'Then it's in self-defense?' she asked. He gave a single nod. 'Will you drink from him?'
'I will do everything I can to prevent that.'
'And what about Cade and Rydstrom? They'd been searching for you.'
'For Rydstrom to reclaim his lost throne, he needs information I... acquired. They will be ruthless to get it.'
'Acquired? You mean from the memories of the warlock you'd 'drained.'' He shrugged. 'Can't you just give it to them?'
'I would if I could. My mind's clearer, but I still can't pull up memories at will.' He returned to sit on the edge of the bed beside her. 'Why did you believe I wouldn't drink that demon last night?'
'Because you're just not as bad as everyone thinks,' she said, repeating her words from days ago. 'And because you're starting to look forward instead of back.'
He exhaled. 'You can't really expect me just to ignore how you came back from death? To not know?'
She shrugged, and his gaze dipped to her bare breasts. 'Depends on how badly you want to spend time with me.'
His voice harsh, he snapped, 'You know how badly.'
'Then you liked our morning?' He scowled as if her question was absurd. 'Just think, you can have a nubile female here for the taking.' Making her voice a purr, she said, 'You can do anything to me anytime you like. You'll go from never having had sex to having it whenever the mood strikes you. If you'll just let this lie.' This offer alone might take care of his curiosity—but if not, she was fully prepared to demonstrate more of what he'd be gaining.
She grinned. It wouldn't be a chore.
'Just tell me who you were with at the gathering.'
'Again, I won't say.' She rose to her knees. 'Let's drop this, mon grand.'
Distracted by her hardening nipples, he absently said, 'I can't do that.' He ran his hand over his mouth, finding it surprisingly erotic that he was completely dressed while she was naked in their bed. He shook himself. 'Néomi, I won't do that.'
As she eased over to him, she got a look in her eyes. He didn't recognize exactly what it said, but it made him instantly hard—and excited, his heart pumping wildly.
When she was kneeling up beside him, she nuzzled his ear with hot breaths. 'There are so many other things we can talk about.' Her fingers were busily unbuttoning his shirt as she murmured, 'Like any secret fantasies you've harbored and want to experience.' She brushed his shirt away. 'Or we can skip the talk and simply do them. Would you like that?'
Just as he'd imagined once, she was using her wiles on him. He'd planned to withstand her for as long as possible. How... intriguing—
He sucked in a breath when she fondled his cock through his pants.
'I need these off, Conrad.' At once, he yanked his boots off, then shoved his pants past his already straining shaft. Her eyes went heavy-lidded, as if she truly loved that part of him.
'You think I can't see what you're doing?' Once he was undressed, he sat beside her again. 'You intend to manage me with sex. You think to direct me.'
When she moved to kneel on the floor between his legs, he forgot how to breathe. 'Néomi?' His voice broke on her name.
She placed her palms on his knees, spreading them, then leaned in. 'Is it so bad being directed'—she began licking down his chest, her destination unmistakable—'if you like where you're headed?'
His eyes went wide. She's going to... ? I'm to have this... ?
Once she'd reached his navel, his hands flew to her hair, cupping the back of her head. Then came the first touch of her moist little tongue—
He yelled, 'You good— ah!' While he stared dumbstruck, threading his fingers in her silky hair, she lovingly licked the swollen head and circled the crown.
With a groan, he opened his knees wider, hands shaking uncontrollably as she took him deeper. Her mouth was feverishly hot on his sensitive flesh. His shaft began to throb under her tongue, and he couldn't stop himself from thrusting it up between her lips.
Never slowing her ministrations, she moved his hands to her high breasts. As he hefted them and thumbed the peaks, she sucked him even more hungrily.
He wanted this never to end, but she began pumping the base of his cock with her soft palms at the same time, and the pressure to come intensified until it pained him. When she moaned around his length, he knew it was over for him.
Have to warn her. On the verge, seconds from losing his seed, he bit out, 'About to... come!'
His jaw slackened when she didn't draw away, instead taking him more greedily. 'Néomi!' He rocked his hips up, releasing into her waiting mouth. 'Wicked,' he groaned in bliss as he shot against her tongue... .
Afterward he lifted her to her feet, clutching her against his chest. As Conrad held his female, he was staggered by the pleasure, wrought from him in a way he'd only ever imagined before.
Did he still need to know what had happened with her ghostly state? Of course. But when she placed his hand between her thighs to her feel her damp arousal, the need faded. They were together—that was all that mattered for now.
The rest was just details.
33
Within seconds of Néomi's tentative rap on the studio mirror, Mari appeared, diligently avoiding her own reflection on the other side. 'Hold on, I've got to put you on screen. Okay, there you are!'
Néomi had known she couldn't go through the portal of the glass without Mari, but she'd figured she could knock at the door.
'It's about time you contacted me!' Mari held out her hand, breaching the surface of the mirror. 'You want to come over?'
'Conrad will be back soon, and I wouldn't be able to hear him. Maybe you can come here?'
'Can't.' Mari snapped her fingers to someone out of sight, and a teenage girl brought Mari an enormous cup that said Slurpee on the side. 'We're hazing new witches at the coven house today. The innocent lambs are vying for my old room.' She plopped into a cushy chair. 'We'll have to teleconference via mirror.'
Néomi dragged the cot closer to the glass and settled in. She was delighted to be able to talk to Mari, and not just for enjoyment. It would help take her mind off her worry over Conrad. Every time he left to hunt, she grew anxious.
'I see how you're going to be—use me for my spells, then I don't even get another nod for five whole days?'
'It's been so busy!' And the only times Conrad wasn't with her were when she slept. She'd happened to wake early this afternoon. 'Are you all right from the gathering? I saw you get hit.'
'Oh, yeah, just ducky. But you should see the other guy. He will never accidentally elbow another witch again. Even after his elbows grow back.'
'That's good to know, I think. Was Nïx terribly disappointed that her gathering devolved into chaos?'
'I asked her the same thing, but she just laughed. I eventually got her to admit that she'd started it. Apparently you and the vampire weren't the only couple thrown together in the melee.' She curled her legs under her. 'So I take it you blooded the vamp?' When Néomi nodded happily, Mari tilted her head. 'Wow, check you out—you look fantastic! A new haircut? And new duds.'
She flushed from the praise. 'Conrad's been taking me shopping. A lot.' In the first few nights, she'd hit Paris with a frenzy, frothing at all the new styles to be had. And she'd had her hair trimmed in a boutique there, but only by a couple of inches, as each snip seemed to physically pain Conrad. 'I offered to pay my own way, but he bristled. I tried to point out that I have scads of money, but he wouldn't listen.'
