Free Love at Stake by Victoria Davies

the door. “There’s a laptop in the study. I use technology when I must.”
    “For work?”
    “Exactly.”
    She walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows and had to admit, the man had one damn fine view. She looked to the side, noting the heavy, lightproof curtains pushed into the corners. This place would be a dark tomb during the day. But at night… The city stretched out before her, glittering in the inky darkness.
    “This is not a bar,” she said, looking back at the vampire.
    “No.” He moved to the fully stocked side table. “I keep an apartment in the city for when my position brings me here. It’s more convenient than a long drive.”
    “Impressive.”
    His Cheshire cat smile was back. “Wine?”
    “White,” she said, noting he poured red for himself. Looked like even their taste in drinks differed.
    He joined her at the window and handed her the wineglass. She took a sip while they admired the view of the lit-up skyscrapers and distant bridges.
    “This is rather sneaky,” she said. “Should I feel abducted?”
    He turned back to her, his eyes heating. “If I’d truly abducted you, darling, you wouldn’t still be vertical.”
    She took another sip to calm the heat flooding her cheeks. “Then what am I doing here?”
    He took a step closer. “What do you want to do here?”
    Her gaze dropped to his mouth before she looked resolutely away. “Not you.”
    His laugh surrounded her once more. Feeling off-balance being near him, she left the window and wandered into his living room. The low-backed white couches and hard black lounges didn’t look very tempting. Choosing the couch that looked the least uncomfortable, she dropped down onto it.
    “I thought we could speak without interruption here,” he said, gliding over to her.
    “No,” she said. “You thought I’d be easier to seduce if you could get me to within walking distance of a bed.”
    A smile split his lips. “It’s a good bed.”
    “I’m sure it is,” she said with a snort. “My clothes, however, are staying on.”
    His gaze ran over her. “That still leaves a whole host of possibilities, darling.”
    She took another bracing swallow of wine. “You were going to tell me about the valkyrie.”
    “No, I wasn’t. You just needed an excuse.”
    She scoffed. “Arrogant.”
    “Always.” He settled beside her with a grin. “I’ve had centuries of getting my way.”
    “Think you’ll get me?” Abbey took another sip, unable to believe the words had left her mouth.
    “Yes.”
    She should be offended that he thought she was such a sure thing. “Maybe I’ll be the woman to finally put you in your place.”
    “And where would that be?” he asked, shifting closer. “Under you?”
    His words conjured searing fantasies flashing through her mind. “In your own bed,” she said. “Alone.”
    “Such a pity. I’m far more fun to play with.”
    “Which is exactly the problem. This is a game to you, but it’s my life, my job, you’re trying to screw up.”
    He reached out, running a finger from her elbow to wrist. “Fated Match,” he murmured. “Such a strange place to find a mortal like you.”
    “Like me?”
    “Not many of your kind exist in my world.”
    She shrugged. “I didn’t have much choice. When my mom was bitten I left school. I always figured I’d head back to finish my degree but real life intervened. We lived in a small town where it was hard to hide her more unusual behaviors so we had to move to the city. We both had to work to keep a tiny apartment.”
    “And you learned more about my world.”
    “Vivian needed a receptionist. The money was good since humans who know about supernaturals are in short supply. I fit the bill. It took a few years of saving, but Mom’s remarried and on her feet now, and I have a cute little cubbyhole apartment all to myself. I’ve moved up from just manning the phones at Fated Match and I’ve started making a name for myself in the industry. Vivian can be tough, but I