Immortals After Dark 03 - No Rest for the Wicked

“Tonight changes nothing, vampire.”
    “ Tell yourself that, Valkyrie ”—he brushed her hair aside, kissing her neck and making her shiver—“ as much as you like.”

26
    G ood morning, Katja.”
    She mumbled something in answer. When he’d woken, she was draped over his chest, half on him, panting with sleep. He grinned, savoring the feeling. She would deny it, but his Bride liked sleeping with him. He could get used to this ultimate luxury—blond curls spilling over his chest and warm woman in his arms, his for the taking. Was she, after last night?
    She’d given him the most pleasure he’d ever experienced, and she’d also given him a teasing hint of what more he could find with her. He squeezed her even closer. When she said something he didn’t catch, he let up. “Sorry.”
    She sounded half-asleep when she asked, “Why’re you always worried ’bout crushing me?”
    He stared at the ceiling. “My size has not put me in good stead with women.” What a vast understatement.
    “Did last night,” she murmured, with a yawn against him. “Your size was a panty remover.”
    Panty remover? He drew her up by the shoulders, and she blinked at him sleepily like a kitten peeled off a couch.
    “ Whaa ?” she muttered. “That in good enough stead?”
    He chuckled, settling her back, using his whole hand to cup her face against him. How could a few well-placed words begin undoing centuries of doubt—?
    She shot up in bed, eyes wide. “We’ve landed?”
    “About an hour ago. I turned the Do Not Disturb key, and the pilots left.”
    “What time is it?” She sprang from the bed. Naked. She dashed to the bathroom, started the shower, then flashed by on her way to the closet for clothes. So very naked.
    He glanced at the bedside clock. “It’s six-forty here.” Where exactly was here ? All he knew was that the pinpricks of sun coming through the shades were bright.
    “I’ve got a car coming at seven!”
    He sat back with his arms behind his head and knew his grin was one of pure masculine satisfaction. He’d never seen a woman get dressed before. He never wanted to miss it again.
    This was what he’d imagined having a wife would be like. Seeing her dressing, enjoying tantalizing views of her beautiful body. But with her, the reality was so much better.
    He hadn’t, for instance, envisioned his wife’s complete lack of modesty or wicked bed play. He hadn’t imagined that her stunning eyes could burn with such absolute purpose and drive—or go silvery with desire.
    She caught her ankle in the strap of her bag and stumbled forward, righting herself with a kind of preternatural grace. When she bit out a curse, he chuckled again.
    She peered around the bathroom door and quirked an eyebrow until he raised his hands in surrender.
    Soon he was treated to the light scents of her shampoo and soap that would be mixed with her own luscious scent. When he imagined her working soap over her sleek body, he shot to his feet. Not wasting a second, he stripped off his jeans and traced into the shower.
    She cried out with a start, glanced down at his erection, then back up with her face flushed. Regrettably, she was already rinsed clean, and before he could touch her, she hopped out. She secured a towel around her torso and twisted one up around her hair, then dashed from the steamy room. He heard cabinets slamming in the bedroom as she hurried.
    He didn’t understand this obsessive need of hers to win. “Why are you so rabid about this prize?” he called out from under the water. “I’ve told you a hundred times before, the key will not work.” He found an unopened bar of soap that didn’t smell feminine and tore open the monogrammed seal.
    She entered again, still in her towel, and squeezed toothpaste onto her pink toothbrush. She answered while brushing. “Ill ew.” Will to.
    Just as she finished brushing and exited, he finished showering, then grabbed the last towel.
    On her way past the bathroom door once more, she tossed his jeans at him. He dried off, stabbed his legs in, and entered the hall—plowing right into her.
    He should have known, in such a small area. Careless...
    His hand shot out to catch her, but she easily checked her fall with one light step back. Her hands flew to his chest, then relaxed to rest there, rubbing a few remaining drops of water. She didn’t give him that hurt look. No, she tilted her head and studied his chest, her tiny fang pressing against her bottom lip, her