Page 7 of The Virgin and the Vampire

“Etienne will do, little one.”

“Etienne, then, have you ever draped a woman in jewels like this?”

He pauses, looking surprised, as if that was the last question he ever expected. “No,” he finally admits, “I have not.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I decide to slow things down, then Kade will need to feed again before that, right?”

Etienne inclines his head a mere smidge in agreement, but only after an agonizing wait. My stomach roils at the thought of Kade sinking those gorgeous fangs into another woman’s neck. But I can’t decide if a stranger would be better or worse than my own sister. All I know is that I can’t stand for it to be anyone else but me.

“From here on out, Kade feeds only from me,” I announce, with more authority than my quaking knees would indicate. Both Kade and Etienne straighten in response. “And if he’s biting me and only me, then I don’t think sex is that big an issue, is it, gentlemen?” Nevermind that I shouldn’t have to discuss it in a group setting like this.

Kade’s eyes glow like twin blue flames. Etienne merely looks resigned. “Fine. If that’s your decision, I need you to sign some forms.” He gestures to a round table in the corner and I take a seat, marveling at how such a prosaic office table can stand to exist in a sex club.

I swear the stack of papers that Etienne slides in front of me is at least six inches high. He hands me a pen and returns to his desk. Kade glowers from where he’s leaning in the corner.

Sighing, I start in at the top. Much of it is warnings and legal protections. The health and behavior of vampires is largely familiar to me thanks to my research hobby, but some of it has been modernized. I sign and initial as I go. Then I land on the limit list. I’ve read about these but never seen one. I glance up. “Why am I filling this out?” I ask suspiciously.

Etienne’s lips twitch while Kade only glowers before answering. “You don’t have to. There’s no reason to. Is there, Etienne?”

“It’s optional, Ms. Coletti. Many couples choose to explore another aspect of their relationship that way. Particularly when they’re likely to be together for considerably longer than a human marriage. Discussing these things together will help form a tighter bond.”

I scan the page before tossing it unmarked on the pile. “Nope. I don’t know what half those things are and I don’t want to. Kade can negotiate for what he wants in the bedroom the old-fashioned way.”

Kade snorts behind me, like he’s trying not to laugh. This time it’s Etienne’s turn to glower. Then something occurs to me. “Did Carina fill one of those out? To join the club?”

Etienne nods but cautions, “She did, but it’s only available to potential doms, not family or the public. Maybe you should ask her directly what you want to know.”

I nod. That’s a perfectly reasonable suggestion, but I don’t expect to be ready for that conversation for years. Except to tell her Kade is off the market for blood sucking. That should be entertaining.

I’m so damn proud of her. Gianna handled herself like a duchess with Etienne. It made me doubly glad she was wearing my collar. In theory, I’m supposed to work at the club this week in my role as Etienne’s second in command, but he let me know with merely a gesture that I could consider myself on vacation forthe next few weeks. I’m tempted to take Gianna directly home, but that will mean eventually having to leave again to retrieve her things. I’d rather get them now and then not have to go anywhere for a couple of months.

Gianna sighs happily as we emerge into the dappled shade of the parking lot. “I’m going to call Carina and tell her your fangs are private property from here on out.”

I grimace as I reverse the car and pull out onto the private road that sees very little traffic. Focusing my attention on the road, I try not to listen to the sibling squabble but it makes me glad I won’t be passing Carina in the hallway for a while.

There’s screeching loud enough to hear Carina’s side through the speaker. Including, “But you’re a virgin! You can’t lose your V-card to a vampire! It’s just not done!”

“Why not?” Gianna asks with relative calm.

“Because, because…” Carina sputters. “Fine! Well, you have to tell Mom and Dad that you’re bringing home a vampire for Thanksgiving. That ought to go over well.” Gianna sighs and hangs up. I wait impatiently for her to fill me in on her thoughts. Instead, she stares out the window.

“Everything okay?” I finally ask.

“It will be,” she responds with a soft sigh. Then her lips twitch. “I think Carina feels you’re too old for me.”

I smirk. “I am. But you’re stuck with me and my bad jokes now.”

We gather the bulk of her clothes and personal items, leaving the books and furniture for a moving company that I call on the way back into town. I’m eager to taste Gianna, but good manners demand I feed her first.

We pull into the grocery store. I can’t say as I’ve ever been inside one. Gianna gives me some strange looks before bursting into giggles when my eyes widen at the bread aisle.

“Do you miss eating?” she finally asks gently.

I stare at the dizzying array of foodstuffs. “Not really. Maybe if this had been my life, but I was stricken with rabies abroad some years after signing on with the East India Company. The food was terrible. And not having been born wealthy, it was pretty shitty back at home, too.”

“So you’ve traveled around the world?” she inquires with wide eyes while setting a jar of red jam in the cart.

I shrug. “Most of it. I haven’t been to Antarctica. Mostly because there’s no reason to, and too few people to bite.” I wink at her and she flushes.

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