“How about bloodsucking bats?” he calls out.
Ohmygod. I shake my head and keep walking.
The front door of the castle jerks open. Neli’s about to greet me but notices the man. Her eyes go wide, like she’s surprised, and then they narrow into tight little slits.
Does she know this creep? I look over my shoulder, and the guy turns and walks quickly to his black truck, where one man is waiting behind the wheel and another is seated on the passenger side.
“What did they want?” Neli asks when I get to the door.
“That man was asking about your vineyard. They’re some looney bat activists or something. I don’t know.”
She nods slowly, looking irritated.
“Everything okay?” I say.
“Oh. Yeah. Great. Come on in. Boz is waiting for you down in the cellar. You know the way.”
“Aren’t you joining us?” The last thing I need is to be left alone with him.
She reaches out, fixes a stray lock from my hair, and then pinches my cheeks.
“Ow. Hey!” I push her hands away.
“Sorry. You had a bug on your face.”
On both cheeks? And why’s she fixing my hair?
“I’ll be along shortly. Now run along.” She practically pushes me toward the staircase that leads down into the cellar.
What the hell is with people tonight? I shrug and take a big breath, knowing what awaits me down in the dark, intimate space. Be strong, Stella. Be strong…
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Boz
I have Neli answer the door so I can limit the time I spend alone with Stella. I hear them approaching the cellar now, where I wait. Perhaps I will let Neli take charge and merely watch the proceedings so that I may keep Stella at a safe distance. It is the only way to resist her.
I lean against a nearby column, arms crossed. A single look will convey to Neli what I need from her—she has to be the one to offer the blends for Stella to enjoy. I don’t want Stella to take offense at my subtle request not to be too near her.
“Hello?” a soft feminine voice calls. Stella. Has Neli left her alone?
I stay where I am, considering if I should step farther into the room or wait. Maybe Stella will think no one is here and go back upstairs for Neli. But then she steps close enough for me to catch her intoxicating rose scent, the scent of purity.
Mmmm…delicious. Her virgin blood tempts me fiercely.
She steps farther into the space, peering into the dark shadows at our various rooms and rubbing her arms as though she’s chilled. With the movement, light reflects off the gold bracelet I gave her, and a deep sense of satisfaction fills me. I like seeing her wear my gift. It means she likes it, and pleasing her pleases me. Then my gaze catches on the long line of her neck exposed with her hair up, and hunger takes over, clawing at me. I must remember how special she is, a rare gem that is going to require all of my willpower to resist tonight. My honor demands it.
I straighten away from the column and remove my black blazer. “You seem chilled.”
She yelps and slaps a hand over her mouth, her brown eyes wide. “Oh God. It’s you.” She drops her hand and sighs with relief.
“Forgive me for scaring you. I merely wanted to offer my jacket.” I approach her slowly and offer my blazer, not trusting myself to wrap it around her.
She beams up at me. “I’m okay, thanks. I was just a little spooked by the shadows. Silly imagination.”
“Nothing to fear here. You are as safe as a lamb in a lion-less meadow.” Welcome to the lion’s den. I promise to keep my fangs to myself. I set my blazer over the back of a chair. “Please, take a seat. We have arranged three blends for you to try.” I gesture toward the long table that Neli has prepared in the center of the barrel room.
Speaking of Neli, where is she? I should text her to join us with my new communication device she calls an eye-phone. I prefer to call it “the Summoner,” as that is its purpose for me.
Stella takes a seat and looks all around. The cellar is a large vaulted space with multiple archways lit by candelabras overhead and sconces along every wall. It is one of the more comfortable spots in the castle with its dim lighting and privacy. Alarm shoots through me. That nearly sounds as intimate as my bedchamber. I send an urgent message to Neli.
Prince Bozhidar: Your presence is required for the tastings.
I wait for the Summoner to serve its purpose, and then I wait some more, but there is no response from Neli. Is this thing broken? I give the device a shake and stare at the small screen. How can this be? Neli always responds to every chiming notification. She is a slave to her eye-phone.
I want to track her down, but don’t want to be rude to our guest. Surely, Neli will be along shortly. If she knows what’s good for her.
I turn my attention back to Stella, who is rubbing the side of her neck in the spot where I took a sip. The memory sends more sharp need rushing through me, but I resist my urge and make a note to always feed before I see her in the future, to prevent temptation.
“Will Neli be joining us?” she asks hesitantly.
“She’ll be down shortly.”
Her head lifts, and she looks up at me under her lashes, seeming almost shy. The delight I always feel in the presence of maidenly virtue is nearly eclipsed by primal lust, but I cannot allow the beast in me to emerge.
“Would you like to sit with me while we wait?” she asks.
“I-I…” I am about to tell her that I prefer to stand, but what can I say? I am a complicated male who, on top of wanting to protect her, also believes in being a gentleman. And what is the number one rule of a gentleman? Always be a gracious host. Of course, the vampire version of that rule includes the added phrase: before you eat your guest.
No, no, I tell myself. I am better than that. I am an ancient powerful vampire with unmatched self-control. I can handle anything Stella throws my way, even a little naked toe action.
“It would be my pleasure.” I take the seat across from her so that Neli can sit at the head of the table and provide a buffer between us.
“I’m so glad we’re working together,” she says.
“I am happy to help a neighbor.” The air between us fills with an awkward energy, which is unknown territory for me. I am a creature of the night. We don’t do awkward. My little friend Chandler does awkward all day long. That is no help. I must consider how Joey or Ross would handle this. Ah, my friends, I fear you have never faced such temptation.
I know. I look away and pretend to study the wall.
Stella does the same, looking around.
Yep. Just two regular people, sitting together in a dark, private wine cellar. One of them absolutely does not wish to drink the other’s blood.
“So,” Stella finally says, breaking the long silence, “I would love to plan some future events here. Your barrel room is just spectacular. I really appreciate your help and would like to give something in return. Plus it would bring publicity to both our wineries. What do you think of a harvest celebration in September?”
I cannot have too many visitors here now that I am awakened from my five-hundred-year slumber because there would be questions about where I have been all these years, and questions lead to lies. Lies lead to a risk of exposure given how easy it is in this day and age for anyone to check the facts. “How many people would attend an event like that?”