And not in a good way.”
* * *
“What did Shino have to say?”
Lea stared at Lucas, conscious she hadn’t seen him much at all since their night together several days ago. Tall and broad, with muscles that bulged beneath his black mock turtleneck and loose black slacks, he looked every inch an enforcer. He stared after Shino’s retreating form, his gaze cold. But when he glanced back at her, those same eyes warmed with appreciation.
“Shino kept me company while you and Ferin had your security powwow. He showed me where several of your jewelers are fast creating some wonderful, and expensive , pieces.” Lucas grinned, though the sight of his smile did nothing to lessen the aura of danger surrounding him. “Gotta love those sapphires.”
“I’m partial to rubies, actually.”
He cocked his head, studying her. “Not a great surprise there. A ruby is a stone of flame. And you’re just full of fire, aren’t you, Draka?
From that dark red hair to the flames burning within you.” He leaned down to whisper, “And I long to feel those flames licking at my body.
It’s not fair Ferin should have all the fun.” She flushed but couldn’t contain a smile at his teasing. His eyes sparkled and he opened his mouth to say more, when suddenly he froze.
“Fuck me,” he muttered.
Lea glanced over her shoulder to see two Dracon women standing together, their arms crossed, glaring at Lucas. Both were blond and rather busty, and both looked at Lucas like a piece of meat they wanted to slow roast before devouring whole.
“Seems you’re a popular man today, Lucas.”
He sighed. “Women. You people are enough to drive a man to drink. Heavily.” The blondes approached, their hips swaying to the beat of angered female. “It would be too much to ask that they’d take this conversation somewhere private.”
“You have a lot of nerve, Lucas,” one of the women said, tears in her eyes.
“What Sherel said goes for me too. I couldn’t believe it when we found out about Emmaline.”
Lucas frowned. “Sherel, Moira, I’d think you’d know better than to listen to anything Emmaline has to say.” Sherel glared and wiped at her eyes. “I’d think you’d have better taste than to lie with that slut.” She glanced down at Lea, as if seeing her for the first time. “Is this your next conquest?” she sneered. “She’s prettier than Emmaline, but so human.” Moira clapped a hand over her friend’s mouth. “Lucas, perhaps we could take this conversation somewhere else? I doubt Ferin’s friend wants to hear about our dirty little secrets.” She stared hard at Sherel, who glanced from Moira to Lea and back again. Paling, she nodded furiously.
“Yes, yes. I’m sorry, uh, Draka. I hadn’t realized who you were.
My mistake.” She nodded respectfully, nearly bowing, and confused the hell out of Lea.
“Ah, sure. Feel free to tear a strip off of Lucas in private. I mean really, Lucas, Emmaline?” Even Lea found it hard to stomach the idea of Lucas with that nasty woman, Shino’s daughter, who’d only yesterday tried to steal Ferin away.
Lucas glared at Lea and muttered for her to stay put. He grabbed Sherel and Moira by the arm and dragged them a good distance away, to the far, empty corner of the common room.
Several minutes passed where Lea could hear nothing but hushed whispers and muffled crying. Much as she liked Lucas, she had to shake her head. “Never lie to a woman you’re sleeping with, Lucas.”
“Good advice. Too bad you’re too naïve to understand it yourself.”
“Excuse me?” Lea turned to see Emmaline standing behind her.
Joining her at the small table without being asked, Emmaline sat and crossed her long legs. Leaning forward, her breasts strained at the thin material of her scooped blouse. For all that the woman had mounds of sex appeal and an unearthly beauty, the frosted hostility in her inky gaze warned one to tread carefully in her presence.
“Your precious Ferin,
* * *
“What did Shino have to say?”
Lea stared at Lucas, conscious she hadn’t seen him much at all since their night together several days ago. Tall and broad, with muscles that bulged beneath his black mock turtleneck and loose black slacks, he looked every inch an enforcer. He stared after Shino’s retreating form, his gaze cold. But when he glanced back at her, those same eyes warmed with appreciation.
“Shino kept me company while you and Ferin had your security powwow. He showed me where several of your jewelers are fast creating some wonderful, and expensive , pieces.” Lucas grinned, though the sight of his smile did nothing to lessen the aura of danger surrounding him. “Gotta love those sapphires.”
“I’m partial to rubies, actually.”
He cocked his head, studying her. “Not a great surprise there. A ruby is a stone of flame. And you’re just full of fire, aren’t you, Draka?
From that dark red hair to the flames burning within you.” He leaned down to whisper, “And I long to feel those flames licking at my body.
It’s not fair Ferin should have all the fun.” She flushed but couldn’t contain a smile at his teasing. His eyes sparkled and he opened his mouth to say more, when suddenly he froze.
“Fuck me,” he muttered.
Lea glanced over her shoulder to see two Dracon women standing together, their arms crossed, glaring at Lucas. Both were blond and rather busty, and both looked at Lucas like a piece of meat they wanted to slow roast before devouring whole.
“Seems you’re a popular man today, Lucas.”
He sighed. “Women. You people are enough to drive a man to drink. Heavily.” The blondes approached, their hips swaying to the beat of angered female. “It would be too much to ask that they’d take this conversation somewhere private.”
“You have a lot of nerve, Lucas,” one of the women said, tears in her eyes.
“What Sherel said goes for me too. I couldn’t believe it when we found out about Emmaline.”
Lucas frowned. “Sherel, Moira, I’d think you’d know better than to listen to anything Emmaline has to say.” Sherel glared and wiped at her eyes. “I’d think you’d have better taste than to lie with that slut.” She glanced down at Lea, as if seeing her for the first time. “Is this your next conquest?” she sneered. “She’s prettier than Emmaline, but so human.” Moira clapped a hand over her friend’s mouth. “Lucas, perhaps we could take this conversation somewhere else? I doubt Ferin’s friend wants to hear about our dirty little secrets.” She stared hard at Sherel, who glanced from Moira to Lea and back again. Paling, she nodded furiously.
“Yes, yes. I’m sorry, uh, Draka. I hadn’t realized who you were.
My mistake.” She nodded respectfully, nearly bowing, and confused the hell out of Lea.
“Ah, sure. Feel free to tear a strip off of Lucas in private. I mean really, Lucas, Emmaline?” Even Lea found it hard to stomach the idea of Lucas with that nasty woman, Shino’s daughter, who’d only yesterday tried to steal Ferin away.
Lucas glared at Lea and muttered for her to stay put. He grabbed Sherel and Moira by the arm and dragged them a good distance away, to the far, empty corner of the common room.
Several minutes passed where Lea could hear nothing but hushed whispers and muffled crying. Much as she liked Lucas, she had to shake her head. “Never lie to a woman you’re sleeping with, Lucas.”
“Good advice. Too bad you’re too naïve to understand it yourself.”
“Excuse me?” Lea turned to see Emmaline standing behind her.
Joining her at the small table without being asked, Emmaline sat and crossed her long legs. Leaning forward, her breasts strained at the thin material of her scooped blouse. For all that the woman had mounds of sex appeal and an unearthly beauty, the frosted hostility in her inky gaze warned one to tread carefully in her presence.
“Your precious Ferin,
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