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“You’ll be as good as new in no time,” Sebastian said.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied. “I mean it. You’re welcome here anytime. If you get in trouble. If you need a place to hide. If you need a place to feed. You’re always welcome here.”

Sylvia was silent. Her mouth agape and eyes watered over. “No one has ever shown me this kindness before.”

Sebastian matched his eyes to hers. His heart pulsated as he lost himself in her sapphire blue eyes. “You’ll always find kindness here. I promiseyou.”

“I think I found it,”Sylvia shouted with glee. “I hit something. I have it. Ready?”

Sebastian gritted his teeth and nodded. Sylvia pulled out the tweezers, holding a wooden shard at the end. She placed the splinter on an end table.

Sebastian breathed a sigh of relief as his body relaxed. He covered up the wound with the damp towel. He gazed into her sapphire eyes. “I think this makes us even.”

Sylvia smiled. “Let me see your wound.”

He removed the towel. The wound healed over. She took the towel from his hand and carefully wiped away any blood with soft, gentle strokes. She fixated on his bare chest.

“Shall we go over and finish the job? I want nothing more than to destroy him for what he did to you.”

“No,” Sebastian said. He caressed her face, guiding her hair behind her shoulder with his fingers. “Let them wallow for a few days. Have the ghouls watch their movements. They’ll panic. Get sloppy. Then we can strike.”

Sylvia’s soft lips kissed his washboard abs. Gentle, teasing kisses at first, followed by intense presses of desire. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. His body and soul lit a flame with every tease of her sensual journey. Her lips caressed every contour of his chiseled stomach as she worked her way toward his neck.

“We’re so close,” Sylvia said.

Her lips brushed against his chest. The warmth of her breath heralded the imminent arrival of her teasing butterfly kisses. Small pecks followed by lingering warmth which sent pleasure coursing through his body. Sebastian savored every moment of her sensual journey.

She stood and placed her knees on both sides of his waist, digging into the leather and straddling him. Her journey continued upward as she followed an invisible path of pleasure from his collarboneto his neck. She mimicked the sensual act of their vampire embrace years ago—kissing, nibbling, caressing his neck. She stopped, pulling away to let her playful tease linger. He wanted nothing more than for her to finish this journey of passion and ecstasy.

“Can you feel it?” she whispered into his ear. Her warm breath intensified his longing and desire.

Sylvia was a tease, and Sebastian loved every minute of it.

“Yes,” he whispered back.

“Soon, my love, we’ll have our prize.”

He worked his hands under her shirt. His fingers traced the contours of her back. She arched her back slightly, closing her eyes and biting her lip. His fingers danced in circles on her back as they wrote in the dark language of love. She opened her eyes. Their eyes locked together in a fiery dance of passion and anticipation. Their breathing synchronized.

Sylvia let the gaze linger, leaving Sebastian in blissful torment.

“And we shall rule together for all of time,” he growled. “For our new empire.”

Sylvia smiled a devilish grin. “For our new empire,” she growled back.

They completed their journey, their two lips joining together in a passionate union. Their souls and bodies unified under a shared desire for each other. An expression of their deep desire. Their deep passion. Their deep love.

Sebastian lost track of all time. It could have been seconds, minutes, or hours. All he knew was bliss.

Chapter 16

The Life and Undeath of Hugo Dodds

Light spilled into the wine cellar as Alice opened the door. The candles of the wall sconces roared to life, illuminating the rest of the darkened room.

“Good evening, sleepyhead,” Alice said as she entered.