As Shadows Fade (The Gardella Vampire Hunters 5)

He looked tired, nearly as tired as Max. Although his shirt was pressed, and his hair combed back in rich, tawny waves, Sebastian had an appearance of underlying rumpledness. He wore no neck cloth, nor a jacket, and his boots, though clean, didn’t shine as they normally did.

“Yes, I know about the pool. And it’s no secret, at least among the undead, how to breach it. According to Beauregard, it’s Lilith’s creation, you know,” Sebastian said, gesturing impatiently for her to sit. “And is hidden not very far from where she hides in the mountain. ”

The only place available was a small wooden chair, or the bed. When Victoria chose the chair, Sebastian gave another of those wry smiles. “Of course,” he said. “The fool me. ”

“Will you tell me about the pool?” she asked after a moment.

There was no question-she cared for Sebastian deeply. He’d done much for her, offered her pleasure and escape over the difficult last years. With his own particular skill, he teased her, taunted and angered her… always seeming to know what she needed in order to help her clear her head. To alleviate the stress or tension or fear she struggled with.

Why couldn’t she love him?

“I will,” he said. His voice carried low, and she looked up to find him standing in front of her chair. She’d forgotten the question, and for the moment it didn’t matter.

Something snapped in the silence, so real, it was almost audible. Sebastian took her arms and pulled Victoria to her feet, there, flush in front of him. She allowed him.

“You didn’t really think,” he said, holding her wrists down between their bodies, “that you could come to me, here, without repercussions. ”

Her heart slammed in her throat. Warmth billowed between them, and Victoria pulled one of her hands away. One. The other one… He tightened his fingers around it so that she felt the pad of his thumb digging into her flesh. It would likely bruise.

“I told you,” he said, leaning forward to her cheek, “that I have no intention of being a gentleman about this. ” Now there was a layer of anger in his voice.

“I came for information,” she said. Even to her own ears, she sounded breathless.

“You came for more than that, Victoria. ” He was still close enough that his breath heated her temple, and his leg brushed against her gown.

Had she?

No.

No.

“You’re pining for a man who cannot be what you want. And need,” he said, and his lips brushed her cheek. She turned her face away, swallowing hard… but she didn’t step back.

Was it curiosity that had driven her here? Petulance?

Confusion?

“Sebastian,” she said just as he turned his face.

“Victoria,” he murmured, then kissed her. Roughly.

Yet her eyes sank closed, and she opened her mouth. Their tongues tangled in that hot, sleek way, reminding her how skilled Sebastian was at seduction. Very skilled. Very willing.

Then his kiss altered, becoming more coaxing, teasing, urging; she could feel the change in the way he touched her. As if he knew what this meant… could mean. He traveled to the sensitive spot on her neck, kissing and nibbling down to the curve of tendon into her shoulder. Her knees weakened.

His hands gripped her shoulders now, tightly but not painfully, and suddenly Victoria felt the nudge of a bed against the back of her leg. And as if to forestall any argument, he returned his lips to cover hers at that moment, pulling her up tightly against him, trapping her legs between his and the mattress. With one little tip, they’d be sprawled on the blanket and pillow.

She separated her mouth from his, and turned her face away.

“Sebastian, it’s not…” She drew in a deep breath, felt her breasts move against his chest and the long line of his legs against her. He’d not loosened his grip; in fact, his fingers tightened into her shoulder.

“Victoria,” he said. His voice came out rough and with a decided edge. “You came here. To me. ”

“I know, Sebastian. I really… came for information. ”

“You never come only for information. ”

“I did this time. ” She pressed her palms against his chest. His skin burned warm through the linen.