Page 49 of Unholy Gambit: Checkmate in Blood
He breathed in. Chuckled. “While I appreciate being given permission, I’m afraid nothing’s happening tonight, darling Aurélie.”
She wiggled her hips a little. Lifted her butt. “You’re cruel.”
“No.” He worked one of the large muscles with his whole hand in one long, soothing sweep, the cool press of his palm a contrast to the heat building in her skin. “Not tonight. Not after blood and fear. Relax for me. No more adrenaline on this night.”
He eased her hair back and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck.
“I want you clear-headed the next time I touch you like that.”
She didn’t respond right away. Just lay there, warm and loose and safe.
Then: “This counts as touching me likethat.”
His voice was closer now, a whisper at her ear. “Not even close.”
And still, he didn’t take her up on it. Didn’t even kiss her again. Just laid down beside her, clothes still on, one hand resting on her hip. Heavy. Protective. Real.
She drifted off before she could ask him to stay.
* * * *
Axel heard Ruby’s footsteps outside the apartment minutes before she keyed herself in. His Aurélie was sleeping soundly, so he gently levitated himself up and off the mattress, and then made his way to the living room, so she’d hear him walking towards her once she was inside. It’s best not to startle daywalkers in the middle of the night.
“She’s fine,” he told her when he was certain she’d seen him, “but we had an issue.”
He spoke softly, explaining what’d happened at the party, what he’d done to fix it. “I’ll replace what we used in the kit.”
She shook her head. “I have a stash I can pull from, to restock. Thanks for taking care of her.”
Her gaze landed on the roses. “Damn.” She paused, looking them over. “Four dozen? Overkill, but she’s totally worth it.”
“And more.”
She sighed, sat, and unstrapped her boots. “Sit. I’m going to spill some tea, and I need you to keep where you heard it from to yourself.”
He sat and waited. He’d had a crash course in modern English on the plane across the Atlantic, and he was pretty sure she was saying she was about to share gossip.
“Everyone’s heard of Humphrey,” she said. “The grumpy-old-man of the local coterie. Not that he looks old, of course, but he acts old. It isn’t just that he won’t own a smartphone because he never had a landline, either. He isn’t stuck in the 1900s, he’s stuck in the 1500’s. The Renaissance.”
He knew two dozen vampires stuck in old centuries. Some masters tolerated it, others did not.
“Vampires change names, so it’s possible I’ve known him under a different moniker, but I do not know a Humphrey in this century. I assume you feel I need to be aware of him for a reason?”
“Yeah. Sounds like he’s expressing an interest in you. Marco makes him live at the coterie house, since he refuses to own a device he can be texted on.” She rolled her eyes. “Rumor has it, there’s a screen hanging on his wall that shows any group texts. Anyway, he’s apparently been out in the public areas of the house more, paying attention when someone mentions you. Anson thinks he’s going to take advantage of the visitor challenge rules.”
Axel considered who the vampire now known as Humphrey might’ve been in a prior life, and hoped to hell it wasn’t Giovanni. “Have you seen him? Can you think of his face and send it to me?”
She shook her head. “Sorry. I’ve only officially met a few of your kind, and I’m happy keeping it that way. Anson isn’t powerful enough to be much of a protector.”
“You are special to my Aurélie. Should it work out so I can oath to Marco and join, I’ll put both of you under my protection, but doing so now, when I might not be around…”
“Yeah, I get it, and I appreciate the offer. I understand how big of a deal protection vows are, so truly, thank you. We’ll see how things go. I want what’s best for Aury, and so far you seem good for her, but if the local vamps don’t want you here? Marco’s permission may not mean shit.”
He nodded. “If Humphrey is who I suspect, he has reason to hate me but isn’t likely to win a challenge. Thank you for the warning.”
He said his goodbyes, made his way to his car, and texted Adelaide.Do you have time for a brief conversation? I can come to you if it’s convenient, or we can meet somewhere.
His phone rang. “Adelaide, how are you doing this fine fall night?”
