Licking my lips, I peeked glances at the eerily still Indebted. Laurel alone had moved to clamber out of the pool, ready to face execution.
“Or if you’d prefer that I stay here with your Vissimo, that’s okay too. I just want to be in your company.” Kyros purred his ultimatum.
My eyes flew to his. Did he just call the Indebted Vissimo? The vampires at my back didn’t move or speak, but there was no way they’d missed that.
A smile widened my lips, and Kyros blinked, his face slackening. His mouth formed words I couldn’t make out.
“I’ll come to the beach with you.” I decided. This suited my game and, more importantly, removed him from the estate. “For a few hours.”
“Dinner as well.”
I swiped up my loose white bikini cover-up, throwing it over my head. “Late lunch. Restaurant of my choice. Back by two.”
Amusement. “Four.”
I picked up my phone, floppy hat, and oversized sunnies. “Four, and I get to pick your meal.”
“Why?”
“Why not? You scared?”
He smiled, and I frowned at the blatant admiration I was picking up through our bond.
I held out my hand. “Lyall Bay, late lunch, back by 4:00 p.m., and I pick your meal.”
Kyros extended a massive hand to grip mine, surprising me when he all-but bent in half to press a lingering kiss to the back.
I swallowed my groan, my mind immediately placing his head between my legs. That really had been the most catastrophic orgasm of my life. Was he thinking about it too?
His nostrils flared. “We have a deal, vixen.”
My beauty. Vixen. The words thrilled the blood-bound part of me and otherwise made me grossly uncomfortable. “Where’s your ride?”
Kyros quirked a brow, turning. “Hop on my back.”
“You snuck onto the estate like a rebellious teen?”
Taking a running leap, I wrapped my legs around his waist and looped my arms around his neck. “You only did this so I’d have to touch you more.”
“When it comes to you, I take what I can get.”
“Wait,” I said loudly.
He glanced over his shoulder. “What?”
“You need to tell my guards they can do whatever they want while on my property.”
“Why?”
“Because you ruined their buzz,” I snapped. “Coming in here like a wet blanket and ruining my pool party.”
Reluctance and humour rolled between us.
Kyros glanced at the frozen Indebted, fixing his gaze on Laurel. “When on this property, you may act like humans as long as your real purpose in being here is upheld at all times. I was able to reach her. Do not defend my true mate against Vissimo like the Tonyi triplets, plan to defend her against someone like me.”
My gut churned at just how right his words were. He was the one I needed protection from. Kyros’s grip behind my knees tightened.
Laurel peered up at the house before bowing low. “Of course, Master.”
I scrunched my nose. Ew. The master thing was gross.
Kyros peered back at me. “Is there anything else you’d like me to say to your Vissimo?”
He said it again!
I beamed and caught his smile before he faced forward.
“That’s all,” I said grandly. “Onwards. Where are you parked?”
“Out front.”
How the hell did he sneak in without my human staff and fifty Indebted noticing? I knew he was pretty powerful, but could I expect more visits from him? If so, that could get really problematic.
Kyros beelined for the house.
“Go around, please,” I said. “Tommy’s in there watching movies and I don’t want her to see you.” Or any of my staff, especially Fred.
“Your friendship with Tommy is re-established?”
Who even spoke like that?
I huffed. “We never stopped being friends, but she has forgiven me, yes. Because I moved back to the estate and you’re in my past.”
“You told another lie to get out of a lie?”
“Not a lie.”
“You’re wrapped around me right now.”
Arms looped around his neck, I rested my head on his shoulder, inhaling his amazing man scent. I was soaking wet from the pool, and soaking him through, and yet all I could think about was how wet I was in other places.
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Lies, lies, everywhere. In my closet. In my hair.”
His lust speared me. Yeah, he hadn’t missed my ladyboner one single bit.
“Why are you taking me to the beach, Kyros? Are you still trying to get at my money? Because that ship sailed, well and truly. I’m not sure who had that bung idea in the first place, but you guys were never getting a whiff of my inheritance.”
I waved at Georgia, the head gardener, who stared at Kyros open-mouthed. Dang it. Hoped to get away unseen but for Daniel.
“My father had the idea,” Kyros said quietly as we left the gates behind.
“Angelica told you that Basilia Le Spyre walked into Live Right looking for a job, so you passed on the good news to Daddy?” I asked, bitterness creeping in.
Kyros lowered me onto the hood of his black car, and I sat, legs dangling. He rested on the bonnet next to me.
“I was with my father when Angelica called to report. I then orchestrated our first meeting and made the decision to hire you from there. After the roll that night, it was decided I would pursue an acquaintance with you.”
I rolled my eyes. “For goodness’ sake, don’t tiptoe around it. You were ordered to seduce me to access my money, estate, and connections. That’s where I’m confused though. Were we meant to marry so what’s mine would become yours? Or was I just going to hand it all over on a silver platter when your magic dick bedazzled me?”
His lips twitched.
With my eyes, I dared him to laugh.
Kyros pushed off the car. “Would you believe me if I said I disagreed completely with the plan and was merely going through the motions to appease my father until it was clear seducing you wouldn’t work?”
I hopped off the hood, walking to the passenger seat. “I believe you because I can feel your emotions. Not for any other reason.”
Though that wasn’t strictly true. Kyros had always given the impression he was forcing himself to be in my company—that he both did and didn’t want to be around me.
Guess I knew why now.
Kyros held open the passenger door.
“So you didn’t like the thought of lowering yourself to pursue a human?” I asked, sliding onto the pristine leather in my dripping swimsuit.
Kyros slipped into the driver’s seat a moment later, gunning the engine. “Would it offend you if I said yes?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “No.” I’d rather be disliked for being human than something intrinsic.
“That sentiment lasted up until you opened your mouth the first time. There are humans, then there are humans. After we had dinner, I was mostly irritated at being under my father’s thumb.”
We both knew he didn’t take orders well. I guess most alphas didn’t.
Kyros directed us past the estates at a sedate pace. I stared out the window until he interrupted the silence. “Just before the second blood exchange, I recognised the trap I was in.”