Jeaniene Frost - Once Burned

“I never do anything unless I’m sure.”

His voice was lower, and his fingers tightened on my hand. A bolt slid into him that I hadn’t meant to send, but he didn’t appear to mind. A slow smile spread across his lips.

“More.”

The soft word was filled with challenge, as if he were daring me to hold anything back. Still bewildered over how he affected me, I took in a breath and then released the hold I kept over myself. Those inner currents unleashed in a burst of power that would’ve made the ground shudder from its intensity, but Vlad absorbed it without flinching, emerald sparks in his gaze the only visible indication that he felt anything. I was the one who swayed, feeling slightly dizzy at the expulsion of so much energy, so fast.

“I—I think that’s enough,” I said, the words uneven from the sudden weakening in my knees. I didn’t usually feel like this after releasing my excess voltage. Maybe it was just because I hadn’t eaten in almost two days.

Vlad stared down at me, not moving. “Are you able to manage the steps, or do you need assistance?”

My knees still felt wobbly, and though the idea of being in his hot embrace was dangerously appealing, I was not going to be carried to my room like some sort of war spoils. “I’m fine.”

He let go of my hand and stepped back, nodding to Maximus. “Prepare her food immediately after you show her to her room.” Then to me he said, “I’ll see you at dinner.”

I used the banister for balance as I followed Maximus up the curving staircase. Thirty hard-fought steps later we came to a landing. I was relieved that Maximus exited there instead of continuing up the staircase. Maybe I was suffering from jet lag combined with an emotional crash from all the stress of the past couple days.

Off the landing was a wood-paneled sitting room with views of the forest and mountains from windows that took up most of one wall. A long hallway was at the end of the lovely space, and I fought the urge to touch the walls to see if the material covering them really was velvet.

Maximus opened the third door in the hallway, standing aside to let me enter. I tried to act nonchalant when I saw that it was just as opulent as the rest of the house. I’d originally hoped it wouldn’t take long to help Vlad find the person who directed Jackal and the others to kidnap me—if he was right and there was a mastermind behind the plot. But now, the idea of the hunt stretching out a few weeks didn’t bother me. I couldn’t get used to this kind of luxury because I was going back to my borderline-poverty life as soon as this was over, but in the meantime . . . life was too short not to enjoy a windfall.

“This is amazing,” I told Maximus, who seemed to be waiting to see if the room met with my approval.

“I’m glad you’re pleased,” he replied. His formal manner seemed at odds with his formidable appearance and direct gaze. Maximus was a foot taller than my five-six height, and his thick muscles and rugged features made me think “scary bodyguard” more than “mild-mannered butler,” but who was I to judge?

“You will find a change of clothes in the wardrobe,” he went on. “Also, the electricity in this room was rewired to be voice activated. Lights on,” he commanded, and sure enough, the bedside lamps and wall sconces flared to life.

I was stunned. “How did you—?” Then I stopped. Vlad .

He’d not only made good on his promise to provide me with clothes, he’d also managed to have his guest room rewired since without my glove, I couldn’t touch a light switch without frying it.

Maximus waited to see if I would complete my sentence. When I didn’t, he continued on as if I hadn’t spoken. “You can also say ‘dim’ or ‘lights off’ when you want to retire. Dinner is served at nine in the main dining room on the first floor. Will you need me to show you where it is?”

“No, I think I remember seeing it,” I said, still taken aback by this unexpected kindness from Vlad.

“Then I will leave you. Your lunch will be delivered shortly, but if you have need of anything in the meantime, pull this cord.”

He illustrated the statement by pulling on a long tassel that hung near the door. I didn’t hear anything, but I took him at his word that it worked.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling like I should tip him. Not that I could. My wallet was back in Florida.

He inclined his head. “My pleasure.”

I waited until he closed the door behind him before going into the bathroom to check it out. It had a glass shower big enough for two and a sunken garden tub I could almost swim in, plus various other amenities.

I’d longed for a shower, but the thought of soaking my aches away in that tub changed my mind. “Lights on,” I said, and then used my left hand to turn on the water.

Several covered dishes were on a tray in the sitting area when I came out of the bathroom. Good thing I’d closed the door or I’d have given whoever brought it a free show. I flipped the lids off to find a four-course meal spread before me. I glanced around, almost expecting people to pop out of woodwork and join me. I have ample food , Vlad had said. No shit. If his blood donors ate like this at every meal, they must weigh three hundred pounds each.

My stomach yowled, a warning to stop staring and start eating. I sat down and dug in without bothering to get dressed.

By the time I was finished, I was so full that all I wanted to do was nap, but Vlad had said he’d send Marty up after I’d showered and eaten. The antique wardrobe turned out to be filled with clothes that were new or rarely worn from the pristine look of them. They were all my size, too, as were the shoes at the bottom of the solid wood piece. I began opening drawers in the nearby dresser and found more of the same. Even the cup size on the bras was correct. Either Vlad had been staring real hard at me while I slept, or he had a lot of experience guessing women’s sizes—and a lot of chick’s clothes stockpiled at his house.

The latter was no doubt true, but the thought of him checking out my breasts made things stir in me that I normally kept locked down. Then I reminded myself that Vlad might as well have a “Hazardous to Your Health!” label stamped on him and chose a sweater, slacks, and thick socks. The fireplace was lit, making this room cozily warm, but the rest of the mansion might not be as comfortable. As soon as I was dressed, I tugged on the tassel. Less than a minute later, a knock sounded at the door. I opened it to reveal Maximus in the hallway. I wondered if his speed meant he was a vampire, or just extremely attentive.

“Do you know where my friend Marty is?”

“Yes. Shall I bring him up?”

Relief filled me. Vlad was now four for four on his promises. “I can go to him,” I told Maximus. I still felt a little drained, but I wasn’t nearly as woozy as I’d been before.

“I will bring him to you,” he stated. “Wait here.”

Then he was gone in a blur of motion. All right, that answered whether or not Maximus was a vampire. I waited, sitting on the bed after ten minutes standing in front of the empty doorway. Ten minutes into waiting in there, I was starting to get nervous. What was taking so long? Maximus had produced a gourmet meal faster than this!

After thirty minutes, I raced down the staircase to the first floor, trying to remember which direction Vlad had headed off in. The huge hall with its multiple adjoining rooms that had so impressed me before seemed like a maze designed to confound me now. I didn’t see a single soul, either. What had happened to all the bowing guys? Where the hell was everyone?