Why could they not use his marriage as an example?
Blu recalled something about Severos wife being changed to vampire only after they had fallen in love. Supposedly it wasnt the same situation.
It was a good thing Severo had not been at the wedding. Blu knew exactly how hard shed swing a fist at him when she did see him. Hard enough to draw blood. A loose tooth would serve the icing on the cake she hadnt gotten to taste this evening.
So, she said, what are we to do with ourselves? Youre taking me to your home?
Yes, I live at the edge of the suburb, but more in the country.
What are your intentions?
You are my wife. I had assumed we would do the married thing.
The married thing. She tapped the rain-streaked glass with a knuckle. What does that imply exactly?
Living in the same house. Appearing to others as a couple. Conversation.
She waited for him to summon further examples but he did not. Because he could not? He was not so pleased with this arrangement either, she bet.
At least they had one thing in common.
Sex? she prompted.
Of course.
You wish.
The marriage must be consummated.
The Councils idea of consummation is not sex.
You would take my bite?
When hell freezes over.
The car swerved sharply, shoving Blu roughly against the door. She sensed her husbands smirk as he pulled through an automated gate and onto a cobbled driveway that curved before a three-story brick mansion.
Supposedly her new hubby lived in France during the summer months and wintered in Minnesota. Hed moved back to the States a few months early after agreeing to the marriage. What a freak. Shed take the glamour of Paris all year if given an opportunity.
The estate fronted by climbing vines initially impressed Blu until she decided it wasnt so grand. Her fathers compound covered more acreage, and the pack probably owned more surrounding landno thanks to the greedy vampires.
Big mansion, she remarked. You must have servants.
Gardener and Housekeeper.
Short, to-the-point answers. Wasnt he the one whod suggested marriage implied they converse?
Has anyone ever told you youre a real conversationalist?
The car abruptly stopped and he shifted into Park. Blu jammed her heel into the floor mat to keep from lunging forward.
Twisting and leaning his forearm on the steering wheel, Creed turned to her. Lets get things straight between us, shall we? I can assume we are both uncomfortable with this arrangement.
Hallelujah.
Yet while I have vowed to myself, and my tribe, that I will do everything in my power to make this work, for the sake of both nations, I suspect you have made no such personal vow.
Vows are so medieval. Im just here for the show, Credence.
It is Creed, he corrected.
Creed, she tried. So alpha. Shouldnt you have a vampire name like Damien or Lucien or
Or something inane like a color?
Blu gave him her cheek, peering out at the increasing rain. Bastard.
Our first fight, he said. I suppose that falls onto the list of what is expected of married couples, eh?
Despite herself, Blu smirked.
Lets go inside and Ill give you a tour. I understand your luggage was delivered earlier. Ive ordered it placed in our room.
Our room? She closed her eyes and bit the inside of her cheek. Since puberty had struck, and shed become a kind of beacon to male wolves, she had been fending off testosterone like a vaccine-resistant plague.
She didnt need it from a vampire.
Could you please leave me alone a bit?
Here in the car? But its raining.
Please, Creed, she said softly. I need a few minutes to myself.
He didnt reply, and instead opened the door and got out. Unmindful of the rain, he strode to the front door and left it half-open to expose the soft golden light shining within.
Blu pressed the side of her head to the passenger window. Her reflection wavered in the glass; green bob smooshed against a cheek, and dark eye shadow smears. Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling more swiftly and harder than the rain.
Creed Saint-Pierre, she whispered. Dont hurt me like the others have. Please.
SHE SAT IN THE CAR for fifteen minutes before Creed wondered if he should go out for her. Was she pouting? More likely trying to prove she would not listen to his authority.
It wasnt difficult to guess she would be obstinate to a fault. She was so young and inexperienced. He would teach her manners and respect. It was the very least he could dosend her back to Daddy more respectful and submissive.
Because he would send her back eventually.
Creed paced before the glass-and-stone-tiled bar that curved along the wall in the main room. This mansion had been built in the seventies and retained much of the original design, only now he could pass it off as retro.
