VAMPIRE: COLLECTION - TWO HOT & PASSIONATE Vampire Short Stories to Tickle You Numb! (MMF, Menage, Threesome, BDSM, Vampire Romance) by Celia Styles Read Free Book Online

it."
    Despite my shock that he would be so bold and distasteful about it, I felt an unexpected flush creep into my cheeks.  Nicholas pays you these kinds of compliments every day, and he's usually naked and on his knees when he does so, I reminded myself, forcing myself to imagine Nicholas before me, willing and eager.  "The gentleman pays me a great compliment," I said archly.  At that moment, thankfully, I saw Gemma Hayes and Francine Rawlins, and walked quickly over to them, crying out, "Darlings!" 
    They were humans, the worst gossips--and there was no better way to get a man off your back than to introduce him.  They would chat his ear off about what so-and-so wore, how gauche it was, what someone's nanny supposedly stole, what calls someone made--all of the horrible, mind-numbing, small and close minutiae that supposedly  matters to people trying to cut it in this world.  "This is Charles Magliano," I said, flashing him my most brilliant smile.  "He's a business investor--I think they call him an angel investor?  Is that right, Mr. Magliano?"  I didn't wait for him to answer.  "He's in town for a few weeks and I thought it would be so wonderful if you could introduce him to everybody."
    Usually men were filled with despair as they were led away by the chattering harpies, but the look he gave me as they insisted he meet the chairman of some board or other wasn't one of dismay, just a nod of shrewd admiration.  I had the sinking feeling that getting rid of him was going to be a lot harder than I'd thought. 
    ***
    Nicholas came to pick me up at the end of the evening.  "Lady Sybil," he said, as he opened the door for me. 
    "Thank you," I said.  The collar of his shirt didn't quite manage to cover the gauze pad he'd placed over the wound in his neck.  I would have to find a better arrangement. 
    "Your pet?" Charles appeared behind me.  He smiled and licked his lips--his tongue was obscenely long and pink, and against all my better judgment I once again found myself wondering what he was underneath that body of his. 
    "I serve the lady," Nicholas said, bristling. 
    "You do a wonderful job of it, I'm sure," Charles said, glibly.   "But she would never go out to dinner with a thrall, now, would she?"
    This was getting dangerous.  Nicholas looked as if he could murder Charles.  It was one thing to be my thrall, it was another to be toyed with by an outsider, who wasn't part of our bond.  "I serve the lady," Nicholas repeated, through gritted teeth, and he tugged up his sleeves, giving Charles the briefest glimpse of the knife he wore in his sleeve. 
    "Nicholas, drive," I ordered, before things could disintegrate any more. 
    Nicholas, fortunately, had been trained well, and though every fiber of his being was spoiling for a fight--I had to remind myself that he couldn't see Charles for what he was, he just thought Charles was a jerk--he got in and slammed the door.  "I'm sorry, my lady," he said.
    "Don't be," I said.  "I should have asked Reshi to pick me up.  People don't understand what it means to be a thrall.  I just never imagined he would have the nerve to follow me."
    "Yes, my lady," he murmured.  "I thought only to defend you."
    "I know.  And I love that you do."
    It was quiet for a while, just the purring of the car as we zipped through the streets of Manhattan. He eventually pulled into our parking garage, and opened the door for me to get out.  "My lady," he said, as we got into the elevator.  "May I ask you something?"
    "Yes."
    "Can you love me?"
    "Nicholas, you know I cannot answer that."
    He nodded.   He was turned away, but I didn't have to be a vampire to know the bitter disappointment in his heart. 
    ***
    Reshi and I were in my kitchen the next afternoon, drinking wine.  Nicholas was at the gym, working out--he would be back later, in time for the evening feeding.  I had a platter of smoked salmon and blini with caviar out for him.  I stuck with the wine. "I am worried