Page 6 of The Biting Bargain

Her words pour over me like a nervous waterfall. As I try to process the jumble of information, I register at the edge of my perception that the corner of my mouth is twitching upward.

That never happens.

Being the sullen, unapproachable bastard is part of my brand. The people who work for me dub me the man without a smile, at least when they think I'm out of earshot. My secretaries — especially my personal assistant, Aidan — would literally faint could they see me right now.

Downright smiling!

But I can't help it, this strange woman, still holding onto the wooden ball and yakking her head off while her round face changes from orange to pink to a deep crimson — is causing me to… smile?

I'm probably coming down with something.

Humans are nothing to smile about.

Humans are food.

Humans exist for my personal entertainment and sustenance.

Nothing more.

Okay, she’s also technically hot, I have to admit that. There's a reason I've been in and out of Sanguine as a regular customer for over fifty years. The selection of drones here is sublime. The screening process is not only thorough on a medical level, the aesthetic standards are tremendous.

She shrinks back a little as I rake a scrutinizing glance over her. She doesn't fall into the usual look that the club's recruiters are aiming for; doesn't have that worn, streamlined model appearance.

Still it’s… intriguing. Even though she's on the small and wiry side, she manages to be round and cute in all the right places. And it's only now that I notice her scent, enveloping her like a cloud of delicious aromas, all earthy and sweet, tinged with her fear and confusion. It’s intoxicating. As if I hadn't acted primal enough already, a shiver runs down my spine and my mouth, dry just a moment ago, waters like a hunter scenting prey.

Another mental shake. Enough of this nonsense! I’m here to eat, not to swoon over random humans, for crying out loud! I have a business to run after all.

I reach out and pluck the wooden ball from her small hand.

"I'm sure it’s just cheap decoration," I say, my voice still rougher than I'd like.

"Didn't think anything here would be cheap," she mutters, tucking a thick strand of her butterscotch hair behind her ear, a gesture that's totally commonplace, but I can't help but stare at her hand. Blue veins beneath delicate, slightly sun-kissed skin.

"Sit," I grit out.

It wasn't meant as a command, but she obeys immediately, sinking onto the creamy white sofa with a timid expression that goes directly to my groin. Terrific. I grit my teeth, feeling my fangs chug and protrude in my jaw. I really have to pull myself together.

I’m only here to eat.

Sitting down, I place the wooden ball on top of the wonky pyramid.

"Your first day on the job?" I ask, clearing my throat, relieved that apparently my self-control is back on the steering wheel.

She nods, kneading her hands.

"I should know better, actually," she says with that sunshine smile. "I mean, I work three jobs, so you'd think I'd have some experience with first days on the job."

I lean back, loosening my tie a bit. She's nervous. It's clearly written around her pale nose. If I weren't a taciturn bastard I’d find it downright adorable.

"I've had even more jobs," she goes on as I don’t say anything. "Telemarketing, sales, food service, you name it. And this here is just the same as selling shoes, right? You'd think I'd have a better handle on it. At least at Shoes’n’Boots I didn't knock over a display as soon as they left me alone in the warehouse..."

Few things are worse in my world than subordinates babbling on without pause.

With any other drone, I would have grabbed her arm ages ago, exposed the sensitive skin of her forearm and sunk my teeth into her delicious veins, cutting off her bubbling voice. I'm on a tight schedule here. I have at least two important meetings coming up later tonight. And right now, somewhere in the basement parking garage of this building, Aidan is waiting in my limo, no doubt on pins and needles, looking at his watch every ten seconds and prioritizing tasks on my ever so long to-do list.

I should wrap this up, and quickly.

Yet, I can barely tear my gaze from her lips.

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