Page 121 of Taste of Blood

“That’s not good for any of you.”

“I know that. That’s why I’m hoping Elaine can come up with something on that phone. Maybe it’ll give us a way in.”

“Don’t forget, we’ve got the benefit on Saturday where you can get face to face with Thalium.”

He nods. “I haven’t forgotten. I have to pick up my tux tomorrow.”

I smile to myself, picturing him in the suit. The thought stirs my dick, which is not what I need right now. “Are you going back to Dante’s tonight?”

“Why?” he smirks. “You have something else in mind?”

“I always have something else in mind for you.”

He sobers. “I really should, but I’m tired. And no, I haven’t been feeding like I should.”

“Then it’s settled. You’re coming by my place tonight. I’ll order in. You can take a nice long hot shower, just the way you like.”

He bites his lip. “You know about that?”

“Come on, Cord, I know you. Why do you think I had it installed?”

“But…we were apart.”

“Wishful thinking, remember?” I smile at the heat I see flare in his eyes. “Look, I’ve got a few things to finish up here today, but you could head on over to my place to wait for me. Take a shower and a nap. I’ll call the concierge and give you the elevator code.”

“I already have it,” he grins.

“Sneaky.”

“I pay attention.”

“Okay then. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

♦ ♦ ♦

I lie awake long after Cord is deeply snoozing next to me. We had a good evening, maybe the best we’ve had since we reconnected, which ended in some mind-blowing sex. I glance over at Cord; who still has the rope burns on his wrists, and smile. If only I could bottle this moment and keep it close to my heart. But as soon as I think it, the future intrudes.

Saturday night we’re going to be in the presence of the architect of the chaos that’s threatening our kind in the city. I can’t deny the prospect bothers me. I’m not exactly scared, just concerned. Will he know we’re sizing him up? And if so, will he try something at the benefit? I wouldn’t be surprised if he had men stationed around the venue. I’m sure Cord has thought of the same thing.

And that brings me back to his boss. I haven’t told Cord about Dante’s name on the guest list. I’m not even sure he’s going, but I wonder if he knows Thalium will be there. Maybe it would be best if he was aware of what he might be walking into. I’m no fan of Dante’s, but the fact is, he is the current head of the Crimson Guild, which puts him in charge of the safety of our kind in the city. If someone is challenging that, he needs to know, especially if it might put him face to face with that person.

The more I think about it, the convinced I become that he needs to know. I could tell Cord, but he might decide that gives him an excuse not to go. Instead, I grab his phone off the nightstand and scroll to Dante’s contact information and enter it in my phone. It’s just past two a.m., so I imagine Dante will still be awake.

I take my phone and steal out of the room, closing the bedroom door behind me, and punch in Dante’s number. It rings four times before someone picks up.

“Who is this?”

“Dante?”

“Yes.”

I cross to the window in the livingroom and gaze out over the city. The sight always restores my own feeling of power. “This is Asher.”

There’s tension in his voice when he asks, “Has something happened to Cord?”

“No. This isn’t about Cord.” Well, not exactly anyway. “There’s something else I want to talk to you about.”

“Okay, you have my attention.”