"Well, my pet. We meet again," he murmured.
Ridiculously Shay felt her breath catch. My God, he was so beautiful. Eyes as dark and beguiling as a velvet night sky. The features chiseled by the hand of a master craftsman. The spill of silver hair that shimmered like the finest satin.
As if he had been created for the sole purpose of pleasuring every fortunate woman who crossed his path.
The urge to reach out and touch those perfect features and discover if they could possibly be real shuddered through her.
Shay discovered her hand actually lifting when she caught herself. Crap. What was wrong with her?
This... treacherous rodent had just bought her lock, stock, and barrel, as Levet would say.
She wanted to stick a stake in his heart, not discover if he could deliver on the pleasure he promised.
"I would say it's a pleasant surprise, but it isn't," she muttered.
"Not pleasant, or not a surprise?"
The silken words spread over her skin making her shiver in response. Even his voice was created to make a woman climax on the spot.
"Guess." she gritted.
He arched a brow that was several shades darker than his hair. "I would think you would be a bit more grateful, pet. I did just rescue you from what I suspect was a very grim future."
"I am not your pet, and my future is hardly less grim with you."
"You do not yet know my plans for you."
"You are a vampire. That's all I need to know."
He reached out a slender hand to touch the curls that had come loose from her braid to trail over her cheek. A cool rush of power swept through her body making her stomach clench with sharp pleasure.
Damn vampire.
"You believe we are all the same?"
"Vampires have been after my blood for a hundred years. Why should you be any different?"
His lips twitched with amusement. "Why indeed."
She pulled back only to be halted by the shackles that dug painfully into her wrists.
"Did you know I would be here when you came?" she demanded.
There was a momentary pause before he gave a nod. "Yes."
"And that's why you're here?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Obviously because I wished to have you."
That pang of disappointment returned to stab through her heart. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
"Even after I saved your life?"
He tilted his head to one side to allow the long silver hair to trail over his shoulder.
"Saved my life? Perhaps."
Shay widened her eyes in shock. "What do you mean, perhaps? Edra intended to kill you. I took a spell blast meant for you."
He shrugged. "Certainly you prevented a nasty wound, but it is impossible to determine if it would have been a killing blow."
"You jackass," she breathed, beyond caring that she was now his slave and utterly in his power. "I saved your life and yet you came here to buy me."
"Was there another among the bidders you would have preferred?"
"I would have preferred to kill you all."
His soft chuckle floated on the air. "So bloodthirsty."
"No, I'm sick of being at the mercy of every demon, monster, witch, or freak who has the money to buy me."
He stilled as the midnight gaze searched her flushed face. "Understandable, I suppose."
"You understand nothing."
His faint smile remained, but for the first time Shay noticed the lines of strain around his magnificent eyes.
"Perhaps not, but I do understand that I am in no humor to battle you this evening, pet. I have been injured and I need blood to recover my strength."
Shay had nearly forgotten the stab wounds he had received during his battle with the man. Not that she particularly cared at the moment.
She didn't like his mention of blood.
"And?"
The amusement returned to his eyes as he easily read her unease. "And while I prefer to escort you to my lair in a civilized manner, I can keep you shackled and drag you there kicking and screaming. The choice is yours."
She refused to show her relief. It was only a matter of time before she became an unwilling donor.
"Some choice."
"For the moment it is the only one you have. What is it to be?"
She glared at him before at last sticking out her arms. There was no point in fighting the inevitable. Besides the iron rubbing against her skin was hurting worse than she wanted to admit.
"Take off the shackles."
"I have your word that you will not attempt to fight me?"
Shay blinked in surprise. "You trust my word?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I can read your soul." He held her gaze with ease. "Your word?"
Well... crap.
She didn't want him to know that once she gave her word she would never go back on it. It gave him yet another hold over her.
For a moment she refused to make the pledge. How could she live with herself if she didn't at least try to put a stake through his heart? She did have her pride, after all. But as he continued to stare at her with that unnerving stillness only a vampire could pull off, she heaved a grudging sigh. He was prepared to remain in that precise position for an eternity if necessary.
"For tonight I will not attempt to fight you," she said through gritted teem.
He smiled at her grudging promise. "As good as I'm going to get, I suppose."
"Damn straight."
Viper found a smile tugging at his lips as he escorted the Shalott from the auction house to his waiting car. He wasn't at all sure why he was pleased. He had come to the auction because he couldn't get the beautiful demon out of his mind. He didn't have a clue what he intended to do with her. He had only known he couldn't allow anyone else to own her.
His plans, however, hadn't included a battle with some minor dark wizard, or pissing off a powerful enemy that would no doubt want revenge, or being treated like some bloodsucking monster by his very own slave.
So why the devil was he smiling?
His gaze lowered to watch the angry twitch of Shay's hips as she walked in front of him. Ah, yes. Now he remembered.
A lick of pure desire curled through his stomach.
The scent of her potent blood was enough to make any vampire hard and aching. She perfumed the very air with lust. But that was not what captured and held his attention.
It was her exotic beauty, the manner in which she moved with that liquid grace, the fierce determination that shimmered in the golden eyes, and the danger that swirled about her like a cloud of enticement.