As she hurried to her own shower, she debated her options.
On the one hand, Ellie needed to obey him so as not to risk her family. If she were gambling with only her own life, then this would be a no-brainer.
On the other, if her plan succeeded, she could win the jackpot-her body back from Saroya and maybe a chance to escape Lothaire, preferably with a pocketful of jewels to improve her family's financial situation.
After a quick shower, she threw on a robe and sat at her dresser. Since he seemed to be partial to her hair, she pinned it up loosely-just to let it down in front of him. Then she used some of Saroya's makeup. Mascara, lipgloss, a little eyeliner.
But when it came to dressing, Ellie wasn't so sure. She stared with dismay at the red teddy in her lingerie drawer.
She wasn't embarrassed to wear it-no remaining modesty and all-but she didn't want her encounter with Lothaire to go as he seemed to plan it: her in a teddy giving him a mouth hug, then him leaving without a word.
In the end, she donned sexy undergarments, but chose to wear another pair of jeans and a tank top, a red one in compromise. She even pulled on stiletto boots.
When she'd finished dressing, she checked herself out in the mirror. Her jeans and her top were both skintight, her high-heeled boots sexy. But even she could see the outfit needed something. . . .
With a swallow, she yanked off her top, removed her bra, then pulled the top back on. That'll do it.
She imagined seeing herself from his eyes. What would I look like to a millennia-old vampire? The jeans accentuated the curves of her h*ps and ass. Her br**sts jutted against the thin material of her top. He'd probably want to touch her there.
Just thinking about his hands on her made her ni**les hard. Not gonna beat myself up for desiring a bastard like him. She was anticipating this because she was emotionally stunted-and sexually desperate-from prison.
The outfit was sexy, but not as much as the gown he'd wanted her in. I'm gambling with chips I can't afford to lose. She exhaled, about to change-
Lothaire appeared in her room, his hair still damp, clad in another expensive outfit. She briefly wondered why he'd redressed but figured he would want to intimidate her-or leave directly after his blowjob.
Showtime, Ellie.
He looked lustful, his body tense. "I gave you an order." He traced to stand just before her, gripping her elbow. "You defy me, when I'm already on the verge of rage? I could kill you so easily."
"But you won't."
"I might. Though I won't intend to. In case you haven't noticed, I'm quite mad."
In a deadpan tone, she said, "I think you're just misunderstood."
Double take from the vampire.
"Besides, Lothaire, could your chess game recover from a move like that? You're not so far gone that you'd risk losing everything."
He cast her an appraising glance; she made a mental note-learn how to play chess.
"You understood what would happen if you disobeyed me."
She forced herself to give him her brightest smile, as if she were delighted with him. "Oh, I didn't reckon you really wanted me to wear that."
He raised his brows. Didn't I?
Drawing on every ounce of courage she possessed, she said, "Definitely not the first time we're to be . . . intimate."
"And why not?"
"You'd want me to feel comfortable. I'm more comfortable in jeans."
His grip tightened. "Do you truly believe I give a f**k about your comfort?"
Courage, Ellie! "I told you I would please you, didn't I?"
Dropping her arm, he strode through the connecting doorway to that settee in his room, with no doubt she'd follow. He reclined against the back of it, his long legs stretched in front of him.
He clasped his hands behind his head, saying in a snide tone, "I'm ready to be pleased. And, of course, to be seduced away from Saroya's clutches." He sounded like he was just stifling cruel laughter. "Proceed."
"You think you know my plan-and you don't believe I have a shot in hell."
"None whatsoever."
"But you're still going to let me try?"
"I welcome your most inspired endeavor. Though I hardly think it's fair-since you wouldn't have been able to practice your seduction skills in prison. Or perhaps you had been able. Who knows what goes on behind bars?"
His expression was so mocking, stinging her deeply, like a wound. "This is funny to you?"
"Uproarious."
"And what will Saroya think about what we do?"
"I'll be sure to recount all your clumsy attempts to supplant her-so she and I can laugh about them together."
Ellie narrowed her eyes. Yes, his mocking stung, but he hadn't cowed her; he'd just waved a red flag in front of a bull. He's never had a country
girl.
An earthy, dirty-mouthed girl-whose very life was on the line.
She could throw him for a loop. She recalled overhearing boys talking about her in high school: "You ever been parking with Ellie Peirce? It's life-changing." She decided then that she knew just enough about males to be dangerous. He'd underestimated her at his peril.
Reminded that everyone had always underestimated her, she put her shoulders back and strode over to join him, noticing his gaze was locked on her braless br**sts. His bulging erection almost made her falter, but when she reached him, she straddled his lap, resting above him on her knees.
"I want to call the shots tonight, Lothaire."
"You?"
"Yeah, I'll do all the work. You just sit back and relax after your busy day doing evil. Will you keep your hands to yourself?"
"Unlikely."
"You said you might hurt me if you touched me."
"Which is why I demanded head, Elizabeth."
"Surely you're not scared of the mortal virgin driving the truck? Of course, I do have some experience that you might like."
He pinched her chin again. "Ah, I'm to enjoy your parking skills."
She flung her head back out of his grip, but still smiled at him. "When the only tool you own is a hammer . . ."
"Every problem begins to resemble a nail."
Of course he would be familiar with her favorite saying.
He absently licked a fang. "I can't wait to see exactly how you'll . . . drive."
Then I'm gonna give you a ride you'll never forget.
Chapter 23
She mulishly defies me while giving me a mind-scrambling smile.
What was she thinking? The idea that Lothaire would choose this ill-bred peasant over the goddess of vampires? Laughable.
But, oh, he looked forward to Elizabeth's inexperienced campaign to sway him. "Do show me how you're superior to a deity. Or are you losing your nerve?"
