Page 31 of Seduction in Blood
He straightened his suit before leaving his study. He'd asked Anna to bring Cressa to the library, which would be more relaxing than his office. He wanted to go over a few items before they left since their drive would be short. But when he walked through the door and found Cressa standing in front of the fireplace, her fingers tracing the delicate outline of a figurine as the low fire surrounded her in an unearthly glow, he forgot what he had to say. And that was before she turned to face him.
* * *
I cringed.I didn't have to turn around to know Devon had walked into the room. He had a presence beyond the soft sound of his footsteps. And, of course, I was holding a priceless figurine, and having him watch me made me feel every inch the thief that I was. It was irrational. I was self-aware enough to know I projected those feelings, but his timing was eerie just the same.
My first instinct was to tug at my hemline. I'd been fussing with it since donning the high-end dress made of a deep emerald green that was almost black. The front had a high neckline, and the fabric hugged my body as it flowed to a few inches below my ass. But the material swept low in the back, leaving nothing but bare skin to the base of my spine.
Even with the fire, the room had a chill, and with my legs and back bare, I should have had goosebumps. But I was so nervous about what to expect at the party that I seemed to have developed an internal radiator. When I screwed up the courage to greet Devon, the heat level jumped up. He'd stopped a few inches inside the door, and his eyes glowed that silvery blue I remembered from the dream. The one I'd understood to reflect his desire. It should have terrified me. Not in the "he might want me for a blood snack" kind of way, but in the way a man might devour a woman. And after the dream, I couldn't help but wonder what the real thing might be like.
I wasn't a virgin, and he was the most exotic man I'd ever met. Would it be so bad to be his human lover for what was left of my seven days? When someone cleared their throat—maybe him—the moment was broken, and I returned to my senses. I was here for a job. The fact he could make a girl's panties wet with his tailored suit and dirty-blond hair styled with a bedroom-messy look wasn't my fault. I dragged my gaze away to the figurine I was still holding.
"Sorry," I whispered as I lifted the object, happy to talk about my thieving ways rather than deal with the volcanic fervor threatening to suffocate me. His intense gaze never wavered, but his lips twitched. "Seems I can't help myself, but I assure you, I was only looking."
The twitch turned into a smile that did nothing to settle the twinge between my legs. "I suppose it comes with the job. Once someone knows you're an infamous cat burglar, it's hard to pick up the cheapest of trinkets without someone thinking you might steal it. Vampires have a similar problem."
I grinned. "Once a bloodsucker?" Had I gone too far with that one?
His smile never faltered. "Something like that." He studied me, but this time it carried no sexual heat. Not like before. "I was going to discuss a couple of things before we left. This party was unexpected but couldn't have come at a better time. I want to ensure we make the right impression, but we can discuss it on the drive."
When he stepped aside, waiting for me to exit first, I stumbled over the carpet. Faster than lightning, he was by my side, his hand on my elbow to steady me.
"Are the shoes okay? Do you need a different pair? Something with less heel?"
"They're actually comfortable. It's just been a while since I've worn heels."
"Good. Because they show off your best attributes."
"My ass?"
He chuckled, and the deep sound sent a warm shiver up my spine. "I was going to say legs, but ass will do."
We'd been driving for five minutes, and he hadn't said another word to me. He'd given instructions to Sergi, who I suspected was both driver and bodyguard, as we drove down the long driveway. I perused the limo, finding no fault. The man was a class act, and while he stared at me, I focused on the stocked bar, sorry I hadn't downed a shot or two while waiting for him. When I couldn't take the silence anymore, I finally glanced at him.
It was disconcerting when he didn't seem to care that I found him staring. Was it one of those vampire things? He didn't seem aware of how uncomfortable it made people. He probably did, but that wasn't what made me want to squirm in my seat. I had expected him to drill me on social etiquette for a tea party. From what Anna described, this type of party was a vampire's Saturday night meat market.
"Could my stunning beauty hold a vamp at bay before I stake him, or do I have something in my teeth?" I meant it as a joke, something to break the silence because I had to do something. His stare was creating all those little triggers that reminded me of the dream garden. Maybe it would be better to get down to the nasty and be done with it. Then we could get back to the mission.
If I expected Devon to be embarrassed by his staring, I should have known better.
"You'll want to stay close to me at the party. The house will have a nightclub atmosphere, at least in the main ballroom, but the other rooms will seem more like a social gathering. Don't let the sedate nature of those other rooms fool you. The vampires will be looking for their next fix, so there will be a mix of humans as well as lower vampires."
"Lower vampires?"
"Vampires not of noble birth or high rank. They could also be a fledgling, a newly made vampire whose creator released them into the world prematurely, and now they search for a new master. Everyone of worth in this club is focused on one thing—finding a new sex slave. And for those with lesser scruples, finding a human to use for sex and blood." He shook his head with a sneer. "These are some of the lowest of our species."
"And you thought it would be fun to show me off as your human sex and blood slave?" I wasn't sure how that sounded, but I was certain some of my shock and anger showed through.
"Not in the way you think. The second reason for the party is that it provides cover for deal-making."
"Because you can't do that without a searching-for-a-new-sex-slave party?"
"Not for illegal deals with people you would never normally socialize."
I snorted. "Backroom dealings you don't want your socialite buddies to know about."
He smiled. "There are vampires of all social levels at the parties. And because of their primary nature, no one can guess what happens behind closed doors. And since vampires have no social bias to one's sexual nature or preferences, not like in the human world, there's no judgment on what happens behind closed or open doors."
He almost wiggled his eyebrows on the last statement, and I wondered if there would be wild orgies for all to watch. I stared out the window, his words not helping to squelch my earlier nerves.
