Read Online Wicked Obsession by Cora Zane - Free Book Online Page B

of gray flats and grabbed for her yellow patchwork cardigan off the floor. She whipped the sweater around her shoulders like a cape, and had only pulled one arm through before she started toward the bedroom door.
    “My grandmother’s hairpins, too,” Eleni called after her.
    Gisele froze, backtracked. Making no move to look Eleni in the eye, she stepped over to the dresser and fumbled to remove the delicate, enameled flowers. Her hands were shaking as she pulled the pins free and scattered them on top of the dresser. At once, she turned on her heel and hurried from the room.
    Eleni didn’t realize she was trembling until Gisele was gone. Immediately, she walked over to the bedroom door and locked it. She wasn’t sure how much good locking the door was going to do since Gisele probably had a key, but it made her feel better—slightly more secure. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from going through her jewelry box to see if anything had been taken.
    To her relief, everything appeared to be in order. Nevertheless, she didn’t intend to leave her jewelry box lying around anymore. She replaced the hairpins and shut the blue velvet box, securing the gold latch. Glancing around, she noticed the bedside table had a drawer. Of course, a drawer didn’t compare with a safe, but it was better than nothing—especially now she knew she couldn’t leave things lying around for the staff to find.
    She tucked away her jewelry box then closed the drawer and glanced out the window. Night had fallen. The sky was an inky, purple black with a crimson rim along the far horizon—still early. If Julian wasn’t already up and about, he would be soon.
    She cursed under her breath. She still needed to shower and get dressed before she went downstairs. The incident with Gisele had put her completely on guard, but it didn’t change the fact that if she was going to catch Julian at breakfast, she’d have to hurry.

    * * * * *

    Julian stirred from a dream and stretched. With his eyes still closed, he rolled over and reached for Eleni, but his hand found only cool, satin sheets. His eyes popped open and dark brows pulled into a frown. He sat up on his elbow and raked his hand through his hair. The door was closed, and the room silent. When had she left his bed?
    Their shared night of pleasure was seared on his memory. The scent of her blood beating with lust had nearly driven him mad with desire. He had not felt so alive in centuries before claiming her.
    A twinge of disappointment plucked at him that she hadn’t stayed until the lure of nightfall woke him. Exhaling deeply, he rolled onto his back and folded his arms behind his head. It had been a very long time since a woman had shared a bed with him. Sometimes, he called on Marguerite to sample a woman from her harem, but it was not the same as having an Acolyte of his own to share his bed. The women were faceless, nameless. Gone the next morning as their vampire mistress demanded of them, which suited him fine. Eleni was different, special in some way he couldn’t put his finger on. And it wasn’t simply because she answered to no one but him.
    He tossed back the covers, and sat on the edge of the bed, at once noticing the belt to his robe tossed across the chair. A flare of pride rose up in him. How deliciously willing she’d been. And she had not once asked him about his scars.
    Remembering that he’d tossed his robe into the fireplace, Julian got up and walked around the bed to take one down out of the closet since he still needed to shower and shave. On his way there, he stopped to pick up the heap of blankets that had fallen onto the floor at the foot of the bed. It was then he realized one of his sheets was missing. A sensual thrill skittered through him at the idea of Eleni walking through the house wrapped in a black silk sheet with nothing underneath.
    A minute later, he opened the closet door and pulled a robe down off the hanger. He slipped it on quickly, eager to seek her