by Lexi Blake
“Don’t think I’m done yet,” he whispered against my skin. “We haven’t even started.”
I smiled as Danny kissed my breasts and rubbed himself against me, letting me know he was already hard again. I would definitely have to misbehave more often.
* * * *
It was a long, long time later when we cuddled down together, and I thought about what Dev had said. Up until tonight, besides the first night we’d been together, he and Daniel had been content to take turns and watch. This was so much more intimate. This was real sharing, and I felt a bone-deep satisfaction that went far beyond the multiple orgasms the boys had wrung out of me.
Daniel licked my neck from behind, cradling my body to his, and I realized he hadn’t even fed yet. We’d been so involved in the sex he’d forgotten about blood. Dev kissed me lightly, our mouths just playing. I loved this part, and it was so much better because I was between them. I was surrounded by them, warm and happy.
“Did you enjoy yourself, my goddess?” Dev asked, a smile in his voice. He sounded entirely satisfied with the way the evening had gone.
“You know I did.” I let my tongue tangle playfully with his as Daniel bit down gently and began to suck. “Oh, god, that feels so good, Danny.”
This was a gentle feeding. Daniel had been well fed on the sex magic that flowed from Dev. Vampires feed on blood and sexual energy, and the sexual energy had been off the scale. He was more than likely full, and I was just a little snack. Sure enough, he released the vein quickly and was back to long, luxurious strokes of his tongue to help close the little wounds.
“I truly hate to interrupt an intimate moment, Mr. Donovan.” A deep voice with a thick French accent shattered our intimacy and any feeling of safety I had. “But I fear the three of you are never going to tire of each other, and Marcus is going to expire from sheer frustration if he has to watch much more.”
Daniel was on his feet, claws out and fangs long, looking for the intruder. Dev shoved me behind his body, dragging his sheet up.
“All right, Marini,” Daniel growled. He stopped and stared at a place in front of the bedroom door. “I know you’re there.”
“Mr. Thomas, you may release the illusion.” Louis Marini chuckled as though he’d been watching something amusing and not becoming the vampire Peeping Tom.
One moment we were seemingly alone, and the next there were three vampires standing in front of our bedroom door. Louis Marini was the head of the Council. Marcus Vorenus was a handsome Italian and Daniel’s patron. The third vampire made my heart hurt a little. Chad Thomas was Neil’s lover. Six months before, we’d sent him to the Council in Paris to cover up our activities and gain a spy.
Dev relaxed and leaned back against me, drawing my arms around his chest and my legs around his waist. His body covered mine completely, but he seemed negligent. Dev was excellent at playing the lovely, insignificant lover. His fingers tangled with mine, begging me to play along. I tried to relax and pretend I was comfortable, but my heart was pounding and not in a good way. I didn’t like Marini. I really didn’t like the covetous expression he had as he stared at me and Dev. I wasn’t sure who he was more interested in since he’d propositioned both of us the year before.
“Would you care to explain why you come into my home and insult me like this?” Daniel’s voice came out in a low growl as he pulled gray sweatpants over his hips. He didn’t bother with a shirt.
“Daniel, we meant no harm,” Marcus tried to explain.
“It was a small test, Mr. Donovan.” Marini took in the bedroom, walking around, examining the contents. “I thought it fitting we try it out on you. You were responsible for finding the talented Mr. Thomas. He’s quite the savant.”
“He turns out to be a master illusionist. It’s a rare talent.” Marcus watched as Dev brought my fingers to his lips and pretended to be far more interested in playing with me than listening in on vampire talk. I knew he was processing everything they said to figure out exactly how much Marini knew. The only reason we were still on the bed and not trying to fight our way out was the fact that Marini was outnumbered. Marcus and Chad were on our side.
“Criss Angel’s got nothing on me,” Chad said, giving me a little wink.