He'd quickly get bored with her game, and then he'd rip off that top and fondle those big, pert br**sts of hers for the first time. I'll tongue those ni**les straining against the material.
"Maybe that's not the only reason I want to be with you," she said.
"Explain."
"I'm going to die soon. Maybe I don't want to die a virgin."
"But I won't f**k you. That I save for my Bride alone."
She nibbled her pouty bottom lip. "Then I want to be with you because I've gone ages without a man's touch."
Her ni**les were so hard he could almost believe she truly desired his hands on her. "I'm not a man."
"No. You're not. But you'll do." She reached up and unpinned her silky mane, letting it cascade over her shoulders. Curls bounced over her br**sts, tickling the peaks, her tantalizing scent washing over him-
Wait. I'll do?
Then she reached forward to undo the middle button of his shirt, spreading the opening as wide as it would go, baring the center of his
torso.
With another smile, she eased in and pressed her mouth to his skin. His muscles tensed beneath her lips.
She gave a lick. He hissed out a curse. Another button opened, another accompanying kiss. Again and again she did this with the lightest kisses. Sweet but sexy.
By the time she'd drawn his shirt off his chest, she'd kissed from his collarbone to his navel and started upward again.
When she reached one nipple, she hovered just over it, letting him feel her warm breath before she grazed her lips over it. At the contact, his shaft pulsed in his pants.
As he gazed down at her, she flicked his nipple with her tongue, making his body go rigid. Then she sucked it.
Just as he was about to groan, she . . . bit it. His h*ps shot up uncontrollably.
"You like that?" she asked.
"I'll do the same to you, girl. See if you like it."
She gave his other nipple a lick, murmuring against it, "Promise?"
"Playing with me? I'll pierce you, drink from you. Take off your shirt and watch me."
She rose up and collected the hem of her shirt, lifting it slowly, baring inch after inch of her trim torso . . . then the beginning swell of her br**sts.
Higher, higher, about to reveal her ni**les-
She let the material drop. "I'm driving. Not ready to put the top down yet."
He grabbed a length of her hair, wrapping it around his fist. "Understand me, Elizabeth," he began, about to tell her that he was done playing her game. But the rana came over him. Can't lie.
Apparently he . . . wasn't done playing her game?
Might I even like it?
Not with her! He tugged sharply on her hair.
Instead of crying out with fear, she said, "Looks like you're going to drive, then. It's a shame you won't be seeing the one thing I'm really, really good at."
Damn her. Again she'd spurred his curiosity. He recalled the pleasure he'd felt merely from watching her dismantle his cable box. He certainly hadn't expected her actions then; what other surprises did she have in store for him? "Hmm. How good?"
"I'm probably better at it than you are at killing."
"You've got five minutes to impress me," he said. "And know this, my killing skills are exceedingly well-honed. You had better have me yelling to the rafters."
"Hell, Lothaire, I can do that in four. Now, if you're done chattin' me up, I'd love to show you my tits."
He stifled a shocked cough. Mask your surprise. Show no reaction. Eyes narrowed, he released her so she could remove her top.
When she was bare to him, he hissed between his teeth.
The mortal's br**sts were . . . divine. High and full, with smooth, golden skin. Her rosy ni**les were upturned.
As he stared transfixed, she lowered herself atop his shaft, wrenching a groan from him and a cry from her. "Damn, vampire, you came loaded for bear!"
"What does that mean?"
"Hunters in bear country have to go out armed to the teeth, even if they're hunting small game. So what I'm saying is you're hung, and very, very hard."
"I'm superlative in every way."
"Uh-huh." She laid her hand flat on his chest, then leaned forward to press her br**sts against him. With her hand fitted between their bodies, she stroked his nipple-and her own-as she tenderly kissed his cheek, then the corner of his lips, giving a little lick there. "I like the way you taste, Lothaire."
When she was lustful like this, her accent grew thicker, the cadence more pleasing.
For some reason, he found it . . . sexy as hell.
"You taste all superlative."
Was she making fun of him? Another stroke of his nipple. He couldn't think.
And then she really began to talk. After sucking on his earlobe, she whispered to him how she felt-wet and aching-how he felt against her-hot, rigid like steel. How she imagined licking him from his knees to his neck and feasting in between. "Would you feed me my fill, vampire . . . ?"
Yes. Yes I would. All the while he struggled to resist the heat bearing down on him.
And Lothaire realized he might like her games indeed.
What had started as an exercise, a means of self-preservation for Ellie, soon burned out of control.
Just the way he was gazing at her aroused her like nothing in memory. He stared at her as if he wanted to devour her.
Would he really bite her br**sts? At the idea, her ni**les puckered even more, as if taunting him to do it.
His flawless skin called to her lips; the unyielding planes of his body made her breath shallow. And every intake of air brought his delicious scent into her-woodsy, masculine with a bite. "I love your scent too."
"I know. I saw your reaction when you smelled my coat."
She was too turned on to be embarrassed, her attention spellbound by the muscles of his torso, by the promise of that incredible strength in every sculpted inch of him. "Your muscles are hard, vampire. They feel so good."
"My cock's hard too," he rasped. When his shaft surged beneath her, her sex throbbed in readiness for it. "Does that feel good, pet?"
His rough accent, his challenging tone . . . desire as she'd never known flooded her. "Just when I think it can't get any harder, it does."
She gazed at his lips while licking her own. She needed to kiss him. But would his fangs cut her?
Soon she'd be uncaring. . . .
Ellie was losing control. When she got turned on enough, her mind seemed to go blank until all she cared about was reaching her orgasm. There'd never been any communion with her partner, no meeting of their eyes and minds.