Chapter 30

It was tempting to drown my sorrows, but that would have taken a whole hell of a lot of liquor. Vampires can consume alcohol - and just about every other human comestible, as far as I know, contrary to popular belief - but it has a very minimal effect on us. I'd have to drink the whole top shelf to get wasted.
My cell phone rang. Recognizing the ring tone, I picked it up to assure Ariana that I'd made it here okay and everything was fine. I may have been a bit harsh when I said she'd deserted me. When she does remember to poke her head up out of her cocoon of mutual adoration with her werewolf, she's still the same caring friend she always has been. We chatted for a moment, and I heard her giggle at the other end of the line then she hurriedly said good night. I sent my love to Jackson and hung up. I'd give the guy this much - Ari had hardly ever giggled before she'd met him. As long as he kept her this happy, I wasn't going to bitch too much about having a lot less girl time.
It was maybe ten minutes later when someone finally slid onto the stool next to mine. I glanced over, hoping it was Kaz back again, but it wasn't. Instead, it was a different tall, gorgeous male and I smothered a sigh. I hadn't even played the tables and already I seemed to be winning tonight. This one was as blond as Kaz had been dark, with a short, cropped haircut, a perfect tan and lean, patrician features. He really stood out in this place because instead of the requisite black, he wore a tan silk suit that fit him far too perfectly to have been off the rack.
After he'd ordered a shot of top-shelf scotch, he turned to me and smiled. "So, are the tables here any good?" The accent was crisp and Oxfordian, the voice a rich, mellifluous tenor.
"I don't know," I replied. "I just arrived tonight. Haven't had time to play any games yet."
"Ah, someone else with jet lag." He thanked the bartender, picked up his glass and sipped, his eyes closing in appreciation. "Nectar of the gods."
"Well, it's only a two-hour time change from Chicago, so I can't really claim jet lag," I replied. "But I just wasn't in the mood to gamble tonight." Not on cards or dice anyway.
"Oh?" One dark blond eyebrow lifted. Beneath them, his eyes were a swirl of browns, ranging from amber to chocolate. "If you're not into gambling, what brings you to Las Vegas?"
I shrugged. "Not sure." I could have stared into those fathomless eyes for days. For the second time in one night my body responded to a total stranger by softening and creaming. My nipples peaked and rasped against my bra, and I had to cross my legs to ease the ache between them. "Change of scenery, I guess."
"I know what you mean," he said with a sigh.
"So are you just here for the scenery too?" I asked hopefully, wondering if he'd like the view from my room - or rather in my room, drapes closed, me naked on the bed.
He shook his head. "Business, I'm afraid." He smiled, showing a row of gleaming white teeth that were, maybe, just the tiniest bit pointed. Was he an immortal of some sort too? More moisture flooded me at the thought. Sex with other immortals could be a lot more fun than sex with humans. It was nice not to have to hide what I am. "But that doesn't start until tomorrow morning," he continued, his eyes boring into mine. "I'm on my own tonight."
"Would you rather not be?" I held his gaze, letting him see the blatant invitation in my own.
He set his empty glass down on the bar and held out his hand. "Your room or mine?"
By the time we reached the elevator, it was all I could do not to jump him right out in the open. Something about this guy tripped triggers I hadn't known I had. He just stood there, outwardly stoic, but I swear his swirled brown eyes practically smoldered. The elevator was packed, so I was pressed right up against his tall, hard physique, and the scent of him had my fangs lengthening and my pussy soaked. My breasts ached almost as if they were bruised - they wanted that badly to be touched and sucked.
"What's your name?" he whispered. The heat of his breath on my ear sent a shiver all the way down my spine. "Mine's Tyran Cole, Ty for short."
"Dani DuBois," I whispered back. Good. Now I knew what to scream when I came, which I figured would be about ten seconds after we were inside my room. We'd decided on mine because it was closer.
When the elevator doors dinged and opened on the fifth floor - I don't like heights, which is a really odd quirk for a vampire, but there you go - we nudged our way to the front of the pack and took off down the hall at a walk, so fast it was damn near a run. My key card was in the front pocket of my jeans, and I had it in my hand well before we reached the door. It took three swipes to get the little light to turn green. I was shaking that badly.
As soon as the door popped open, one of us pushed the other through, and we practically catapulted ourselves onto the big bed at the center of the room. Our mouths were fused together by the time we hit the mattress.
Ty's hands seemed to be everywhere as he unsnapped my bra and peeled my black sweater up over my head. I have bright red curly hair that falls to my waist, so it tends to snag in everything. When Ty pulled my bra and sweater off, one of the bra clips pulled my hair and I yelped, though it was more in surprise than any actual pain. Ty immediately stopped frantically undressing me and pulled me close for a long, gentle kiss.
"So sorry, love. Didn't mean to be careless." He dropped tiny kisses on my cheeks and nose as he spoke.
"It's okay," I murmured. "I was just startled. I actually have a pretty high pain tolerance."
"Mmm. Most vampires do. Doesn't mean you're into pain as a recreational sport." He gently brushed my hair behind my ear and suckled my earlobe.