Annie Nicholas - Prima

Then again, from his impassioned moans, she might be his tidal wave. He released his bite, and those moans turned into her name over and over. A hot wash in her core followed as his cries filled the room. It sent her off the edge in a slick slide to her release.

Daedalus held the door as Sugar sat in the passenger seat of his car, her cane still in hand. She obviously didn't need to use it. On those fuck-me-now heels, she moved with a graceful sway of her hips that drew every male's gaze. That would take some getting used to again. He'd forgotten how unaware she was of her own beauty and how males responded to her. The vampirism broadcasted her sensuality even more.

Closing the door, he raced to the driver's side. They had a few hours before dawn, and he had plans for those in the bedroom. It seemed like a good time to show Sugar her new vampire stamina. He never would have taken her like he just had when she'd been human. Not with that amount of feral passion. It would have broken her. They had much to explore as lovers now.

She waved to the valets as they left. He recognized the looks on their faces. They'd be anxious for her return.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

Unaware of her effect on the restaurant staff, she watched the passing scenery through the window with drooping eyelids. She made a small, satisfied moan.

His chest swelled at the noise. He set his hand upon the back of her neck and massaged her loose muscles. “The night isn’t over yet.”

“Can a hot bath be part of our plans?” She rolled her head to meet his gaze. Only a deaf, blind, and dumb male could have missed the ardor in her question.

Leaning forward slightly, he sped toward the mansion. “Anything you want.”

Her husky laugh caressed his ears with promises of more than just washing. “I remember your offer to Nick. How often will I have to feed?”

He sighed and kissed his plans good-bye. The twist of their conversation might darken the mood. Discussing vampire life used to turn into an argument with Sugar. He hoped they were past this hurdle. “Every day for the first few months while your body continues to change. We’ll have to watch your hunger closely as we wean you.”

“How long can you go?”

“Before I lose control? A month.”

Her head jerked from its relaxed pose against the headrest. “You feed more often than that.”

He withdrew from massaging and set his hand back on the steering wheel. “Should I wait until I’m in crisis? It’s not a good idea. Do humans wait until they’re starved to eat their next meal? When I hunger, I feed.” It was best to adjust her expectations now. Her future depended on how she viewed taking sustenance. “How did you like feeding from Nick?”

She twisted away and faced the window once more. “It was fine.”

“I could retract my offer if you didn’t like him. No contracts were signed.” He gripped the wheel, taking a turn too sharply. “I just thought learning to feed from someone like him would be safe for you.”

“I don’t like the idea of keeping a pet.”

“Wow, that’s very vampire of you to call him that.” Nothing he did pleased her. He could buy the space shuttle and capture the moon, yet she’d still blame him for the loss of moonlight.

“What is he then?”

“An employee. He’s not cheap, Sugar. Being a donor is considered a profession among our kind. The government makes laws against feeding from humans against their will, but what keeps a scorned human from calling foul? If you haven’t noticed, humans tend to think us monsters guilty until proven innocent.” He cleared the strain from his voice. “Donors are paid for, contracted, and safe for my people.”

“Our people.” She still didn’t look at him.

He sighed again. The way she spoke those words didn’t encourage his confidence in her staying with him and his nest. She wore his ring on her finger, but what did she truly feel in her heart? That he’d betrayed her deepest wishes, or that he’d saved her from an untimely death? Once she gained control over her hunger, would she return to Chicago and the Vasi?

Silence filled the vehicle until he thought it would burst from the pressure.

“Do sunlamps burn us?” She whispered the question.

Tossing her a quick glance, he shook his head. “Why?”

“I was thinking about my garden in Chicago.” She traced the outline of her face on the window.

“I had the one at the mansion built in case you wanted to live with me one day. All the flowers bloom at night. You can do whatever you want with it.” He gritted his teeth and focused on the road. “I’m trying.”

With slow purpose, she twisted in her seat and set her hand on his leg. “I know. I thought I could make a sunroom or something.”

It wasn’t the flowers she missed, but the sunlight. “You can convert the grand hall into an indoor garden if you’d like.”

She squeezed his thigh. “That could work.” Her voice rose at the idea.

“You can start planning it tomorrow.” Keeping her busy would help with the transition.

“What about your nest? You really should concentrate on finding them.”

He did his best to smile at her, but he feared some of his sorrow bled through. “Don’t worry about them. The call to come home went out. I’m waiting.”

“I thought the sooner this was over, the sooner we could return home.”

All his years of experience couldn’t stop his flinch. She had more power over him than anyone in all his centuries. Could he leave his post? Would the council let him?

“Are you on your way home?” Pallas’s thought daggered through his mind.

He jerked in his seat as if goosed from behind. Bastard. He’d almost pissed his pants. “ You know better than to barge into a person’s head. And, yes, we’re close. Why?”

“Good.” Even through their mental link he could sense Pallas chuckling. “ Vampires are gathering outside. Clementine tells me not to kill them, but she refuses to go out and greet them by herself.”

“Listen to her.” About time his people showed up. He was beginning to wonder if they had abandoned him.

Maybe the council had sent Pallas to ensure someone of their clan kept control in the area, but the real question was whether he’d been ordered to kill Daedalus if he decided to return to Chicago. They equaled each other’s skill, so he didn’t know who would win in such an altercation.

“Everything all right?” Sugar straightened in her seat, searching the road. “What spooked you?”

“Pallas.” He tapped his head. “I hate it when he does that.”

“Will I be able to speak with my mind?” She relaxed in her seat again.

“I don’t know. Vampirism is different for each person. We’ll explore your gifts together as you grow into your power.” He turned onto his property and drove through the still-smashed gates. He added them to his mental to-do list for tomorrow.

In front of his home gathered a group of ten individuals.

His pride took a nosedive. Only ten?

Sugar leaned forward, undoing her seat belt, her eyes glued to the small group. “What’s going on?”

He took her hand. “They are the remaining loyalists in Pal Robi Inc., the ones who didn’t run when the company was taken over.” He exited the car and motioned for her to follow. Even though he’d trust these people close to his home, he wouldn't turn his back on them and leave Sugar vulnerable. He’d made that mistake once, and she’d paid the price dearly.

The click of her heels hurried toward him before he felt her presence close to his side. Her fingers slid into the crook of his arm in a possessive manner that took him off-guard enough to glance at her. She glared at his people as if daring them to separate her from him.