He’s socasual. About everything. About saving me from whatever happened on Monday; about kissing me on my bed; about inviting me to his house.
Of course he is.He’s been alive for seventy-some odd years and has spent most of them as a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old man. He could juggle fifty Dianthas blindfolded and with one of his stupid bulging arms tied behind his back.
Don’t imagine his arms tied behind his back.
I’ve made myself way too easy for him. I let him work his gorgeous vampire magic on me. Let those lips trick me into coming here tonight, to do god knows what.Lonely idiot, I think.
“Dai.” His features twist into a look of…ofpity? “Don’t tell me you’re upset. It was just an observation.”
“I’m not upset,” I huff and slip past him. “See, I’m inside. Happy now?”
“Of course I am. I am a happy guy,” Orfeo bites back.
Good to know we’re both on our best behavior tonight.
The door clicks shut behind me andwow, have I been led astray. The carriage house’s humble exterior has to be some sort of enchantment, because this place is nice asfuck.
In front of me is an expansive, tastefully decorated living room that opens up into a shiny chrome kitchen with the type of sparkling countertops that let me know Orfeo definitely isn’t makingaglio e olioevery night. It’s all a little too Pier 1 Imports for my personal taste, but definitely still nicer than my Kuromi sheets and linoleum-lined cabinets.
Across the room is a spiral staircase that leads to a lofted bedroom. From the first floor, I can just make out the hospital corners of his big-ass bed. Why did Leo make it seem like Orfeo was living out of a duffle bag at a roach motel? All I see are gleaming hardwood floors, a limestone fireplace, and a mattress that looks like it could actually heal me.
“Welcome to my home. I would give you the tour, but there is not much to see.” Orfeo breezes past me and I wait until he’s at a tasteful distance before I roll my eyes.
He opens a cabinet and, without completing movements my mostly human eyes can catch, he procures a wineglass. “White or red?”
“Uhhh…”
Before I can reply, he’s in front of me with a healthy pour of a wine that’s almost a golden color. “White, I think. Something smooth and dry. This is a vermentino.”
I accept the stem from between his fingers and he relieves me of my garment bag. Then, he trains his gaze on me. “Sip.”
“Um, okay.” I run my tongue over my bottom lip. “You’re not trying to poison me or something, are you?”
Nowhelooks offended. “Do you really think I need poison to have my way with you, Diantha? Please. I am a monster, for god’s sake. I would use my natural abilities first.”
“Okay, Nosferatu. Jeez.” He keeps his eyes fixed on mine as I lift the glass to my lips. “Cheers,” I snark.
I’m not sure what I expect, but it’s not this. The wine slips over my tongue and slides down my throat without any burn or punch. It’s a wash of citrus fruit followed by almond flowers and delicious earthiness, like a perfect olive oil. There’s no migraine-inducing sweetness or acidic floral aftertaste that stings my nose. It’s exactly like Orfeo said—smooth, dry, anddelicious.
“Wow.”
That broody, saturnine look in his eyes clears in an instant and he smiles. His fangs are slightly extended right now, and I wonder if my pleasure has excited him.
“It’s good, isn’t it?”
“It’s incredible,” I say with a laugh. “Poisoned or not, I could drink the whole bottle.”
Pleased, Orfeo waves me over to the plush couches arranged around the fireplace. “Not yet. I need you of sound mind and body tonight. Like I said, this idea I have is very dangerous.”
I know I should feel anxious, but that seems to be physically impossible when I’m around this damned man. Or, I guess, vampire.Italian vampire?I slug down more wine.
“Okay.” I sit across from him, crossing my legs. He snaps his fingers and the fire dims. “What’s the plan?”
“Tonight, I’m going to take you into Hades House.”
“What?” I snort out a laugh. “You’re taking mewhere?”
“There’s a private event tonight and Alfo, my boss, has limited the number of vampires he’s allowing in, especiallyafter…” He waves his hand through the air. “I know this sounds crazy, but?—”
