Viktor exchanged a look with his brother before he disappeared into thin air. Waverly’s eyes widened, witnessing his departure. Viktor sensed her anxiety, the sound of her heart beating grew louder.
“Hey.” He brought her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss to the back of it. “I arranged to have lunch delivered. Why don’t you rest for a while, and I’ll come get you when it’s here?”
“Would it be okay if I used your laptop?” she asked. “I have my phone, but it’ll be easier to do research on a bigger screen.”
“Absolutely. It’s in the kitchen.” Viktor crossed the living room into the kitchen and opened a cabinet door, retrieving the device. “Here.”
“Thank you,” she said accepting it. “Um, can I just use it? Or is there a password or something?”
Viktor smiled, leaning to whisper in her ear. “BloodDaddy. All one word. Big D.”
“What?” Waverly laughed. Distracted, she fumbled the tablet in her hands, but she quickly regained her grip.
“That’s right, woman. Bloooood Daddy!” Viktor brushed a kiss to her cheek and released her with a hearty laugh.
“That’s your password? You’re messing with me.”
“No. No I’m not.”
Waverly shot him a look of disbelief. “No way.”
“Truly. I went to pick it up and the saleswoman helped me set it. Turns out she’s a donor.”
“But of course.” Waverly rolled her eyes.
“Apparently I’m irresistible or so I’ve been told by Miss Diana Lord.”
“More like incorrigible.” She shot him a closed smile.
“I must’ve been giving off big vamp vibes that day because she just came right out with it. Confessing her guilty pleasure.” Viktor smiled.
“Getting bitten?” Waverly asked.
“Well that too, but she apparently had a penchant for giving nicknames to her favorite biters. Declared me Blood Daddy right then and there. Typed it right into my password when she set it up. But don’t worry, pet. I never tasted a drop of her blood.”
“I’m not believing a word of this.”
“Believe it baby.” Viktor winked at her and reached for the plate of croissants that sat left over from breakfast. He lifted one to his lips and took a bite.
“I’m not sure what to say.”
“You’re a lucky woman,” he joked.
“Super lucky. So lucky. I’m just not sure what I’m going to do with all this luck.” Waverly laughed.
“Stick with me and maybe you’ll help me earn my nickname.” Viktor smiled as she blushed in response.
“Do you mind if I go sit at the desk in the guest room?”
“Not at all. I have a few things I must do, and you never know when Rafe will be coming back down. Kids. You know how it is.”
“I don’t have children. But he is adorable. I suppose he’s a bit larger than most. Must be difficult to chase after.”
“Don’t let his cute face fool you. He’s a handful.”
Their laughter quickly faded into a silent heated gaze. The urge to go to her, to take her in his arms, grew stronger by the second but Viktor restrained himself. Joking about having kids reminded him of the sacrifice she’d have to make if they bonded. It would come at a cost. He’d never father the children she’d want.
His heart tightened as she smiled at him, giving a nod as she collected her things and quickly ascended the staircase. He couldn’t bring himself to bite her, to complete the bonding. Viktor lied to himself, logic telling him she’d be better off without him.
The craving for blood haunted him. He wouldn’t take hers, though. He’d set off to a blood bar, seek out another human, someone who would never sate his thirst.
8
Waverly closed the laptop and rested her head upon her folded arms. She’d sent out several emails to heads of museums across the country. Within the silence in her room, her thoughts raced.
She’d been seconds away from begging Viktor to bite her. If Greyson hadn’t interrupted them, she’d have screamed it at the top of her lungs.
Waverly had spent a lifetime happily being human, avoiding her visions and vampires. She considered her mom, how her parents had warned her long ago to steer clear of the paranormal. If they only knew she was currently sleeping in a house with two vampires and a wolf.
Her mind drifted to the shooting, the scene at her apartment, the blood-splattered ritual under her bed. The past two days had been a blur and all of it had begun with Teagan…or so she’d thought. Although a small part of her hoped they’d still find her friend, reason warned her Teagan was dead. But ever since they’d discovered the bloodletting fleam had been deliberately sent to her, whatever was happening had targeted her.
She lifted her weary head as a loud ding sounded from her cell phone. Exhausted she grabbed it, crossed the room and threw herself down in the bed. As she rolled onto her back and tossed the covers over her legs, she glanced at the text. Adam. Adam Strommell. “Oh shit.”
Her chest tightened with anxiety at the sight of his name. She and Adam had been grad assistants together, friends with benefits until they’d graduated. But as all good things come to an end, he’d taken a job on the East Coast. He’d left California, crossing the country to New York, and neither of them had wanted a long-distance relationship.
Boss sent me your email. How’s my fav surfer? Thought you were working on an Impressionism exhibit?
Waverly’s stomach dropped. He’s following up on me?
Hey. Yeah, still working on it. This is a side project.
That sounded professional, she thought. It had been years since they’d spoken.
I may have a lead. There happens to be a fleam handle in our sister museum. Same initials.
Waverly’s heart beat like a drum as she tapped on the glass screen.
Are you sure? B.A.O
100%. Log says we’ve got a fleam handle stashed away. Same initials.
I have to examine it.
Of course. U in Cali?
I’m east coast. She didn’t want to give him her exact location.
Can you send me a picture?
It’s offsite. In the warehouse. Are you near NY?
Art, and other items not on active display, were often stored within vaults in secret locations. Shit. She took a deep breath and began typing.
I may be able to catch a flight. When do you think you can get the piece?
It’s going to take a couple of hours to get approval to pull it.
Where’s the item?
Brooklyn. I could meet you there. Dinner after? Catch up?
“Nope, can’t do that right now,” she said out loud to herself.
Sorry no. I’m on a tight deadline.
Drinks?
Sorry. Maybe another time. She lied.
I’ll text location and time tomorrow. Gotta run.
Thanks, Adam!
Talk soon.
In the seconds Waverly thought to text Viktor, she realized she didn’t have his phone number. The past few days had been a whirlwind. The intense attraction blurred her judgement. Reason cautioned her to stay away from the ancient vampire, but the flames of attraction ignited hotter each time she saw him.
Waverly tossed her phone on the bed, curled into a ball on her side, brushing her fingers to her neck. She closed her eyes, imagining his touch, the slice of his fangs on her flesh. Her core tightened, aroused at the thought of his cock filling her while he took her blood.