Annie Nicholas - Prima

“Fifteen.” Nick gave her a reassuring smile, like she was a child being convinced to eat her broccoli. “You’re thinking too much. Just bite me.”

“What if it hurts?”

His eyebrows shot up, and he gave a nervous laugh. “I’m hoping it will.”

Yeah, dumbass, he got off on pain. Stupid, stupid, stupid... Enough stalling. She opened her mouth and set her fangs against his skin, trying to ignore the memory of what had happened with the watermelon. With gentle pressure, she sank into his flesh.

He didn’t pop like Clementine said skin sometimes did. It could be the scar tissue.

Daedalus moved for a better view. “Release the bite so his blood will flow easier, and seal the wound with your mouth.” He set his finger on her chin and assisted with her fangs retreat.

Hot liquid scorched the tip of her tongue. She hadn’t realized how cold she felt. The siren’s beckon of Nick’s heat called to her, and she pressed her mouth against his wrist. Metallic flavor filled her senses, and she closed her eyes as she savored the way it eased the sharp hunger tearing at her soul.

“That’s it, babe.” Daedalus stroked her back.

“She bites like a kitten.” Nick chuckled and relaxed against the lounge chair. “How long will you be in town for?”

“For awhile.” Watching Sugar’s lips on another man’s skin should have bothered him more, but he’d known Nick since this restaurant hired him decades ago. “Are you interested in becoming privately owned?” Sugar’s feeding anxieties might be alleviated if her donors weren’t strangers all the time. In an odd way, he trusted Nick. He wouldn’t try seducing his naive fiancée for one thing, since his main preference was men.

Wait until she found out about that. Daedalus restrained his chuckle.

Nick gave him a seductive smile. “I’m not getting younger. If the pension plan were right, I’d be in the market for it.” Always the businessman. Daedalus could use someone like this in his company. Especially since he’d killed his best financial advisor this week.

Sugar’s swallows grew more frantic.

“Fledglings have to feed daily. I can’t feed her by myself. She’d drain me dry within a week.” Nick eased her head from his wound.

She blinked in a daze while he guided her up to his neck. With more ferocity, she stabbed with her dainty fangs.

Nick’s hiss of pleasure faded as she eased and drank with more voracity. “That’s better.” He turned his attention back to Daedalus. “What were you offering?”

“Help recruit a couple others to be her regulars and feed her for a year until she’s acclimated to a vampire’s life, then I’ll give you a choice. Retire on some island, or cross over and work for me at Pal Robi Inc.”

Nick grew very still.

Daedalus continued to stroke Sugar’s tense back as her feeding slowed. He didn’t make this proposal lightly. The halls of Pal Robi Inc. were empty, and he needed to fill them. His old allies might return, but he’d like some new blood to keep the old vampires on their toes.

“I think that’s an offer I can’t refuse.” Nick held out his hand again and shook Daedalus’s with a firm grip.

“It might be a few weeks before my offices are running well enough to draw up the contract.”

“That’s fine. I’ll feed her in the meantime and look for others until then.” Nick glanced at her. “She’s special to you.”

Daedalus pointed to the ring on her finger. “She’ll be Prima, which means hands off to any of the others you pick as well. Unless they have an excruciating death wish." Adjusting to others touching her even in the most platonic manner would be another test of his self-restraint.

She lapped at Nick's throat. The flow of blood had slowed to a trickle.

Slipping his arm around her waist, Daedalus removed her from Nick’s arms. “That’s enough.” He set her on the empty lounge chair across from where they were sitting and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. She seemed dazed and satiated. He couldn’t remember blood having this kind of effect on him, but he'd seen others in this state.

Nick buttoned his shirt. “If she remains this gentle, my other needs won’t be fulfilled.”

For a fledgling, she’d taken to feeding with a rare grace. He had half-expected to have to pry her off Nick’s body. She’d been remarkable. He eyed Nick. “I’ll introduce you to Pallas, my clan brother. He’ll take care of your other desires.”

Nick raised a speculative eyebrow.

“Trust me. If you want a Dom, he’d be willing.”

A wide grin spread across Nick’s face before he left the room.

It would be best if he made sure Pallas could restrain himself before introducing him to Nick. The loss of the human would be a nuisance, especially if Sugar grew attached.

She lay still on the lounge, one shoe off, the other dangling from her toe. She stared at nothing, then she blinked. Licking her lips, she sat up straighter and searched the room. “Where did Nick go?” The loose shoe fell with a dull thunk on the carpeted floor.

“He has other things to pursue tonight. How do you feel?” He ran his hand over the smooth skin of her leg.

“Uh.” She looked around the room once more. “A little confused, otherwise great.” She crawled onto his lap, straddling his hips.

He moaned while pulling the hem of her dress over her head.

“Daedalus.” She covered her chest and glanced at the door in earnest. “What if someone comes in?”

“No one will enter unless we ring.” He leaned toward the buzzer. “Want to see?”

“No.” She laughed and wrapped her arms around his as if she could hold him down. Glimpsing the playful twinkle in her eyes, he sighed. Giving her control might not be such a bad idea.

He let her pin him to the lounge chair. “You’ve got me, you tyrant. What are your vile plans?” Please let them be very vile.

“Oh, I plan to have my way with you.” She rose and crossed to the lounge chair then tossed him an uncertain glance over her shoulder. “You sure about the door?”

He left his comfortable spot and locked it. “Positive.” Anything to get her to relax and let go. This was the Sugar he remembered. Playful, fun, and bashful. A growl rolled in his chest.

“Ah-ah.” She wagged her finger at him. “We’ll have none of that, Mr. Pal Robi.” She sat on the edge of the lounger and crossed her legs, dressed in only her white lace panties and bra, always white for Sugar. “You’re overdressed for the occasion.” Tapping her chin with her fingertip, she watched expectantly.

Looking down, he gestured to his attire. “You’re right.” He let his jacket slip off his shoulders and fall at his feet. In seconds his shirt and pants joined it. He stalked toward her.

“Commando?” She licked her lips.

“Always.” He stood in front of her, imagining that tongue doing more interesting things. More desperate and depraved things. His cock ached at the sight, but this was her night, and he wouldn’t make any demands. However, he wasn’t beyond begging. He palmed his hardening dick and gave it a few consoling strokes.

She contemplated his form, letting her gaze travel over his body. “I’ve missed this.”

“We have all the time we need now.” The last word caught in his throat as she took over his stroking with her tantalizing hand. Her fingers barely met around his shaft. He bent and licked her bottom lip, tasting the faintest hint of blood.

“You never fed,” she whispered against his mouth.

“I’m old enough that I don’t need to feed every day, but I’m not so old not to want you daily.”

Shivering, Sugar parted her lips and pulled away from his mouth, sliding lower along his torso. She trailed kisses along his abdomen until she reached his cock and traced the tip of her tongue over its head. Then with firm strokes she lapped at him like an ice cream cone.