“Doing what?” Hearing the humor in his voice, she turned to find the dimples were out in full force.
“Are you nuts? Vampire or not, you’re not the naïve young hunter I used to know or the… whatever you’ve become these days.” She really, really didn’t want to use the words of what she actually thought of him. That ego was massive enough. “I’m still me. A vampire that can’t help but torture her victims, and I’ve foolishly fixated my efforts on you.”
“Go back a step. What am I these days?” He rolled onto his side and teased his fingers at the hem of her shirt. Was he even listening?
“You know.” Her cheeks flamed red.
“Hot?”
“Maybe.” Redder.
“Broody and sexy and a badass demon hunter?” He bit his lip and grinned, his gaze gleaming with pure ego.
And for the first time in over five centuries, maybe ever, she giggled. Bubbling from deep in her belly and pinching her cheeks as the mirth flooded over her. “Maybe,” she squeaked out.
Flipping her underneath him, he trailed his lips along the curve of her jaw as she tried to calm the delirious giggle fit.
When his lips met hers, the laughter flowed into blinding lust. Combusting on contact, completely unprepared for everything that was Bennett, she relinquished to feeling everything Bennett had become.
Breath mixing with hers, taking her mouth with that heavy intensity that was and always would behim, he ravaged. On fire, he devoured, tongue caressing hers, teeth tugging on her lower lip, hand splayed around her waist… as if he craved her more than blood or even life itself. Hard and tempting, he pressed against her core.
Wrapping her legs around him, she pinned him against her. A soft whimper radiated from her throat. Lacing her hand around the back of his neck, she held him close, needing every inch of him.
Halting, panting, a breath away, he glanced down at her lips, taking her lower lip between his teeth.
Frozen, the shift in altitude sucked the breath from her lungs.
Voice filled with gravel, he whispered, “You pull me in and push me away. Dumped me when I was foolish enough to believe myself in love. And you drew the line at any hope of a tomorrow yet again. I think it’s well established that I lack survival instincts.” He paused, then stole a lingering, sipping kiss before pulling away again.
She opened her mouth to say something, but he shook his head.
“I know you feel what I’m feeling, and I know it scares the hell out of you. I won’t ask for forever, as I know you’re not willing to risk it. But I’m taking today.” He held her gaze, unwavering. “We’ll be landing in half an hour.” He stole one last kiss before pulling away. “It’s nearly four Paris time, so we’ll move fast to get to the apartment before sunrise.”
Chapter 10
Days and nights completely swapped, vampire time and jetlag working conveniently cohesively, Bennett moved silently into the kitchen and poured his coffee. As he’d learned the habit from Adair and her brother, he forwent creamer and added blood instead, the combination remarkably soothing. And masked the grassy undertones of beef blood.
He’d closed the curtains the moment they arrived at the apartment, ensuring Adair could walk freely throughout the living space. Still, she hadn’t said much. Awkward as fuck, he’d had no idea which bedroom to show her. They’d cozied up the last few nights out of necessity, then out of convenience, but there were two perfectly serviceable bedrooms.
He’d made his intentions clear, but she hadn’t. Hoping to hell she would refuse, he showed her the guest bedroom. So far, she’d seemed content with the sleeping arrangement.
He hadn’t slept a wink all day, yet arose with history’s most agonizing case of morning wood. After rolling out of bed, he pushed opened the curtains in the main bedroom to watch the Eiffel Tower in the distance, the details of the skyline remarkable with vivid detail as day turned to night, each window shadowed dramatically, each rooftop angle contrasting the one behind. Stomach already rumbling, he heard the doorbell ring as the groceries arrived. He checked the app on his phone and saw the alert confirming the delivery.
After throwing on some pants, he lumbered to the door. As he carted in the bags, Adair sauntered down the hall in his t-shirt. And nothing but his t-shirt. The crisp white tee hung loose on her but didn’t hide much. Was she doing it on purpose? Thin enough that he could see the curve of her breasts–no bra–and he was fairly certain there were no panties either.
Forgetting how to breathe, his knees locked, and he stood staring like an enthralled moron.
“Hey.” She smiled, teasing her fingers through her sun-kissed hair.
He rumbled, his throat closing in. “Hey.”
“Plan?” She asked as she poured her coffee and added a splash of heme-creamer like he had.
Feet still rooted in place, he tried to remember what she’d said.
She raised an eyebrow. “Evil vampires to slay? You know, plan?”
“Oh, right.” He blinked and leaned against the counter. “Calloway’s plan seems to hinge on what he’s turned me into. So, first and foremost, don’t let him get his hands on me.” Grinning, he added, “I mean, I want to torture him until he truly, irrevocably comprehends the meaning of the word pain. You know, like Prince Humperdinck. Except I’m going to rip out his throat and incinerate him when I’m done. But I’m not going to be stupid again, so that will have to wait until I know why. Tonight, I’m going to check old maps of the region, see where all the river has migrated, what’s been dug up and what hasn’t by modern humans, and try to find an entrance to this damn gauntlet.”
