They came through the front door and her steps became heavier and heavier. With a sigh, he bent down and lifted her into his arms. She slapped her fists against his shoulders.
“Put me down dammit, I can walk.”
“No you can’t,” he said easily. He had to park a good block and a half down the street so he made his steps fast. After a minute, she finally gave up her fight and relaxed, letting her head rest against his shoulder.
“I’m too heavy,” she whined. This side of her was brand new to him, if only it wasn’t alcohol that made her show her true colors.
He laughed at her. “Not even close. You weigh nothing, sweetheart.” She scoffed at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. His mind told himself it was just so she could hold on, but his body didn’t take it that way. It flared up, heated with sexual anticipation. Even his cock hardened.
God was she playing with his hair? She’s drunk, his logical mind screamed at him; it didn’t mean anything. Didn’t mean it didn’t feel good as hell though.
“Where are you taking me?” she said wistfully. Thane swallowed before he could answer. His hands curled over her thigh and back and he could feel the heat of her and the soft pliancy of her lithe muscles. He closed his eyes for a moment and reminded himself that he preferred curvy women that wore makeup and perfume. Not natural women like Jackie.
“To the jeep, it’s not too far.” Damn, even his voice was aware of the woman in his arms, having gone deep like he was about to take her back to his place and not put her drunken ass in bed where she belonged.
He raced to his jeep when he spotted it. He set her down, gently lounged her against it while he opened the passenger door. As soon as he let go of her she started sliding off to the side.
“Whoa there.” He caught her and she fell against him, her hands catching his thick sweater at the shoulders. Then she looked up at him and he lost himself in her eyes. Baby blues, bright and red rimmed from alcohol and still she took his breath away.
And scared the shit out of him.
She looked at him with innocent eyes, not the seductive ones like the women he usually went with. She wasn’t coy or playful but damn if it didn’t arouse him more than all those other women combined. What kind of animal was he to be turned on by a drunken innocent woman? Hell, his partner.
Her eyes fell to his mouth and Thane watched her expression change. He would have bet her to be an actress but he knew she wasn’t playing any games, not Jackie. She was straightforward to a punch. So when her eyes traced his lips and grew soft and low-lidded, Thane knew he was a goner. Was he an ass for taking advantage while she was drunk—yes. Did he care the least bit—hell no.
No longer capable of being gentle, he grabbed her hips and pushed her against the jeep. Her soft gasp brought even hotter thoughts flying through his mind. How would she sound when his head was between her legs? Would she wrap her legs around his shoulders or fall open and soft for him?
Cupping her head in his hand, he tilted her to the side, and slowly brought his lips to hers. A second before their lips met, her hands tightened in his shirt, eyes wide and panicked.
“What are you doing?” she whispered hoarsely.
Thane paused for a moment, struggling to think over the need roaring through him. His mind blanked for a moment and all he could do was answer honestly.
“Kissing you.”
And then he pressed his lips against hers and lost himself in a way he never thought possible.
Draven stopped outside their door. God what was with him and doing this? He’d been blaming Chloe for this whole disaster but really, that was a lie. Not that he’d alleviate her guilt and tell her that. No, it was his fault. He never should have asked Lucinda to be his frimar. Fuck.
If he were using his old ways, he’d already have blood coursing through his veins and be on his way to bed. But what the fuck was he doing? Pacing outside his frimar’s bedroom, their shared bedroom. As if it wasn’t bad enough having to babysit one of the Bellum sisters, at least that was a temporary situation. But Lucinda? Temporary?
Vampires signed on with frimars for a long-term arrangement. If he were to release her now, she’d be forced to find another. Draven’s hand curled into white-knuckled fists. God dammit. Every time he so much as thought about another man’s mouth on her neck, her wrists, her thighs, he shook with rage.
What the hell was that? He never felt that before, not even with his previous frimar. Draven smacked his head against the wall and slid down it. He was just asking for trouble...again. They both had so much in common. From their manners and dress to the way they spoke.
Lucinda wasn’t anything like Charlotte in many ways. She wasn’t an evil lying whore. Draven pulled out one of his invisible daggers he kept at his waist. The blade was lightweight but had enough mass to feel satisfying. The cold metal warmed in his hand easily. Draven relaxed muscle by muscle as he focused on something else. But soon the thoughts crept back up.
Lucinda would never take a knife to him. She was too sweet, didn’t have a mean bone in her body. You thought that about Charlotte, too.
“Fuck!”
Draven stood and clenched the blade. He heard footsteps coming towards the door. God dammit, quickly he palmed his blade, watching as it went invisible with his magic. Most days he forgot he was part demon, but thinking of Charlotte always managed to remind him of the uglier side of life.
The door swung open and Draven turned to Lucinda with a smile. “Good evening.” It was more like one o’clock in the morning and she really should be in bed already.
She smiled back at him but concern worried her eyes. “Master Draven what are you doing out here? Please, come in. This is your room too.”
Yeah, don’t remind me. He nodded once then marched around her. He was careful not to brush against her.
“Did you learn anything?” Draven grabbed a clean pair of clothes from the dresser.
“I lost the scent halfway through the city. I don’t know what happened but the demon was definitely here; it took her.”
Lucinda sat in a chair, her shoulders slumped forward, and her dress puffed out from her legs like a princess gown. Damn if she didn’t wear low-neck gowns; he cursed.
“That is so horrible. I hope you can find her.” Draven probably shouldn’t be surprised, but at the sound of her soft plea, he couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. He’d heard pleas like that before, words wrapped in sweet malice by an even more beautiful face. God what was with him tonight? She is not Charlotte.
How can you be sure?
She looked up at him with beseeching eyes. “Master Draven I’m afraid we must speak about something.” Draven’s chest eased from the tightness imprisoning it for a moment.
“What is it?” Panic and hope warred inside him.
“You have not fed in many days,” she said softly. “If you do not then you will weaken.” She spoke so quietly even his exceptional hearing registered it as a whisper. Draven lifted his gaze to see her watching the floor, her back straight, soft shoulders back.
Watching her like this with a dim lamp from the corner lighting her in a soft haze, Draven was slammed with lust. His body grew tight with anticipation, his cock hardening like cooling metal. She had no idea what kind of danger she was in around him. Of the thoughts he had about her.
“I understand if you wish to use another and not me.”