Sexiest Vampire Alive(104)
She straightened to take a look around her. A rectangular fluorescent light fixture glared overhead, making the smooth, metallic walls gleam. Stainless steel? She looked closer. Silver. Of course. It was probably the only way to imprison a vampire. Even the ceiling was silver.
Gregori moaned and lifted a hand to his forehead. Then he sat up abruptly and looked around.
His eyes narrowed on her. “Get out. I’m not interested.”
Her heart soared at his faithfulness. “Are you sure?” She pulled the veil off her head.
“Abby,” he breathed, then leaped toward her and pulled her into his arms. “Oh, thank God, you’re all right. And you’re with me. I was afraid that asshole Ming would try to get his claws on you.”
“I was supposed to go to him, but I talked Mei Li into switching places with me.”
“Oh, Scholar, you are so brilliant.” Gregori kissed her brow.
“It wasn’t all brains, believe me. When I thought about you being locked up with the beautiful Mei Li, I was ready to rip this compound apart with my bare hands.”
He laughed and hugged her close.
She gazed up at him and brushed his hair back from his brow. “I’m not sure if Lord Ming is going to accept the trade, since he appears to have a thing for unmarked necks.”
“Virgin necks,” Gregori muttered. “Creepy bastard.”
“Well, under the circumstances, I think we’d better get rid of my neck virginity really quick.”
His eyes widened. “You mean . . .”
“Yes. I need you to bite me before Lord Ming realizes I pulled a switcheroo on him.”
“Abby.” Gregori released her and stepped back. “No.”
“You have my permission.”
“No! We’ll just escape from here.” His form wavered then solidified again. “Shit. I can’t teleport.” He paced around the perimeter of the room and examined the walls closely.
“It’s solid silver,” she said.
He touched the door and jerked his hand back with a grimace. “Even the door is silver.”
“We’re not getting out of here for a while, and if Lord Ming still wants a virgin—”
“Abby, how can I return you to your family with fang marks on your neck?”
Tears stung her eyes at the thought of her family. For the hundredth time, she hoped her mother was all right. “At this point, I’ll be glad to return at all.”
“I’ll get you out of here. Somehow.”
She dragged in a shaky breath. “Gregori, it was terrible. The demon said he could make my mother better if my dad was willing to work with him. I told him to go to hell, and he said he was going to see my mother and make her worse!”
“Sheesh.” Gregori pulled her into his arms. “I’m so sorry. This happened while I was in my death-sleep?”
She nodded, her cheek nestled against his chest.
“God, I hate it when I’m not able to protect you.”
She glanced up at him. “You can protect me now from Lord Ming.”
He winced. “I don’t want to bite you, Abby. I’ve never bitten a mortal before.”
“If you don’t bite me, he will!” She fisted her hands around the lapels of his jacket. “Please. I can’t stand the thought of him touching me. Or sinking his teeth into—”
“Okay.” Gregori dragged a hand through his hair. “Shit. I can’t stand the thought of him touching you, either.”
“You told me at the nightclub that you bit vampire women, and it was somehow pleasurable. Can you do that with me?”
“It’s . . . possible.”
“Good. Let’s do it.”
He paused. Shifted his weight.
She lifted her eyebrows. “Well?”
“I don’t want you to see me with my fangs out.”
“I’ve seen every other part of you.” She huffed with impatience. “Come on, Gregori. I know you have fangs.”
He scowled at her. “You haven’t seen them extended. They get really long.”
“I’ve seen another extended part of you, and it wasn’t too long for me to handle.”
He crossed his arms. “You think you can handle it?”
“Yes. Bite me.”
His mouth twitched. “You’re trying to goad me into it.”
“Whatever it takes. I’m not letting that creep touch me.” She sat on the mat and arranged her silken robes around her. “So, just how long do you get?”
He arched a brow. “Long enough to get the job done.”
“Okay, do you prefer the right side?” She tilted her head left. “Or the left side?” She tilted her head right.
He removed his jacket and tossed it on the floor. Then he walked toward her, his eyes glittering with green intensity.