Annie Nicholas: Bait

The laugh died in my throat, however, as I saw the hunger for me bloom on her face. Unbelievably, I found myself trusting Rurik for my protection. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed myself against him.

She placed those long fingered hands on her hips. “He won’t care if you give her to me instead. What’s mine is his and what’s his is mine.”

“We both know it hasn’t been that way for decades, Lizzy,” Rurik whispered. “I can’t risk his displeasure right now. If he wants you to have her, he’ll give her over to you himself.”

Her eyes narrowed. “He doesn’t need any more distractions.” Her sharp words carried power and authority. “Give her to me.”

At the snap of her command, I fought the desire to obey and run to her arms. I must have tightened my death grip on Rurik’s waist because he stroked my hair and smiled at me.

“Everything will be alright, Rabbit.” His beautiful eyes offered me the reassurance I needed. He returned his attention to Lizzy and shook his head in denial.

“He barely has time for those worthy of his attentions.” She pouted and made it clear that she was one of the worthy.

“You’ve never lacked my attentions. Soon none of this will matter.” He pried my arms off him and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek.

The way she looked at him left no doubt her thoughts were not chaste. Lizzy focused back on me as she circled around, inspecting all my little details, like I was up for auction.

“She’s plain.”

Plain? At least I wasn’t a scary-ass bitch. Rurik placed his finger under my chin and turned my face toward him.

“Connie is lovely. As the host of this gathering, it’s traditional that I offer him entertainment.” The slight shake of his head warned me to be quiet as he removed his hand from my chin. His attentions returned to Mistress Elizabeth. “Let me deliver sweet Connie to him so I can return to entertain you.”

“When did you become a traditionalist?”

“I’m not, but he is.” Rurik slipped his arm around me. His face remained pleasant but I felt his body tense.

“You shouldn’t have picked such an innocent girl. It’s so cruel.”

“Isn’t that what he expects me to be? Cruel?” He grinned at her. “Connie is plain in comparison to your beauty. Let me finish with this business and I’ll return shortly.” His charms worked enough to persuade her to return to the nest of cushions. She glided back to her young, foolish snack.

I glanced at the boy, worried for his fate.

Rurik whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry. She won’t kill him. It’s not allowed, even for her.”

She ran her hand along the boy’s bare, lean chest. “He’s towards the back, Rurik. Playing games with Tane and his kindred.”

Rurik maneuvered me deeper into the hall. We passed more guests too busy amusing themselves to pay us any heed. They lay in a pile of tangled bodies on a nest of cushion, feeding. I imagined it would be different. Hands stroked through hair, lips met, and fangs pierced smooth skin. No one fought or screamed, just quiet sensual touching. Almost erotic.

I didn’t notice that I’d stopped to watch until Rurik whispered in my ear, “We can sit and enjoy the show if you’d like. I’m really in no hurry to return to that bitch.” His warm breath brushed against my skin.

“No.” My voice sounded hoarse. The eerie scene made me morbidly curious, like watching at a car wreck. They all seemed to enjoy themselves, but the blood and the bites appalled me. “You said Lizzy wouldn’t kill the boy because she wasn’t allowed. What about them?”

What about him? We hunted Rurik for just that crime.

“Killing attracts too much public attention to our kind.” He pressed himself against my back as he quietly spoke into my hair. I watched this intimate moment between predator and prey while I felt his warm breath against the nape of my neck. It gave me a flutter of confusing emotions.

His firm body along mine aroused me. When he continued his explanation, I almost missed it. “Our governing body has worked very hard over the centuries to make mankind dismiss us.” His hands wandered down my hips, gathered the hem of my dress, and touched my skin. The brush of his fingernails along my thighs caught my breath. “We need to protect our obscurity, even if it is against our nature.”

“You agree with this?” If he did, maybe Colby had mistaken his target and I could seduce Rurik to keep me for himself instead of passing off as a present. Distract him long enough for my rescue to find me.

“I don’t have to agree with it, just abide by it. We are predators, Connie. We need the hunt...” He leaned in closer from behind so his lips brushed the base of my neck, running his fangs along my skin. “And the chase.” He continued tasting me until he came close to my ear once more. “We all have our weaknesses, our favorite types of prey. You caught his attention at the hot springs last night and fit his tastes. He won’t be able to resist you.” Rurik took a deep shaky breath and stepped away from me. “It’s why I brought you here.”

I turned to face him and slid my hands along his chest to his shoulders. If I stood on tippy toe my lips almost touched his. “You could keep me.” It wouldn’t be all bad to let him have me, as long as I could get past the fangs and keep my dress with the tracking device close by.

His expression changed from a flirtatious playboy, to one of regret. “No, I can’t.” He stared toward the back of the basement then back at me and scratched his chin. “I’ll make you a deal, though. If you do your best to please him, I’ll help you survive the night.”

My heart skipped a beat and I plunked back onto my heels. “How?”

“I’ll watch over you.”

“You won’t dump me for Lizzy first chance you get?”

His cold stare told me his opinion of that action.

I got the impression Rurik didn’t mean a little flirting when he said ‘please him’. “What do I need to do?” How far would I go? I’d like to think I’d keep my dignity but knew I’d dance the can-can, naked in a pool of chocolate syrup, to save my ass.

“I need him to feed from you. It’s what he’ll want the most.”

“You’ll make sure he won’t drink me dry?” I hated the insecurity in my voice, the sound of my plea.

Rurik stroked my cheek. “It’s against our laws and we’re at a public event. He should behave himself. I’ll make an effort to stay close to you and intervene if he starts to harm you.”

That didn’t comfort me. Fighting was suicidal, nowhere to run, and no one to care about my cries for help. It came down to placing myself on the menu while I waited for my rescue by Colby. Damn, I was screwed.

I prayed the tracking signal could penetrate these stone walls. What was taking them so long? Could they even take on this many vampires? We usually ambushed one at a time, not a truckload.

The display of sensuous feasting next to us quieted. Rurik took my hand, then led us toward the music and my fate.

We reached a gathering of tall muscled vampires, more a gang of thugs in comparison to the refined guards who followed Rurik. My heart raced as some of them assessed me. Their eyes roved over my body, one of them touched my hair as I squeezed by him.

They laughed as I scurried away from him and almost ran Rurik over.

He looked over his shoulder and frowned. “Easy, Rabbit.”

I rubbed my sweaty palms on my dress.

“Is that really her name?” Touchy-feely pointed at me. “We haven’t done much but arm wrestle tonight. Maybe we can have a little game of chase?”

“I provided you with other sport for this evening, gentlemen. This one’s for...”

“Rurik.” A soft, commanding voice interrupted him. The group parted as someone approached. “It’s about time you joined us.”