Blood Rites: (Royal Blood #3) (12 page)

“Why?” she asked. “I’ve got things to do
Vaughn.”

“I just…I’ll explain when you get here.”

“Is this a booty call?”

“
Lorelei
.”

“
I thought we
weren’t
exclusive
,” she complained. “You can’t order me around, that was the
deal.”

“Lorelei,” I snapped. “Stop being
difficult.”

“Me? Difficult?” Fuck, I could hear her pout
over the phone. I wanted to fuck her until she couldn’t stand
straight… Meeting bad Lorelei was thrilling, but now she was a pain
in my ass.

“Lorelei, just…” I pinched the bridge of my
nose. “Can you come to the house?”

“Sure.”

I sighed. “I’ll send Hawkes to pick you
up.”

“Vaughn?” Her voice was quiet, hesitant.

“Yeah?”

“Is everything okay?”

I glanced at the laptop and the photos of us
and frowned. “It will be when you get here.”

I could hear her sigh over the line and
hoped that she would understand when I finally told her the
truth.

“Okay.”

Once she’d hung up, I straightened my shirt
and collected myself. If it was war Sykes wanted, it was war he was
getting. Once Lorelei was safe, then I’d deal with him myself. I’d
choke the life out of him with my own bare hands if I had to.

“Hawkes,” I barked.

A moment later he strode into the study,
attentive as always. “Sir?”

“I need you to go pick up Lorelei.”

“So soon?” he asked, frowning.

I turned the laptop around so he could see
the photographs. “We have a problem.”

He glanced at me, his expression as calm as
the eye of a storm. He nodded once. “Understood.”

“
If you see anyone watching her
residence, deal with them.” No second guesses as to what that
meant.

Hawkes straightened his jacket. “I’ll do
whatever is necessary.”

I nodded and shut the laptop, dismissing him
from the room. I gave Sykes the power to destroy me and all because
I was blinded by my feelings. It was my fault and Lorelei would
unknowingly suffer for it.

I’d fucked up big time.

Fourteen

Lorelei

I watched as Vaughn’s call ended on my phone
and the screen flashed back to the wallpaper.

He wanted me to come over again? Something
sounded wrong. He was upset, almost desperate to have me back where
he could touch…or keep an eye on me.

The bell rang on the front door
and I jumped.
That was quick
. Wandering downstairs, I opened the door
expecting Hawkes and gasped in surprise.

“Father?”

“Lorelei,” he said briskly and I knew
something was wrong. Well, it seemed like the day for it.

I stepped aside to let him in. He was
wearing his trademark suit and tie, his salt and pepper hair combed
just so. “Where’s Mother?”

He turned as I closed the door and said,
“She’s at home.”

“Is something wrong?”

He pulled out a copy of a
newspaper and held it out to me. It was
The Sun
, a notorious gossip rag and I wondered
what he was doing with that. The moment I unfolded it, I understood
and my heart twisted in my chest. There was something wrong, it
wasn’t a death or an illness in the family… What was wrong
was
me
.

There was a large black and white photograph
of a couple out the front of a restaurant and pictures of them
dining together. Even one of them getting out of a limousine. It
was me and Vaughn.

I glanced up at my father and his expression
said it all. Disappointment.

“Dad…” I only ever called him dad when I
wanted to pull on his heartstrings and he knew it.

Frowning he said, “You know that man’s
reputation, Lorelei. Is he a client, or are you seeing him?”

My cheeks heated and I glanced down at the
paper. Twenty-five years old and still under my father’s thumb. I’d
expect it from my mother, but he’d always been lenient with my
whims. I guess he was until I did something he didn’t approve of
and Vaughn was it.

“Dad…” I didn’t know what to say. “We went
out for dinner. That’s all.” It most definitely wasn’t all. How
could I explain all the things I felt for Vaughn to my father of
all people?

“That man is nothing but a boy with more
money than he can handle. He’s got a dangerous reputation.”

“And you don’t want our name associated with
that,” I snapped.

“
Lorelei
.”

“So you came over here to forbid me from
seeing him? From allowing me to be happy? I thought—”

“
I came over here to save you
from yourself.” His expression was pure anger and I stepped back,
hugging the newspaper against my chest. I’d never seen him like
this before. Not even when I’d gotten into trouble at school for
setting one of the mean girls’ English folder on fire.

“
Lorelei, you must disassociate
yourself from Sebastian Vaughn, immediately.”

“Why?” I almost put my hands on my hips like
a child about to throw a tantrum.

“He’s a dangerous man,” he replied, his lips
thin. “He’s in trouble, Lorelei. I don’t want you anywhere near
him. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”

“Dad…” I began to soften. I loved him so
much, but what I felt for Vaughn was undeniable. I was falling much
too fast and dare I say it…it felt a lot like love.

He stared at me, his warm eyes appraising my
expression, and shook his head. “Do you love him?”

I felt tears begin to prickle in my eyes and
I shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable.

Father sighed, running a hand over his face.
“Lorelei… I want the best for you, you know that, right? I want you
to be happy, but not at the expense of your health and safety. I’ve
always allowed you to follow your heart, but this time I have to
implore you to see reason.”

“Do you know something that I don’t?” I
asked, handing him back the paper.

“I know enough.”

Stepping forward, I hugged him
tightly, laying my head against his strong shoulder. “Thanks, Dad,
but I can take care of myself.”

“Do you love him, Lorrie?”

I smiled against his suit jacket at the
sound of my nickname. “I think so.”

“If he hurts you…” He swallowed hard and I
glanced up. “I will ruin him.”

