Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(69)

When he kissed me, it was with everything he had. He didn’t bother to undress me, simply shifted a bit and pulled up my skirt before tugging my undies down. The situation was far too urgent. He fumbled, a word that almost never described Dev. He was smooth and silky but tonight he faltered.

I took charge for the first time. I unzipped his pants, reaching for his cock, stroking him until he groaned. I guided him to me and wrapped my legs around him, offering him everything I had. He kissed me as he strained to work his way inside me, slowly, inch by inch, teasing his way in, letting me get wet around him.

Dev groaned and pulled himself out.

“Condom,” he muttered with a grimace. He pulled one out and rolled the hated piece of latex over his cock, and then came back to me.

“I love you, Zoey,” he whispered as he started to glide his cock over that sweet spot he always found so quickly. “Remember that. No matter what you see tonight, no matter what you have to do, I love you.”

An hour later, the limo rolled back in front of the casino. Dev set down his drink and tried to smooth his clothes into something that resembled a presentable state. After the things we’d done in that limo, there was no way his clothes stayed perfectly pressed. My comfortable clothes had held up better, but it was time for me to get ready for the party.

The driver opened the car, and the first thing I saw was Daniel. He leaned against the side of the building, a hollow look on his face. When he glanced up and saw me, his face went blank and he made his way to the limo.

“It’s time, Zoey,” Dev said, picking up his drink again. He took a long swallow of vodka. “Go with your husband. I’m going to find a poker table and hope no one tries to righteously kill me.”

I leaned over to kiss him good-bye, but he put a hand between us. “No, Zoey. No more affection where anyone could see us. I told you you wouldn’t like it, sweetheart. Unless we are with Daniel and playing out our happy ménage, I will treat you with the courtesy of a servant. This game has started.”

Daniel held out his hand to help me out of the limo. His eyes were dark, but he swallowed his anger. “I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t do that again, Dev.”

Dev inclined his head slightly to show his agreement. He looked at me and his face was blank. I was staring at the face of a politician, not my lover. “Zoey, you do not dare enter that gathering without his mark on you. Do you understand?”

I understood. Tonight Daniel would be drinking straight from the tap.

“How long?” I demanded. “How long do we have to play this stupid game?”

Dev reached for the vodka bottle. “We play until we win or we die.”

I let Daniel help me out of the car. He shut the door and the limo took off.

“Zoey, people are watching.” Daniel pulled me close, and I let my arm go around him.

I was grateful for his strong arm around me because I didn’t like being the center of this attention. When Daniel said people, he meant vampires. I suddenly felt very ill equipped to do this part of the job. I was ready to slip into Hell and rescue my friend, but I wanted to hide at the thought of having to fit into vampire society.

“Mr. Donovan, Mrs. Donovan.” A well-dressed man approached us. He was a middle-aged man with a solid build.

“Roman.” Daniel shook the man’s hand. “Zoey, this is Roman. He runs Dev’s club here in Vegas. He’s been assigned to make sure we’re comfortable.”

“It is a great pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Donovan.” Roman bowed my way, a gallant gesture. “Know I stand ready to meet your every need. My employer was quite adamant about making sure you were comfortable. Please understand that credit has been guaranteed at any store you would like to shop at or any restaurant you care to dine at. There is a driver at your disposal twenty-four hours a day.”

“We get it,” Daniel said irritably. “He wants her taken care of.”

Roman stopped, his eyes slightly confused. “You do understand that he’s done the same for you, Mr. Donovan? My employer was quite adamant that you both be taken care of.”

That stopped Daniel for a moment. “Thank you. I appreciate it. Could you please show us to our room? We don’t have as much time as I thought we would.”

Roman led the way into the casino. Daniel and I walked behind him. I’m sure I looked like a gawky tourist, but I didn’t care. Vegas was completely new to me, and I was kind of awed by the decadence of it.

Daniel leaned over and whispered in my ear. “This place is full of vampires, baby. Be very careful. That one over there is a Council member named Niko. He knew Socrates on a personal level. He’s looking forward to meeting you, Z. Everyone is very curious about us.”

I started toward the elevators but Roman diverted us.

“Your rooms have a private elevator, Mrs. Donovan.” He indicated a lovely glass elevator off to the side of the lobby. He punched in a code and the elevator began to slide down toward us. “They’re going to be curious, Mr. Donovan, because it has been a very long time since the Council designated a Nex Apparatus. It scares the hell out of everyone. As for you, Mrs. Donovan, they’re likely wondering what kind of woman shares a bed with such a man. A companion is used to a certain hardness in the vampire she serves. Mr. Donovan is believed to be on a whole new level. The other companions, they pity you.”