Page 24 of Salvation
“He has not, but we expect them back in a day or two if things went well.” He wondered if ripping off Adam’s head would cause an uproar. Most likely. “Since both of you will be staying, let’s get you settled into some rooms.”
Wolfe led them through the lobby where Xavier stood waiting by the front desk. The vampire held an old clipboard with a chip out of the corner and had a pen resting on his ear. When he caught sight of them, he flipped through the dogeared papers attached to the board.
“We’ve got room on the third floor.” He looked at Aurora. “It’s females and vampires on that floor.”
“Whatever you have will be fine,” she replied.
“All right then, follow me.”
Xavier led the way through the lavish lobby, a walk Wolfe felt like he had taken a million times already. This time, however, he took it with Aurora, and he wanted to pinch himself to be certain it was real. As they walked what once was a vibrant red and gold carpet, for the first time, he actually took notice of its fibers matted with dirt that hadn't seen a vacuum in a very long time. It was sad to see such a grand hotel fall into ruins.
As they began their climb up the three flights of stairs, guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders. Guilt for leaving the woman he loved to her own fate. Guilt for wanting to take her in his arms and whisk her into his room so he could make love to her. First fast and hard, then slow and sweet for hours on end. She belonged to another and so did he, according to fate. He was about to become a father and needed to get his priorities straight. Still, the thought of her with Adam made him want to skin the man alive, and the poor guy was likely clueless that he had been bonded to a vampire. Having her here was going to test every resolve he had.
Once on the third floor, they followed Xavier to the end of the hall, and that was when Aurora finally spoke.
“How does this work? I mean, obviously you can’t use those card key things anymore.”
Xavier waved a couple of keys in front of her. “We have keys.” He handed one to Aurora and one to Lilith.
Aurora used hers to open the door, then stepped inside. King-size bed, loveseat with a small table on each side and a coffee table in front. A flat screen that no longer worked hung on the wall. A standard room, but this one had once been considered elegant and Wolfe figured it might have seen some famous people during its previous life.
“Wow, an actual bed. I haven’t slept in one of those since this whole shit show started.” She flopped on it and sighed.
Wolfe nearly growled as his desire to shred her clothes and spend the next week in that bed with her burned him like a raging inferno. The demon simply raised a brow at him and smirked. Yeah, he didn’t trust her, but she seemed to care for Aurora and had led her back into the light when he had failed, so he was going to have to suck it up. Still, he would make certain there were several eyes on her at all times.
“Glad you like it,” he gritted out, then turned to everyone else in the room. “I need to speak to Aurora. Alone.”
“Ladies, if you need anything, I am at your service.” Xavier gave Wolfe a nod, then left the room.
“I suppose Aurora can fend for herself while I check out my room.” Lilith slid out the door, closing it behind her, thus leaving him alone, in a room, with a bed, with the women he would die for.
Fuck his life.
She faced him, her chin lifted, and her fingers rolled into her palms. She was in fight mode.
“I am so sorry. I cannot apologize enough and there is no way for me to make up to you what I have done.”
Her shoulders relaxed slightly, but she remained quiet with her gaze fixed on him. However, he knew how to read those deep blue eyes. He had been staring into them for at least five years and knew when she was angry, they reminded him of blue fire. When full of desire, her pupils dilated and right now, she was both pissed and wanted to fuck the hell out of him. Restraint was going to prove difficult. She jumped off the bed like it was on fire.
* * *
She knewhe was reading her. Michael had always been able to tell her emotional state and if his vampire senses were half as good as hers, he knew she was angry with him, yet desire pooled at her sex. She looked away as she also took a step back.
“How was it for you? Turning, that is.”
He gave a nod, then took a seat in a nearby chair. Leaning over his knees, he stared at the carpet for several seconds.
“I was leaving the club where the guys and I had been celebrating a successful mission. I was eager to get back home. Get back to you.” He looked up, and it was her turn to read him. His gaze was like a warm fire she wanted to curl into, but it was also filled with pain and that broke her.
“It happened so fast. At first, I thought I was being mugged. The pain in my neck had to be a knife, and he was going to cut my throat but then… Then this female voice whispered in my ear, ‘I am sorry, but you were chosen to lead.’” He rubbed his palms along strong jean-clad thighs and she nearly groaned.
“Last thing I recall was waking up in a pitch-black alley and being so fucking thirsty. I stumbled out under a lamp, and it must have been late. The street was quiet, and the club closed. Not a soul around, but then I smelled something. I didn’t even understand what it was, but my mouth watered, and I followed the scent.”
He leaned back in the chair and stared straight at her. “I was like an animal working on instinct. When I finally found what I was chasing, it was the cocktail waitress who had served me drinks earlier. She must have stayed late to clean up. She took one look at me and asked if I was okay.”
He jumped from his chair and walked the room like a caged lion. All she could do was watch.
“I forced her behind the building. Back into that dark alley where I bit her. At first, I took only a few sips, and she moaned. Pushed her body into me, and I went over the edge. I lifted her skirt and tore her panties. There was a distant voice in my head that tried to shout this was wrong, but I couldn’t stop. She even begged me to fuck her, so I did. And as I filled her with my seed, I drained her of life.”
