My inner muscles clenched tightly around Arys’ cock, forcing him over the edge of climax. He came hard, coating my insides with the warmth of his release. He moaned and licked at the wound Harley had left in my neck. It sent a shiver down my spine.
I held him tightly to me, unwilling to let go immediately. Every spasm was delightful as the sensations of orgasm slowly subsided. I gasped for air, trying to catch my breath. I tried so hard to savor the moment. It wasn’t long before doubt crept in. Would Arys still make love to me like this after I killed his sire?
I banished the thought, refusing to allow anything to disrupt the heady afterglow we shared. I would deal with Arys’ reaction when the time came. Until then, it wasn’t worth my worry.
Chapter Seventeen
Cheesecake and coffee … was there anything quite so soothing? Well, maybe chocolate and liquor but the cheesecake ran a close second. I shoveled another forkful into my mouth and sighed. Delicious.
Kylarai and Shaz didn’t seem to share my enthusiasm for the rich dessert. They both stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen that expression on their faces, and I highly doubted it would be the last.
The three of us sat around the kitchen table at my place. I was finally starting to get used to thinking of it as mine. I’d Lysoled the hell out of the table, but I still blushed when I thought about what Arys and I had done there. It was our little secret.
“So, if you don’t want us to talk you out of this foolery, why are you telling us about it?” Kylarai asked, pointing at me accusingly with her fork. “So we can start writing your eulogy?”
“Nope.” I sipped my coffee and beamed a brilliant smile at Ky, receiving a half-assed glare in response. “I just wanted to tell you. You guys are my best friend and my mate. Would you really rather I not tell you? Just for the record, I’m not asking you to back me. I wouldn’t do that.”
“You couldn’t ask me not to,” Shaz spoke up, pinning me with a steely jade stare.
His dessert plate sat empty before him. His crossed arms and stiff posture was only a slight indication of the wolf that paced within him.
I nodded knowingly. “I’d expected as much from you.” I had to smile. I adored my white wolf.
“If you’re really determined to kill Harley, really kill him, then I’m going to be there.
That f**ker bit me. If you’re going in to finish him, I want a piece of the action. And, as much as I hate to say this, I have to: What about Arys?”
I’d been pretty sure that Shaz wouldn’t protest the destruction of the vampire who’d been a royal pain in the ass since his arrival in town. The night Harley and Shaz had tangled was still crystal clear in my memory. When I saw Harley sink those deadly fangs into Shaz, I’d lost it. That’s when I had my shot. I could have killed him then. If Arys hadn’t stopped me… But, he wouldn’t this time.
“Arys doesn’t know. And, he’s not going to. Not until it’s already been done.” I took another bite of cake, paying extra close attention to how creamy and smooth it was as it virtually melted in my mouth. I didn’t take the time to appreciate things like this anymore. Such a shame.
“Wait,” Kylarai leaned forward on the table, her fork forgotten. “Isn’t there some risk to Arys by killing Harley? They’re bound. And more importantly, won’t he be super pissed?”
“It’s not going to take Arys out, too, if that’s what you mean. But, it’s highly likely that he’ll sense it the moment Harley goes. If he’s pissed, well, too bad. My every instinct tells me I have to do this. Arys stopped me once and regretted it. He’ll get over it. And, if he doesn’t, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”
Kylarai shook her head in disapproval, her brunette ponytail bouncing. “You’re in over your head, Lex. Harley owns The Wicked Kiss. What do you expect to happen with the nightclub? Not to mention the employees and clientele.”
“Well,” I drew the one word out, looking back and forth between the two of them.
“That’s where the money Raoul left to me comes in handy. It’s also where you come in Ky. If you’re willing.”
I explained my plan to have Kale take over as owner, with me as a silent partner.
Shaz nodded his approval while Kylarai continued to look grim.
“What do you want me to do?” She looked as if she expected me to drop a bomb on her.
“Nothing too drastic. Just hook me up with a lawyer that can make Kale’s take-over legal on paper.”
She pursed her lips and regarded me with a thoughtful expression. I waited patiently, my fork suspended in midair. I was hoping she could pull the legal strings. It was certainly not my domain of expertise.
“My office doesn’t handle that kind of thing.” With a sigh, she relented and added,
“But, there is this one guy, a werewolf, in the city. I met him once at a convention. I could ask him about it.”
I beamed at her, delighted. “That’s all I ask. Thank you, Ky. I really appreciate this.”