Page 8 of Sassy Embrace

She glowered slightly, then one side of her mouth bowed upward. It was cute.

“Is it that easy to tell?"

Claude nodded, finding it difficult to keep his own smile away.

“Not that it isn’t efficient. It’s obviously worked for you many times."

Her smile came into full bloom. Something else, something magical and surreal bloomed inside the vampire's cold heart. It was terrifying but equally thrilling. It had been far too long since the last time Claude had connected with a potential lover.

And Leigh had, if nothing else, a great deal of potential. Even if nothing happened between them, simply being so close to a woman with such beauty and charm was sending his heartracing. But then, like a pail of cold water washing over him, he recalled she was a wolf.

And that was a problem.

“Looks like rain is coming," she said, gazing up at the sky. “How about we head inside? Let’s talk about the next steps."

Claude nodded, then watched the way her hips swung back and forth in front of him, hypnotizing and outrageously alluring.

Fuck. This has to stop.

Claude’s thoughts were like a runaway train. It wasn't just because she was an attractive wolf. Many vampires, including himself, were accustomed to having flings with species that weren’t their kind. Sex was one thing. But what was prodding at him from inside his chest like a blade was something else entirely.

The profoundness of the attraction made him ache. He knew of that kind of palpable, tenderly stunning agony of attraction from a distance. His cousin Aria had felt it, being mated to a half-wolf, half-vampire. It had certainly happened before with a full vampire and full wolf, as Maree was a full vampire, mated to a full wolf.

But Claude was still baffled. He followed Leigh inside the structure where the rattling of hammers and buzzing of drills died down as rumblings of rain encroached on their productivity. They stood in what had once been the lounge, and Leigh folded her arms over her chest.

Claude tried to ignore the way the gesture enhanced her cleavage.

“So the construction should be finished next week,” she began, eyes wandering overhead, wheels cranking in her mind. “Once that is finished, there’s hiring a decorator, obtaining a liquor license, hiring waitstaff, chefs, hostesses, planning a grand opening, advertising it on social media…”

Leigh trailed off, her chin raised to the ceiling as if attempting to summon her vision into reality. He could sense that her imagination was vivid. He had thought about her lending him her imagination, and his blood started to pump red hot.

Claude began to saunter, pretending his focus rested solely on the discussion.

“...I don’t know how you vampires do it."

“Hmm?”

“All this planning,” she responded, her hands having drifted to her hips. "I do it a certain way with the Wolfes, and they seem to enjoy it. It’s fruitful, so I’m assuming that's why Tristan asked me."

There was no venom in her tone. It was all matter-of-fact. Claude turned to her with his hands in his pockets, and her gaze snapped back at him.

For a moment, he felt dizzy. It was the same sensation vampires got when they were blood bound.

“There’s something my cousin wanted me to relay to you.”

"Is that so?”

She folded her arms again. That cute smirk bowed on her lips.

“Tell me then.”

He had to look away. There was no earthly way he was capable of looking into those hazel eyes and keeping track of his thoughts.

She had a way of derailing them.

Claude sauntered around the room again. All construction had ceased. Rain began to patter like drumming fingers against the plastic tarp that covered the new roofing.

“Aria doesn’t want the club to be what it used to be. She wants it open to both vampires and wolves. She wants to start fresh."

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