Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #12)(95)

She and Hag were in bathing suits, and he’d removed his shirt. Though it was a cloudless day, Thad had no problem with the sun, and he had the tan to prove it. “Guess it’s my phantom half,” he’d explained with a shrug.

Behind his back, Ellie mimicked a kitty-cat clawing him; Hag grinned into her beer.

After popping open a round for the three of them, Ellie sank down on the lounge chair to watch sweat trickle along the rises and falls of Thad’s cut torso muscles.

Am I feeling lust for him? Or just appreciating his amazing hotness?

It occurred to her that he was exactly the type of boy she’d always imagined herself with. Good-natured, handsome, considerate.

So why was she so attracted to a deadly, forbidding bloodsucker like Lothaire?

Because of mental trauma and sexual desperation?

Or because of his brilliant mind and seductive touch? That molten gaze . . .

Maybe she should test out whether she truly desired Lothaire or if she simply needed a male—any male.

Maybe test this with Thad? Countless Coronas said this was the best—plan—ever.

When her timer went off, Hag wobbled to her feet, pointing to the sky. “Potion!” she said, like she might say, “Eureka!” Then she veered off to the kitchen.

Alone with Thad, Ellie said, “Thank you so much for bringing me back this morning.” Taking yet another swig of liquid courage, she stood, crossing over to him. “You’re my hero.”

Still concentrating on his chore, he drawled, “Anytime, darlin’.” She’d found out that he was a born-and-bred Texan. A long, tall, gorgeous drink of Texas . . .

“You mind if I give you a hug in thanks?” Her voice had gone

throaty.

He turned toward her with a frown, scrubbing his palm over his chin.

Before he could say anything, she laced her hands around his neck, her nails sifting through the hair curling at his nape.

God, he smells incredible. The muscles of his chest flexed against her breasts, his damp skin so hot she could feel it through her top. “Or how about a thank-you kiss?” She stood on her toes.

He blushed deeply. “Uh. You’re Mr. Lothaire’s female, which means you’re taken. Really taken. And as for me, I’m—”

Ellie pressed her lips against his, tightening her embrace while he froze in shock.

But his lips were firm, tasting of lime with a hint of salt. Nice. She kissed harder, and his lips finally parted on a breath.

He smells, feels, and tastes wonderful.

So where’s the lust?

Dang it! Now she could admit what she’d instinctively known. Without Lothaire, I’ll never feel such passion again.

She was just about to break away when Hag walked out. “Dark gods! What is this, Elizabeth?” she cried. “You want this boy dead?”

Thad and Ellie both stumbled back mumbling apologies to Hag, to each other.

The fey pointed Ellie toward the bathroom. “Go wash your face now!” To Thad, Hag said, “Sit. You’re next.”

Inside the bathroom, Hag slammed the door behind Ellie. “Wash! Get his scent off you.”

Ellie dutifully scrubbed her face. Okay, maybe the beers were wrong and that hadn’t been the best idea. “You’re not going to tell Lothaire?”

“This happened on my watch. I left two drunken, postpubescent beings alone. Lothaire can never know. Why in the gods’ names would you do this?”

“I just . . . I had to know why I feel things so strongly with Lothaire. If it was me being straight out of prison, or if it’s him.”

Hag’s disapproving mien softened. “No matter how ill-advised your experiment, I can’t fault you for your curiosity.” She exhaled. “I can only imagine what you must be feeling. But did you at least make a determination?”

“It’s only Lothaire for me. Passion-wise, at least.” Nobody’s fool.

Then Ellie frowned. What if there was actually a future with a vampire like him? Somewhere—and somehow—to be found?

To save herself, she’d been seducing his body and his mind, with some success. But she’d left his heart out of it.

What if she set out to win the vampire—because she wanted to try a life with him?

“I’m gonna make Lothaire fall in love with me. I mean really in love.” Gonna put his heart in my sights. Trace, vampire, but you can’t hide.

“And what if he still sacrifices you for Saroya, for his crowns?” Hag asked. “All you’ll be doing is making it hurt worse for both of you.”

Ellie would be guarding her own heart the whole time, determined not to fall for Lothaire. And once she made up her mind, she couldn’t be moved from her decisions. “Then I’ve got to make him love me more than two vampire kingdoms.”

“And precisely how are you going to do that?”

Ellie grinned. “I’ll figure it out over more tequila. Now, let me go smooth things over with poor Thad. . . .”





39


One love, one heart . . . let’s get together and feel all right. . . .”

When Lothaire traced back to Hag’s, reggae music and laughter sounded from her deck. A bottle popped open, glasses clinking.

Though the potion base bubbled at the ready, the kitchen area was empty. Was Elizabeth outside? Had she regained full consciousness without this concoction?