Single White Vampire by Lynsay Sands Page B

this…
    He lowered his head, breathing in the scent of Kate’s shampoo mingled with the spice and sweetness of her perfume. She smelled vaguely of vanilla, like a rich and luscious dessert or a bowl of ice cream, and he had the sudden mad urge to lick the nape of her neck and…
    Lucern straightened abruptly as he caught hold of his thoughts. Lick her nape? More like bite it. Good Lord, he needed more blood. He’d been rather slack on the consumption end lately. What with Kate’s presence andsuch, he hadn’t been sticking to his usual four pints a day. He’d been running on mostly two—which explained his odd hunger now. He was confusing hunger for Kate’s blood with hunger for her.
    Relieved beyond measure, he smiled widely down at her when she murmured his name. She seemed slightly surprised at his smile, then asked uncertainly, “Is something wrong? You’ve stopped dancing.”
    Lucern peered around, surprised to realize that in his revelation he had stopped moving. He now merely stood in the middle of the dance floor holding her close. Very close. Her breasts, squashed against his chest, were being forced upward out of her gown. And they were very nice breasts. Round and a pale pink flesh tone that spoke of healthy blood. Lucern would have liked to lick his way over those orbs and…
    â€œI have to talk to Bastien,” he gasped. “Now.”
    Releasing her from his tight hold, he started to walk to where Bastien was dancing, then suddenly realized what he was doing. Whirling back to the bewildered Kate, who stood like an abandoned baby in the center of the dance floor, he took her arm and led her back to their table. He then walked around the dance floor, relieved that the music ended just as he reached his brother’s side.
    â€œBastien, after you’ve seen your dance partner back to the table, I need to talk to you outside. At the van,” he said meaningfully.
    â€œSure,” his younger brother said. “Be with you in a moment.”
    Lucern nodded, and Bastien walked Rachel’s sister, who was the maid of honor, back to the head table.
    â€œDid I hear you say you were going out to the van?”
    Lucern turned to find Lissianna behind him. She and Gregory had joined the dance floor just after Lucern and Kate. The couple had been standing nearby, waiting for the next song to start. He wasn’t surprised she’d heard what he said.
    He nodded in answer to her question, and felt it necessary to explain: “I haven’t been feeding enough since Kate arrived.”
    Lissianna nodded in understanding. “Rachel and I will join the two of you. She was saying earlier that, what with preparing for the wedding and everything, she—”
    â€œFine, fine,” Lucern interrupted. He didn’t need the explanation. He was happy to have the women join them. “Go get her, then. Bastien will…Oh. He’s brought her with him.”
    Bastien was leading their new sister-in-law across the floor.
    â€œI’ll keep an eye on Kate, so she doesn’t come out and try to catch you with the debbies in hand,” Greg said lightly as Bastien and the bride arrived. He moved off to invite the editor to dance.
    â€œGood, good.” Lucern didn’t even smile. He just nodded his thanks and ushered the other three out of the reception hall.
    Â 
    Kate relaxed in Greg’s arms the moment they started to move, something she hadn’t been able to do in Lucern’s embrace. She had seen the writer slip outside with his sister, Rachel and Bastien, and suspected they were out there smoking again. In her considered opinion, the man could use it. It would help him relax, surely. The man had been tense throughout the meal, and…Well, she supposed he had just seemed distracted through the meal—not that she’d let it bother her. She’d been busy talking to his mother and sister and listening to the amusing