Page 7 of Another One Bites the Lust
The very atmosphere seemed to change—quieter, smelling faintly of lilacs, and somehow luxuriant. Plush carpets muffled our steps, crystal light fixtures sparkled above us, and cool marble lined the hallway like we’d stepped into a luxury hotel.
Damn. This wasn’t just a section of the ship—it was a different world.
I’d never been here before. Cruise personnel like me were often crammed into the lower levels near the hum of the engine and the never-ending smell of bleach. At least I had my own cabin—not glamorous by any means, and the size of a shoebox, but it was private. Much better than sharing a crammed space with another dude, especially one of the guys from the band. We already spent a lot of time together and could get on each other’s nerves, as evidenced by an onstage brawl instigated by our former bassist. That led to his departure, but now we had Rex, who was a much better fit. He was mellower, even for a wolf shifter.
Here? This place had room to breathe. To stretch without knocking over a mini-fridge.
She opened the door, and I gaped at her suite. It looked like it could be featured in a vampire version ofArchitectural Digest—dark wood, tasteful furniture, and sleek, modern touches. Floor-to-ceiling windows with rich drapery framed the dark ocean like a living painting. The space was big enough to fit my entire band twice and our instruments twice over—even with room for our egos. A bar with gold fixtures gleamed in one corner, stocked with bottles that probably cost more than my monthly paycheck.
I stepped inside with wide eyes, half-expecting someone named Jeeves to hand me a silk robe and a glass of champagne.
“Whoa…so this is how the upper half of the ship lives,” I said with a smirk.
“Thanks for doing this,” she said, placing a pale hand on her chest. “I’m Celeste Deveraux.” She motioned at me. “I saw youperform earlier tonight. Impressive, by the way.” She gave a small, approving nod.
Her praise rolled through me. “Thanks,” I uttered. “So…who’s the guy with the glaring problem?”
She frowned. “My ex-fiancé. It’s over. It has been for months—ever since I caught him cheating. But I just discovered he’s on board.”
“Did he follow you here?”
“Yes.” She scowled. “Anyway, thanks again for going along with this,” she said. “If you don’t mind hanging out here for a bit to help sell this, I’d appreciate it.”
I didn’t mind one bit. “Sell what exactly?”
She gestured back and forth between us. “You know—that we’re together.”
My jaguar perked up at that.
“Sorry I sprang it on you. It just happened in the moment. I figured if he thought I’m with someone else, he’d finally give up and leave me alone.” She paused, then blinked. “Wait—I still don’t even know your name.”
“Van,” I said. “Van Tyrian.”
“Van,” she repeated, extending her slender hand. “Nice to meet you.”
I took her hand. It felt oddly formal, considering we’d just been wrapped around each other like long-lost lovers. Not that I was complaining. Especially not with that giant king-sized bed whispering how much room was available to—play.
She stood and walked over to the bar. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Sure,” I replied. “Whatever you’re having.”
She chuckled over her shoulder. “You okay with a blood cocktail?”
Oh, hell no. “How about vodka?”
She peeked inside the fridge and pulled something out. “That I can do,” she said, pouring our drinks and then handing one to me.
“So,” she asked as we settled onto the couch, “since we have some time to kill, why don’t you tell me about yourself? How did you end up as a singer on this ship?”
I sipped my vodka, tasting the bite of alcohol on my tongue. “I saw the opportunity and went for it.”
She arched a brow. “Is that how you approach life?”
I thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Pretty much. Life’s short, right? You have to seize every moment.”
She laughed lightly and placed her drink down. “Human life, yes. But after two centuries as a vampire…” She tipped her head and quirked a brow.
Two centuries? All those years of life and experience. I felt like a child in comparison. I gulped. And she didn’t look a day over forty. “You look fantastic.”
