Read Online Cherry Stem by Sotia Lazu - Free Book Online Page B

Alex when I knew something about the case. “Don’t you plan on going home at some point? Oversee the repairmen?”
    Why did he have to have that boyish grin? “Nope. No need to. Gas company guys know what they’re doing.” He shrugged. “And I have everything I need here.” The look he threw me indicated he was referring to much more than groceries. “So will you be back?”
    “Yeah. It won’t take long.” Not if my brain still worked after seeing Constantine for the first time since I’d broken up with him.
    Without a word, Alex held a hand out to me. Closing the distance to the bed, I took it and leaned over so I could kiss him good-bye.
    * * * *
    Constantine’s human butler, Wesley, opened the heavy mahogany door. There was no sign of recognition on his ancient face even after I gave him my name. It stung that he didn’t remember me—not like he’d been seeing me almost daily for two years.
    He let me in and told me Constantine was waiting for me in his boudoir . His smile when I groaned at the thought of meeting my ex in his bedroom took at least twenty years off his wrinkled face. “I suggested the parlor, but when Master Constantine is set on something, there is no talking him out of it.”
    Tell me about it. I’d been yelling at the stubborn ass to leave me alone for four years now. He hadn’t relented one bit in his pursuit and still called me at least twice a week to see how I was doing and ask if I’d reconsidered.
    I followed the human inside with a nod, trying hard not to scoff at parlor . Why would a vampire need one unless he was a pretentious bastard? Never mind, I got my answer right there. I scratched out the thought that I’d considered his flashiness part of his charm when we’d been together. I’d been too smitten to be objective.
    Not staring at the blatant expressions of wealth along the corridor that led to the stairway took a lot of effort. The tapestry was embroidered with what I knew was real gold. I couldn’t help but compare my ex’s lifestyle with Alex’s. It both relieved and scared me that in my mind, Alex won, hands down.
    The thick carpet enveloped our feet, drowning out the sounds of our footsteps as we took the stairs down. Constantine heard us, nevertheless.
    “Come in, darling,” he called from behind the closed door of his bedroom. “We won’t be needing you, Wesley.”
    The old man reached for the doorknob, but I placed my hand on it and shook my head. “I got it.”
    I expected him to insist, but he gave me a small bow, his joints creaking, and disappeared up the stairs faster than I’d considered possible.
    I so didn’t want to open that door.
    The knob felt cold under my palm, uninviting, yet I turned it and pushed anyway, to reveal a sight that would have taken my breath away, if I had any.
    I’d called before dropping by, in hopes Constantine would be decent by the time I went to his mansion. I ought to have known better. The light of at least ten dozen candles showered a room twice as big as my entire apartment, in the center of which stood a bed double the width and length of a king-size. The deep purple silken duvet matched the color of the walls and made stark contrast with Constantine’s naked upper body.
    He was waiting for me in bed .
    Fortunately he was covered from the waist down. His long legs were bent at the knees, and he had one arm folded behind his head, the other lying loosely at his side. His hair, long and golden, framed his head, making him look like an angel. I knew no angel would be as wicked as he was or have as perfect a body. His height—I confess, I like my men tall—and absurd sexiness were the only similarities between him and Alex. Alex’s well-built body and short, wavy hair, that perfectly black shade that even the best colorist wouldn’t be able to duplicate, brought to mind a Greek god. Constantine’s lean and sinewy frame, his long blond hair, and blue eyes had always made me think of a Norse deity—one that