For Richer (Vampire Assassin League Book 24) Read Online Free Page B

some of his staircase. He had to carve more steps out. Last century one had opened a zigzag crack in one of his floors. Most just rattled things. What had just happened hadn’t truly been a quake. More of a jolt. Nothing of consequence. It had lasted four, maybe five seconds.
    But it had changed his world.
    For he’d sucked in a breath, too.
    Shock had rippled through his veins as he’d watched the woman named Becky drop onto the bench in seeming slow-motion. The air had even felt alive, pushing against him as he’d leapt toward her. The sensation of returning life was unexpected, undeserved, and beyond containment. His heart had swelled as it searched out and found her heartbeat. And then matched it. His skin had rippled with goosebumps. His lungs had filled and expelled copious amounts of air. His gaze had devoured her as she’d rested her head between her knees. And other things had also wakened.
    He’d been aroused. And excited. Everything on his body had experienced the electrical energy being near her caused. His groin was no exception. Nor, were his canines. Both had elongated without volition. And then she’d seen the latter and fallen forward. Right into his arms.
    At last!
    They’d reached the golden doors leading to his inner chambers. Mikhal turned to push through them with a shoulder. They slammed back into place behind him. He should push down the bolt. He didn’t. It wasn’t important. The only thing of any value and importance was in his arms. He lifted her closer, putting her breasts against his upper chest. That way he could experience the continual thump of their hearts, beating in tandem. Rhythmically. Incessantly.
    It was awe-inspiring. Truly. Too much for one man to absorb. Even an immortal one.
    They’d reached the queen’s chamber. Mikhal shoved through the draped cords that covered the doorway, feeling for the first time how the pearl and gem-encrusted cords felt as they slid over his head and shoulders. The silk bedding was free of dust. He shifted her to one arm, anyway, in order to slap it free of any such filth. Nothing but the best must touch his mate. The most exquisite. The most pristine. The most costly. The richest.
    The mattress was held aloft between stretched cords. Mikhal replaced them annually. By some twist of fate, he’d just finished that a week or so earlier. He traced one, thrilled at the feeling of rope beneath his finger pads.
    Was it a week ago?
    Less?
    Did it truly matter?
    Time had been a nonentity for too many years. He truly couldn’t remember when he’d reworked his bed. It hadn’t been very long ago. The lines were still light-colored. Fresh-smelling. He leaned forward and placed his mate into the center of his bed with the adulation she deserved. The sheets felt cool against his forearms, and even that sensation was an amazement that required a gift to the gods. But he didn’t know of a one sufficient-enough. Even a blood-letting seemed too trivial.
    Mikhal went to one of the chests along the wall next, rifling through items for a blanket. Everything in these chests belonged to her. He’d been gathering them for centuries. Ah. He pulled out a blanket. He remembered this one. It was woven with the Chachapoya pattern. He’d overseen every step of its construction. He’d purchased the finest alpaca wool. Hired the clan’s best weaver. Kept it in pristine condition.
    He placed it reverently atop Becky.
    It was still incredible! His hands shook for a moment before he controlled it. Oh. He was favored. She was so wondrously fair. Her hair streamed about the sheets resembling stripes of old gold. Her lips were rose-shaded. Her skin was perfect with the slightest tint on each cheek. Her eyelashes looked especially dark. And her throat had the sweetest vein thumping along the skin...
    Mikhal stepped back before he did something regrettable. He already had that issue. He wished he hadn’t toyed with her. He should have spoken up immediately. Told her he knew