“You have,” Lucien agreed.
They locked eyes for long moments before Cosmo broke their silent renewed vow of allegiance by saying, “She’ll not be easily tamed.”
For the first time since seeing his friend, Lucien smiled. “This is very true.”
Cosmo smiled back. “How was she last night?”
“Untamable.”
Cosmo threw his head back and laughed.
Thus ended their tense conversation.
Lucien turned into the driveway of the home he’d purchased for Leah three months before, just weeks after she’d ended her last relationship.
He’d broken his own practice and searched for it himself. He gave Sally his requirements and attended the viewings personally, twenty of them, before he found what he wanted to provide for Leah. Then he’d hired a team of decorators to fit it to his exacting specifications.
When he’d met Edwina there just days before to give her the keys to her new home and place of employment, she’d been stunned at what she saw.
Edwina had been housekeeper to his acting concubines for forty years. She knew Lucien had a reputation for being particularly generous with them. He kept them well while they serviced him and left them well when he’d released them. All vampires did the same but, either miserly or unable financially, they didn’t do it as Lucien did because he was not miserly and he was far from financially unable.
But a six-bedroom mansion on a fifteen acre plot was beyond even Lucien’s pale.
He hit the garage door opener on his visor and slid his sleek black Porsche Turbo next to the equally sleek, black Cayenne he’d purchased for Leah.
Edwina, likely curious at hearing his car pull in the garage, met him by the kitchen door, her face startled.
“Lucien,” she breathed.
“Edwina,” he replied in greeting, not pausing but moving beyond her.
“You’re here,” she noted unnecessarily.
He stopped in order to ask where Leah was as he had no desire to go in search of her and turned back to Edwina. “Yes, I am. Where’s Leah?”
He watched her eyes go round before she blurted, “She’s not ready for another feeding! And you can’t be ready for another one either.”
Lucien’s gaze leveled on hers and he watched the color run from her face.
“Sorry. I’m so sorry,” she mumbled, looking away.
“Where’s Leah?” Lucien repeated with ill-concealed impatience.
“In her room.”
Lucien turned immediately toward the stairs.
“Lucien!” Edwina called and with reluctance Lucien turned back. “She’s…” She paused, her face still ashen, her fear fragrancing the room.
“She’s what?” Lucien asked when she did not carry on.
Her body twitched then she continued, “She’s…” and she stopped again.
“Edwina,” Lucien’s voice was a dangerous hiss.
“She’s in a…a…” he watched her swallow before she finished, “she’s in a mood.”
Leah was in a mood. This was excellent news.