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I rolled my eyes and took another swig of wine. Much like how alcohol slowed a werewolf’s transformative process, it also dulled the effects of the magical war inside of me.
“Please move,” I said. “You’re too big for me to move, and I’d like to go home.”
I took a step toward him, reaching for the door, but he moved half an inch at such a speed it was like he’d snapped there, blocking me. I bounced off his shoulder like it was a steel I-beam.
“You really shouldn’t be out here at night alone.” The vampire dipped his head toward me, whispering close to my ear. “I can smell the magic on you from a mile away, and it’s... tempting.”
I shivered, but I wasn’t sure if it was in fear or exhilaration, or maybe a little bit of both. His lips were so close to my skin that all it would take was a split second for him to have his teeth in my neck, and I’d be dead. He had my life in the palm of his hand, and it both surprised and annoyed me that I wasn’t more scared. Almost like I enjoyed the thrill of being so close to him, like it was desirable to be teetering on the brink of death.
“I can handle myself, thanks.”
“Oh?”
The vampire still didn’t touch me, but his breath tickled the skin of my neck, sending goosebumps down my arms and legs. I felt myself wanting to curl toward him, to run my hands down that solid chest of his, but I knew that was his vampire magic, the allure, talking. I cleared my throat, pushing the glamour away.
“You and your wine?” he murmured. “You did say you were armed.”
His eyes roved over my face. We were just inches away from one another. He glanced down at my chest, and I could see him watching me breathe—inhale, exhale—as if he was listening to every beat of my heart with rapt attention. And hell if it didn’t intrigue me to see the way he was studying me like I was something precious.
In response, I raised my bottle of wine and took one more little swig, mostly just to give myself something to do. The vampire didn’t move away. I gave my lips a little smack as I let the wine bottle drop to my side.
I was sure I smelled like red wine, and maybe a little bit like crayons and pretzels courtesy of Little Hank. I narrowed my gaze at him.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “Me and my cabernet sidekick.”
He didn’t move, a gargoyle carved out of solid mercury—the moonlight splashing him with a wash of a majestic glow. Those eyes glinted, little flecks of stars pulling me deeper into his gaze. He smelled fresh, crisp, rich. Expensive cologne and fancy shampoo, but something woodsy and natural beneath it all. I inhaled, both to steady myself and to drink in his scent.
The vampire seemed to like that because he smiled.
“Have a good night, then.” He stepped to the side, let me reach for the handle.
Expelling a shaky breath, I moved around him and yanked open the door to our high-rise. It was hard to believe we hadn’t touched, not more than the whisper of his breath on my skin, an imaginary sensation I’d be dreaming about for weeks on end.
My heart raced as I stepped through the door, feeling like he’d gotten me all hot and bothered and then left me hanging out to dry. I glanced behind, looking to see if he was still watching me, to see if he was as affected by this moment as me.
But I was alone. As if I’d imagined the entire thing.
Chapter 2
Dominic
“Where is he?” I barked into my phone. I prowled around my penthouse, arms crossed, looking out over the city below.
“We don’t have a location on him at the moment, sir.” Nicola Vixen, the head of my security team, informed me with a light sniff of annoyance. “Your brother has been off the grid since this morning.”
“How does Sebastian Kent go off the grid?” I growled, clutching my cell with enough force to snap the thing in two. “How the hell do you lose the most wanted vampire in New York, Vix?”
My right-hand woman had been working for me long enough that she knew not to take my tone personally. I paid her well enough to put up with an occasional grumpy attitude, and I was well and truly pissed tonight.
“We’ll find him,” Vix promised. “Now if you’re done running your mouth, sir, I’d like to get back to my job.”
I cursed again. “I thought he was here tonight.”
“Here?” Vix perked up. “At your penthouse?”
“In The Hollow. There was a big rush of power outside. I went out to investigate.”
“And?” Vix’s words were clipped. She was tall, her long nails curved into shiny metallic claws that reminded me of deadly spikes. She paid a lot for those nails. She was a combination of beautiful and deadly that should be illegal.
