Page 108 of Soul Sucker

“Morosov, where are my panties?”

He stopped smiling and studied his indignant colleague, who now stood in front of him, hands on her hips in a stance he knew meant danger.

“I’ve no idea. Where did you put them?”

“You took them.”

“I don’t remember that.” He tried to look sympathetic. “Does it matter?”

“Not if you can whisk us right out of here and straight home.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because this room is warded and we have to let Liz and Doug know you are safe and going home with me.”

“Can’t you just Fae-interface with Liz or something?” Ella was tapping her foot now, irritation clear on her face. He was enjoying himself.

“No.”

“I don’t believe you.”

He just looked at her and then went over to the door and opened it. “Shall we?”

She clomped down the narrow stairs behind him. Judging from the noise, the party was still going strong. “They’ll know what we’ve been doing.”

“I suppose they might, but Liz can keep it to herself, can’t she?” He spotted Liz sitting on one of the couches kissing Doug and pushed his way through to her.

“Liz?”

“Vadim!” She scrambled to untangle herself from Doug, slapping his hand away from her thigh and rearranging the neck of her dress. “I didn’t know you were here!”

“I came to collect Ella. Feehan asked me to.” He made a face. “I just wanted you to know that we were going now.” He waved a vague hand behind him. “Ella’s just over there.”

Liz tried to look around him at Ella but he made it impossible for her to see much. “Sure! We’ll see you in the morning.”

Vadim inclined his head. “Good night Liz, Doug.”

He sensed Ella was already working her way down to the kitchen and hurried to catch up with her. The same group of guys was hanging around the refrigerator and they went quiet when they saw him. He liked that. He wondered what they had been saying to her, and what she’d said in return. Ignoring the stares, he walked right up to her and took her hand, bent to kiss the luscious curve between her shoulder and neck. He’d marked her there with his teeth. She obviously hadn’t noticed yet. “Ready to go, Ms. Walsh?”

He nodded at Big Jim whom he hoped was busy inhaling their bonding scent and getting the correct message.

Ella tried to pull out of his grasp but he held on and followed her out into the street, casting one last meaningful glance over his shoulder at the silent shapeshifters. He didn’t think any of them would let Ella kiss them again.

18

Ella went straightinto the bathroom, leaving Vadim alone in the kitchen. By the time she got into the shower, he materialized through the locked door and joined her. She was too tired to argue and the sight of him naked and more than willing to have sex with her was far too good to pass up. After they’d washed each other again and she’d forced herself to get out of the cramped shower, she remembered something.

“What’s with all the feathers, Morosov?”

He was rinsing his hair and she paused to appreciate the streams of water cascading over his broad shoulders and tight abs.

“What feathers?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. The ones that cascaded down over us when you were in a snit.” She tried not to smile. “Or should I say, when you were in such afowlmood.”

“Funny.” He turned his back on her and rubbed vigorously at his hair. “You should go on the stage.”

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