The Way You Bite(32)

“Right, I forget you’re dogs.”

“I’d be offended, but I’m going to assume you mean it’s instinct and not something intentionally derogatory.”

“Think what you want.”

He directed her into a beautiful wood-paneled office complete with a stonework fireplace. She pulled her arm out of his grasp, clinging to dignity and pride. They wouldn’t hold out for much longer with any part of him touching her.

A burgundy button leather sofa across the room looked promising. Standing for this discussion wouldn’t work since her brain was already lightheaded.

“Are you in any pain?” Lexan asked as he closed the door. His piercing pale eyes surveyed her.

“Not so much.” Surprisingly, she didn’t feel more than a twinge of soreness. There was just this residual weakness and the ever-present vertigo.

“Is your back okay?” His tone was cool, but his gaze churned with the promise of retaliation against her attacker.

“Why don’t we skip the concern over my comfort? I know I’m not here to hash out my injury tally. Yesterday, well, day before yesterday, your helping me must have been self-serving in some way. So, drop that seductive smile. We’re going to ignore the hormonal disaster between us. Let’s skip to the part you tell me why you won’t leave me alone.”

“I’m not trying to seduce you.” Right now. “What’s going on with you is biology. You’re seducing yourself and me.”

His grin, much to her annoyance, made her cheeks heat.

He said, “I meant what I said the other night. Whatever’s going on here is unexpected and…distracting.”

“It’s aggravating.” Her body went traitor on her and sent heat coursing through her veins as she remembered the sensation he was capable of producing. The intensity in his eyes stole her breath. It stripped her raw and left her wanting every distracting touch he could dole out.

She had to get beyond this mesmerizing, seductive hold he had on her. Somehow she had to switch her brain out of take me please into this guy is dangerous and using you. Here was another ancient alpha with an angle. “Let’s stop this and get serious. Please.”

“I’ll get serious when you stop staring at me as if you prefer I tear off your clothes and lay you on this desk.”

Oh God, yes. She double blinked. “I have no such thoughts.”

“You’re a bad liar. You’re going to need my help.” Something flashed through his eyes that almost looked like apprehension. Because she needed his help?

“I think you’ve already helped me enough. You and your friends are putting my life in jeopardy.”

“Your father sent me to help you.”

“Dominic?”

His face tightened. “Dominic isn’t your father. Blaylock Lazlo sent me.”

“What do you mean Dominic isn’t my father? Of course he is.”

“Trust me, catifea. You’ve got Blay’s eyes. That little splash of brown in the midst of those greens is a familial mark. I, too, was skeptical until I saw that.”

“Who is Blaylock?” Panic ensued in her mind. It was a ruse, she told herself. He meant to throw her off balance.

“Blay is the werewolf who had a liaison with your mother. He’s the one Dominic thinks killed her.” No hint of dishonesty reflected in Lexan’s gaze or in his mind. Either he was a master poker player or he believed this to be truth.

“A wolf is my father? That’s ridiculous. Dominic says my mother cheated on him after I was born. Then this wolf went crazy and killed her. There’s absolutely no way this Blaylock guy is my father. I’m not a mix.”

“You’re not a pureblood vamp. Somehow your vampire genes allowed you to stay primarily vamp this long. Perhaps it was survival instinct. You’re craving sweets because your body is desperate for extra calories. The first shift depletes the muscles. So, the body prepares itself as best possible. You probably feel vertigo all the time as your body tries to find balance between what it is now and what it wants to become. All of this means your inner wolf is about to show herself. Why else would you be able to go into heat?”

“Is this some sort of game? If so, it’s not funny.” Vee stood to leave. Vertigo slammed hard, causing her to grab the sofa’s arm and sink back onto the plush seat.

“I will follow you until you hear me out. You are why I am here in this country. Your transition is going to happen soon, and when it does, if you’re near vamps… Well, it won’t be good for you.”

Vee crossed her arms and shot him a sour look, waiting.

“How often has Dominic sent his Squad vamps after you, like the one who knifed you?” His tone was cool. Too cool. His eyes turned arctic cold.

It took her a moment to adjust to the one-eighty the conversation just took. “That’s not what we were talking about.”

“It’s what we’re talking about now.” Lexan crossed his arms.

“That came out a bit more like kingly ordering than asking. I’m not one of your subjects.” She itched to fight and enjoyed it, but the room had taken on a hazy sheen, as if she was looking through a steamed-up shower door. Whatever Lexan said sounded as if he were underwater. Sparkles highlighted her peripheral vision.

The next thing she clearly registered was Lexan beside her on the sofa, holding her head. His large thigh pressed tightly next to hers. She gave into the desire to relax into him. Her eyelids drifted shut as she savored his smell. God, she could become addicted to it…probably already was.