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"Would you like a cup of so hot?" Emma asked Violet "Or ood, or--" Violet stiffened as the sound of an engine announced someone’s arrival out front She raised wide eyes to E to decide whether or not to bolt A single car door opened and then closed after a brief delay
"That will be Duncan," E Duncan, had agreed it would be best to use his real name It was unlikely, but if Violet ever happened on his picture somewhere and remembered him, she’d know they’d been honest with her The most probable outcome of today, however, was that Violet wouldn’t re met Duncan or any other vampire Ten days or ten years from now, she could buer to her But just in case so her his real nan of faith
Duncan knocked on the screen door instead of using the doorbell Ehbor coreet hi not to let Violet see any of the stress she was feeling about tonight’s encounter
Duncan sered as a punch of sheer lust hit her She’d left the residence only a few hours ago, but it was as if she hadn’t seen hies He winked at her and she blushed, feeling like a schoolgirl with her first crush
"Good evening, E her nerves with velvet sheathed fangs He was looking very handsoht, however, he’d dressed very intentionally, balancing trusted professional with sy dark tan khakis that fit far better than those she’d seen on other ht rear end wonderfully A black turtleneck and wool blazer topped off the look, with his neatly tied back hair adding a touch of Boheinative drone here You want to talk about vampires? This is a man ill not only listen, he’ll believe you
"Duncan," she said, feeling wicked and wanting to be sure he was experiencing the sa of desire she did "Good of you tocome" His eyes filled with heat and E her wish they had ten ainst the wall, just a taste to slake her thirst But, no She banked her lust, storing it for later, when they’d be alone again in that big bed
In the roohed softly, and Emma nearly jumped at the timely reminder of why they were all here She opened the screen door and said, "Co whether the invitation was necessary or not Phoebe was a vampire, after all, so otten to ask earlier if a vampire’s residence was sacrosanct like a hu around with vas she needed to know
Duncan stared at Eh the open door The scent of her arousal filled his senses and he was instantly hard He forced his body to relax, using every bit of control learned in over a century and a half of living Still, to ainst Emma’s breasts as he went by her He heard her sharp intake of breath and smiled to himself She wasn’t the only one who could tease
"Duncan," Emma said, somewhat breathlessly, he was pleased to note "This is my friend Violet" She walked over to stand next to the other woman as seated "I told you about her"
"Yes, of course," Duncan said He didn’t offer to shake hands immediately, but slipped off his blazer and tossed it onto a nearby chair He took the chair closest to where Violet sat on the sofa, near enough that he could reach out and touch her, but not so near that she would feel overwhelmed by him
"A pleasure tohis hand "I hope I can help"
Violet didn’tPretty underneath all that stress, and a complete submissive He knehat Victor had seen in her, knehy she’d been chosen He didn’t like it, but he understood She sat there, frozen, like a soft, gray h she couldn’t possibly kno apt that description was Duncan re her do this her way and take her ti froered to search his eyes, and then back to his hand She reached out slowly and let hiers around hers He didn’t shake her hand, but held it loosely, radiating safety and war her that he meant her no harm
Silent tears filled Violet’s eyes as she relaxed for as probably the first time since Victor had messed with her mind Even a cursory probe told Duncan that the dead va wohts Maybe he’d been in a hurry Maybe he’d intended to coh job of it Or, more likely, he’d sie he did to the humans he toyed with
Duncan reached out and brushed away a tear that had escaped to roll down Violet’s cheek "It will all be well, Violet You’ll see"
She nodded and bent her head, wiping her eyes quickly before raising her head and fir her chin defiantly "What do you need e When Emma had first told him about Violet, he’d assumed she was a broken wo But that wasn’t true She ht be naturally submissive, but that didn’t necessarily mean weak It was far more likely that she’d survived as well as she had because she was stronger than Victor expected Herto the truth, despite the cost to her sanity
Duncan squeezed her fingers slightly "Just tell ently "I’ll do the rest"