Page 16 of The Vampire Kingpin
I relaxed a little. “Thank you.”
“Oh, you will pay me. Nobody steals from me, little thief. Now, how about a blood-wine?” He moved to a beautiful ebony wet bar at the other side of the room. “You’re still too pale.”
I rubbed my upper arms. “I spent too much time in the shadows.”
“Huh. That’s how you got in the door?”
I dipped my chin.
He frowned. “The guards should’ve been more careful.”
“The door was only open for a few seconds—not sure what they could’ve done.” I brought my arms back to my sides. “And…I’d rather have a blood-whiskey. If you have it, that is.”
His gaze snagged mine, probably seeing it as the small surrender it was. Then he nodded and pulled out a bottle of thousand-dollar blood-whiskey and two old-school whiskey glasses—rugged and no frills, with a thick base.
He poured a generous amount of whiskey into both glasses and passed one to me. “Cheers.”
“Cheers.” I raised my glass to him. The liquid shimmered darkly under the dim light.
Spider clinked his against mine, and we sipped at the same time. I felt him looking at me, but I avoided his eyes.
The whiskey slid down my throat like liquid fire before mellowing into a much-needed magical heat that spread throughout my body. It was almost as good as Spider’s blood.
“You like?” Spider asked.
“Oh, yeah.”
I took another sip. A droplet of whiskey remained on my lips and I flicked my tongue out, drawing it in.
When I glanced at him, a muscle in his cheek was working. “One night,” he growled. “That’s it.”
He waited for my nod, then said, “I have to run. Here’s something to wear.” He tossed me a T-shirt. “Help yourself to something to eat, or another whiskey. Whatever’s gonna bring some color back to your face. And Lark?” His face hardened. “Steal from me again and the deal’s off. I’ll chop off your goddamned hand and send you back to your cousin.”
I lifted my chin, the T-shirt clutched to my chest. “I won’t, as long as you’re straight with me.”
“Then we won’t have a problem. Now, be good.”
And he was gone.
I stared at the closed door. Then I finished my drink and took up his invitation to find something to eat. The Cavern was still empty so I fried up a couple of burgers, downing them between gulps of another blood-whiskey. In the walk-in pantry, I helped myself to two more chocolates. Might as well eat my fill of MariBelle’s while I could.
My mind flashed to my cousin’s lair where food was something you had to scrounge up for yourself, and I felt another pinch of envy. By then, most of the silver had worked its way out of my system, and between that and a full belly, I could barely keep my eyes open.
I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to bed down, but Spider had ordered me not to leave the area, so I made my way back to his room, where I took a quick shower in his beautiful, blue-and-green tiled walk-in shower, putting my hair up and letting the hot shower pound my sore muscles from five different directions.
Before leaving the bathroom, I rinsed out my thong and thigh-highs and draped them over a towel bar, claiming territory in my own small way. Back in his bedroom, I pulled on his T-shirt and crawled into his king-size bed along with a paperback mystery I found on his dresser. The bedding smelled like him.
I snuggled deeper and sighed at how comfortable I felt. How safe.
Troll couldn’t sneak up on me here; I could allow myself to relax.
I cracked open the book—and promptly nodded off, stirring only when Spider returned and took the open book off my chest. He killed the light and climbed into bed, slinging a heavy arm over my waist.
I roused enough to mumble, “Didn’t know where to sleep.”
“Right here, little thief.” He nipped my nape. “You’re exactly where I want you.”
When I opened my eyes again, it was late afternoon and my nose was pressed to Spider’s neck, my arm and thigh thrown over his naked body like I was trying to burrow into him. I remained there for a long minute, absorbing that you’re-safe vibe into my bones.
