like very much ta speak with her?”
“It’ll be my honor, sweetheart.”
“And tell her I willna appreciate it if she puts me off again.”
She could tell Radbourne bit back a grin because his amber eyes twinkled with mirth. “I shall toss her over my shoulder and personally deliver her to you in the morning, Sorcha. Will that do?”
She couldn’t help but giggle at that particular image.
Blast, why didn’t Lord Radbourne make her heart leap?
“That will do very nicely, sir.”
Chapter Seven
Alec managed to unfold the Hythe’s groom from the ducal carriage and left him to sleep off the remnants of whatever Sorcha had used to drug the poor lad. For a moment he watched the young man’s chest rise and fall with each breath he took in his deep slumber.
Finally, filled with the most bizarre sense of jealousy, Alec stalked back toward the castle. He snorted at his own foolishness. Jealous of a poor, uneducated English groom.
But the man would sleep peacefully, and Alec was certain that particular luxury was not in his immediate future. Not after he’d kissed Sorcha. Not when all he could think about was tasting her on his tongue. Not when he needed every bit of strength he had to keep from marching up to her room and finishing what they started that evening.
But that would be the most foolish thing he could do. She was Sorcha, for God’s sake. He’d known her since her birth. And, despite her wholly intoxicating and innocent kisses, she wanted someone else, something else. And he’d gone down that road before. He knew how that particular story ended, and it wasn’t in his favor.
He stalked toward the garden path and glared up at the night sky. The damned moon was nearly full. A few more nights and those drooling beasts she seemed so enamored with would transform into actual snarling wolves.
After this evening’s debacle, he could well imagine her finding a way to place herself directly in their path. And then… well, then she’d be forever lost. No longer the sweet, innocent he adored, the lass he cared so much for.
Alec couldn’t allow that to happen. But he also couldn’t allow himself to care for her anymore than he already did.
Ruin lay down that road. He needed to think. He needed to feed. Butcher shop in the village. Sorcha’s melodic voice echoed in his ears. Damn it all to hell. He’d already determined that there was no one in the tavern he could take from. So he didn’t really have a choice, did he?
Besides, he really should retrieve the horse he’d ridden into Folkestone and keep Bexley from wondering what had happened to him.
Alec looked over his shoulder to make certain no one was about in the garden. Certain no one would see his rapid disappearance, he bolted off in the direction of the village and that damned butcher shop.
He grumbled to himself as he picked the lock of the darkened building, searching for his evening meal. He could have been at home where he could partake of all the wenches he wanted at Brysi, the club for those of his kind. It was a veritable fountain, with Cyprians lining up to share the pleasure that came with coupling with a vampyre. There was no desperation in those women’s eyes. There was no fear. No enchantment was needed to get one of them to accept him. In fact, he’d become something of a legend at Brysi, known for his stamina and the amount of pleasure he could give a wench in exchange for her life force. But here he was, stuck in Godforsaken nowhere and forced to scour a butcher shop to find sustenance.
He shivered lightly. Lamb had been one of his favorite meals when he was alive. But not anymore. Thankfully, everything he needed was right there before him. Except for a warm body to drink from. Perhaps that was better, because the very thought of a warm body made him think of Sorcha.
Sorcha… What would she think if she could see him now? Standing in a butcher shop, partaking of his evening meal. Hell, the chit had come up with the idea. And it was bloody brilliant. He wouldn’t have to face the conscience of a single whore. Nor that of a single widow. He wouldn’t deflower a single innocent.
But the very thought of Sorcha made his body react. He’d known as soon as he’d volunteered to give her first kiss that he was dicked in the nob. She should