Page 54 of Bloody Temptations

I groan internally, staring at that blank little box beneath his finger. I was really hoping he wouldn’t call me out on the missing information in front of everyone. They’re all gathered around the welcome desk, eager to get past this final hurdle into the club.

After all these months, I still haven’t learned how to handle this one. My stomach tightens uncomfortably and I shift from foot to foot, rubbing the back of my neck. Kai, the only one here who has any idea about my turning, leans firmly into my side.

“Uh, yeah. They, uh, kind of embraced the dawn before I woke up. I don’t have any details other than their name. And I’m not evencertain that’s correct.” I keep my eyes locked on Matteus. His blank spiritlessness is reassuring before it softens and I get a peek at the true him below the mask he seems to have perfected.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Truly.”

I nod at his sympathy, and true to his professionalism he easily slides right along, distracting everyone from the sympathetic and curious looks they are sending my way, by collecting our coats.

“Damn,” Lusce gasps when Nikolo drops his coat to reveal his outfit for the night.

He’s truly outdone himself tonight. He shakes out the tight blonde curls of his long hair, like he doesn’t have everyone’s eyes on him. A skin tight black bodysuit–with more cut outs than fabric—sheaths his torso, cut low in his chest to frame his pecs and high in the hips to reveal a sliver of bare skin. His ass is barely covered by the black pleated leather skirt at his waist. It sticks out, almost like a tutu, concealing absolutely nothing of his bulging crotch or the cut of the bodysuit on his ass cheeks. The outfit is completed with fishnet thigh highs, chunky high-heeled combat boots and a silky choker that I’m pretty sure is used in breath play. Not that I’ve ever done anything so adventurous.

“You’re staring. Should I be jealous?” Kai whispers in my ear with a laugh.

I roll my eyes with a scoff and wrench off my own coat to fight off my own feelings of raging inadequacy. It’s a hard battle considering I have Nikolo on one side and Kai on the other.

Kai is nowhere near as flamboyantly dressed as Nikolo but he still looks hotter than any being has a right to in public. I mean, that sheer black shirt he’s wearing is pretty much useless, considering it is unbuttoned to reveal his spectacular body anyway.

I let my eyes drop to his nipples where they are peeking through his shirt. Honestly, he really should just take it off. I bite my lip to keep from doing something embarrassing, like drooling or making the suggestion out loud.

Kai’s eyes dance with laughter when mine snap back up to his face.

“Jealous? Of what? You live with him!” Shaking my head like he’s made the most ridiculous suggestion in the world, my laugh is a little shaky, complete with a snort for added embarrassment.

Hopefully, it still comes across as playful and flirty and not awkward or worse, accusatory, especially since we already cleared up everything about their history.

Kai’s eyes darken as he steps closer so his chest brushes against me. He leans close enough that his lips brush my ear, making my stomach swoop and my knees tremble. His hand catches my elbow, keeping me steady, yet somehow making it all worse.

“Trust me, Finn. On that one, you have nothing to worry about. I only have eyes for one pretty blonde vamp nowadays, and it’s not Nikki.”

Oh fuck. Did I just whimper? Did the others hear? Maybe if I keep my eyes closed, then I don’t have to know for certain. Maybe I can even ask Matteus for my coat back to hide the erection currently trying to break free of my jeans.

As if they can hear my thoughts, someone clears their throat loudly.

“Shall we begin our tour?”

The lights of the club are blinding when I blink my eyes open, ignoring the smirks of my friends and the forced look of boredom on Nikolo’s face.

“Yup, yep. Definitely. Tour. Excellent idea.” Stepping away from Kai restores some of my sense, if not my ability to form coherent sentences.

“Right, this way then.” Matteus, who is professional enough not to draw attention to my situation, waves a hand for us to follow him. The others aren’t that courteous.

“Smooth.” Jax laughs, knocking my shoulder with his beefy arm as he passes.

“Get it.” Jesminda winks, while Bedeer winks at me.

Tonight, I realise, is going to either be the most frustratingly painful or the best night of my life.

“Okay,” Matteus intones poetically in time with my thoughts. His eyes meet mine at the back of the group. “Let’s begin.”

18

Finn

Turns out there isa nightclub at Hearts Gate. Well a night club of sorts. Hearts Gate, as I thought, is an old mansion that was repurposed centuries ago when the owner was turned. Since then, it’s been a haven for vampires, remodelling and repurposing its spaces as they’ve been needed.

Our tour begins in the parlours attached to the main entry. The parlours, conservatively decorated, are rooms where the club’s guests can relax and hang out while being served by the staff here.

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