Page 38

“Those are only files. I want to know the real you.”

“Is that the same line you feed every woman? Why do you even care?”

The scowl enhanced his barbarian looks. “Do you always have a chip on your shoulder? Should we go to your room and fuck now?”

Leah choked on her food. “What?”

The horrible being had the gall to smirk. He’d shocked her on purpose. “You heard me. Should we skip dinner and jump straight to bed? I was under the impression that women appreciated a bit of courting before becoming intimate. Or has that changed?”

She placed her fork carefully on the table, her appetite gone. She also wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or curse. “You’re using dinner to get me to bed?”

“I believe that’s what I said.”

She wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face, but her lips twitched. No, she mustn’t smile. It wasn’t funny. “Buying me dinner won’t get you into my bed. I don’t want to sleep with you.”

“Is that why you keep coming to my office?”

Damn it. She wouldn’t blush, if only that was something she had control over. If she was lucky, he wouldn’t see it in the dark. But of course, she wasn’t, for his smile widened.

It transformed his face. For someone so savage, he looked inviting now, like a celebrity on television, flashing grins at their devoted fans. She could see why the Council chose him to be the face of vampires in Vegas.

“I had business to discuss. I work for you, or did you forget that?”

“No, I didn’t forget.” His blue eyes glittered with predatory intent. “Business, is that all?”

When he took a sip of his drink, the wine reddened his lips. Leah jerked her gaze away before she thought too much about what those lips had felt like against hers.

“Yes. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to go back. I’m tired, and I have a long day tomorrow.”

Julian nodded. He waved the waiter over and closed their tab. Other patrons’ curious gazes trailed them as they exited the restaurant. How often did he bring women here? Maybe she should read some of those vampire tabloids that Lucy so enjoyed.

The car waited for them at the front, but the thought of spending ten minutes alone in an enclosed space with Julian Blackmore gave her pause. It would end one of two ways. Either she’d jump his bones in heat, or she’d attempt to kill him, both terrible decisions.

“Do you mind if we walk a little?”

“I thought you were tired?”

She was, but it was one of those rare nights in Vegas when there was a breeze, and the heat wasn’t overpowering.

“I’ll be fine.”

Without waiting for a response, Leah headed in the Central Tower’s direction. Julian caught up with her in two strides. To take her mind off the heat of his massive body next to her, she asked something that’d been on her mind for a while.

“What do the vampires wish to accomplish by inviting all the human diplomats?”

“Don’t ask me. It’s not my idea.”

The annoyance wafting off him piqued her interest further. “If it’s not your idea to invite the humans, then whose is it?”

“I may rule the city, but I don’t rule our race,” Julian said. “Alistair and the Council together decide how we do things. Alistair wanted the humans here, so he invited them.”

“Alistair… as in the Vampire King?”

Julian nodded. The Organization had minimal information on the elusive Vampire King, who had announced the vampire’s existence. Like many others, Leah had studied the video footage. She recalled the sense of awe and the power that had emanated from him even through a screen.

“That seems…”

“Irresponsible? Stupid?” Julian finished the thought for her.