Page 14 of Taken By The Vampire King

She parted her lips but said nothing.

I leaned closer to her, and she watched me, truly prey caught in my gaze. She let out a startled whimper as I bent so close our lips almost touched.

“I think I’m going to enjoy this, Miss Boucher.” When I touched my mouth against hers, it was faint and fleeting, and longing sent thin threads through me, tying me into tiny, painful knots as the start of our bond developed.

Before I could tease myself any more, I pulled away. “I’ll be back for you later tonight. In the meantime, I’ll make all the arrangements we’ve discussed.”

I returned to the drawing room and picked up her signed contract before folding it into three and tucking it into my pocket. Then I reclaimed the rest of Jean Boucher’s file.

“You won’t be required at The Pour House today,” I said as I let myself out into the mid-morning Louisiana sun, fighting against the ache in my gums.

If Leia made a response, it was contained behind the closed door, and it probably wasn’t one I’d have wanted to hear anyway. I grinned as I strode down the steps, my attention on the cracked and decaying stone under my feet. Creepers wound around the columns, anchoring themselves to the masonry, and I wouldn’t have liked to take my chances leaning against the balcony balustrade.

So much work to undertake to bring this place anywhere near to its former glory.

And my mate planned to do it all herself, it seemed.

I slipped my sunglasses on as I crossed the driveway to where Jenkins was still waiting, and as I slid into the backseat, I already had my phone to my ear.

“Yeah?”

I shook my head. Benedict rarely sounded respectful. “She’s coming to live with me. Can you get everything ready?”

There was a moment’s pause. “Yes, absolutely.”

“And Ben?”

Another pause. “Yeah?” This time the word was hesitant, and I grinned as we traveled back into town, familiar scenery hurtling by and the dry AC in my car keeping the worst of the humidity at bay.

“You’re managing a bar for the next month.”

Benedict chuckled. “Now that, I can definitely do. So what made you call in the sub-clause?”

“She’s everything I need.” I’d intended to keep things vague, but I pressed the button to roll the privacy screen into place and filled Benedict in. He needed to know if he was going to help me. “I need to protect her from the others, though. She’s mine for a month. That’s the only time I have to spend with her and make her want to stay.”

Benedict hissed an inhale through his teeth. “But she’s a human. What have you found?”

I chuckled. “What haven’t I found? A virgin to cement my ascension to the throne. More. But Sebastian could present a…problem.”

My mind whirled as I spoke. Sebastian was my younger brother. He’d always been the spare to my heir, and he’d always been jealous. He’d see Leia as his opportunity to step into my place. Most likely by killing her to prevent my claim on a virgin. He was a ruthless son of a bitch, and he knew I’d never be officially recognized as king without staking my claim to a virgin to heighten my powers.

Benedict sighed. “You never take the easy route, Nic. When do you need me at the bar?”

“As soon as possible. I told Leia she’s not needed there today. I’ll collect her later. I want to talk to my staff before I bring her home.” My chef would probably be most pleased of all—finally, someone to cook for.

“You got Jason on security detail?” Of course, Benedict was still focused on practicalities.

“Yes. And I’ll warn him about Seb.” I blew out a sigh. If only vampire families weren’t so bloodthirsty.

“Maybe he won’t try anything.” Benedict’s hopeful tone made me chuckle.

“Mm… History doesn’t permit me that degree of optimism.”

Benedict chuckled too. “Okay, I’ll grab the address of this bar I’m managing from our files, and I’ll head straight there after I make any other necessary arrangements for her stay.”

“I think the bar’s going to need some work.” If it was anything like the house, it would need a complete overhaul. I was confident Benedict could handle it, though.

We finished the call, and I grinned as I slipped my phone away and considered all of the changes I needed to make my home a place where Leia would want to spend time. My seduction of her would start today.

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