Page 37 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

I flushed.

Just as suddenly, the presence at my back vanished and I exhaled.

“I’ll see you at dinner, Miss Shaw.” I didn’t turn to acknowledge him as he departed. Instead, I finished my cutting, then set my knife beside the sink and bid Vittorio farewell.

When I returned to my room, I plopped down on the sofa, attempting to straighten my thoughts. I hated Laurent so much—or, wanted to—and yet, each time he got near me, I was cast adrift. Stuck between what I knew I should feel and the traitorous way my body reacted.

I scrubbed my hands over my face, groaning. Why couldn’t he be grotesque? Why couldn’t he smell like blood and death instead of that intoxicating clean scent that made me want to breathe him in as deeply as my body would take him.

I thought of Ania and an ache formed deep in my chest. She would know what to do, what to say. If only I could just pick up the phone and call her.

I had already tried my luck. I’d checked for phones, expecting to find at least one. But these vampires all used cell phones now. No one kept a landline anymore. I’d attempted to break into Marco’s office, which had been locked every time.

The one time I’d found Laurent’s unlocked, I’d been dismayed to discover his laptop was password protected. Even more dismayed when the door had clicked open and I’d quickly acted by pulling out drawers like I was searching for something.

“What the fuck are you doing?” That question had been cold and calm. Because he’d known.

“Looking for pen and paper,” I’d lied, keeping my face hidden as I rustled around in a drawer.

“Get out.” That low command had sent me scuttling, and I hadn’t been able to look up at his face as I’d fled. I knew what I would see if I had. His soulless eyes glittering with all the things he thought of me.

There would be no contacting Ania unless Laurent permitted it. But that was okay. Because soon enough, I’d be free of this place.

Getting up, I sought Zola in her room and found her stretched across her sofa wearing another glitzy gown, because I’d never seen her in anything else. Had the woman never heard of casual clothes?! “Ah, darling, there you are.”

“Is that… Are you eating chocolate? What book is that?”

“Yes. I’m rereading the Claimed series.”

I sputtered. “The werewolf one?”

“Mmm…” she made a distracted humming sound, not looking up as she lifted another chocolate, plopping it into her mouth. The book rested upright on her chest. There was a half eaten bowl of popcorn on the low table, along with a soda can.

I moved over and took a seat on the armchair, leaning forward to grab the box of chocolates from her lap and picking through it.

“Which one are you reading?” I leaned around, trying to get a look at the cover.

“Claimed by Dane,” she murmured.

I snorted. “You do realize that whole series is about humans and werewolf mates. Wait—“ I sucked in a gasp. “Werewolves are real too, aren’t they?”

They’d mentioned demons and witches. Why hadn’t I considered other supernatural creatures? There were probably elves too. And fae? What about mermaids? My head started spinning.

“They’re all real, darling,” she said, still distracted.

“You’re in the middle of a spicy scene, aren’t you.” I jumped up and snatched the book.

She let out a sound of protest but failed to get up. I was one hundred percent sure she could stand and come after me if she wanted. Could stop me before I blinked. But she didn’t.

I let my eyes drag over the pages, because yes, I’d read this series too.

“…and he spread my thighs, dropping his face to lick upwards along the length of my slit. My, my, Zola.” I clicked my tongue.

“Oh, please. As if you’re shocked, considering…”

I grinned and returned her book. We weren’t close enough to talk about our love lives, so instead I said, “There is something so delicious about a helpless female being dominated by an alpha male who is all gooey and soft on the inside. Isn’t there?”

She shrugged, but I saw it. I caught the quick slip of her expression. A brief flicker. But it was enough.