Emilio let out a hearty laugh, his hands still firmly gripping my ass. “Judging from the sounds she was making, bloodsucker, I’m guessing that’s not the case.”
“Yes, I did wonder about that.” Darius stepped fully into the closet, looking around again as if he were considering moving in. “Does she always do that?”
“You tell me.”
“You guys.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m right here.”
“Mmm.” Darius’s gaze drank us in, head to toe and back up again. “Indeed, you are.”
“How are you feeling?” I asked, reaching forward to sweep the hair from his eyes. I didn’t care that I was naked. In fact, standing there in that closet with a still-erect wolf shifter by my side and a mischievous looking vampire in front of me, I was pretty damned turned on.
“Haley said there might be some initial confusion,” I said. It was hard to keep the hope from my voice. She’d also said he’d sleep a few more hours, yet here he was, wide awake and already teasing me. Was that a good sign?
Do you remember? Did it work?
“I seem to recall something about that,” Darius said, offering no further explanation.
“So…?” I gave him an encouraging smile, but my insides were tying themselves into knots. His thoughts were hidden from me, his face a mask. Only his eyes held a glint of their former mischief, the only hint that a bit of the old vampire might have resurfaced
“I’m feeling,” he said, stroking an elegant finger along my cheek, “in the mood for a story. The one where a devilishly handsome vampire spends an evening with an entrancing young witch in his Astin Martin Spitfire in the parking lot of Luna’s café. Are you familiar with that one, love? Because I’dreallylike to know how it ends.”
Thirty-Six
DARIUS
“Cookies!” she shouted, unexpectedly throwing herself into my arms. I couldn’t help but embrace her, despite the fact that her luscious scent was currently being overpowered by the wolf’s. Her skin was warm and soft, her body curving against mine as if it’d been created to do just that.
“Cookies, huh?” Emilio laughed. “And here I thought she only had eyes for my brownies.”
“No, the story.” Gray pulled back from my embrace and beamed at me with tears in her eyes, her gorgeous smile nearly as bright as the sun. “After the… the car stuff… We ended up inside the café, and you bought me a latte and chocolate macadamia cookies and told me how you loved cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries.”
I nodded, the once-familiar flavors rolling over my tongue again, unleashing flashes of other memories. Black Ruby—the club I owned. Late nights balancing the books, eating the leftover fries.
“Now that you mention it,” I said, “I do love those things. I remember… pieces. It’s just… I’m not sure the spell has taken hold. I’m afraid there are still so many gaps.”
“I know, but don’t you see? It’s just the beginning!” Gray’s enthusiasm refused to be tempered, and I couldn’t help but return her smile. It was absolutely infectious. Regardless of what I’d remembered, I’d spent many hours since our return from the Shadowrealm gazing into the haunted depths of her eyes, wishing I could erase every last worry, every last fear.
This was the closest I’d come to bringing her pure happiness in a long, long time.
“Tonight was just our first attempt,” she continued, her skin glowing. “Haley and I are daughters of Silversbane. With our combined power, her blood magic expertise, and a little more practice, we’ll figure this out, D. I promise you that.”
D.The nickname floated into my consciousness, settling into my chest. That, too, I was remembering.
“Wait, can we go back to that part about the parking lot sex?” Emilio asked, sliding a hand over the curve of her hip. The man was rock hard, and had made no effort to control or cover himself on my account. “As an officer of the law, I feel it’s imperative to gather all the evidence for detailed analysis.”
Gray laughed, then turned to me again, her eyes shining with fresh hope. “What else do you remember about that night at Luna’s? Any other details, conversations, anything?”
I closed my eyes, traveling back in time to that night, back to the butter-soft leather seats of the car. I was in the driver’s seat, Gray sitting beside me, whispering my name as I kissed the pale skin of her inner arm.
“I’ve tasted you,” I said now, opening my eyes, and I could tell from the surprise in hers that she knew theexactmoment I’d just recalled. I’d whispered the words in response to her own breathless utterance:I don’t know how you do that… It’s like you know exactly how to touch me…
“I can smell the blood running through your veins,” I continued now, the words echoing strong and clear in my memory. “Hear the tempo of your heartbeat.”
Then, just like I had that night, I leaned in close, inhaling her sweet scent, my body burning with desire. “I can feel where youache.”
Gray gasped, and without hesitation, I claimed her mouth. Emilio steadied her hips, kissing the back of her neck, her ear, his soft black hair brushing against my cheek as we both tasted her.
Gray’s hands dipped inside the waistband of my jeans, fumbling with the button and zipper. I was already in a state of intense arousal, one brush of her fingertips had me gasping with pleasure.
