Page 15 of Bane of Hate and Silver (Primordial Inheritance #1)

“I just followed the blood,” Nick teased. “And the scent of your stunning self.” He picked up one of her hands and kissed the back of it. “My lady.” Cleo was not one of the first vampires ever created but she’d lived a lot longer than his four centuries.

“Ever the charmer Nicholas,” she said pulling her hand away and running her sharp nails down one cheek. “Where is your other half these days?”

“We’re not…” Nick’s voice trailed off.

Cleo slipped a hand around his arm and began to guide him across the space. Dancing bodies parted for them as they walked straight through the crowded dance floor towards the crammed long wooden bar. “You will be,” she said. “Antonio,” she called to the busy bartender.

The gorgeous, copper skinned man didn’t pause his drink making but cocked his head, acknowledging his boss.

“Nicholas’s whiskey is on me tonight.”

The bartender nodded.

“My goddess,” Nickolas crooned.

“For your broken heart,” she said pulling her hand from his arm. “Don’t make any trouble for me.” Her voice was gentle but deadly.

“I make no promises,” Nick said, kissed her on the cheek and watched her turn. Long, stick-straight black hair brushed against her round backside as she walked through a velvet curtain even he didn’t get an invitation past.

“Top shelf, neat,” Antonio the vampire bartender said, sliding an overfilled glass with no ice in front of Nick. “Only the best for Cleo’s personal guests.”

“I’d rather be your personal guest,” Nick said, taking a big gulp of the burning liquor.

His little chat with Cleo had brought up some things.

Someone he preferred not to talk about. Antonio looked him up and down while Nick raised the glass to his lips once more.

Antonio nodded to one of his fellow bartenders and then leaned over the bar, close to Nick.

He brushed long fingers against Nick’s wrist. “Come with me Baby. I’ve got something that can take that edge off. ”

Nick shrugged, downed the rest of his whisky in one go, and followed the bartender into a back hallway behind the bar.

He was led into a comfortable staff lounge area.

Antonio closed the door behind them and before the lock was slid fully into place, Nick’s mouth was on his, pressing Antonio up against the wall.

Nick went for the vampire’s leather pants and then felt long fingers on his, halting him.

“Oh no gorgeous. We’re here to fight your demons.”

Antonio flipped them, pressing Nick’s back to the wall.

He kissed Nick’s neck while he unbuttoned his pants.

He slid down in front of Nick as he exposed his length.

Antonio made a pleased sound and Nick stiffened.

Long fingers brushed up the underside of his shaft.

Mouth and fingers encased him and Nick lost himself.

His hands gripped the bartender’s hair and pulled.

Antonio responded with even more pressure.

He stroked and sucked, and Nick knew only the feel of the stunning vampire’s mouth on his cock.

But it wasn’t this vampire. It was a different one entirely.

One with eyes plagued by past misdeeds and porcelain skin.

Soft waves of hair were gripped in Nick’s hands, but they were golden, not black.

His body tensed, on the edge of release. Just before he came, the face he wanted to escape flashed through his mind. He would never be released from this torment. He would never be free.

The bartender sucked every last drop that flowed through his soft lips and swallowed. With one last swipe of his tongue, he licked Nick clean and stood, bringing Nick’s jeans with him. Nick’s eyes burned with the hunger for more. “My break is over I’m afraid.”

Nick made a face.

“Come on ginger Ken Doll, I’ll get you some more whiskey.”

Antonio led him back to the bar. Nick waited somewhat impatiently. Antonio slid the whiskey in front of him. Nick drained the glass in one go, winked at the bartender and moved towards the exit. Chad was off in an hour, he could finish up what he had in mind with the human.

He decided to take the short cut through the Rose Garden and get back to the apartment before his heightened libido had him killing someone tonight.

He passed an attractive couple in their forties as he hurried down the path.

His pace quickened until it came to a very abrupt stop.

He sniffed. Blood. Fresh and dripping. His cock would have to wait. Fate had other plans.

Jules walked from the restaurant next to the tall wolf. She expected Tai to hand the ticket to the valet, but instead he took Monica’s hand and walked down the side walk. “But the car…” Monica began, trailing behind him

“You didn’t think dinner was it, did you?”

