Page 15 of Another One Bites the Lust
I chuckled. “Unfortunately, so many talented artists never sell a painting at all. I like to find talent among the unknown.”
“You must have a number of them at home.”
“A small collection, yes, at my villa. I also found some in New York that are in my apartment in Manhattan.”
“You’ve gotta bekittenme?” he said with a playful grin. “How many properties do you have? I don’t even have a permanent address now that I live on this floating hotel, let alone ownmultipleproperties.”
“Oh, just a few more,” I said with a light wave. No need to emphasize the differences between us, which were already quite vast.
A low snigger made us both turn to see Lucien had stepped up behind us.
“You can’t seriously be with this boy toy, Celeste,” he said with a sneer, without even looking at Van. “He can’t even wear a suit that fits properly.”
I snorted in reply. “At least I didn’t have to buy it for him, like I had to do with almost everything for you.”
Van stepped up to Lucien so they were merely inches apart, their chests almost butting together. “Celeste has made it clear she’s finished with you, so I just suggest you back off.”
“Or what?” Lucien scowled.
“I’ll break each limb slowly so that you’d wish you were actually dead rather than undead.”
Lucien’s eyes gleamed, flashing red in warning. “Are you about to do something that’ll get you fired?” He stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, his mouth spreading into a cold smile. “I’d love to see that. After all, I’m a guest on this ship. And you—” He peered down his nose at Van with a look of total disdain. “Do you sleep below with the fishes?”
“That’s enough!” I stepped in between them, pushing my arms to the side. I couldn’t let Lucien bait Van into a fight that would cost him his job. “Lucien, if anyone is going to make any type of report, it will be me noting your harassment. Now get the hell away from us or I’ll get your ass kicked off this ship at the next stop!”
My chest was heaving as we glared at each other. Blood surged with volcanic heat as it rushed through my veins. Silence fell around us with an empty thud. I’d never spoken to Lucien thatway before. That wasn’t how I’d been raised in an aristocratic society where keeping one’s composure was key. I hadn’t even raised my voice like that when I’d discovered Lucien’s betrayal. No, I’d struggled to keep my tone cool and measured. But the way he threatened Van rattled me, and I had to do something.
Lucien ground his teeth before storming off. Van’s posture was ramrod straight and tension rolled off his body like fog.
I turned to him and sagged with relief. “Come on.”
He turned to me slowly, only tearing his glare from where Lucien had left at the last second. His eyes gleamed with golden amber, giving him a devastatingly feral look.
Without thinking, I threw my arms around his neck and relaxed against the warmth of his body. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. His heart beat strong and steady against my chest. All the turmoil and devastation from Lucien’s betrayal and persistent pursuit that had built up over months dissipated as Van embraced me. Something about him—his strong, protective, rebellious behavior—comforted me, even though he was so young and so different from the uptight world I’d been raised in.
Even if we were from different worlds, born in different centuries, I had to wonder—what if?
At least for one night.
“Are you okay?” Van asked, nuzzling close to my ear.
“Yes,” I said with a slight tremble, drinking in his alluring scent.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked.
His heart continued its thrum against mine, and the rush of his blood sang to my ears. Hunger grew, quick and sudden, and my fangs itched for one little taste.
I opened my mouth, utterly captivated by this devastatingly alluring shifter. “My suite.”
CHAPTER 10
VAN
The walk up to Celeste's private suite was a blur of anticipation and raw desire. Each step echoed with the thrum of my heartbeat and the hungry growl of my jaguar resonating within me. Her scent—jasmine and moonlight—enveloped me, making it hard to think of anything but wanting her.
I needed to be close to her, to touch her, to protect her.
She unlocked the door to her suite with her card. As soon as we stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. The air was charged with electricity, the tension between us palpable. The door clicked shut behind us.
