Page 64 of Blood Ties
I huffed then lowered my voice to a barely audible whisper. “I’m here because Damien wanted me, but I’d much rather be at home with you.”
He chuckled. “You didn’t get enough of me before we left?”
I pulled back just enough to give him a wicked look. “I will never be able to get enough of you.”
“Pardon my interruption.” I felt my cheeks flame at the sound of Damien’s voice. Of course he had been MIA the entire night until I started speaking of having sex with my fiancé. “I was hoping that perhaps I might cut in?”
Grayson gave me a cocky smile at seeing my embarrassment before handing me off. “Of course.”
Damien placed his hand on my back and the other in my palm then began moving me around the dance floor.
“Is my party not entertaining, Gabriella?”
I felt my face turn redder knowing that he had in fact heard Grayson’s and my conversation before he approached.
“It’s not that.”
“What is it? Please explain.” His tone wasn’t angry. It was more curious.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but I don’t really get along with vampires.”
“That does not surprise me in the least. Neither do I.”
Thatwassurprising. “But you’ve surrounded yourself with them.”
Damien halted our dance. He looked around briefly before placing my hand in the crook of his arm and escorting me from the room. There was a door that led to the actual kitchen area and he led me through it. The room stood completely vacant.
“I do not wish to upset anyone. You understand?” he spoke. “I surround myself because they are mine. Their nature is barbaric and as their sire I have tried to help them, with not the best of luck. But they are all my children.” I was readying myself for a question but he continued. “And better to have them around then to have them elsewhere where I cannot keep a watchful eye on them.”
I stood there silent not quite knowing what to say or rather how to say it.
“You have a question for me Gabriella? Ask.”
I took a few steps away, leaning against a counter. “Ava.” Was all I could utter without completely going off the rails.
“Ah, yes. Miss Sinclair. Do not believe for a moment that she is here forherbenefit.” He walked over to me placing his hand on my shoulder. “You are my daughter. My blood. Better for her to be where I can have her in my sight. Do you understand?” I did. It was his way of protecting me.
The door opened and a member of the wait staff entered. “I’m sorry sir, but you asked to be found when it was time for dinner to be served.”
“Yes, my announcement.” He turned to me. “Please excuse me, Gabriella. I have news I must share.”
Damien left followed by the waiter. I took a moment just to calm my nerves after everything that had happened in such a short time. My anger over Ava, my embarrassment with Damien, not to mention the anxiety I felt over being there at all. As I approached the door, I felt a hand grab my arm pulling back against a hard chest. My first instinct was to scream, but then I felt the familiar pull.Sebastian.
He released me and spun me to face him.
“What the hell are you doing?” I scolded.
“I need to talk to you.”
“Now? So that’s how you justify sneaking up on me?”
“You won’t talk to me otherwise.”
“How the hell did you sneak up on me anyways?”
He had the nerve to look guilty. “I dissipated in. I knew if you felt my presence you’d be on guard.”
“How?” Was all my temper would allow me to muster. How had he even known where I was? How did he know exactly where to dissipate in to catch me off guard? He hesitated then pointed to the small security camera in the corner of the room. I rolled my eyes. His stalker tendencies knew no bounds. “What do you want to say to me, Sebastian? Grayson is waiting for me.”