He liked the massive fieldstones set into the floor and the open three-story entertainment and living area. It was a sort of landing, a place to relax and order his day, before venturing outside or to his office in the back. Once or twice hed held parties, and the guests usually convened in this spacious room or outside by the pool.
He glanced up the curving red-carpeted staircase. Hed had her thingsthree large traveling trunksdelivered to his bedroom. She hadnt liked that.
Resisting a smile, he decided she would have to get used to answering to a new authority. Surely she must have practice. Packs revered their females yet would never allow them to step out-of-bounds. They were also fiercely protective of the rare female wolf.
How had Creed managed to simply drive away tonight with a valuable female without bringing the wolves upon him?
Could this peace thing really work?
Ill be damned if it does.
When the door opened and a sodden green-haired werewolf stepped inside, Creed sucked in a breath.
The thin fabric that had barely covered her breasts was now wet, revealing the gorgeous shape of them, erect nipples and full, delicious volume. He did love to caress a womans breasts. To lick at them. To nuzzle into them and suck her to climax. Heaven.
You keep staring like that, vampire, Im going to have to punch you.
Or hell, depending on the woman.
She strode past him and dropped her shoes and purse on the damask sofa. With the same nonchalance, she plopped onto the sofa and put up her feet on the Brazilian ironwood coffee table. The wood wasnt supposed to get wet.
Creed went around and shoved her feet off it with his heel. Your manners are lacking. But what should I expect?
From a werewolf? I suppose you expect me to romp about on your furniture and tear it apart with my teeth. I probably better not wash or comb my hair either because that would destroy your mental picture of me. Should I stop shaving my legs and do the whole hairy thing?
Creed paced to the bar and poured two fingers of whisky. Putting it back in a tilt did little to curb his annoyance. Irritating as she was, though, he couldnt deny curiosity. He had expected her to look much different. Distasteful.
Not like a colorful and very sinful dessert.
Lets do the tour and get you situated, he said, leaning over the back of the couch.
Not like a colorful and very sinful dessert.
Lets do the tour and get you situated, he said, leaning over the back of the couch.
She stood before he could slide his gaze down her dress. Can we save the tour until morning? Im tired. I just want to shower and hit the hay. You have a stable out back? Wouldnt want you to have to board an animal in such a fine home.
Your things are upstairs in my room. Our room.
Yeah, I heard you out in the car.
The green chin-length hair bobbled as she strolled around the end of the couch. A fire he couldnt imagine being ignited in such cool depths flamed in her quiet gray eyes.
Our room? she reiterated.
You are my wife.
You expect me to sleep with you before I know anything about you?
You will sleep with me?
Didnt say that.
How infuriating she was to raise his hopes so easily, and then dash them. But at least she was talking to him. And looking at him. And werent those lips devastating? Could he have one more kiss before he tucked her in?
Tucked her in? Hell.
Could he get beyond the age thing? Creed had never discerned age before, because if he did then hed always end up the old man to the young women hed pursued. Nine centuries was hard to beat.
I want my own room, she said, and started toward the stairs, strappy shoes dangling from a couple fingers. It would be cruel of you to force me into your bed, vampire.
Cruel, but wicked fun to watch her squirm to think he would try to take her only hours after meeting her. But, to his disadvantage, he was not that kind of man. Women must be pursued and seduced. Their favor must be won.
You can take the room at the top of the stairs, he said, following her upward. Housekeeper keeps it made up for guests. Its not as elaborate as my room, but until youre comfortable with our situation it should serve.
She strode to the door and turned, pressing her palms and hips into it, while leaning forward in a slinky come-on. The front of her wet dress clung to her breasts, exposing the dark curve of an areola.
Was she teasing? Or was it his heightened attraction to something so new and utterly baffling that had him seeing the sensual in her every move?
Situation, she pronounced precisely. Is that what you call a marriage?
Im sure its a much better word than you would choose.
Youre right. I call it a farce.
He could not deny the word hadnt crossed his mind a time or two.
