Taste of Torment (31 page)

Luther chuckled. “Yes, I would say so. I have had my fair share of those.”

Feeling better, lighter, I smiled and patted his upper arm. “Thanks, Luther.”

“You do not need to thank me. I am your Advisor now.”

“Just don’t think that means you need to be a constant companion for Sam and me. It’s obvious that you and Sebastian spend so much time with Antonio because he’s a close friend. You should continue to do that. I can teleport to you if I need your advice – which will probably be often, but you know what I’m getting at.”

“You are telling me to ensure that I live my own life and not to allow my position to dictate who I am.”

“I once made that mistake. I don’t want you to do the same.”

He nodded. “Then I will take your advice, as you will take mine. Now go and rescue your mate from Sebastian – he is teasing her about how her initial doubts to attend the try-outs could have led to her missing out on all that she has now. She is not impressed.”

Glancing at her, I realised that no, she wasn’t impressed at all. I smoothly came to her side. “Thanks for keeping her company, Sebastian.”

Taking the hint, he nodded and walked away, seeming extremely too amused for Sam’s liking.

She gave me a grateful look. “I have to wonder if he’s curious about how much my whip hurts. Surely common sense told him that this is not the right time to wind me up.”

Cupping her neck, I searched her gaze. “You sure you’re okay? I mean, this
probably wouldn’t have been something you’d have taken on if it wasn’t for me being Heir. And yet you Bound yourself to me anyway.”

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re good in bed. You get rid of unwelcome creepy crawlies. You don’t leave the toilet seat up. And, being nice and tall, you can reach all those places
that I can’t reach. I reckon I got a good deal.” 

Laughing,
I pulled her flush against me. “Maybe you
think
you got a good deal. The truth is that you could have done better. But no one else would have loved you like I do.” I kissed her gently, meaning every word. “Tell me you know that even though we have all these huge responsibilities now, you’ll still always come first to me.”

“I know.”

That was easy. I arched a brow, surprised by the confidence in her response. “You do?”

“It’s kind of hard
not
to believe you when you won’t stop harping on about it.”

“I don’t harp.”

“Yes, you do.” She slid her arms around my neck. “And, for the record, I
did
in fact get a good deal. I love you in spite of the harping, and the overprotectiveness, and the fact that you’re
squeezing my arse
in front of all these people and while anyone watching over V-Tube can see.”

“Can’t help it.” I gave it another squeeze. “Do you remember what you said to me the first night we met?”

“Now who’s the pretty girl?” she offered, referring to the time we had duelled and she had put me on my ass.

I scowled. “No, after that. You said you could improve the squad’s control of their gifts within five night
s
”

“Actually, I think you’ll find that I originally said ‘seven’ nights.”

“
and I proposed a bet: that if you didn’t manage to do it within five nights, I’d get to taste you. But we both know that no one can get you to do anything that you don’t want to do. So the question is: would you have let me bite you if I’d won the bet?”

She pursed her lips. “Using the excuse that I was just honouring the bet…yes. But I’d have wanted you to do it – although hell would have frozen over before I admitted that.”

“I wouldn’t have done it, you know.” I could see that I’d surprised her. “I didn’t want to taste you until I knew for sure that you wanted it. Of course I strongly suspected that you did, but the fact that you enjoyed whipping me and causing me physical pain didn’t instill me with confidence.”

“I’m all about the tough love.”

“You fought me and fought me back then. Fought me on every level…but I wanted you too much, and I was too determined to have you. And now you’re mine.” Not even Imani’s gift could sever our bond; it was solid and untouchable.

Her arms tightened around my neck as she kissed me lightly. “And you’re mine as well.”

“Baby, I’ve been yours since you put me on my ass and called me a pretty girl.”

She laughed. “We should thank Antonio for playing cupid. I’ve got some matchmaking games of my own to plan.” Her smile was impish. “Want to play?”

“What did you have in mind? Or should I say, who?”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I
want to say a big massive thank you to my husband for being so supportive and for helping me with – okay, doing all of – the housework to give me that alone time I need. And thank you to my fabulous children just for being them.

I must say a huge thank you to my Beta reader, Andrea Ashby – what would I do without you, lady? She’s the extra eye I need and is always there when I need her advice and help.

I also wish to thank Ruby José – once again, she did an amazing cover for the book and I absolutely adore her.

Finally, thank you
to all my readers. Without your support, this may never have become a series so I’m eternally grateful to you.

If for any reason you woul
d like to contact me, whether it’s about the book or you’re considering self-publishing and have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].

Take care,

Suzanne Wright, Author

Website: http://
www.suzannewright.co.uk

Blog:
http://
www.suzannewrightsblog.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/suz_wright

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TITLES BY SUZANNE WRIGHT

The Deep in Your Veins Series

Here Be Sexist Vampires

The Bite That Binds

Taste of Torment

The Phoenix Pack Series

Feral Sins

Wicked Cravings

Carnal Secrets

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