calculation. And if I hadn’t been aware of it before, then that look alone was enough to tell me she was very dangerous.
“Lucian has already informed me of your aversion to blood magic—”
“I thought you said she didn’t do blood magic,” I cut in, glancing at Lucian.
He shrugged. “If I had said anything else, would you have come here?”
“Probably not.”
“Then that explains the lie. You need to explore all options, Risa. It is foolish to do otherwise.”
“Blood magic is not an option.”
“Which is a shame, as it’s the most powerful form of magic available here on earth,” Lauren commented.
I met her gaze again. “It also taints the user in the extreme.”
“That is a debate I will not get into. It does, however, lessen our options.”
“At least there are options.” Hopefully, there were some that were a little less unhealthy than blood magic. Although Ilianna was going to hit the roof either way.
“Perhaps.” She glanced at Lucian, then rose and finished her drink. “I will be in contact if I uncover any possibilities.”
She gave me another of those cool, thoughtful looks, then walked out. But as I watched her leave, foreboding shivered through me. She would find a way to mute the Raziq’s device—I had no doubt of that.
Just as I had no doubt that the price would be one I’d be reluctant to pay.
I rubbed my arms against the sudden chill in my flesh, and couldn’t hold back a sigh of relief when the door closed behind her.
“I’m glad she isn’t staying for dinner.”
“So am I.” Lucian topped up my glass. “As much as I like the occasional threesome, I have this odd feeling you would not have been your usual unrestrained self.”
I gave him a wry smile. “That is, of course, presuming I’ll have anything to be unrestrained about.”
He gave me an innocent smile. “Of course.”
I crossed my legs. “So how come you know about this place and I don’t?”
“A client told me about it and offered an introduction.”
His gaze was on my legs and his hunger stirred the air. It echoed through me, warm and delicious. “An introduction? You have to be introduced and approved to be a member here?”
He nodded. “Franklin’s caters to the rich. This place caters to the überrich, as well as those who derive pleasure from watching.”
“You can watch in any of the wolf clubs. And Franklin’s has private viewing rooms.”
“Yes, but we are not talking about common sex here.”
“BDSM?” I had no problem with that in and of itself, but beyond the odd handcuff fantasy, I really wasn’t into that sort of sexual play.
He nodded. “And blood play, fetishes, fantasies—but not all at once. Every night has a different ‘theme.’”
“And the theme tonight?”
“Bondage.” His gaze pinned mine, the intensity making my heart hammer. He didn’t care where we were; he just wanted—intended—to make love to me tonight. And while I hungered for his touch, somewhere in the dark recesses unease stirred anew. Because while I was part wolf, and did have an above-average sex drive, this was definitely more than that. But no matter how uneasy I was feeling right now, it wasn’t enough to make me walk away. Not yet. He added, “But we do not have to stay. We can walk to my place, and I shall personally cook dinner for you.”
And then we shall love until you can take no more and beg for me to stop .
The thought whispered through my brain, distant and tantalizing. I wasn’t entirely sure that the thought was mine, although I wasn’t telepathic, and certainly hadn’t been able to catch his thoughts before now. But then, did I need to? The hunger in his eyes made it very evident where his thoughts were headed.
“Isn’t your place a little too far away?” I had no problem about actually walking there, but not in these heels.
A smile teased his lips. “As it so happens, I recently purchased a nearby building for investment purposes, but I’m keeping the
“Lucian has already informed me of your aversion to blood magic—”
“I thought you said she didn’t do blood magic,” I cut in, glancing at Lucian.
He shrugged. “If I had said anything else, would you have come here?”
“Probably not.”
“Then that explains the lie. You need to explore all options, Risa. It is foolish to do otherwise.”
“Blood magic is not an option.”
“Which is a shame, as it’s the most powerful form of magic available here on earth,” Lauren commented.
I met her gaze again. “It also taints the user in the extreme.”
“That is a debate I will not get into. It does, however, lessen our options.”
“At least there are options.” Hopefully, there were some that were a little less unhealthy than blood magic. Although Ilianna was going to hit the roof either way.
“Perhaps.” She glanced at Lucian, then rose and finished her drink. “I will be in contact if I uncover any possibilities.”
She gave me another of those cool, thoughtful looks, then walked out. But as I watched her leave, foreboding shivered through me. She would find a way to mute the Raziq’s device—I had no doubt of that.
Just as I had no doubt that the price would be one I’d be reluctant to pay.
I rubbed my arms against the sudden chill in my flesh, and couldn’t hold back a sigh of relief when the door closed behind her.
“I’m glad she isn’t staying for dinner.”
“So am I.” Lucian topped up my glass. “As much as I like the occasional threesome, I have this odd feeling you would not have been your usual unrestrained self.”
I gave him a wry smile. “That is, of course, presuming I’ll have anything to be unrestrained about.”
He gave me an innocent smile. “Of course.”
I crossed my legs. “So how come you know about this place and I don’t?”
“A client told me about it and offered an introduction.”
His gaze was on my legs and his hunger stirred the air. It echoed through me, warm and delicious. “An introduction? You have to be introduced and approved to be a member here?”
He nodded. “Franklin’s caters to the rich. This place caters to the überrich, as well as those who derive pleasure from watching.”
“You can watch in any of the wolf clubs. And Franklin’s has private viewing rooms.”
“Yes, but we are not talking about common sex here.”
“BDSM?” I had no problem with that in and of itself, but beyond the odd handcuff fantasy, I really wasn’t into that sort of sexual play.
He nodded. “And blood play, fetishes, fantasies—but not all at once. Every night has a different ‘theme.’”
“And the theme tonight?”
“Bondage.” His gaze pinned mine, the intensity making my heart hammer. He didn’t care where we were; he just wanted—intended—to make love to me tonight. And while I hungered for his touch, somewhere in the dark recesses unease stirred anew. Because while I was part wolf, and did have an above-average sex drive, this was definitely more than that. But no matter how uneasy I was feeling right now, it wasn’t enough to make me walk away. Not yet. He added, “But we do not have to stay. We can walk to my place, and I shall personally cook dinner for you.”
And then we shall love until you can take no more and beg for me to stop .
The thought whispered through my brain, distant and tantalizing. I wasn’t entirely sure that the thought was mine, although I wasn’t telepathic, and certainly hadn’t been able to catch his thoughts before now. But then, did I need to? The hunger in his eyes made it very evident where his thoughts were headed.
“Isn’t your place a little too far away?” I had no problem about actually walking there, but not in these heels.
A smile teased his lips. “As it so happens, I recently purchased a nearby building for investment purposes, but I’m keeping the
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