He held the bond. At least rinse your mouth out with it, and dab a bit at your throat... then tell them that you ate at a good restaurant at the hotel. But this was what I was trying to tell you, D. I don't like variables. Neither one of us thought about the human food problem. That's why I was so against this -
"All right," she muttered, cutting him off. She didn't want to hear I told you so. "If that's the best you can do, cool." She couldn't focus on that right now and shifted her attention. She sent him a mental note about what she wanted to wear, then looked down at her clothes, and had to admit she was impressed. He'd put her in a pair of low-cut, fawn-suede, flair leg pants that laced up the front where a zipper might be, and a nice pair of Prada mules. Cool. She liked the pants, but they were gonna argue for sure about the top. That she had not asked him for. A tank top was what she'd ordered. She was not sashaying down there in a leather bustier, even though it did match the pants.
"I was gonna give you a silk top, but for the crowd we're meeting, this is better."
"Yeah, right," she muttered, hating the fact that he was probably right - but also knowing that he liked it just as much as the dignitaries would. "Makes me look hoochiefied, Carlos."
He laughed, and she was glad he did. It broke the tension, made his more suave control come to the fore, and he was definitely gonna need that down there.
"My makeup okay?"
He tilted his head to the side and shrugged. "What do I know? I'm just a guy."
"Come on, stop playing."
He chuckled harder and traced her face with one finger. "All right. I liked the look you had yesterday."
She could feel her shoulders drop two inches from relief.
"Bring both the Isis and the dagger," he said, creating a low-slung snakeskin holster for it around her h*ps by placing both of his hands on them.
"They'll let me bring it in the chopper?"
"I think McGuire would appreciate it... and oh, yeah, he told me to tell you he was honored that you liked his castle - do mention that I told you." You'll need the weapons in case one of the females attacks.
"All right, baby," she said, her eyes narrowed. But if one of those bitches rushes me, it's on.
Damali held Carlos's arm as they followed the butler to the wide deck off the dining room, her eyes scanning their surroundings as they passed through the elaborate rooms. A predator could be anywhere. As soon as the thought entered her mind, she could feel Carlos's bicep tense.
"G'evening," McGuire said, standing as the couple entered and the butler quietly slipped away.
"G'evening Master McGuire," Damali said after Carlos nodded, using her most courteous voice. He, too, was dressed in combat fatigues, matching black safari hat, and black shades. She glanced at his mate, Evelyn, her white silk Ellen Tracy pantsuit fluttering in the wind, and wondered how the female vamp still existed. But up in the chopper, she could be an asset. "Evelyn, good evening. Thank you for hosting us here. Our stay has been lovely."
Damali slipped out of Carlos's light hold and slid into the seat he held out for her.
"Good evening, Mistress Rivera," Evelyn said, but there was no threat in her tone as the female vampire moved closer to her. "I am so glad to have you grace our humble house."
Damali glanced at Carlos and then toward McGuire. This was not what she'd expected.
"Lady McGuire," Carlos said, taking her hand, kissing the back of it slowly, while looking up into her eyes. He held her gaze for a moment, then let her hand fall away. "Thank you for enduring any disruption to your household that our impromptu visit may have caused."
"The pleasure was all mine," she breathed, smiling at him, and then giving Damali a sidelong glance. "You must be starved." Evelyn motioned for the butler, and he immediately brought two large decanters and fresh goblets.
Damali held up a hand and begged off breakfast. "I will feast after the hunt," she said smoothly. "I like to stay... hungry when so much excitement perfumes the air." She smiled. "Makes the feed taste so much better. Besides, Carlos loves it so when I suffer waiting for him."
This seemed to appease the lady of the house, because Evelyn gave her a sly pout. "Ah, Councilman Rivera, she's delicious."
Damali looked at the master of the house out of the corner of her eye. An expression of utter appreciation spread across his face. There weren't many vamps who could control the hunger so well. But she had to give them the impression that she was so much more than an average vamp.
"You know," Evelyn finally murmured, easing in closer, "we ladies should get to know one another, since our husbands are getting along so well."
Carlos and McGuire were now deeply entrenched in talk about the upcoming hunt. She wished she had baby Isis in her hand.
"Yes, I agree," Damali said, pleasantly. Her mind worked on a strategy as she stared into Evelyn's gorgeous but deadly eyes. She could feel the vamp trying to siphon her for information. Okay, so if that's how she wanted to play. Offering Evelyn a bit of juicy insider gossip, Damali laid a trap to form an alliance, but to also let the female know that she could take her, if Evelyn tried her.
"You know," Damali said in a conspiratorial murmur, "Carlos made me after he was turned council level, and - "
"What?" Evelyn sat back in her chair, all conversation at the table stopped. Then she lowered her eyes and her voice became tense with fear. "Mistress... I didn't know. Please forgive my insolence."