Read Online Angel at Dawn by Emma Holly - Free Book Online Page A

open the door for your human slave?”
    Christian chose a curse with a bit more heat. “You watch it, old man. I can make you one anytime.”
    The surprise that awaited them inside made Christian glad Grace had driven off. The door opened onto a cozy, softly lit living room. Built-in bookshelves lined the wall to either side of the fireplace. The furniture was comfortably worn, the rugs were faded, and the parquet floor had gone pale in places from foot traffic. A bulky TV cabinet filled one corner, along with the motion picture projector Grace had mentioned. Rebel Without a Cause sat atop a stack of film cans—his viewing homework, Christian presumed. That exotic accessory aside, the bungalow looked more home than hotel, complete with knickknacks and old paintings.
    None of this was what had him stiffening in shock.
    A very attractive young human woman sat in one of the leather wing chairs reading a magazine. What really made her presence noteworthy was that she was dressed in her underthings. Her boned black lace corset, which her slender figure hardly needed, lifted palm-size breasts into tempting mounds. She rose calmly as they entered and set down her Women’s Wear Daily , only teetering slightly on her four-inch heels. She was champagne blonde—not naturally, he didn’t think—and her face was painted exquisitely. Under the makeup, her expression was almost as serene as one of his own kind. Despite her slightness, she bore more than a small resemblance to Marilyn Monroe.
    “Jayzus,” Roy breathed, which didn’t cause her to bat an eye.
    “Hello,” she said in an appealing contralto. “You must be Christian. I’m Nicky from the service.”
    “From the service,” Christian repeated, his brain too slow to make sense of this.
    “Snacks R Us.” She handed him a card. “Welcome to the twentieth century.”
    Christian looked down at the silver-embossed red rectangle. The lettering did indeed say “Snacks R Us,” plus “all employees fully bonded.”
    Whatever “bonded” meant to mortals, he knew what it signified to upyr . “You’ve been bitten and thralled. You can’t tell other humans who you work for.”
    Nicky stroked her tanned human neck, drawing his attention not only to its length but to the faint gold glow of a vampire’s mark. “One of Miss Wei’s senior people runs the agency. You can have a different human every evening, or you can request a favorite. I’m also to tell you that you’re free to hunt in the city as long as you don’t kill or cause trouble. Sex is extra,” she added, “but none of us at the service are averse to that.”
    He could tell she wasn’t averse. Her pupils had swelled while she was speaking. Now she dropped her lashes and waited, her hands clasped servilely in front of her. Christian swallowed the saliva that had pooled in his mouth, his fangs half erect already. He knew he ought to accept this offer. He was hungry. He hadn’t fed off anyone since he’d met Grace three nights ago. Hunting would take time in a city he didn’t know. Somehow, though, these good reasons didn’t end up in his answer.
    “This is all very efficient, but I prefer to find my own meals.”
    “As you wish.” Nicky’s disappointment was apparent but controlled. She hesitated, then pulled a fogged-up silver pen from her cleavage. “Perhaps you’d allow me to write my direct phone number on the card? You can call me, or anyone at the service, anytime if you change your mind.”
    Numbly, Christian returned the card to her. Nicky jotted down her information, handed it back, and smiled brilliantly. “I do hope you’ll change your mind, Mr. Durand. Thralled or not, I really enjoy my job.”
    Her hand trailed down his shirtfront as she sashayed by him, the tips of her fingers glancing off his tumescent cock. Male that he was, Christian turned to watch her pause at the door. A long red trench coat hung from the tree beside it. Nicky slung the garment over her shoulder but didn’t