Dantes tongue lashed her skin a teasing three inches away from the lace bra. Her moan was unstoppable.
You sound like the kitten you are, he said as he wrapped an arm across her back.
As he glided his fingers up her stomach and rib cage to the base of her bra, Kyler gripped the tie and pulled him closer. The silken weave of his suit playing across her skin made her wonder whether or not she wanted him to get naked or stay clothed. Suit against flesh was an exotic sensation that heightened her desire even more.
He kissed her on the mound of a breast and nuzzled his nose across her skin, taking in her perfume. Yet she wore none. Couldnt risk giving herself away tonight had she gotten close to human guards at the auction house.
The auction house. Shed abandoned the backpack downstairs without a care. She really should
Kyler gasped as Dantes lips closed over her nipple, still covered by the black lace. The heat of him and the firm pressure as his tongue teasing through the lace undid her rational thought. Whatever shed been worried about mattered less than falling into his attentive discovery.
One of his hands pushed down her black leggings, beneath which she did not wear panties. Shed been going for a seamless look. He growled his appreciation at that and then nudged down the lace bra cups to fully take her nipple into his mouth.
Mercy, if it didnt go any further than this, shed be a happy woman. But tonight, happy had already been superseded by elation. So she was in it for the win. And an orgasm or two.
Hiking up one of her legs along his thigh, Dante grasped her ankle and held her there. He suckled at her nipple, lazing his tongue in circles and then sucking hard. He indulged in her. Hed likely had a lot of practice in pleasing womenno!
She wasnt going to think like that. It was just the two of them. And she intended to enjoy every moment of his attention.
Shoving the suit coat from his shoulders, Kyler was able to shimmy it down his arms even as he drew a wet, exploratory line to her other nipple. He managed to unhook her bra in the back, and it fell away. She was now completely naked, and he was still dressed.
Dante pulled back to look at her. A sexy, know-too-much smile curled his mouth, preceding a low, whispery growl. He had her right where he wanted her.
And she was good with that.
Kyler leaned up onto her elbows and crooked a finger, inviting him to join her. When he stepped forward, she waggled that finger in a naughty admonishment.
First, you get naked, too, she said. I want to look at you as youve been looking at me.
I can do that. But you wont mind if I pick up my coat, will you? He bent to retrieve the abandoned piece of clothing, then carefully folded it and placed it over the back of the tufted Louis XIV chair near the window. He turned, unbuttoning his cuffs. I appreciate the lines of a well-tailored suit.
Kyler leaned her head against her palm. I appreciate the lines of a well-honed male.
Pulling away the red tie with a fling, he relegated it to the top of the folded suit coat. A few expert flicks of buttons released the crisp white business shirt from protecting his sculpted lines and curves. Hard muscles pulsed with his movement, and the rise of prominent hip bones drew her eye to the angled muscles that arrowed toward his crotch.
Kyler murmured a satisfied coo. Nice.
Dante paused, his fingers teasing at his trouser buttons. If youre going to narrate my undressing Im not sure I can continue.
Really? You are the last person I would expect to be shy. But I can keep quiet. She drew pinched fingers across her lips.
Dante nodded, gifting her with the rest of the show. Beneath the trousers he wore briefs that huggedoh, a nice-size package. And it, too, pulsed beneath the fabric, teasing her with what might be revealed.
Wait, she said with more enthusiasm than his surprised look showed he was comfortable with. Come here and let me help you with that.
She sat up as he approached. Gliding her palm down his chest, she reveled in the warmth of his skin and muscles. Hadnt she always thought vampires were supposed to be cold, dead creatures? Certainly she had not grown colder over the past half year. And being proven wrong once again was all right with her. Her fingers skimmed over Dantes abdomen, a six-pack of ridiculously hard muscle. Each ridge tensed at her touch, begging her to move slowly, enjoy the sensation.
And then she moved her fingers downward and cupped over his briefs, drawing a hiss of pleasure from him. A squeeze to the form beneath her palm tested its hardness and heat. As he grew more erect, his penis bulged out the waistline of his briefs, and Kyler was able to slide a hand inside. She slid her other hand down the back of his briefs, easing them slowly over his buttocks. The weight of his steely erection in her hand made her feel powerful. Sexy. Wanton.
