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Christine applied some kind of salve over the girl s eyes and lip where busted skin showed.
 All right, all done. She put her supplies back in her brown satchel.  Who do you want to come and
hang out with you? Rome, Darien, Vane, Vera?
 No, no one right now. I m just going to go to sleep for awhile. They said their goodbyes and left the
cabin.
 You look lovely.
She turned to him and laughed.  I do not. My hair s a mess, I have sticky ointment on my fingers, and
my jeans are dirty.
Dmetri looked at all the problems she just noted and realized he hadn t noticed any of them.
 Still lovely.
She blushed and rolled her eyes but he could see her eyes glittering at his words.
 I would like you to come with me.
 Where?
 Many places. My home, France, Russia, Venice. I could take you anywhere you wanted. She gasped
in surprise. He hadn t even meant to say it though it was all true.  Just say you re mine.
She shook her head as if she had a bee stuck in her hair. He almost laughed...almost.
 All right then, I ve made arrangements for us to have lunch together. Her smile made his skin
warmer, the day brighter.  Another date?
 Of course, I like dating you.
* * *
They walked in companionable silence to his guest cabin.
 Come in and have a seat.
She sat down at the small dinner table and fiddled with the white tablecloth.  What are we having to
eat?
 You, my sweet, are having chicken Florentine and I m having a glass of B. She chuckled.  Sounds
great.
He made his way to the fridge, pulled out a casserole container, and started plating it.
 Did you make this yourself?
 No, since I can t stand to taste the food I m sure what I d make would taste horrible. I talked to
Alison Kategan and had her make it for me. I hear she is quite the cook. He set the plate in front of
her and poured himself a glass of red liquid, thicker than wine.
It was an odd sight to see and she found herself surprised even though he d just told her he d be
having some.
She didn t hesitate to dig into the food. She finished chewing a big bite and said,  You re right. This
is amazing.
He inclined his head to her before taking the seat across from her. Once again, his much larger body
seemed to take up the entire space, yet he wasn t a bodybuilder type that physically took up space. He
just had a presence about him that spoke of power.
 Any news on Claude? she asked.
He shook his head.  Not yet, but he ll slip up again. I ll get him before anyone else gets hurt.
 How s your leg?
He shifted until he was leaning back in his seat with one arm thrown across the back, his long legs
stretched out in front of him. The dark look he gave her sent her stomach fluttering.
 Why don t you pull my pants down and take a look?
She choked on the bite of food she d taken and swallowed hard over the lump of meat in her throat.
As soon as it was down, she started laughing.
He sighed in defeat.  Forever laughing at me.
She controlled her twitching lips, barely.  I can t help it. You re so funny! He looked up as if
searching for guidance.  I am not amusing, Christine.
 Disagree.
He jumped out of his seat in the closest thing to rage since the attack. The change was so sudden, she
could only sit there, stunned.
 I am not funny! Instead of his usual contained, seductive voice, he shouted. Christine pushed herself
as far back in her seat as she could as she gaped up at him.
He started to speak, then closed his mouth and jabbed his hand through his hair several times.  I...
He shook his head, sending his long blonde hair slapping around him.  You... After a moment, he
seemed to get control over himself. He took several deep breaths then leveled a hard look on her. It
was the only way to describe it, the look pierced her, rooted her in place as if she were frozen in ice.
 What are you trying to say, Dmetri?
He flattened his palms on the table and towered over her.  I ve had enough of this. I always get what I
want, Christine. Always. When I want a woman, I have her. When I want a house, I buy it.
Christine had a sinking feeling in her stomach, and at the same time her breathing quickened with an
emotion that scared her too much to think about. As the protest formed on the tip of her tongue, he
made a slashing move with his hand that silenced her.
 No, now you get to hear me talk. I want you, and I get to keep what I want. I m going to bring Claude
Phelans to justice, and then I m taking you with me. Do you understand me? Her mouth opened but no
sound came out.
His frustration boiling, he rolled his neck and asked again.  I said do you understand me?
Christine never had a problem with words yet in that moment, they failed her. He stood, waiting for
her answer, the tic over his right eye growing more and more agitated.
 But you re a vampire.
He stared at her for a long moment.  Yes, we ve established that, he said slowly.
 But I need to mate with an Alpha. You ll never be one. He closed his eyes as if trying for patience.
 No, I won t. I m better, stronger, wealthier, and I want you. That s all you need to know.
Tired of him towering over her, she stood too and glared back at him.  I have a duty to honor my [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]