The other problem in my life is Dimitri. He’s the one who killed Natalie, and he’s a total badass. He’s also pretty good-looking. Okay – more than good-looking. He’s hot – like, the kind of hot that makes you stop walking on the street and get hit by traffic.
You kill me, Rose,” he said melodramatically. “Every day is agony without you. Empty. Alone. I pine for you, wondering if you’re even still alive.
For a moment, I was captivated as I studied them side by side. My mother: the perfect picture of guardian excellence and decorum. My father: always capable of achieving his goals, no matter how twisted the means. Uneasily, I began to understand how I’d inherited my bizarre personality.
Adrian gave me a look that said I was wasting his time. “Because Jet sounds badass.
No, thank you,” said Adrian. “These hands don’t sully themselves with fighting.
You are an exceptional, talented, and brilliant young woman. Do not ever let anyone make you feel like you’re less. Do not ever let anyone make you feel invisible. Do not let anyone – not even a teacher who constantly sends you for coffee – push you around.
Centrum permanebit.
Rose. Roza. Open your eyes.” I’ve never heard heard his voice so strained, so frantic. “Don’t go to sleep on me. Not yet.
Love fades. Mine has.
He’s hot like, the kind of hot that makes you stop walking on the street and get hit by traffic.
Wild and disrespectful? Who the hell are you anyway? Outsourced help?
That’s ridiculous.” Especially the part about Christian being manly.
Who was I to do this? I was Adrian Ivashkov. And I was about to kick some ass.
My nails dug into his back, and he trailed his lips down the edge of my chin, down the center of my neck. He kept going until he reached the bottom of the dress’s V-neck. I let out a small gasp, and he kissed all around the neckline, just enough to tease.
I’d have to kill Dimitri for real this time and lose any chance I might have to bring back my prince. Damn. It’s a good thing I work well under pressure.
So many details came into focus. The shape of his lips, the line of his neck. “I’m not dangerous,” I breathed. He brought his face toward mine. “You are to me.” And somehow, against all reason, we were kissing. I closed my eyes, and the world around me faded.
Do you love him?
Even now, despite Angeline’s watchfulness, she’d occasionally oscillate between random topics, like how shepherd’s pie wasn’t a pie at all and why it was pointless for her to take class in typing when technology would eventually develop robot companions to do it for us.
Emerald green eyes studied us from a face that could have been sculpted by one of the classical artists I so admired. Shocked, I dismissed the comparison as soon as it popped into my head. This was a vampire, after all. It was ridiculous to admire him the way I would some hot human guy.
It’s okay,” said Adrian breezily. He rested his arm casually on the table. “I don’t really need a job or extra money. After Rose and I get married, the kids and I’ll just live off of her guardian paycheck.