Page 25 of Saved by the Vampire Goddess (Dark Wine Vampires #1)

Chapter twenty-five

Valroy

New Rome—Moments later

I choose not to reply. Our relationship has taken an unprecedented turn now that she’s my maker and my lover, and the bond makes me want to obey her, protect her, and fuck her—in reverse order.

I still don’t feel forgiven yet, but I have felt something in her loosen up over the last few days, despite her tendency to boss me around in exasperated tones.

We approach the front desk, avoiding the sun by staying close to a windowless wall. She hangs lusciously on my arm, making eyes at me through her domino mask.

The desk clerk raises his head and looks down his button nose at us. “We’re booked until after Saturnalia.”

Oh Jupiter . I can almost taste the blood sizzling under the clerk’s skin, and he smells so good. Could I jump over the counter and drink him down before Evelina stopped me? I clench every muscle to restrain myself and lean against the counter. “For the right price, I’m sure you can free up a penthouse suite with a refrigerator for the week.”

Evelina rubs against me just the way we rehearsed. “And room service, dear. Don’t forget unlimited room service.” As she moves, she slips a clone blood pouch into my hand below the countertop so the clerk doesn’t see.

A straw already pierces the top. I raise it to my lips and suck down the lukewarm blood, not caring what the clerk sees or thinks I’m doing. Rich domini like me don’t explain themselves to the hired help.

I place a fist on the countertop. When I open my fingers, the diamond I’ve already palmed drops onto the granite desktop and bounces with a light clink . “Authentic pre-Collapse diamond. One carat.” I made sure of that before we left the ark, and take another slurp on the straw. The desire to drain the desk clerk fades. “Certainly you can find an open room for a week.”

The desk clerk gives a condescending sniff and pushes the faceted jewel away. “Glass, I’m sure.”

I slide it back. “Take a closer look.”

He picks up the round-cut diamond and fogs the surface with his breath. The moisture doesn’t stick. The jewel passes the first test.

The desk clerk raises an eyebrow and drops the stone into a glass of water on his desk and waits, staring into the glass. It doesn’t float. After a minute, he scoops out the diamond. I check for a second diamond at the bottom of the glass. I wouldn’t put it past him to swap out a counterfeit.

He lays the gem on the granite countertop. “Let me inspect the quality.”

He slides open a drawer underneath the counter and pulls out what looks like an authentic pre-Collapse brass loupe. He studies the diamond, then drops it on a scale—every pricey hotel has one on the front desk—and harrumphs . “Less than one carat. The quality isn’t good. Lots of occlusions. I can give you two nights for it.”

“No. It’s one carat, and worth two weeks, but we only need one week, plus a few denarii. We will go elsewhere.”

Evelina pinches my butt. “Two nights—”

“Hush. This is men’s business. One week and nothing less.”

“Let me talk to my manager.” The clerk scoops up the diamond.

I grip his wrist, and his pulse under my palm is almost too much temptation. “Um, leave the diamond here.”

Some hotels might pull a switch routine if I let him take the jewel. The bartered item never leaves my sight until I sign the deal.

“Fine. I’ll be back in a moment.”

Evelina leans in close. “Why are you—”

“If I don’t haggle, they’ll suspect something is up. Now let me handle this. That’s why I’m here, right? Because I know the customs inside New Rome?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

The clerk returns with two brass keys, each tied to a ribbon. “Suite with a balcony, but not a penthouse. And my manager was feeling in a generous mood, what with the holiday and all. You can have the full week with unlimited room service for two. No guests.”

“Refrigerator guaranteed to work?”

“All in-room equipment guaranteed. Including the refrigerator.”

“And the coin? I need tipping money.”

The clerk counts out one hundred denarii in coin and paper, then stops.

I raise an eyebrow.

He resumes, adding more coins, slowing down his count.

I know the game. He’s reaching the maximum his manager has authorized, and I need to let him save face. His job depends on it. I nod. “That will be fine, thank you.” I sweep up the cash and the key. “Your manager’s chop on the form?”

The clerk fills out the form, accepting payment and promising the room with refrigerator and room service for two—I stop him and insist he add the specific dates—then he signs it. “My signature will do. I’m the assistant manager. We’re all working extra because of the holiday.”

I then push ten denarii across the counter, which is probably what he makes in a week. “Thank you for your service…and your discretion.”

“You’re welcome. Return any time. You may rely on us to protect your privacy.”

“Happy Saturnalia.” I give a lazy salute, three fingers tapping my forehead. His rank isn’t high enough for him to expect me to bow, and I’m not feeling generous.

