Page 45 of Royal Vampire's Fake Mistress

Nate tried to be pleasant, respond to questions, and join in on the conversation. All the while, his body pulsed with awareness at her closeness, every brush of arm and graze of skin tripping his senses haywire. Then they were by his brother, who was surrounded by some of his friends and had Nate going into alert.

“You are looking great as always, Winter, and the perfect match for my always-scowling brother here,” Nicholas praised, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. Despite not lingering, the action had a violent streak spurting from Nate. He kept a lock on it and didn’t say a word.

Winter smiled demurely. “He’s not always scowling. And it’s an honor to be here, as always. I heard that winter is your favorite season.”

“Yes. You have to tell me all about it.”

“Sure. Next time.”

Nicholas kept throwing praises, riddled with slyness here and there. Winter caught them smoothly and pretended she couldn’t understand, laughing at his friends’ jokes and opening herself up so they could be open to her, too. Nate didn’t like it one bit but kept his emotions on lock, watching her in play and unable to help being fascinated.

“So, that dress,” a vampire named Emilio said, eyeing her appreciatively. “You have to tell me all about where you got it, maybe take me there someday.”

The hunger was light, but her stiffening spine had Nate touching her back to soothe her. She relaxed slightly and offered the same demure smile in the man’s direction.

“Sure. Nate will take you. Won’t you, Nate?”

“Sure. Just tell me where and when, Emilio, and I will make sure you walk away, not forgetting the experience.”

Translation: make a play for her again and Nate would make sure that the man wouldn’t walk away unscathed. Emilio paled, getting it immediately, and backed away from the small circle without another word. Nicholas smirked through the conversation and Nate nodded, even though there was nothing he wanted more than to punch the man. All of them.

“Now, we had best get going,” he said. “Unless you don’t plan on staying here for long, brother.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Nate. I’m staying here until I’m bored. Snow doesn’t bore me at all.”

They walked away calmly, but Winter shivered when they were out of sight.

“Nicholas was derisive the whole time. The vibe was brimming on the surface. He was waiting for me to say something insulting or disagree with him so he could act accordingly in public.” Already knowing it, it still had Nate bubbling with rage. But she squeezed his hand. “It’s not any different from how many of your folks here have treated me.”

The truth wasn’t easy to hear, but she was right. “And there are a lot who like you. Don’t forget that.”

She shook her head. “I don’t.” She leaned in closer. “The other men in that circle were either bored or impatient, but Nicholas’s lack of excitement tells me that they have no plans tonight. Emilio was the only one who had violent vibes when he spoke to me. I’m guessing there hasn’t been a blood hunt in a while, and he’s restless.”

Triumph came over him that the attack and resulting last meeting had ensured his father was staying on top of things for now, but it was overpowered by the need to protect her. So, he hugged her towards him, basking in the way she melted into his arms before he realized that Winter had handled that like a pro and it was him who was shaking. Her hands clutched his side and rubbed soothingly until he looked down. When he did, she tiptoed to kiss him.

“Take it easy, champ,” she teased.

Hunger leaped, no longer willing to be tucked in. His hand captured her neck and responded hard until her teasing turned into a series of small trembles.

“Do you still want to mingle?” he asked, breaking the kiss enough to gather air into his lungs.

Her dazed shake of head was the only signal he needed as he tugged her out of her with no more resistance. They raced through the dark halls and took as many shortcuts as they could until they reached his wing. Then he was pushing her inside a room that had her looking around in fascination.

“Is this your office?”

“Spare,” he said. “My room’s too far.”

Her eyes blazed with lust, just as intense as his. He backed her into a spare desk stacked with papers and swept them away with a fling of hand. She gasped at the movement, then when he unceremoniously lifted her onto the desk. Her thighs parted at his urging, her tongue tangling with his in a way that made him lose his mind just a little bit.

When she sucked on his tongue, he hissed. His fangs came out and tasted blood, then jerked back and tugged on whatever self-control he had left. But Winter’s hands were there, cajoling him to return to him, her voice holding a sweet, breathless tang.

“Please. Take what you need.”

Self-control shattered as he descended on her like a madman, but it couldn’t be helped. He rocked into her body, then got impatient and jerked her dress up. At the same time, his other hand glided the top down and he could only gawk at her in stupefaction.

“No underwear?”

“It would have been visible…Nate.”

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