Free Silken Rapture: Princes of the Underground, Book 2 by Beth Kery Page B

be a great fool, then.”
    Isabel let out a small squeak of shock at the deep, seductive male voice that came from just behind her right shoulder. Aubrey Cane’s gray eyes were directly on her when she turned, although he had obviously been responding to the woman in the skimpy robe. He smiled. Isabel gave a sigh of relief when she saw his teeth were straight and even, the incisors she’d witnessed earlier nowhere in evidence.
    His smile widened, as though he’d perfectly read her thoughts.
    “My Lord,” Jessie said, clearly almost as surprised as Isabel had been by Aubrey’s unexpected presence. “I had not realized…that is…I thought you were organizing the patrols for this evening in the detail room.”
    “I was. Tunnel patrols are off,” Aubrey said smoothly. “I was wondering, Jessie, if you might escort this lovely young woman to the Angelus Salon.”
    “Of course.”
    Isabel started to accompany Jessie, but Aubrey halted her with an upraised hand.
    “Not you,” he said softly to Isabel. He turned his head, finally removing his stare from Isabel’s face. She was relieved. His eyes—his nearness—disturbed her.
    “I will meet you in the Angelus Salon in a moment…Margarite, isn’t it?”
    The auburn-haired woman nodded, her gaze running over Aubrey with a cool gaze that turned warm. She apparently liked what she saw.
    “We will settle our business then,” Aubrey told Margarite.
    The woman’s eyes widened slightly, as though Aubrey had just given her a secret, intimate caress, although Isabel could clearly see they were many feet apart. Margarite’s lips curved and she thrust her breasts against thin fabric, displaying the areolas of her nipples to full advantage. Aubrey Cane didn’t glance downward. His smile seemed to indicate appreciation of Margarite’s gesture, nonetheless.
    He relatched his gaze upon Isabel when Jessie led Margarite away.
    “My name is Aubrey Cane. Are you enjoying your stay at Sanctuary, Isabel?”
    “How do you know my name?”
    He laughed. Isabel almost felt as though she could reach out and touch his charm, it was so thick and tangible. Even so, Aubrey Cane made her wary. Perhaps her skittishness was associated with the fact that she’d watched him making love earlier, and that he’d known of her voyeurism.
    “All the Literati know your name, Isabel. You are our resident celebrity.”
    “I’m your resident prisoner,” she corrected acerbically. Irritation swelled in her when she recognized the truth of her statement, making her bold. “Which reminds me, I need to go find my jailer. I’m pretty much ready to wake up from this nightmare, and they say the best way to do that is just to confront the monster head on, if you know what I mean. Have a good evening, Mr. Cane.” She nodded once briskly and headed down the corridor with the crest above it.
    Aubrey was suddenly in front of her, blocking her path. She’d expected it, but a chill went through her, nonetheless. She’d never seen him move. It was as if he’d just coalesced in the air in front of her.
    He took a step toward her and looked down at her with a heavy lidded stare. She swallowed with effort and forced herself to stand her ground.
    He looked hungry.
    “Do you plan on biting me?” she asked, her fear barely covered by her paper-thin act of bravado.
    “I wish,” he replied quietly. His light eyes roved over her face. “Or perhaps you do.”
    “Don’t kid yourself.”
    He laughed again, his amusement striking her as too rich to be feigned.
    “Let me pass. I will speak to Lord Delraven.”
    Aubrey’s smile faded as he studied her. “Unfortunately, Blaise has left specific instructions that you are the last person he wants to see.”
    “And you follow his every command, is that it? Hail Lord Delraven, the King of the Vampires. I suppose when he orders you to clean his toilet, you ask him if he’d like it done with a sponge or your tongue,” she said irritably.
    “I’m not his servant.