As vampire, he was as physically strong as anyone could be, yet emotionally he’d never be strong. The death of Eliza had brought him to his knees, and he’d never forgive or forget what humans could do. Nor would he forget how it felt to have his heart ripped from his chest, to lose someone he loved with all his heart. He’d rather stake himself than go through the pain of loving and losing a mate again.
Whatever he was feeling for Samantha needed to be squelched. The seed that had been planted inside his heart had to be crushed and the best way he knew to do that was to find another woman who could sate his needs for blood and sex. Perhaps then, he’d lose interest in the red-headed witch seated next to him.
CHAPTER SIX
Samantha startled as she woke; driving rain and booming thunder seemed to shake the large SUV as it sped down Broad Street. She looked over to Luca, who was distracted by the city traffic. How long had she been sleeping? If they were in center city, it must’ve been for hours, she thought. Sitting up and combing her hand through her dried frizzy curls, she tried to get a bearing on where she was. “Hey, Luca, where are we? South Philadelphia?” She’d answered her own question.
“Uh huh, we’re goin’ to Tristan’s club, Eden. It’s only three in the afternoon, so we should be able to get showered and have something to eat before leaving. The plane is cleared to take off at nine tonight, so we have a few hours to wait. I was hoping to leave earlier but they had to make some minor repairs to the jet,” he replied, glancing towards her. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. You?”
She licked her lips, and Luca tried not to notice. He grew hard with arousal, dreaming that her soft pink lips were wrapped around a particular part of him. He shifted in his seat. Damn, even after nearly dying in a fire, the woman looked sexy.
“I’m vampire. As soon as I get a little blood, I’ll be more than fine,” Luca grumbled.
Samantha wondered what was making him so irritable, and assumed he was hungry. She had honestly never given a thought that he might need food or that she was considered a part of his food chain. Samantha pushed the thought to the back of her mind, knowing that regardless of her qualification as a meal, he’d never hurt her. And she needed his help to find whoever was after her so she could get her life back in order.
“I’m hungry too. And I smell like a fine combination of smoke and lake water.” She crinkled her nose in disgust.
As they pulled into a driveway, she noticed they had driven into a subterranean garage. After going down two levels, Luca pulled the car into a large parking spot next to a set of elevators.
“This is it. Let’s go,” he ordered as he turned off the car and got out. “Listen, this is a club for paranormals and humans. It’s pretty much a meat market in there.” He didn’t want to sugarcoat the situation. He also didn’t want her getting hit on or going off with strangers. “So when you go with me into the open part of the club, stay close to me. Or stay with Tristan. You never know who might be around. Not to mention someone just tried to turn us into French fries.”
“Yum. Fries,” she joked. She couldn’t stop thinking of food. She’d only eaten an apple all day. “I really am hungry.” She smiled up at him, hoping she could sway his foul mood.
Seeing her smile at him melted his anger, and he lifted the corners of his mouth in a wry smile. “Okay, hungry girl. Let’s see if we can go get cleaned up and find you something to eat.”
He flipped up a security pad located near the doors and punched in a code. The elevator opened, and he placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her into a small, mahogany-lined lift. Samantha felt a flip in her stomach and couldn’t decide if it was from going up so quickly or from Luca’s touch on her back. Following the commotion over the scorched cabin, she’d forgotten the desire she’d felt while kissing Luca in the lake. She blushed, thinking of how he’d tasted her mouth and caressed her breasts. She grew aroused at the thought of taking it further, touching his naked body once again, feeling him inside of her. She tried shaking the thought, knowing this wasn’t a good time to resume what they’d been doing. They hadn’t even spoken about what had happened between them, and she wasn’t sure if it was such a good idea to talk about it here, at Tristan’s.
Luca’s eyes flashed red and then back to green, sensing her thoughts. Scenting her arousal was hard to ignore in the tiny, private elevator. He balled his fists and then stretched his hands, as he caught a glimpse of her hard nipples poking through her exercise top. He considered kissing her against the wall but was prevented by the ding of the doors opening.
“Finally,” he muttered and strode across the room, hoping that putting some distance between them would help temper his rock hard erection that was begging to be set free.
“Where are we?” Samantha asked as she walked into a royal-blue room furnished with a large cherry desk and a black leather sofa. Very rich and masculine, she thought to herself as she admired a spectacular bronze wolf sculpture on the fireplace mantle. It was delicately balanced on a black marble base. Samantha recalled Tristan in his wolf form, black fur with amber eyes.
Luca walked over to a large wooden door and opened it. Pointing across the room, he addressed Samantha. “We’re in Tristan’s private office. Listen, there’s a shower over there across the room. Go ahead and shower, and I’ll send someone up with a fresh change of clothes once I talk to Tristan. After you’re done getting dressed, come downstairs. Just follow the long hallway out towards the staircase, and you’ll be downstairs.”
“What about you? Where are you going to shower?” Samantha was hoping for a repeat performance of today. She’d love to see the strength of him that she’d only felt in the slippery cool water.
“There’s a men’s locker room downstairs. I’ll shower there. See you at the bar.” He waved and shut the door. Luca took a deep breath and blew it out. For a long minute, he’d been ready to take her in the elevator and now she was asking about the shower. She was fucking killing him. Shit. Looks like I’ll be having a cold shower.
Samantha watched Luca leave with a puzzled look on her face. She knew what she’d felt in the lake had been real chemistry. But now Luca seemed like he couldn’t get away from her fast enough. She knew she shouldn’t trust a vampire, but she felt safe with Luca. Lying back in his arms in the lake felt like the first time she’d relaxed for weeks. He was so strong yet gentle. They’d talked like old friends but felt like new lovers. She’d never experienced such a passionate kiss in her life. Sure she’d had a few lovers, but no one that had evoked such a fiery, passionate reaction in her. And certainly no man had kissed her with such fury, naked beneath azure waters.
Samantha poked her head into the bathroom and found it surprisingly clean for a bachelor’s. She looked on the shelf and saw herbal shampoo but hoped for a razor and if she got lucky, a toothbrush. She pulled open the vanity drawer: condoms, a single toothbrush, straight edged razor and deodorant. This bathroom definitely belonged to a man, she mused. Opening the second drawer, she found a stash of disposable pink razors and new toothbrushes. A ladies’ man’s bathroom, she corrected herself silently and laughed.
After taking the most delightful shower in a strange bathroom, Samantha dried herself with a clean towel. She heard a door open, and butterflies danced in her stomach. Luca had returned. She checked her face and rushed out with the towel wrapped around her.
“Hello there.” A stunning, tall female held up clothing with a smile. “It’s okay, Samantha. I’m Kat, Tristan’s sister. Tris said you could use some clothes, so here I am,” she chirped.