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“We are enemies of old, but it seems it’s time to put aside ancient hurts. I sent what I hoped will be seen as a friendly gift to him through Mordecai. I’m told he accepted the gift without saying anything.” The tunnel had narrowed, so they were walking single file, Gavin behind her, and when it widened, he came up beside her again. “It is my hope we can find a way to a truce. I wrote him a letter telling him how important you are to me, and how much I appreciate seeing his style coming through in your fighting, because I know these skills will keep the woman I love safe. He will either come at me and try to kill me for it, he’ll ignore it, or he will send something to let me know he agrees to my truce.”
“No chance the two of you will be friends?”
“I would say it’s unlikely, but that doesn’t rule it out. A ceasefire will be monumental.”
“And you aren’t going to tell me why the two of you fought?”
Or how Gavin was still alive after waging open warfare against a freaking god of old, but one question at a time.
“I will not speak ill of a man you respect. Are you hungry?”
“I’d love some wine and cheese, maybe a few crackers? Not much. A few bites. Link and Dusty warned me to watch my food intake, saying the two-natured have to feed their human and beast selves, but I’m not seeing a difference in my hunger or energy levels.”
“You don’t have a beast self, though you are carrying two souls now, so I suppose it could go either way. Something to keep in mind, especially once you add the bear.”
“Mom knows a tattoo artist who’s really good at bears and wolves. It’ll be a smaller tattoo, something he can do in one sitting, so she can flash me to him in New York, and she can get me in to see him faster — he’s taking appointments nine months out. The guy I want to do my axolotl is in Texas, and he’s taking appointments five months out.”
They arrived in Gavin’s private sitting room, and someone had left a spread of cheeses, crackers, and some assorted veggies on his coffee table. Two bottles of wine were nearby, and two wine glasses. A fancy corkscrew was also provided.
Gavin immediately went to work opening the wine, and Lauren popped a cherry tomato in her mouth before dipping a piece of cauliflower in what she assumed was ranch dressing, and eating it as well. She was hungrier than she’d realized, and she went for the broccoli next, also dipped in the dressing.
“I could get spoiled, wishing for food and having it magically appear.”
“I would love the opportunity to spoil you, but deciding where you want to live is a big decision. I hope staying with Ambrose for a short time helps you make a well-reasoned choice — one you aren’t required to make quickly, and have time to consider the pros and cons of all choices.”
“You aren’t usually so careful with your words, when it’s just the two of us.”
“I don’t want you thinking I’m trying to convince you to move in here. Yes, there’s a chef on the staff who will make you most anything you want, within reason and assuming he has enough of a heads up to have the ingredients on hand if it’s something off-the-wall, but I know you well enough to know that will play a small part in your eventual choice.”
“It still feels weird for me to eat when you don’t, sometimes. At least you’re drinking wine with me, though.” She took another sip. “And whoever picked the wine did an excellent job.”
“I told them which to bring, so thank you. It’s one of my favorites.”
Conversation flowed between them while Lauren ate and the two drank wine. She wasn’t certain when she ended up in Gavin’s lap, but she loved having his arms around her, so there were no complaints. And then later, she found herself naked on a luxurious bed, completely relaxed, Gavin’s cool hands and mouth playing over her, soft and sweet, and oh-so-strong.
She simply sank into the moment and let the sensations play out on her body, soft music in the background, the need growing in her slowly, his hands roaming over her, his breath on her skin. His lips kissing. Caressing. Fingers stroking.
Lauren floated on airy clouds of sensation and bliss until the soft wanting became a wild urgency, and then he was inside her, the granite hardness of him opening her while his eyes looked into her face, the vampire baring his soul without her asking him to, letting her see what she did to him, and her vision showed his need, his love, his affection and fondness for someone he wanted in his life, wanted by his side.
And when the pleasure finally crashed on the shore, waves exploding into bliss for both of them, time stopped and they soared together.
Chapter 11
Lauren awakened in her upstairs bedroom at the coterie house, saw the time, and pushed the button to open the light-proof blinds on the windows. In a pinch, a vampire could be housed in this room, but most preferred to live underground.
Gavin had carried her to her bedroom after she’d fallen asleep. She’d roused while he’d made his way through the silence of the hallways in the hours before dawn, and then he’d lain with her until she was fast asleep again. She didn’t remember him leaving, but that was the way he seemed to prefer it, holding her until she was asleep before he left.
With a little trepidation, she stepped into the closet filled with clothes she hadn’t bought, but she knew would likely fit her perfectly both in size and preferred style. She eyed the far wall of the closet, with sexy club wear, but didn’t look through it in detail. The business section was what she needed, so that was all she paid attention to.
She found dozens of pant suits with a variety of blouses to go with them, as well as a handful of suits with skirts — and plenty of shoes to choose from. Her considerable space here was much nicer than her suite on the yacht, but she enjoyed being on the water, feeling the boat gently rocking her to sleep at night.
She chose a pants suit, donned the pants, and was startled a little at the gentle knock on her door. She sent her senses out, trying to see if she could tell who it was. She couldn’t, so she slipped a dress shirt on over the silky bra, and buttoned it on the way to the door.
“Queenie. Hi. I was just getting dressed for the day.” She wanted to ask her what she wanted, but couldn’t figure out how to say it without sounding rude.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your morning, but we’re on lockdown and I wanted to let you know. I was alerted when your blinds were opened. We didn’t want to wake you.”
Lauren motioned Queenie to come inside, and she stepped to her bedside table so she could settle her nine-millimeter into the bellyband she’d already put on beneath her blouse. She also closed the blinds.
