Page 6 of Blood of the Damned: Thorn (Vaughn Winery #1)

Thorn

“Finally managed to drag your ass out of bed, did you?” Dacian muttered crossly as Thorn came into the main reception area of the winery, which housed the offices they used.

Dacian stood at the main reception counter holding what looked like a pile of invoices while Calvert was working on his computer.

They had diversified the business over the decades and they had each taken on different roles that suited their skills.

Thorn, who was the more outgoing of the three, dealt with the merchants whom they shipped their wines to.

Dacian preferred the creativity of winery production, which included the special blood wine they created solely for vampires worldwide.

Dacian’s nose was one of the best in the business for creating the delicate blends of their award-winning wines.

As for Calvert, he was an organized soul and managed the vineyard and all the connected properties they had, which catered to tourists and those seeking to hold an event at the vineyard.

Their business had become very profitable over the last few decades, not that they needed the money.

They had more than they could spend in a hundred lifetimes.

Yet it never ceased to surprise Thorn how much money folks would spend on the ‘perfect wedding’ or event, and the brothers were more than happy to help them spend it at their vineyard.

The three seconds he gave himself to control his temper failed. Dacian had been on his back since he had arrived home with Ledger.

“If you want to find your head rammed up your ass, then keep talking, brother!” he snapped back, resisting the urge to turn tail and return to where he’d left Ledger. He had insisted Thorn leave him alone so he could talk to Aster about the vines.

Aster had worked for them for five years. He was an omega with a definite talent for managing vines and knowing when it was best to pick the grapes to get the best out of them. The wolf shifter lived with his mate. Had that made any difference to the insanely protective—obsessed—side of Thorn?

Nope.

The illogical part of Thorn, even after three weeks of Ledger stepping into the role they’d employed him to do, couldn’t stand not having Ledger right where he could see him.

As the bond between them strengthened with each feed, it also made the feeling worse, especially when it came with his mate’s insistence that he be allowed to get on and do his job. A daily occurrence.

Thorn wanted to be understanding, he did. It was just impossible to be rational when it came to his dhampir it would seem. He was mostly positive he’d been a rational vampire before Ledger, but now he couldn’t say for sure.

His brothers witnessing him falling apart helped none of this when he came into work.

Calvert was easier to manage because he at least kept his thoughts about the situation to himself.

Dacian did not. It worsened when Dacian got left to deal with some of their more demanding clients when Thorn felt too overwhelmed and had to reaffirm his bond with his mate.

This left Dacian having to do the hand holding of some clients, that he had no patience for it, resulting in a snarly brother.

One that, right now, Thorn could do without as he slammed into his office and slumped down at his desk.

Reaching for his keyboard, he resisted rubbing at the ache in the middle of his chest, which was becoming increasingly worrying when it was only ten minutes since he’d walked away from Ledger.

The longest he’d gone so far was an hour and that had been dreadful.

He’d nearly ripped out a buyer’s throat when he’d detained Thorn, the hunger and need clawing at him.

“Trouble in paradise already?” smirked Dacian as he rested his hip on the corner of Thorn’s desk.

Thorn lifted his middle finger. “If you value your life, I’d go fuck with someone else this morning.”

“Dacian, do you have to be such a prick?” questioned Calvert in total frustration as he came into Thorn’s office. “Can’t you feel how much he’s struggling?”

“I’m not struggling with anything!” Thorn snapped at Calvert, hating the fact it was an outright lie and they both knew it.

Calvert held up both hands. “Whatever you say.”

He slumped further down in his seat and glowered at both brothers. “What do you want?”

“We have the representatives from Starling Enterprises coming in half an hour to do the wine tasting for their yearly purchase of stock for their fashion events, remember?” Calvert kept his tone even, not revealing any sign of how pissed he actually was at Thorn for being a snappy asshole.

His brother was excellent at masking, only Thorn was better than Dacian at picking up the tiny cues.

The creases at the sides of Calvert’s eyes had deepened and his lips had thinned a fraction.

“Shit!” he exclaimed, thinking about them having to meet Ledger.

So far, he’d avoided introducing Ledger to anyone beyond the winery.

Thorn wasn’t sure how he’d cope with how friendly Ledger was.

It was the very reason they’d given him the job, because he came across as friendly, engaging and most importantly knowledgeable about wine. Those things fucking sucked now.

“Why the glum look?” Dacian didn’t hold back any of his amusement, having picked up exactly what was wrong with him.

“Seriously, I’m in the mood for a smack down right now—”

“And why are you in the mood for a smackdown?” asked Ledger as he strolled through the door looking the ultimate professional.

He was dressed in smart, navy slacks and a pale lemon shirt that revealed just the edge of Thorn’s claim.

His hair was windswept and the flush on his cheeks made him glow and enhanced how pretty his golden eyes were.

Thorn became enthralled and so damn happy to see him, he grinned widely, forgetting Ledger had asked him a question. “There’s my Sweetling.”

