Vampire Assassin League Bundle 4 - Eternity by Jackie Ivie Read Free Book Online Page A

I can use, though? Right?”
    “Vampirism isn’t what they say.”
    “There are too many versions. Which one are you talking about?”
    “It’s not eternal life.”
    “Okay. Let me get this straight. You’ve been a vampire for over a couple of centuries and that’s not eternal to you?”
    “It’s more about the life part of that. It’s non-living. And it’s endless. Forever.”
    “Sounds pleasant. I’ll keep that in mind. Are any of these figures tempting you? Or will I have to match that damn realtor’s figure?”
    “Nothing has meaning. Each night follows the next. Ceaselessly.”
    “Hey. Are you interested in leasing your place, or am I just wasting breath here?”
    “There’s only one thing that changes this endless existence, Sydney.”
    Oh shit. Again. He said her name. With the slightest warble to it. And then he reached for her entwined hands and held them in one of his. And she didn’t even fight it? Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.
    “One thing. And it’s such amazing beauty, I find myself nearly speechless with receiving it. I’m not even sure I can explain.”
    No. She wasn’t responding. Not a word. Not even a grunt. She was suddenly cold. Allover cold. Shaking with it. He lifted her entwined hands to his lips and spoke the words to her fingers. As if he was just as afraid of her reaction as she was.
    “We find our mate. The one. The only.”
    And then Sydney surprised even herself. Her lips worked. “I think... I’m going to need that drink now, Devereaux.”

 
    CHAPTER SIX
    He stopped her on the second drink. She’d picked up a decanter that contained whipped cream flavored vodka. Or maybe it was vanilla. Didn’t matter. It was good. Even at room temperature. Went down easy. Especially if you swigged it. And that, after clinking the bottle against the shot glass since the drinks were at knee level. That made pouring difficult. That was okay by her. The clinking helped disguise the shaking.
    And then Devereaux loomed beside her, stopping her from filling her shot glass for the second time by just plucking the decanter out of her hand.
    “What are you doing?” he asked.
    She snorted. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
    “Inebriating yourself isn’t going to change anything. Weren’t you listening?”
    “Inebriating? Listen. Devereaux. I plan on a good drunk. Not just a little inebriation.”
    “Why? It won’t help.”
    “Oh... I think a good drunk followed by a nice bit of blackout might be very beneficial at the moment. So... if you don’t mind?”
    “Answer the why, then.”
    She reached for the vodka. He lifted it higher. She narrowed her eyes. He still looked good. And with the bottle held aloft, it just opened his jacket more, and that just gave her an even broader view. Fine. The man was fine. Didn’t look remotely dead. Or like a figment of her imagination. He looked male. And fit. And all of that just kept sending that same sort of electrical vibe she’d noted earlier. Only now it was even stronger. And he sported a six-pack just ripe for running her fingers down. She barely caught the move to reach and do that very thing. Bad Sydney . She had to get her mouth moving and not her appendages.
    “Why am I drinking? Ahem. I should think it obvious. Alcohol is an option I hadn’t considered. It’s clearly option number four. I should have figured it out earlier. But what’s the loss of a few minutes, give or take?”
    “Option four?”
    Damn. He wrinkled his forehead as he considered it. That was just adding unnecessary ballast to an already heavy portfolio. He didn’t need one more affectation to make him any more desirable. Or attractive. Or just plain salivating hot. She swallowed in order to reply.
    “Yep. Option four. Avoidance. And this is really smooth vodka by the way. I figure I can drink myself insensible and by the time I wake up, you’ll be a figment of the night and everything will be back to normal.”
    He shook his head.
    “Okay. I’ll settle