Entwined With the Dark (31 page)

Pulling back, he reached for my near full champagne glass and handed it to me. I sat up, my legs over his, and took a grateful sip.

"I think you deserve that," he said with a crooked smile, his eyes flicking to his empty glass. "I seem to have consumed all of mine."

"Glutton," I murmured, taking another welcomed sip of my drink and smiling.

"Where you are concerned, my love, I can not deny the term." He watched me drink for a moment, his face relaxed and full of contentment. "I can not seem to get enough of you,
ma douce
." His voice was soft.

"Does that worry you?" I asked, wondering if the soft tone was due to fear.

"Not at all," he replied instantly, then frowned ever so slightly. "Except when we are apart." The crooked grin returned.

"Let's not plan on being apart too often then," I offered finishing off my glass with a flourish. The hazy veil of alcohol settled over my body. "I think I'm drunk," I said stunned at how easily the wine had gone to my head.

Michel looked a little sheepish. "I may have had more of your blood than usual,
ma douce
. It was impossible not to get carried away."

I just laughed, I wasn't really worried. I'd been aware he was sucking pretty hard, but the effect of his drinking my blood while we made love like that was worth being a little tipsy now.

We sat grinning at each other stupidly for a couple of seconds and then he abruptly stood and growled. Reaching down he grabbed my clothes off the floor and thrust them towards me. I didn't need to be told to dress, his body was rigid and his fangs were out. Someone was nearby and I never was one to meet a guest naked. I dressed in record time as Michel stood guard before me, his eyes on the door to the room. As soon as I was fully clothed, he relaxed and the door opened. I was surprised he hadn't dressed himself, but I guess the distraction that would have caused was too much to consider when I could have been harmed.

Christopher walked in the room, unperturbed by Michel's lack of clothes, but his face was set in a neutral mask. A vampire mask. He was hiding something. Marcus and Matthias entered behind him, both glancing at Michel's eyes, but then respectfully away. I waited for my vampires to come in, but they didn't. Not at least until Michel was dressed. That actually relieved me and I realised I wouldn't have been happy with either of them, but especially Nataliya, seeing my man unclothed.

"What does it say?" Michel asked Christopher and for the first time I noticed a heavy envelope in his hand. I sank back down on the couch, knowing exactly where this was heading.

"You've been summoned to the Vibe," Christopher said as he read the folded parchment inside. "He is aware you are back in the city and expects your attendance tonight. The tone is impatient, I gather he is not happy to have to ask."

Michel swore softly in French. I reached for the bottle of champagne and poured myself a glass, intending to drown my sorrows or bolster my confidence in preparation for facing the double crossing All Mighty Master of London City. Michel plucked the glass from my hand just as it reached my lips. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared. He frowned back. Christopher stepped in and removed the bottle and glasses, placing them well out of my reach back at the bar, so I turned my glare on him. He didn't meet my eyes. Coward!

"Well, I guess we had best freshen up and head out," Michel said, running a hand through his thoroughly messed up post-sex hair. I smirked. "Come on,
ma douce
," he said reaching for my hand. "You can do this. One night," he said as I rose to stand in front of him, "that's all. It is just a game we must play."

"He's up to something," I offered, holding his gaze.

"Yes, he is. But we won't know until we get there and we have no choice but to uphold our end of the accord. We are not ready to leave London yet."

I perked up at his choice of words: yet. He was contemplating leaving then and I couldn't contain my joy at that thought. I turned towards the door and he smacked my backside with a smarting slap of his hand. I yelped, the vampires growled and then quickly looked busy. And Michel whispered, "You are so predictable."

Then chased me up the stairs.

I decided I'd branch out. Black had been my colour of clothing choice for years. Especially since I started hunting vampires. But for some reason, with everything that had happened and everything that was poised to happen soon, I felt like living life on the edge.

I rifled through the walk-in wardrobe as Michel finished off in the shower. We'd started out together, but then got sidetracked and necessity had made me leave him alone. He'd been a little strung out about that, so was taking his time. I could just imagine what he was up to.

A sudden image of him soaping his body lazily came to mind - not the image I had been thinking, this one although sexy was way too pure - and it wasn't mine. His voice drifted in my head as I felt the familiar heat wash through me at the sight of his gloriously wet and naked body.
I'm saving myself for you, ma douce
. I smiled, despite the flush he had caused across my skin and returned my attention to my clothing options.

I had several hunting outfits, both of my design and Michel's, but I bypassed those and reached for a blood red cocktail dress I had never worn before. It was short, probably shorter than Michel would have liked, but if I was wearing this, then I needed to be able to move. Slipping it on over the top of matching underwear, I let the thin straps settle in place as I did up the zip at my side. There wasn't much to it, it clung to my figure like a second skin, flaring slightly at mid-thigh. When I spun, the dress would splay out like an open flower around me. There'd be nowhere to hide my stakes though, so I attached a thigh holster, only half hidden by the hem of the skirt, and settled a stake inside. It would be visible to all who looked, but that was point.

