Breaking the Play boy′s Curse(5)

The guy’s blue eyes darkened to red for several seconds as he stared back at Vail. “Hello, Vail. It seems we have quite a few things to discuss, don’t we?” he murmured, his eyes returning to their original, vibrant blue.

Vail sighed and nodded. “Yeah, I guess we do.”

Draven’s eyes narrowed. “You guess?” He planted his feet, crossed his arms over his chest, and frowned at Vail. “Perhaps you like being cursed. Is this a ploy you utilize to pick up men, playboy?”

His temper soared. How dare his mate speak like that to him. Slowly getting to his feet, a low growl rolled up his chest. “I didn’t enjoy watching my father suffer years after losing the woman he loved. I didn’t enjoy watching my uncle walk away from his human mate because he loved her so much he’d rather let her live a long happy life with some other man than see her dead. I didn’t enjoy seeing my grandfather die a little each time one of his children couldn’t have their mate because of his actions.”

As he spoke, he mindlessly stalked forward until he found himself directly in front of Draven. “No,” Vail whispered hoarsely. “I don’t enjoy knowing that should I bond with you, it’d mean both our deaths.” He swallowed hard, fighting his emotions as frustration warred with anger and grief. “No, there’s nothing about this situation I enjoy. And I’ve never told anyone about it before.”

Draven moved his arms from his chest to his hips and a smile flitted around the edges of his lips. “Good. That’s the fire I wanted to see.” Without waiting for a response from Vail, Draven grabbed his head and pulled it down the inch or so needed to kiss him.

The light peck on his lips, really just a brushing of lips, wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy Vail. He leaned forward, chasing Draven’s mouth as the other man pulled away. Draven tightened his grip on Vail’s head, stopping his action.

Vail grunted, fighting his mate’s hold for just a second before he regained his senses and froze. If a little kiss could scramble his brain that badly, he was more than a little concerned about what actually making out with the man would do, or touching the vampire’s skin, or feeling Draven’s hands on him.

Groaning, Vail forced himself back a step. Draven’s grip, which had slid from his head to where his shoulder met neck, wouldn’t let him put any more space than that between them. “Now,” Draven said. “Let’s get comfortable, while your friend gets the rest of the guys, then we’ll go over the witch’s words and see if we can’t find a way to break it, hmm?”

Inhaling deeply, which only filled Vail’s nostrils with Draven’s heady scent, didn’t do much to clear his head. He nodded absently. “You gonna take over my life now, vampire?”

Draven chuckled, the sound throaty and deep did funny things to Vail’s balls. He reached down and adjusted his dick.

Vail turned his head and found Lamar near the door, staring with great interest at a painting of a yacht. “Lamar, will you round up the guys? We could meet in the rec room so we’re comfortable. I guess I have some explaining to do.”

Lamar gave him a reassuring smile. “Sure, Vail. You know no one’s going to hold it against you, right? We all have our…issues.”

Vail smiled at Lamar. He probably knew the least about the peacock shifter. Other than being crazy computer smart and appreciating the man’s sense of dress, Vail couldn’t remember Lamar actually talking about his own past. Maybe he needed to listen more.

He nodded. “Yeah. Thanks for listening.”

Lamar inclined his head, then lifted a brow as he glanced between them. “You sure you don’t need a half hour?”

Vail glanced at his mate, then shook his head. “No,” he stated firmly.

“As you wish,” Lamar responded, once more reverting to his more formal, stuffy self. His hand on his stomach almost looking like he was about to bow, but then he just nodded again and slipped from the room. Vail would definitely have to be more aware of the man, see if he could figure out what made Lamar tick.

Turning back to his mate, Vail held out a hand. Draven lifted a brow, but took it. “Hi,” Vail murmured. “I’m Vail Lamang, a wolf shifter. I do believe you’re my mate.”

Draven smiled, a true smile, showing off his fangs. “It’s nice to meet you, Vail. I’m Draven Mansetti. I’m a minor warlock and a vampire, and I believe you’re right.”

“We can’t claim each other, yet, because my family line was cursed by a witch,” Vail continued. “With your help, maybe we can break it.”