Page 166 of The Prince's Curse

He’d put Kova on the Nightwatch, on the condition that he stopped apologizing every damned day. The others wanted to forget the past as much as he did. It would take Dom some time to come around, but it would happen eventually.

They hadn’t been a family like this since before the Midnight War. And they hadn’t been happy like this…ever.

He kissed Scarlett on the cheek and said, “I’m leaving you for a moment. We’ll head out soon.”

She smiled and nodded at him, taking a sip of her cocktail as he rose and approached Shoshanna. Bowing deeply, he offered his hand and said, “May I?”

“You’re the Elder, of course you may,” she said, rising from her seat.

“I am also your friend, I hope,” he said, holding her hand and guiding her out to the floor. Keeping a respectable distance, he placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her across the sleek hardwood.

“You are,” she said. “You know they can all hear our conversation.”

“They’ll pretend they can’t because they’re polite,” he said. As if on cue, Paris began talking loudly about how he thought there was a market for a vampire hotel in Las Vegas. Julian focused his gaze on the human witch, squeezing her hand gently. “I cannot tell you enough how grateful I am for you. You changed everything for us. For me.”

She smiled up at him. “It was my pleasure. Really.” Her eyebrow arched, and he laughed.

“I’m glad. If there’s ever anything you need or want, you only have to say the word. I don’t know what plans you had for your life, but there are surely things you can’t do now that you’re entwined with a vampire court. Anything you need to make up for what you lost, I will do my best to provide,” he said.

She shrugged. “Not really. But I’ll keep it in mind,” she said. She rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I’m happy for you. And for Scarlett. You’re going to let her do a girls’ trip with us, right?”

“Your first mistake is thinking I will let her do anything,” he said wryly.

Her grin dazzled him. “That’s why you’re a good Elder.”

He was taken aback. “Am I?”

She nodded. “You are. I know it’s hard. But you can handle it,” she said, kissing his cheek.

“Well, I am certainly blessed to have a very wise and powerful witch at my left hand,” he said.

“Yes, you are,” she said amiably.

Drinks and laughter drew the night past him in a blur. It was past four when Olivia nudged him and said, “You should go. Then everyone else will take the hint and get out so we can close the place down.”

He chuckled, kissed her cheek, and said, “Gladly.”

Eyes followed him as he rose, took Scarlett’s hand, and sauntered out of the club. Paris was close behind him, along with Avery Martin, who had proven to be a capable bodyguard and eager to find his place. He didn’t protest, but let the men escort him and Scarlett home to their private apartment on their newly secured compound.

“Good evening, sir,” Avery said cheerily as he opened the door for Julian. He gave a little bow, and Julian nodded as he walked past to open Scarlett’s door. Holding her arm gently, he waited for her to get her footing, then led her inside.

“Bon soir,” Paris said wryly.

As soon as the glass doors sealed behind him and Scarlett, Julian glanced at his lover. “We have about an hour before the rest of the court starts rolling through this place.”

“We need a penthouse,” she said, already kicking off her high heels.

He nodded his agreement, then quickly threw her over his shoulder. Her laughter echoed off the corridor as he bolted down the hall, nearly bouncing off the wall in his hurry to get her upstairs and quite naked.

Heat bloomed across her skin, blazing against his cheek as he reached the door to their small apartment. These humble quarters were not, as Olivia frequently reminded him, fit for an Elder. But they smelled of Scarlett, and given that they’d slept together here for the last month, it was as good as a home as he’d ever known.

She squirmed off his shoulder, backing away as she shimmied out of her sequined dress. Fine red lines glowed across her chest, down her arms like fine threads in a chaotic pattern of lace. Her chest heaved, and the scent of desire perfumed the air. “Next time, we should sneak out during the party,” she said.

He started to take off his tie, then jolted with surprise as she lunged for him and yanked it off for him. “Everyone will know,” he said.

With a little play growl, she pulled off his belt and tossed it aside with a clatter. “Oh no. What would people think if they knew we were fucking?”

He caught her wrists as she tried to unbutton his shirt, then leaned in to steal a hungry kiss from her. A soft sigh tinged with a moan vibrated against his lips, and he growled with pleasure. Gently grasping her hair, he teased his teeth against her throat, prompting that lovely little shiver and sigh.

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