She giggled and then, before he could protest, tilted up her head to meet his mouth with a kiss. Hard and demanding and needy. As she worked her hand up and down over his erection, summoning him, coaxing him, she fed her own needs by dancing her tongue against his.
Every part of her being hummed. Her core spun in an apprehensive, wanting coil of soon-to-come fireworks and just-hold-off-a-bit warning. So she pressed her thighs together, staying the orgasm that already cried out for release.
Dante crawled over her and onto the bed, and she followed his direction, lying back, yet not releasing his hard, tight cock. She needed to feel him inside her. With that delicious thought, the curiosity to also feel his fangs inside her emerged.
Show me your fangs, she whispered.
Youre not ready for that, Kitten. A flash of lightning sparkled around the room brightly and blinked out, darkening Dantes gaze above her. Lets do this slowly, shall we?
And as a whimper of protest teased at the edge of her tongue, Kyler surrendered to his command. How could she not? His fingers slipped between her thighs, and as she noticed the first touch of his index finger to her clitoris, she was surprised by the overwhelming release of orgasm that rushed up in a gasping cry of joy. Her body shivered and shook beneath his.
And she forgot about the bite.
You come like the lightning, he said against her ear. And you smell like rain and prosecco. I will always remember you this way.
With the thought that this was the beginning to the end of what had been a very daring encounter on her part, Kyler pulled his hips to her and directed his cock inside her. He filled her, hot and hard and thrusting.
Shed known this night would be a hookup. In the morning, shed walk away and never see him again. And she was fine with that.
But not really.
* * *
Kittens and cream, Dante thought as Kylers moist warmth clasped tightly about his cock. He thrust inside her as she orgasmed, and her rhythmic, squeezing pressure lured him toward his own swift climax. Two strangers came together in an irresistible crush of skin, sighs and sexual fire. He couldnt argue the results.
Shouting out as the tremendous orgasm shook through his system, he bowed his head to Kylers breast and kissed the firm, hot flesh. His fangs descended without his volition. Damn. As quickly, he willed them back up. He was less ready for the fang reveal than she seemed to be. And it wasnt necessary. He wasnt hungry for anything other than more of Kylers exquisite body undulating and moaning beneath him.
Hed fucked bold women, many a time. Kyler wasnt as bold as she thought. Some parts of her skipped along for the good time while he suspected another part of her hadnt expected such an encounter. She hid her nervousness well, though. And right now, she completely surrendered to the moment.
So lush, lying beneath him as though she were a goddess demanding worship. And worship her he would.
Pulling out from her, he glided down her body, trailing his tongue from one breast to the other and then taking the time to study the full curve on the underside of each breast. At her belly, he tickled a circle around her navel, then moved quickly south to taste her sticky sweetness.
Her fingers skimmed over his scalp and down his neck, nails digging in when they reached his shoulder. Yes, just a little deeperhe tongued her as deeply as he desired to feel her nails in his skin. Kyler moaned and then the exquisite pain was gone as she grasped the bedsheets.
Yes, she whispered in a purr.
Again Dantes fangs ached to descend, but he cautioned them to stay put. He wouldnt bite her. Not yet. He didnt even know this woman, and if all went well, come morning he would never see her again.
A bite would only complicate things.
* * *
Kyler slid out from the rumpled white sheets and glanced over at the man stretched across the bed like a fallen angel. Dante DArcangelo? Oh, yes, indeed. He was some kind of dark angel. And an amazing lover. Whew! Shed made a good choice in taking him home with her. Or rather, she was at his palazzo.
But she mustnt get lost in the feel-good vibrations. Shed gotten what she wanted: a night of celebratory sex with a handsome lover. A new day glimmered on the shiny rooftops across the canal. And she knew better than to believe she actually meant more to him than a hookup.
While he slept, she had to get out of Dodge. Gathering up her clothes from the floor, she headed toward the en suite bathroom. The sun shone on the canal beyond the sheer white curtains. It was still quite dark, but thanks to a skylight, she didnt bother to turn on the light to check her makeup in the mirror. That was one thing she missed about being humanher reflection. And while shed never been a Narcissus, mirrors did come in handy when applying eyeliner.
