Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(95)

“Because I figured out several things today. You’re not a normal companion and shouldn’t be treated as such. You brought Devinshea into your marriage, did you not? It wasn’t Daniel’s consent that was necessary.”

I nodded, not bothering to mention that it was Daniel who had been allowed into my bed with Dev.

“I confess I’ve had it easy. I’ve purchased the women I wanted in one way or another. I shall have to take a different tack with you. I find myself excited by the thought of the chase.” The Italian’s hand tightened on my waist.

“I’m not sleeping with you, Marcus. Daniel would be offended at the thought.” I wished there was some way to leave the floor without causing a huge scene.

“Daniel knows how I feel about you, Zoey.” We twirled around, and I saw poor Dev being manhandled on the dance floor by creepy Cecilia. “I was warned to not force you. I was told to not try to buy you. He never said anything about seducing you, cara. He will laugh at the thought, but I think you will tire of your lovers’ games and deceptions, especially when they begin to hurt the ones around you. Know this, Zoey, you’re always welcome in Venice.”

“Yeah, I’m sure I am.” I could just bet how he would welcome me.

“No, cara, no strings,” Marcus said seriously. “I apologize for my earlier actions. I was overly emotional. It’s my only excuse. If you need a place to run, my home is yours, and there will be no payment demanded. I’ll attempt to seduce you, of course, but I respect you, Zoey. I’ll honor your decision. I merely wanted to make my offer and perhaps cause your Lancelot several moments of pure horror.”

“May I cut in?” a very proper British voice asked.

Marcus nodded and smiled at me way too intimately before handing me over to Hollywood’s hottest vampire. “Decided to go for irony did you, Stewart?”

Stewart smiled a high-voltage smile. “I look damn good in this one, Zoey. He’s terrified, by the way. He keeps wondering if he’s had one too many pints.”

I hoped the unfortunate actor didn’t have an early call time tomorrow. “What happens to the poor boy when you’re done with him?”

“Oh, probably a little time in rehab, I suppose. They tend to call it exhaustion. I really like wearing famous people. It’s fun. I try to pop into Paula Abdul at least once a week.”

“That explains a lot.” I tried not to look as disgusted on the outside as I felt on the inside. “What do you want tonight, Stewart?”

“I want to help. You can’t do this without me. You need someone to show you a door. There’s no way you can find one on your own,” Stewart answered. “I’ve reserved a room for you and your boys later this evening. Way to give it up, girl. There’s nothing a hetero male loves more than a nice gangbang. I’ll be waiting, and I’ll show you the door.”

“Why should I trust you? Why am I asking that question? Here’s a better one. What’s in it for you?”

“Besides costing Brix his angelic Red Bull? I want ten minutes to talk to your husband,” Stewart admitted. “I swear on all that is dark and unholy that I merely want to talk to him. I told you I suspect he’s going places, and I might be able to help him.”

“He’s not going to want help from a demon.”

“Then he can turn me down, and no one’s lost anything,” Stewart said oh so reasonably. “It won’t cost you a thing, and it will make your little plan go so much more smoothly. You can come to the room in thirty minutes or not. Now that business is out of the way, answer me a question, companion. What’s wrong with my puppy?”

I followed Stewart’s eyes to Neil. He was watching me carefully. His face held no expression. He didn’t look like Neil at all.

“He’s just working,” I lied.

Stewart’s eyes, or the ones he was borrowing, widened. I hated the way he could get into my head. “Poor puppy. Did the nasty vampire put the whammy on him? That’s what happens when you take those blood oaths. It never works like you think it would. I wonder what those boys are going to do when you step out of line? I suspect a good spanking, but then you would probably enjoy that, love, wouldn’t you?”

I stopped in the middle of the floor and gave Stewart my best “go to hell” stare. “What’s the room number?”

“Oh, I suspect you’ll figure it out. Looks like your dance card just keeps filling up, though you might want to make sure this one doesn’t try any dirty dancing on you.” Stewart winked outrageously and practically skipped away.

I turned around just as Lucas Halfer bore down on me.





Chapter Twenty-Three





“Hello, Halfer or should I call you Brix?” I stood my ground with what I hoped was a reckless grin. Inside I was screaming and running as far and fast as I could. My lack of weaponry made my hands twitch for a nice, happy gun. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Neil starting to make his way through the crowd on the dance floor.

Lucas Halfer was a large, imposing man. His features were dark and looked as though they’d been cut from granite. Unlike many of the demons here, Halfer preferred a human appearance to his demonic state. I’d seen his demonic state a couple of times, and I admit I preferred his human body, as well.