At Blade's Edge (22 page)

“It’s my territory,” Clive added as if that made any difference.

“No it isn’t. They’re your Vampires. I don’t want them anyway, so have at them. The ground? Well, you don’t own that. And I don’t need to
ask
you to occupy it. I already
do
occupy it. I occupied it before you were named Scion, as it happens. Maybe you should ask
my
permission.”

He gave her an arch look and she felt immensely better.

“This is a Treaty-based decision. You know that and so do I.”

“Look, if the Vampire Nation hadn’t allowed the Blood Front all that freedom without a single bit of oversight, this might have been dealt with sooner. We’re at emergency decision-making time. I won’t ask permission to clean up a problem the witches and the Vampires could have dealt with long ago. You didn’t and that’s reality. So, if you want to go down this road, let’s go. I’m feeling mean.”

His smirk made her want to laugh, but she didn’t.

David didn’t bother to look up from his plate. Rowan guessed he was used to all this by now. Pride warred with concern. She’d brought him into this world of constant danger, had enabled him to meet these challenges successfully. But she worried for him. Not just over his physical safety, but what this life would do to someone like him with all that heart.

“You don’t need to seek permission from the Conclave.” Genevieve said this with a flutter of her lashes and amusement on her mouth.

“Troublemaker,” Clive muttered.

“You said you had information?” Rowan asked her.

“A few names. One I think is a dead end, but the other two might get you somewhere good,” Genevieve said. “I have my people looking into it, but I thought you’d like the opportunity to do a bit of investigation on your own as well.”

“Yes, yes I would. Thanks. I was volunteered to be the liaison between Hunter Corp. and the Conclave so this is handy.”

“It’s because you’re so diplomatic,” Clive told her.

She snickered, reaching out to squeeze his wrist. Just a quick, affectionate touch. Something she rarely did. And yet it had settled them both.

His gaze met hers, soothed, incited as well.

“I’ll have you know I can diplomatic it right the fuck up there with the best of them. I don’t need people to be my best friend. I need them to do what I say. But they can’t know that’s what they’re doing.”

“You should write all these chestnuts down. Keep a collection of Rowan wisdom.”

“A-plus sass there, sir. Well done.”

“I knew a few things before you rocketed into my life.” Clive winked.

Happiness had seeped into her to the point she was loose and warm with it. Her dining room at her table. Next to her husband, surrounded by friends. This was the most delicious thing.

Not normal really, given who and what they all were. But as close as she’d ever been to it. She’d never have a picket fence and two kids. Never have a baby shower or a work holiday party.

That knowledge used to hurt so bad she avoided it at all costs. Pretended it didn’t matter or that she was ridiculous to care at all.

Over the last three years she’d grieved over the loss of that future. Of even the chance at such things.

And then she’d put it away. Even then she hadn’t quite imagined something like this wondrous thing in her chest. Love and a sense of belonging.

“Stop eye-fucking and focus on the problem at hand,” Genevieve said.

“That’s a remarkably modern saying from such an old creature,” Rowan told her.

Genevieve’s brow knit for a moment and then she glared before bursting into laughter. “Did you just call me old?”

“I did. But out of love.”

Genevieve snorted. “When do you go back to the United States?”

“Next week. First we’re going to Germany. For a thing. A family thing.” Four days of parties. Theo was out of his fucking mind. He’d said a simple announcement party. He’d planned something ridiculously over the top.

Clive had tried to hide his glee, knowing she’d be cranky about it. But she also understood that for him, so much flash being made about his bonding to Rowan by The First was a huge deal.

It solidified his power in ways that took other Scions at least two centuries. Which was why she’d attempt to keep her complaining to a minimum and let Clive have his day. Days. Ugh.

“The party your father is throwing? It’s all the talk. I’ll be there on the last day.”

“He invited outsiders?” Rowan asked Alice.

“The first three days are closed. Vampires only with the exception of the acolytes of Brigid and the Espys. The send-off reception is open to some others. Humans of considerable power, members of the Conclave Senate.”

Sure. Because she’d be so relaxed by that last day. No big deal.

“I think we should see if your magic can also spell me some valium. It won’t work on my metabolism. But your pain blocker spell worked. If I have to deal with four days of celebration, I need help,” Rowan told Genevieve.

“He’ll need to keep you sexually satisfied. That’s amazing for your system. But I’m sure we can work something out,” Genevieve replied.

“He does a good job.” Rowan tried not to blush. “Anyway, we’re headed back to Las Vegas after that. I’ve got a Motherhouse to build and an investigation to continue.”

“My information tells me the people you’ll be looking for are reportedly on their way to New York City.”

At least it was on the same continent as home for a change.

Rowan itched to head to New York right then. But she couldn’t. This party thing Theo was doing wasn’t optional.

