Addict (Hunter #2)(17)

I smiled at the sweet, smart boy. “Don’t worry about it. I won’t be able to leave until one thirty in the morning. You’ll be asleep by then. I’ll find a way out and I’ll tell you all about it after school tomorrow.”

Lee nodded and hugged me before running out the door.

“The king’s son seems taken by you,” Hugo noted as he glanced around the office.

“I like him, too,” I said, smiling. My smile disappeared as I took in my veek assistant. It was best to put our relationship on a realistic footing. He was really a spy for Donovan. I wasn’t an idiot. I handed him the list of things I had for him to do. “As long as you’re here, I could use some help. I need you to run a skip trace on Greg Houston. I want to know where he is and how much money he has. Second, find out if Lance Belton is screwing someone other than his girlfriend. We have a file on him. Call his friends and lean on them for info. Call a man named Alan Kent. He’s a shifter so we probably have his number on file. I need to talk to him tonight. Tell him to meet me at Ether at ten or so. If he gives you trouble about it, remind him who I am now. You’re a vamp, use that persuasion thing.”

Justin’s eyes had gone wide. “I’m actually not very good at that.”

“Consider it practice then,” I offered as Hugo and I edged closer to the door. “Also, this place needs snacks. There isn’t any food in that fridge. Get me snacks and some beer. No one has beer around here. And peanut butter cups.” Another thought struck me. “And find me a comfy couch. That thing Quinn bought is pretty, but I can’t nap on it. Think big pillows. If you need anything, don’t call me. I’ll be screwing my boyfriend, eating, or sleeping. All of those are serious things for me, Justin. Do we understand each other?”

The veek shook his head, clutching his thermos. “What’s a skip trace?”

“Look it up on the Internet, Justin,” I said, swinging the door open. “I bet you’re damn good with computers.”

Hugo was laughing as he walked beside me down the hallway. “I feel sorry for Mr. Parker. I believe he will find you a difficult employer.”

“I’ll give him more of a chance tomorrow.” The elevator started toward the seventh floor and some small amount of freedom. My heart was starting to race as the doors opened and I got out. Marcus was here. I could feel him. Warmth spread through me.

Hugo stayed in the elevator. “Tell your master I will call upon him later this evening, after he’s had suitable time to welcome you home, of course. Kelsey, it was a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to seeing more of you.”

I waved to the vampire as the door closed and then raced down the hall. I hadn’t seen my apartment yet, but I didn’t care what was in the place. I cared who was in it. I pulled out the key Quinn had given me and threw open the door. Marcus was standing there waiting like he’d known I was coming, and he had. He’d known I was there the same way I had known he was. He’d felt my presence deep in his soul.

“Good evening, bella,” Marcus said warmly, his eyes already heating up.

I stood and for a moment I couldn’t move. I simply stood there, taking him in. He was heartbreakingly beautiful. He had pitch-black hair that he slicked back, but I loved it when it got loose and fell over his eyes. His face could have been carved by Michelangelo. Marcus always reminded me of a gorgeous bird of prey, with dark eyes and a lean body.

“I missed you,” I breathed as I went to stand in front of him.

His hands pulled me into the firm strength of his body. “Not as much as I missed you,” he said, tilting my head back.

His mouth covered mine, and I thrilled as his fangs popped out. I loved the feel of them. I loved to work my tongue around them while we kissed. If I accidently nicked myself on those sharp teeth, Marcus would groan as he tasted the blood. He would go a little wild. I nicked myself as often as possible.

His tongue played with mine and I felt his hands drop below my waist, cupping the cheeks of my ass. Marcus would play the gentleman much of the time, but when we were alone, he let all of that go. There was no gentleman in our bed. He tugged on my hair, and I let my head fall back. He growled as he ran his nose along the side of my neck.

“Mine.”

“Yours,” I agreed. My whole body softened in response to his dominance. Marcus could be incredibly indulgent, but he liked to rule in the bedroom.

A vision of Gray Sloane, his massive, muscular body working over mine, assaulted me. I shoved it aside. Even when I was with Marcus, Gray was somehow with us. Sometimes I wished I’d never met that half demon because it seemed nothing I did could loosen his hold on me.

“Bed?” I asked, coming up for air.

“Later.” Marcus pulled my shirt over my head. It was tossed to the floor. He flicked the front clasp of my bra, and I was naked from the waist up. His hands covered my breasts. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”

He was good at that. Sometimes I thought Marcus’s goal in life was to make me feel good about myself. “Not today.”

The tips of his fingers brushed my nipples, making them hard and ready for more. “Then allow me to correct the oversight. You are stunning, bella. I dream about your breasts.”

My breasts aren’t the biggest in the world, but when Marcus’s voice went low and he couldn’t take his eyes off my chest, I couldn’t help but feel sexy. I let my hand slide down his hard body to find his cock. Marcus might like to be in charge, but he also liked it when I misbehaved. I cupped him. “I dream about your cock.”