First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost Read Free Book Online

that honey and jasmine fragrance growing stronger. With his next step, he was a foot away, able to feel her residual body heat from the air around her. Her eyes were wide, more brown than green now, and her mouth—full, luscious—parted ever so slightly. Would she taste like honey and jasmine if he kissed her? Or would she have a richer, darker flavor, like the depth of her spirit he caught glimpses of in her eyes?
    Abruptly he spun on his heel. Denise wasn’t a vampire, so there was no point wondering such things. They’d find Nathanial and give him to Raum. Then, once she had those demon marks off, she’d walk away from him, soon to be dead as all humans were.
    And he wasn’t going through that again.
    “Your outfit for tonight is on the dresser,” he said, and slammed the door behind him.

Chapter Five
    Denise took a deep breath and tried to act nonchalant. It was a good thing the heat was on in this hotel, or with what she was wearing, she’d freeze.
    An attendant had taken her coat as soon as Denise entered the Khorassan Ballroom with Spade. It was a huge room, fitting well over two thousand, and yet it was still almost full. The sheer size of Spade’s line was staggering. Then once her coat was off, even though she was amid so many people, heads turned.
    Denise raised her chin and refused to cringe. Go on, look. You’ve seen more skin on a beach, it isn’t that shocking.
    Except this wasn’t a beach, though what she was wearing looked inspired by a bikini. Her top was a diaphanous bolero, and the matching sheer pantalets looked swiped straight from the set of I Dream of Jeannie .
    Vampires are perverts, every last one of them , Cat had said on many occasions. If this was standard “property” garb for an undead event, then Cat was dead right.
    Denise had expected a smart-assed remark from Spade when she came downstairs in her ridiculous garb. Why wouldn’t he be amused? He was the one who’d gotten this harem-girl outfit for her to wear. But he’d only glanced at her for the barest second and then handed her a coat, remarking that it was cold outside.
    Of course it was. February in St. Louis wasn’t supposed to be balmy. If Spade had a heart, she’d be in pants and a sweater. He wasn’t scantily dressed, wearing a long black coat over a white shirt and black pants that fit him so well, they had to be custom designed. With his dark striking looks, Spade practically dripped with decadent elegance, and here she was, like a knock-off Scheherazade.
    So the least he could do was take the time to appreciate how the costume he’d foisted on her looked. Or notice that she’d done her hair and makeup in a very flattering way, if she said so herself. She might be getting introduced as property, but she’d make sure people knew this property was high-end, dammit.
    Yet Spade hardly looked at her then or during the twenty-minute car ride to the Chase Park Plaza hotel. He didn’t speak, either, except to exchange a few words with the driver. If he hadn’t opened her car door as she entered and exited the vehicle, she might have thought she’d somehow become invisible. To add insult to injury, he’d left her almost as soon as they entered this huge room. Denise had grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter so she’d look occupied, instead of just standing there like a statue.
    Why do you care that Spade’s being cold to you? a little voice inside asked.
    I don’t , Denise told it.
    If it was possible to hear an internal scoff, she did. She ignored it, concentrating on the people around her instead of her inner idiot. As soon as she did, however, she realized she’d made a mistake.
    So many pale faces. Those quick, deliberate movements. Cool flesh all around her. Fangs everywhere. All those glowing eyes…
    A familiar panic began to rise in her. Denise tried to fight it back, but it rose without pity, choking her in the memories.
    “I have to get out of here,” she mumbled.
    Spade jerked his