Jules cringed, more than ready to return to Aboit and never see the werewolf again.

Being around him was unfortunately intoxicating.

He reminded her of a time when the only light in her life was the presence of a few werewolves, and one mad vampire queen.

He was warmth and kindness as Stephen and his brother had been.

Between his lazy calm and consistent snuck glances, Jules had a feeling he was already wrapped around her finger.

I’d like to see what he could do with those fingers …

She cut off the thought, full stop. What?

That part of her was long dead. Her only desire felt between the pages of her romance novels.

There was no way that was coming back now. Towards this werewolf.

“Tai has something planned for Monica.” Luca said once again close to Jules’s ear. Or as close as his tall stature would allow.

Jules shook free of her surprising previous inner monologue. “You know I can hear you from up there.” She didn’t bother to angle her face in his direction conversationally but instead continued to stare straight ahead.

“Yes,” Luca said, but leaned over again. “But this way I get closer to you without you threatening to kill me.”

“You’re mistaken.” Crossing her arms, she continued to avoid looking up at him. “The threat should remain implied.”

“Okay.” Luca chuckled lightly. For the briefest of moments, she let herself enjoy the deep, rich sound.

The four of them turned yet another corner, toward the Rose Garden downtown and Tai announced, “we’ve arrived.

” He gestured dramatically. Jules’s gaze shot up.

An elderly man in a top hat rode toward them atop an old-fashioned carriage.

The kind Jules knew well, it reminded her of a time that had long passed.

Tai motioned toward the cart, covered in lines of roses. The man’s lapel and even the horses’ restraints were adorned with them.

“For me?” Monica asked in playful shock.

“Just for you.” Tai offered a hand to help Monica up. “It’s like that movie you made me watch about a dozen times now.”

“Hardy har har,” Monica mocked as he climbed up and sat on the seat next to her. Monica motioned for Luca and Jules to join them.

“They’re just going to start making out,” Luca whispered in her ear. She startled, not having noticed he had moved to stand behind her. His breath brushed her cheek, but no part of him touched her.

“Are you coming or not?” Tai asked.

“No, you two go ahead,” Jules answered. Luca wasn’t wrong about what was to come for the young human couple. Jules didn’t want to spoil their fun.

“You sure?” Monica asked, looking from Jules, to Luca, and back.

“We’re sure,” Luca answered for them both.

Jules nodded, reassuring her friend.

“Your loss is my gain.” Tai shrugged and put an arm around Monica. She kissed him behind the ear as the carriage pulled away to circle the gardens.

“Good call.” Jules chuckled once.

“Walk with me?” Luca motioned toward one of the many pathways and then put both hands in his pockets, like he was resisting touching her. Something stirred inside her at the show of respect for the boundary she’d set.

“Do I have a choice?” Jules glared at him, but there was more playfulness in it this time.

“No.” He stated evenly and continued to wait for her. “But, I’m a good time. Trust me.”

“That’s a lot to ask.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” He smiled softly at her. Jules met his eyes once more. She narrowed her own, decided, and then moved to his side. It could be a trap. If it was, he was the best liar she’d ever known. “See, that wasn’t so hard.” His long stride slowed to fit her pace.

“You have no idea.”

He glanced sideways at her retort. “I don’t. But I could.” Luca stepped off the path to create space for a young family headed toward them, while still not touching Jules.

“I think no.” She fumbled with what to do with her hands. Pockets were a truly wonderful invention.

“Why?” He raised one eyebrow. “Is it because I’m a werewolf?”

Jules remained silent for a moment considering her answer. She chewed on her bottom lip while she considered how truthful to be. “Ironically, no.”

“Hmmm… Okay.” He didn’t press her farther.

They crossed into a deeper section of the garden. Roses lined both sides of the path. Grand rose-covered arches stood over them. Curious, Jules glanced up to see if Luca’s head reached the top. “I’m not that tall,” he said, smirking down at her.

“Fooled me,” she said, surprised to find herself smiling.

“Okay, garden fairy.”

She backhanded his stomach. He grunted in surprise. There was no way he was as surprised as she was. She was flirting with this werewolf. There was no point in continuing to tell herself she didn’t find him annoyingly attractive.

“So, how old are you really…”