The air outside was cool; Luis and I walked arm in arm.
He had a sexy studio apartment with hardwood floors and exposed brick walls, sparse furniture and floor-length drapes. The kitchen had an island counter and looked well stocked, against expectation of the usual bachelor pad. As if he wasn’t attractive enough already, he probably knew how to cook as well.
Not that I had that good a look at the place, because just like in a movie we were kissing before the door closed. He pushed me against the wall, and I wrapped one leg around his, pulling myself close to him. We couldn’t get into each other fast enough. My skin was tingling, inside and out.
I suddenly realized, it wasn’t enough to think back to the last time I had sex, which was long enough ago. But when was the last time I had good sex? That was a pathetically long time ago.
As his hand was climbing up my thigh, under my skirt, I stopped its progress, pressed it against me. I made him slow down, tasting his lips, drawing the weight and solidity of him closer. He smelled spicy, excited, simmering with sweat and hormones. I pressed my face against his neck and took a deep breath of him. He pulled the strap of my dress off my shoulder, bent his head over my bare skin, and did the same, breathing in my scent. I giggled, because I wasn’t even supporting myself anymore; I was leaning into him, he was holding me, and we were breathing together.
I was going to enjoy this.
Much later, we rested together in bed, naked and glowing.
I dozed in a happy, languid haze when I noticed the mattress was vibrating with a soft, rumbling noise. I didn’t think Luis was snoring; the sound was constant. It felt like one of those coin-operated massage beds in a cheap hotel. I looked up, glanced around, befuddled. The sound was coming from behind me. Right behind me.
I rolled over without displacing Luis’s arm draped over my hip.
“Luis? Are you purring?”
The rumbling stopped and he sleepily mumbled, “Hmm?”
Chapter 4
Don’t move. I’ll get it.”
Luis was already out of bed before I realized someone was knocking on the front door. The noise had a steady rhythm and was getting louder. Luis put on a robe and went to the door. “Yes?”
The answer was muffled by the barrier, but perfectly comprehensible.
“It’s time for Kitty to leave now. She’s had enough fun for one night.”
Leo. He must have tracked me down.
It had to be getting close to dawn. Maybe I’d thought I could wait him out. As it was, he had just enough time to drag me back.
Luis looked at me. I didn’t want to say anything. Leo rattled the doorknob.
“You don’t have to go,” Luis said. “He can’t come in. I’m not going to invite him.”
Ah, the home turf advantage. If we could stand another hour of Leo nagging at us through the door, we’d be fine.
A click and drag rattled the door—the sound of a dead bolt sliding back. Luis moved back in time to avoid being hit as the door swung in.
Bradley stood in the doorway, holding a device that was most likely a lockpick.
Leo leaned on the wall outside, safely beyond the threshold, regarding us with an expression verging on laughter. “Fortunately, the mortal humans in Alette’s employ aren’t bound by that annoying little restriction.”
“You’re trespassing,” Luis said.
“Hello, Luis. How is your band of miscreants at the Crescent these days?”
Luis stood with his hands clenched and back braced, giving the impression that he was about to pounce. Was he going to defend me in some gloriously violent manner? How romantic. It scared the daylights out of me.
“Luis, it’s okay. I should probably get going.”
“Why should you go with them?” He spoke over his shoulder, without shifting his gaze from the vampire.
“They’re holding my car hostage,” I said. Luis didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t say anything else. I was still in bed, holding the sheets over my chest. I glared at Leo and Bradley. “Could you close the door so I can get dressed?”