Noble Blood

She took her hands away from her eyes and rolled them. “Duncan, how did you put up with him for a hundred years?”

“Patience. Lots of patience.”

“I heard that.” Jaden paused. “I heard that. Huh. Weird. Ow.”

“Ow?”

“Lucky shot. All right, I’m done playing. I’m headed back for the car. See you in a bit.”

She tapped her foot. “Should we wait for him?”

Duncan shrugged. “He took the M6. Knowing him, he’ll be here in about ten minutes, the way he drives.”

She frowned. “I got the impression that Charles’s place was farther away than that.”

“Yup. He’s about half an hour away, but Jaden likes to drive fast.” Duncan turned on his heel and headed for the breakfast room. “Lord above, I need coffee.”

“Not for you, Mr. Malmayne. I think you need a little down time.” She grabbed hold of the back of his shirt and managed to swing him around, pointing him toward the stairs. “Beddy-bye!”

He pouted at her. “Aw, Mom!”

“Don’t sass me, young man. Up you go!”

Duncan grinned down at her, looking like the little boy she’d treated him as. “Good night, amoureaux.” He picked her up and kissed her. She loved the way Duncan kissed her. He made her feel that she was the only person in his whole world. He held her as if she barely weighed as much as a feather. “Mm. We have a ceremony to perform.”

Her lips twitched. “True. We’ll need to take care of that soon. Maybe when we see my family?”

One of his eyebrows rose. “Do you want your family there when we say our Vows?”

“Of course. They’ll want to watch us all marry each other.” She snuggled in, breathing him in. That warm, masculine scent wafted through her, made her feel safe. Made her feel like she was home. “When all this crap is over and done with I’m going to want a party. A big one.”

“A big one, huh?” He nuzzled her neck, his whiskers tickling her.

She giggled and pulled free. “Oh, yeah. Huge.”

“I think we can arrange that.” His jaw locked, and she could tell he was holding back a yawn.

“Go to bed, Duncan. I can handle Jaden for now.” Hell, she had a bit more than handling in mind, but Duncan needed his sleep. Besides, she’d been with Duncan and she’d been with both of them. It was time to see what her vampire would do when he had just her to think about. She could hardly wait to see what he’d come up with.

“Why do I have the feeling you’re plotting something?”

She grinned up at him. “Because you already know me very well.”

He snorted and finally let her go. “Do what you have to do to keep yourself safe.” He cupped her cheek, looking down at her with sleepy affection. “If anything happens to you I can’t guarantee I won’t go ballistic.”

She nuzzled his hand. “I’ll stay safe. I’ll make sure Jaden isn’t hurt, bang him on your desk and then patrol for a while.”

Duncan blinked. “Bang him, huh?”

She nodded. She dug her toe into the carpet and gave him her best doe eyes. “Uh-huh.”

He chuckled. “Have fun, then.” He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and yawned again. “Damn it. Think of me while you’re, um, banging.”

She snickered. “Pleasant dreams.”

He groaned and made his way up the stairs. “Evil witch.”

She watched him make his way up the stairs before turning toward the breakfast room. Coffee sounded really good right about now, but tea would be even better. She checked the pots, delighted when she found a pot of hot water. She was even more delighted to find her favorite spiced Chai tea bags ready to be steeped. She settled down and waited for both her tea and her other man.

“Hey, sweetness.” A soft kiss pressed against the side of her neck. “Is Duncan in bed?”

“Mm-hmm.” She leaned her head to the side to give Jaden better access. “How did it go?”

“Beautifully. Big Red found a few interesting things, but we have to talk to Aileen. We need to find out why the Malmayne-Joloun marriage contract is so important to the Malmaynes.” Jaden settled in next to her and watched her prepare her tea. “Your mother might have some information about the Joloun side that could clarify a few things.”

“After my parents were bonded the Jolouns pretty much wrote them off.” She took a sip of her sweetened, creamy tea and sighed in pure pleasure. “Mmm. That’s good.”

“Is it?” Jaden took the cup. “Let me have a taste.” He leaned in and kissed her, sipping at her lips like a connoisseur. He took his time, tasting every inch of her mouth. When he was done, her entire body tingled. “You’re right. It’s delicious.”

“Hmm?” She opened her eyes, unaware until that moment that she’d closed them. His had gone dark, the whites bleeding out to make room for his hunting eyes. Gods above, she couldn’t remember seeing anything sexier than that. He wanted her so badly he had no control over his eyes. “Jaden.” She leaned forward and returned his kiss, tasting him in turn. There was a lingering, earthy flavor to him she’d never encountered before. Normally she loved earthy tastes, but there was something rotten about this one. “What have you been eating?”

He smiled, his fangs showing. “Redcaps.”

She frowned absently and leaned back. “Have you considered Listerine?” The word redcaps suddenly hit her. “Wait. Multiple? As in more than one?”

Jaden pulled her off her chair and onto his lap, ignoring her surprised squawk. “Yes, multiple.”

“But…” Damn it, he was nibbling her neck, trying to distract her. The hell of it was, it worked. She was so distracted she couldn’t remember her own name. “That’s not s-safe.” Oh, right there. That is so good. Too much more of that and she’d be a puddle of goo at his feet.

He scraped his fangs down that sensitive section of her neck, sending a shiver of want through her. Good thing she’d already planned on having her way with him. “Mmm. I’ve fought them before, sweetheart. They’re not really a problem for me.”

“Are you hurt?”

Jaden licked her jugular. “No, sweetheart. I’m fine.”

“Who’s Big Red?”

“Robin’s pet gremlin. He found some interesting files on Charles’s computer.”

Moira lifted her head. “What things?”

He nipped her neck, the sharp pleasure making her hiss. “I’ll tell you at your parent’s house.

Her parents? Why was he talking about her parents now? “Desk?”

“Hmm?”

Her only thought was to get him naked somewhere near a desk. Preferably Duncan’s. “Need a desk.”

He lifted his head and studied his face. His expression was sinful. “I think that can be arranged.” He stood up. She was still cradled in his arms. “You can have your breakfast after I have mine.”

Oh, boy. “Sure.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. She trusted him to get them safely where she wanted to go.

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Oh, Moira. That sweet trust of yours will be my undoing.”

Right. Moira. I remember now. “You know what I want to do with you?”

He carried her from the breakfast room and strode across the hall. His sneakers made no sound on the marble floor. “No, but I’m pretty sure you’re going to tell me.” He paused. “Does it involve midgets, paper cuts and Icy Hot?”

She lifted her head and stared at him. “No?”

“You don’t sound very sure.” He was frowning, but if he wasn’t joking then they needed to have a serious talk about therapy.

She shook her head at him. “Has anyone told you how strange you are?”

He shrugged and started walking again. “Your point?”

Her shoulders started to shake. “I don’t even know anymore.” She let her head drop back down onto his