Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
“Wow! You live here?” Carina leaned forward to peer out the window at the immense mansion at the end of the long drive.
They’d driven about thirty minutes to the other side of town.
It might as well have been on the other side of the world.
No apartments and condos existed here. Gated entrances guarded massive estates.
After creating the cutest monster pancakes, Marcus had suggested visiting his house before heading to Nightfall. He needed to change clothes and wanted to show her his place. The sight of his mansion made her glance over at him in disbelief.
“It is rather large, isn’t it? Definitely too much for one man. Thank goodness I found you,” Marcus told her.
“Working security pays for something like this?”
“Over centuries? Yes.”
She collapsed back against the seat. “Do you sleep in a different bed each night? There must be at least seven bedrooms.”
“I stay in the main bedroom. I will, however, relent on that practice from time to time as I plan to make love to you in every room of my house.”
Carina checked out the massive building looming in front of her. A zing of arousal went through her at the thought of christening all that space with sex. Marcus lifted his chin slightly and inhaled.
“Your scent enchants me, Little girl.”
“Stop sniffing me!”
“That won’t happen. You’re too addictive.”
“How can you smell me anyway? I’ve got underwear and pants on,” she protested.
“I haven’t shared my sensory enhancements with you?”
“Is there anything a vampire can’t do?” Concern flooded her. She couldn’t hide her arousal, thoughts, or emotions from Marcus. She didn’t want to be so easy to read.
Marcus wrapped his powerful hand gently around her thigh as he stopped the luxury sports car in the middle of the drive. “Look at me, Little girl.”
Stubbornness stiffened her spine. Carina stared out the window.
“Naughtiness will get you spanked, Carina.”
She snorted a gust of breath from her nose in defiance. “I don’t have to do what you say.”
“Oh, but you do, Little girl. The minute you called me Daddy, you agreed to this special relationship. Eyes on mine.”
Carina wanted to follow his instructions but struggled to give up all control to him. Her head bobbed slightly back and forth as she debated. Finally, she turned to face him. “What?”
“There are many ways a man can tell when a woman is aroused. I could have noticed your beaded nipples, your pulse throbbing faster in your throat, how you squeeze your knees together as you get wet, and even your slightly glazed stare into nothingness.”
“Oh.” Her indignation vanished as embarrassment rushed in as she realized how true his clues were. “Sorry.”
Marcus released the brake and steered the car forward. He parked in front of the huge mansion without saying another word. He exited the car and walked around the hood of the car to open her door. As he leaned in to release her seatbelt, he inhaled deeply again.
“You do smell delicious.”
Her jaw dropped. Stunned, she allowed him to help her out of the low seat. Once on her feet, Carina smacked his chest. “You just messed with me. You used your vampire senses after all.”
“Of course I did. But I could have figured out you were hot for my bod without your scent.”
“Hot for your bod?” she repeated, torn between anger and amusement.
Marcus angled himself away from her, glancing over his shoulder. He rubbed a hand over his well-formed tight ass before curling up his massive biceps followed by pressing one stylish leather shoe into the concrete to display his powerful thigh. “What is your favorite part, Carina?”
In a husky, low voice, Marcus suggested, “Or do you enjoy something else?” He moved his hands to his waistband and flicked the top button open.
“Marcus!” Giggles tumbled from her lips as she reached out to stop him, looking around and freezing. Turning back to him, she laughed even harder at his model-perfect display.
“Daddy,” Marcus requested.
“Daddy,” she hissed. “Stop. Someone is over there.”
“Because you asked, my Little girl, I’ll wait until we’re alone to take my pants off and allow you to answer my question.”
Marcus relaxed his posing and waved toward the house where a man stood at the door. “Good morning, Alexander. We’re on our way to my chambers. Could you have the car unloaded and parked, please?”
Alexander nodded and disappeared inside for several seconds. Marcus scooped Carina into his arms and carried her effortlessly up the stairs to the front door that Alexander now held open for them.
“Welcome, my lady,” Alexander greeted her.
“Hi, Alexander. Is he always so goofy?”
“Never, miss. You bring out something incredible in him,” Alexander said with a smile as Marcus set her feet on the marble tiles.
“My mate, Carina, Alexander,” Marcus introduced them.
“This is a day to remember. Congratulations, Sir. And to you, Miss.”
“Thank you, Alexander,” Carina said as Marcus took her hand. She allowed him to lead her into the house.
When Alexander disappeared from view, she leaned close to ask, “Did he hear you talking?”
“Definitely. I believe Alexander is an ab connoisseur. His husband is my gardener.” Marcus continued in the same normal voice he’d used with Alexander. “We could go back and ask him, or we could continue and rub my favorite scent all over my beard.”
After a split second, Carina processed what he’d said. Marcus enjoyed tasting her as much as his efforts thrilled her. As their gazes met, Carina’s panties became drenched. She nodded. “Please.”
