Page 34 of Soul Sucker

Ella watchedhim leave the room, then turned back to Alexei.

“What did you miss last time?”

He shrugged. “That Natasha was going nuts.”

She considered that and found her gaze drawn back to the door through which Vadim had just left. “Morosov’s a bit cranky about his clothes, isn’t he?”

“That’s a bespoke suit from Savile Row in England. I’d be pissed too.”

Ella stared at the remnants of her donut. “No wonder he looks so good in it.”

“It’s his armor.”

“Against what?”

Alexei smiled. “Against everything.”

“How much does one of those cost?”

“About four or five thousand dollars, but they are made to last a human lifetime.”

“Holy shit.” She dropped her donut onto her napkin. “Should I offer to have his jacket dry-cleaned or something?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Alexei helped himself to another donut. “We get enough in our budget to cover cleaning, and Vadim isn’t short of money.”

Curiosity was vulgar, but she couldn’t help herself, and the Fae were terrible gossips. “He’s rich, as well as handsome as a god? Why on earth does he work for the government?”

Alexei sat back. “You’ll have to ask him yourself.” He idly studied his fingernails. “You think he’s handsome, do you?”

“Who doesn’t? You’d have to be blind not to notice that ass and that face,” Ella sighed. “But it’s okay, I’ll live.”

“He likes you.”

“He does not.”

Alexei grinned. “Sure he does, but he’s fighting it. Natasha really did a number on him.”

“Were they that close?”

“Hard to tell. She certainly doted on him. I was never quite sure how he felt about her. Vadim’s never been one to like a clingy woman, and by the end she was emotionally needy.”

“Like all empaths. I’m a bit of an exception apparently.” She grimaced. “I’ve seen a picture of Natasha. She was stunning. Let’s just be grateful I know he’s way out of my league. Morosov would do better to date Laney.”

“But Laney’s just about to meet her OCOS match, isn’t she?”

She stared at him. “You don’t miss much do you?”

He shrugged. “She ended up in my Fae-Web, I have no idea why. Naturally, I picked up some information about her.”

“Supernaturally, you mean.”

“Well, that and some deliberate eavesdropping on your conversation last night.”

Ella couldn’t help laughing at Alexei’s cool admission of guilt. “You’re definitely more Fae than human, aren’t you?”

“I certainly have more adaptable morals.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Is it just Vadim you won’t date, or does that ban extend to me?”

She took her time looking him over. He certainly was a beautiful specimen and most Fae were spectacular in bed…

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