If we were going to have problems, I'd only get one chance to retaliate. So one stake would do nicely. But I was also hoping the obviousness of the weapon would be enough of a deterrent.

I pulled on thigh high stockings and slipped into matching heels. Not too tall that I'd have difficulty standing or running, but pointy enough to be a second weapon if need be. I was just running my hands through my hair, having placed a little product in it, when Michel walked in the room. He stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth slightly open in surprise. A towel hung sexily around his hips.

"No, not surprise," he said huskily. I smiled.

"I felt like a change," I offered sweetly.

"Mm-hmm," he replied on a stifled groan. "You are killing me here," he said roughly and I wiggled my butt in reply.

He had me against the mirror in a second, his towel fallen and discarded on the floor, his hips pinning me securely between his rock hard body and the cool glass at my back. He let a breath out in a hot rush over my face and licked his lips, and then slowly placed two hands on my butt and lifted me up his waist, making me wrap my legs around his hips. He rubbed his erection against me and then buried his face in the curve of my neck.

I could smell his scent all around me. Clean cut grass and salty sea spray. I moaned as he shifted against me, laying kisses all across my bare skin. Then abruptly he pulled back and smiled as I shakily regained my balance, one hand resting against the mirror, no doubt leaving a sweaty mark.

"Now you not only look sensational, you smell of me." Then he casually turned and began to dress.

Huh. I watched, unable to move just yet, as he methodically got dressed. Once his shirt and trousers were on and he was about to do up his tie, he finally turned towards me and smiled.

"I think we'll address your clothing choice later,
ma douce
." For some reason that sounded like a promise
and
a threat. I gulped down a breath and straightened to full height. Bring it on! He laughed and I realised we'd recaptured our love.

For whatever reason, this spontaneity, this inability to keep from wanting and touching one another, had been missing. But now it was back. Michel lifted his eyes to me, his smile matching mine. We'd drifted apart, not intentionally, but because of life and experiences and bad timing and a reluctance to communicate. But we'd found that elusive but so important factor again. I wasn't sure I could name it, put a finger on it and say,
ah ha!
But we'd found it and I was so very grateful. And so determined to never let us slip and lose this connection to each other ever again.

Michel glided towards me, fully dressed in his signature Armani suit, looking gorgeous and delectable and impossible to resist. He ran his fingers along my jaw, then clasped my chin, lifting my face up to his. His lips brushed over mine almost chastely and he whispered, "Never again. You are mine and I won't forget it."

His kiss this time was deeper, a promise with his lips and tongue. I gave all of myself in return, letting him know how much he meant to me, how determined I was to never return to those less demonstrative times. We both sighed in unison when we pulled apart finally. Michel smiled down at me, ran his thumb over my swollen lips, a possessive yet tender motion. Then clasping my hand, he led me out of the room and down the stairs.

Our vampires had prepared themselves as well, but none had changed their normal attire like I. When they each looked up and saw me walking down the stairs holding Michel's hand, low growls emitted from the back of their throats and
Sanguis Vitam
filled the air. Michel growled back in warning, his arm draping possessively across my shoulders when we came to rest in the entrance foyer before the group.

"Yes, she is stunning," he said, still barely containing his warning growl. "Now stop staring and let's head out."

Heads dipped in acquiesce and the collective
Sanguis Vitam
left the air. I breathed out in relief. I'd never really got vampires and how they could openly show approval like that. But, it did bolster my confidence, I reluctantly had to admit. Michel tightened his hold around my shoulders.

You are mine,
he said as though warning me. I just lifted my face to his and smiled.

He slid onto the back seat of Rover beside me with a sigh, finally letting his jealousy go. I couldn't help chuckling to myself, but stopped immediately when his hand started distractedly rubbing the top of my thigh. My concentration completely on enjoying the sensations he created and not showing any outward signs. Not surprisingly the trip to Trafalgar Square passed way too quickly for my liking. And now it was Michel's turn to smile.

We walked in silence towards the entrance of the club, but our pace was relaxed and unhurried. We even stopped for a moment to enjoy one of the lit fountains in the middle of the square. Michel casually tossed a coin in and pretended to make a wish. Maybe he did, I couldn't really tell, but the whole episode was a front. We were being watched, I was sure. By a
Nathair-Sgiathach
on orders of the Champion. And by Amun's men.

I hoped there were no fairies to be added to that list, but I wasn't counting on my luck lasting too long. Sooner or later Isoleth would come, I had to remain prepared. But one thing at a time. Amun Nadeem wanted something from us and it wasn't our open support of his rule.

The guards at the entrance to the Vibe let us in the moment we arrived and soon enough we were engulfed by techno music and flashes of strobe lights bouncing off too much white. The place was crowded and in a split second I counted over twenty Nosferatu. All with varying degrees of Dark. But not being able to tell if they belonged to Amun or not, I had to let the knowledge go. It was good to be aware that they were there, but not necessarily a help.

