Page 37 of Cider
“Oh, I can only imagine. Especially if he is the ‘Winter King’.” I kissed his knuckles.
“If you start doing that, baby girl, be ready for the consequences.” His hand tightened on mine, making me grin. I liked the reactions I could get out of him.
“Oh, fine.” I put our hands in my lap. “I’ll behave.” Sike. I promptly pulled his hand up and sucked on his middle finger.
“Cider!” The car swerved as Titus lost control of it momentarily as I cackled gleefully.
“You’ll pay for that, my dear.” He took his hand away from mine and firmly locked it on the steering wheel. “Mark my words.”
The scenery outside changed as we got closer to the big building that had come into view. My mouth popped open a little.
“Lodge? That’s not a lodge. That’s a fucking CASTLE, Titus!” I glared at him. “How in the world did you get a castle out here?”
His shoulders shook in silent laughter as he pulled the car to the front doors where a valet stood behind a small wooden podium. Titus parked and was out the door and at mine before I could finish unbuckling.
“Well, I built it. That’s how it got here.” I narrowed my eyes at his arrogant remark that just rolled off his tongue so easily.
I took his offered hand as he helped me out of the sleek car and handed the keys to a young looking troll.
“Thanks, Teddy.” Titus nodded at him as he smoothly moved my hand to the crook of his arm. “There aren’t any humans here, so you can relax as much as you like.”
The large wooden doors opened automatically. Heat hit me in the face as we stepped inside. The decor was old school. Wooden beams across the ceiling, the walls were stone with the heads of animals scattered about.
I wasn’t sure I liked that part of the place and said so.
“Dead animals are so drab.”
Titus pulled me to one of the walls where a large wolf head howled. “Look closer.”
Leaning forward, I stood on my toes to get a better look. I didn’t know what I was looking at. I’d just opened my mouth to say so when the wolf head just blinked out of existence and in its place was a bear in the middle of a large snarl.
I stumbled back, tripping over my own feet. Titus caught me under my arms, keeping me from falling. His chuckle was low in my ear.
“Holograms. Nifty aren’t they? The theme for the winter is old rustic lodge. When spring rolls around, I’ll probably have them change it to flowers or something.” He looked down at me with a free expression, melting my insides.
I fell in love in that instant. His face was open for the first time, like he’d finally relaxed and was in his comfort zone. He was my mate but I hadn’t thought of those kinds of feelings yet. I hadn’t thought we were at that stage.
Guess my heart proved me wrong.
“Titus.” A man’s voice from across the room distracted us.
I stopped moving for a brief second. This guy had even redder hair than I did. Strands of his hair were standing up, making him look wild. With the way he had his hand on his hip, the curl of his lips, he oozed cockiness.
“That wine you suggested was fantastic. You’re not half bad for a vampire. I can’t wait to rub it in my brother's face that a vampire with the same name is smarter than he is with great business sense, unlike him.” He slapped Titus’ shoulder as he grinned wickedly. “Granted, calling you by his name is still weird. I still expect to see him when I hear it.”
“Titus isn’t that rare of a name.” Titus’ left eye looked like it had a twitch, it seemed this wasn’t the first time he’d been compared to the guy's brother.
Whoever this guy was, I liked him. He had my mate in a tizzy and that was hilarious.
The guy just waved off Titus’ comment. “Not where I come from.” He glanced at me, offered an extravagant bow with hand flourishes. “I am Lance. It is my pleasure to meet you.”
He took my hand and kissed it, all the while looking at Titus from the corner of his wicked eyes. He was enjoying ruffling Titus’ feathers. I could only imagine how he acted with his actual brother.
“Nice to meet you, too.” It wasn’t my fault that I was blushing crazily. The guy was wickedly sinful.
“I’ll catch up with you later, Titus.” As Lance walked off, I leaned against the bar. Oh, man. I had to fan my cheeks.
“You’re pretty impressive for an old man, you know that?” I offered a soft smile, trying to distract Titus.
