Page 43 of Thicker than Water

I take my pointer finger and run it along the line of her jaw, a gentle caress that she leans into. Then I guide her mouth toward mine, kissing her lower lip softly, slowly.

Her hips move over me, edging closer, a subtle but intimate shift. I respond in kind, pulling her waist to me with my other hand, my fingers traveling underneath her tank top. She’s warm, her skin vibrating with life and vitality. It heightens my senses and whets my appetite for her.

Now I become more insistent, a soft bite on her upper lip, not enough to draw blood, just to make her moan. She leans into my kiss, exploring my mouth with her skillful tongue, burying her fingers in my hair.

I can’t wait any longer. I stand, taking her with me. She laughs, holding onto me tightly, her thighs wrapped around my hips.

I head for the elevators, not toward the back of the club.

Her heart thumps a bit louder. “Where are we going?”

“My crypt.”

A concerned expression crosses her features for a brief moment, before disappearing quickly.

“Do you not want to go?” I ask.

“No, I want to go…” she glances around self-consciously. We’re going past the bar, then the security desk.

“Embarrassed to be seen with a vampire?” I ask her with a smirk.

“I’m just…I’m not used to it,” she says, her eyes avoiding mine.

“Nobody is, until they are.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

She pulls herself a little closer. I hold her weight in one arm as I use the other to push the elevator button. There aren’t many guests left, but the ones that are still here make room for us.

“I can walk,” she offers.

I give her an insulted look. “I can carry you easily.”

“I’m not usedto that either.”

“Perhaps you should get used to it.”

The elevator chimes. I want to set her down on the pillowed bench, take her right now. But I tell myself to be patient. There’s privacy and comfort in my crypt. We’ll have the rest of the night until sunrise.

She buries her face in my hair and I can feel her muscles relax. Almost like she trusts me. Almost.

I don’t speak. I know the value of silence. And I wouldn’t have the right words for this moment anyway.

I press my index finger into the elevator button.

“Isn’t that for the club?” Amara asks.

I hold the tip of my finger against the button and the elevator moves down. “The button is a fingerprint sensor. If I hold my finger against the button for long enough, it takes me to my crypt.”

“Your fingerprint?” she says, wrinkling her nose as though she doesn’t quite believe me.

I raise an eyebrow. “You’ve got to be a little impressed.”

She almost rolls her eyes. Then the doors to the elevator open with a chime.

The Thornblade family has owned this hotel for the past several decades. We’ve had lots of time to decorate. And I’ve had lots of time to transform my crypt into a sanctuary where I can escape from the stress of running a massive mafia empire.

The ceilings are high, almost cavernous. But the resemblance to a cave ends there. I might be a centuries-old vampire, but I have modern tastes. The main living area of my suite is decked out with sleek couches, a full bar, a record player, and a grand piano, of course.