ChapterSeven
The next afternoon, Leo could still taste the sweetness of Yesenia's blood on his tongue, taunting him with memories of her cries of pleasure and the addictive scent of her arousal.
No matter how many times he'd taken his cock in hand since then, the blasted thing seemed to only come back hard and saluting a short time later, as if waiting desperately for their female to show and agree to be fucked.
Asking for a taste had been a huge bloody mistake, making him crave her more than ever. And yet, as soon as they had been alone, he hadn't been able to control himself.
He'd known his fated bride would end up a weakness, but Yesenia was a far bigger one than he'd ever expected.
With a growl, he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against his chair. And to think, for years he'd dismissed fools finding their fated brides and lords and then becoming soft, devoted partners. If someone who was as used to being in control as Leo struggled to stay away from the chit, then lesser wills didn't stand a chance.
"Leo? Are you listening to me?"
He glanced up from his desk to see John standing there. "Yes?"
The other male crossed his arms over his chest. "You didn't hear a word I just said, did you?"
Sitting up taller in his chair, Leo tapped his fingers against the desk. "No. And don't ask why either. Just repeat whatever you said and let's get on with it."
Of course John didn't follow his order. No, the bastard grinned. "It's the fae witch female, I would bet my life on it. Charlotte met her last night, you know. She rather likes her."
He scowled. "I don't care what your sister thinks. I don't pay Charlotte for her opinions unless it's related to money and business."
John rolled his eyes, knowing he could get away with it since he'd worked for Leo for a long time, more than thirty years, since he'd been a teen in fact. "If you want to pretend your bride showing up suddenly is no bother, then I'll pretend as well. At least for the next hour or two." Before Leo could growl, John cleared his throat and stated, "The fae witch council member is here to meet with Miss Vale."
Nora had determined the female's surname the night before. Not that Leo had learned anything of significance concerning other Vales in or around London, at least not yet.
Glancing at the clock on the mantel, he noted it was just past two o'clock in the afternoon. "She's a half hour earlier than the note said."
He debated making the female wait, to show how Leo preferred punctuality and wasn't at anyone's beck and call.
But then he remembered how the sooner Yesenia talked with the fae witch, the sooner Khan should grant her requests. And that would bring Leo one step closer to claiming and then quickly discarding his bride. "Take the female to the small parlor upstairs, and have Nora accompany Yesenia to see her."
John nodded, and then handed over a letter. "Everett Black sent this over as well."
Once he took the note and dismissed his man of operations, Leo took a deep breath and opened the note. Knowing Black, it was going to be tedious. And he wasn't disappointed:
Yates,
I heard about how a rather curvy bit of muslin showed up at your hell, wearing a rather revealing gown that showed off some magnificent breasts. And best of all, she blooded you. Now that your cock can get hard again, hopefully you'll be less grumpy. Tup her quickly, and if it's true you want to get rid of her, send her my way after. Then I can show the little fae witch what it's like to be with a real male.
PS—I might have some interesting news about your little rival problem. Let's get together and I may just share it with you. Bring the fae witch, and I most definitely will share, and not just with her in my bed.
Everett Black
With a sigh,he tossed the note aside. Given how laidback and unserious the werewolf was, Leo had no idea how he'd wrested control of the London shifters away from the previous Dark Lord.
But that wasn't his problem or concern, as long as the truce held. No, information about the rival was one of his top priorities and regardless of Black's cheek, it was worth seeing if the wolf had anything interesting.
Although Leo scowled down at the line about showing Yesenia what a real male could do. It would be a cold day in hell before he let Black see, let alone touch, Yesenia Vale. It was almost unheard of for a female to be both a vampire's bride and a shifter's fated one, but not impossible. He wasn't going to chance it. The wolf sometimes shared his females, but Leo did not.
Even if it were only temporary, Yesenia was his and his alone.
He hastily wrote a reply to Black to schedule a meeting for the next evening, and sent it out with a messenger. Standing, he tugged down his waistcoat and left his office. The front doors would open soon to patrons, and before that, Leo planned to talk with Ambrose, John, and Charlotte about some small changes they could make to entice people back to the Fated Wheel from his money-losing rival.
Because once he rid himself of his temporary obsession with Yesenia Vale, he'd still have his business. And that was far more important, no matter how sweet her blood or fuckable her body was.
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