Sebastian. She loved that name. So made for someone with his wealth and stature. It was elegant and refined. Bast, on the other hand... Alice shuddered. The shortened version mocked that same elegance.
She thought about the wistful way he’d said he wanted respect. And that conversation he’d had with the other vampire, Cicero. What was the story behind Sebastian?
“Ready?” he asked.
Startled by his nearness, lost in her own musing, she mentally sought out the comforting weight of the letter opener, tucked inside her sock. It was hidden by the brand-new jeans she wore. Not the most practical place for quick, effortless access, but it helped settle her nerves as she nodded and took his hand. Together, they walked toward the plane.
Still, as she settled into one of the leather chairs, she couldn’t help but wonder, again, what she’d gotten herself into.
Chapter Ten
“Why are you so nervous? I assure you, the pilot has been flying longer than you’ve been alive.”
The pink tee Alice wore softened her skin tone, making her eyes appear dark as she studied him. His gaze swept over her face, descending until he found the two little bruises on her neck. Perfectly positioned. The faint blue marks turned him on.
He’d put the bite there. Her blood was his to claim. Even now, the sound of her coming as he offered the dark kiss echoed in his ears, a memory worth clinging to.
“I’m just not sure why I’m here. You don’t seem sick tonight.”
A fact that startled him. He’d been so focused on providing her some comfort, including more food after her unfortunate early evening, it had slipped his mind the reason he knew Alice in the first place.
He said, “You must be good for me.”
She turned her face away from him, her disbelief almost palpable.
He smelled a fine layer of fear hovering over her, and it irritated him to know she still was uneasy about him. A smart woman would be cautious, but he wanted this woman to learn him. He wanted to take away her doubt.
She kept her attention on the laptop, and he surmised he’d touched some sort of nerve. But he respected her quiet request for privacy and didn’t push. With the upcoming meeting happening in less than half an hour, he had more urgent matters to pursue.
He’d needed Alice to come along in case he fell ill. This was supposed to be a trust-building mission, one for a politician who might be able to sway the lycans away from the vampire populace, but that they’d requested it so close to a full moon didn’t bode well. She wouldn’t be coming with him into the actual meeting, but he recognized needing her close by.
On the other hand, she was a weakness. Between the lycans and his own men, if discovered, she could be used against him. Bad enough Cicero knew about her. No telling who he’d run his fucking mouth to. But if he had to choose between his men and the lycans discovering about her, certainly the warriors had earned that loyalty. Although a few of them questioned the Council’s decision to make him leader, all, in the end, had earned his respect and trust.
Bast looked up as Pope left his seat to approach them. “Sir,” Pope said, “we’ll be landing soon. Is there anything additional you require?”
Shaking his head, Bast replied, “No, but Alice?” He waited for her to acknowledge him. “I’m going to leave you with Pope here. If you get off for any reason, stay next to the plane where he can see you. I won’t be far, but don’t want any of what I’m doing to touch you.”
“But—”
“Stay here. Work on the chart. It won’t take me long. I’ve already decided to cut my business down to just an hour.”
She didn’t look pleased, but nodded.
“Thank you. If something goes amiss, and I’m not expecting it to, listen to Pope. He’ll get you to safety. I’ll be back though.”
Bast studied her face one last time, visually caressing the beauty mark on her cheek, the swell of her lip, the twin marks on her neck. The heat remained at bay, but the urge to kiss her one more time, to taste her mouth swelled inside him.
“Come here,” he said, his voice husky.
Something in those pretty blue eyes flashed at him, and the slow, sly grin she gave could have made the coldest heart go up in a ball of flame. “No,” she whispered.