an idiot to participate in this exploitation.”
I chose not to follow Arys’s lead. My legs were shaking, and my entire body hummed with the pent up power I’d called during Jenner’s little show. I needed to sit down. Shaz sat beside me, but Jez placed herself opposite Arys where she could watch both Sloane and the door.
Roscoe leaned against the doorframe, staring at his cell phone. There was something about vampires and technology that made me giggle. Some of them were adept at change; others were so behind the times it was laughable.
“If anyone is being exploited, it’s the mortal suckers that show up to see something they can only read about in trendy books that pollute the beauty of what we are.” Sloane crossed one leg over the other, turning that simple action into a sensual display. “Simmer down, Arys. You saw his tame show. That was nothing. People love it. They tell themselves it’s not real, that it’s an act, the illusions of Vegas. But they know the truth. Deep down inside. And they enjoy it.”
“Why are you still here?” Arys asked, pinning her with a knowing stare. “You used to talk so much about leaving.”
“As did you,” she agreed. “I suppose you had a reason to go. Everything I have is here.”
They fell silent, both of them remembering a time before any of the shifters present had lived. Though she was otherwise cool and composed, a dark shadow passed through Sloane’s eyes.
Just when the silence became ridiculously awkward, Jenner swept into the room. His hair was disheveled, but he was dressed, thankfully. Exuding a heavy, sticky sweet energy, he glided through the room as if his feet never touched the ground.
Swiftly, he caught Sloane around the waist and lifted her out of the chair before sitting down himself with her on his lap. An irritated frown creased her brow, but she settled in against him, going so far as to sling an arm around his neck.
“Did you enjoy the show?” Jenner directed his question at Arys. Then his shifty eyes slid over me on the couch. “I know you did.” When I didn’t respond, he added, “Hot damn, those eyes are fascinating.”
With the power raging through me, my eyes had to be Arys’s vampire blue. I relaxed into the couch and brazenly reached out metaphysically to taste Jenner. It was rude, but I didn’t care. Manners didn’t strike me as the kind of thing Jenner cultivated.
His power was vast, impressive. It felt like Harley’s, which was a bit different from how Arys felt. I could only assume that Arys’s link to me gave him a different flavor. The power was deep and alluring, beckoning to me. He was likely the most powerful vampire in the city, as long as Arys wasn’t around.
He sat there watching me as I psychically prodded him, not attempting to shield against me. “Find anything you like?”
“Nothing I haven’t seen before.” I was flippant, wanting him to know he couldn’t play with me. His sire had loved to play. Harley had caused all kinds of hell for me. I wouldn’t allow Jenner to do the same.
Trailing a hand up and down Sloane’s thigh, Jenner grinned. “My turn.”
I raised a hand in invitation, allowing him to feel me out. It wasn’t too invasive since I didn’t resist. Jenner’s metaphysical touch was sensual, bathing me in heat. He lingered longer than necessary, but I remained without reaction.
“I bet you taste as good as you feel.” Jenner’s gaze strayed to my neck, seeking what lay beneath the choker I wore. “You’re dangerous though. I suppose a smart vampire wouldn’t want to tangle with you. They all seem to end up dead.”
I waved a hand dismissively. “Only the ones that hurt me or try to use me as leverage because they’re too weak to earn their power. I’m actually quite a nice person when I’m not being treated like an object.” I swung my foot and ran a hand through my hair, beaming at him as if I knew something he didn’t know.
“I’ll bet you are.”
“Is there a
I chose not to follow Arys’s lead. My legs were shaking, and my entire body hummed with the pent up power I’d called during Jenner’s little show. I needed to sit down. Shaz sat beside me, but Jez placed herself opposite Arys where she could watch both Sloane and the door.
Roscoe leaned against the doorframe, staring at his cell phone. There was something about vampires and technology that made me giggle. Some of them were adept at change; others were so behind the times it was laughable.
“If anyone is being exploited, it’s the mortal suckers that show up to see something they can only read about in trendy books that pollute the beauty of what we are.” Sloane crossed one leg over the other, turning that simple action into a sensual display. “Simmer down, Arys. You saw his tame show. That was nothing. People love it. They tell themselves it’s not real, that it’s an act, the illusions of Vegas. But they know the truth. Deep down inside. And they enjoy it.”
“Why are you still here?” Arys asked, pinning her with a knowing stare. “You used to talk so much about leaving.”
“As did you,” she agreed. “I suppose you had a reason to go. Everything I have is here.”
They fell silent, both of them remembering a time before any of the shifters present had lived. Though she was otherwise cool and composed, a dark shadow passed through Sloane’s eyes.
Just when the silence became ridiculously awkward, Jenner swept into the room. His hair was disheveled, but he was dressed, thankfully. Exuding a heavy, sticky sweet energy, he glided through the room as if his feet never touched the ground.
Swiftly, he caught Sloane around the waist and lifted her out of the chair before sitting down himself with her on his lap. An irritated frown creased her brow, but she settled in against him, going so far as to sling an arm around his neck.
“Did you enjoy the show?” Jenner directed his question at Arys. Then his shifty eyes slid over me on the couch. “I know you did.” When I didn’t respond, he added, “Hot damn, those eyes are fascinating.”
With the power raging through me, my eyes had to be Arys’s vampire blue. I relaxed into the couch and brazenly reached out metaphysically to taste Jenner. It was rude, but I didn’t care. Manners didn’t strike me as the kind of thing Jenner cultivated.
His power was vast, impressive. It felt like Harley’s, which was a bit different from how Arys felt. I could only assume that Arys’s link to me gave him a different flavor. The power was deep and alluring, beckoning to me. He was likely the most powerful vampire in the city, as long as Arys wasn’t around.
He sat there watching me as I psychically prodded him, not attempting to shield against me. “Find anything you like?”
“Nothing I haven’t seen before.” I was flippant, wanting him to know he couldn’t play with me. His sire had loved to play. Harley had caused all kinds of hell for me. I wouldn’t allow Jenner to do the same.
Trailing a hand up and down Sloane’s thigh, Jenner grinned. “My turn.”
I raised a hand in invitation, allowing him to feel me out. It wasn’t too invasive since I didn’t resist. Jenner’s metaphysical touch was sensual, bathing me in heat. He lingered longer than necessary, but I remained without reaction.
“I bet you taste as good as you feel.” Jenner’s gaze strayed to my neck, seeking what lay beneath the choker I wore. “You’re dangerous though. I suppose a smart vampire wouldn’t want to tangle with you. They all seem to end up dead.”
I waved a hand dismissively. “Only the ones that hurt me or try to use me as leverage because they’re too weak to earn their power. I’m actually quite a nice person when I’m not being treated like an object.” I swung my foot and ran a hand through my hair, beaming at him as if I knew something he didn’t know.
“I’ll bet you are.”
“Is there a
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