One of the guards scoffed, and my temper went from zero to ninety.
“She’s the fastest vampire I’ve ever seen, and that includes every single Onyx Assassin.” I looked them all straight in the eye before glancing down at my—Shit, what was she? My friend? Yes. My lover? Yes. The rest…we had to figure out. Until then, she was my Olivia, pure and simple. “And if she was the one in this ring, I’d bet my life that she would have handed your asses to you.”
She gave me a heart-stopping smile and climbed into the ring, making the simple act of sliding between the ropes look sensual. Her hips swayed as she came toward me, and then she twined her arms around my neck and pressed her body against mine.
My hands found her waist like they were drawn by magnets, like it was an impossibility for them to belong anywhere else.
Heaven. Being able to touch this female was pure heaven.
“Well, she’s the one in here now,” she said loudly enough for the remaining guards to hear her. “And she’d like her mate’s undivided attention, so everyone out. Now.”
The group scattered toward the doors as we stood there, our eyes locked on each other like a couple of love-struck teenagers.
“Well, you have me to yourself,” I said low and slow once we were alone. “Whatever are you going to do with me?”
“So many options,” she teased as my hands slid to her ass.
“I have an idea.” I bit down on her earlobe softly, then lifted her.
“I like this idea.” She ran her tongue up my throat, then wrapped her legs around my waist as I carried her to the corner, pressing her into the ropes just enough to steady us.
I slanted my mouth over hers and kissed her, using my tongue to fuck her mouth exactly how I wanted, with long, deep strokes.
She whimpered, and I went hard as a damned rock as her hands tangled in my hair.
“Ransom,” she whispered, rocking her hips into mine and arching her neck.
I moved my lips to the soft skin of her throat, and she urged me closer with her hands, whimpering with every kiss.
My fangs punched down, and hunger gnawed at me from deep within my stomach. The scent of her cranked up my craving to a level I’d never experienced, to a place where I barely held on to the strands of my self-control. I ran my tongue over her pulse point one last time, then ripped myself away from her neck, taking her in a primal, carnal kiss as I ground against her.
“Well, it definitely looks like they’re fully committed to the mission.” A feminine laugh sounded from the gym entrance.
Both Olivia and I startled, whipping our attention toward the entrance.
Avianna stood between Hawke and Benedict with a shit-eating grin.
Hawke looked bored as usual while Benedict arched an eyebrow in my direction.
Olivia gasped in my arms, a wide grin spreading across her face as she recognized her best friend.
“Guess that means later,” I whispered in her ear.
She nodded enthusiastically and then jumped out of the ring, running full speed at Avianna until the two were a tangled hug of arms and legs.
I met Hawke halfway and clasped his hand in a warrior’s greeting, then did the same with Benedict. “We weren’t expecting you, but I’m damn glad you’re here. How can Alek spare you?” We were already stretched thin.
“He figured you needed me more.” Benedict shoved the sleeves of his shirt up his forearms, revealing both the faded, old tattoos and the new ones that took their place when people lied in his vicinity.
“True. And you?” I turned toward Hawke.
“We had to use Avianna as cover to get the blood in, so I’m stuck on babysitting duty while you two play Nancy Drew. Don’t worry. No one suspects a thing.” Hawke’s eyes moved around the room, noting every entrance and exit. “They were all too busy fawning over the princess to inspect her luggage.”
“Good.” At least we had the element of surprise.
“This is the highest-tech tomb I’ve ever seen in my life,” Hawke muttered as he glanced between the marble vaults where the ancients slept.
At least I thought they were sleeping. It was hard to tell what stage of reanimation they were at, considering the three-inch marble slabs that separated us.
The Sorokin women had opened the vault less than twenty minutes ago, and they were still trying to cater to Avianna’s every whim.
“Are you sure you want to stay down here? We have such a lovely greenhouse garden I’m sure you’d enjoy seeing,” the duchess offered.
“I’d love to see them later,” Avianna agreed with a gracious smile. Benedict winced so slightly that only Hawke and I noticed as she continued. “But right now, I’d like to complete the task my brother sent me for.”