Page 24 of Visions in Blood
I grabbed the handle, ready to shove it open, when an instant of sanity returned, and I inched my way in before I lost my courage along with my outrage.
I stopped cold.
Sergi and Simone stood on either side of Devon, their posture similar, their eyes flashing at me as the bodyguards they were.I was the intruder.
Devon leaned back in his office chair.A man, who appeared to be a couple of years younger than me, had the sleeve of his right arm rolled up, and his eyes held a dreamy cast as he stared blindly past me.His arm was held out as an offering, and Devon’s mouth covered his wrist.
I stepped back but couldn’t take my eyes off the two of them.I knew Devon drank blood, and that he’d given me some of his own when I’d lay dying after the two-story fall.But other than the hellish dream of him ripping out Sorrento’s throat, I’d never seen any of the vamps feed.The stark difference between this intimate scene and the dark horror in that alley was shocking—yet intriguing.
I shook my head and took another step back before turning and running right into Lucas, who must have followed me in.He grabbed my shoulder with one hand while putting a finger over his lips and turning me around to witness the rest.
What had been a foolish act resulting in an embarrassing entrance now became extremely uncomfortable in a voyeuristic way.I wasn’t sure I should be seeing this.But he held me fast as Devon finished his—meal?I gulped.He said he didn’t drink often.What were the odds I’d be here for this?
He’d appeared tired the last couple of days.I’d thought he just needed more sleep.It never occurred to me, even living with vamps, that he might need more nourishment than an organic salmon salad.
After another minute, Devon stopped, but before he lifted his head, he licked the wound.An unexpected shiver ran through me, and I knew Lucas would have sensed it, if not outright felt it through the hand still resting on my shoulder.
Devon, those deadly fangs still out, turned icy-blue eyes on me.A drop of blood dripped, and all I could think was how amazingly clean he looked after feeding.I must be losing it.Maybe from shock after everything that had happened in the last couple of days.
His fangs receded, and his gaze warmed to a more sedate blue.Simone handed him a napkin, which he pressed against his lips.I guess there was more blood than I thought when he tossed the crimson-stained tissue in the wastebasket.
“We discussed the office door policy.Didn’t we?”His voice held a husky note of authority and irritation.
That’s what he wanted to chat about now?Okay.We’ll forget all about the mobile blood bank that Sergi eased into a chair.I wondered if the young man would be offered orange juice and cookies like they handed out at blood drives.Yep, I was going bonkers.
“I also thought you said privacy was critical in this house.”Being snappy wasn’t the wisest choice, but now that it was out, I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
He raised a single brow before his gaze narrowed and that icy glare sparked.
“My necklace,” I all but spit it out, not ready to play his games when he damn well knew what I was talking about.
He blinked, and his harsh expression disappeared as his shoulders relaxed.“Leave us.”
I assumed he hadn’t been talking to me when Sergi lifted the blood donor by his arm and followed Simone out of the office.She gave me one of her why-can’t-you-behave glares but never slowed as she exited.When the door shut with a rather loud click, Devon held out a hand for me to sit.
Once I perched on the edge of the chair in front of his desk, he slid the necklace to me.I grabbed it and studied it as if maybe someone had damaged it.And someone had.I held up the broken chain.
“I’ll get you a new one.”
When I only glared, he turned toward the window and opened the blinds, the bright afternoon sun banishing the shadows in the office.When he turned back, I noticed how vibrant he looked.The dark shadows under his eyes from just a few hours ago were gone.
He held my stare.“I won’t apologize for pulling you out of that dream.”
His words shocked me, and I rubbed my forehead.“What the hell happened?”
“Do you remember any of it?”
The earlier flashes in my room returned, but nothing more.“I remember being in the garden.I remember flashes of you.”My heated blush returned, and I dropped my gaze, finding my hands clenched around the necklace.“Whenever I attempt to play it back, something seems to block any vision of it.”
“I’m not sure it was you.Or the better way to say it might be it wasn’t all you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Based on our previous shared dreams, I…” Now, he hesitated.Was he as uncomfortable as I was?“You weren’t acting yourself,” he finished.
Goof grief, what had I done?I rubbed my forehead.
“Do you still have a headache?”
