Rises The Night (The Gardella Vampire Hunters 2)

Skillful, oh, his fingers were skillful…teasing her to the edge, then drawing aside to let her slip back; then back in, gently probing, slick and sure, until finally he let her go over.

Victoria caught herself before she cried aloud, for some part of her remembered they were in the parlor. Instead, she buried her face in his shoulder as the orgasm shuddered through her.

So long. It had been so long.

She was weak and lazy and alive. Her fingers shook along with her breath, and she realized his hands were moving at his own waist and she put her attention to helping him.

When she would have removed his shirt, he stopped her, pushing her hands to the bulge in his trousers, and murmured, “No, here, if you please,” with a bit of strained, wry humor in his voice. “Victoria.”

“This was quite an efficient way to distract me from my question,” she whispered into his ear, working to unfasten his breeches. When she slipped her hands inside, she found him hot and ready, heavy under her fingers.

“About George? You already suspect the answer.” His breathing was definitely off.

“You knew.”

“Let’s not let George come between us,” he murmured coaxingly.

“How about Max?” she asked.

“Max too?” His fingers stilled. “So that’s what this is about.”

“What?” It took a moment, but the haziness of desire spiraled away when she saw the serious look on his face.

“Your easy capitulation. Did you talk to him?” He kept his fingers closed around the stays caging her ribs, just below her breasts, but they were still, and his mouth distant and thin.

“He’s getting married to Regalado’s daughter. Don’t tell me you didn’t know that.”

“I didn’t.” Sebastian looked at her, his expression dark as he slipped his palms up under her breasts again. “But I understand much more now, and it’s fortunate I h

ave no qualms about seizing an opportunity when it falls in my lap. Literally.” His smile had an unfamiliar edge to it.

With a sudden movement he pulled her back to him for a hot, rough kiss that brought more out of her than he’d taken before. Her breath hitched and she kissed him back, caught up in the emotion, renewed desire pulling down through her belly. His hands were more insistent on her breasts…

And then something changed.

He slowed, caught back his breathing, gentled his kiss, let his warm hands settle at her waist. “Apparently I’m not as much the opportunist I thought I was,” he said ruefully, shifting and setting her off his lap.

Victoria stood there, suddenly chilled, her gown at her waist, her shift bunched up underneath her skirts, her breasts jiggling with the movement of her breath and his sudden release.

Sebastian rose, then, his billowing shirt brushing against her torso. He looked down at her as he refastened his trousers. “I can’t decide if it’s because you expect the bastard to walk in on us at any moment, or because you’re angry with him. Or both. Likely, it’s both.”

The last vestiges of arousal fell away. “You are addled!” She yanked up her bodice to cover her breasts.

“Most likely I am,” he replied, tucking his shirt in. “But I’d rather be addled than be manipulated.”

“Thank you for your assistance with the Tutela,” she said frostily. “I hope you’ll remember tonight with fondness, for there won’t be a repetition of it anytime soon.”

His lips twitched to one side as he grabbed up his coat, gloves, and cravat. “You are so very predictable, Victoria, donning the spurned-woman facade.”

“Spurned woman?” She laughed in real delight. “I would say not. You left me with little to regret, and I wager I’ll sleep better tonight than you.” She raised a brow and looked at him meaningfully.

“If you keep that up, I’ll be happy to rectify the situation.” He turned to go, his hand on the parlor door, and slanted her a last look. “Or I’ll call on the Tarruscelli twins.”

+ + +

Victoria regretted telling Sebastian about Max’s appearance at the Regalado villa, not so much because of the way it inexplicably ended their intimacy, but because she still cringed inside when she thought about what it could mean.

She wanted to keep that information to herself so she could turn it over in her mind and somehow make sense of it. She felt as if once she told Aunt Eustacia, or anyone, it would be too late to take it back. It would be real. And it would worry her aunt needlessly, for Victoria just did not believe Max had turned from the Venators.