Page 41 of Damian’s Conquest

Not being able to wait any longer, Naomi got out of the car and walked up the steps to the entrance. She turned the knob, and the door opened. She stepped into the foyer from which she could see down the long hallway. A wooden stairway led to the second floor. If this house was like so many other Victorians in San Francisco, then she would find a powder room along the corridor underneath the staircase. Several people were coming in and out of the kitchen at the end of the hallway, and to her left, an open arch led into the living room, where most of the guests were congregating.

Not wanting to attract attention, Naomi quickly walked along the corridor, and tested the first door to her right. It opened, and she’d been right. It was a powder room. She quickly went inside and locked the door. She could tell immediately that everything in this well-appointed half bath was brand-new. Her own bathroom was a far cry from this luxury. She could only dream of something so beautiful and elegant.

Despite wanting to linger in the powder room to enjoy the lavender-scented hand soap and lotion, she hurried, not wanting Damian to think she’d left when he got back to the car. When she unlocked the door and stepped back into the hallway, she nearly collided with a man.

“Oops,” she said and jerked back.

He was young, had raven-black hair, and piercing green eyes. Though he was dressed casually in low-riding black pants and a linen shirt with the top two buttons open, there was something commanding about him. The way he looked at her, his gaze roaming over her as if measuring her, made her uneasy.

“Who are you?” he asked bluntly, behaving almost like the bouncer at the Mezzanine. Just more arrogant.

“Uh, I’m Naomi.”

“Who let you in?”

She figured that her reply that the front door wasn’t locked probably wouldn’t satisfy him, so she decided for a different answer. “I came with Damian.”

That seemed to surprise him. “Damian? You sure?” He ran his eyes over her body once more. “You don’t look like you came with him.”

That was downright rude, but she wasn’t going to start a confrontation with this arrogant prick. “I’ll wait outside for him.”

She tried to brush past him, but he didn’t budge. She was about to raise her voice to tell him to get out of her way, when a toddler came barreling her way and crashed into her legs. Instinctively, she leaned down, catching the little guy. The little boy couldn’t be older than two years.

“What are you still doing up so late?” she cooed. “Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

The little boy stretched his arms out toward her, and she was about to lift him up, when a young black woman with an athletic figure came running.

“Harry! You’re not supposed to run away,” she chastised the boy, before glancing at Naomi. “Thanks.” Then she addressed the man who’d finally taken a few steps away from her to give her space. “Grayson, do you know where Lilo is? I think Harry is getting antsy.”

“Try the kitchen.” Grayson turned around and went down the hallway.

“Is he yours?” Naomi asked the girl and pointed to the boy who was still stretching his arms up toward her.

“God, no! He’s Blake and Lilo’s little devil. Blake just handed him off to me as if I’m the designated babysitter around here.” The woman who couldn’t be older than twenty smiled at her, then stretched her hand out. “I’m Buffy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here.”

Naomi shook her hand. “I’m Naomi. I came with Damian.”

Suddenly Buffy’s face lit up in recognition. “Oh, you’re Little Red Riding Hood.”

Naomi felt her face flush with embarrassment. Did everybody know that she and Damian had made out on the dance floor like world champions in oral gymnastics? Was that why he’d told her to stay in the car, to spare her the embarrassing looks and questions? And was that why Grayson had scrutinized her like she was some sort of zoo animal?

When the little boy started wailing, Naomi took it as her opportunity to change the subject and simply picked up the boy and lifted him into her arms. “He’s probably tired. It’s really late for a child this age.”

Buffy shrugged. “Harry is up at all hours.”

Naomi rocked him in her arms, and he finally stopped crying.

~ ~ ~

Grayson cast another look at the human woman who was now talking to Buffy. As he walked down the corridor, he saw Cooper, and pulled him aside. Cooper was Haven and Yvette’s hybrid son, and had ultra-short dark hair and a muscled physique. He was easy-going, fun to be around, and he was a well-trained bodyguard who didn’t mind following orders.

“See the blond human talking to Buffy?”

“Yeah, what about her?”

“Watch her. I think she’s a party crasher. Make sure she doesn’t go near the kitchen or anywhere else where she could see blood.”

“And what are you gonna do?”