Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Let them breathe, woman, would you?” Uncle Reginald said, pulling his wife back so he could thrust his hand toward Robert. “That’s my wife, Ravenna. I’m Reginald.”
Clearly, Victor had told his folks about her family’s “acting” careers. They seemed less shocked by their outfits and more amused. Or even, on Robert’s part, impressed.
“Nice to meet you. That is quite a costume,” Robert said, nodding. “Very accurate. Though, mismatched,” he added, making Reginald frown.
“Dad’s a bit of a history buff himself,” Victor said.
“Are you now?” Reginald asked, using Robert’s hand, which he was still holding, to pull him toward the sitting room.
“Dante,” Pandora whispered, then nodded her head toward the two retreating men.
“On it,” Dante said, giving her a wink, then following behind the men.
“Oh, my. Is someone screaming?” Mary asked as the sounds of Elizabeth’s squawking carried through the house.
“Oh, that’s just Elizabeth,” Victor said. “Pandora’s uncle’s cockatoo.” Ophelia’s brows pinched, likely wondering how Victor knew about such a distant relation.
Good, Pandora thought.
Maybe she would stop being suspicious or trying to sic Elias on her as if she truly believed they had a deep connection.
“Mary, can I get you a drink?” Ravenna asked. Then, before waiting for an answer, she grabbed the other woman around the waist and pulled her along to the dining room.
“Victor,” Lucian said, his face no softer with regard to a man he wasn’t sure he approved of yet.
“Lucian, Ophelia, may I borrow you for a moment?” Elias suddenly butted in, making Pandora’s posture relax.
“Of course,” Ophelia said without another glance in Victor’s direction.
“What was that about?” Victor asked as Pandora reached down for his hand and drew him with her toward the oversized storage cupboard at the end of the hallway.
“I think Elias just became an ally,” she said, reaching up to flick on the low light above their heads.
“What does … What the hell …” Pandora turned to see what he was looking at.
“Oh, that,” she said, eyeing the suit of armor set a foot or so behind her. “Dante hid it in here ages ago. Said he was getting the creeps from it.”
“Yeah, I can see why.” Victor eyed the suit of armor the same way Pandora always eyed the painting of her great-great-grandmother Ambrosia over the mantel. “Anyway, what did you say about Elias?”
“He said he’s accepted that we’re together and happy. So I think he’s kind of … helping out now.”
“Wait. Does he know?”
“No! No. I mean, he’s just … helping with my parents and their coldness. As well as the rest of my family and their … eccentricities.”
“They’re really not that bad,” Victor said as she sighed hard. “Hey, it’s fine.” His voice had softened as he watched her. She was all frayed edges. Her hunger was making her bloodlust increase. She was alarmingly aware of the pounding sound of Victor’s heart, of the whooshing sound as the blood moved through his veins, just begging her to lean in and take a little nip, maybe a sip or two …
No.
No, she had to keep it together.
She was just so hungry.
What was taking Lucy so long?
“You’re trembling,” Victor said, suddenly reaching for her, pulling her flush against his chest and wrapping her up tight. “Oh, you’re freezing.” His hands started to chafe over her skin, trying to bring some warmth to her. “Pandy, everything is going to be all right,” he said as she let herself lean into him, letting out a little whimper at the sound of the nickname on his lips.
She knew she should feel guilty for accepting his comfort when she was mostly upset about wanting more from him. And, yes, maybe the fact that she really needed to feed.
But she let him run his hands all over her, meaning to warm her up and succeeding. She felt like a wildfire was raging through her.
Before she could talk herself out of it, her hands were sliding up his chest, the sides of his neck, framing his face and pulling him down toward her.
She saw the confused pinch to his brows, but he let her close the distance, let her lips claim his.
For a moment, she was worried she’d overstepped, that he wasn’t interested.
But then his hand slid up her spine to grab the back of her neck, tilting her a bit as he claimed her lips more fiercely, until she felt it down to her toes.
A low moan escaped her as Victor pressed her back into the wall, his body warming hers, his tongue teasing the seam of her lips, then claiming hers as the desire grew.
She had to ball her fists to keep from grabbing his shirt and peeling it off. But just as she was about to give in to the need, it was Victor’s hands that slid down her back, sinking into her ass and pulling her more firmly against him.