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He threw off the same vibe I could picture a CEO would, a man in organized crime, someone who knew they could do what they wanted when they wanted, because they were just that powerful.
I could see that he probably felt nothing for anyone, for anything, in his whole life. But when he looked at me, there was something undeniably vulnerable in his gaze. The heat flared between us with just a look. And when he touched me, spoke to me, I felt a protectiveness around him, like he’d level anything and anyone who got too close to me.
So when he held his hand out to me, not speaking either, I found myself slipping my palm against his big, warm one. I felt him curl his fingers around mine, allowing him to help me up off the couch.
And then I let him lead me to wherever it was he wanted to take me. And it might’ve been hell itself. Yet here I was, going without hesitation.
18
Kayla
Adryan hadn’t taken me to hell. Instead, after taking me to the bedroom to grab me a pair of sweats, he led me into a grand dining room, a long and ornate polished table sitting in the center of the room, fine china and candelabras in its center, and a huge crystal chandelier hanging above the middle of the large wooden structure.
I was thankful for the sweats; otherwise, I would’ve been naked from the waist down. And although my libido had no problem with that—and neither did Adryan, judging by the heated look he’d given me—we had more important things to worry and talk about than getting off.
The dog he called Bear stayed right beside me the entire time, his body damn near bigger than mine and setting my teeth on edge. But Adryan didn’t seem the least bit worried that Cujo would rip my throat out, so I tried to let that set me at ease.
It didn’t, but whatever.
There was a fire roaring within the mantle. I stood there a moment just staring at those flames, feeling Adryan right beside me, his gaze on me. We hadn’t said a word to each other since he led me into this room. But in that moment, no words needed to be said, and I was grateful.
So when I turned my attention back to the table and noticed two place settings, one at the head and the other just to the right of it, I knew that was where I was supposed to go. That’s where he wants me.
I shivered in pleasure at that thought, at the image of doing what he said when he said it. I’m so fucked in the head.
“I had the staff prepare some meals before I sent them away. While you were sleeping in the study, I heated one of them up. I’d like you to eat and drink.”
There was a hard edge to his voice, like a parent making it known to a child this was what would happen—no ifs, ands, or buts. There was no leeway in his words, no room for argument. But I wouldn’t have the strength to fight him on this anyway. I was thirsty, and hungry.
Again I wondered what time it was, if the sun was out or if I’d hardly slept—again—and it was still dark. But I didn’t care enough to ask. I didn’t care enough about much of anything except this moment in time and getting answers to the questions burning inside me.
So I moved to the spot beside the head of the table, took my seat, and felt him looming behind me, his hands on the back of the chair as he pushed it in, his body a heady presence as he leaned down, reached for the linen napkin in front of me, and placed it over my lap.
I felt his lips at my temple, heard him inhale deeply, and forced myself not to let my eyes flutter closed, not to let that feeling of pure pleasure wash away all my common sense right now.
With a low rumble, he pulled away and took his seat, and I allowed myself to breathe deeply. I glanced at him, watching as he poured a generous helping of bourbon into a square glass. He then reached for the bottle of wine and poured me a modest amount.
“It’s almost breakfast time.”
“Not when you’re a vampire, princess.”
Adryan pushed a glass of water toward me, and despite his caveman attitude and the independent side of me wanting to take that glass and pour the water right over his egotistical head because I was a grown-ass woman and could do shit myself, I was thirsty as hell and too tired to fight.
And besides… drinking when the sun was about to rise seemed like the least of my worries.
I grabbed the glass and downed it quickly, so quickly that droplets of water dribbled out the corner of my mouth and down my chin. I set my glass down and was about to wipe them away, when—quicker than I could anticipate—Adryan’s arm shot out, his fingers curling around my wrist, stopping me from moving.
My eyes widened in shock as I stared at him, unable to move, unsure what he was doing. This low sound left him, a deep noise from within his chest as he leaned in and—further shocking me—dragged his tongue from the edge of my jaw all the way to the corner of my mouth, lapping up those droplets of water.
I felt the smooth swipe of his thumb across the pulse point at my wrist, and then just as quickly, he was settled back in his seat, his glass of bourbon to his lips, his gaze focused on me over the rim as if that hadn’t just happened.
I swallowed thickly, adrenaline pumping through me at that very sexually laced experience. I didn’t know what to say, if I should even say anything at all.
I swallowed again and focused on the plate before me. Everything smelled delicious, looked professionally made, artistically displayed. Then again, in a home as lavish as the one I was currently in, I wasn’t expecting bags of fast food for a meal.
My thoughts went to the man beside me, as I was finding my mind constantly drawn to him. With my thirst taken care of, my focus replayed what and who he really was.
A vampire. A species in the Otherworld.
