Ensnared: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance (3 page)

I held in my rage until Star was safely occupied by Angelique.
Then I strode back outside to the limo and rapped out Malik’s name.

He scrambled out of the limo surprisingly fast for a big man
and stood at attention, shoulders back, broad face wary.

I felt my eyes blaze a vampire-blue. “What do you have to
say for yourself?”

He gulped. “I’m sorry, monsieur. I didn’t mean for her to be
hurt.”

My hand latched on his throat. “You know I wanted her,” I
gritted. “And you know damn well that meant undamaged.”

His gaze slid from mine. “I’m sorry,” he choked out.

“Sorry isn’t good enough. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t
kill you right here and now.”

His face was turning red. He clawed at my hand but I just
squeezed harder.

“I can’t,” he gasped out, “but I swear…never again.”

He was telling the truth. I could tell by his scent, and
from the blood bond between us which allowed me to sense stronger emotions,
like right now when Malik reeked of fear. But there was no taint of a lie.

I slammed him against the side of the limo and released him.
He slumped over, hands on his knees, his large body heaving for breath.

I stared down at his shaved head. “I’ll give you one more chance,”
I growled. “But if it ever happens again, you’re dead.”

“Understood. And thank…you for your…mercy.”

He came upright and turned his head to one side, offering
his neck in silent apology.

I made a noise of disgust. “You think I want your blood
right now? Get back in the limo. The sight of you offends me.”

Hurt flashed across his face. He hung his head. “Yes, sir.”

“And Malik?”

His gaze shot up to mine. “
Oui
?”

“See to Antoine and Oakley. Only an animal hurts a woman
like that. But don’t kill them. Just make them wish they were dead.”

Malik nodded eagerly. “Of course, sir. As soon as you’re
safely at the hotel.”

I inclined my head curtly and walked back inside to find Star
perched on the couch in that sexy red skirt that I couldn’t wait to remove.

I set Malik from my mind and allowed myself a small smile.

She was mine.

I watched impatiently as she signed the contract and then
scrawled my name beneath hers. A dark satisfaction filled me as I ushered her
back to the limousine.

It had been a long time since I’d wanted anyone that badly.
And that in itself was…interesting.

It had been Malik who arranged for Star to be offered the
job at Oakley’s, a club where I was a silent partner. And it was Malik who
stole the money, then hired a hacker to doctor the security feed so it looked as
if it had been Star.

I should’ve anticipated that Oakley’s man would rough her up.
Before I realized what was happening, he’d tossed her into the alley. I’d
rushed out of the club and around the side of the building to her.

The sight of her leaning brokenly against the fence, her
soft skin marked by that bastard’s blows, caused an odd twist in the pit of my
stomach. It took me a good half-minute to recognize what it was—guilt. Because no
matter what Malik’s part in it, Star wouldn’t have been in that office in the
first place if not for me.

I’d paid her debt immediately, and threw in a bonus on top.
Because guilt—something I hadn’t experienced in a long, long time—was even less
pleasant than I remembered.

In the front seat, Malik shifted uneasily. He’d failed me,
and he knew it.

I sent him a last, cold look and then turned to smile at my
pretty little companion. Malik would have to earn back my trust, but meanwhile,
Star Salazar was mine.

* * *

 It was four a.m. by the time we arrived at the
Inner Harbor hotel I owned.

We rode the elevator up in silence. Star was staring at the elevator
buttons as if her life depended on knowing which floor we were passing, and Malik
knew better than to speak to me without permission.

I kept a penthouse suite for my own use on the top floor of
the hotel. Malik went first, checking the living room, dining room and each of
the three bedrooms for threats. No one lived as long as I had without making a
few enemies. He ended in the master bedroom suite, where he turned on low lights
in first the sitting room to our left, and then the spacious black-and-gold
bedroom.

I leaned against a wall and watched Star take in the black
lacquer furnishings, plush rugs and iron wall sconces. I might be a twenty-first-century
vampire—with my far-flung business holdings, I’d had to adapt or die—but I had
a weakness for the rich trappings of my youth.