“Damn, look at that. He’s drooling! How are we ever gonna run a business with him acting like this?”

“To the vampire gods, why can’t you just keep it buttoned? He’s fine, so stop winding him up. The pair of you are as bad as each other.” Calvert gave Ledger a pitying look as Thorn rose and shoved by Dacian to get to him.

Ledger glanced between the three of them and dodged Thorn, his hands going on his hips. “What am I missing here?” He looked at Calvert. “Tell me.”

Thorn tried again, giving Calvert a threatening look and followed it up with a silent threat.

“You forget I can feel when you slip the wall in place and it’s getting easier to tell when you’re hiding stuff from me.” Ledger skipped out of Thorn’s reach once more.

Thorn got why because when they touched, one could never be sure if they’d end up naked and rolling around on the floor, despite having an audience.

It had happened twice already, once in the house and once in Thorn’s office.

Knowing all that made not a jot of difference to Thorn, he wanted reassurance and wasn’t that just the biscuit?

“I won’t ask again, tell me what’s going on and why you were threatening Dacian?” Ledger’s tone left Thorn in no doubt he was utterly serious. His little omega was no walkover.

“He was winding me up.” Did that sound childish?

The sniggers coming from Dacian and Calvert gave him the answer.

“And?” Ledger asked, giving the two brothers a stare that advised them to hush.

Thorn kept his gaze on his dhampir, because given how Dacian was laughing in his head, he was ready to go off like a rocket into space.

“I missed you,” he explained.

The light in Ledger’s eyes came with a flood of warmth through Thorn, which was swiftly followed by the potent scent of arousal.

“You two behave,” Dacian jabbed a finger at them both. “We have Starling representatives due…” he checked his wristwatch, “in ten minutes.”

Ledger nodded. “Yes, that’s why I’m here. I wanted to know which room you would normally use for the tasting. I’ve picked several bottles from varying price ranges. I’ve left them out on the counter at the main reception.” The all-business voice just made Thorn’s arousal increase.

Dacian stepped between Thorn and Ledger, hooking a hand under Ledger’s elbow and guiding him to the door before Thorn could act on his impulses.

“I’ll show you,” said Dacian, not sparing Thorn a look.

“Hey, get your hands off my dhampir,” Thorn growled, but before he could give chase, Calvert took hold of him in a bear hug.

It’s fine, he’s your brother, so behave. I have work to do.

Ledger’s reassurance did squat. Calvert used all his strength to hold Thorn while he struggled, glaring at Calvert. He felt a twinge of discomfort from Ledger at how badly he was behaving, but chose not to respond to him.

“Get off me!” he shouted in frustration at seeing his brother and Ledger disappear into the winery.

“No. Think for fuck’s sake! He’s yours. You do not need to go all cave man every time someone gets close to him.

Ledger wants to work. We employed him to do a job.

One he’s qualified to do and, from what I’ve seen, doing well.

He’s going to get real pissy if you keep acting this way. You’re being too controlling— clingy .”

Thorn stopped fighting as the words sank past the anger at not getting what he wanted. “I’m not clingy or controlling!”

Was he?

You are. Please let me do my job. Ledger didn’t sound too annoyed, which helped—a little.

“You are. And I get it. We only experience the feelings you have for him secondhand, but they still explain this erratic behavior. It’s hard on all of us, especially Ledger, so can you just cool it…

for all our sakes?” He gave Thorn’s arms a squeeze before letting go, when he gave a stilted nod.

“Now, do you have the order information for River’s?

They rang earlier, asking to add several more cases of our special blend. ”

It took a few seconds for Thorn to feel certain he wouldn’t run after Dacian. Once he was sure, he returned to his desk. “I do. Hang on.”

He switched on his computer and went into his files, frowning as he scanned the information. “They’ve already ordered ten cases.” He glanced up at Calvert. “Seems a bit odd that they’ve doubled their order. Have they got company staying with them?”

Calvert shrugged. His suit jacket was missing, so the movement showed off the broadness of his back. He was much wider in the chest and back than Dacian. It was the one noticeable difference between them. “No clue. River was insistent that it came in this order.”

Made to order, the special blood wine they created needed careful handling to ensure it remained as fresh as possible on delivery.

That meant they couldn’t bottle it until the day the courier came to collect it.

It wasn’t an inconvenience to add to an order; it was just unusual for their regular customers to increase their order by such a large amount.

Thorn made a note on his file to monitor the situation. His senses suggested something was amiss, but he’d need to see River to know for sure.

“What are you picking up?”

Calvert’s question brought his gaze from the computer screen as he typed the note on the file. “Not sure, but something feels off about this.”

The sound of cars drawing to a halt outside the building had him close the file, lock the computer and rise to come around the desk.

Calvert’s sigh was all frustration. “Please behave.”

He would try. “Let’s see how much Ledger can fleece from the Starling representatives.”