Page 100 of Your Coffin or Mine
“No, I can’t. You simply look stunning in anything.” He laughs and reaches for my hand, pulling me to him, the coldness of it shocking. “I would much rather see your pretty dress where no prying eyes can get a view of what I want to be mine.”
“You two lovebirds have a good time,” George cuts in, and I blush that he overheard what Vlad just said to me. “I’m going to have a sweet time myself. We will meet up later, Aubrey.”
I give him a nervous smile, and he stops to give me air kisses on each cheek before leaving me alone with Vlad. He lifts my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles, and my heart races. He’stotally turning up the charm. I don’t know what to say, and that just seems to make his eyes gleam.
He grins, his fangs on full display, and nips my hand. I guess he doesn’t have to hide them, at least not tonight with the waiters all wearing them too.
“How do you hide them?” I ask, pointing at my teeth.
“That, my dearest, is a very long story, and one I will be more than happy to tell you. But to do that, we will need to escape these people and find somewhere more private. Is this amenable to you?”
“But you only just got here,” I say with a pout.
Music starts up through a sound system, and it swells with deep beats. To my amusement, “WAP” by Cardi B starts playing. I see Doyle rushing to change it when the lyrics start, only to be thwarted by George who fights to keep his song choice on. “I’m trying to start the lame-ass party you have going on!”
Vlad grimaces. “As much as I would like to dance with you, whatever infernal racket is currently playing is not what I would call good music.”
I laugh as I look back at all the guests and catch Bianca staring at Vlad like he is a popsicle and it’s the middle of July.
I keep getting the feeling she was on a mission to get closer to him before she even came here. Now that I know what he is. . . her jealous stares seem to have a deeper meaning. Or maybe I’m just looking too deeply into it. I shake my head to get rid of the thought. I’m probably being silly.
Vlad looks back, trying to see what caught my attention just as Doyle wrangles control of the music.
“Ah, there we go,” Vlad says when something more appropriate plays. “Now we can dance, if you like. However, let’s get rid of this first.”
Chapter 31
AUBREY
Vlad brusheshis hand over my exposed neck. “May I take your cloak?”
I wet my lips in hesitation, feeling vulnerable, but reassured by the calm confidence in his eyes. I nod slowly and his eyes seem to warm. His hand touches my waist as he moves to remove the cloak, the clasp tight at my throat.
The cloak falls from my shoulders and my cheeks blaze red instantly as my stomach drops to my knees. Vlad places it on the backrest of an empty chair that’s only a few steps away before returning. I fidget, grabbing the sides of the dress under my armpits and tug, attempting to somehow cover myself more.
As if he can tell I’m nervous, Vlad’s voice slides over me like silk as he says, “You are breathtaking.”
My shoulders lift as I fill my lungs with oxygen, forcing myself to relax. His breath is at my neck the next second, his hand solid at my back, hugging me to him. My head is at such an angle I stare at the red silk pocket square on his chest, the color rich and vibrant against the dark-gray fabric.
“Do you not know how stunning you are? Look at me.” His fingers nudge at my chin, tilting my face to look up into his redeyes. “You are magnificent. And you are done hiding.” I grip his suit-covered arms when cold hands move to cup my face, my mouth agape at his harsh tone.
I nod, practically melting inside from the emotion shining in his eyes. How can I be nervous when I have this man completely fawning over me? “Okay. No more hiding.”
“Good.” He grasps my hand in his and leads me to the middle of the room.
Sweeping me into his arms, he dances me around the ballroom, forcing people to move out of the way as he does. The song changes almost as if by magic, a sweet, soft tune for a slow dance. We dance in silence, my head on his chest, him unbreathing.
“Now it makes sense why I thought you were dead that morning,” I say, giggling when he grunts. “The ball really is beautiful. You did an amazing job in such a short timeframe.”
“So I take it that means you’re enjoying your party?”
“It’s not my party,” I retort, shrugging.
He pulls back and arches a brow down at me. “Oh, but it is. None of these people would be here if it weren’t for you, so I assure you, it isyourparty. I would never allow this otherwise,” he says, looking at the guests with obvious disdain.
His grumpy face has me giggling again. “But Doyle said you needed the exposure?”
He dips me backward, bending me at the waist. The slit at my leg rides up with the motion, making me gasp when his eyes begin glowing crimson again.
