Free Unknown by Christina Quinn Page A

more to it than simply following orders. You aren’t a complete blank slate. You have your own wants and desires, such as you want to be adored. You hunger to be the very center of your lover’s universe because that’s what they are to you.” His voice was low and calming. I found my mouth suddenly dry. I reached for the wine glass once more and took another sip.
    “I… is that what you’re offering me?”
    “It’s what you already are to me, Autumn. I didn’t stop watching you just because I was told I couldn’t have you. Yesterday wasn’t the first time I watched you dancing. I meant what I said, I need you to be mine.”
    I swallowed. “So you’ve been stalking me?”
    “Yes, isn’t that what predators do? And what is a vampire if not a predator.” I pursed my lips at his nonchalant honesty. My hands slid to my lap and pressed the hem of my skirt between my thumb and forefingers. “Don’t pretend as though this isn’t what you want. I can smell your desire, Autumn.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. He put the phone to his ear and said. “It’s me, the Kobe filet mignon, with glazed carrots…medium rare, and instead of potatoes, broccoli…No…Yes, another canister.”—his lips twitched—“And have Erin fire Sam.” With a small devious smile he lowered the phone from his ear.
    “So you own this restaurant?”
    “Elizabeta gave it to me in the eighties to placate me last time we were stuck here.”
    “Oh…I wo uld have rather had the chicken.” I shifted in my chair and he smirked.
    “You’ll need the iron and protein in the red meat. I’d hate for you to become anemic.”
    “W-why?” — Really? You need that spelled out for you? I thought you were getting your Ph.D. —“O-oh, feeding you.” He nodded.
    A moment later, a waiter came in with a small cart which he parked next to the table. He set a plate with an ornate cloche over it in front of me. On the cart was what looked to be a warming tray that was filled with water. Floating in that water were two glass canisters filled with what I could only assume was blood. The waiter took one out and unscrewed the top. He filled Aleksi’s glass before returning the canister to the water. Aleksi and I thanked the waiter and I started eating. It wasn’t as odd as I thought it would be, I guess that was because he was eating too in a way. He also had a certain satisfied smirk on his face that delighted me. Things were normal, more normal than they had been even with Garrett. He was gentlemanly, staying on his side of the table for the duration of the meal.
    But the sweet normalcy didn’t last. He reached across the table and traced over my fingers with his. He almost looked living, his skin had that pinkish hue behind it like humans with that peaches and cream skin tone. My heart jumped up in my chest at the touch.
    “We shoul—” He stopped mid-word and his smile fell. He let out a long heavy sigh and his mouth set into a hard line. Reclined as he was in the chair, he looked like a petulant teenager.
    The door opened, beyond it the restaurant was pitch black. Fear caused my heartbeat to speed up further. I thought my heart would actually fall out of my mouth and onto the plate before me. A tall woman, with pale white skin and large blue eyes, strode into the room. Her hair was Titian red and pulled into an elegant chignon and she wore diamonds around her wrists and throat. About her shoulders was a mink stole and wrapped around her curvaceous form was a black dress which accentuated her wide hips and small waist. Her presence commanded the room. There was no doubt in my mind that this was Elizabeta.
    “Oh, Aleksi.” She sighed in a sweet little voice. “What am I supposed to do with you?” She snapped her fingers and the door closed. “Look at you all pink and blood glutted, someone thought to warm some pretty mortal girl’s bed tonight.” She let out a soft sigh and grabbed Aleksi’s bun and