Page 49 of Roman

Lucien gave what Danny supposed could be considered a smile, had there been any hint of warmth in his eyes. And had there not been fangs poking out from between his lips. “I just wanted to see the human that has so fascinated my old friend.” He leaned closer, peering at Danny. “Up close you’re fairly stunning. Here I thought you were just a mousy little human.” He hummed. “I suppose I can see the appeal.”

“Do you mind putting those away?” Danny gestured at Lucien’s mouth. The vampire only smiled wider, baring his sharp fangs more clearly.

“I’m afraid I’m not as tame as your little house vamp, Daniel. Mine don’t get put away anymore.”

“I wouldn’t call him tame,” Danny said tightly. “I’d call him controlled.”

Lucien’s fake smile dropped. “Then I’d say he has you fooled.”

Danny didn’t see this conversation going anywhere good. He should find a way to end it, and quickly. “Well, you’ve seen me. You can leave now. Unless you’re planning to off me right here?”

He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.Jesus, Danny, don’t taunt the psycho vampire. Idiot.

Lucien laughed, a terrifying sound. “Oh my, just what exactly has he been telling you about me?” He leaned even closer, and Danny couldn’t help his cringe, half expecting the man to leap over the desk and sink his teeth into Danny’s neck at any moment. “He’sthe killer, didn’t you know?”

“And that body you left in the alleyway for us to find?”Oh God, what was that about not taunting psychotic vampires again?He couldn’t seem to keep his mouth shut.

“That was a gift. Just cleaning up some of the trash around here.”

“I see.” Danny did not see. “So you’re not a killer. And you’re just here for a friendly visit. And then you’ll be on your way?”

“Well, not exactly, Daniel.” Lucien tutted. “I think I might be sticking around for a little while. I’m curious about you, you see. You know what he is. I presume you know some of what he’s done. You’re not afraid?”

“I’d be stupid to not be alittleafraid. But not of him. Of the whole—” Danny used his hands to gesture vaguely around. “—situation.”

“The situation…” Lucien seemed to be mulling over Danny’s words. Understandable. It hadn’t exactly been Danny’s most eloquent moment.

He wasn’t really sure what to make of the vampire in front of him.

Lucien was dangerous; that was clear. Danny could feel that much on an instinctual level. And Lucien was clearly not afraid of having his demon front and center. But he didn’t seemferal, not in the way Soren and Roman had described it.

He clearly wasn’t a mindless beast, with the way he was verbally poking at Danny.

Playing with his dinner, perhaps? Danny wasn’t quite able to suppress his shiver this time around, and he could have sworn he saw Lucien’s eyes light up at the sight.

Danny didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. “They keep it very cold down here,” he found himself saying haughtily.

Lucien just raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t know. Vampire and all.”

“But don’t you…Roman feels…” Danny thought back to the heat of Roman’s skin, of his mouth.

Lucien smirked at him. “Warm-blooded?”

Danny nodded. He knew he shouldn’t be engaging the dangerous vampire in conversation, but he couldn’t help his curiosity.

“We feel warm-blooded enough, if we’re kept…fed.” Lucien made the word sound salacious. “The only time we feel the elements is if we haven’t been getting our steady supply of blood.”

“I suppose saving on outerwear is one of the perks.” What was Danny even saying anymore?

Lucien’s black gaze narrowed. “And do you intend to explore these…perks…yourself?”

“Um…” Was the vampire asking what Danny thought he was asking?

“Will youturnfor him?” Lucien’s voice was harsh now, all hint of teasing gone.

Knowing Lucien’s history, Danny felt that he was walking a very fine line, with death at this vampire’s hands on either side of him.

But he couldn’t tell which answer would set the vampire off. So Danny went with the honest one. “I don’t…I don’t know?”

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