“I thought if anyone could sense the unseen it would be our Nex Apparatus, though I fear it wasn’t a fair test. Your senses were involved in other things. This home is impressive, Daniel,” Marini said, taking in the lushness of the surroundings. Dev sprang for the best of everything. “It’s far better than anything the Council could provide for you. The security is excellent. If we hadn’t brought along Mr. Thomas, we would have been unable to reach you without much advanced warning. The club downstairs is yours as well?”
Daniel watched the head of the Council with his arms crossed. “It belongs to Devinshea, who belongs to me.”
Marini’s eyebrow arched at that. “You claim much for one so young. Mr. Quinn is not some mere companion. He’s a prince of Faery and a powerful man in his own right.”
“Are you questioning my right?” Daniel’s voice hardened and I winced a little because his possessive nature was coming out again. “I assure you I can defend my blood.”
“Daniel,” Dev said, a certain pout to his voice. “When are you going to be through with business? You promised us no business tonight, only pleasure. I haven’t even been bitten yet and Zoey hasn’t passed out, so we couldn’t possibly be done.”
I realized what Dev was trying to avoid. Daniel had been dangerously close to pushing Marini. It didn’t take much to cause Danny to lose his temper when it came to what he considered his, and Marini had crossed a line. We weren’t ready for this fight yet. I followed Dev’s lead. I watched Daniel even as I playfully nipped Dev’s neck. “You did promise us, Danny. You said you would stay in bed with us until I let you go. I’m not tired yet.”
Marini’s face went from stirring anger to amusement. “Are they always so insatiable?”
A slight smile crossed Daniel’s face, and I knew we’d defused the situation. “You have no idea. There’s a reason it takes two of us to please her. I won’t even go into his appetites. I assure you what they require of me might kill a lesser vampire.”
“I am afraid, Mrs. Donovan, that your husband will have to reschedule his little orgy,” the Frenchman said dismissively. “The Council is on its way to Los Angeles where we have business. We decided to stop here for the night and check in on our Nex Apparatus. We require updates on your progress.”
“Of course,” Daniel replied, his anger pushed down in favor of a businesslike demeanor. “I will brief you at your earliest convenience. I think you’ll be happy with what I’ve accomplished.”
“I’m sure we will,” Louis murmured. “We’re having a small party at the club. You will be there in an hour.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll have everything ready.” Daniel nodded and gestured for the door.
Marini moved to leave and Chad followed him. Marcus glanced reluctantly back at us as though he didn’t want to go.
Marini looked back at Dev and me, taking a moment to watch our play. “And bring your lovely blood, Mr. Donovan. They’ll bring much-needed life to our otherwise dull evening.”
“Sir,” Daniel began.
“That’s an order, Daniel,” Marini said shortly. “Come, Marcus, you can drool over the girl at the club. We’ll expect you in an hour, Donovan.”
Everything stopped as the vampires left. Daniel stood in the middle of the room, his body so still it could have been made of marble. Dev kept perfectly quiet, listening for the moment he heard the elevator close and begin to move down toward his office.
“We’re supposed to be safe here,” Daniel said, not looking our way. He was keeping his face hidden, and I was sure his beast was close to the surface.
“I’ll call Albert and find out what happened.” Dev climbed off the bed and reached for his pants. He gave me a look that said “deal with him.”
I nodded because when it came to
Daniel’s temper, I was the only one who could handle him. It was a testament to his control that he wasn’t tossing furniture around. It hadn’t been so long ago that he would have been doing just that.
Dev left the room without a backward glance, and I slid out of bed and ran my hands along my vampire’s back. Every muscle was bunched with potential violence. I let my arms wind around his waist and pressed my skin to his.
“It’s all right, Daniel.” I let my hands slide along his waist and then up his chest. Oftentimes our connection could help calm Danny’s beast. “If Marini had found anything, Chad and Marcus would have handled it. He was just showing off. Everything’s okay. Dev will have twelve security experts in here tomorrow installing motion detectors and all manner of crazy, paranoid safety equipment.”
“He sure as hell better, Z.” His voice was still rough, but his hands came up to cover mine, holding them against his skin. “He promised me you would be safe here.”
