Relentless (Vampire Awakenings #11) - Brenda K. Davies Page 0,55

person is trustworthy?”

“He’s my brother-in-law.”

“Great,” Dante said. “More brothers.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

It was almost eleven thirty when Cassidy finished her last song of the night. She smiled as she descended the stage to a raucous chorus of applause and whistles. A group of young guys, out celebrating their friend's upcoming marriage, entered the bar about an hour ago.

They weren’t the typical crowd for Addy’s, but they’d become her biggest fans. Many of them stood near the stage with their drinks in hand. However, the soon-to-be groom was propped in a booth with a glass of water. She doubted he would remember much of this night.

She headed toward where Dante sat at a table closer to the bar. He’d entered the bar before she started singing and hadn’t left. Kyle was giving him drinks without a hassle, but Julian and Aida had stayed for longer than usual.

“Can I buy you a drink?” one of the guys asked.

“No, thank you,” Cassidy said and went to step around the young man.

Before she could get around him, another guy blocked her way. Cassidy tried not to roll her eyes as the man swayed drunkenly toward her. “I know my friend over here is an ugly SOB, but I’m pretty cute. Why don’t you let me buy you a drink?”

“No, thank you,” Cassidy said.

Dante rose from the table, and if the look on his face were any indication, it wouldn’t matter how drunk these guys were tonight, he would beat every one of them bloody.

“Excuse me,” Cassidy said and pushed past them before things got ugly.

“Aw, come on, beautiful. We’re only looking to have a little fun,” the first guy called after her.

Cassidy didn’t look back as she approached Dante. He’d taken a few steps away from his chair. Hostility simmered in his eyes when they met hers before returning to the men.

Cassidy stopped before him and rested her hand on the table. When his gaze met hers again, the corners of his mouth lifted his smile. That smile and the twinkle in his eyes stole her breath. Before she knew what she was doing, she rose onto her toes to kiss him.

Dante rested his hands on Cassidy’s hips and drew her closer as the kiss deepened. It was so easy to become swept up in the desire she effortlessly evoked in him. He forgot where they were and the patrons surrounding them as he tasted her. The brush of her breasts against his chest, her smell, and her tongue stroking his became the center of his world as blood flooded his cock.

A loud clearing of the throat and a glass banging against something jerked Cassidy back to reality. A blush burned up her neck and into her face when she turned to discover Kyle standing across the table from them with a fresh drink for Dante in front of him.

“I thought you might like your shift drink,” he said to Cassidy.

“Oh, ah… yeah… thank you,” she stammered.

He stared between her and Dante before shaking his head and walking away. Music came over the speakers as Rick turned on the radio behind the bar.

“You were amazing tonight,” Dante said as he reluctantly released Cassidy. He tried not to tug at his jeans as his erection softened.

“Thank you.”

“Have you considered singing for a label?”

“That would be the dream, but I can’t exactly be in the spotlight with what I am.”

Dante couldn’t resist cupping her cheek with his palm when her lashes fell to shadow her eyes. “There has to be something you can do.”

She rested her hand over her heart. “I’m happy as long as I can sing. To me, that’s what matters.”

The fervor of her tone touched something inside him; he rested his hand on her arm as he drew her closer. The only thing he’d ever been passionate about was bringing the missing home, but while he took a lot of joy in reuniting families, it was more of an obsession for him.

After he lost Maya, his need to save others became this relentless, driving compulsion inside him. That force caused him to become a vampire and propelled him out of bed every morning because there was nothing else… until now.

He searched Cassidy’s beautiful blue eyes as he brushed back a strand of hair and tucked it behind her ear. His fingers lingered on her cheek, and he moved slowly so she would have time to turn away from him before he kissed her again.

However, she didn’t turn away. Instead, she stepped closer and kissed him