Once Burned

“Vlad has enemies,” Maximus replied, slanting a look at me.

I snorted. “Yeah, I noticed after I was kidnapped by them.”

“This wasn’t where he lived when he was prince,” Maximus went on, leading me past the parlor to the staircase. “He didn’t move in here until the seventeenth century. The walls and monastery were practically in ruins, but he restored them. Built the third and fourth levels of the house on top of them, as well as added new amenities to the first and second floors.”

“Like the indoor garden?” I asked jokingly.

Maximus grinned. “Shrapnel insisted on that. He’s a horticulturist at heart, but he’d never admit it.”

The huge vampire Marty had described as “creative” in his torture techniques secretly liked to play with plants?

“What other surprises do you have in store?” I asked, adding dryly, “Let me guess: You’re the real Roman commander that Russell Crowe portrayed in Gladiator.”

He chuckled, running his hand along my arm and not drawing away at the currents that flowed into him.

“No, but with the right incentive, you could get me to wear that short leather skirt and pretend to be.”

His tone was light, yet underneath was a tinge of sensuality. I might not be thinking any naughty thoughts on this date yet—dammit!—but Maximus was letting me know he was.

“Tell me more about the restoration process,” I said, wondering why I didn’t feel so much as a twitch at the thought of kinky role playing with Maximus. “Were you around back then?”

If he was disappointed at how I’d changed the subject back to the house, he didn’t show it.

“Oh yes. I was in charge of the rebuilding, in fact. By then I’d been with Vlad for centuries and he trusted me to make sure everything was completed while he was off in Slovenia . . .”

Three hours later, my head was whirling. Maximus took me through the first three floors, which were staggeringly huge. Vlad’s house was also littered with enough priceless artifacts to make any museum curator weep with envy. Forget the tapestries, portraits, furnishings, and various jewel-studded objects—the Weapons Room was like walking back in time. It had armor, chain mail, swords, shields, and various other items of war, many with the Dracul family standard or the Order of the Dragon emblazoned on them.

I kept my right hand plastered to my side when Maximus showed me that room. I knew these had been used in battle; the dents and scratches were mute testimony to that. It almost seemed like the room gave off a pulse from all the essence-heavy items in it.

Despite my interest, I felt steadily worse as the day wore on. By the time Maximus brought me back to my room, I was so tired and achy that all I wanted to do was sleep. Maybe my brain was overwhelmed from everything I’d learned, and the lack of a decent sleep was catching up with me.

“Thanks for a wonderful afternoon, Maximus,” I told him. “See you at lunch tomorrow?”

He leaned against the wall in a casual way. “No, Oscar or Gabriel will bring you your food.”

“Sick of me already?” I teased.

His smile remained but his gaze became serious. “It’s harder to seduce someone when you’re also clearing her plates. That’s why I assigned others to take care of you while you’re here.”

Inwardly I sighed. Despite telling the truth about having a wonderful time, I still hadn’t felt any telltale twinges around Maximus—and I’d tried. I stared at his ass when he walked ahead of me, envisioned my nails digging into that broad back . . . hell, I’d even stolen some looks at his package. Aside from admiring the shape he was in, nothing. I could just imagine Vlad chortling to himself.

I wasn’t about to give up, however. Maybe what I needed was some tactile interaction. Thanks to my electrocution issues, I hadn’t been kissed since Johnny Staples in the eighth grade. A kiss was bound to kick-start my libido. I smiled, moistened my lips, and hoped Maximus wasn’t the shy type.

He wasn’t. He bent down, his hand curling around my neck, and lowered his mouth onto mine. His lips were cool, full but firm, and he used far more finesse slipping his tongue into my mouth than Johnny Staples had. I kissed him back, glad it was like riding a bike and I hadn’t forgotten how. Our tongues twined together and I had a further flash of gratitude that he didn’t taste like blood. I liked being able to put my arms around someone and be held close, though I was careful not to touch Maximus with my right hand. His little moan when he gripped me to him was nice, too. Glad my years without practice hadn’t made me the world’s worst kisser, and—

Aw, hell, this wasn’t working! His large, hard body was pressed to mine and his tongue was doing very enjoyable things in my mouth, but I still didn’t feel a rush of heat. Figures. For years, I’d been frustrated over my forced singlehood, but now that I had means and opportunity in the form of a very willing, very attractive blond vampire, I wasn’t into him. Maybe I should get myself sized for a promise ring. Did they give those to nonbelievers? Or was it a members-only thing?

“Maximus, I’m sorry,” I said, pulling away from him.

“Too fast?” he asked thickly. “Don’t worry, I don’t mind waiting. It’ll take Vlad weeks to gather personal items from all his enemies for you to touch, so we have time.”

Attractive, understanding, and not falling to the floor with a heart attack from the electricity in my touch. I drew in a frustrated breath. Wasn’t he what I’d longed for all those lonely nights? So why wasn’t my pulse speeding up? Why was my reaction to him so damn flat compared to what I’d felt when I was with Vlad?

I was so screwed.

“Maximus,” I began.

He put a finger to my lips. “Don’t. I know that tone, but . . . wait. If you still want to say it after a week, fine, but give me that long before letting another man make a move.” Wry smile. “What else do you have to do?”

What else, indeed? Certainly not think about a dangerous vampire who was so sure of himself that he’d set me up with another guy and also practically dared me to sleep with any member of his staff.

“Okay,” I said, and forced a smile.

He kissed me again, and I hoped that I’d feel more this time, but while it was enjoyable, that telltale spark was still missing.

“Good,” he said when he let me go. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Chapter 14

I trudged down the staircase at nine o’clock with all the enthusiasm of a condemned prisoner going to the electric chair. This time, I wasn’t wearing a slinky black dress. I was in gray slacks and an olive turtleneck sweater, my black hair twisted into a ponytail, not a speck of makeup, and lips thinned into annoyed slits. Everything about me should’ve screamed “Do not engage” to the vampire already waiting in the dining room.

Vlad rose when he saw me, which for some reason angered me. Why did he keep pretending to be mannerly? Someone with manners didn’t torture innocent people or offer to pimp out their staff in order to prove a point!

Then I gave myself a mental shake. Just because I still felt like crap and was unable to prove him wrong didn’t mean I had the right to spew venom all over him. Sorry, I thought, assuming he was tuned into my thoughts as usual.

The sardonic smile that curled his lips when he held out my chair confirmed my suspicions.

“Your date wasn’t everything you’d hoped?”

I sat down with a small sigh. I hated lying and he could read my mind, so what was the point trying to deny it?

“No, but Maximus wants to give it a week, and I agreed.”

Once I was settled at the table, Vlad returned to his chair, again making the simple act of sitting appear commanding. Give him a throne and he’d look right at home. Then again, he probably had one stashed away somewhere. Maximus hadn’t shown me the fourth floor because he said it was “private.” I translated that as “Vlad’s personal territory” and wondered why he needed the equivalent of an apartment building for his quarters.

Or maybe that was where he did all his torturing. I could understand Maximus not wanting to show me that room.

“No, I do my torturing in the dungeon like any other respectable castle owner,” he said, amusement clear in