Annie Nicholas - Prima

“Bring us a bottle of Sassicaia mixed with your freshest bottled donor. Once we’re done with that, you can send for Nick.”

She pulled out a list and frowned. “He serves only private clientele, and I don’t see you on his list.”

“I’ve been away. Tell him it’s me. He’ll come.”

She hesitated in the doorway, her eyes darting to Daedalus’s features, and Sugar could see Rosaline mentally tallying that something was different about him than other vampires. She nodded and left.

“You sound very sure of yourself.” It was something she’d been learning to mimic yet still had trouble implementing.

“I’m Prime. These young girls didn’t work here when I was a regular.” He winked. “It won’t take long for word to spread that I’m back.”

She pouted and touched his face. “It must have been terrible for you to rough it in Chicago.” Her sarcasm wasn’t wasted on him.

He grabbed her ass. “I found compensation.”

An older gentleman arrived with their bottle of wine/blood. “Sorry for the inconvenience, Master Pal Robi. So glad to be of service to you again.”

Her eyes went wide. Nick wasn’t what she’d imagined.

“Sugar, this is the manager, Antonio.” A twinkle of amusement lit Daedalus’s eyes. He knew that she’d assumed this was Nick. “I’d like to add Sugar to my account.”

“Very good, sir and miss.” Antonio poured two glasses and handed them out. “Just ring when you are ready for Nick.” He closed the door behind him.

“Your account?”

Daedalus gave her a secretive smile. “Your wine will cool.”

She sipped and allowed the smooth, warm liquid to roll down her throat. “Different.” She could taste the blood, but it was thinned by the wine. The flavors mixed well. “I like it.” She took a larger gulp.

“It’s an excellent brand.” He read the bottle. “And year.” Then he filled her glass once again.

“You’re not drinking.” Her hunger flared. She hated how it made her hands shake.

“The bottle is for you.” He cupped her trembling glass and brought it to her lips. “Wine will ease your anxiety, and the blood will curb your hunger.”

She drank, taking gulps, and Daedalus kept her glass full. “You’re going to have to carry me out of here.”

He chuckled. “We have the room until dawn, so there’s no hurry to return.” Lounging back on the sedan, he set one leg behind her, bending his knee.

“You shouldn’t have ignored your duties to your people, you know.” She pointed at him, but her finger weaved with poor aim.

Giving her a small, crooked smile, he set the full glass back in her hand. “I’m not ignoring them, babe. Time works differently for creatures like us. A few years are nothing. The only thing that dragged me back here were those idiots thinking they could kill me.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, and the light in his eyes faded. “I failed to protect you.”

“Here or Chicago, something would have eventually happened.” She continued to drink but with less of a frat boy’s enthusiasm. “I’m surrounded by shifters and vampires. You’re not the most peaceful lot to live amongst, and I’m collateral damage.”

Downcast, his gaze stayed fixed on the floor. “I know.”

“Spice is happy you turned me. It will be one less thing for her to worry about.” She kicked off one of her heels and slid her toes along his calf.

He continued to stare at the floor, not reacting to her touch.

“D?”

“Can you ever be happy?” Daedalus’s question came out so quiet she wasn’t sure if she’d heard right.

“It’s not a matter of happiness, sweetie.” She crawled into his arms. “As long as I’m with you that’ll never be an issue. The adjustment will take time though, and I’m not thrilled with how it came about.”

He continued avoiding her gaze but twirled her engagement ring around her finger. “You’ll still marry me?”

She lifted his chin and pressed him into the lounger with a kiss. Lips crushed against his, she pinned his hands by his head. Taking advantage of his surprise, she slipped her tongue inside his half-open mouth and plundered him like the harlot.

He moaned and pulled her against him until her legs straddled his hips. A hard bulge thrust against her panties. Why had she worn those?

In her passion-fueled hurry, she nicked his bottom lip. He tasted very different from the bottled blood, like electricity in liquid form. The flavor sent a jolt straight to her core, and she ground against him.

With his hands on her shoulders, he pushed her back on his lap and held up a finger. “Hold that thought, because once we start, I doubt I can stop for your meal.” He pointed to the now-empty bottle.

She rocked her hips one more time. “I’m feeling very naughty.”

He groaned and threw his head against the lounger. “It’s taking all my willpower not to seize you now.” With a smirk, he gave her a smoldering glance. “Don’t think you’ll get away afterwards though.”

Daedalus stretched his long arm and pressed a button on the wall behind the lounge chair.

Sugar sat up straighter. “What was that for?” The wine had taken the edge off her anxiety, but it sprang back so easily.

“It tells them we’re ready for dinner.”

She crawled off his lap, settling her dress over her hips and tucking the girls deeper in their cups. This was it. She’d be biting some stranger. Breathing grew difficult. “Did they turn up the heat in here?”

He melted into the chair. “You’re so cute.”

She smacked his arm. “Stop that.”

“Relax.”

“You’re making it worse. I get—”

The door opened, and a man in his mid-thirties strolled in. Dark brown curls tumbled to his ears, and he moved with a dancer’s grace in the tight black slacks clinging to his thighs. When he closed the door behind him, he grinned. “I had heard rumors that you had returned, Master. Glad you haven’t forgotten me.” He sauntered across the room and shook Daedalus’s hand in a firm grip as his gaze traced over her. “And who’s this?”

She offered her hand, head spinning. “I’m Sugar.” She’d never conversed with dinner before.

Nick reached across the sedan, over Daedalus, and steadied her. “Whoa, sweet thing.” Setting her next to Daedalus, he glanced at the empty wine bottle then at her lover. “Are we sharing?”

“No, but you’ll be her first feed. I couldn’t think of anyone better to handle this.”

Nick’s back stiffened. “A fledgling?” He undid the top buttons of his shirt and opened his collar. Scars laced his throat and upper chest in a sorrowful design of old puncture wounds and cuts. Horror must have shown on her face because his expression grew dark. “I ask them to leave the marks.” He traced a rather gruesome bite on his collarbone. “Guess who gave me that one.”

She couldn’t stop from glancing at Daedalus. Would she ever stop being shocked by his lifestyle? Probably not. Part of his allure was his experience with crossing boundaries when she feared to even tread those edges. Maybe becoming vampire would loosen her restraints and allow her to fulfill some of those forbidden desires.

Turning her attention back to Nick, she noticed he’d rolled up a sleeve to bare his wrist. “We’ll start here.” He offered her his upturned hand.

“I take it I’m not your first fledgling?” She held his arm. Bite scars lined his pulse point. If she bit from this angle, would she miss the artery? Maybe she should come at him from a different angle. What if she bit too hard and her teeth went through his arm?

Daedalus pressed against her back and slid his hands over hers. “Nick’s a professional. He’s been feeding our kind since he was...”