“Too bad I don’t have a lure to get things moving.”
His mouth dragged along the edge of my jaw, giving me goosebumps and melting me. “Your aura is a lure. Did you not know that? You could have controlled me from day one, my sweet.”
“Damn,” I said, panting a bit as he nipped his way across my collarbone and his fingers drifted under my skirt. “Wish I would’ve known that. I’d have talked you into bullying the parking lot fiends in this town from charging for every space that used to be free for us locals.”
“That can still be arranged.”
“Free parking gets me so hot.”
Lucus laughed, his head falling back to show the apple in his throat bobbing. “I won’t judge you, since I consider your baked goods to be a powerful aphrodisiac.”
He scooped me into his arms, and then we were flying down the castle corridors, heading for his chamber.
32 Hekla
Hekla handed Oliver to Titus, her hands sticking to his dinosaur tee. “He spent the last fifteen minutes pretending a lollipop was hand lotion.”
Titus snorted. “Good thing he’s not getting into your car.”
“It’s not just a car.”
“It’s a Volvo,” Titus said. “Yes, yes. Now, hurry up or Coren will have to get ready all on her own.”
“God forbid. She’d wear a mini skirt and her motorcycle boots.”
Titus laughed as Hekla left. She and Coren had laid out plans for the reconstruction early that morning. Most of the town had already started on repairs, people from all over the Nashville area pitching in to help. Of course, a load of them really just wanted the details about this new world Coren had opened up. Rumors were flying about unicorns, magic, and vampires, but not many folks had the real facts, and the people of Franklin were more than happy to fill in the blanks and clarify what was and wasn’t true.
With Main Street still pretty churned up, Hekla had parked behind the Methodist church, and when she rounded the corner, she saw a certain vampire leaned against her hood. The Volvo wasn’t fully repaired, but she’d had the local shop work on it, and the hood was the one place that remained smooth.
“If you put a dent in that, your ass is grass.”
Kaippa’s mouth twitched up at one side, but he moved away from the hood. “I don’t think you’d like that, as it would make my ass more difficult to grab, foxy.”
Hekla jabbed her Frankenfinger into his chest. Why did he have to smell so good, like a cologne made of patchouli, sandalwood, and sex? “You had better keep that smart mouth shut during the wedding.”
Kaippa leaned forward and pressed his body against her. She had to look up to see his face, and it wasn’t easy to ignore the feel of his thighs. “I’m the best man. I get to make a toast.”
That would be a real doozy, for sure. “That’s not until the reception. Until then, your only job is to stand there and look pretty, rings ready to go.” She dug said rings from her purse, then released them into his waiting palm. The jeweler’s place off Columbia had been spared any dragon damage, thankfully.
“You think I’m pretty,” he whispered, a purr rattling in his throat.
Hekla’s body heated, and she realized she was panting. “Stop the vampire thing.”
“Which vampire thing?” He leaned in and dragged his fangs across her neck. “This one?” Desire spread like spilled honey across her skin. “Or maybe you mean this.” Taking a deep breath, he let his chest rub her peaked nipples before he smoothed his hands down her back. He pressed her hips against his.
An ache pulsed through the core of her body. “Kaippa.” The word was hardly more than a murmur, but it was packed with the question she hadn’t yet been able to ask and desperately wanted answered.
Kaippa’s soft lips were on her ear. “You want to fuck. I want to fuck. Tell me what you need.”
If he kept talking like that and pressing against her, she was going to jump him right here in the street. And if she gave in… “If I do this—”
He nipped her jawline, dug his fingers into her hips, and thrust his body against her. She sucked a breath, her body hot and demanding that she shut up and get down to it. “If I do this, I have to know you won’t kill anyone else. And that you will at least be honest with me. About everything.”
Pulling away, he stared at her with those hot, dark eyes of his. “I can’t promise I’ll never kill. What if the life in question threatens yours or mine?”
“Self-defense is one thing. Eating people is another.”
Kaippa’s mouth touched her forehead. “I am a vampire, Hekla. I can promise until my balls are blue, but it will still be dangerous.” He looked at her. “I will always be dangerous.”
“But you’ll try.”
“I am already proving that, aren’t I? I chose a deer for breakfast rather than the fine policewoman patrolling the park. Besides, you forgave Lucus for being a monster. Why don’t I get the same treatment, wheat girl? I’m far hotter.”
He stepped back, breaking their physical contact, then crossed his arms and grinned. The morning sun touched his fantastic forearms and wickedly sharp jawline and turned his black hair into gold-flecked silk that her fingers ached to tangle.
“I’ll think about it.” Demanding her body chill out, she marched to the driver’s side. Driving would clear her head, and besides, she was late to meet Coren, who was getting ready for the ten o’clock wedding at the castle.
Kaippa was utterly silent as they drove, but his gaze never left her face, and every time she glanced his way, he grinned and his fingers moved over his knees like he was imagining caressing her. It was more than a gal could handle.
At the castle, Lucus greeted them, a large box in his hands. “Will you give this to Coren? She’s in my chamber.”
Hekla took
