When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity #1)(25)

"You have my deepest apologies," Dante muttered. "As well as my solemn promise never to lock you in a cellar again."

There was a long pause before Sasha's features softened to a seductive pout, and she lowered Dante to the floor.

"I suppose I could be convinced to forgive you."

'You are nothing less than a saint."

Allowing the hand that had been choking Dante to smooth its way down his chest, the vampire leaned forward until she was pressed intimately against him.

"Now, do we kiss and make up?"

Abby discovered her fists clenching as the woman rubbed against Dante like a cat in heat. She wasn't sure if she wanted to smack Dante or Sasha the Slut. But she most certainly wanted to smack someone.

"Actually, I'm in rather a hurry. I need to speak with Viper."

The pout became more pronounced. "Always running off. And always with some worthless human," she accused, her cat eyes shifting toward the silent Abby. "Or is this dinner?"

With a smooth motion, Dante was moving to Abby's side, his expression stark with warning.

"She's not on the menu."

"Predictable." Sasfaa's voice was pure venom. 'You really should spend more time with your own kind, Dante. These creatures make you weak."

"I'll keep that in mind."

With an angry sniff, Sasha turned to stalk away, her ivory curves perfectly visible beneath the thin gauze.

Alone with Dante, Abby shot him a disgruntled frown. "Charming."

"Sasha's a bit… emotional," he ruefully conceded.

"More than a bit if she tried to kill you."

He shrugged. "Every relationship has its share of danger. You admitted that yourself."

"Not death by wooden stake," she muttered, still battling the lingering sense of resentment at the thought of Dante being intimate with the beautiful vampire. "The woman was clearly demented."

A raven brow arched as Dante allowed his gaze to sweep over her stiff features.

"As I recall, you've threatened to stake me more than once."

'Yes, but that was different."

"How?"

"Because it was."

"Ah." Dante's lips twitched with a flare of wicked amusement. "I think I know what has you in such a twit. You're jealous."

She slapped her hands on her hips. Well, duh. Of course she was jealous. Sasha might be dead, but she was still disgustingly beautiful and drenched with the smoldering passion that made men drool.

More importantly, she had managed to ensnare Dante with her seductive skills. Or perhaps it was the chains, a nasty voice whispered in the back of her mind.

In any event, she had possessed what Abby had lusted after for months.

Of course she was damn well jealous.

Not that she was about to admit as much. She did have her pride. For whatever that was worth.

"Get over yourself, Dante. My only concern is knowing how many other ex-girlfriends might leap out of the woodwork. Things are bad enough without vindictive women stalking you."

He reached up to trace her lips with the tip of his finger, "You're a terrible liar, lover."

She instinctively stepped from the distracting touch. "Didn't we come here to find Viper?"

"Someday soon, Abby, we're going to have a long conversation. It should be quite interesting," he said softly. "Until then, you're right, we should be finding Viper and getting the hell out of here."

Despite a rather childish desire to linger and enjoy the sight of Abby's unmistakable fit of jealousy, Dante firmly took her arm to lead her toward the back of the room. Not only was this no place for an innocent, but he also possessed more than one disgruntled former lover, not to mention the numerous demons who harbored the annoying opinion that he owed them money.

The sooner he could get the keys to Viper's car, the better.

Stepping into a shadowed alcove, Dante paused to glance into the long hallway beyond. He was thankful that most of the doors were closed and that none of the perverse pleasures that Viper offered his customers could be readily detected. He was even more thankful to discover Viper leaning casually against the wall.

At least he wouldn't have to drag Abby through the lowest dregs of debauchery.

"There he is," he murmured, turning to place his hands on Abby's shoulders. "Wait right here. I'll only be a minute."

Her eyes widened as she glanced uneasily over her shoulder. "What if one of your friends gets hungry?"

"I will kill them," he promised with stark sincerity. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

Her gaze returned to meet his determined expression before she gave a slow nod. "Okay, but hurry."

"I will." Brushing his lips over her forehead, Dante turned and made his way toward his friend. Stopping at Viper's side, he waited until the vampire turned to regard him with a lift of his brow. "Viper, a moment please."

Flicking a glance toward the waiting Abby, Viper pushed away from the wall and folded his arms over his chest.

"I wish you would make up your mind, Dante. First you insist that your beauty be protected from my wicked clientele, and now you parade her about like a tempting fruit. Unless you desire a riot, I would suggest you take her out of here."