I knew my father always made good on his
promises, or in this case, threats. If Vaughn so much as hurt a
single hair on my head, he would end up financially ruined, his
reputation completely obliterated. I hoped it wouldn’t come to
that. I knew it wouldn’t, because this was different. What we were
only beginning to explore was the start of something great.

“Thanks, Dad.”

He backed away, reaching for the front door.
“Think about it, Lorrie. Don’t rush into anything you might later
regret.”

I smiled as he opened the door and stepped
across the threshold. “I won’t.”

“I love you.”

I stepped forward and leaned against the
open door. “Love you, too.”

As I watched my father slide into the back
of his car, I shook my head. Talk about a whirlwind weekend.

Closing the door, I leaned against the wall
and drew in a deep breath. If my father believed the rumors then
there had to be a grain of truth in them. What did he know that I
didn't? I thought about Vaughn’s conversation on the phone that
morning, the gun in his bedside drawer, and I thought about the
rumors that were spread around about him. That he was a playboy
womanizer, that he flung about money like it was going out of
fashion, that he dealt under the table…that he dealt with
criminals. Nothing had been proven, but he hadn’t denied any of it
either.

Like he’d said, he was good with words. He
could answer a question without really answering it at all and make
you believe you had what you came for.

Was I really okay with his
secrets? What if he was involved in some kind of crime syndicate?
Was I okay not knowing that? This was all so very new between
us.

The bell rang and I jumped, my heart
skipping a beat. I opened the door and this time, I found Hawkes on
the other side.

“Miss Lansford,” he said, inclining his
head.

“Hawkes.”

“Are you ready to leave?”

“Let me just grab my purse.” I left him
standing at the door and ran back up the stairs to retrieve my
phone. Father wouldn’t be pleased, but I had to see Vaughn again.
There were too many unknowns and I wasn’t sure that merely
exploring our feelings was enough for me to continue.

I had to get some answers before this thing
went any further.

When we arrived,
Hawkes walked me to
the door.

I stood awkwardly as he opened it for me,
knowing that this was weird. Vaughn wanting me back so soon? I
wasn't that good in bed, was I? Something was wrong and after my
father’s visit, it put me totally on edge.

Stepping inside, I found Vaughn
waiting for me. He wore a tight, gray T-shirt and jeans, which was
a total departure from what I'd seen him in up until now. If I
wasn't so on edge, I might've stopped to appreciate the way the
material clung to his hard chest. The same chest I'd lain against
that very morning.

As I moved further into the
house, he went to take me in his arms, his head inclining to kiss
me, but I stepped around him.

“There were photos of us in the paper,” I
said, casting my gaze around the foyer. There was a lovely
landscape painting on one wall and I realized he really had been at
the opening for me. He wasn’t interested in abstract art. He was a
classic kind of man. “I had no idea the paparazzi moved so
quickly.”

“Lorelei...”

“I never get photographed, so it must be you
they’re interested in.” I turned to face him.

“I…” He trailed off, his eyes flickering
like he was deciding in what order to tell me things, or what
pieces he should omit.

“
It’s been a
day, Vaughn. I’ve heard of emotional whiplash, but this is a whole
new level. I don’t even know what to call
that
.” He grimaced and my heart began to speed
up, my thoughts returning to my father’s visit. “Are you in some
kind of trouble?”

“
There are a lot of things I
need to explain to you,” he said. “Having you here, where I can
touch you, puts me at ease.”

I frowned. “Why?”

He stepped forward and grasped my hand,
leading me from the foyer and up the stairs. I had no idea what was
happening and I was beginning to spin even faster. This man wasn’t
the Vaughn I’d left that morning. What the hell had happened in the
space of a few hours?

He led me down the hall and into his
bedroom, his inner sanctum, and closed the door behind us.

“Vaughn,” I said, dropping his hand and
taking a step back. “You’re really starting to frighten me.”

Sighing, he moved
forward and I edged
backwards until I hit the closed door. He buried his hands into my
hair, his body pressing against mine and then he kissed me. Our
lips melded together and my body took over from my head, which was
screaming at me to interrogate Vaughn for answers. I shivered in
his grasp, the length of his body hard against my own, and when his
tongue teased my skin, I opened.

I tasted him as we kissed and what I tasted
was exhilarating and frightening all at once. His body told me he
was desperate and very, very hungry… Vaughn had to know the power
he held over me.

Finally, I turned my head to the side,
breaking our kiss and his hands fell away, his eyes closing.

“I need answers, Vaughn,” I whispered. “This
is happening much too fast. I’m afraid…”

He opened his eyes and nodded. “I’ll tell
you everything,” he murmured. “Then you can decide.” He swallowed
hard. “Whatever happens, know that I will always protect you,
Lorelei.”

I knew him well enough to understand that he
was being sincere. He wasn’t the kind of man to casually throw
about declarations like that.

Pressing my palms against his chest, I moved
away from the door and sat on the edge of the bed. Vaughn lingered
a moment before claiming the spot next to me. He didn’t allow us to
touch and I stared down at the space forlornly.

“I’ve never had a woman in my own bed,” he
began. “I’ve never let anyone come to my home and see how I live,
I’ve never taken a woman to dinner at that restaurant…” He jerked a
hand through his hair, messing up his perfectly styled quiff.
“Lorelei, I want you. Can’t you see that I feel something for you?
Something more than a bit of fucking around?”

He was always so aloof, so calm
and collected, that seeing Vaughn so strung out had me worried. He
seemed desperate to tell me how he felt… What game was he
playing?