Page 156 of Bleed

Taylor whips her head in our direction, lips splitting into a grin the second our eyes meet.

“Bex!” she gushes, perking up and making grabby hands at me.

I laugh and step into her reach, letting her pull me down for a hug before dropping onto the sofa beside her.

“Well?” she asks, grin widening even further as she gestures around the room. “Is it everything you expected?”

I sweep my gaze around again, feigning boredom. “Not nearly enough people are fucking yet.”

She rolls her eyes, then looks up at Eli. “Bite her for me, would ya?”

His mouth twitches. “She bites back.”

Taylor giggles, and James tugs her closer again, slinging an arm around her shoulders.

The two of them make it look easy. Being together, being content. Existing in their own little orbit without giving a single fuck about the world around them.

Then again, I suppose that’s become pretty easy for me and Eli lately, too.

James looks toward him, nodding to the empty space on his other side, and Elliott takes a seat. The two of them immediately lapse into the kind of low, serious conversation that practically begs to be eavesdropped on.

Naturally, I oblige.

“The council has requested an audience with me,” James murmurs. “They want further details surrounding Vincent’s disappearance.”

Eli’s jaw tightens, though nothing else in his expression changes. “Should we be concerned?”

“No.” James lifts his whiskey and takes a measured sip. “Though did you have to kill him?”

“He challenged my claim,” Elliott growls. “Surely you understand why I couldn’t allow that to go unanswered.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly.” James sighs, lowering his glass to his knee. “I’ll handle it. This region is my jurisdiction, so they’ll ultimately have to accept my judgment on the matter. I’d just hoped we could avoid any unnecessary scrutiny.”

“Perhaps you can distract them with the European Bite expansion,” Elliott suggests.

“They are easily distracted by the promise of lining their pockets,” James agrees.

Their conversation shifts to some boring business shit about first quarter profits, and I glance at Taylor, a joke about uptight vampire execs on the tip of my tongue. She isn’t paying the slightest bit of attention to what the men are talking about, though. Her eyes are roaming eagerly around the room, drinking in the debauchery unfolding around us with absolutely zero concern for ominous vampire politics.

Fair enough.

I sweep my gaze around, finding that everywhere I look is a feast for the eyes. A leggy lady vamp holds a leash in one hand and a riding crop in the other, a bright-eyed donor collared at her feet. Two male vamps share a pretty blonde, fucking her from both ends. Taylor can’t seem to focus on a single scene, her attention bouncing from one to the next.

“Never knew you were such a deviant,” I tease, elbowing her.

“Oh shut up.” She drags her attention back to me with a soft laugh. “As if you’re one to talk.”

“Nah, I’m definitely not.” I chuckle, settling deeper into the sofa. “Although… the whole group-sex thing has kinda lost its luster these days.”

Taylor arches a brow. “He’s that good, huh?”

I grin smugly. “Let’s just say he doesn’t leave me wanting for anything.”

“Atta girl.” She grins like a cat, then her expression softens, eyes going all round and wistful. “I’m happy for you, Bex. You deserve this.”

My smile falters.

Of course she has to go and make it sentimental.