I didn’t want dinner. I wanted him. Even though my stomach was rumbling.
“Relax,” he whispered. “You’ll get me just as soon as we’re done. Believe me, I’m as hungry for it as you are, I’ve just got more experience at managing it.”
Every mile felt like it took a year, but the destination was a shock of brilliance when we arrived in Westminster. The cab dropped us outside the grandeur of a stunning restaurant, lit up with striking white lights. I was staring up, awestruck when Hans opened the door for me and directed me inside.
“Reservation for two,” he told the girl at the entrance. “In the name of Mr Weyer.”
“Of course, sir,” she replied and led us to our table.
It was on the edge of the room, near to an orchestral quartet playing, out of earshot of everyone around. I was certain it must have been on purpose.
“You are correct, it’s the most private table in the restaurant,” he said once we’d taken our seats. “We vampires usually adhere to a code of silence about our affairs in public, as we’d prefer not to be sectioned or arrested, but I’m sure you must have a thousand questions brewing. For you, I’ll make an exception.”
I laughed. “You could say that I have a thousand questions brewing, yes.”
He tipped his head. “So, go ahead.”
I didn’t have a clue where to start, and my thoughts were rambling like crazy.
Who was Hans? Where had he come from? Who had made him a vampire and why? When? How? What did it feel like? Where had he been? What had he seen, and loved, and wanted?
And lost?
Surely a creature like Hans must have lost a lot, too.
But, as all the questions kept rolling through my mind, the sensations kept rolling through my body. My flesh was still craving teeth and tongue like an addict, so I was relieved when one of the waitresses came over and took our drinks order, just for the distraction.
I needed to get my body back in line, before I drove myself crazy. I needed blood-red kisses,so I was more than happy when Hans ordered a bottle of merlot.
My attention was on him when he picked up his menu, even though I knew I should be choosing my meal. The questions were still forming as I watched him.
How? Why? When? Where? How? Why? When? Where?
He grinned. “It’s all right. You can ask and choose at the same time.”
“I’m not much of a multitasker,” I admitted. “Menu choices and questions, wow, quite a task.”
And cravings. Cravings for his teeth and touch.
“So, how about you opt for a nice rare steak and get the questions rolling?” he suggested.
I laughed. “What is it with you and steak? Is that some kind of ritual?”
He didn’t laugh back, just smiled.
“It’s the recommended nutrition for new blood players, yes. It helps the system adjust.”
Sorry, what?
“Is that what I am now?” I asked him. “A blood player? Is that like a vampire addict?”
His gorgeous green eyes had the intensity I was coming to know, but it still gave me shivers.
“Oh, Katherine. You can already feel it, can’t you? The desperation for me to drink the blood from your veins? The desperation for a nice, hard fucking as I suck on your throat?”
My breath caught. My thighs clenched.
“Yes,” he continued, with a knowing smirk. “Then you are most certainly a blood player.”