Daughter Trilogy Bundle (134 page)

I give her the gaze no woman has ever said
no
to, and I await her giggly submission - the usual reaction.  Her perfectly smooth blue eyes lift up to meet mine, and I see her icy shield starting to melt, though there isn’t any giggling.

Now the games can begin.  You
’re mine now, baby.

“
You completely made me feel like a fool earlier.  I believe you said you weren’t interested.  Thank you for the help, but I really do need to go,” she mumbles to completely shift the momentum of the game I thought I had clinched.

What the hell?

Immortal women can’t even turn me down.  Who the hell is this girl?

I keep holding onto her, unsure about why I can
’t release her.  I swear she wants me… at least…
I think she does
.

“
I said I was sorry about that.  I changed my mind,” I smolder out, and I’m trying even harder to seduce this stubborn girl to fall into my web.

“
What a coincidence.  So did I,” she smugly retorts.

Well I
’ll be damned.

She wants to play this game, eh?  I
’m good at this game, and I’ll gladly give her the chase she’s looking for, though it’ll end the same as it would if she would just come home with me right now.

“
We’ll see about changing your mind back then,” I seduce with more charm than what I normally have to exert.

I can hear her chill bumps rising as I pass by her, and I can
’t help but smirk behind my glass when I feel her shiver.  I intentionally avoid turning around, though I admit it would be easier to resist such a temptation if I could fucking see her.

My damn glass shatters in my hand from the frustration, and I just drop the pieces to the ground beside the stairs while huffing in exasperation.

“Perfect
,
” I sardonically release while shaking my head.

I swear I
’ve lost all composure now because of
that
girl.

The dreamy-eyed waitress rushes to me once I return to the VIP box, and I quickly motion for a drink before I have to hear her annoying voice.  She promptly returns with a fresh glass of scotch and I take a deep breath while my scheme rises and fully forms.

“Your only job for the remainder of the night is to take care of the Whitman table.  More specifically, Alexius Smith.  Make sure she gets a bottle of champagne - the best you have in stock.  Put your services and all the extras on my card, and bring me something to write on,” I order without any warmth to my tone, and the trembling girl rushes around to fill my requests.

Let the games begin, Ms. Smith.

After a riveting exchange of
notes, she ends things on a sour note.

If she doesn
’t want me, then why do her relentless eyes keep searching for me?  She’s quite possibly the most baffling creature I’ve ever known.

The tinted glass separating us is only meant for my viewing, and fortunately it
’s quiet enough up here for me to hear her speaking to her table of girls.  They’re about to leave, and I’ve only got one more shot to get this girl to end this foolish chase.

“
Anything else, Mr. Cole?” the annoying waitress prompts.

“
Just run the card, and I’ll be on my way,” I grumble, and she whisks away to do as I ask.

My girl stands to her feet just as Miss Annoying returns with my card, and I straighten my tie while acting like a complete stalker following behind.

Her far too inebriated friend starts to stumble on the stairs.  Alexius, or whoever she is, tries to pull her back, but she’s not strong enough.

There
’s my cue and my in.

I wrap my arms around both of them, and I can feel my girl
’s skin burning against me through her incredible, red dress as I pull them back from the edge.

Her eyes stare into mine, and I try once more to seduce her with my stare.  I fear I
’m the only one being seduced until I see her wobble slightly.  She’s so fucking hard to read.

I release her from my grip, planning to aide her further while escorting her out, but then her friend
’s body goes limp and both of them start falling once more.

I grab up the friend, and carry her down the stairs in complete silence.

I’ll just let her stew for a minute while I play the silent hero.  She’ll crumble.

The bouncer opens the door for us, and the limo driver is holding the door to the car as we walk out.  I have no intentions of letting her leave in it though.

“Oh, what happened?” the jealous girl gasps when she sees the limp body flopping in my arms.

“
She passed out,” Alexius answers.

The jealous girl starts tossing her hair like the dumb blond she is in order to gain my attention.  I find it more than agitating, considering that
’s my biggest pet peeve
.

I hate hair tossers
.

I refuse to pay her an ounce of attention, knowing that will score me some points with my girl.

I get the drunk girl safely placed on the seat, and then I quickly withdraw to send the girls away so I can have some time alone with my invisible mystery.  She tries to load the limo, but I quickly grab her arm and gently pull her back to me. 

“
I’ll carry Ms. Smith home.  Can you ladies handle this one?” I ask while pointing to the drunk little girl with a shiny engagement ring.

“
We’ll take care of her,” one of the others chimes in.  “Have fun,” she yells as I shut the door.

That
’s my plan - a night of fun with a game of catch and release.

My girl
’s scowl is absolutely adorable while she scolds me.

“
I never said I would go with you.”

The limo pulls out into traffic, and I smirk at the cute-when-angry girl.

“Well, it appears you have no choice now,” I gloat.

She huffs and crosses her arms over her chest before starting to walk away.

Damn it.  She’s not a New Yorker.

Why do I want her to be close to me?  Of course I have enough homes to be closer to her wherever she lives.

Fuck.  I’m losing it.

