“Are you two a couple?”
He shook his head. “No, I love him like a friend and brother. I don’t swing that way. I think Augustus has a time or two. He never showed any desire to have that with me. I should probably be insulted, but I can’t.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. He hated the fact she looked so sad. No one deserved to be sad. Grabbing her hand, Gregory pulled her to her feet. “Come on, let’s go and have some fun while we wait for him to return.”
“How can we have fun? I’ll be terrified of breaking something.” She giggled, and the sound turned him on.
“Did I happen to mention Augustus has a shit-load of money? Over the years he’s collected enough that he’s probably one of the richest men around. We can break anything.” Gregory led her out of the sitting room and took her to the games room. There were several arcade games, a pool table, and a bar along the far wall. “Let’s play a game of pool.” He handed her a stick and started setting up the game. “I have to say, Marianna, I’m shocked you haven’t freaked out yet.”
“How did you respond to the news?” she asked.
“I screamed like a girl. You know when you get in the shower and don’t expect the water to be cold but it is and that squeal you let out when the water hits your skin? That’s what happened to me.”
Her laugh was genuine.
“Why don’t you think you’re reacting like a scared person?” Gregory asked.
“I don’t know. I really don’t. I mean, I can freak out and scream about what he is, but besides the biting thing last night, he saved my life. I could have been raped or killed or both. Augustus stopped that. He didn’t have to stop it.”
“Augustus wouldn’t want you to feel guilty or indebted to him. He did what he had to do.”
“It still doesn’t stop the way the incidents made me feel. He could have left me to rot, but like you, he saved me.”
Chapter Five
Augustus watched Gregory and Marianna together. They hadn’t heard him come back. Their game grabbed all of their attention. He liked watching them when neither knew he was there.
Marianna’s laugh was not forced, and the way she turned to Gregory spoke a lot to Augustus. She was attracted to his friend.
“How long have you been stood there watching us?” Gregory asked.
“Long enough to know you want her.”
His response stopped all laughter and playful banter. Marianna looked between the two. Augustus felt her eyes on him. His cock thickened at the thought of being alone and naked with her.
“Don’t worry. Vampires are not prone to social etiquette unlike the rest of us,” Gregory said. His gaze returned to the ball he was about to pot.
Augustus watched his friend and smiled. “You’re not denying your feelings, Gregory.”
“I’ve been around you long enough to know there is no point.”
The ball hit the side of the hole and pushed back. Gregory threw his stick onto the table.
“Do you want me?” Marianna asked.
“Yes, I do, and so does he. I’m not going to pretend I don’t want you. I know you’ve been through a lot, and I’m not going to push you. I’ll leave you two alone.”
Gregory left the room leaving a trail of tension in his wake.
“Why did you have to do that?” Marianna asked.
“You need to know how he feels. I’ve seen a lot of life lost when people don’t admit their feelings,” Augustus said. He sat down on the sofa and stared up at her.
She was a vision of fire and ice. Her pale skin was the ice and her hair the fire.
“Do you want me?” she asked. Marianna didn’t look away from him. Her hand went to her hip as she looked at him.
“Yes, I do. It’s a bit sick, isn’t it? A vampire wanting a human and you’ve never known the pleasure of a man.”
“How do you know that?”
“Your scent. There’s an innocence floating off you in waves. I can practically drown in it.” He inhaled the air. The smell of rich, dark chocolate invaded his sense. He loved the taste of chocolate. The small bit of blood he’d taken had tasted exactly the same as the best quality chocolate you could get.
“I don’t understand.”
“Humans never do. Every man or woman you’re with leaves their stink behind. There is only one smell coming from you, and it’s exquisite.”
She moved closer. Her eyes darkened, and she licked her lips.
“And what exactly do you want to do with me?”
Augustus stared at her wondering how far he could push her until she ran away from him screaming. She was shocking the hell out of him from her response alone.