I drop my gaze to his throat. His neck is large and masculine, framed by a white shirt collar. After you stake a vampire, you cut off its head and burn the remains, just to be safe. I've practiced countless times, first on dummies, then on real vampires--criminals Xavier caught and dragged to me for their death sentence. Staking and beheading and burning them was a rite of passage, meant to prepare me for this moment.
But now I'm here, faced with Frangelico, and all I can think is "it would be a shame to destroy someone so beautiful."
I harden myself. This is the vampire who murdered my pack. Killed my entire family. Of course I'm going to kill him. In the end, it's either him or me.
A chill grips me. I shiver, and huddle deeper in the suit jacket I've been given.
Frangelico turns and murmurs something to a guard, who breaks from the pack and heads to the wall. To the thermostat.
That's when it hits me: Frangelico is in his shirt sleeves. I'm wearing his jacket. Breathing in his scent. I curl my bare toes into the carpet.
"Your Majesty, we are so honored you bid today." The vampire host steps forward. "And so delighted you won. And such a perfect lot to bid on. She is a prize."
Frangelico doesn't spare him a glance. "Is my car ready?" he asks the head guard.
"Yes, sir."
"You have use of this room as long as you like," the vampire interjects. "It's private. No one comes up here--"
"Leave us," Frangelico says.
The fawning vampire and the bodyguards exit without another word.
The Vampire King crosses the room and seats himself. I'm standing halfway between him and the window, twisting my fingers together. I've been trained to fight. This... is something different. The rules have changed. For the foreseeable future, this vampire is my master. He will command me and I will obey. Not unlike my relationship with my mentor, except... Xavier never made me feel this way. My insides are too hot, my skin too cold.
Xavier looked at me as project, a weapon to hone. And I am lethal. My beauty is my best weapon, but tonight it's turned against me. The Vampire King looks at me as a woman. His dark gaze strips me to the bone. Beyond naked, beyond vulnerable. I feel small and exposed, and thrillingly, wildly alive.
The Vampire King's beauty and appeal are his own weapons, and he deploys them well.
Frangelico raises a dark brow and goosebumps break out over my skin. My breathes rattles out of me.
Frangelico cocks his head slightly. "Pet?" His index finger points to the floor.
Right. Right.
I take a few steps towards him and lower myself into a kneeling position. Legs apart, palms facing up on my thighs. The suit jacket pools around me. I bite my lip. Should I have taken off the jacket?
I blink at the carpet.
"That's a good start," Frangelico sounds amused. "Now come closer."
I hesitate.
"You may rise. When you are in my home, you will crawl."
I duck my head. Get to my feet and go to stand at the spot where he's pointing. I keep my head down and resist the urge to fidget or shift.
Frangelico's voice is deep, a rolling baritone soothing my frayed nerves. "What's your name?"
"Selene." My voice wobbles.
"Selene," he repeats slowly, tasting every syllable. If he finds it strange that I don't have a last name, he doesn't mention it.
I suppress a shiver.
"A lovely name for a lovely pet. You may call me Sir."
My mouth parts but no sound comes out.
"They said you were trained."
It's not a question but I answer anyway. "Yes sir."
"Do you know this?" He signals, pointing two fingers to the floor in a V-shape.
In answer I rock my legs apart.
"Almost." Amusement tinges his voice. "Chin and chest up. Lock your hands behind your head."
I obey and the jacket falls open. My nipples are pointed straight at him.
"Cold, pet?"
I lick my lips before I answer. "A little." My voice is high and breathy.
Face thoughtful, he rolls up his sleeves, exposing strong forearms dusted with dark hair. My mouth goes dry. He motions for me to turn in a circle. I pivot, unsure at how much he can see while I'm wearing the jacket.
"This is your first time at auction?"
"Yes, sir." I blink at a spot above his head.
"You may look at me."
I obey without thinking. His eyes are twin dark pools; I fall in and drown.
"Such a beautiful wolf," he croons. "I will have to get you to shift for me. Soon. What color is your animal?"
I heave a breath. "White."
"Nervous?"
"Yes, sir."
"You needn't be," he murmurs. "I don't bite." Even as he says it his fangs flash. "Much."
My stomach flip flops and I fight to swallow.
Steepling his long fingers, Frangelico cocks his head to the left. "You haven't been touched?"
I shake my head. "No, sir."
Something flashes in his face. "Not blooded? Not even once?"
Throat too dry to answer, I shake my head.
He stands. I rock backwards, unable to keep from retreating. He's huge, taller than me by a fair amount, his shoulders broad as Xavier's. If he's thousands of years old, he must have been considered a giant when he was human. He looks down at me and I'm Alice in Wonderland, shrunk down. I'm a toy, a doll. I can only hope he doesn't break me.
A flash of white and I flinch.
"Easy, pet." He shows me the white handkerchief, amused again. It's easy to think other's fear is funny when you're the most powerful person in the room. I hold tight to my resentment as he gently rubs my lipstick away.
"There," he murmurs. "That's better." By the time he's done, the linen square is streaked with red. His scent envelops me and I lean closer, drinking it in. His cologne must be specially formulated to intoxicate a victim. I've never been this drawn to a vampire. Or any male, for that matter.