NocC 025 - Caridad Pineiro - Her Vampire Lover - Harlequin 2012-10 by Nocturne Read Free Book Online

kiss and hurried away.
    She watched his retreating back until he turned the corner of the center hall and then gave her attention to Vanesa.
    “Do not toy with him,” the older woman warned, clearly uneasy with Sonja’s presence.
    “This isn’t what you think,” she replied, although in truth, Sonja wasn’t really sure what it was.
    “He’s a good man,” Vanesa replied, hesitantly stumbling over the word man .
    “No need to play games, Vanesa. I know what Gregori is.”
    The housekeeper eyed her carefully, her hands folded primly before her as they rested on her spotless white apron. “You know and yet you are here.”
    “Yes,” she answered without hesitation.
    A change came over the woman then. With slightly more warmth, she held out a hand in invitation. “Then let’s get you settled.”
    *
     
    Armed with her guidebook and Vanesa’s instructions, Sonja spent the early part of the day exploring the city, but by mid-afternoon she was dragging. The night of making love with Gregori had drained her as had his bites. But as she tiredly made her way back to his town house, she also acknowledged that she was eagerly looking forward to spending another night in his arms.
    When she arrived, Vanesa was passing through the foyer with a covered silver tray in her hands. She paused and craned her neck back haughtily because Sunny was several inches taller. “Back so soon?”
    “I was hoping Gregori would be up.”
    Vanesa lifted the tray in emphasis. “ The count is awake,” she said with some formality. “I was just bringing the count an afternoon snack.”
    Sunny gestured to the snack. “Mind if I take it up to Gregori?”
    Vanesa hesitated, clearly still dubious of Sunny’s intentions, but then relented, holding the tray out for her to take and offering up a warning. “If you think you can stomach it. Third door on the right at the top of the stairs.”
    For a moment Sunny wondered if she wasn’t making a big mistake, but at the sly gleam in the other woman’s eyes, it occurred to her that this was a test of sorts. With an aplomb she hadn’t known she possessed, she whisked the tray from the woman’s hands and dashed up the stairs, eager to see Gregori.
    At the door to his room, she paused and took a long inhale, trying to control the flare of desire that had her insides skittering in anticipation. A rush of blood brought heat to her cheeks and other points south.
    Gregori would surely pick up on that, but what was she to do?
    With her tote tucked tight beneath one arm, she balanced the tray in one hand and rapped sharply on the door.
    “Come in, Vanesa,” he called out, the rich baritone of his voice vibrating within her.
    She managed to open the door and enter at a sedate pace, intent on showing some control.
    That good intention flew out the window the moment he turned in her direction.
    Weak afternoon sunlight bathed one side of his face in red-gold light, casting the other in shadow until he stepped into the center of the room. The amber light from an assortment of table lamps and sconces played over his features.
    The sight of him took her breath away again. He was as handsome, maybe more so, than she had remembered. As she had walked around all day, she had wondered if maybe she had been mistaken, but there was no doubt now.
    His features were totally masculine, except for that boyish dimple that emerged the moment he laid his eyes on her and grinned.
    “I wasn’t expecting you home so soon.” Such a normal-sounding comment in a far-from-normal situation.
    “I was tired,” she said, which was a half truth.
    He swaggered toward her, took the tray from her hands and placed it on a small table in the sitting area adjacent to his bed. His large, rather inviting-looking bed.
    “Was that the only reason?” His smile broadened and he raised one dark brow in challenge.
    “If I told you the truth, you might get too cocky.”
    “Too late,” he said and glanced downward, drawing her gaze to where