Page 37 of Seduction in Blood
I stood—or maybe I was hauled up—and handed my empty glass to the closest man. "Sorry. I still say the woman will win." I winked at them over my shoulder as I was dragged—no mistaking it this time—away from the room. I figured it couldn't hurt to have friends if they were at the next party.
We'd just reached the first floor when shouts erupted from above. If I had to guess, I'd say it was the third floor, master bedroom. Gruber must have immediately checked his hidey-hole when he got his friends upstairs. I assumed after that there wouldn't be a three-way tonight.
Instead of being dragged, I pushed Devon to go faster. By the time we were out the front door, I was ahead of him, pulling him in tow. I noted his worried expression and the glances from those around us. We were making a scene. Not good.
I stopped at the top of the steps, long enough to put my hand on the back of his neck and pull him down for a kiss. I meant for it to be quick, just to give everyone an idea of why I might be in a hurry. Lustful play rather than a thief getting away. But when I pulled back, his grip tightened around my waist. He skimmed his tongue along my lips before forcing his way through. I didn't stop him, remembering the kiss from the dream, startled by how much it tasted the same. And for a heartbeat, before he kissed me again, I saw recognition in his eyes, as if he knew about the dream. Then he held me at arm's length, and I heard a car pull up.
"What did you do, Cressa?"
ChapterEighteen
"What were you thinking?"Devon glared at Cressa before turning to stare out the window as the limo sped home, the pages crumpled in his hand. Did she have any idea how dangerous a game she played? What would have happened had she been caught? He wouldn't have been able to help, not without more of his people.
"I thought it was timely." Her snappy tone made him surly. "Besides, isn't that why I'm here? To steal stuff for you?"
He closed his eyes to the landscape rushing by. She was right. Why was he so angry? Was it that she dared to steal something without his knowledge or the fact he'd kissed her back? He would have done more if they hadn't been in front of dozens of partygoers. "You steal with careful planning. Not with some foolish idea in the middle of a party."
"What better time with everyone distracted?"
He couldn't argue with her reasoning, and it only fueled his irritation. "You had no backup. And there was no telling how long Gruber would be preoccupied. Neither Sergi nor I could have done anything to help. Consequences for stealing aren't as forgiving in our world."
When she didn't have a witty retort, he glanced over. She stared out the other window, arms wrapped around her waist, looking small. But when they passed under a streetlamp, he caught her tightened jaw and the thinning of her mouthwatering lips. She wasn't disheartened. She was angry. For some reason, her defiance intrigued him and lessened his own anger. "Who were your new friends?"
The question seemed to startle her, and after a moment, she shrugged. "I don't know. We were still in our getting-to-know-you phase before you dragged me out of the room."
He let the last piece go without comment, already tired of that conversation. "They looked familiar."
She snorted. "White-haired, almost twin vampires. You have a lot of those running around?"
He smiled. "More than you can imagine."
She returned a tentative smile, but there was still fire in her gaze. "You live in a strange world."
"More than you can imagine."
Cressa considered his statement and slowly nodded. "All I know is they're from Oslo, have some gruesome tales they think are hilarious, and love their vodka."
"The Larsen brothers?" Sergi commented from the front. "Why are they in town?"
"Was that who they were? I didn't recognize them with their long hair." Devon's fangs had lowered while watching Cressa with the twins, her head thrown back in laughter at whatever the vampires had been saying. That wasn't jealousy. Was it?
"It's been over two decades since they left Norway." Sergi eyed Cressa in the rear-view mirror. "And they told you stories?"
Cressa appeared surprised that Sergi spoke to her. He didn't talk to most people he didn't know well. She shrugged. "More like tales from the crypt, but yeah. It might have been the vodka."
"Alcohol doesn't affect vampires." Devon's comment was rote, distracted by this new information. "It might be good to see why the brothers are in town."
Sergi nodded as he turned the limo into the driveway.
When they entered the house, Cressa headed for the stairs, but Devon caught her arm. "Let's finish our discussion in my office."
She rolled her eyes but didn't say anything as she followed him with Sergi trailing behind.
Devon laid the stolen pages on his desk while Cressa scanned the ceiling. After seeing her at the party, he recognized her reflexive behavior for entering any new room. Probably something she'd picked up after years of thieving. Had she learned the practice because she was a thief or for another reason? If he considered his own habits, they were similar.
He dropped into his chair, more tired than he realized. The impromptu Council meeting at the party, something unheard of in his lifetime, had been Isabella's show of strength in reminding everyone that only facts, not rumors, could be brought forth in Council chambers. Then Cressa risked everything by stealing those papers, and it made him question his plans.
"I'm sorry."
