Page 6 of The Vampire Kingpin (The Vampire Syndicate #7)

I dug my fingers into the comforter. “Like fuck, they will. I’ll be out of here so fast your head will spin.”

His eyes flashed. He came out of the armchair and crossed to me in a single, sinuous movement.

I straightened and put my feet on the floor. But I was damned if I’d let him lock me up. I might as well have stayed in Vegas and let Jared Darkman make me his blood slave.

Spider inserted a knee between my legs, forcing them open so he could step between my thighs. He took me by the shoulders and pulled me up.

“Don’t push me,” he said, soft and dangerous. “Because I will hunt you down and make you sorry. That’s another promise for you.”

I swallowed hard. “Grimclaw will?—”

“Turn you over to me. Haven’t you figured it out yet? That’s why he sent you here in the first place. He owes me a month’s tribute, but he doesn’t have it, so he sent you instead.”

“Are you serious? He fucking sold me?”

“Yeah. We made a deal. I get you, and he gets another month protection.”

A ringing filled my ears. “He wouldn’t?—”

“No? Want me to text him for you?”

I stared up at Spider’s too-handsome face, wishing I could accuse him of lying, but it sounded like something Grim would do. I’d tried to make myself valuable to him and his lair, but if it came down to saving his own skin and protecting me, he’d drive a knife into my heart himself.

It still stung. Grim was family. With my parents gone, he was all I had left.

I drew a breath, recalling a snippet of conversation I’d overheard last week between him and his creepy lieutenant, Troll. I caught my name, and “Spider.” Then they saw me and clammed up.

When Grim had ordered me to steal the dagger, I’d figured that was what they’d been plotting.

But now I realized the whole thing had been a setup, a way to deliver me to Spider.

Grim had known I’d never agree to be traded for the money he owed Spider.

I’d made it crystal clear that I’d never let him pimp me out.

So instead, the SOB had sent me into Spider’s lair, knowing I’d get caught.

And I’d walked right into the trap like a trusting, overconfident rabbit.

“Well?” asked Spider.

I shook my head. “Don’t text him,” I said around the lump obstructing my throat.

It’s okay. You don’t need that asshole. You don’t need anyone.

Spider swore under his breath. He released my arms to cup my cheeks.

“That fool doesn’t know what a gift you are. If you were mine, I’d never risk you by sending you up against someone like me.”

My mouth twisted. Somehow, Spider’s sympathy made me feel worse. Maybe because it drove home how completely alone I was.

“What are these terms of yours?” I asked gruffly.

He released my face and undid the first three buttons of my dress. Opening the collar, he stroked a finger down the hollow of my throat.

My pulse hammered, and his focus went to it.

“You’ll belong to me. No other men. I’m the only one who drinks from you. The only one who fucks you.”

I tried not to squirm, but it was the way he said it—dark-edged, low and commanding. I was still upset, but maybe becoming Spider’s thrall would have…benefits.

He skimmed a finger beneath my bra, teasing my nipple. “I’ll treat you good, I promise.”

He tweaked my nipple, and a buzzing filled my brain.

I knew I should be negotiating, but my palms raised of their own accord. I ran them up the rounded muscles of his shoulders, learning his feel. Lower down, I pressed against his erection, blindly seeking relief from the aching need.

With a muttered curse, he dragged up my skirt. A big hand clamped on my bare ass, holding me in place so he could grind himself against my mound, the only thing between us his leather jeans and my flimsy thong.

A twist of his hips, and sparks went off all over my body. I swallowed a groan and twined a leg around his upper leg, trying to get even closer.

“Fuck.” Sharp teeth closed on my earlobe. “You want this, dammit. Just say yes and I’ll bend you over that armchair right now.”

A wicked heat shot straight to my sex. My breasts felt full…achy. I squeezed my thighs together, picturing him bending me over…taking control of me.

“You’ll belong to me. No other men. I’m the only one who drinks from you. The only one who fucks you.”

I screwed my eyes shut, lightheaded with lust.

Yes. Sweet Luna, yes…

I opened my mouth to agree—anything if he’d take the ache away.

Until it hit me that he was manipulating me, using my body to get me to agree before we set terms.

The man was clever—everyone said so. Maybe this was his way of getting around making an agreement with me.

A wave of fury made me hiss. I pushed on his shoulders, arching away from him. So. Damn. Angry.

At myself, for being so weak.

At Grimclaw and Spider for bartering me like I was a package, not a person.

I was even angry at my parents for taking too many damn risks until they got caught and left me alone in the world.

“But I don’t want it.”

He growled and slapped my ass. “That’s a lie.”

“If you say so, my lord .”

