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“Are you in?” I asked.

Her jaw twitched.

“I can’t agree to something blindly.” She took her hand off me and leaned back into the seat with her arms crossed over her chest. I let myself get distracted by the way her muscles jumped in her uniform. Even if she annoyed the shit out of me, it didn’t mean I was going to miss out on the eye candy.

“So you’re interested?” I teased and lifted myself up to the seat at her side. “It’s a sort ofsecret gatheringof?—”

“Rich vampires,” she finished for me. I tried to lean into her, but she shifted away from me with a scowl.

“And powerful,” I added with a wink. I trailed my fingers up her thigh. “But I’m an engaged woman now”—I created mindless patterns on her thighs that caused her heart to jump—“and oftentimes, you can’t trust them.Especiallyif they marry into powerful families. So, I’m bringing you to give them a littleassurancethat they can still trust me.”

She paused for a beat, her eyes shifting back and forth.

“You want to blackmail yourself?” she asked.

Ah, the little mouse is a bright one, isn’t she?I knew she would be. Makes it all the more fun.

“You could say that,” I confirmed in a low murmur. “To be honest, after tasting your blood, I can’t get it out of my mind. So if there is one person I want to be seen acting as a blood-crazed fool for, I want it to be worth it. I want it to be you.”

“You trust me with these vampires’ secrets,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Aren’t you the least bit worried I’ll use them for my own purposes?”

“I hope you do. Bring a littleexcitementinto the palace,” I said with a shrug. The response obviously surprised her, her eyes widening and the tenseness in her shoulders dropping just a smidge. “I do have a request, though.” When she didn’t respond, I nodded. “I want some of your blood before we arrive. I am willing toactlike a blood-crazed fool in there, but notbeone.”

Her jaw clenched, all the implications of what I was asking her plastered on her face. She was unhappy about it, but maybe if she could get something out of it…

“Fine,” she spat out, and in seconds she had assumed a position much like I had previously. She kneeled in front of me, her hands placed on the seat on either side of me. I spread mylegs so she could get closer. The flaps of my coat fell to the side, exposing my legs and the small piece of cloth that was covering what was between them.

She leaned in and tilted her head to the side, exposing her long, toned neck. It was one of the only places that wasn’t marred by a large scar.

“Light petting is okay, even preferred, so we can sell it. I’m not particularly fond of being finger-banged by a human in these scenarios, so stay above the underwear if you get handsy. I won’t say no to a bit of head, though,” I explained as I gently brushed the hair away from her neck. The light shiver that ran through her caused my excitement to rise. “If you’re comfortable and feeling it, I can make you feel goo?—”

“No,” she interrupted harshly, her narrowed eyes cutting to mine in warning. “I will be in control of that part. No touching from you.”

I bit my tongue. “Very well,” I said, leaning toward her neck. The pulse point there was calling to me. The blood was so close under the skin that the scent was already mouthwatering.

I didn’t hesitate this time. I sunk my fangs into her, pausing just enough for the venom to travel through her before drinking my fill. One, maybe two gulps. That was what I told myself. But then the little mouse just had to touch me.

I don’t think she meant to. She was probably trying to steady herself on the seat, but my legs had been spread so wide that her palms came into contact with my bare thighs.

I didn’t let anyone touch me during feeds. Not only because of what the venom did to them, but also because they were usually selfish lovers, only seeking to find their own pleasure while they rode out the effects of the venom.

But not the little mouse.No.She was different. She gripped my upper thighs. The feeling of her warm, calloused hands sentshocks through me and had me tangling my hand in her hair, pulling her closer.

Does she hate how this is making her feel? How warm her body is getting? How needy?I hope so, after what she did.

The car jerked forward, forcing her to fall further into me. If I hadn’t been so preoccupied with her, I would have been angry that my driver disobeyed me, but maybe I should have been thanking him instead. Her hands were forced up my thighs, her thumbs just teasing my underwear.

The blood was delicious.Her blood.I couldn’t deny it, but there should have been no reason why I arched into her. Why I moaned against her.

I couldn’t remember the last time Iwantedsomeone to touch me, let alone a human.

Feedings were always the same. Cold, hard walls forced between us, and as soon as those boundaries were broken, I ended it. Never giving into even an ounce of the warmth that blossomed in me as the blood settled in my belly.

But it was different with her. I wanted her to feel it. Wanted to get back at her for what she had pulled in the room. And I was failing.

I forced myself to pull away from her. Both of us were panting. Her golden eyes were hooded, and her mouth was open, giving me a sinful peek at her pink tongue.

I want to kiss her.The thought alone enraged me.