Star’s gaze landed on a painting by a sixteenth-century Japanese
artist. She inhaled sharply.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s the original. By Kanō Hideyori. Do
you know him?”

She nodded vigorously. “Oh, yes.” She moved closer to the
painting to examine it. “I just never thought I’d see one in person.”

“
Non
?” I raised a brow, intrigued that a cocktail
waitress recognized a Hideyori. “I purchased it in the late 1800s.”

She tore her gaze from the painting to look at me with
rounded eyes. “Seriously? How old are you?” Then she flushed. “Forget I asked.”

I moved closer. She tensed but held her ground. “All you
need to know”—I tucked a shiny black strand of hair behind her ear—“is that I’m
very, very old…but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen something as beautiful
as you.”

Her tongue swiped over her red lips and my whole lower body
tightened. I looked impatiently toward the master suite. What the hell was
taking Malik, anyway?

Boots thumped in the hallway and Malik appeared in the
doorway of the suite. “All clear,
monsieur
. Can I do anything else for
you?”

I glanced at Star. “Perhaps Mademoiselle would like
something to eat?”

“No thanks,” she said with a nervous twitch of her head. “I’m
fine.”

I nodded and dismissed the big man. “Don’t disturb us until
tomorrow afternoon,” I added, “unless absolutely necessary.”

He inclined his head, and then my new blood courtesan and I were
alone.

Star swiped her palms over her skirt. Anxiety came off her
in salty waves. Anxiety, but also arousal.

She slanted me a glance. I could almost hear her think:
Tomorrow
afternoon?

I set a hand on her nape and drew her toward me. She resisted
briefly and then allowed me to pull her closer. I remained silent, massaging
her nape until her breath soughed out.

I set my hand on her lower back and indicated the master
bedroom. “After you,
ma chérie
.”

She squared her shoulders and entered the room like Marie
Antoinette going to her execution.

I stifled a sigh. I knew I hadn’t imagined the arousal, but I
could see I was going to have to calm the woman or she was going to fight this
every step of the way.

Well, I’d had hundreds of years to learn patience.

I lit a couple of candles near the bed, then crossed to the
large fruitwood cabinet and selected a well-aged cabernet sauvignon. I twisted
the cork out with my own fingers and poured a healthy portion into each of two
hand-blown glass goblets.

Star had crossed the plush rug to the windows overlooking the
Inner Harbor. I’d designed the hotel to a vampire’s specifications. The windows
were a special smartglass that by day was tinted a dark gray to protect me and
my kind from the direct sun, but by night was clear to allow unimpeded views of
the sky and the harbor.

Taking the wine goblets, I joined Star at the windows. Seven
stories below, the water was a dark mirror that reflected the nearby National
Aquarium and its distinctive glass pyramids. To the east and south were the expensive
condos which had sprouted in old waterfront neighborhoods that had once been so
rough only crusty seamen and creatures of the night like myself could walk them
unmolested.

Star’s silky hair fell forward over her shoulders to reveal
a tempting slice of golden-brown skin. I pressed my lips to the side of her
neck as I offered her one of the goblets.

“Something to relax you.”

She turned and accepted the wine, but instead of drinking, stared
into the dark red liquid, unmoving as a small, terrified bird.

I felt another annoying twinge of guilt. I ignored it to set
a finger under the goblet’s foot and nudged it toward her mouth. “Drink.”

She nodded jerkily and obeyed. The rare, expensive wine
might as well have been a cheap house blend for all she tasted it. She took a
second gulp, her soft throat working.

I took a sip of my own wine. It was exquisite, dry and
perfectly aged. I rolled it around on my tongue and then set the goblet on a
nearby table.

My pretty little victim sent me a wide-eyed glance and drained
her goblet.

“Star.” I took the glass from her and set it on the table. “There
is no need to be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you. I want only to give you
pleasure.”

“I’m not—” She met my eyes and then shrugged. “All right, fine.
I am afraid.”

I gave a small smile, pleased that she’d told the truth.
Because I could read the fear on her face, scent it. Right now it was battling
with arousal—and winning.

