Page 25 of Another One Bites the Lust
In fact, I wouldn’t mind experiencing his feral side again tonight.
He sauntered across the stage, looking ever-so-decadent in a pair of black leather pants that fit just right—perhaps a little too right—with the way they drew my attention to what they covered within. This was a thousand times better than a suit, although he’d looked incredibly dashing in one. I loved all the different sides of him I’d seen so far and couldn’t wait to discover more.
Last night, we’d ended back in my suite and tumbled into my bed together—kissing and touching and caressing with gentle words until the sun came up. Once I’d woken up at sundown, I went down to the reception area and inquired about some arrangements.
Van and Luna Blue Shadows finished up their set with Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” encouraging the audience to chime in.
At the end of the show, he quickly made his way toward me.
“I loved seeing you in the front row there tonight.”
“Good. Because you might see it more often.”
“Oh? Was I that good tonight?”
“I’m hoping for even better in my suite tonight.”
He chuckled. “I’ll do my best.”
“You know, I’ve greatly enjoyed my time on the Moonlight Siren. I’ve booked an extended stay.”
His eyes widened. “Brilliant.” He wrapped me in his strong arms. “I couldn’t imagine anything I’d want more.”
I gazed into his eyes. “Van, I’ve fallen in love with you too.” I paused before I admitted, “When we were together and you let me bite you, my heart beat for the first time in two centuries. I knew then—I knew you were the one.”
He beamed, his eyes twinkling as he stared down at me.
“What’s the matter, shifter?” I teased and cocked my head. “Cat got your tongue?”
He dropped his head back and chortled at the memory of our first encounter, when I’d given him a hard time for catching him gape at me.
“Oh, I’ve got a story to tell you about that,” he said. “But first, I have something far more important to say.” He searched my eyes again, a hint of a smile lingering. “I love you, Celeste Deveraux. Beautiful vampire, sophisticated woman.” He bent down and kissed me, then pulled his lips a fraction away to murmur, “And most fortunate for me—my mate.”
CHAPTER 18
VAN
“These musical menaces are Damien, Rex, and Caleb,” I teased as I introduced Celeste to my bandmates after our show. “Menace-monsters, this is my extraordinary mate, Celeste.”
Caleb acknowledged her with his standard grunt, while Rex tipped his head in a silent greeting.
“Enchanté,” Celeste said in her musical accent.
“Likewise,” Damien said with a grin. “But I have to admit—if a stunning woman like you chose this fur-for-brains, I have serious questions about your taste in judgment.”
“Was it coercion?” Caleb asked with a faux serious expression. “If so, blink twice and we’ll get you out of here.”
Celeste laughed, quickly catching on to our typical band banter. “You know, questionable judgment isn’t something you outgrow—even after two centuries.”
“I think you made an excellent choice.” I winked at her and cocked a smile. “Let’s have a drink before I start swinging my tail to knock my own band overboard.”
We settled in at a table in the Nocturnal Lounge with our beverages, us with beer and her one of the vampire’s specials with a pink champagne—basically bubbly with blood.
The witches joined us soon after when Piper came after a midnight auction and Kylie after her shift at the bar in the Celestial Lounge.
That night, I carried her into the suite and onto the bed, unable to keep from kissing and touching her. Almost feral with need, we grasped at each other’s clothes, shedding them with vampire speed.
“You were so hot tonight,” Celeste murmured as she ran her hands down my bare chest. “I couldn’t wait to get you back here. Claim you as mine.”
