Page 11 of Betrayed in Blood
“He’d only know by what he could glean from other Houses. And while the Council itself uses an internal network, that doesn’t mean the individual Council members do so within their own Houses. But my guess is that he simply uses spies across the globe to attend parties, like the Oslo twins.”
I chuckled. “Where it’s fairly simple to pick up the pulse of vampire society. Ginger always said the aristocrats were the gossip network.” I glanced up at Devon. “Have you heard anything from Lucas?”
“Not much, but I wouldn’t expect to unless there was trouble. Sergi’s last report was that Lucas was on his way to Maryland.”
I leaned back; my energy had dissipated under Devon’s magic hands.
“How about that swim?” Devon asked.
“How about a bath and some private time?”
He pulled me up until I was snuggled in his arms. “A much better idea.”
I giggled as I wrapped my arms around his neck while he strode to the bathroom. After lavender and cedar scented bath salts were added to the hot but still bearable water, I turned to Devon while the tub filled. I took my time undressing him, kissing his lips, then other parts of his body as they were revealed once I’d slowly stripped the clothes from him, tossing them toward a bench where some landed and others slid off.
Once Devon was naked, he used the same technique for undressing me, but he moved slower, spending time nibbling at my breasts and tracing feather-light kisses down my belly. Then he knelt and lifted one of my legs over his shoulder as he explored more intimate spots.
If I hadn’t been close enough to brace a hand on a wall, I would have tipped over as his tongue released all the tension from my body. Just as I relaxed into the sensations, my skin overly sensitive to touch and tingles flowing through me, I gripped his hair. He pulled away and lifted me in one practiced motion, stepping into a tub that could fit four. His muscles were so controlled that he had no problem holding me as we sank into the water, my legs next to his as I faced him. He leaned me backward as he reached the faucet to shut off the water.
Then he kissed me. It was deep, his tongue playing with mine as his hands moved over my back. We kissed for a long time, stopping to focus on other spots still above the water line before moving back to lips plump with passion.
He was hard beneath me, and I raised up until I was over him. We were in no hurry as we rocked back and forth, holding each other. No one could touch us here. The only thing on our minds was each precious moment we were together.
We stared into each other’s eyes. His beast came out through the shimmering brightness of an icy blue glow that warmed to a silvery blue. They were one, and we were one.
When the water cooled, he lifted us out of the bath, stopping a quick moment for us to towel dry before he tossed me on the bed. He stood over me, and his eyes lit up with the beast. This time it would be rougher, and hotter, and I couldn’t wait.
I crawled over the bed to him and smiled as his hands gripped my hair.
ChapterFour
“Wake up, sleepy head.”
I groaned. The words hit my subconscious but didn’t seem important. The bright light that hit me in the face did the trick. I opened an eye. Why did I always fall asleep facing the window? And why would the handsome vamp dressed in his charcoal-gray suit find it humorous to force me awake?
I threw an arm across my eyes. “Too bright.”
“You have an appointment with Sonja this morning. If you get up now and run through a quick shower, you might make it.”
I popped up. “What time is it?”
“Eight thirty.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?” I jumped up, and he caught me by the waist before I made it to the bathroom.
His kiss was warm and sweet. “You needed the sleep, and you’re the fastest woman I’ve ever met, other than Simone and Bella, who can be ready in less than thirty minutes. There’s coffee on the bar, Sonja is holding your breakfast, and I’m off to meet with Alejandro and Miguel for a deeper dive into their business operations.”
I pulled away after giving him another kiss to grab a cup of coffee. “Where’s Gregor?”
He paused before answering. “He asked to meet with you and Sonja.”
I gulped the coffee and stared at him. “Are you serious?”
He picked up his cell phone and stuck it in his inside jacket pocket. “I told him it was up to you, but I think you should consider allowing him to participate.” His blue eyes sparked with the beast for just an instant, reminding me of our passionate night. “He’s very protective of the dreamwalkers. I don’t know what they can do or what their power level is, but they could be instrumental in our mission. Though it will ultimately be up to Gregor on whether they participate. If he understands how powerful you are and that there are others with even more power, it could go a long way in gaining his support.”
I sipped the coffee and stared out at the garden. “Shouldn’t you be there too?”
He was behind me before I knew it, his strong hands rubbing my arms as he nuzzled my neck. “I don’t want him to think I control or manipulate your dreamwalking. You and I know that while I might command what happens on a mission, your power is your own. This is the best way I know of convincing him that we’re partners. You are not a Blood Ward.”