First she’d go to the Keep. Handle her duty there and head home. There was a lot of work over the coming weeks as she reorganized all the Hunters in the United States. David seemed to get a boner over organizational charts so she’d give him a rough sketch of what she wanted and let him do all the fancy stuff.

It would keep him out of danger for a while anyway.

“I’ll forward the information to my guy back in Vegas so he can get a head start.” She’d asked Carey to Germany for the wedding stuff but he said his wedding present to her was to hold the fort down so she could truly enjoy herself.

It had been a kindness—one of many from him over the years—that had enabled her to not be so agitated about the level of pomp Theo was hoisting aloft.

Without even really planning it, Rowan had ended up with a family of her making. Weird and broken. A lot like she was.

After dinner, David dashed off to get Carey started with the new names and intelligence Genevieve had given them. There were Hunters in New York, ones she trusted, so he’d connect with them.

Clive was in his office behind his massive desk. He indicated the phone and soon enough she heard one of his lieutenants back home on the other end.

She made to leave but he stared her down and indicated she sit. Nearly made it sort of look like a request instead of some sort of imperial command. She plopped down on the overstuffed loveseat. Tucking the pillows all around her, she watched him work.

“Rowan has just joined us.” Clive looked up to her once more. “Craig’s been house hunting for us, but I thought with your new professional plans we should hold off until you decide on the location. I want us to be near wherever the new Motherhouse is.”

He hadn’t done it for points. He’d simply thought of her and adjusted his life appropriately. Which is why she didn’t point out the absurdity of a Vampire named Craig.

Though she hadn’t missed the part where Clive’d had one of his employees looking for a house for them without even telling her.

Baby steps, she supposed.

She’d re-establish her boundaries with him when he wasn’t being the boss. And then she let Clive see that in her eyes, let that flow through their link. He furrowed his brow.

It was ridiculous that he could be so damned frowny and furrowy and get no wrinkles because he was a Vampire. And even when he did manage to look like a man in his fifties and sixties, he’d be craggy and handsome.

Rowan told him, “Since our last location was compromised, we’ve been working out of the office at my place. While I’ve been here, Carey has been living in the guest room there since our hours are so different. You’re the one who needs to think about distance from work because you have to deal with a regular commute.”

“Not always a big problem when one can fly.”

Oh that smirk of his. Damn it he looked sexy behind a desk like that.

“Like you’d let me forget.”

“There’s a house already about seventy percent through construction. One of the properties my predecessor had started and naturally left unfinished.”

“I’m not living in any mansion made of gold and rubies with peacock skin floors or whatever the fuck that asshole thought was so classy. He had zero taste.”

On the other end of the phone there was coughing and Clive wagged his finger at her as he struggled to keep a straight face.

“Surprisingly, it’s quite classic. You’d make the interior design choices, naturally,” Craig assured her.

“Hold off on the peacock skin, Craig. My wife doesn’t like it.”

“Is that an actual thing?” Rowan asked, horrified at the shit rich people got up to.

“Not that I know of. But if it is, you won’t find it in your home,” Craig said.

“Okay, whatever. Do whatever. I’ll find my own real estate for work business.”

“You’ve got your instructions then. I’ll see you and get an update upon our return next week.” Clive hung up and looked her over carefully.

“It’s at the achy, bone knitting pain part. Which really, when you think about how bad it’d be if I were just a regular strength human, means I’m doing just peachy so stop with the Clint Eastwood look. Or, you could chomp on a cigar wearing a poncho, jeans and some boots. Oh. Goddess yes. That’s what I’d like for my birthday.”

He struggled to follow along and then finally sighed, giving up. “Thank you for being so cooperative on the house issue. I know you hate boring details like where you live. But I want us to have a home. Together. It’s not too far out from the Strip. I can be at work, even if I did something so human as drive in, within half an hour given the hours we Vampires keep. If I flew, it would take a quarter of that.”

It was weird to talk about him flying.

“Do I have to look at fabric and stuff? Choose flooring and paint? Because your penis is not big enough to demand such a thing of me. Well, okay, I’m lying. I like your penis a lot and if you really truly thought it would make you feel better, I’d do paint choices. But I’m hoping you know I don’t get wood while looking at blinds and save me the horror. Because you do get wood I bet.”

“My delicate flower.”

“That’s me. Delicate as fuck. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the Motherhouse thing. I realized after I brought it up that it was one of those tell-your-partner-in-private-first things.

“Well, truthfully I’m not all that surprised. I knew after the last few days that you wouldn’t leave Hunter Corp. And if you feel like what you’re doing is the right choice, I support you totally.”

“There you go being better at this relationship stuff than me.”

“I do so love to win. Don’t rob me of the little things.” He gave her the sexy smirk again. Knowing how hot it made her.

“Since we’re both awake at the same time and no one is currently attempting to kill one or the other of us, I say we go upstairs, watch a movie and then have sex. Or we can have sex and watch a movie. Or just have sex. Yes, the sex part is what I’d like most.”

