Dance in the Dark Read Online Free

part of the reason that the Desrosiers territory was one of the wealthiest.
    Leaving the window, he strode back to the elevator—and halted halfway, the glitter of gemstones just catching his eye.  He knelt and reached under the couch, picking up a ruby bracelet he knew well; he had given it to Rostislav two years ago as a birthday present. It was a long standing joke between them that he always gave Rostislav such nonsensical, ostentatious gifts.
    Kneeling in front of the sofa, he could now smell traces of Rostislav's citrusy cologne … as well as traces of exactly what he had been doing on Jesse's sofa. Johnnie sneered as he stood. So the vampire was definitely around, figuratively and literally, with Rostiya.
    Why? A vampire caught in such dalliances with a human would turn himself into a laughingstock. Even a vampire as powerful as Jesse stood to suffer, and suffer greatly, for committing such a taboo. What did Rostiya stand to gain from such a hopeless arrangement, whatever the precise nature of the arrangement may be?
    Nothing. Nothing but pain.
    Hitting the button for the elevator, Johnnie stepped inside and hit the down button, brooding as he returned to the lower levels. When the doors opened, he left the elevator slowly, still lost in thought. He stopped halfway, deciding that he did not want to confront Rostislav until he knew for certain what was afoot.
    Turning around, he returned to the elevator and rode it up to the select floors housing the suites. Though he had made no plans to come here, and would not have come except it was Rostislav who had asked, his father and brother were frequent visitors and so Jesse always kept their suite reserved and ready.
    It opened immediately to his keycard, the lights flicking on as they sensed movement. Removing his jacket and tie, he strode to the bar tucked into the corner of the room and poured vodka over ice in a crystal rocks glass.
    He had just taken a sip when all the lights went out, leaving him in absolute dark. His skin prickled, and on the air was the sudden scent of myrrh and musk roses. Someone was in the room. That should be impossible. The room was so heavily warded a demon would sweat trying to break through. None but the Desrosiers and Jesse could walk in here without permission.
    Johnnie reached out slowly, carefully, and set his drink back down upon the bar. He could see nothing; it was the most absolute dark he had ever experienced. Even the windows gave no light, though he knew very well that lights from the casino and the parking lot should have been filtering through the curtains. "Who are you?"
    No answer immediately came, but Johnnie did not lower himself to repeat the question. There were eyes upon him; he could feel them like a touch. He could always feel eyes upon him. "So you are the infamous human child of the Dracula Desrosiers?"
    Johnnie said nothing.
    Fingers slid down his arm, warm through the fine linen of his shirt, curling briefly before dropping away, and Johnnie only just barely kept himself from showing any reaction. The man was behind him, and had not once made a single sound until he spoke.
    Definitely a man, to judge by the hot-toddy voice, the shape and feel of those fingers.  They touched him again, those fingers, and Johnnie spun sharply around, the back of his hand swinging up and cracking hard—
    But only against the hand that caught his. The hand that did not let go, but only lightly squeezed his fingers, then held fast. "Unhand me," Johnnie said, voice cold. "You have no business touching me, or being here at all, and I will not tolerate it."
    "In all the places I've been," the man said, "never have I encountered one as breathtaking as you."
    Johnnie froze, momentarily startled by the words.
    "Beautiful, elegant, graceful, but also cold, haughty, and proud.  You could be a vampire but for the lack of fangs."
    How much easier his life would be if he did have the fangs, Johnnie thought. "You will explain to me your purpose