“Good girl.”
Carina enjoyed Marcus’s bedroom a lot. Her Daddy had a special way of welcoming her to his home. After several hours, they emerged with only enough time to eat a delicious lunch and get ready for Marcus’s shift at Nightfall. She felt her face heat when she thought about his lovemaking.
“What an enchanting blush, Little one,” Marcus told her as they drove to the club.
“Totally your fault,” Carina admitted, swatting his thick thigh playfully. Hitting him was like striking stone. His chiseled form redefined power. Watching him move had become her new favorite hobby.
“Do you dance?” she blurted when the thought popped into her mind.
“Frequently.”
That darn heat kindled inside her at his insinuation. Carina slapped her hands over her cheeks. Her motion made her notice her inner wrist. “Nightfall has the strangest stamp. I didn’t have to scrub it at all. It was gone when I remembered to check it.”
Marcus held out his hand for her wrist. When she placed hers in his, he brushed his thumb over her pulse point. The glowing moon reignited.
“It’s still there?”
“Yes, sweetheart. It will remain on your skin until someone revokes your permission to enter. It will only appear when activated by a clansman’s presence or at the entrance of Nightfall.”
“That’s so neat. Like a disappearing tattoo. But better. The glow is so real. It looks like a real moon.”
“I’m glad you like it, Little girl. I treasure seeing it on you.”
“Because it has something to do with Nightfall or your group?” Carina asked.
“Yes.”
She shivered slightly at the thought of seeing all the staff at Nightfall.
Were they all vampires? His answer didn’t provide any explanation.
What wasn’t he telling her? She opened her mouth to ask more questions when they turned the corner to come to a quick stop that rocked her forward against the bracing arm Marcus thrust between her and the dashboard.
“What’s going on?” She scanned the huge crowd that filled the street leading to Nightfall.
“The crowd wishing to get in has increased,” Marcus said. He carefully navigated his car into the secluded underground parking lot.
A flamboyantly dressed man appeared next to the vehicle. Carina recognized him as the head bartender. After helping Carina out of the seat, Marcus told her, “I want you to go with Titus. Stay with him at the bar. I will be there as quickly as possible.”
Before she could ask him any questions, Marcus was gone. She stared after him, already missing his presence as if part of her body had been ripped away. Looking at Titus, she asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Marcus will ensure it is. Let’s go on an adventure together, Carina. I have a new drink I’ve concocted. Want to be my guinea pig?”
“Is it good?” Carina asked skeptically. When Titus led her to the elevator, she froze. She couldn’t do it. The doors opened to reveal the stainless-steel, cramped interior of her worst nightmares. Carina backed away. “Um. I don’t do elevators. Can we walk up the stairs?”
“You don’t do elevators?” Titus asked, watching her carefully.
“Never. I live on the tenth floor of my building. I walk up the stairs every day.”
“I’m sure my old bones will survive one flight then. Come on, the stairwell is over here. So back to this drink, it is good. You’ll try it for me?”
She thought about that as they climbed. By the time they reached the turn of the stairs, she guessed, “You want a girl’s take on it?”
“Exactly.” Titus waved his hand again, and the door opened. He held it for her. “You’re brave, aren’t you?”
“Bring it on. Just don’t make it too strong.”
“I would never get Marcus’s mate drunk.” Titus waved her toward the large bar as they entered Nightfall’s main room.
Hearing Titus refer to her as Marcus’s mate thrilled Carina and made their relationship seem more real—not just something between her and Marcus. Keeping the tone light between them, Carina glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “You would too.”
Titus clasped a hand over his heart. “You wound me like a stake to the heart.”
“Marcus already let me know me that doesn’t kill you guys.”
“Uh-oh. He’s in trouble now.” Titus leaped over the bar and grabbed several bottles.
“For revealing your secrets?” she guessed, concerned both by the amount of alcohol he was combining and the implication that Marcus shouldn’t have given her any information.
Titus hooked his thumbs together and flapped his fingers like wings before he added ice and shook his concoction with incredible style.
“I know you don’t transform into bats either,” she told him, laughing.
“Surely he didn’t share the sparkle thing?”
Carina nodded and accepted the drink he’d poured into a fancy glass. She leaned forward to sniff the concoction. “Ooh! That smells delicious.” She took a tiny sip and stared at the waiting bartender. “This is the best cocktail I’ve ever tried. What do you call it?”
“The Carina,” Titus announced.
Completely charmed, Carina lifted her glass to salute him before taking a second drink. “Damn, that’s good.” A giggle escaped from her throat as she moved to the music that seemed to wrap around her. She couldn’t taste the liquor in the drink at all, but she could feel it.
Slow down, Little girl.
Marcus’s voice made her laugh harder. While he was busy, she planned to have some fun.