed against her back and slid his hands over hers. “Nick’s a professional. He’s been feeding our kind since he was...”

  “Fifteen.” Nick gave her a reassuring smile, like she was a child being convinced to eat her broccoli. “You’re thinking too much. Just bite me.”

  “What if it hurts?”

  His eyebrows shot up, and he gave a nervous laugh. “I’m hoping it will.”

  Yeah, dumbass, he got off on pain. Stupid, stupid, stupid... Enough stalling. She opened her mouth and set her fangs against his skin, trying to ignore the memory of what had happened with the watermelon. With gentle pressure, she sank into his flesh.

  He didn’t pop like Clementine said skin sometimes did. It could be the scar tissue.

  Daedalus moved for a better view. “Release the bite so his blood will flow easier, and seal the wound with your mouth.” He set his finger on her chin and assisted with her fangs retreat.

  Hot liquid scorched the tip of her tongue. She hadn’t realized how cold she felt. The siren’s beckon of Nick’s heat called to her, and she pressed her mouth against his wrist. Metallic flavor filled her senses, and she closed her eyes as she savored the way it eased the sharp hunger tearing at her soul.

  “That’s it, babe.” Daedalus stroked her back.

  “She bites like a kitten.” Nick chuckled and relaxed against the lounge chair. “How long will you be in town for?”

  ***

  “For awhile.” Watching Sugar’s lips on another man’s skin should have bothered him more, but he’d known Nick since this restaurant hired him decades ago. “Are you interested in becoming privately owned?” Sugar’s feeding anxieties might be alleviated if her donors weren’t strangers all the time. In an odd way, he trusted Nick. He wouldn’t try seducing his naive fiancée for one thing, since his main preference was men.

  Wait until she found out about that. Daedalus restrained his chuckle.

  Nick gave him a seductive smile. “I’m not getting younger. If the pension plan were right, I’d be in the market for it.” Always the businessman. Daedalus could use someone like this in his company. Especially since he’d killed his best financial advisor this week.

  Sugar’s swallows grew more frantic.

  “Fledglings have to feed daily. I can’t feed her by myself. She’d drain me dry within a week.” Nick eased her head from his wound.

  She blinked in a daze while he guided her up to his neck. With more ferocity, she stabbed with her dainty fangs.

  Nick’s hiss of pleasure faded as she eased and drank with more voracity. “That’s better.” He turned his attention back to Daedalus. “What were you offering?”

  “Help recruit a couple others to be her regulars and feed her for a year until she’s acclimated to a vampire’s life, then I’ll give you a choice. Retire on some island, or cross over and work for me at Pal Robi Inc.”

  Nick grew very still.

  Daedalus continued to stroke Sugar’s tense back as her feeding slowed. He didn’t make this proposal lightly. The halls of Pal Robi Inc. were empty, and he needed to fill them. His old allies might return, but he’d like some new blood to keep the old vampires on their toes.

  “I think that’s an offer I can’t refuse.” Nick held out his hand again and shook Daedalus’s with a firm grip.

  “It might be a few weeks before my offices are running well enough to draw up the contract.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll feed her in the meantime and look for others until then.” Nick glanced at her. “She’s special to you.”

  Daedalus pointed to the ring on her finger. “She’ll be Prima, which means hands off to any of the others you pick as well. Unless they have an excruciating death wish." Adjusting to others touching her even in the most platonic manner would be another test of his self-restraint.

  She lapped at Nick's throat. The flow of blood had slowed to a trickle.

  Slipping his arm around her waist, Daedalus removed her from Nick’s arms. “That’s enough.” He set her on the empty lounge chair across from where they were sitting and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. She seemed dazed and satiated. He couldn’t remember blood having this kind of effect on him, but he'd seen others in this state.

  Nick buttoned his shirt. “If she remains this gentle, my other needs won’t be fulfilled.”

  For a fledgling, she’d taken to feeding with a rare grace. He had half-expected to have to pry her off Nick’s body. She’d been remarkable. He eyed Nick. “I’ll introduce you to Pallas, my clan brother. He’ll take care of your other desires.”

  Nick raised a speculative eyebrow.

  “Trust me. If you want a Dom, he’d be willing.”

  A wide grin spread across Nick’s face before he left the room.

  It would be best if he made sure Pallas could restrain himself before introducing him to Nick. The loss of the human would be a nuisance, especially if Sugar grew attached.

  She lay still on the lounge, one shoe off, the other dangling from her toe. She stared at nothing, then she blinked. Licking her lips, she sat up straighter and searched the room. “Where did Nick go?” The loose shoe fell with a dull thunk on the carpeted floor.

  “He has other things to pursue tonight. How do you feel?” He ran his hand over the smooth skin of her leg.

  “Uh.” She looked around the room once more. “A little confused, otherwise great.” She crawled onto his lap, straddling his hips.

  He moaned while pulling the hem of her dress over her head.

  “Daedalus.” She covered her chest and glanced at the door in earnest. “What if someone comes in?”

  “No one will enter unless we ring.” He leaned toward the buzzer. “Want to see?”

  “No.” She laughed and wrapped her arms around his as if she could hold him down. Glimpsing the playful twinkle in her eyes, he sighed. Giving her control might not be such a bad idea.

  He let her pin him to the lounge chair. “You’ve got me, you tyrant. What are your vile plans?” Please let them be very vile.

  “Oh, I plan to have my way with you.” She rose and crossed to the lounge chair then tossed him an uncertain glance over her shoulder. “You sure about the door?”

  He left his comfortable spot and locked it. “Positive.” Anything to get her to relax and let g
o. This was the Sugar he remembered. Playful, fun, and bashful. A growl rolled in his chest.

  “Ah-ah.” She wagged her finger at him. “We’ll have none of that, Mr. Pal Robi.” She sat on the edge of the lounger and crossed her legs, dressed in only her white lace panties and bra, always white for Sugar. “You’re overdressed for the occasion.” Tapping her chin with her fingertip, she watched expectantly.

  Looking down, he gestured to his attire. “You’re right.” He let his jacket slip off his shoulders and fall at his feet. In seconds his shirt and pants joined it. He stalked toward her.

  “Commando?” She licked her lips.

  “Always.” He stood in front of her, imagining that tongue doing more interesting things. More desperate and depraved things. His cock ached at the sight, but this was her night, and he wouldn’t make any demands. However, he wasn’t beyond begging. He palmed his hardening dick and gave it a few consoling strokes.

  She contemplated his form, letting her gaze travel over his body. “I’ve missed this.”

  “We have all the time we need now.” The last word caught in his throat as she took over his stroking with her tantalizing hand. Her fingers barely met around his shaft. He bent and licked her bottom lip, tasting the faintest hint of blood.

  “You never fed,” she whispered against his mouth.

  “I’m old enough that I don’t need to feed every day, but I’m not so old not to want you daily.”

  Shivering, Sugar parted her lips and pulled away from his mouth, sliding lower along his torso. She trailed kisses along his abdomen until she reached his cock and traced the tip of her tongue over its head. Then with firm strokes she lapped at him like an ice cream cone.

  He sank his hands into her hair, his fingers struggling not to command her next move. “Oh, kitten.” The softness gliding over his hard flesh sent waves of pleasure through him.

  She nicked his cock with her fang.

  He hissed at the sharp burn. A drop of blood beaded on the small cut. “Don’t stop.” Gently, he guided her back. “Please.” He needed to be sucked off in the worst way. After everything they’d been through the last few years, he had to know she still wanted him.