“Who then?” Quintus asked.
“A demon who owes me.” Viktor checked his appearance one last time before turning back to his brother. “A demon who loves to socialize, who has his pulse on both demons and humans, Hell and Earth.”
“Thorn,” they both said in unison.
“You know it.” Viktor nodded at Quintus, knowing what he had to do. Sometimes you had to lay down in the mud to get the dirty details.
Viktor appeared in his kitchen and set down the takeout he’d bought for Waverly. He listened for her but heard nothing but silence. I shouldn’t have left her so long. He inhaled, detecting her delicious scent. Although it still lingered in the air, she’d been gone from the room for hours.
Drawn to a flickering light outside, he moved to look out the floor-to-ceiling window that lined the back of his home. At the sight of her outside in the yard, his pulse sped. Wearing his red satin robe, she walked barefoot along the patio toward the pool. What is she doing outside? In my robe? The temptation from earlier in the evening haunted him, the taste of her lips still burning fresh on his.
Viktor stood in the darkness watching her through the window as she reached for a switch on the table and fired up the lights around the jacuzzi. A circle of fire roared to life in the center of the table, reggae music sounding into the night. Viktor’s heart pounded as she turned to the lake, and slowly removed the robe. Slow as molasses, the crimson fabric fell from her shoulders and revealed her tanned skin. Her blonde hair spilled down her back, teasing her full bottom. She draped the robe onto a chair and faced the home once again. Bared to him, she stood nude and stared up to the second floor, smiling as if she knew he could see her.
Viktor took a step back, laser focused on Waverly. She sees me? It was impossible, yet his instincts warned him that she sensed his presence. His excitement spiked. She knew he watched yet exposed herself, her vulnerability. As she dipped a foot into the hot tub and descended into the water, he sensed her energy.
Resisting temptation had never been his strong suit. As Viktor dematerialized and his feet hit the ground, he wore a sensual smile.
“Are you stalking me?” she asked, her voice calm and even.
Like the predator he was, Viktor strode around the edge of the pool with the air of confidence he always wore. Through the billowing steam, Waverly came into view, her eyes closed, the bubbles teasing over her breasts.
“Tell me, how does a human see me, feel me?” he asked.
“I’m not sure what you think I do.” She flashed open her eyes, pinning him with a stare.
“I’ve never met a human like you,” he confessed.
“Humans have instincts too. Like the humans you saw tonight?” She quickly concealed the jealousy that shone in her eyes.
“I wasn’t with humans tonight. It’s not what you think.”
“But you fed?” She averted her gaze. “Did you go to one of those clubs? Like Miami?”
“No.” Viktor shook his head with a smile, amused by her jealousy. If she only knew that she was the only person on his mind. She was quickly turning into a delicious obsession.
“You had blood? You bit someone?”
“Indeed, I had blood. But my donor, who happened to be male, procured the blood for me.” Viktor removed his suit jacket, folded it and set it on the chaise longue. “I’ve brought you food. You must be starving.”
“I’m okay. I, uh, poked around in your kitchen. I found a few things in your freezer.”
“Ah, yes. I’d forgotten about the dreadful meals Rafe insisted on.”
“It’s macaroni and cheese. It wasn’t bad.” She shrugged.
“I have proper food for you upstairs. I can go get it. I just wanted to—” See you. Touch you. Taste you. “Make sure you were okay. I know today was rough.”
“I’m better.” She sighed. “I’m sorry for asking about the blood. It’s none of my business. You must eat too. It’s not like I’m giving you my blood, so…" For the first time, she hinted at a smile. “You have a beautiful home. I saw the pool and I couldn’t resist. Borrowed your robe. Hope you don’t mind?”
“Of course not.” Viktor sat on a cushioned ottoman. “The house works for me. I love the water. New Orleans. I’m close to town but not in the city.”
“I got the impression that you liked Miami.”
“It’s a different city.”
“What do you mean?”
“Houses are like pairs of shoes,” Viktor removed his leather shoes and set them aside. “Different ones for different situations. New Orleans is a beautiful city, but I prefer the lake most nights.”
“But of course you do,” she laughed. “Well, Mr. Christianson, it’s a beautiful home. I especially like this hot tub.”
“It’s beautiful because you’re in it. Dr. LaFleur, do you mind if I join you?” Viktor’s mind spun as the words left his mouth. What the actual fuck? I’m a vampire. I don’t ask in my own home. Yet I just did. This human had turned his world upside down.
“Sure. Why not?” She sighed with a small laugh. “It’s been a hell of a week. My friend is missing. I almost got killed. Someone put a dead animal in my apartment. A demon attacked us in my office. And I split into a million atoms, was put back together and now I’m sitting in a hot tub. And a handsome vampire is joining me. Could be worse.”
Viktor made quick work of removing his clothes. As he turned, he caught her stealing a glimpse of his half-hard cock, which hung heavy between his legs.
“Ah but we’re just friends,” he said as he eased into the hot water.
She locked her eyes onto his.
“What happened earlier…we shouldn’t have.” Her cheeks flushed. She dipped further into the water almost as if she wanted to shrink from the conversation.
“But we did.” Viktor’s leg brushed against hers.
Waverly froze, her heated gaze settling on the vampire. “I shouldn’t get involved with you.”
“But you are.” His arousal spiked. Although tempted to move toward her, to kiss her, he resisted.
“You’re dangerous,” she challenged.
“I am.” There was no denying the obvious.
“I don’t understand what’s happening to me,” she confessed, inching closer to him. “What’s happening between us. I don’t date vampires.”
“I don’t date anyone.” Viktor closed the distance between them, his hands falling to her bared hips. “But I find myself reconsidering.”
“We shouldn’t do this.” Her fingers brushed his chest.
“We definitely shouldn’t.” Viktor’s lips hovered within inches of hers.
“I can’t explain this…how I feel,” she breathed, sliding her hands up his chest. “What are we doing?”
“This.” Viktor released his inhibitions, his lips crushing hers.
“Viktor,” she moaned.
More than lust, emotion swirled inside him as he kissed her. Her honeyed lips brushed his, and Viktor took her in his arms, lifting her onto his lap.
He tore his mouth from hers, peppering kisses down her neck. She cried out as he took a nipple between his lips, sucking and flicking his tongue over its tip. She took his cock into her hands and gave him a firm stroke. His dick hardened and he resisted slamming inside her, reveling in the slow delicious torture.