Bad Mouth(10)

He shrugged. “Like any other vampire. He’s a Dominus, an old one. One of the oldest. Been around longer than Olen’s had gray hair.”

She bit her lip. He could almost feel her nerves, but all she did was square her shoulders and take a deep breath. It didn’t matter if Ptolomy’s aged power petrified her, he knew she wouldn’t let her fear stop her. That turned him on so hardcore he wanted to lick her resolve.

She should be nervous, however. Ptolomy didn’t dance to anyone’s tune, not even his, and he would tell them nothing. Kade would put money on it. This Dominus was too damned old to care about anything other than his own twisted pleasures. Funny how the word twisted applied to all the Ancients. Maybe anything living as long as a vampire would eventually become a perversion of nature.

Kade had never had much real trouble with Ptolomy. The male didn’t exactly fly straight, but he never put himself on the outs with the Rex and his Domina.

The iron gate in front of Ptolomy’s home swung open automatically when they pulled up. As they neared his mansion, Val clutched her satchel with a white-knuckled grip. Her lips trembled, and she pulled her thick black peacoat tighter, readjusting the tie at her waist. He felt her chill, it was written so plainly in her body language. Her vulnerability broke open a rare pocket of warmth in him. Without thinking, he reached for her, pulling her close against his side. She sat stiffly at first.

He stroked his hand up and down her arm, firm and soothing. Her body softened, the tension easing, and she relaxed her head against his shoulder. Unable to deny himself, he nuzzled her pale blond curls, stowing her heady lilac scent into his memory. She felt softer than mink. He turned his head to brush his cheek against the luxurious sensation.

She lifted her head to meet his gaze. Those eyes were brilliant pools of green Caribbean, her pupils dilated with arousal. Hell yes, she wanted him. But they were also wide with surprise. He’d only sought to comfort her, but now his head dipped toward hers. When she licked her lips in response, it was all he could do to be gentle when he wanted to ravage her mouth.

He touched his lips to hers, a tender sweep across and back again. An electric charge zipped all the way to the bottom of his feet, drawing his body tight. Just as he would have settled more firmly against her sweet mouth and part her lips with his tongue, the door swung open.

She jerked away from him, her fingers at her mouth and her eyes clouded with confusion and regret. Fuck. He shot his driver a withering look, and the man cringed. He shook his head sharply before the man could stumble over an apology. Douchebag had also arrived at the side of the car, and Kade didn’t want the bastard to know anything was amiss. Holding a hand out for Val, he guided her out of the car and to the heavy doors of the mansion where Ptolomy no doubt waited impatiently for them.

…

Her lips tingled where Kade’s had been, but Val’s mind was a jumble. Why had she let that kiss happen? She’d been at the head of a panic attack; maybe that had weakened her enough to succumb to Kade. Maybe she would have taken the comfort from anyone. That didn’t really fly because had it been Graham, she would have turned a cheek. She knew because Graham had made the attempt before.

Even more surprising than her easy participation was Kade himself. He’d caressed her hair with his face, like a thoughtful lover, and it had put her body and mind into a sweet, blissful fog. He’d been so soft, so careful, his lips whispering along hers. She would have taken him for the caveman-kiss type complete with bruising force and an invasion of tongue and teeth.

“Ready for this?” Kade asked. With a start, she realized they were in the foyer, and she still held his hand. She dropped it like it was on fire. Apparently it had been on fire because her hand burned hot from the contact.

“Yes, I’m ready.” She scrambled to focus on the task. She’d have to interrogate this ancient vampire without freaking out. Couldn’t be too difficult. She’d done similar interrogations before. In a secure interrogation room. Next to her, Kade appeared utterly at ease. She let go a sigh of relief. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He comforted her in more ways than one.

When they entered the sitting room, Val did a double take. A boy of around fifteen awaited them. He rose with a thunderous look on his face.

“How dare you keep me waiting?” He directed his wrath at her.

Who in the hell? Her mouth dropped open, closed, and then open again as she floundered for words. “Who are you? Where are your parents?”

