“Does your whole coven live here?”
“A large number do but no not everyone. The West Tower is mine.” Zane moved slightly ahead of her, moving to the right and up a winding stair case. Tanya noticed how his hand sought support from the wall every few steps. Zane paused more than once as they made their slow ascent. Sweat dripped from his brow and his skin had paled by the time they made it to his…chamber. She struggled with a better word. An old fashioned version of a loft maybe. There were large windows. A wooden trussed ceiling and shock horror in the form of a four poster bed with carvings of massacres in the dark shining wood.
What the hell was wrong with the man? She noticed an elevator in the far corner. Why had he insisted on walking?
Zane stripped out of his shirt and jeans. Her face heated. The air caught in her throat. She looked away.
“Female.” She turned. Zane was between the sheets on the large bed. His broad chest had her mouth-watering. Aside from Brant, there was another very good reason why she shouldn’t have sex with this man. Make that scary vampire. Yet, the more she got to know Zane, the more she realized he wasn’t that scary after all. The problem was that the very good reason she shouldn’t have sex with him kept evading her. Brant seemed very far away as well.
She swallowed hard. Not sure of what to do. If she joined him in bed, they would end up having sex.
“Female.” He sounded irritated this time. “I promise not to…grope you. I need you close right now.” He worked his jaw for a second or two. “Please,” so softly spoken she barely heard him.
“Are you okay? Do you have a first aid kit? We need to do something about your shoulder.”
“I need”—he paused like he was thinking about confiding in her—“sleep. Join me. I won’t be able to rest unless you are next to me.”
Zane needed more than just sleep. For whatever reason, he didn’t want her to know what that thing was. Tanya looked down at the material that covered her body. A thin summer dress was all that would be between them. In his current condition, she couldn’t turn him down though.
Tanya nodded, noticing how the tension in him eased. She slid in next to him. His arms banded around her pulling her in close. Within minutes his breathing turned rhythmic. She tried to move but his hand tightened on her waist and he mumbled something incoherent, so she stayed still. He nuzzled his head into the back of her neck. Warm breath tickled her skin.
Tanya felt wide awake. His big body enveloped her and his musky scent surrounded her. Zane was very different from what she had expected. Sure, he was the fierce warrior but he had a…softer side. He demanded and issued orders as casually as he drew his next breath. His men seemed to obey without question, yet there was a small part of him that reminded her of a small lost boy.
Lying there, snug against him, her body felt so tightly wound. Part of her was a little disappointed that he hadn’t wanted to take it further. That he hadn’t tried anything. The bigger part of her was happy he hadn’t though. Her will power was at zero.
Chapter 10
There was a knock on the door. Tanya woke with a start. The sun was low and much less light shone through the drapes that hung in billows over iron rods.
“Enter.” Zane lay on his back, the sheet rode low on his hips. An enormous erection tented the light material. Tanya made to stand.
“Stay.” He tucked her into the crook of his arm.
A supermodel walked in. Long, blond hair that fanned her shoulders. She had lithe, tanned legs and wore a short silk robe tied loosely at her narrow waist. “Your highness.” She gave a curtsy.
The leggy vampire was clearly naked beneath the robe. Hard points spiked the soft, shiny fabric. Commando was clearly a vampire thing.
“I’m here to measure the human for her new wardrobe.” It was only then that she noticed that the vampire had a tape measure in one of her hands.
“Fine.” He released his hold on her, wincing as he moved to sit upright. His wound had knitted but still looked angry and red, like it might pop open with even the slightest provocation.
“Hi, I’m Charlotte. Please come and stand over here.”
Tanya looked back at the woman who gestured to the area directly in front of her. Tanya pulled her dress down firmly. It wouldn’t do to have all her lady bits showing. She tried to run a hand through her hair as she sat up but it was a tangled mess. Damn, she was too scared to look in a mirror. Especially with this beauty queen in the room.
She ran her fingers through the knotted mess a few more times in a last ditch effort as she moved to stand in front of the vamp. Charlotte smiled. “Stay still while I...” She surrounded her breasts with the tape and shook her head. “Nope…it would work better if you took the dress off. Let me help you.”