Styx felt his body instantly harden. He remembered all too vividly her eyes closing in another sort of pleasure. With a small curse he moved to take a seat across the table. It was that or allowing her to realize her unnerving power over him.
Sensing his presence, Darcy opened her eyes and that caution returned. "What about you?" she demanded.
A hint of annoyance narrowed his gaze. He had already assured her that he would not force her to share blood. He was unaccustomed to having his honor questioned.
"I have already eaten."
"Oh." She ducked her head as she concentrated on the food before her. "You don't have to stay, you know. I promise not to try to escape for at least the next twenty minutes."
"Are you attempting to be rid of me?"
"You must have better things to do than watch me eat."
Styx frowned. "What is troubling you?"
She never lifted her head as she continued to eat. "I'm being held against my will by a vampire. A pack of werewolves is lurking outside hoping to snatch me. And to top it off, I'm missing work, which means I don't get paid. Don't you think any poor woman would be a little tense?"
Styx was forced to concede she did have a point. Although he had gone to an extraordinary effort to ease her confinement, there was no denying that she was his prisoner.
How could he hold her to blame for not being entirely happy with the situation?
"Perhaps," he muttered, leaning back in his seat to watch her polish off the last of the lasagna and two slices of bread. "There is more if you wish."
She gave a wry smile as she tossed aside her napkin. "Good lord, no. I'm stuffed. What I need now is a long walk."
Styx rose from the table to glance out the window in puzzlement. "The elements would not trouble me, but it is far too cold for a human."
She moved to stand beside him, completely unaware of his body's reaction to the heat and scent of her.
"Oh, look, it's snowing."
He glanced down to discover her expression softened with delight. "Angel, you cannot go outside with no shoes or coat."
"I suppose not." A wistful smile touched her lips. "I love snow. It always makes the world look so fresh and new."
By the gods, he was the master of all vampires. Demons around the world quaked at the mention of his name. There was none who would stand in his path. And yet, the slightest hint of longing from this woman had him scrambling to please her.
It was downright pathetic.
Swallowing a sigh, he reached down to sweep her off her feet and cradled her against his chest.
Darcy gave a startled squeak as she clutched at the gaping edges of her robe. "What are you doing?"
"I believe I might have a solution that will please you," he assured her as he left the kitchen and headed down the hall to the far wing of the house.
"Styx, put me down."
"Not yet." He opened the door to the new addition and set Darcy on her feet before reaching to switch on the lights. "Here we are."
Her eyes widened with delight as she glanced around the glass enclosure that offered an unobstructed view of the falling snow.
"A solarium," she breathed, turning to offer him an enchanting smile. "It's beautiful."
"It's not entirely finished. Viper plans to surprise his mate once it is completed."
"Wow." She gave a soft laugh. "A very generous gift."
Styx allowed a smile to touch his own lips. "He mentioned something about an untimely interruption in another solarium that he intended to correct. I didn't probe further."