After running water in the sink until it was warm, she splashed her face and found a hand towel in the linen closet. She wanted to look around, to satisfy her curiosity about the dark angel who was really a vampire, but there wasnt time. And shed left her backpack down in the foyer, not wanting to seem overly concerned about it last night and prompt him to ask unanswerable questions.
Pulling up her black leggings and then the long-sleeved turtleneck, she again lamented her wardrobe choice.
You do look like a cat burglar, she whispered. Who do you think you are fooling?
Apparently, one very sexy French-Italian vampire.
Carefully pulling open the door, she peered across the whitewashed hardwood floor over to the bed...
Where is he?
The bed was empty. And her flat, rubber-soled shoes designed for sneaking into locked buildings and up along windowsills sat at the foot of the bed. Had he gone looking for her? No, he must have heard her in the bathroom. Probably hed headed down towell, vampires didnt do breakfast. They didnt need to eat food.
Drinking blood was the only sustenance a vampire required for survival. Something shed learned to relish after initially balking at the strong, meaty flavor. Quickly shed learned to treat the taste like wine. So many appellations and flavor notes. Humans offered a cornucopia of tastes shed never tire of experiencing.
And if all went well, soon she could claim that taste for an eternity.
Shed wanted to bite Dante last night.
He was so irresistible. Would a little bite have hurt? Hed insisted it wasnt something she was ready for. Why, though? Too intimate? Perhaps. Kyler guessed even though Dante claimed a mastery with women, intimacy was well out of his repertoire. So shed have to live without a taste of her dark angel. This had been a one-night stand. A satisfying reward for a job well done. A memory to keep.
And now to make her escape without some drawn-out explanation or an awkward goodbye. Damn, she wished hed still been sleeping.
After slipping on her flats, Kyler strolled down the hallway to the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs a worn fieldstone floor stretched to the right and into the foyer. The stones were as dark as the gray-painted walls. Shed not noticed the dark decor last night. Shed had her arms and legs wrapped around Dante. And her mouth on his. And, oh...his mouth all over her skin as theyd made fantastic love to each other. He had worshipped her body.
As she veered toward the divan where shed dropped the backpack, the shadows receded into a beam of subdued morning light. With a startled gasp, she noticed Dante sat there. With the backpack dangling from his fingers.
And it was open.
Chapter 3
What are you doing? Kyler rushed over and grabbed her backpack. You went through it? Its
Empty, he provided plainly.
Dante stretched an arm across the back of the divan and crossed his legs casually. He wore dark slacks, and his unbuttoned white shirt revealed hard abs. That she had licked only hours earlier.
You had the egg last night before we came here, he said. I took note of the weight of the backpack. He pointed toward the front door, and she spun to see that it was open a crack. Someones been here.
Clutching the empty backpack to her chest, Kyler squeezed her eyes shut tight, then turned toward him to unleash her anger. You liar! You did this! How did you know? Were you following me? I remember you confessed to following me. Then you had sex with me to distract With a heavy gasp, she managed, You used me?
Kyler, sit. He patted the tufted cushion beside him. Entirely too calm, he infuriated her. But then he could afford to express casual disinterest. He now had the upper hand. Raging at me is not going to solve the issue of the missing egg.
You bastard! Of course. You should know. You took it. But how did you know I had it? You had to have been following me far longer than the few blocks near the flower shop. And then to trick me into coming here with you...you had this all planned out!
I performed no such trickery. Youll recall we shared a few drinks, and then it was you who eagerly suggested we finish off the evening here.
After your suggestion you were open to having sex with me.
He lifted a finger. A suggestion you took to with amorous enthusiasm.
You were scheming. Hoping to get me alone so you could steal the egg from me. I cant believe I fell for that! I wanted a night to celebrate and have wild sex
He grinned deliciously. It was a bit wild, wasnt it, Kitten?
Aggh! Where did you put it?
Dante spread his arms out in dismay. I havent touched it. Though I admit I slipped down here while you were in the bathroom to do just that.
Steal it?
He nodded. Truth? Id hoped to take it into my charge after youd done all the hard work.
Jaw dropping open, she gaped at him.
He shrugged. I saw you yesterday afternoon in the auction house. Casing the place. I was there doing the same. Dont get me wrong. I am not a thief. Its simply my quest to acquire that specific Fabergé egg.