Free Ensnared: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance by Michelle Fox, Rebecca Rivard

was no one
to help you.”
    I swallowed noisily. “Mom tried. But he was too strong for
her. And I don’t just mean physically—he was just too effing strong. And then
she died.”
    “There was no one else? A relative?”
    “None close by. My dad didn’t get along with his family, and
most of them are either in the Philippines or in California. My aunt tried to
help—Mom’s sister—but it’s hard to get custody from a birth parent. And then we
moved from New York to Washington, DC and no one knew where we were. When I
left, I didn’t tell my aunt because I didn’t want to make her lie to my dad—or
the police. If my dad even called them.”
    “And your father? Where is he now?”
    “I don’t know. A few years ago, I was in DC and I went by
our old apartment, but he was gone. I had nightmares for weeks, thinking he was
in Baltimore looking for me.” I shook my head. “Stupid, right?”
    “I can find him for you.” Remy’s fingers continued their
slow slide over my nape. “Make sure he never hurts you again.”
    I gripped the stem of my glass. I was tempted. So damn
tempted.
    Even now—seven years later—when I saw someone who looked
like my dad, or heard a man with a Filipino accent, my heart kicked into
overdrive.
    But no. I wasn’t that kind of person. Except—“I worry
sometimes. That he’s found someone else to beat on.”
    Remy nuzzled my hair. “I’ll put a man on it. You’ll feel
safer if you know where he is. Tommy Salazar, yes?”
    Somehow I wasn’t surprised he knew my father’s name. “I—all
right. Yes. I would like to know.” And I would feel safer. “But don’t do
anything without telling me, all right?”
    “Very well.”
    “Just like that?” I leaned back so I could see his face.
“You swear you won’t do anything?”
    He moved a shoulder. “This is your decision. But understand
that all I’m promising is that I won’t do anything without your knowledge. I
may take action whether you want me to or not.”
    I shook my head in reluctant admiration. “You’re a tricky son
of a bitch, aren’t you?”
    “You don’t live as long as I have without learning a few
things.”
    I traced the line of his jaw. “I can see I’ll have to watch
myself around you.”
    He just smiled. His hand tightened on my nape, drawing me to
him until I was perched on my chair, leaning into him, our mouths so close I
could feel his lips a hairsbreadth away.
    His tongue slid over the seam of my mouth. “Open to me,” he
murmured.
    My mouth opened and his tongue swept inside. He tasted of red
wine and something uniquely him. Sparkles fizzed through me. I fisted a hand in
his shirt and sucked on his tongue.
    He groaned against my lips. “ Ma petite …”
    “Excuse me. Sir, madam.” The waiter had arrived with my
salad.
    Remy released me and waited until the waiter had gone again.
“You’re strong.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I admire that about
you.”
    I drew a deep breath, my head still swimming from that kiss.
“How do you know? We’ve only known each other three days.”
    “I know. I see it in everything you do. You didn’t let that
bastard steal your smiles. You got out, and you’re going to make something of
yourself. Trust me, I know.”
    “Thanks,” I muttered and picked up my fork, but inside I was
smiling. Remy was so strong. To hear him say that I was, too, was the best
compliment he could’ve given me.
    * * *
    That night, Remy was sweet, almost gentle, as if
trying to make up for all the bad things in my life.
    I could’ve told him he didn’t have to. Like he’d said, I’d got
out. I’d survived, and I was proud that I’d done it on my own. If the price for
that was the occasional nightmare, well, I’d lived through much worse.
    But I enjoyed it all the same.
    As soon as he got back to the hotel, he drew me to the
bedroom and kissed me, over and over until my knees were weak and my brain hazy
with pleasure. Then he undressed me and laid me