Page 27 of The Vampire's Thirst
Her eyes were bright, and a smile lit her face. “Riding your bike was more fun than I thought. Thank you. Maybe we could do it again sometime.”
Tyr didn’t answer. He unsnapped her helmet, slipped it from her head, and crushed his lips to hers. She gasped but didn’t push him away. Not even when he thrust his tongue into her mouth and pulled her against his leathered body. He couldn’t help the erection that pressed into her belly. A fast ride and a hot Trixie always did that to him.
Wait a fucking minute.
She tasted sweet, spicy. Tyr couldn’t get deep enough as their tongues tangled. Coming to his senses, he released her lips and stepped away.
She pulled her ponytail tight and straightened her prim sweater, tugging on the bottom. “What was that for?”
“Damned if I know. Let’s go.” He clasped her hand, dragging the fifty’s chick behind him while biting his tongue before he started saying shit likecool,daddy-o, andcruisin’ for a bruisin’.
****
Fromthe garage, they walked through a hallway to a set of stairs. Climbing them, they dodged workmen carrying weight equipment down the steps.
In the foyer, Jace peeked around Tyr, hoping she didn’t have helmet hair.
The stronghold was bigger than she expected, and a fiery redhead, fists on hips, controlled the commotion, shouting instructions to the workmen.
“That’s right. Everything goes. All the mats, the weapons, the machines, the works. It’s not like this is a surprise. I told you the stuff was heavy.”
Once the men disappeared, the woman spun around. “Hey. You must be Jace. I’m Margo. Forgive the chaos, but we’re mid-remodel. The training facility used to be on this floor, but now the new and improved version is downstairs. This level is the gathering area.”
She pointed behind her to three over-stuffed leather couches, a huge coffee table, a colorful geometric-patterned rug, and a giant television.
“The kitchen’s thataway. A game room for the boys over there. The library. Upstairs are the apartments.” She took an exaggerated breath. “I guess I should let you speak. Chay says I’m chatty. He should talk. Anyway, welcome.”
The redhead clasped Jace in a strong embrace.
“Nice to meet you, Margo.”
“Hey, Tyr. Long time no see.” She funneled her hands to her mouth, turned toward the kitchen, and shouted. “Braelyn, we’ve got company. How about some coffee in here?” With a friendly smile, she latched onto Jace’s arm. “Come on. You two sit.”
Tyr, obviously at home in the stronghold, flopped onto a couch and planted his boots on the table. Jace chose a different sofa, away from the disturbing but delectable warlock. Sitting primly, she folded her hands and crossed her ankles. Margo sat beside her.
“What’s your story?” The redhead plumped a pillow before leaning back on the sofa.
A tall, lithe woman with spiky auburn hair and a freckled nose entered, balancing four cups and a pot of coffee on a tray. Shoving Tyr’s boots to the side, she set it on the table. “Don’t start till I’m ready.” She poured four cups, grabbed one, and, with her legs curled under her bottom, sat on the other side of Jace. “Grab. I’m Braelyn. Okay. Begin.”
“Me? I guess you know my name. I was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. At Cornell in Ithaca, I studied viticulture and enology. A winery in New Paltz hired me after graduation. It was a plum job. Anyway, that’s probably not what you’re interested in knowing.”
“Nope,” said Margo. “Good info for a job interview, but how did you get here?”
“I was driving to work at the vineyard when a van pulled alongside. Two enormous guys jumped out and snatched me from my car. It was straight out of a movie. A rag to my nose. A bag over my head. I awoke in a jail, surrounded by a bunch of other people. It was hell. Screaming, crying, bodies dragged out.”
Braelyn patted her leg. “I’ve been in that hell, too.”
Jace pulled her brows tight. “How did you get out?”
“My mate, Rein, and other Firebrands rescued me. They destroyed Silas and Aisen’s operation.”
“Were you ever taken to a house?” A spark of hope flashed in Jace’s eyes. “Perhaps you were held in the same place Celene and I were.”
Braelyn shook her head. “What about you, Margo?”
“Chay and I were in a cell somewhere, but no one else was there.” Margo wiggled her fingers. “My wonkiness saved us. What about your prison?”
“One day, I awoke in a house where I met Celene.” Jace sniffed, brushing away a tear as it slid down her cheek. “She and I hatched a plan to escape. She does all this extreme sport stuff, like base jumping, but I was a record-holding runner in high school and college. We decided I stood the best chance at escape. I promised to find help and come back for her.” Jace sighed, her shoulders slumping as she grabbed onto a cup of coffee. “May I have the cream?”