I kissed the smooth skin of his back, feeling him begin to relax under my ministrations. “Don’t blame Dev. It fooled you, too, and you have supersenses.”
“I was concentrating on other things,” he admitted quietly. “I wonder if they’re going to ruin every good minute I have, Z. Tonight was…god, tonight might have made the whole vampire thing worth it.”
“It just might have.”
“And now I have to hold a piece of myself apart when we make love because the fuckers can get me wherever I am,” he said bitterly. “I always have to listen because they could be anywhere.”
“It won’t be forever,” I said, hoping I was right.
Dev walked in, cell phone pressed to his ear. “Yes, that’s what I want. I want the entire place wired with motion detectors and whatever the hell can detect heat signatures. I don’t care what it costs, Albert. We also need to change the keycards to thumbprints and voice recognition. Get them in here tomorrow.”
Daniel shifted and leaned over, kissing me softly. “I’m sorry to drag you into this, Z. I’ve got to get some stuff together. You get dressed. It’ll be okay.”
Dev was issuing further edicts on new security protocols and I looked sadly at our bed. I wanted to be back in it where we’d been safe and secure and loved. Now we had to worry about safety and subterfuge, and my stomach was already rumbling because I skipped dinner. I was betting they didn’t have a dining room at Daniel’s club, at least not one where I wasn’t on the menu.
Chapter Eleven
In every major city where there is even a small vampire presence, one can find a vampire club. It’s usually in an out-of-the-way part of the city housed in a neat, unassuming building that does nothing to attract unwanted attention. The club provides the vampires with anything they require. It serves much the same function as an old-world gentlemen’s club. This is the place a vampire comes for a meal, companionship, or a game of cards. In addition to serving the local vampires, the club is capable of housing visitors and is the place to entertain.
I’d never been in this inner sanctum. After we began living together, Daniel stopped going. When we’d been apart, he spent a good amount of time in the club, but once Dev and I became his regular meals, he no longer required it.
I looked the place over with more than a little bit of curiosity as the limo pulled up in front of the small three-story building. It was a townhouse, and a Victorian one at that. I could see the lights from the windows, but they were dim as though lit by candles rather than modern light bulbs.
Daniel took my hand and helped me out of the limo. “Stay close to Dev. I’ll be in a meeting with Marini and the rest of the Council, so I think you’ll be fairly safe. Michael and Alexander are probably here. I know you can handle them.”
“Perhaps she can, but Michael is always looking for a way to righteously kill me,” Dev said with a jaunty smile. I could tell he was hoping for a fight. He’d been tense ever since the vampires showed up in our room. He’d dressed in a three-piece suit and had forced me into something designer. Daniel looked slick and sexy in his suit.
“Michael knows our situation,” Daniel replied, picking up the briefcase he’d loaded his laptop into. Michael House was Daniel’s friend and ally. Though he had a problem with Dev, he wouldn’t cause trouble here. “Just try to stay inconspicuous.”
I didn’t laugh, but it wasn’t easy. I might be the kind of girl who doesn’t get a second glance in a bar or a club, but when I walk into a room full of vampires, all eyes are going to be on me whether I like it or not. I’m a companion. I can’t hide the shine I have for those who walk the night. I glow for them, and they know my blood will make them strong. I would give pretty much anything to be able to be inconspicuous, but that wasn’t going to happen on this particular night.
Dev’s hand went to the small of my back as he guided me up the steps to the house. Daniel pulled out a keycard and the door opened for us. He held his hand out and Dev moved me to Daniel’s side. He took a step back and allowed us to enter before him. This is what I hated about so called “society.” I hated the little games we were forced to play whenever we left the confines of our home.
“Good evening, Daniel,” a husky female voice said. A woman in a killer dress stood in the lobby. A brilliant smile crossed her face as she rushed forward to greet my husband. “It’s been so long I wondered if you would ever visit here again.”
And bitch was not happy to see me. The tall, lithe female had murder in her eyes as she took me in. She was pretty with short, blonde hair and light-blue eyes.