“
You obviously don’t live in New York.  It’s not safe for you to be dressed like that, walking in those heels, and going off alone.  Please let me give you a ride,” I say objectively.

She sighs in defeat, and the man they hired to be the prominent people
’s valet hustles over to grab my car while she returns.

“
Your words were rather cutting.  Perhaps now we can consider us even.  I’ve only rejected you once, but you’ve rejected me three times now.  Do you think it possible for us to start over?” I ask so genuinely, trying the super-sweet card for a change.

I add a soft pout to the end of my words, hoping it will sway those delicious lips of hers to turn up in a smile.  Girls love a good pout, and I know she has to have a weakness somewhere
… surely.

“
Why did you change your mind?” she asks, her eyes narrowing - giving nothing away.

Because you won
’t get the fuck out of my head. 

“
I thought you were the typical sort of woman who approaches a man in a bar.  Most want free drinks, a fat wallet, and a night of ease.  Then I saw you consistently refusing one advance after another.  I thought you were beautiful, so I continued to watch.  I finally decided to come make amends just as the jerk you were tousling with was running his mouth.  I got a little pissed with some of the things he said.  I’m proud of myself for having not punched him,” I answer while mixing lies with truths.

I really am glad I didn
’t punch him, considering he would have broken like a stack of fragile dishes.  That would have taken some explaining.

She seems to be calming down now, and her eyes take a peek up and down my body.

Take it in, baby.  I’m yours for the night, even if it is dangerous.

Maybe that
’s why I’m so captivated by her.  It’s dangerous.  I’ve never been drawn to the mortals before, but perhaps it’s because she has the beauty of a goddess in a forbidden fruit body.

The ancient ones got around with mortals all the time.  I can enjoy a night
… maybe two - if it lives up to the hype that is.

“
I’m Devin Cole.  It’s nice to meet you,” I cockily begin with the reintroduction.

She
’s unable to fully suppress a grin, and that gives me all the more confidence my plan is working.  She places her shaky hand in mine, and those damn currents sting me once more.

How is it possible she doesn
’t seem so affected by it? 
Damn it to hell
.

“
I’m Aphr… Alexius Smith,” she stammers, and I realize how very right I am in assuming she’s being deceitful with her true name.

Just as I start to interrogate her on the matter, my car appears, and I decide to hold off until after I get what I need from her.  I have to find a way to get her out of my fucking system before I go mad.

“Mr. Cole,” the valet says.

“
Thank you,” I respond with dry enthusiasm.

I almost laugh when the valet quickly goes to open her door.  I
shoo
him away so that I’m the one to show her in.

Her cheeks flush with a beautiful hue of pink when her eyes meet mine, and I feel my collar getting a little too tight.  I almost want to rip that tight little dress off her body and then throw her on the hood of my car.  Then I want to keep her around for more.

Shit.  What if I do want to keep her?
 

“
Don’t you need to ask where I’m staying?” she asks just before I pull out into traffic, and I can’t help but smirk as I slip into an opening.

No I don
’t because tonight you’re staying with me. 

“
Not yet.  Right now I’m hungry, and I can only assume you are too,” I completely lie.

I
’d love it if she said, “fuck the food, just take me to your place.”

It
’s not likely though.  If I had taken her up on her initial offer to dance, I would have had a better shot at such a feat.

Damn it
. 
Damn perfect hindsight
.

“
Not particularly,” she mumbles, but I can sense her trepidation is the reasoning rather than her libido which seems to be aggravatingly dormant. 

I
’m starting to lose my confidence around a girl that seems so immune to my normal charm that drives women to a near and sometimes overly aggressive obsession. 

“
I can promise I’m no threat.  I simply want to feed you.  Relax,” I exasperate.

I just want to be free from your damn spell.

“Where are we going?” she asks warily.

“
There’s a diner just ahead.  It’s a small, intimate space with good food and a quiet atmosphere.  My head is still banging from the obnoxious music back at the club,” I snarl.

“
Why did you go if you hated it?” she asks as if she is amused.

“
I had a business meeting, and for some absurd reason, Bob thought it would be good to meet there.”

“
That was a long business meeting,” she pries while trying to lead me into divulging the truth about why I was still there.

“
Actually, it was short.  We just had a few wrinkles to iron out, and then he left about an hour later,” I murmur casually.

Or maybe it lasted fifteen minutes
… who knows?

“
Then why did you stay?” she asks in bemusement.

Now
’s the chance to pour it on thick.  No hostages tonight. 

“
Because you were still there,” I smolder, and I see her hands gripping to the door and her dress.

Got her
.

“
Oh,” she mumbles, still trying to deny her obvious arousal.

I can
’t hide my grin that grows to spread over my face just as we pull up to the diner.

She starts snapping a picture of it with her phone, as well as snapping some of the street corner signs.  I find it almost too humorous.

This girl has been with some foul men apparently, or else she’s never let a stranger take her somewhere.  Both are interesting theories I wish I could see the details about without having to ask her.

“
Are you really so scared of me that you’re sending pictures of your location?” I laugh out.

“
I’m just cautious,” she answers shyly.