Page 11 of Hot Blooded
“How was your visit to theestablishment?” I ask, lifting one eyebrow in his direction.
A slow smile uncurls on his mouth. “Eventful.”
I lead the way to the front door with Alastair following closely behind. I know I have no chance of hiding Tressa from him, but his reaction as we cross the threshold to the front door is immediate.
He stops and tilts his head, cocking it to the side. His lips part and he just pauses there like that for a moment.
He can smell her sweetly delicious blood from here.Interesting. So, it’s not just me.
“Is someone here, brother?”
I open my mouth to respond, but Alastair gets his answer as Tressa begins descending the curved staircase. She’s dressed in a black pencil skirt, black tights, and a crisp white button-up blouse. She looks delectable. Very much like a buttoned-up librarian.
“My, my,” he says low under his breath. “Is this the lovely creature who’s kept you from answering your phone for the last few days?”
In a manner of speaking.
I haven’t even thought to bring my phone on my trip away, but regardless, yes, Tressa is the reason for my sudden departure and unintended silence.
“Behave,” I growl in warning to Alastair as Tressa takes the final few steps and approaches us in the foyer.
The uncertainty on her face is unmistakable. She looks perplexed as her gaze dances between the two of us. Something about her expression leaves me feeling unsettled.
It hadn’t occurred to me to be worried about leaving her unattended at my home, although maybe it should have. If Alastair decided to drop by… I inhale sharply. That could have been utterly disastrous.
Though hehadjust fed the day she arrived, and when he visits the local establishment for female company, it’s not out of the ordinary for him to spend two or three days indulging in all varieties of carnal pleasures. Feasting in more ways than one. Not that the females working there mind much. My brother is something of a legend. He should be sated for now.
Maybe.
“And who is this beautiful creature you’ve been hiding from me?” Alastair says with a wolfish smirk. His gaze slides sensually over her body and the sudden and unrelenting urge to punch him flares inside of me.
“Alastair,” I say stiffly, nodding toward where Tressa is waiting, “This is Miss Porter. Miss Porter, this is my brother, Alastair. He was just leaving.”
“And miss all this?” He chuckles darkly. “Nonsense. Miss Porter, it’s a pleasure.” He extends his hand to her, but rather than return the requested handshake, she takes a step back. Smart girl. Her self-preservation instincts are strong. That should serve her well around Alastair.
“Hello,” Tressa says cautiously. Her eyes flick to mine. “You’re back.”
“I am.
“How’s the project coming along? Did you need something?”
She nods once. “It’s going fine. Moving right along. But I did have a question about something.” Her gaze drifts to Alastair. “Whenever you’re free. There’s no rush.”
Alastair watches our exchange with an amused expression.
I better see what my brother wants and get this over with. Otherwise, he’s bound to overstay his welcome.
“I’ll have Mrs. Potts send for you when we’re through.”
Tressa nods politely and I lead Alastair into the den adjacent to the master suite on the second level. It’s my man cave, as they call it nowadays, my TV room, the place I go to relax. Only right now, I’m not very relaxed, because I can tell my brother’s in the mood to be a pain in the ass.
He helps himself to a glass of the Scotch in the beverage cart Mrs. Potts keeps stocked for his visits.
“Well, she’s a tempting little number, isn’t she?” my brother says, bringing the glass to his lips.
I ignore him and inhale slowly in an effort to calm myself.
“Have you fucked her yet?”
