Chapter 8

“Do you really think they'd go that far?” Lynda asked. “What about the other Russian vampires?”

Pierre shook his head. “Most have been wiped out, and a few others are scattered across the globe. It's a Russian mafia that we're dealing with, not a handful of punks.”

The news sent fear plunging into her stomach, but she couldn't let the enemy win when she might be able to level the playing field. “Okay, I said I'd help, but I still want to check Andrei's data and drive. I won't risk my program on a fluke or something that might damage my system.” She'd worked too long and hard for that to happen.

Pierre reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a flash drive with a flourish. “Oh, are you speaking of this?”

“You have it?” Had Andrei given it to him thinking his brother could charm her faster than he could to merge the data with hers? Or had he invested his research in the Dracula clan and why none of them could reproduce half-vampires and wanted backups in case something happened?

“Yes, one of three.” He placed it in her palm and his fingers brushing against her skin sent tingles through her.

What the hell was happening to her? Was her biological clock taking over her body? She'd ignored it for her career for too long, and maybe now it was catching up? She pulled back and forced a smile even though the desire to lean forward and kiss Pierre sent her belly into flips.

“All of you have a copy of Andrei’s study in case something happens to one of you?” Pain stole her breath away at the thought of one of them being hurt or dying.

“Yes. One thing history has taught us is to expect the unexpected and nothing lasts forever.” His voice came out low, full of sadness, and she already missed his chipper and teasing nature.

“Thanks for trusting me with this.” She glanced around the sparse living room and kitchen for a computer. “Do you have a laptop or something I can use to review the file?”

If he had a Trojan virus in the flash drive, she'd find it. Her early college classes had been hacking into systems to build better firewalls for companies.

“In my bedroom,” he cocked an eyebrow, “care to help me find it?”

She laughed and shook her head, finding she wanted to tease him back. “Maybe next time.”

“Fine.” He stood. “But don't think I'm going to give up seducing you anytime soon. I just do it differently than either of my brothers.”

“I don't doubt it.” Thrills raced through her veins at the memory of Pierre trailing kisses up her neck.

He sauntered into the third bedroom, leaving the light off. Her curiosity burned through her. What did he have in there? A casket? A fridge with blood bags? She scooted closer from the couch.

What was he doing in there? Trying to tempt her to follow him? Hmm...Like that's going to happen. She picked at a hangnail. Minutes passed while she waited, and she squirmed on the suede cushion.

“Pierre? Everything good?”

When a muffled noise answered, she shot off the couch toward the open dark room.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she crept forward, the flash drive tight in her fist. “Pierre, this isn't funny. Stop kidding around and making sounds. Are you hurt?”

She tiptoed into his bedroom. When cold hands lifted her by the waist and tossed her onto a plush bed, a gasp rushed out between her lips.

The light clicked on, and Pierre stood beside the bed. A lamp illuminated the queen-size bed with silk sheets. The walls were painted with bright orange sunflowers, a turquoise sky, and dominated by a yellow sun that she couldn't stop staring at.

“It's beautiful,” she said.

His eyes bored into her. “Yes, you are.”

“Why did you throw me on the bed? I could’ve seen the ceiling standing.”

He tapped a finger to his lips. “No, you've broken my sanctuary so you must pay the fine.”

Desire spiked. “Wha—?”

“Just a kiss.” His crooked smile caught her off guard, and she nodded without thinking.

At her agreement, he leaped on the bed, covering her body with his. “Where do you like to be kissed?” He leaned up on one elbow and traced a finger over her lips. “Here? Oui, I'll come back to your luscious mouth later.” He lightly caressed her jawline. “Or here? Maybe lower?” He stroked the side of her neck.

The teasing nature of his touch sent goosebumps dancing along her skin. Her attraction for him mounted with each breath she took. Never before had anyone enticed her this much, yet here she was getting turned on by a second vampire, brothers at that, less than an hour apart. Maybe she should get her hormones checked.

“I've found that the ticklish spots can be erogenous zones for many.” He trailed his fingers down the side of her stomach, and she giggled.

“Ah, that's a good one. But I'm thinking you might have more areas to tickle, no?” His lips brushed over her skin as he spoke, a combination that made her stifle a groan of pleasure.

Distraction, she needed a distraction to get their brains back on the most important thing right now. “What about the lapt—”

He tickled her behind her knee, and she squirmed. “Oui, let's start with that one.”

In seconds, he had her aroused beyond belief. The only thing separating him from her overheated center was the thin layer of her panties.

“Wait,” she whispered, but heat coiled in her belly and she forgot what she wanted to say.

He bent her knees up, then licked a sensitive place on her leg. She didn’t even know that place was sensitive, not until he licked it.

“Stop, that's too intense,” she said half gasping, half laughing.

“I don't think you've had enough joy in your life, Lynda.” He nibbled at the side of her knee. “But I'll stop if you truly wish me to.”

Her insides clenched as he blew cool air across her panties and over the most sensitive part of her. She bit her lip, unable to say what she wanted...what she desired, yet she feared to give in to the passion. It's just sex that's all. No big deal. Fucking doesn't equal love. And she wasn't going to fall in love, not until all her checklists said it was safe. And falling for a vampire or two or three was definitely not safe.

“I'll take your silence as consent.”

When she didn't argue, but wiggled her bottom closer to him, he chuckled.

“So impatient.” He ripped off her underwear with a sharp fingernail. Her most secret place was now exposed to him and his breath over her made goosebumps rise across her skin. Then he flicked his tongue over her clit, and she gasped.

He held onto her legs just at the ticklish spot he'd found and lightly stroked the area behind her knees while he lavished her with sensual attention.

The feeling of both sensations, tickles mixed with the erotic touch of his silky lips and tongue made her writhe on the sheets. She clawed at the mattress, mewling for more.

“You like?” He murmured against the sensitive skin he’d awakened with his mouth.

“Yes!”

He plunged his tongue in between her folds, exploring even more of her. Just when she thought she'd explode he brushed his hand across the back of her knees and she no longer cared what he did as long as he continued licking her like she was his favorite dessert.

Pleasure surged up from the exact spot where his tongue lapped at her, straight up to her brain, and rocketed through every part of her. She groaned his name, then screamed as her body tightened everywhere in surges of thought-stealing delight. When the surges stopped, and Pierre moved away from her she sank onto Pierre's bed in a haze.

A shout and a slammed door sent her shooting upright in the bed.

“What was that?” She snatched up her underwear, but seeing they were torn, threw them in a wire trashcan beside the bed.

“Damn, I was hoping to have more alone time with you.” He handed her a pair of pants and a pullover that looked like they might fit her. “It's Mihnea and Andrei.”

Shit! She pushed her legs into the pants and zipped them up. She felt weird going commando with her flesh rubbing against the starched clothing with no buffer between them. The shirt hung low on her, the V-neck showing the edges of her bra, but it was better than no underwear and a dress that needed a good cleaning.

“Or we could pretend to be asleep and not notice they’ve come home.” Pierre winked.

She reached over and kissed his cheek. “No, I want to make sure he's all right.” The desire to fling herself into the arms of all three vamps sent heat pooling in her belly. When she dashed out of the bedroom, her feet froze. Andrei was covered in blood with Mihnea hovering over him. The suede couch was stained with dark crimson.