Page 4 of The Virgin and the Vampire

“Happy Birthday, Gianna! Are you out celebrating? I tried your house phone that you insist on having, but there wasn’t any answer.”

So she didn’t expect me to be kidnapped by a vampire? “Nooo. Do you know a vampire named Kade?”

She’s silent while guiltily nibbling her lower lip. “A little? Why?”

“Because he’s claiming I’m his eternal something or other and he basically kidnapped me and showered me in diamonds,” I inform her dryly.

“He what? He can’t do that. He was just supposed to hand you some champagne and let you look at his fangs.”

“I figured as much. But he got other ideas. Said he could taste it in my blood.”

“Hebityou!” she screeches.

“No. I dropped a glass since somebody didn’t warn me to expect a real live vampire on my doorstep. He took it upon himself to lick the cut on my foot.”

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, kid. I meant it as an exciting surprise. There’s someone I can call that will talk Kade off the ledge. Just hold on and I’ll get you out of there pronto.”

She hangs up before I can tell her I can handle this myself. I mean, it is kind of fun having a gorgeous older man practically worshipping my kneecaps. And I’m not quite done with this novel experience. Of course, we haven’t gotten to the biting and the sex yet, but I’d kind of like to decide on my own how far to take this.

I set my phone back in my purse, wondering if Kade happens to have a matching charger, and then return to the bathroom to finish my bedtime preparations.

That is until not five minutes later, I hear two low male voices coming from the first floor. Neither man is raising his voice except I can hear the anger in both. Or maybe annoyed frustration would be a better description.

Cautiously, I edge out into the hallway and closer to the stairs so I can eavesdrop.

“What the fuck are you playing at, Kade? You can’t go around pulling barely legal civilians in off the street and expect to get away with it. Tell me you haven’t enthralled her, please.”

“Not yet. But I will. I have most certainly claimed her. I figured the paperwork could wait a day or two, or am I missing something?”

“Protocol. You’re damn well missing that, you ass.” The other man sounds like he’s beginning to calm down.

Kade says something I can’t quite make out and then laughs.

The other man grumbles. “Fine. Bring her by my office tomorrow morning and I will assess the situation for myself.”

The door shuts, and I quickly beat a retreat back to Kade’s elegant bedroom.

He joins me there shortly, acting like nothing has happened. I bite my lip. “Who was that? At the door?” I prompt him.

He arches a brow. “An ancient vampire who’s overly fond of paperwork. Don’t worry about it. Hop into bed, little one, and I’ll join you in a minute.”

I eye the big bed with trepidation. It’s plenty big enough for six people, but something tells me I’m not going to be sticking to my side with a gulf between us. I crawl under the covers and curl on my side, facing the wall.

A moment later, Kade flicks off the light and I feel the bed dip as he joins me. Strong arms pull me towards him like tractorbeams. He rests his chin on the top of my head. “There, that’s better. You warm enough, baby?”

It was chilly, but now Kade’s body heat is enveloping me. “I’m fine,” I mutter.

One hand smooths down my thigh, then rests on my knee. “What’s bothering you, Gianna?”

I ponder that innocent question. “I’m waiting to wake up. This is all too fantastical to be real,” I finally admit.

Kade chuckles into my curls. “Well, if it’s all a dream, what can I do to make it even better?” His hand moves slowly and softly between my thighs and up. Anticipation has me opening for him but he doesn’t dive in.

“Tell me, Gianna. What would make it even better?”

“Your hand,” I confess.

“My hand where?”

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