Dressed in tight black slacks with a white short-sleeved shirt, which made his dark hair and blue eyes more vivid, he drew the most glances.
Tane, dressed in a white button down linen shirt and matching pants, sauntered around the curtain to stand next to me. “I half expected you to wear your earlier outfit.”
He referred to Rurik’s oversized pants and t-shirt covered in jungle muck.
My temper flared, but Rurik flashed me a warning look. He was trying to tell me to keep my trap shut and play nice. “I would have if I’d known you wanted me to.” Giving Tane my sweetest smile, I batted my eyelashes at him.
He offered his hand. “You’ll be at my side tonight so Rurik can mingle and gather information, my pet.”
The second barb hit harder than the first. I ground my teeth and hoped I didn’t chip any, then placed my hand in his. “You’re going to make this the longest night of my life, aren’t you?”
With a sharp glint of amusement in his eyes, he pressed his firm lips to my hand. “Of course.” Nodding to Rurik, Tane led me farther into the party.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Rurik stood behind the transparent fabric. Grim concern masked his face. He wouldn’t be able to concentrate on smoozing with the different political vampire factions attending the party if he worried about me. We both knew Tane prodded my temper on purpose. Why would he want me to slip and lose it? I took a deep shaky breath. Maybe he wanted to follow through on his threat to punish me publicly and set an example. A cold shiver ran down my spine. It was going to be a very long and trying night.
I blew a kiss to Rurik. Not much of a comfort, except it offered my love.
He lowered and shook his head then left in the other direction.
A tug on my arm spun me to face a group of strangers approaching Tane. They bowed. The only times I’d ever seen a person bow to another were in movies. It took me off guard. Did I curtsy back? I squeezed Tane’s hand, hoping for some kind of cue, but would he give me one or let me make a social gaff?
Slipping his arm around my waist, he pulled me close as if we were the best of friends. They stated their names. I couldn’t keep track of them. It went in one ear and out the other, because Tane stroked his thumb along my rib cage as he observed the shallow pleasantries and responded in kind.
His touch sent all the wrong signals to my brain, which misfired and misinterpreted the sensations. Instead of getting squeamish or nauseous at the tender strokes, warmth spread low in my abdomen; I wanted to lean into the strength pressed against me.
The group moved on, replaced by another. Parties annoyed me. These vampires were just a bunch of bottom feeders who didn’t really want to be together but needed to show their loyalty. Surrounded by such friendship, no wonder Tane wanted Rurik to stay. True allegiance was a rare fish in the vast sea of politics.
One of the guests lifted the wrist of a pretty young man next to him and offered it to Tane.
He released me and took the gift. Angling himself so our gazes met, he bit into the snack.
The young man hissed in pain with initial puncture, then relaxed into the arms of his vampire as if mesmerized.
Tane didn’t drink long, only a taste.
With a murmur of their joy at his safe return, the group moved on.
Next to me, Tane sighed.
I jerked and glanced at him. For a moment, I could have sworn he sounded sad, but it didn’t show on his face. In his position, he probably couldn’t ever show what he truly felt. Watching the vampire and his young love as they made their way to an isolated corner, I had to wonder if Tane missed Eric.
“Come, Rabbit, let’s find something to drink.” He presented his arm.
“You just had a drink.” I placed my hand on his forearm and followed at the leisurely pace he took, like a good little pet.
“I need to wash out the flavor. He tasted tainted with some kind of drug and its turning my stomach.”
Halting, I spun him around and whispered urgently. “Not the drug.” The one used to capture him.
He smirked. “No, I can’t taste that drug. I mean recreational stuff.” He smacked his tongue as if testing the flavor. “Heroin, I think.”
“You can detect that?”
“I’ve had time to develop a sensitive palate.”
Yeah—a millennia. For some reason I couldn’t see past a vampire’s youthful appearance. I treated them as if they were my age. Tane walked the Earth before recorded time. It made me feel insignificant.
A servant came with a tray of martinis. Tane took two and gave me a glass.
“I can’t drink alcohol.”
“Does it make you sick?” He gulped his.
“If I start I won’t stop. I’m a recovering alcoholic.”
He lifted the glass from my hand. “Not even one?”
“There’s no such thing as just one when I start. I haven’t had a drop since Budapest and even that, Rurik tricked me into taking.”
The second martini paused on the way to his lips. “Really? I haven’t heard this story.” He stepped closer and I could smell the gin on his breath.
“Why should you have?” The scent triggered a dormant craving. My demon wanted to piss me off and he pushed every button he could to make me lose control.
“Rurik told me most of what happened.” He sipped. “Some in detail.” He winked.
Stabbing my thumbs into his eyes would have given me great satisfaction. Could I believe him? “Well, I guess you can ask him about it.”
“I plan to.”
Eat me.
“Only if you say please.”
I gasped. “Stay out of my head. How did you get past my mental shields without my detection?”
“The bond—and I’m talented.” He finished his drink and a servant materialized to retrieve the empty glass. “And you almost shouted your thought. It was kind of difficult to not hear it. Shouldn’t be long before you explode.”
“Why are you doing this? You asked me to behave in public and I’m doing my best, but you keep poking at me.” All this spoken in a quiet voice and in one breath.
“Because it’s fun. These events are so tedious. The least you can do is provide some entertainment.”
“What?” It echoed throughout the room and the hum of voices lessened. I produced my best fake laugh, hugged Tane, and used my ditzy blonde drawl. “You’re so funny.”
Most lost interest right away.
“Nice save.”
“Thanks. Stay out of my head. It’s rude.”
Pressed against Tane’s chest, I realized with my stilettos we fit well together.
Warmth built between us and butterflies took wing in my stomach.
Tane cleared his throat and retreated a step.
It was about time I scored a point in this game.
“I need another drink.” Giving me a wide birth, he left me.
Being alone at a vampire party when you’re human could be dangerous. I scanned the area however with the dang curtains hanging everywhere I couldn’t spot Rurik.
A young woman watched me from behind a piece of fabric. Her long honey blonde hair was pinned from her face and spilled behind her shoulders. She wore an old fashion high-waisted gown with thick embroidery. When our gazes met, she smiled and flashed fang.
The cool jungle breeze blew in through the open garden doors and fluttered the material. I glimpsed Rurik sitting on a pile of cushions conversing with a group of women. One of them slid over, resting her head on his shoulder.
I’d had enough. Tane could do his own mingling.
Chapter Twelve
Before I could move forward the blonde girl, who’d watched me from behind the curtain, blocked my path.