Desire After Dark: Lords of Pleasure (7 page)

“I was a whore in my old life on the earth plane, in New York City. I was paid for sex, and my clients were mostly men. Lonely, frustrated, overworked businessmen and celebrities who wanted no-strings release.” A sad chuckle escaped him. “None ever wanted to keep me, like in that movie where the hooker and the rich guy fall in love. But it wasn’t so bad, mostly.”

But the haunted expression on his face, not to mention the tightening of Kass’s lips, belied that statement as the slave went on.

“I was living on the street, had about five bucks in my pocket, and this one night I picked up a john who offered me enough money to get a cheap motel room and buy a little food. Instead, when we went into the alley, he mugged me and stole all my money. The asshole cut me, too,” he said, fingers absently tracing the faded line running from his temple to the corner of his mouth. “And that was when Kass showed up out of nowhere. She was like an avenging angel.”

“She kicked the fucker’s ass?” Luc guessed.

“Even better—she slit his throat with his own knife.”

“Good.” Luc didn’t like to think of anyone hurting Taryn and getting away with it.

Both of them looked to Kass, who shrugged as though she saved homeless bums in New York City every day. “I was passing through. The death of a beautiful human man seemed like such a waste.”

Taryn snorted. “Right. Like you don’t have your pick of men without resorting to rescuing strays.”

“What can I say? You caught me at a weak moment.”

Luc was suddenly sure there was more to her motivation than what she was saying. In his experience with women, there usually was. But it was more than a general feeling, and he thought maybe Taryn was more correct than he knew in observing that she could have anyone. So why Taryn? And how had she been in the Big Apple at precisely the right time?

Just as she’d been with Luc and the werewolf.

As he studied her, she met his gaze. Something flickered in their whiskey depths—a shared knowledge that communicated from him to her,
I know you’re hiding something, and I’ll find out what.

And her responding,
You’re welcome to try.

He looked forward to the challenge.

“Why don’t we go eat breakfast?” she asked, ending the silent contest of wills. “You both must be hungry.”

At the mention of food, a fist grabbed Luc’s stomach and twisted. “I need blood before I tackle anything solid.”

Kass sat up. “Yes, of course. I imagine the small amounts I donated to help you survive are long gone, and I should have realized before now that you’re probably starving for a regular feeding.” Rising from the bed, she waved a hand at Taryn. “Show Lord Fontaine to his room across the hall.”

Luc squashed a stab of disappointment that he was being moved to his own quarters. Which was stupid. This was Kass’s
suite, and he should’ve expected that he’d be put into a different room when he was well. His mistress went on.

“We’ll all get cleaned up, and then Taryn and I will go to breakfast. On the way, I’ll choose a servant to send to your room.” Her lips quirked. “Take your fill, but don’t harm any donors I allow you to use. They’re not accustomed to serving vampires—though I’m sure they’ll find the experience extremely satisfying.”

Luc couldn’t resist teasing. “You won’t be one of my donors?”

“That’s another privilege you haven’t earned,” she informed him playfully, though there was a thread of steel to her words that let him know she meant them.

“Then I look forward to the day I do.”

She didn’t miss the heat in his statement. “So do I. Taryn?”

“Yes, mistress.”

Kass left them, disappearing into her own bathroom to get ready. Taryn touched his arm, then led him toward the door, completely comfortable with their lack of clothing. It seemed that people around the palace were as worried about nakedness as those at his resort—which was not at all. Suited him fine.

Across the hall, the slave opened the door to a large suite. Though not as big as Kass’s, it was just as luxurious, with lush carpet, a sitting area complete with a fireplace, a large private bath, and the best feature of all: a really big cherrywood bed with an ornate iron railing at the headboard and footboard.

“Will this do, Lord Fontaine?”

He glanced at the human. “Yes, it’s great. And call me Luc, okay? I’m not much for formalities, and that title reminds me of my father.”

Taryn looked pleased. “Thanks, Luc.”

“Sure.”

“If everything is to your liking then, I’ll go.”

“See you later, in the dining room.”

Taryn took his leave, and Luc padded into the bathroom to explore. The rest of the palace might be over-the-top with the ornate décor, but he appreciated that the bedroom suites and baths were spacious and yet inviting. Like Kass’s, his bath boasted marble flooring, a walk-in shower done in Italian-style tiles, and a separate tub. But the thick rugs created a homey feel.

Lured to the shower, he played with the fancy spigots and adjusted the water’s temperature. When it was just right, he stepped in and groaned in bliss, letting the spray massage his neck, shoulders, and back. He hadn’t realized until now how sore his muscles still were from the attack, and he stood for a time, simply letting the stream rain down.

Finally, he shampooed his hair, rinsed, and began to soap his body. He worked the suds over his chest and stomach, then lower, to his groin. As usual, his balls tightened and his cock perked, liking the attention. But his member rose to full mast at the thought of his impending feeding. Of sinking his cock and teeth into a soft, willing female—or a male. Either would be fantastic.

Reluctantly he rinsed and stepped out. Grabbing a towel from a nearby hook, he dried off, replaced the towel, and went back into the bedroom. Someone had been in and placed clothing on his bed, but there was no point in getting fully dressed just yet. In the closet, he found a comfortable-looking black robe and pulled it on. At loose ends, he glanced around the room again. The bed looked inviting, and he stretched out on it, on his back.

And waited for his prey.

K
ass stepped from the shower, dried off, and headed for her closet. Quickly, she dressed for the day in a worn pair of jeans and a dark cotton T-shirt, casual attire for a day at home, getting to know her vampire.

My vampire.