That kicked the thunder on the boy’s face even higher, but Kade bent over, laughing so hard and deep she thought he’d lose his lungs. She glared at him. “What are you laughing about?”

The boy crossed his arms and strode over to Kade. “You have the nerve to laugh at me?”

“Not you,” he said, putting a hand against his flat stomach. He continued to chuckle but gestured toward Val. So he was laughing at her. Why on earth? When he didn’t quit, she stomped on his arch with every bit of force she could muster.

“Ow, f*ck!” He straightened and focused his dark, intense gaze on her. His surprise mirrored hers. She’d never resorted to physical violence before, but he had a way of stirring something primal in her. Then the boy started laughing, and she forced her attention away from Kade.

“I’m afraid I have no parents, young one,” the boy said, the laughter clinging to the corners of his mouth. He extended his hand. “You must be Valerie Craig. My name is Ptolomy.”

She stared at him, stunned silent. He dropped his hand when she stayed frozen in place. Kade nudged her forward, but her movements were stiff as she followed Ptolomy toward the sitting area.

“You could have warned me,” she whispered to Kade behind Ptolomy’s back. Graham hadn’t briefed her either, the rat.

“You know he can hear you, right?” Kade didn’t bother lowering his voice.

“I-I didn’t know you turned children.” Her wits finally returned to her. “I apologize for my reaction, Mr. Keraunos.”

He waved her apology away and directed her to a bright red, curvy sofa as he sat in a similar one across from her. A quick glance around showed her Ptolomy appreciated a minimalist environment with slashes of vibrant color rather than cluttered decoration. The faint scent of patchouli oil in the air seemed out of place, though not such a stretch considering what she’d seen of Ptolomy’s personality.

“No worries. It’s been a while since I’ve been so amused. Amusement becomes quite rare when you’ve been around as long as I have. I enjoy seeing a woman, a human woman at that, get a potshot in on Kade here.” He grinned at a scowling Kade. “Aw, come on, chap. My thrills are few and far between.”

“I’ve heard the rumors, squirt. More like thrill a minute,” Kade said. Her gaze hung on him first. He was so large, with hard-packed muscle and an easy smile on his face that belied his cruel reputation. Sitting next to Kade, Ptolomy formed a stark contrast with a short, lean body, bronzed coloring, and surfer-boy, wheat-colored hair, an unusual look for someone with a name such as his. He was absolutely not what she’d expected.

The ancient boy focused on her again. “We truly don’t turn children anymore. Thing of the past, during the most barbaric eras. My Sire stole me from parts unknown and turned me because his love interest at the time desired a child of her own.”

“At the time? They…broke up?”

“You could say that. They lasted ten years, a blink of an eye to a vampire, and then he grew tired of her and cut her head off during a bout of raunchy sex.”

The brutality was appalling enough, but the boastful words coming from such a youthful mouth were jarring. He grinned, pleased at her reaction.

“I was on my own after that, but I’d destroyed him by the time I reached my two hundredth birthday.” His smile gone, his face wore a cold mask. “Ask now what you will so I may get back to my thrill a minute.” He aimed an amused glance at Kade.

A barely dressed nymph of a woman came in and flounced down on Ptolomy’s other side, a pout on her lips. Her breasts thrust against his arm, and her hand crept up too high on his thigh to be decent. Val squirmed, but Ptolomy palmed the nymph’s breast and then brought the woman’s hand over his crotch.

“Classy,” Kade said. “And pretty bold for a kid with no hair on his balls.”

“Hey, there’s hair there,” Ptolomy said, disgruntled. “It’s just really, really fine.”

“Please,” she said. “Can we get this over with?”

Ptolomy seemed agreeable, probably wanting to get back to his thrills. “I didn’t feel the need to share this with your investigators, but I find I’d like to share this with you. Since Kade and I are such great, long-time friends.” He winked at Kade.

Kade’s smile curved even higher. “Oh, pipsqueak, we’ve never been friends.” Dark shadows played in his gaze. She shivered again, but for an entirely different reason. What kind of sinister relationship did these two have?