“Thank you, Diego.” Shane crossed the room and shook hands with their host. “Your service is second to none.”
The door clicked shut, leaving them alone in the beautiful space. Maya suddenly felt nervous because she was totally uncertain about what was going to happen. She’d never had a human brought to her willingly, and the idea made her oddly uncomfortable. She folded her arms over her chest and began to fiddle with her necklace through the sweater.
“So, the humans will just come in here and let me feed on them?” Maya asked in a far shakier voice than she expected. “That’s kind of weird.”
“Come here.” A slow smile spread across Shane’s face as he extended one hand and waved her closer. Maya’s stomach fluttered as that sexy, smoldering gaze of his wandered over her body in such a way that she could swear she practically felt his hands on her. “I promise that tonight we will satisfy all of your appetites.”
Maya closed the distance between them and placed her quivering fingers in the steady grip of his hand. His flesh encompassed hers, making any nervousness she felt drift away like smoke. Staring into his exquisitely handsome face, she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that this man would never hurt her. He wouldn’t strike her or force her into something she wasn’t comfortable with.
Holding her stare, his lips whispered over her knuckles and everything fell into place.
She loved him. God help her. She was totally, completely, and irrevocably in love with Shane. The realization was both terrifying and exhilarating, but not as much as the idea that he might not feel the same way. Even though she wanted to tell him, to shout it to the world, she didn’t. Instead she whispered, “I—I trust you.”
“I would hope so,” Shane murmured before standing to his full height and escorting her to the table. He kissed her hand, allowed her to sit on the bench and then slipped onto it next to her. Draping his arm behind her, he played with a long strand of her hair and pointed to the scene scrolling across the wall. “I chose the river scene because I thought it was the most lively. If I close my eyes, I can practically smell the water.”
“It’s gorgeous, Shane.” Maya snuggled into his embrace and rested her head on his shoulder while they watched the steamboat drift lazily by on the river. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say that I could actually feel the sun on my skin.”
“Heat lamps.” Shane pointed to the ceiling. “Clever, isn’t it? Diego and Sebastian are making a fortune with these places because where else can a vampire feed openly? I brought you here, Maya, because I wanted to give you the opportunity to have a live feed. It’s important to you, and you can do it here without breaking Olivia’s no-hunting rule.”
Oddly enough, Maya’s hunger had taken a backseat to her other feelings. A knock at the door interrupted them, and Maya’s stomach tightened with anticipation. She scooted even closer to Shane and rested her hand on his thigh, the muscles flickering beneath her touch. He gave her a sideways glance and shouted, “Come in.”
A parade of ten humans, five men and five women, strolled into the room and lined up in front of Shane and Maya’s table. Diego had told them he was sending in several choices, and he wasn’t kidding. Not only were the humans of different races and varying ages, but they were also dressed in an assortment of styles. The man wearing the suit looked much like a human she would have selected in the past, yet choosing a man seemed wrong.
“Do any of them appeal to you?” Shane asked, his fingers trailing tiny circles over her shoulder. “See anything you want?”
“I usually fed on men,” she said quietly. Shane’s body tensed against her, and though he didn’t say it, she knew he didn’t want her feeding on a man. Maya smiled and squeezed his thigh beneath the table. “Perhaps it’s time for a change.”
“Perhaps,” Shane murmured. Without taking his eyes off Maya, he said in a firm tone, “The men can leave.”
Taking a deep breath, Maya turned her attention to the five women, all of whom were staring at Shane. The tall brunette dressed in a blue evening gown with a curvy, lush figure was licking her lower lip and practically screaming, Fuck me. Maya looked at Shane who, to her great delight, was looking at Maya, not the busty brunette.
“What’s your name?” Maya asked the petite redhead. The girl, who looked about Maya’s age, was dressed in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
“Rita,” she replied quietly. She fiddled with the frayed edge of her cutoff jeans. “Rita Sue.”
“I’d like Rita to stay,” Maya said. She didn’t miss the look of disappointment on the brunette’s face. “The rest of you can go. Thank you.”
“What about you?” the brunette asked Shane. Hands on her hips, she watched the other three women leave and then turned her attention back to Shane. “A big fella like you must be hungry.”
A pang of jealously swamped Maya, and she wanted to fly over the table to rip the broad’s long hair right off her head. She didn’t want Shane feasting on another woman, human or vampire, any more than he wanted her near another man. Luckily, Shane spoke up before fangs started to fly.
“While I appreciate your offer, I will politely decline.” Shane looked at Maya lovingly. “I have all I desire right here. You are dismissed.”
The brunette flounced out of the room, giving Maya a withering look on the way out. Rita moved in silently and sat next to Maya. Giving her a shy smile, Rita shrugged and said, “Where would you prefer to feed?”
“I’m sorry?” Maya blinked with surprise and shifted her body so she could look the girl in the eye. With her back nestled against Shane’s strong form, she found it difficult to concentrate, and feeding was no longer high on her list of priorities. “What do you mean?”
“Neck?” Rita pointed to her throat. “Wrist?” she asked before extending her arm onto the table, palm up. “Just tell me what you like.”
“Oh.” Maya tucked her hair behind her ear and sat up, feeling silly for not understanding what Rita was asking. “Wrist, I guess.”
“Okay.” Rita leaned back against the seat, getting comfortable, and held her arm out for Maya. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
Her fangs bared, Maya took the woman’s hand in hers. She ran her thumb over the pulse that beat strong and steady in the girl’s wrist, but as tempting as the woman’s blood was…Maya hesitated.
“What’s wrong, youngling?” Shane asked quietly. He kissed her head and ran his fingertips along her arm. “I thought you wanted to have a live feed.”
“I—I did.” Her hands quivering, Maya released the girl’s arm and folded her hands in her lap. “But…I’ll get her blood memories.” Maya looked at Rita and then turned her wide eyes to Shane’s, allowing the weight of what that really meant to sink in. “And I don’t want them.”
“Did I do something wrong?” Rita asked in a shaking voice.
“No,” Maya added quickly. She took Rita’s hands in hers and looked her square in the eyes. “I promise you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s me. We’ll be sure to tell Diego and Sebastian how lovely you are.”
“Agreed.” Shane’s brow furrowed with confusion. “Thank you, Rita. You are dismissed.”
“O-okay.” Rita slipped out of the booth and scurried out the door without looking back.
“You’ve had plenty of live feeds before, Maya.” Shane followed Rita to the door and locked it behind her. Folding his arms over his chest, he studied Maya closely. “Why the sudden change of heart?”
“Ever since I was turned, I loved the hunt.” Maya slid out of the booth and sat on the edge of the seat, watching the river scene as she spoke. “I fed on men that I knew were bad, and their blood memories always confirmed what I suspected. I saw the pain they inflicted on other people, and toying with them allowed me to feel some satisfaction in revenge. But now…everything’s changed,” she said quietly.