Indebted would it take to hold you down?” I asked Kyros.
His gaze was riveted on my neck. He was almost salivating. No matter what he said, part of this obsession with me was about blood. If he tasted like a strawberry mojito, I may look at him the same way.
His hands wrapped around my waist, large thumbs extending beneath the bottom the crop top to rest on the skin between the two sections of my outfit. I narrowed my eyes but didn’t make an issue of it.
“Eight of the strongest females,” he eventually said.
I shivered as his thumb stroked small circles on my stomach. “I want ten female Indebted outside my room for the next three days.”
Gerome laughed. “She really, really doesn’t want to sleep with you, brother. Must have spoken to your other partners.”
“It’s because I stole her heart at seventeen,” Rory interjected.
“What?” Kyros said, hands clamping around my waist.
I glared at Rory. “I just got your ass forgiven.” Knowing the bastard would put his own spin on things, I fessed up. “I met Rory at an opening when I was younger. I was taken with him and he ditched me on the dance floor. The end.”
Rory grinned. “She wanted me.”
“I did until I discovered how badly you’re aging,” I shot back, going for the kill.
The vampire reeled back like I’d slapped him.
Lionel saved the day. “I don’t understand though. She likes your touch. Her heartbeat changes. Her scent changes.”
Ugh, wish I didn’t know that.
A growl filled the air, and I placed a hand on Kyros’s chest.
“She’s comfortable with you,” Neelan added.
I blinked at that.
No, I wasn’t. I—
… Was on his lap, in his lair. We’d been snuggling.
Yeah, okay. I was more comfortable with the vampire. Whatever.
“Can you bite the right place with this?” I gestured at the collar.
Kyros shifted his furious gaze from Rory to my neck. “Yes, but blood will get on it.”
Did I like the dress?
I liked the dress.
Stretching up, I ignored the way Kyros’s gaze dropped to my exposed belly as I flicked open the collar button and struggled with the zipper.
He reached around my back and tugged the zipper down. Inwardly sighing at the presence of his siblings yet again, I drew the crop top overhead, exposing a cute, strappy bralette underneath. The nude garment matched my underwear because I’d had time to prepare for the worst-case scenario this time. And also because Angelica hadn’t provided me any underwear that normal women wore.
Kyros inhaled sharply.
I hoped he was enjoying the fucking show.
Folding my top, I rested it over the armrest.
“I’ve seen her boobs twice now,” Gerome announced.
Rory smirked. “I’m on three.”
I straddled Kyros while they were still quibbling over Basi boob sightings—because straddling their brother was sure to start another round of banter. Loud mouths.
The vampire underneath me vibrated at their comments. His fists curled again, and I reached for one at a time, directing them to my waist. Kyros spread his fingers wide, and I jolted as his thumbs brushed the underside of my breast.
“Stop talking,” Kyros ordered suddenly.
All four of them obeyed.
I murmured, “You should use that trick all the time.”
He shot me a smile, then studied the men surrounding us.
“I have sworn to Miss Tetley that she’ll be safe during the thrall.”
The four brothers listened now, not a grin in sight.
“Do you understand what I’m saying? There will be no games this time. No fuck-ups. Nothing to make her uncomfortable or embarrassed or afraid,” Kyros said, looking at each of them in turn. “That is an order.”
One by one, they bowed their heads.
Kyros turned my face to his, and I flushed, painfully aware of what happened last time we did this. I didn’t want to give his brothers more fuel to tease me.
Darting forward, he pressed his lips to mine, leaving me stunned.
“Ignore them,” he whispered. “I do.”
My chest was pressed against his. I tipped my head to the left, staying in position as Kyros brushed my long hair away, collecting it in a handful on the other side.
I closed my eyes to block out his family.
His kiss at the base of my throat took me by surprise. I gasped and pressed my lips together when Gerome snickered.
Kyros trailed his nose from the tip of my shoulder and up several times, like a human savouring wine in a glass.
His fangs slid into me with a sharp pinch.
I screwed my face up as he drew his first gulp. The pain dissipated, only to be replaced by a familiar pressure in my head.