He stood, holding a hand out as he passed. “Come along then. We wouldn’t want to let you get dissatisfied.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

In his bed after the movie, he snuggled close but she grunted and he moved back, afraid he’d bumped a still sore spot. “Are you all right?”

“You’ll know if I say no.”

The flattened sound of her voice led him to believe this wasn’t about physical pain but something else. Her answer didn’t even make sense. Though he wasn’t going to say it in those exact words because he liked his balls. “If you say no and you’re lying you mean?” He sighed. “I believe that should you want to shut me out entirely you could. And I’d know you weren’t telling me the truth because of that. Or because of this conversation. So, since we both know you’re upset about something, why don’t you tell me what it is.”

He had no idea what was going on, but the fuzzy sort of anxiety bleeding through their link drove at him to fix it.

“It’s dumb.”

She tried to put her hand over her face but he wouldn’t let her.

“No hiding.”

“Now that we’ve...you know...linked via blood and I found it surprisingly awesome, I’m less thrilled that you feed from anyone else. Like the idea that you’re doing that to anyone else’s pink parts when you feed makes me want to drive my car through your front door. But I guess it’s my front door too at some mythical house you promise me won’t look like Caligula designed it. So I won’t do that.”

“You’re babbling.”

Rowan flipped him off.

“You’re jealous.” He wanted not to smile at that, but it was impossible.

“I am. Goddess help me, I am and it’s petty and awful and I hate it. I’ll get used to it. Mainly by not thinking about it and occasionally bringing it up during a fight when I’m extra mad. Sorry about that in advance. Why are you making that face at me? Stop. Stop smiling like that. You’re weirding me out.”

“I can’t not smile at you so don’t tell me not to.”

“Why? Are you plotting my death and how you’ll get away with it?”

“Not right at this moment, no. I’m smiling because you please me.”

“I hope you don’t expect me to punch your old side pieces and get mad that you loved others before I was even born or whatever.”

“I’d never think such a thing.”

“You’re making fun.” Her mouth nearly pouted, but she kept it on the sexy side with surly.

“I am. In case you haven’t noticed, this is foreplay for us.” He cupped her pussy through her pants and still the heat of her branded him.

“As long as you don’t skimp on the other parts of foreplay, we’re on the same page,” she warned.

“I think we can both agree I don’t skimp on anything.”

“It’s wrong that when you’re extra conceited it makes me so hot.”

She really was the one perfect fit. No one saw him the way she did. Accepted him, even the parts he knew annoyed her. She kept him from tipping over into endless rules and regulations.

Her energy balanced his. Her ferocity stoked his, his patience encouraged hers. They poked and taunted, but never to truly harm. He’d never felt more alive in all his years than he had since she’d stalked into his apartment and had the audacity to turn her back on him.

Dismissing him as no threat at all.

That was most likely the moment he’d begun to fall in love with her. “I was just remembering that first time you came to me. The way you walked out when you’d had enough of our argument.”

“You were so shocked I had the audacity to defy you. To not give a shiny penny’s worth of a shit that you were a Scion.”

He pulled her pants and underpants free and she climbed atop him, straddling his body as she got him naked.

“I don’t have to feed daily,” he gave her as she slid down his cock and began to rock slowly against him. “I’m old enough that once every few days is fine unless I’m injured or use a great deal of power. More to the point, what we shared isn’t something that happens with anyone else. My donors and I are strictly professional. They do me a service but I don’t use any more glamour than enough to make sure it doesn’t hurt. I don’t use a sexual glamour at all and I haven’t since you and I have been together.”

“Oh. Well, good. Okay, that’s good.”

She was good around him. Hot and slick, hugging his cock as she kept him deep.

“There’s no one else like you. No one else for me. Not ever,” he whispered and she bent to kiss him, taking those words into herself, grinding against him.

“Take what you want.” He meant more than her climax. He offered her everything he had, everything he was.

He found her clit, squeezing it over and over as she continued that grinding rock of her body into his until she went very still and got very quiet, all her energy on the inside as her body heated around his cock, forcing him over into orgasm right behind her.

She fell to the bed at his side just moments later, both of them wheezing to get breath.

“Nope, no skimping.”

Rowan waited until Clive had gotten to sleep before she got out of bed and headed over to her bedchamber. She stood at the windows a while, watching as the world of daylight came to life. A world Clive had never seen outside films.

She wished she could share that with him, but like having his children, she wasn’t going to get everything she wished for.

Strangely enough, it was all right. She could accept that in exchange for this gift Clive had been, she’d have to pay. The good always came to balance out the bad. Or that was the plan. Sometimes it didn’t always work out that way. But it did often enough that Rowan had allowed herself to believe she could have this wondrous thing with Clive and still do her job.

She made some notes, sent emails off to a dozen people and at long last tucked into bed. It’d be nice to get enough rest for a change. For that day she was safe. No one was going to harm her there in the heart of the Keep.