Page 61 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
More laughter circled the table.
I tried to focus on the game, but it was all a blur of cards, clinking crystal cups, and flushed faces. My attention wavered—half on the numbers in my hand, half on the couples already partaking in the spoils of pleasure. Fingers disappearedbeneath silken robes. A woman’s head tipped back as her partner’s mouth found her throat.
As if caught in the tide of desire, Alec bent his head close to mine, his voice a low purr meant for me alone. “Why so tense?” he murmured, as if coaxing me through a dance. “You may be the Duke’s sanguine partner, but you’re allowed to have fun. And it’s my job to remind you of that.”
The words were gentle—a trained reassurance designed to make me feel safe. And damn him, it worked. A little. Maybe it was the liquor warming my stomach, or maybe it was the way his breath tickled across my ear, but some of my dread eased.
“We’ve got a good hand,” he said suddenly, tapping the cards before sliding his palm up the curve of my stomach. His touch halted just beneath my breasts, suggestive but not forceful, as if waiting for me to grant permission. “What do you think? How many tricks can we make? Six?”
I caught his hand before he could rise any higher, threading our fingers together. My heart thudded against my ribs, like it was trying to shove him away because it only wanted the touch of someone else. Someone who didn’t even have a pulse.
“Two,” I said firmly.
He chuckled, lips brushing the line of my neck in a way that made me shiver despite myself. “Two? Where’s the fun in that?”
“If we lose…” My protest died on my tongue as I turned and caught the foxlike glint in his eyes. His grin said he’d already calculated the risk, already imagined the inevitable loosening of my corset strings.“Three, then,” I amended, heat crawling up my throat.
He conceded, and bets went around the table, laughter and teasing flying as fast as the cards. The first hand stretchedon longer than the game in the coach, spades being thrown twice, which meant another two rounds of liquor.
My head grew lighter with every swallow. The burn leaving my chest warm. My lips loose. My laughter spilled out unguarded, rising with the chorus around the table. I stopped caring whether Alec’s hand rested on my stomach or not; I leaned back against him, letting the firm line of his body mold to mine. I let myself imagine—for a fleeting moment—that maybe this was enough.
Cards slapped down one after the other until Lady Okeri leaned back with a victorious grin. She was declared the winner, and the room erupted with groans, cheers, andanother round of shots. I winced when Alec revealed we’d only taken one trick. That meant two articles of clothing would need to come off. One for me. One for him.
Okeri clapped her hands like a drumbeat and shouted, “Take it off!” Others joined in, the chant swelling as more guests banged their hands on the table. I laughed and whooped with the others, taken by the sultry spell the liquor had woven. And Iwantedto be caught in it. For once, I wanted to feel free. I wanted to feel like I belonged. I wanted, for the first time in my life,to have fun.
Alec rose, lifting me gently from his lap as if presenting me to the table. Everyone clapped and cheered, but his attention never wavered from mine, steady and playful, daring me to laugh along with him as he tugged at the ties of his sash. The black silk slid loose under his fingers.
The sight jolted me, and I stopped laughing. As if Bastien had slipped inside my mind, the world around me dulled until all I could think of washim. I thought of Bastien in the steamy bathhouse, kneeling in front of me, and the way he twirled my sash around his long fingers. The way his eyes haddevoured me. Worshipped me.
I forced myself back to the present. To the music and the man in front of me. Bastien wasn’t here, which I was very happy about. If he was here, no one would be having this much fun. He was the darkness that swallowed fun. But if that was true, why did my body ache for him as soon as Alec’s robe slipped free?
There was no denying he was very attractive. With flawless bronze skin, unmarked by war. Save for the angry scratch marks on his arm. So soft to touch and warm under my palms. He was nothing like Bastien. I couldn’t decide if it was his best quality, or his worst.
“Your turn,” Alec said, coming closer and running his hand along my curves, stopping when he reached my corset strings.
I wasn’t wearing anything underneath my skirt except a petticoat and undergarments. When the corset was off, my breasts would be bared for everyone.
I should be nervous, but right now, the liquor was making me feel braver. Many others were completely naked, and I wanted to feel like I belonged. But more than that, I wanted to silence the questions I’d asked myself earlier. If I’d been fed lies about Dark Witches and vampires.
Slowly, he started pulling on the strings, loosening the front of my corset with each tug. His lips skimmed over my bare skin, tracing up one arm, across my shoulders, then down the other. I couldn’t believe I was doing this—Bastien would be furious—but the alcohol dulled my inner voice.
I’d drink anything—kiss anyone—to stop the whisper ofwhat if? What if it had all been a lie?
With Alec’s urging, my corset slid down my hips. With another wiggle and a tug, he pulled it over my head and tossed it beside his robe. I cupped my chest and let out a burst of ridiculous laughter. This was mad. I was mad.
“I was wrong,” Alec said, slowly easing one of my hands offmy breast so he could spin me around. “You are more than beautiful. You’reradiant.”
Our eyes locked, and the anticipation that he was going to kiss me settled over me once again. Cupping my face, Alec pulled me close. His hardness pressed against my belly. For whatever reason, another bubble of laughter crested my lips.
“Say the word, and I’ll give you whatever you want.”
I hummed in response. I wanted…what did I want?For the room to stop spinning. For everything to stop being so funny.
Giggling, I closed my eyes, and pretended hewasBastien. I couldn’t say why, but the vampire’s frustrating image formed behind my eyes and wouldn’t leave. Or, maybe…I didn’t want it to leave. I swayed where I stood and chuckled as Alec righted me.
“I want you to kiss me.” The words just… came out. I wasn’t sure who I was talking to, the man inside my head or the one standing in front of me, and right now I was too drunk to care. Just as he lowered his lips, nearly touching mine, the unmistakable crack of Bastien’s cane struck the floor.
“Your Grace!” someone gasped.
