It took all her self-control to keep from sending the grimoire after the scrying bowl.
Eyes narrowing, Verah went upstairs and sank into the chair beside the hearth. Rama immediately jumped onto her lap. For a time, Verah stared into the flames, her hand absently stroking the cat’s head. It was soothing, petting the cat, listening to its low purr. Gradually, her anger receded and her mind cleared.
“We’ve been going about this all wrong,” Verah murmured. “We can’t use magic to find the vampire, but it should be easy enough to locate the girl.”
Yes, she thought, nodding. The girl might well be the answer to her dilemma.
“Come, Rama,” Verah said, rising. “We have work to do, you and I. And if we work it just right, perhaps the werewolf will lead us to the vampire.”
* * *
Chapter 14
Three nights later, Gideon was still mulling over the fact that Kay’s father was an Alpha werewolf. Although she was the first of her kind Gideon had ever met, he had heard enough stories to know that messing with an Alpha werewolf was not to be considered lightly. They were strong. They were territorial. They were loyal. And they were vicious. And while a bite from your run-of-the mill werewolf was extremely painful, the bite of an Alpha male was usually fatal to humans and lesser wolves.
He looked up as Kay entered the living room. Tonight, she wore a pair of black leggings and a white sweater and, as always, she looked good enough to eat. Literally and figuratively. A pair of black sandals dangled from one hand.
“Are we going out?” she asked.
“If you like.”
“I’d just as soon order a pizza and a salad and stay in.”
“Whatever you want.”
Dropping the sandals on the floor, she pulled out her cell phone and ordered a large pizza with all the trimmings, then curled up on the sofa next to Gideon. “It’s raining.”
He nodded.
“I love the rain. Maybe we could go for a walk later.”
“Sure.” He slid his arm around her shoulders and eased her closer. “Are you enjoying your stay in New York?”
“Oh, yes. I can see why you like it here.”
“What’s not to like?” Of course, the main thing he liked about the city was the constant influx of fresh prey. Hunting was always good here. From dusk till dawn, you could always find someone wandering the streets alone.
But he wasn’t thinking about prey now.
He lifted one hand, his fingers trailing through the silky fall of her hair. “You smell like flowers.”
She laughed softly. “That’s hardly surprising, considering the apartment is filled with roses.”
His knuckles caressed her cheek, then slid down her neck and along her collarbone. “You said you wanted to be romanced,” he reminded her. “How am I doing?”
Kay met his gaze, and immediately forgot what she’d been going to say. His dark eyes smoldered with desire, causing her mouth to go dry and her heart to skip a beat. She swallowed hard as heat speared through her, threatening to turn her bones to liquid and her insides to mush.
His voice was little more than a groan when he said, “Kiya, I can’t wait any longer.”
She didn’t have to ask what he meant. She remembered all too clearly the first night she had spent here with him. He had asked if she would like to try out his bed, and she had replied, rather primly, that she wanted to be romanced first. Hence the dinner dates, the nights at the opera, the tour of the city, the bouquets of flowers.
She let out a long shuddering sigh with the realization that it was time to pay the piper.
Not that she was complaining. Gideon was far and away the sexiest man she had ever met and there was no sense in pretending she didn’t want him just as much as he wanted her. And since she had to go home in the spring and accept the betrothal of a man not of her choosing, it seemed only right that she be allowed to pick her first lover. Of course, she knew her father would not be pleased. And Victor would undoubtedly be outraged to discover that his bride was not a virgin, but she really didn’t care whether he liked it or not.
And then, as a new thought occurred, she smiled inwardly. Perhaps, when Victor discovered she was no longer untouched, he wouldn’t want her.
Problem solved!
Smiling, she drew Gideon’s head down and kissed him. It was like touching a match to gunpowder. The resultant explosion rocked her to her core, setting every nerve ending and cell on fire as his tongue slid over hers in a silent duel. His mouth was hot, his arms strong around her as he kissed her back. There was nothing reserved in his kisses, no uncertainty in his touch as his hand boldly stroked her from shoulder to thigh.
She fell back on the sofa, moaned softly as his body covered hers. Desire stirred deep within her, growing hotter with every kiss and caress. She delved under his shirt, eager to explore the hard muscles in his back and shoulders. His skin was smooth and cool beneath her hands.
Impatient with the layers of clothing between them, she quickly divested him of his shirt and dropped it on the floor. Her sweater and bra quickly followed and then they were wrapped in each other’s arms, her br**sts crushed against his chest, their mouths fused together. She moved restlessly beneath him, her breath coming in ragged gasps between kisses as he caressed her ever more intimately.
She made a soft sound of protest when Gideon sat up, carrying her with him.
She looked at him askance. Surely he didn’t mean to stop? Not now.
Muttering, “No way,” he carried her into the bedroom.
Standing her on her feet, he stripped away her leggings and panties, then tossed her, gently, onto the bed. Quickly removing the rest of his clothing, he stretched out beside her and gathered her into his arms.
“Now, let’s see,” he drawled, “where were we?”
“Don’t you remember?” she asked with mock disappointment.
“Here, perhaps,” he said, dusting kisses along the length of her collarbone. “Or was I here?” His tongue laved her breast. “Or here.” His fingertips made lazy circles on her belly.
“How about here?” she said, and pulling him down on top of her, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him.
“Ah, yes,” he said with a wicked grin. “I remember now.”
The pleasure of his touch, the heat of his kisses, the welcome weight of his body pressing her onto the mattress made a heady combination.
Whispering, “Now, Gideon,” she held him closer, her hips lifting to receive him. She cried out as his body melded with hers, cried again, in protest, when he withdrew.