What a startling thought. It hit her at the oddest times, that notion. And yet it was the absolute truth. Luc Fontaine
truly
belonged to her whether he knew it or not, and not just while he was living in her palace. He was hers, to do with as she wished, for as long as fate smiled on them both.

My mate.

But it couldn’t last. Sooner or later Odin would learn of what Kass had done, if he hadn’t already. So until she was called before the gods, she’d make the most of having the vampire in her life, at her beck and call. She’d give him the greatest pleasure he’d even known, before it all had to end.

Right now, Luc needed to feed, and she was well aware that
this first experience would, for him, set the tone for how things would be between them while he was under her roof. She wanted—needed—to get the perfect message across.

The message that Luc belonged to Kassandra, body and soul. That he would do her bidding, and in doing so, would please them both. He would enjoy surrendering his body in any way his mistress asked. But how to go about delivering that message was the question.

Kass blinked. How long had she been standing in her closet fully dressed, daydreaming of her sexy vampire’s submission? Time to get going.

Heading out of her room, she considered her first task after breakfast—to decide which of her servants, besides Taryn, should serve the vampire lord. It was true that her contact with vampires had been limited, but that didn’t make her completely ignorant of their needs, and she knew those needs would take a physical toll on any one blood donor who was used too frequently. He’d require several.

This gave her a definite idea of how to begin establishing boundaries with her mate.

With a sense of purpose, she went to meet Taryn in the dining room, seating herself beside him. All five of her sisters were there, the sour Millicent shooting the occasional glare at Taryn. The others had long ago accepted his presence at their table, despite their formal upbringing. Indeed, the slave had earned his place. Few outside the palace walls knew how or why.

Shoving the awful memory aside, Kass dug in to her meal and downed a glass of juice. Of course, Millicent couldn’t let her hearty appetite pass without comment.

“The kitchen won’t run out of food, Kassandra.”

Old bitch. “Oh, I have to keep up my strength,” she replied casually. “Never know when I’ll have to behead something that deserves it.” She tore into a buttery crescent roll with her teeth for emphasis.

Lexa snickered, tossing a lock of red hair over one slim shoulder. “Too bad relatives don’t count.”

“Then there would be none left,” Serena said. But she shot Millicent a pointed look as though weighing the benefits and consequences of putting
her
head on the chopping block.

“As if
that
would be a tragedy.” This from Dawn, one of the mischievous twins. Her cohort and constant companion, Devyn, agreed.

“So, tell us about the vampire,” Lexa prodded, changing the subject. “Is he as great in the sack as he appears?”

All eyes swung her way, and Kass felt a hot little spurt of anger stiffen her spine. “I can’t imagine his prowess is any of your business. And when did you see him, anyway?”

“Oh-ho!” Lexa’s eyes widened, and a broad smile stretched across her lovely face. “It’s like that, huh?”

“Like what?”

“You’re all jealous and defensive,” the redhead pointed out gleefully. “Haven’t seen you react like that since you brought Taryn home and told us to keep our mitts off the goods.”

“I am
not
jealous. I have no reason to be.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, really. Because I’m quite confident he won’t go near any of you without my approval.” Which Kass would not give, and they knew it. Despite the often-incestuous proclivities of the immortals in their realm, especially among the gods, Kass didn’t share sexual partners with her sisters. She never had. But as she
caught two of the little schemers exchanging sly looks, she knew she’d have to keep an eye on all of them. Somehow, they sensed Luc meant something more to her than even Taryn, although they didn’t yet know what.

And that meant they’d enjoy taking the vampire from her if they could.

Millicent scrutinized Kass. “So, I get the feeling you’re not going to give him up to Odin.”

“Your powers of observation are astounding.”

“Don’t be flippant with me!” the oldest sister snapped. “Have you considered the danger you’ve put us all in with your selfishness? It wouldn’t be the first time one of the gods chose to exact punishment on the entire family rather than on just the offender!”

Actually, she hadn’t thought of that at all. Perhaps that made her every bit as selfish as she’d always believed her sisters to be. Appetite gone, Kass put down her fork. “I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.” She said it with a lot more confidence than she felt.

Millicent wasn’t fooled. “How? The gods are merciless, and they favor no one when a rule has been broken, not even one of their own.”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I’ll figure out something.”

“You’d better.”

After that veiled threat from Millicent, Serena switched the conversation to a more pleasant topic. Kass hardly noticed. She was too disturbed by the truth in her oldest sister’s words to pay much attention. However, her morose mood was lifted somewhat when Taryn reached over and squeezed her hand. Raising her eyes to his, she was heartened by his gentle smile, his silent encouragement and support. The man was a jewel.

After forcing down a few more bites, Kass wiped her mouth
with a linen napkin and then stood, pushing herself up from the table. Taryn rose as well, following her from the dining room. In the hallway, she made a quick decision and turned to her slave.

“Select five of our best staff to be Lord Fontaine’s blood donors. Before they agree, make certain they understand that serving a vampire entails providing blood
and
sex. Then bring them to Luc’s quarters.”

“Yes, my goddess.”

His pet name made her smile, especially since the
real
goddesses wouldn’t like it. “Good boy.”

She left him and made her way to Luc’s room. Outside, she didn’t bother to knock because to do so would imply he had the right to privacy when he did not. She simply flung open the door and swept inside.

The sight of him made her mouth water. He was sprawled on his bed wearing a black robe, his blond hair feathered on his pillow. The tent at the front of the robe hinted at his eagerness to get on with his feeding and a nice fucking.

Lacing his hands behind his head, he bent one knee and sent her a sultry look. The position caused the robe to fall open, showing a slice of skin tantalizingly close to his groin. “Don’t tell me I’ve earned the right to feed from you already.”