“It’s normal,
chérie
. We fear the unfamiliar. But I
will be gentle with you, I promise.”

I turned her until she was facing the water again and set my
mouth to her nape. My fangs lengthened, but when she stiffened, I merely
wrapped my arms around her and ran my lips over the sensitive skin.

“Relax.” The word slipped like syrup over my tongue, infused
with a light compulsion.

“Stop that.” She went stick straight, fighting the compulsion
with everything she had.

I frowned. I didn’t have to cater to this fragile human. She’d
signed a contract, and the beast in me wasn’t going to let her walk out of this
room without feeding.

But I wanted her willing. A victim’s blood was flavored by
their emotions. I won’t lie: sometimes the beast in me relishes the flavor of
fear. But with this woman, I wanted to taste her pleasure.

I eased off the compulsion and called on another ability
instead, willing my body temperature to warm. Star’s soft body relaxed in slow
increments.

“That’s better,” I said against her ear. “Relax. Allow
yourself to enjoy. It’s not so bad.”

“Yeah? How many people have sunk their teeth into
your
neck?”

My lips quirked. “Only one.” And that so long ago I could
barely recall how it felt. But I did remember how once I’d gotten over the
fear, it had been darkly thrilling.

I switched gears. “I know you haven’t been with many men.”

“I’m not a virgin, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“
Non
? But not many, I think—and whoever has had you
before, none of them were me.”

I felt her smile at my arrogance. But she relaxed into my
arms.

“No,” she agreed. “None of them were you.”

“Say my name.” I wanted to hear it in her American accent. “Remy.”

She hesitated, and then obediently repeated, “Remy.”

I shifted, so hard for her, my cock was trying to tear a
hole in my pants. But first, there was something I needed to do.

Bringing my hand up, I sank my teeth into my finger until a few
drops of blood welled up. I brought it to her mouth. “Here. Drink.”

She went rigid again and tried to turn her head. “No,” she
said between tight lips.

My brow snapped down. I was used to people begging for even a
single drop of my blood for its magical properties.

“A vampire’s blood heals, Star.” I stroked her hair. “It is
for your own good. It will take away those bruises, heal your lip.”

“You’re not trying to turn me into a vamp?”

“No, of course not. You have to die first, and then you have
to drink much blood. Now drink it.”

She shook her head against my shoulder. “I’m tough. I hardly
feel it.”

“Star,” I said sternly.

“Okay, fine. If it will make you happy.” Her small pink
tongue darted out, lapping up the drop like a cat.

Sensation punched down my spine. My balls tightened and the
beast rose up, impatient to have her.

I gritted my teeth.
Patience
, I told both it and myself,
and angled my head to look at Star’s face. The marks were already melting away,
and the cut on her lip had closed.

Guilt assuaged, I slid a hand up her taut little torso. I
unfastened the top button of her shirt, and then continued downward, one button
at a time. With the third button, I could see her soft, full breasts in their
plain white bra.

Earlier that evening, I had ordered a complete wardrobe to
be delivered to the suite in a couple of days, and I couldn’t wait to see Star
in the expensive underthings I’d bought, but there was something incredibly
erotic about the white nylon against her warm-colored skin. I could just make
out a dusky nipple pressing against the material.

I slid a finger beneath the bra to tease the tightly furled
point and she sucked in a breath.

“You like that,” I murmured.

She nodded.

I pinched her nipple. Not hard. Just enough to make her gasp
and arch her back.

The hell with patience
. I’d been anticipating this
for more than a week, ever since I’d first seen her on that stoop. My fangs
literally ached to taste her sweet flesh. I touched the tender spot at the turn
of her neck and she went rigid.

“A taste,” I murmured. “I need—”

“All right.” She held herself tensely in place.

I brought one hand to her face, angling her head to the
side. The other hand was still on her breast, my fingers spread to enjoy the
whole beautiful weight of her.

“Star,” I breathed, and then, the flavor of her was in my
mouth.

Indescribable—and yet somehow familiar, as if I’d stumbled
upon something I’d been searching for a long, long time.