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He might have argued or at least made an attempt to ply the information out of her, but a new scent rose above the aroma of his meal, which made him pause mid-bite and stare hard at Lily. She wasn’t just excited, she was excited. Her sweet feminine scent floated in streamers of sensation and her desire fueled his.
He shifted in his seat. They’d have some time before the gala and Lily had even gotten their clothes here, which meant they’d have a couple of hours or more to be together.
He brought his fork to his lips, paused, then shoved another bite of steak in. He chewed, maybe a bit harder than he should have, but the thought of taking Lily back to bed had become a quick fluttering of erotic images through his mind.
He also felt a familiar tingling near his heart that told him he’d need blood soon. But Lily was willing and by the scent of her, she’d be more than happy to donate. Over the decades, he’d served the blood needs of many aroused female vampires so he knew what it was for the donor, how stimulating the slice of the fangs and the ensuing suckling could be.
He couldn’t believe how far they’d come down this road. He thought of her as belonging to him, a regular donor now, his lover, even a good friend. Yes, he thought of her as his friend, someone he could count on in the way he could count on his brothers. Was it just the bonding effects of the chains or was there more here, much more than he had ever thought or dreamed possible?
He stole a glance at her as she speared a bite of steak. She had thick lashes, a beautiful complexion, a lovely human.
When she met his gaze, she asked, “What?”
He leaned into her and kissed her on the mouth then searched her face. “Would you believe me if I said I’ve fallen in love with you?”
Her breath hitched. “I don’t know. We’re under the spell of the chains, right?”
He shrugged. “Do you remember when you first came to me in the cave, before you bound me with the chain? I felt something even then, a drive toward you that I still can’t explain.” He felt a deep tenderness emanating from her, almost throbbing in soft waves.
“Me, too. Almost from the first.”
He kissed her again, only this time he let the kiss linger.
When he drew back, she took a deep breath and swore she trembled. “Keep eating,” she commanded. “You’re going to need your strength.”
Because of the chains, he sensed the deep sexual nature of her intention toward him, which caused him to list in his seat. But he obeyed her and focused all his attention on downing his food.
When at last he settled his fork and knife on his plate and she’d eaten the last of her meal, she turned to him and slid her hand along his thigh. “I’ve had something prepared for you, Adrien, and I hope you’ll like it. Also, I can feel that you need my blood and I’m ready to give it up for you again.”
Since she followed up this bold statement by kissing him, his need for her spiked. He slid off his stool and she came with him, a flow of movement that felt just right as she landed in his arms. He kissed her again, this time piercing her mouth with his tongue, which made her whimper and her hips press against his.
He swiveled his hips just enough to let her feel that he was ready for her, which drew her hand gliding down his back and pressing his bu**ocks as she arched her hips into him. He needed to take her to bed and was about to suggest the bedroom when she pulled back, her hazel eyes glittering with passion.
She lifted her chin just a little. A dare? “I asked Eve if we could use her Rome apartment for a couple of hours and she said yes. I want to take you there. Will you come with me?” Her scent enveloped him.
Adrien’s heart rate climbed. He’d never been to Eve’s apartment though she’d invited him hundreds of times over the past two centuries, from the time she’d bought and refurbished it.
She’d even described in detail some of the specialty equipment she’d installed in one of the rooms.
He swallowed hard. “You don’t want to just stay here?”
“I have something specific in mind, Adrien. Will you let me have my way right now? It will mean you’ll have to trust me.”
“What’s going on?”
He felt both reluctant and ready. Maybe it was the eagerness in her face or the glitter in her eyes, or that right now she had a hand on each of his butt cheeks and was caressing him, but like any man in his right mind, he said, “Let’s go.”
Since they were already in Italy, the flight took about eight seconds.
When they arrived, dozens of candles had been lit and not a single electric bulb burned.
He released her and turned in a circle. Lily had already moved away from him, following what turned out to be a path of small votives on the floor. His heart began to pound.
Eve was all about dominance.
So what had Lily arranged?
And why here?
Lily walked down a long hall, where more candles showed the way. At the end of the hall was a set of double doors, slightly ajar. When she slipped inside, he would have followed, but she stopped him with a hand on his chest. “Give me a sec. There’s something I need to do first.”
He nodded, mouth dry.
When the door closed, he put his head on the smooth carved wood. His heart was now banging around in his chest. If it beat any faster, it would come loose from its moorings.
He’d never been harder.
He scratched softly on the door and whispered, “Lily. What are you doing to me?”
He didn’t expect an answer, but one came, straight into his head. Do you trust me?
Yes. Sweat beaded on his brow. And strangely, that was the truth. He trusted this woman, this human.
You have a choice, Adrien. If you come in, you must do as I say, do you understand? If you choose not to come in, we’ll go back to Rumy’s guest apartment and you can f**k my brains out, but here, you are mine to command. Do you understand?
Yes.
Now choose.
He wanted to ask what she was wearing, but he suspected Eve had left her something special to put on.
He waited, trying to think, trying to order his thoughts. He already sensed what it was she wanted to do.
May I see you first before I decide, because if you’ve gone down a certain path, I’m not sure I can take it.
I’ll let you see my hand.
The door opened slightly and her hand appeared. The wrist was wrapped in silver-studded leather. Hanging from each stud were several thin chains, each of which draped to encompass her fingers. If she used her hand on him, he would feel the chains.
She would hurt him, yet not hurt him.