You did agree to the terms. And you said vows before a healthy number of representatives from both nations. And you signed the contract.
As did you. But do you really think this is going to work? She patted the bottom of her hair with a palm and pouted coyly. That well fall madly in love and set an example that will bring the werewolves and vampires together in some kind of freaky lovefest? Come on, Credence.
He did not care to hear his name spoken that way. The memories it stirred would only hamper his need to remain staunch and in control.
Madly in love? He pressed a hand to the door over her shoulder and leaned in. The move put her off, which pleased him. Come on, princess, youre not allowed to tease without retaliation. At this very moment, I cant imagine that happening unless hell turns to ice. You, Lady Saint-Pierre, are standoffish, spoiled and contrary.
And you are an aristocratic bore.
Uneducated, he countered.
Old.
Uncouth.
Im not sure what that means.
He smiled. Ill-mannered.
Ah. Ill take that one. And Ill counter with dull and uninteresting.
Did she really want to play this game? Because hed show her how far from dull he could get.
Creed slid a hand over the sparkling choker caressing her neck, fitting his fingers up under her chin. Her eyes flashed defiantly. A bit of the faery dust had nestled at the corner of her eye, glinting mischievously.
Tease, he countered softly.
You like it though.
That glint in her eyes would be his undoing. It challenged, bedeviled and defied with a knowing he thought her too young to possess.
I prefer my women to follow through with their promises.
Ive promised nothing, she said.
You promised to honor and obey me.
Obey was not in the vows. Trust me on that one, buddy.
Now he smoothed his hand under her jaw. The jut of her chin was sharp. Every bone stood out, defining, creating remarkable dimensions to explore. Her flesh was soft, warm, alive. And beneath the flesh, her blood smelled darkly sweet, a wicked perfume.
You had better not be thinking what I think youre thinking, longtooth.
The demeaning curse should not go without a swift slap.
Though he wasnt taken to harming females, some could only be controlled with physical coercion. Like witches. And others. Hed once worked with a female vampire bounty hunter in the fifteenth century. Shed liked it rough.
But Creed had made a vow. And he had meant it when hed promised her father hed protect his daughter, and ensure no harm came to her. Some things in war and love were never fair game.
So instead, Creed leaned in for a kiss.
She was quick, sliding her fingers over her lips before he could make contact.
Creed tugged her hand away. She struggled, and because he didnt trust his strength, he conceded, flinging back her arm and stepping away.
Pacing before her, he looked to the carpeting, not wanting to show her his defeat.
Youve already stolen one kiss from me, she said, defiance brightening her tone. The rest should be earned. If you can earn them, Ill be more than willing to give them.
And she slipped inside the guest room and slammed the door.
Creed fisted his fingers at the door. A nasty condemnation slid across his tongue, but he gave it no voice.
Turning and stomping down the hallway, he threw open the door to his bedroom.
Green-haired wench, he muttered. Thought Id had to deal with the last of your kind in the sixteen hundreds.
Chapter Three
BLU TRACED A FINGER along the stainless steel kitchen countertop. Cold, precise, engineered for maximum inhospitality.
Much like her new husband.
The glass-fronted cabinets displayed many crystal goblets, snifters and shot glassesand only a few plates. The wine fridge was as big as the regular refrigerator. She peered at the labels on the wine bottles. Some bottles had hand-printed labels and the years were from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. She was no expert, but did know some rare wines sold for tens of thousands of dollars.
Nice. Bet hed throw a fit if I tapped into one of those.
Much as shed like to witness a vampire conniption, wine didnt interest her; she needed food. Sustenance. She hadnt eaten since yesterday noon. Her prenuptial nervous stomach hadnt allowed her to do more than nibble. Now her stomach growled like a banshee.
She opened the fridge door and gaped at the bleak interior. What? You have got to be kidding me.
Bonjour, my new wife.
She spun to find Creed leaning against the counter. She hadnt heard him enter. Bad werewolf. She should have smelled him the moment he came down the stairs in the other room. Vampires had a vivid scent, earthy and yet refined, perhaps a little sweet.