“So now that all the information has been laid out on the table, what’s the plan? Sophie can’t return to her apartment,” Tish says.
“You’re not suggesting we stay here.” Igor looks at the cat as if she’s crazy.
“You have to, at least for the day.” Lucca sighs. “But if you want to fry, be my guest.”
Vivi stands up. “This house has plenty of rooms. I’m sure Gerard has already prepared a few of the guest bedrooms.”
“Sophie is staying with me.” Vaughn throws his arm around my shoulder, and I melt into him.
“Tish can stay with me,” Igor says.
Vaughn’s jaw drops. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
“I’d feel weird if I took an entire room to myself,” Tish says. “I can stay with the muscles.”
Lucca stands. “It’s settled, then. Let’s all rest and meet again in a few hours.”
Part Two
Forty-Two
VIVIENNE
Idon’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep, but as soon as I’m tucked in Lucca’s arms, my eyes begin to droop. If I close them, I know it won’t take long for me to succumb to slumber. But I sense Lucca’s turmoil. His muscles are tense underneath me.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask.
“A lot. I can’t believe Jacques had a secret daughter with Tatiana.”
“Do you believe what she said about the truce between your uncle and Tatiana being real?”
“I don’t know what to believe. Does that make me a bad person?”
“No, just a cautious one. I can only imagine the heartache you went through thanks to Tatiana’s army… and her hateful son.” I shiver, thinking about that monster.
“Did you get the sense that Boone assaulted Sophie?”
I run my finger around his nipple, distracted. “Yes. If he did, then I can understand why she wouldn’t be loyal to her mother. Vaughn believes her.”
Lucca chuckles. “I’m not even surprised your friend fell for the daughter of our number one enemy.”
“Hey, he’sourfriend. And you sired him. Maybe you should do a better job as a mentor.”
Lucca pushes me onto my back and rolls on top of me, nudging my legs open to accommodate his body. Heat spreads through me, making me tingle all over. And when he gyrates his hips, causing friction between my legs, I moan out loud, my tiredness forgotten.
“How about I mentoryouinstead?”
The corners of my lips tug upward, but I fight to hide the smile that’s threatening to blossom. “Mentor me in what?”
He brings his nose to my neck, inhaling deeply before licking my skin. “Oh, I can think of many things to teach you.”
I tremble under his caress. “Is that so? Show me.”
He grazes my earlobe with his fangs while his hand slides down my stomach until his fingers find my clit. “How about this?”
I close my eyes, arching my back a little. “Hmm… are you teaching me to pleasure myself?”
“Yes, although I like to touch you. And I love—” He bites my neck without puncturing the skin. “—how wet you get for me.”
