Page 12 of Taken By The Vampire King

“Wait. That was fast. What about negotiations of your own that need addressing? Don’t you have anything to add or anything to try to get me to reconsider?” This was way too easy. Something was definitely up.

Dupont tilted his head as he studied me. “Anything particular need further negotiation? Sudden desire to kill someone or to sleep with me?”

Heat flared into my cheeks, and I curved my fingers against the cushions of the sofa. “No.”

“Well then.” He glanced at his hand, still suspended midair between us, and with reluctance, I took it, wrapping my fingers around his and remembering the way he’d touched me as he kissed me.

More heat flared through my body, scorching the inside of me with awareness before pulsing at my clit. I closed my eyes. There was way more to this business arrangement than I knew. There had to be, but there was also no other way to protect everything Mom had worked so hard for—my past and my future.

“Thank you.” The words were out of my mouth before I could take them back, and one corner of his lips quirked up.

“I believe I should be thanking you, Miss Boucher.”

But I’d already committed, so I continued. “Thank you for giving me the chance to save my home and my bar. It’s sort of a legacy. My mother’s family has owned both for a very long time, and my maternal family line can be traced back to the settlement of Baton Rouge.” I glanced around. “I know it doesn’t look like much. It’s run down, fallen into disrepair, and Mom would hardly recognize the place now, but one day I’ll bring it back to its former glory and make her proud. And you’ve given me that opportunity back.”

I looked quickly at Dad, but he was half-dozing where he sat, certainly not listening, and not the least perturbed at the events he’d set in motion.

For a moment, Dupont was quiet, like I’d surprised him. Then he nodded. “I think sometimes we create our own opportunities. But I’m glad to see family means so much to you.” He nodded again, the movement decisive and approving. “I think we’ll be just fine this month, Miss Boucher. In fact, I think we might get along very well indeed. You might even be surprised at just how well.”

Then he smiled, that strange, predatory light back in his eyes as he inhaled so deeply his chest broadened, and too many emotions took root in me. Apprehension, confusion, excitement, fear, and desire all warred under my skin.

What the hell had I just done?

Chapter 4

Nic

“Miss Boucher?” Even suspicion looked good on her, the way she narrowed her eyes when I referred to her formally, handing her the distance she so clearly craved but didn’t seem to believe in.

She didn’t trust me, but she was right not to. One month would never be enough when I needed her by my side. But the month itself was little more than semantics. It was definitely long enough to get her to agree to remain with me.

I almost laughed at myself. I’d never tolerated humans well—that was understatement—yet here I was, negotiating to keep one.

Baby steps, as humans liked to say. I needed a virgin to secure my reign, but I needed her to come to me willingly.

I withheld a sigh. Oh, to be human, and behave as if I had all the time in the world when in reality, they had so little.

Leia watched me, and a shiver of anticipation worked through my body. Sitting with her so close was the most exquisite torture. Her scent almost drowned me, yet I couldn’t prevent myself from taking breath after breath of it. If I hyperventilated, there was no better excuse than the scent of a virgin, especially one who tempted me like this.

The mere thought of having her in my house was almost enough to make me come in my pants…but I had no intention of coming anywhere other than her body. And that would require careful seduction.

I flipped through the paperwork and extracted the final contract Jason had made legal draw up.

“If you could just sign here, Miss Boucher.” I indicated the dotted line and reached to my inside pocket for a pen.

She swallowed, the sound audible, transmitting her fear. “You brought an actual contract for this eventuality? You knew I’d agree?”

It had been mostly a certainty—humans always went with the least bad thing. And a month with me paled in comparison to losing every other element of her life. “Hoped.”

As she glanced at me, more suspicion in her eyes, I stood and strolled casually to the fireplace, glancing up at the portrait of the woman above. It was her mother, but Leia didn’t know I knew that. I’d been involved with this family since they started in Baton Rouge. I’d grieved for each of them as they’d died, even Camille, although we’d lost touch after Father…

I shook my head and stopped the thoughts of the past. There was no point to them now. I had too much future to secure to get lost in memories.

Perhaps my link to Leia’s family line had been fate, although no other had ever held the same pull for me as Leia. “Would you like to show me around?”

Her head whipped up, her eyes meeting mine as I asked my question.

“The house won’t be yours.” Her words were cold. “You don’t need to see it.”

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