Taking a quick look inside her mind, Seth remained only long enough to assure himself that her thoughts were filled with nothing but pleasure. His fingers found her nipple and grasped it between them. A deep moan left her, tempting him to tell Jason to fuck off so he could enjoy her sweet body once again.
Swirling his tongue against her skin as he gave one last suck, Seth closed the wound and cleaned away any lingering traces of blood. He held his head against her shoulder for a moment, feeling as though he’d just gotten drunk off of her.
“You are more temptation than one man should have,” he confessed huskily. He lowered his mouth to press a light kiss on the rosy nipple he’d teased as he drank from her.
“Why don’t you go take care of whatever business I’ve been keeping you from? As soon as I can make my legs work again, I’ll get up and take a shower.”
“I won’t be away for long,” he promised. Taking one final, lingering look at her body, he pulled the sheet back up around her, covering her from his gaze. Lifting her hand to his lips, he sucked a finger into his mouth, then placed a lasting kiss on the back of her knuckles. “We’ll finish this soon.”
Outside of his room, Seth hid in the darkness, watching her through a small crack he’d left when he didn’t shut the door fully. Another surge of pride and satisfaction filled him when Willow buried her head in his pillow and took a deep breath, seconds before she fell asleep.
“Jason, to what do I owe this pleasure?” he asked sarcastically as he emerged from the hallway.
“I told you last night I would be by today to finish discussing business with you. I’m not surprised you forgot. You seemed a bit…distracted.” Jason sat on the couch and began to open his folders.
“Then let’s hurry up and get it over with. I have a very pleasant lady to get back to.”
“Of course.” Jason pulled out the first paper. “A gentleman has made an offer for The Grunge. It’s very generous…more than the place will earn you in ten years.”
“I do not wish to sell it.”
“May I ask why?”
“No. I simply will not sell it and that is final.” Much like his beloved antiques, the small bar held a special place in Seth’s heart. Because of its emotional, rather than monetary, value. It had taken him a long time, but over the decades he’d cultivated that place into a safe haven. The patrons there knew they could truly be themselves. And without that bar, several of the small local bands would never have a live audience to practice in front of. He wouldn’t see it be turned into another parking garage or suave coffee shop.
“Are you sure you won’t reconsider selling the bar?” Jason tried one final time.
Holding back his irritation, Seth knew his friend was only trying to do his job to the best of his ability, but nothing would change his mind. “I’ll never change my mind about selling that particular bar. Tell him if he would like to negotiate for any other business I’d be happy to consider his offer. But not that one,” Seth stated firmly, leaving no doubt in the other man’s mind his decision was final.
For fifteen minutes he listened, completely bored, as Jason brought him up-to-date on any important happenings in his other businesses. His mind continued to return to the beautiful woman lying naked in his bed.
“I believe that about covers all of the business. Would you like me to drop your guest off somewhere?” Jason gathered the papers into a neat stack before he returned them to his folder.
“No,” Seth replied, practically growling. “She will stay here for the moment. When she desires to leave, I will take her home.”
“Are you sure that’s a wise choice?”
Seth’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t want to think about Jason being left alone with Willow. She was so tempting, so hard to resist. And he’d hate to ruin their friendship by ripping Jason’s head from his body.
“We’ve been friends forever, hell I’ve known you my whole life. I don’t want you to do anything reckless.” Now that business was finished, Jason had slipped back into their more usual light and friendly banter.
“I know what I’m doing. I’ll be all right.” Seth had to force himself to relax and forget about the vicious thoughts from a few seconds earlier.
“Just be careful until dark.”
“Yes, Mother,” Seth told his friend in a bored voice.
“I guess I’ll let you go so that you can get back to whatever it was you were doing with your guest.” When Seth opened his mouth, as if to say something, Jason quickly added, “And believe me, I really don’t want to know anything about it.” He headed for the elevator doors, shaking his head as he entered and pushed a button. “Because that would just be disturbing and gross, like walking in on your parents having sex.” Jason shuddered.
Seth couldn’t help but laugh at his friend. He was a nearly eight-hundred-year-old vampire, and Jason wasn’t thirty yet. But the substantial difference in their ages didn’t stop Jason from acting like a mother hen at times. Other times he acted as though he were Seth’s own child. Seth couldn’t decide which attitude frustrated him more. Or which he found more amusing.
As Seth watched the elevator doors close, he waved. He would be forever grateful for the young man and his family. Every member of Jason’s family knew the truth about him. Some of the very few humans to know about his race, they’d helped throw off any suspicions about him many times, often acting as though he were a son no one knew about—or some distant cousin—and helping him blend in. Hell, with help from them, he had been able to convince people he was his own child more times than he cared to admit.
Seth shook his head. He’d had a lonely existence for too long. If not for Jason and his family, he would have gone insane centuries ago. But of all the humans who had helped him over the years, Seth knew he would miss Jason the most when his time on this earth was over. He was tempted to change him, but refused to be selfish. When—or if—Jason ever asked, Seth would gladly grant the man’s request. But it had to be Jason’s decision. Seth wouldn’t coerce him or guilt him into changing merely so he would have company throughout the ages.
Walking over to the control panel he had discreetly hidden in a secret section of the wall, Seth pressed a series of buttons, locking the elevator. Until he unlocked it, the entire floor was blocked. Not even the few people with a key would be able to access his home. Continuing to lock up, he walked over to the mandatory door leading into the stairwell and barred that as well. This was his most vulnerable time—when the sun rose high across the sky.
Smiling, he returned to the hallway leading to his bedroom. All thoughts of loneliness and melancholy left him as his guest’s scent drifted up to meet him. Willow’s small form was stretched out, spread from one corner to the other at both her head and feet. It was a sight he was sure would make any man’s mouth water, and he was no exception.
Moving to the foot of the bed, he gave one tug and the sheet covering her body fell away. His gaze traveled her body, devouring every curve as both his lust and his hunger began to stir yet again. He could practically hear her moans in his ear as her nipples hardened from the slight chill in his room. Sitting on the bed, he stripped off his clothes before leaning over and placing a kiss on her thigh. Unable to stop there, he shifted his position. Lowering himself, he began at her ankle and proceeded to kiss his way up her leg.
Willow sighed with pleasure in her sleep as Seth continued to tease a path higher, until he reached the soft flesh connecting leg to torso. Leaning down, he placed a lingering kiss on the flesh, allowing his tongue to glide over her skin. When he grazed her with his teeth she spread her legs apart, bending the knee and pulling it higher, to give him better access to her.