Page 77 of Blood Mosaic

“Sleeping. In my bed. You called at three in the morning.”

“I was in Ireland.”

“And I was here.

“Hmm.” He put his hand on her elbow and slid his fingers along the crease where her arm bent. “You smell of saffron and amber. A little bit of black pepper.”

She barely managed not to shiver. “I got the perfume you sent, and I like it. Thank you.”

“Good.” He slid into the booth beside her. “I have a friend in Greece who makes it.”

“Vampire friend?”

“Yes, her nose is exquisite. We may form a business venture together if she wants to expand. Which she should because she’s very talented.”

Tatyana sat back and looked at him.

The server set down her wine, and Oleg ordered a bottle of what she was drinking for the table.

“What is it?” He lifted his chin and narrowed his eyes. “I enjoy it when you look at me, but I can tell your mind is spinning.”

“You like women.”

His eyebrow went up. “I do. I’m glad you have noticed.”

“Not just sexually.”

He smiled a little bit. “I like them sexually. And obviously in other ways too.”

“No, not obviously.” She picked up her wine. “Many men donotlike women. Trust me, they will pretend to be your friend, but they don’t want to be your friend, they just want to have sex with you.”

“I plan on having sex with you, so I can’t blame them.”

She ignored his boldness and pressed on. “Yes, but you’re open about that. You’ve never pretended not to want to sleep with me.”

“We won’t be sleeping.”

She closed her eyes. “You know what I mean. But you like women. You and Elene are close friends. You have multiplefemale executives at SMO in positions of authority. You have a friend who makes perfume that you might invest in.”

“I have also had sex with two of the women you have mentioned, but you are correct. I enjoy women in many ways, not only sexually.”

The waiter came back and poured Oleg a glass of wine. He lifted it and held it out to Tatyana. “To women. Who are fascinating and beautiful and maddening at the same time.”

“I take it you still haven’t found… her.” Tatyana glanced at the crowd in the club and lowered her voice. “Elene told me to keep my mouth shut.”

As far as anyone outside Oleg’s inner circle knew, Zara was dead and Oleg had killed her. Tatyana was still wrapping her mind around being in Oleg’s inner circle in any way, but she understood how to be quiet.

She didn’t know why Oleg had been traipsing around Europe for a month, but Elene said that was normal. He had many businesses and interests in other places and had multiple disputes to either settle or negotiate as a vampire lord.

“No, I haven’t found our mutual friend.” He slid closer to her and bent down to her ear. “But I did come to a realization, which is why I returned before all my business was concluded. Do you want to know what it is?”

Tatyana couldn’t stop her shiver. “Do I really have a choice?”

“You always have a choice with me.” His breath was cool on her heated neck. “When it comes tothis, you always have a choice.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest when she whispered, “What was your realization?”

“I left without claiming you, little wolf.” His lips hovered over her neck. “That means all these vampires might think you’re fair game.”

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