“It’s nice to see you, Stacy.” Daniel nodded casually to the woman as if her eyes weren’t completely filled with desire for him and animosity for me. He was totally oblivious as he smiled at her and pulled me forward. “I got married. You know how it goes. You get married and just want to stay in. I only came tonight because Marini’s in town and ordered me to. This is my wife, Zoey Donovan. Z, this is Stacy Sears. She runs the club. She was really nice to me after I turned.”
I just bet she’d been nice to Daniel. I wondered just how many times she’d offered to be especially nice to him. As far as I could tell, she was human and the humans in a place like this were good for the dinner table or the bedroom, sometimes both. “Nice to meet you.”
“So she’s a companion.” She looked me up and down, letting me know she didn’t see anything special.
“She’s my wife,” Daniel corrected, apparently not noticing she refused to speak directly to me. I heard Dev chuckle behind me. “We’ve been together since we were kids, but we just got married about two years ago. Gosh, I guess I haven’t been in here in a really long time.”
“Yes.” Her mouth tightened with displeasure. “You just stopped coming.”
Daniel shrugged, looking past the foyer into the hallway beyond, searching for something. “I guess you could say I prefer to eat at home. Do I need to sign Zoey and our friend in?”
Stacy shook her head as though trying to shake something off. “Your companion is already on the books, but your friend will have to sign in. Your name is Quinn, right?”
“Yes, Devinshea Quinn, Prince of Faery, at your service.” He bowed at the waist but not before I saw the amusement in his eyes.
Stacy produced a leather-bound book and Daniel signed it. While he handled the formalities, I took a moment to look around the place that had been a mystery for so long. There had been a time when I would have given anything to follow Danny in here as his companion. Now I just wanted to go home.
The carpet beneath my feet was lush and ran the length of the foyer. It looked expensive and old. The room was lit with candles and gas lamps. I could have been on the set of a Victorian film. Music thudded softly from somewhere in the building. It was a sexy hip-hop beat, much like the stuff that played at Ether, and I wondered just how the Council partied. I’d attended a ball last year but that had been a formal occasion. This was a more casual affair, and there was a small part of me that was fascinated by seeing vampires in their element.
&nb
sp; “I’ll need the conference room,” Daniel was saying to the blonde, who nodded vigorously and promised she would do anything she could to help him. “Are they in the parlor?”
“Yes, they are.” Stacy began to lead us down the hallway. She smiled back at Daniel. “You should know that I don’t believe any of those rumors about you. I know you, Danny. You aren’t like that.”
“Like what?” Daniel asked, not sounding like he really cared.
I cared. She said “Danny” in an intimate way. Danny was my husband. Danny was the boy I grew up with. Daniel was a badass vampire. Everyone called him Daniel except me. She might as well have called him “baby” or “lover.”
Stacy turned and she almost touched him. Her hands came out to reach for him before she caught herself. “I know you aren’t really living with him. You’re not the type.” She glanced back at Dev and was the first woman I’d ever met who didn’t melt at the sight of him. She glared at him like he was a bit distasteful. “Did the Council force you to take a companion? It makes sense. They need you to be strong for the important work you do. You don’t have to pretend with me. I can keep your secrets. The faery can have her. You can come back to me and no one is going to think less of you.”
Daniel looked to Dev, a confused light in his eyes.
Dev laughed outright. “Seriously, Dan, you’re screwed now. Don’t you know to handle your ex-lovers before introducing them to the wife? The preference, of course, is to never introduce them to the wife.”
“Lover?” The question came out of my mouth as a little screech.
Daniel went the slightest bit pale. “Z, baby, I swear to you. I never…”
Stacy put her hands on her almost nonexistent hips. “I was his favorite. I fed him for years. He’ll come back to me. He only keeps you because of that blood you have.”
Dev’s arms went around my waist just in time to keep me from launching myself at the woman and snatching that bleached blonde hair straight out of her head. “Don’t, sweetheart. She isn’t worth messing up that dress. It’s Versace, and you’ll ruin the line if you tumble around on the floor.”
