Page 78 of The Forsaken Heir
“You know, my dad knew the guys who were at that battle in Russia,” I said. “The whole thing was a big misunderstanding. Big egos among the old country dragons getting out of hand. That was the last time any real fighting happened between us. Dad had to throw his weight around back then to get everyone under control and abide by what the crown said.”
“That’s how it always is, isn’t it?” Elle asked. “Rich and powerful guys get pissed off at other rich and powerful guys, and then the little innocent people get the shit end of the stick.”
“Unfortunately, there does seem to be a pattern throughout history. Human and shifter alike,” I admitted.
“Speaking of rich and powerful guys,” Elle said, her smile returning. “Vince’s dad?”
“Yes?” I asked warily.
“What the hell is up with his mustache? Does he realize he looks like a cross between 80s Tom Selleck and a 70s porn star?”
I had to clamp my hand over my mouth to keep from spitting food everywhere. Once I’d gotten my laughter under control, I nodded and took a sip of water.
“That may be the best description I’ve ever heard in my life. Well played, Brielle Laurent.”
“These?” she said, lifting the rest of the small elk slider sandwich. “Are freaking amazing.”
“They really are. I get them any time I come here.”
“What’s your guilty pleasure?” Elle said.
“Excuse me?”
Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “Notthatkind of pleasure. I meant food. What’s something you like to eat that you really shouldn’t? With your shirt off, it looks like the worst thing you eat is celery with a dab of peanut butter. But that’s the shifter metabolism. I know you,” she said, pointing a finger at me and narrowing her eyes like a movie detective. “I’ve seen the way you are when you see something you want. You’re ravenous.”
A mental image of me devouring her pussy flashed across my mind, and my cock twitched.
“Let me think,” I said, dipping a cracker into the crab dip. “I guess it would either be mint chocolate chip ice cream or those little peppermint-and-chocolate patties.”
She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I knew you weren’t perfect. Eww. You might as well eat toothpaste from the tube.”
“Hey, now. That stuff tastes nothing like toothpaste. It’s amazing.”
“Your breath will be amazing, other than that? Puke. No way.”
“Well, what’s yours? Come on. Spit it out,” I said. “What’s something you eat thatyoushouldn’t?”
“Hmm, I guess you’ll have to wait and see. If you play your cards right, anyway.”
We stared at each other across the table, that intense connection crackling between us as we sat in silence, both of us probably thinking about what we’d done to each other a few hours before. Before either of us could respond, the server returned with the entrees, clearing the appetizers and placing the sizzling steaks down in front of us.
“Holy crap,” Elle said, eyeing the massive steak.
“Can I get you all anything else?” the server asked.
“Another bottle of wine,” I said. “Other than that, we’re good.”
“On the way,” he said.
Elle glanced over at my plate, her eyes growing even wider.
“That’s not a steak. That’s an entire cow,” she said, watching as I cut my first bite.
I pointed at her own plate. “Dig in before it gets cold.”
Our conversations bounced around from movies, to music, then to local politics, pack drama—even amusement parks we’d visited. The whole time, I was amazed at how easy it was to talk to her. Comfortable and smooth. She never treated me like I was a prince, or special in any way, and I found that an incredible breath of fresh air. Each time I’d been with a woman before, things were always strangely tense. Shifter women acted in deference to me, almost like subordinates, and I didn’t care for that. As for the humans, they knew me as the heir to a multimillion-dollar business, so there was always a hint of fear with those women. They were scared I’d brush them off if I got bored or found something better. None of them could ever let go and be themselves. None but Elle. Was I falling for this woman? I thought I might be.
“It appears you enjoyed the steaks,” our server said when he came to take away our plates.
