Only Vampires Cry Blood (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #3)(80)

I frowned, forcing a smile before he could see it. “Let’s not talk about Arys. I don’t want to think about him right now.”

I kissed Shaz again, running my tongue along his bottom lip. The musky wolf scent and taste of him tantalized my senses, driving heat to my groin. He plunged his tongue into my mouth, moaning softly as his hand descended beneath the bubbles to explore between my legs.

“He hurt you. More than you’re letting on. I can feel it, the pain, all over you. I can smell it.” As he spoke, Shaz lightly flicked a finger over my clit, causing me to gasp.

“I don’t want to think about it.” I spoke the words with my lips against his. Why was he pushing this topic when I wanted to abandon it?

“I know. You never do. You have to stop burying everything inside, Lex. It’s not healthy.”

“My entire relationship with Arys isn’t healthy,” I scoffed. “What’s new?”

“Do you miss him?”

I pulled back, fixing him with a dark look. Even though my body responded to his delightful touch, I was still clear headed enough to pick up on the odd note to his tone.

“What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

He continued to stroke me, rubbing a finger along my moist opening. I squirmed in the tub, pressing closer to him.

“Don’t play games with me, Shaz. You’re being suspicious.” My eyes closed when he nuzzled my neck, kissing and licking at the ticklish spot beneath my ear.

He ignored me and continued to suck at the sensitive place on my neck, sending shivers down my spine. I put my arms around him, running my wet hands through his platinum hair. It grew damp under my touch, yet it remained feather soft.

The sound of the jets was accompanied by my moan when Shaz leaned me back against the tub, sucking one of my ni**les into his mouth. The moist heat against my wet skin felt amazing. I held him tight, unable to get enough of him. I was eager to escape the awkward confines of the tub and head for a more comfortable place to continue this.

The cold power of the dead washed over me, as if out of nowhere, and I froze in Shaz’ embrace. My heart began to race, thundering its beat like an echo inside my head, drowning out the sound of the jets. There was nothing else like that cool, undead energy.

Nobody else commanded it but one man.

“Arys.” I whispered his name, surprised when Shaz looked up at me with awareness in his jade eyes. He’d already known.

“You knew he was coming,” I accused, standing up to grab a towel. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“He asked me not to.” Shaz followed my lead, stepping from the tub and wrapping a towel around his waist.

“When? Why didn’t you tell me you saw him?” I almost knocked over my champagne glass in my haste to tuck a towel securely over my br**sts.

Shaz turned off the jets and drained the tub. “Go ask him yourself.”

The steamy mirror reflected my flushed skin and confused expression. I was flustered. I wanted to be angry that Shaz had spoken to Arys and had kept it from me.

Despite the frustration, I wasn’t their ruler, and they weren’t obligated to tell me everything they said and did. The doorbell rang, and my breath caught.

“Did you know he was coming right now?” My voice rose in pitch, driven by apprehension.

Shaz shrugged. “I didn’t know the exact time. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Go open the door.”

Grabbing my fuzzy black robe from where it hung on the back of the door, I struggled myself into it and ditched the wet towel on the way downstairs. I didn’t want to open the door. I envisioned myself opening it long enough to slam it in Arys’ face. I knew I would never do it though.

The only sound was my pulse pounding through my head. It had only been two weeks, but it’d felt like forever. I fought back my emotions, refusing to allow anything to show on my face. I clutched my robe closed tight with one hand and opened the door.

The cold winter air rushed in with an intense chill. Arys stood there with a solemn expression. I had neither anger nor pain in that moment. I was just so glad to see him.

That damn vampire couldn’t look bad if he tried. In form fitting jeans and a leather jacket, he looked good enough to eat. With a toss of his short, messy locks and a wink, he shuffled his feet ever so slightly. Was he nervous?

I stepped back, speechless, and indicated for him to enter. I shut the door on the cold dark night and faced him. We stared at each other until awkward became unbearable. I didn’t know what to say. Finally, Arys opened a hand to reveal several playing cards marked with the recognizable name, “Caesars Palace.”

He tossed them down on the table in the front entry where I threw my mail. They landed in disarray, but I could make out the entire royal family and then some.

“You were right.” Arys broke the silence, his voice sounding so heavenly after weeks apart. I could never survive a lifetime without him. “You were right to kill Harley when you did. I’m sorry.”

Those words coming from my dark vampire were almost worth a call to Guinness. It had to be a record of some sort.

“Um, what?” My tongue was tied. He was blowing my mind.

His piercing gaze traveled over me, taking in my damp hair and robe. His eyes lingered on my lips, and I shuffled from side to side, anxious.

“I went to Vegas. I played some cards, won some answers. It wasn’t good.”