Free Blood Wicked by Sharon Page Page A

her fury succeeded in doing was to widen his grin to a completely dazzling smile. Deep, seductive lines bracketed his mouth. “You have a problem with trust.”
    “I
don’t
trust you—” She broke off as something soft brushed over her wrist. A long, sensual caress that sent hershoulders quivering foolishly and made the fine hairs on her nape tingle. “No, don’t do this.
Please
.”
    “You
can
trust me,” he murmured and the silky wash of his voice over her cheek brought a nonsensical flood of heat to her cunny. “I would never hurt you. But darling, I have to ensure you don’t run away.”
    The lock engaged with a soft
click
. What man with shackles in his hand would actually listen to a woman? And she was captured.
    The iron band was lined with velvet. It circled her wrist snugly enough to make her nerves explode with awareness but it wasn’t tight enough to hurt. These cuffs were obviously meant for erotic play, not enforcement of the law.
    And what had she done while he’d clasped it around her captured wrist, fool that she was? She’d whimpered with arousal. Instinctively she did trust him, after how gentle he’d been with Sarah.
    “I never take advantage of a woman, Miss Dare. No matter what the circumstance. This is just to ensure you are still here when I get back.”
    She tried to pull free, lashing out with her booted feet at the same time. She kicked his shins. He didn’t even wince. He merely fed the other cuff, and the chain that attached them, through a large metal eyelet fixed to the wall of the carriage.
    “What is that for?”
    “I’ve had to capture things before,” he said carelessly.
    “Unwilling women?”
    “No, something less dangerous. Bloodthirsty demons.”
    With lightning speed, he efficiently snapped the cuff around her other wrist. The chain was only a foot in length, which meant her arms were secured back behind her head. She wrenched furiously, trying to break free.
    He cocked his head, admiring his work. With her arms drawn back, her bosom was thrust ahead, straining against thedemure gray silk of her dress. “You can’t pull the back of the carriage off, Miss Dare. Demons have tried. I learned how to reinforce the vehicle after a few of them escaped.”
    “But why do you capture demons? Aren’t you one yourself?”
    “Not yet,” he answered, which was hardly an answer at all.
    He had spoken of demons. She had her own—and being trapped, unable to defend herself was one.
    She was completely dressed, and her pelisse buttoned up to her throat. But she felt exposed and vulnerable. As well as wicked—and terribly aroused. She must be ten times a fool to feel anything but infuriated.
    She expected him to fondle and stroke her because she couldn’t stop him, because she felt as though she was served up for his pleasure.
    But he didn’t. He had put her in this position, entirely his captive, and all he did was bow. “Stay still a moment, love. I have to talk to Julian. He followed us here.” His silvery gaze held hers. “You will have to be careful around Julian, love.”
    Careful around
Julian!
    “If he finds out you are the succubus the vampire council has been looking for, he’ll take you to them. And you don’t want that, believe me.”
    Vampire council? This was insane. “I hate
you
,” she whispered. But she feared it wasn’t him she hated; it was how much her body desired him. “I hate needing you for Sarah. But I am indebted to you forever for helping her. So if you want me locked up in your carriage, I have no choice but to do what you want.”
    He winked, the wretch. Then he disappeared out the door. The carriage rocked as he jumped down to his drive.
    Heath found Julian in his study, sprawled in a leather chair and smoking a cheroot. Naked, because Julian had shape shifted and flown there.
    Heath held up his hand before the vampire could question him. “I know. You want to know what I’m doing, because you must report to the council. Very well.