Microsoft Word - Blood and Sex from CE.rtf (12 page)

She let out a loud cry, pulling him to his senses. He pulled back slowly.

Christiana broke the kiss and pulled his neck to her mouth. “That’s it,” she whispered, using her leg to drive him deeper.

He slid in and out of her, cautious of her limits. It was a struggle to stay in his own mind, not to let that instinct take over, but then her hips rotated against him. Blane lost his careful rhythm.

He pounded her body furiously, pulling louder moans from her. She didn’t complain or even appear to be in pain, only shoved him into her faster.

The orgasm was a surprise explosion that had the headboard banging against the wall.

The bed shifted, cracked, and dropped a little, but Blane continued, thrust forward into as Christiana went over the edge. The exquisite friction brought him again. Or was it one long orgasm? He didn’t know for sure. Only that she’d squeezed every last drop from him before he collapsed on top of her.

63

Blane stared down at Christiana, who was smiling beneath him. She disappeared once to plant a kiss on the spot where she’d marked him at the gym, then came back and kissed him on the mouth.

“Um.” Blane kissed her once more. “I thought that we weren’t doing that.”

“You started it.”

He couldn’t tell if she was kidding or if she was truly blaming him. “Is this going to be a problem?”

“I’m a big girl, Blane.” She shifted beneath him. “I can handle it.”

He took the hint, pulled out, and rolled over beside her. He glanced around up at a ceiling that was higher than he’d remembered. “I think we broke the bed.”

Christiana laughed. “I know we did.”

Her laugh faded into another awkward silence that left him lying there beside her. This was ridiculous. She was going to pretend as if nothing happened, just as he’d done to so many humans. He smirked. It was exactly what he deserved, wasn’t it?

Still, he couldn’t stop himself from asking her anyway. “Is this going to be weird now?”

“No more than before.” She rolled onto her side. “It’s simple. You annoy me, but I really like you. We can’t be together because…you’re not ready for something like that.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You don’t want a real relationship.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Okay.” She patted his chest. “Don’t get upset. I’m just saying that our lives are very

64

different. This can’t work between us.”

It didn’t take a genius to know what she meant. He wasn’t good enough for her.

“Why are you so upset?”

Blane groaned. “Stop reading my mind.”

“I can only read your emotions.”

“Well, stop!”

“Okay. Sorry I asked.” Christiana put a hand over her face and rolled away from him.

Her voice was crestfallen. “Go back to your room, Blane. We’ll just pretend this never happened.”

“Fine.” Blane jerked his pants into place and zipped them on the way to the balcony.

“It’ll be exactly like it was before, Princess.”

He heard her sigh just as he leapt over the balcony railing. Then he heard a loud sniff before he made it into his room.

Shit
. He’d made her cry.

He really was an asshole. From here on out, it would be strictly professional. Christiana was a lady, practically royalty. Not only did he not need Khalil coming down on his ass, he didn’t need the guilt. God knew he had enough of that.

* * * *

“Hi,” she offered, hoping for a peaceful evening.

65

He smiled, but quickly hid it. The emotional aura around him didn’t change. “You look nice.”

“
Grazie
.”

“Ready to go?”

“Let me grab my shoes.” Christiana slipped on a pair of black heels that matched her strapless black dress, then walked out the door, letting him close it behind her.

The ride to the Palazzo Cà Zenobio, the hotel site of the
Luna di Anima,
was almost completely silent. While Blane’s mood kept shifting, he didn’t so much as blink in her direction.

It was as if he were afraid to look at her.

When they arrived, the limo slowed to wait its turn at the black entrance canopy. The hotel was a swarm of vampire leaders from all over the world, each competing to make the biggest show of power. All of the talk, however, revolved around the new
vampiro padrone,
Michael
,
from Florida and his strange
garante
, Jonas. She was glad to see them all interested and slightly afraid of the duo. Perhaps Michael would have fewer challenges to his new position than he’d anticipated.

As they sat at the long banquet table for the opening meeting, Khalil waved Christiana toward the head of the table. It had been months since she’d seen her creator, but he looked as handsome as ever in his dark green
sherwani
suit. He, like the other vampires who had been humans from the Middle East, made the Caucasian vampires look positively blanched. The remainder of their tanned skin made it easier for them to pass for human when they were fully fed, which was the case with Khalil tonight. The appearance was a trait she’d wished for many times over, but her pale skin had only paled further with the change.

“Welcome home, Christiana.” Khalil took her hand.

66

She pulled their joined hands toward her face, flipped them, and kissed the inside of his wrist as she always did. The formal greeting had to be adhered to by their
padrone
, especially in public.

He smiled warmly, then cradled her hand in his. He kissed her wrist, which was an honor seldom bestowed on subordinates. It broke protocol and honored the progeny beyond their station. Still, Christiana watched his lips drag across her skin while his warm fingers held her lightly. Such an intimate gesture.

For so long, she’d wished for him to caress her entire body that way. Even when she’d begged and pleaded, he’d treated her with chaste kindness. He’d been a perfect gentleman, a real father. But that was when she was young. Now, she appreciated the effort it must have taken, and couldn’t thank him enough for being such a responsible
creatore
.

Khalil stood straight and gave her a warm smile. “You have good news from America?”

“Yes. Michael’s newest
cosca
member has a great deal of control. I think she will be an asset to the Council. Your decision to keep her with her
creatore
was a wise one, as always.”

“Jonas didn’t leave me many options.” Khalil glanced toward the couple, who wandered toward their seats on the left side of the table and laughed. The sound danced around them like a tangible thing. “There’s quite a change in him. It goes deeper than his appearance. He may surpass us all, I fear.”

Christiana watched his face. There was genuine concern and fear coming from him, even though his face was a perfect mask. He knew something he wasn’t sharing.

“It is time, little one.” Khalil turned toward his seat.

“Wait.”

He looked back over his shoulder to her, and waited for her to move closer.

67

She whispered, “Michael assigned a bodyguard to me. Blane. Would you tell him to stand down?”

His eyebrows rose. “You only arrived here.”

“Yes.”

Khalil grinned. “And Blane already has you begging for him to leave.”

She didn’t answer.

That seemed to please him even more. “Why?”

“He’s rude, pushy, domineering, and…” She looked for another insult to describe him, but a twinge of guilt blanked her mind. Less than twenty-four hours earlier, she had been in bed with him. Now, she was telling the leader of them all he was a horrible person. She groaned.

“And he argues with you readily, I assume.”

“Yes.”

Khalil gave a quick nod. “He needs to stay with you through the week. I have no reason to think that Blane is any less of a gentleman than the one I’ve always known. He may even be good for you, if he can weather that fearsome temperament I love.” The creator stepped forward and planted a soft kiss on her cheek, then turned toward the table. “Blane,” he called, waving the
vampiro
toward them.

Oh gods, no.

“Since you are assigned to guard my Christiana, I would be honored if you would sit at my right hand. Victor will move to your place, and my daughter will sit beside you.”

“Thank you.” Blane dipped his head.

“Now, let us enjoy the evening.”

* * * *