“Happy Saturnalia,” he echoes, allowing his eyes to rove over Evelina’s shapely dress as he bows to me.

I growl, and he steps back.

Yeah. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I carry all our bags, because it’d look strange to the assistant manager if my lover carried anything. We take the elevator to the seventh floor. The number is a good omen. Our luck is holding out and the key works on the first try.

“Uff-da.” Evelina plops on the bed and strips off her mask. “I’m exhausted. Time to order dinner.”

“Why?” I remove my mask and toss it on the chest of drawers. “I still don’t understand why you insisted. We don’t eat—”

“Order martinis for two. I’ll explain when they’re delivered. The ice packs are about melted.” She gets up from the bed and stacks the donor bags in the refrigerator, then disposes of the slushy ice as I pick up the desk phone.

I unpack our formal wear, and ten minutes later there’s a knock at the door.

Evelina strides out of the bathroom, where she’s been setting out her makeup. “Time for another lesson.”

She opens the door and beckons the servant to enter. He wheels in the cart and the door shuts behind him. While I sign the chit, she stands behind the waiter, a few inches away, and waves some sort of small cylinder device from his head to his toes. Then she taps one end and meets my gaze over his shoulder. She nods once, but I remain mystified.

“Leave the cart in the hall when you’re done,” the waiter says with a bow.

I give him a pair of crystal earring studs as a tip. He can barter those for a week’s worth of groceries for his family, and they cost us nothing.

“Thank you, sir.” When he turns around, he almost runs into Evelina. “Apologies, miss, I—”

“Say, hon, I’m gonna need ya to look into my eyes.”

“What—” He freezes unnaturally.

I glance from her to him. “What did you do?”

“Aw geez, I told you about this. I mesmerized him. Mental pressure. Before we leave the dome, I want you to try on a different mortal.”

“But what about the protective crystal?”

She waves the small cylinder in the air. “Special device. Temporarily overrides the crystal so I can mesmerize him. Ingvar conceded that we might need it in an emergency.”

“This isn’t an emergency—”

“Oh, hush.” She tosses me the device. “This one’s yours in case we get separated. I have my own.”

I catch the device and pocket it. “Now what?”

“You’re practicing feeding, so we can conserve our supplies.”

She pivots the server until he faces me. At just the idea, I salivate, and my fangs drop.

“Take a step closer.”

I do.

“Good. Now you want a vein, not an artery. Arteries are under more pressure, and if you hit one, it’s harder to control the bleeding. I told you how to tell the difference.”

I sniff his skin. Oh, the delectable scent of rich dark wine almost drives me crazy. I want to slam my fangs in and feed until no more comes out.

“Take your time. Find the vein you want, locate it with your tongue. Sink your fangs in slowly.”

Slowly? She’s asking for the impossible.

But I try, easing through the skin, which makes a light pop. The font of plenty fills my mouth. I gulp down the dark wine. Hot and fresh, its flavor is better than a rare elk steak.

As I drink, I lock eyes with Evelina. Her pupils enlarge to the point that they wipe out the deep, dark blue, and I feel a hot flush of her jealousy and anger through our bond, like she wants to rip away the clerk and replace him with her neck.

Fine by me—all I want to do is throw her on the bed and bury my fangs in her neck while I thrust my cock deep inside her.

With a whoosh , she is behind me. Her hands grip my shoulders tight. “Easy there, hot stuff. You drank a pouch less than thirty minutes ago. You’re only taking a pint now. Focus on how full you already feel. Estimate how much more you need to stop at a pint.”

I close my eyes and focus on the perfect warmth, the perfect taste, as I take another swallow. Oh my gods.

“Okey dokey. That’s enough. Let go.”

She pinches hard on the nerve in my shoulder, and I flinch, pulling away. She grabs me by the shirt and tosses me on the bed. Removing a hidden hunting knife from under her skirt, she stabs her finger and spreads the blood on the server’s neck. The wound crusts over.

“The marks will be gone by the time he fully regains his senses.” She pats his back. “Come on, friend, time for you to leave. You’ll forget everything except delivering the martinis and receiving a generous tip.”

She sees him out the door and locks it behind him.

I lie on the bed panting, and not because I’m out of breath. “What are the martinis for?”

“Well, aside from an excuse to get him up here, we can drink alcohol. The buzz doesn’t last long, but it’s been a while since I’ve had a martini. I wanted to taste one.”

I laugh. “You’re going to be disappointed.”