The Vibe appeared to be a natural Mecca to the supernatural. Not only were vampires present, but shifters and the Fey. It took me a little longer to ascertain the origin of the fairies, relieved and then guilty to be relieved, that they were
Dökkálfa
and not from the
Ljósálfar
Royal Court. I had never been to an establishment like this, one that seemed to accept all manner of species and still manage to maintain control. The only supes missing were ghouls and having met the local ghoul leader, I was inordinately pleased to not see him here. Normally vampires don't mix well with other species, but the Vibe was the exception to the rule.

That alone was unnerving, just how many pies did Amun's fingers reach?

We weren't immediately greeted and herded off to meet Amun, so we took seats in a prominent booth, where we could be openly seen, and ordered a round of drinks. I could tell Michel was not impressed with the choice of music on offer tonight. Having lived as long as he has he would have seen quite a few trends pass by, but techno music took a certain getting used to and he was amusingly showing his age.

He raised an eyebrow at my thoughts, his arm firmly wrapped around my shoulders and then ran his tongue down the length of my neck. I was taken by surprise at the public show of affection. Not so much at the act, Michel was never one to shy away from showing how he felt around me in public, but for choosing to do it here. I tried to relax into his touch, but my guard was up and my nerves were beginning to fray.

Relax
, he whispered in my mind.
Amun would expect us to have a lowered guard.
Then he playfully nibbled my ear. I forced myself to breathe and leaned in closer to his body. To my utter astonishment, Marcus was doing something similar to Nataliya across the booth. If she was acting, she was doing a much better job than me. I watched in stunned fascination as she squirmed beneath his touch. Sergei pointedly didn't look, too deep in conversation with Matthias and I was guessing, determined to not acknowledge his sister having any fun.

Is there something in the air?
I asked mentally to Michel.

We are being watched
, was all he said in reply, and then his hand slipped under my skirt.

Whoa! How far are you prepared to take this?
I demanded, trying to escape the intimate and way too public move.

As far as needed to get him to come out of his web
. I wasn't sure I liked his reply, but I decided I'd have to trust him. This was the man who had ordered his vampires to stop staring at me in my too short cocktail dress.

Minutes ticked by and I could tell Michel was frustrated. Not sexually, he was keeping that part of himself well contained, but he was definitely frustrated at the length of time Amun was taking to acknowledge our presence and consequently the level of intimacy he was having to display.

Are you sure this is necessary?
I asked as his hand ran over the front of my dress briefly and then wrapped around my back crushing me to his chest. His lips found mine and started lazily kissing me, but in my mind he answered as though we were discussing the weather and not getting hot and heavy in each other's arms.

It is a game to see who will crumble first. If I appear relaxed and unfazed enough to be intimate with you, then he loses some of his positioning. To a vampyre to display his mate to such a degree is difficult and not something we would do unless at ease.

And being at ease,
I said, arching my back as his kisses trailed down my neck and throat towards my cleavage,
would take the wind out of his sails?

Exactly.
Then he pulled away suddenly, leaving me embarrassingly turned on.
Our drinks have arrived, we've won the first round.

I was already a wreck and one glance at Nataliya and I could tell she was too. What was with it with these male vampires? Even Nataliya, with all her fierce warrior defences, was looking a little stressed. I offered her a sympathetic smile and watched as she put on her neutral vampire mask. She wasn't doing it to block me or to be rude, she used the brief connection of my smile to bolster her reserves and get her head back in the game. She casually placed an arm around Marcus's shoulder and leaned in to nibble on his ear. His lips quirked a little at the edges, but he otherwise ignored her to take a sip of the drink that had just appeared.

I let a breath of air out as conversation about some football score started around the booth. The men talking as though the latest failing of some particular team was the most important thing on their minds right now. I was beginning to get seriously pissed off with Amun Nadeem. We’d come at his insistence, we'd been here
relaxing
for over half an hour and still he left us hanging.

For starters, Michel was an
Iunctio
Councilman, he deserved a little respect. And secondly, I hate playing games. If you have something to say to me then come right out and say it. Amun was playing with us and I was about to strike back. Michel's hand on my thigh tightened, the only evidence he was in my head, his conversation with the others never faltering.

Patience
, he whispered in my mind and I took a long drink of my wine. It wasn't as nice as the champagne earlier, which brought back pleasant memories. So I indulged in a replay of this evening's events in an effort to seem happy and content to be in the Vibe. Michel shifting next to me brought my attention back to the booth and the obvious reaction his body was having to my mental movie. He turned his head to look down at me and raised a delicate eyebrow. I started giggling, but stopped the reminiscence thinking it was probably not the best distraction I could have used.

His body relaxed slightly, but his hand on my thigh never stopped stroking once. The conversation moved on to the state of the European Community. Talk of generic business interests lasted for well over half an hour and then segued into holiday hotspots for vampires in Europe. Apparently Ibiza was not the only desired location, Monaco was favoured quite well. A second round of drinks was brought to us without us having to place the order, as far as Michel was concerned we were making ground.