A sharp-toothed smile. “Is that supposed to piss me off? Because I like it when you call me ‘my lord.’ I also answer to ‘master’ or ‘sir.’”

I turned my head so I wouldn’t have to see his hard, beautiful face. “In your dreams.”

His head lowered, his teeth scraping over my neck, a tiny punishment that made me shiver—and hate myself for it.

He licked the small abrasion. “So mouthy. But I can feel your heat even through my jeans. And we both know you’re wet for me…”

He rocked his engorged dick against my mound, slow and easy. I bit back a whimper as he hit a perfect, sensitive spot.

He chuckled darkly. “Yeah, you really hate this, don’t you?” He ground himself against my swollen flesh, pulling a desperate cry from me.

That. Right there.

“Say it. Say you want it.”

“Yes,” I whispered, unable to help myself. Gods, I was spineless where he was concerned.

“Louder,” he said, his expression implacable. “So we both know you mean it. Say that you want me to fuck you.”

I shook my head.

“Then we’ll stop.” He put me a little away from him, forcing me to unwind my leg from around his and release my grip on his neck.

I squeezed my thighs together, so aroused I was trembling, and balled my hands into fists. “You’re a dick, you know that?”

“Yeah—so? Now tell me you want me to fuck you.”

“Fine! I want you to fuck me.”

Triumph flashed across his face. He reached for me, but I held up a hand, backing up. Luna knew I wanted him. I needed to feel him moving inside me.

However, I was my parents’ daughter, too.

“But not,” I added in as firm a voice as I could manage, “until we agree to terms.”

“You wanna know what I’ll give you?” Somehow, he was right in front of me again. He ran his hands up my arms. “Pleasure,” he husked, low and suggestive. “A safe place to stay. A comfortable bed.”

Longing surged within me.

It was like Spider knew I hadn’t felt safe since my parents got themselves staked six months ago, caught trying to con Jared Darkman, the son of the Vegas primus.

I escaped and found my way to Grimclaw, who’d never joined a syndicate.

He’d taken me in, but it was a devil’s bargain.

Yeah, he’d given me sanctuary—not that Grim knew I was on the run—but he’d exploited my debt to him, even going so far as to command me to steal Spider’s dagger.

Moreover, I was constantly on the lookout for his lieutenant, Troll.

A hulking figure from Jersey who made Tony Soprano look like a choirboy, Troll had tried to coerce me into his bed.

He’d only backed off because of my cousin.

But in the past couple of months, he’d renewed his attempts to catch me alone, until I’d moved out of the main lair.

Now I slept in a four-by-ten-foot cubbyhole with a switchblade under my pillow, and made sure I was up and gone before Troll woke from his day sleep.

“Lark?” Spider’s brows drew together. “Where’d you go?”

Panic clawed at my lungs. I pushed his chest. “I can’t think. Let me go. Please ,” I added belatedly.

He immediately released me. Giving me space, but I saw the hunger sharpening his face.

I braced for a fight. “I need…time. I have to think. Or are you going to force yourself on me?”

“Force you?” His mouth tightened.

I stepped back, wrapping my arms around myself. At my closed posture, he squeezed his nape.

“Fine,” he bit out. “You can have a night to think it over.”

I relaxed a little. “Thank you.”

“Oh, you will pay me. Nobody steals from me, little thief. Now, how about a blood-wine?” He moved to a beautiful ebony wet bar at the other side of the room. “You’re still too pale.”

I rubbed my upper arms. “I spent too much time in the shadows.”

“Huh. That’s how you got in the door?”

I dipped my chin.

He frowned. “The guards should’ve been more careful.”

“The door was only open for a few seconds—not sure what they could’ve done.” I brought my arms back to my sides. “And…I’d rather have a blood-whiskey. If you have it, that is.”

His gaze snagged mine, probably seeing it as the small surrender it was. Then he nodded and pulled out a bottle of thousand-dollar blood-whiskey and two old-school whiskey glasses—rugged and no frills, with a thick base.

He poured a generous amount of whiskey into both glasses and passed one to me. “Cheers.”

“Cheers.” I raised my glass to him. The liquid shimmered darkly under the dim light.

Spider clinked his against mine, and we sipped at the same time. I felt him looking at me, but I avoided his eyes.

The whiskey slid down my throat like liquid fire before mellowing into a much-needed magical heat that spread throughout my body. It was almost as good as Spider’s blood.

“You like?” Spider asked.

“Oh, yeah.”

I took another sip. A droplet of whiskey remained on my lips and I flicked my tongue out, drawing it in.

When I glanced at him, a muscle in his cheek was working. “One night,” he growled. “That’s it.”