The Guards greeted her as she stepped out of the car. Clearly, @KingFelipeTB wasn't taking any chances with his safety. Or hers, it seemed. That was both good and bad. Good because if he had his own security, @VinnyT_BD couldn't be blamed for any lapses. Bad, because it would be very difficult to throw suspicion anywhere but where it belonged. Kezi kept such thoughts to herself as the Guards hustled her inside. She wondered who or what they were afraid of out here in the middle of nowhere.
It was difficult to tell, surrounded as she was, but she thought the plantation house, and that's what it was, had an air of genteel decay. She half expected Brad Pitt, or preferably Clark Gable, to be waiting on the porch for her. Instead, she was whisked inside without ceremony and left to wait in the foyer.Â
Looking around, Kezi realized Felipe had not just purchased the property. There were signs of recent renovations, but nothing that could have been accomplished in the few days time since she had agreed to marry him. The place had been equipped with a state of the art security system, in addition to the guards. And unless she was very much mistaken it had also been fortified and undoubtedly made light-tight. Not that she would trust her existence to anyplace with windows during the day. Knowing Felipe a warren of light tight underground rooms had also been added, meaning the construction was the product of months, even years. That did not bode well for her plans.
"Kezaiya, querida, you look ravishing as always," Felipe's silken tone fell like a noose around her neck.
Kezi lifted her chin, forcing a smile to curl her lips.
"Greetings, King Felipe," was all she said.
If her cool response gave him pause, he didn't show it. He embraced her, his cool lips brushing hers, without missing a beat. Kezi froze, caught off guard. In Nevada, even when they had been lovers, such displays of affection had never been part of the deal. By nature, Kezi was private, she knew it made her appear haughty and uncaring but it was her way. Felipe, so far as she had ever been able to tell was just honestly uncaring. Except, here he was, kissing her almost ardently without an audience. Confusing her.
"You will call me Felipe," he told her. "Allow me to show you around our Louisiana home."
His arm around her waist steered her smoothly and swiftly through the house. As she had suspected, many improvements had been made to make it vampire friendly and Felipe obligingly pointed most of them out to her. Finally they settled into what she supposed might be called a family room on the second floor of the house. Smaller than the formal reception rooms downstairs, this room also boasted a wet bar, state of the art electronics and furniture that appeared to be meant to be used. Felipe took a seat on the sofa and drew her down beside him. She'd been right about the furniture. The sofa's embrace was far more comfortable than the King's.
"What do you think," he asked.
"You've accomplished a great deal with the place," she told him, smiling. "It still feels like a southern plantation however, just waiting for the South to rise again."
"Good. I was aiming for something very different from Las Vegas. I know you are not comfortable there," he said, his gaze catching every nuance of surprise that escaped her iron control. He wanted to keep her off balance. Not so much so that others would notice it but enough that he would have the upper hand.
"It is the noise and the crowds," she admitted honestly. "Neither are to my liking."
"No wonder you like it here," he smiled. "Louisiana is a nice place to visit, but I couldn't live here, not permanently anyway. But you could, couldn't you?"
Kezi considered the question carefully before replying.
"Yes, I suppose I could. For a while," she smiled. "Swamps and bayous are very different from the desert but similar in many ways."
"Fewer people," Felipe guessed and she nodded.Â
"The nights are not as quiet, however," Kezi said and it was Felipe's turn to consider his reply.
"Not as quiet as the desert, perhaps, but certainly quieter than the Strip," he said.
"Indeed," Kezi laughed "Although the clubs can rival Vegas at times."
"I am sure they can," he smiled. "You've done as excellent job here. The Vampire's Kiss and Fangtasia are both turning healthy profits."
"It was a simple matter of appealing to different crowds," she told him. "Victor was going head to head with Fangtasia, when the novelty wore off, his profits would have declined. It is difficult to beat the blonde duo when it comes to edgy sex appeal. I remodeled the Kiss and took it in the direction of elegance and as sophisticated as the market would bear."
"A wise choice, though I am not sure I wold have made it," Felipe replied. "Vegas is not known for subtle elegance."
"No, it is not. The same cannot be said for you."
Her flattery surprised him, more so because he sensed it was an honest opinion of him. For a moment Felipe seemed unsure what to say.
Kezi inclined her head, a small smile playing on her lips. Felipe watched her in silence.Â
"Once we are wed, Louisiana is yours," he told her abruptly.Â
"Mine?" she repeated questioningly.
"Yours," he agreed. "We will divide the profits of both states according to the marriage contract but otherwise the state is yours to do with what you will."
"I do not know what to say," Kezi began then fell silent.
"Then say nothing until the gift is formally made after our vows," Felipe suggested.Â
Kezi nodded, her mind working furiously. There would be a catch, of course. With Felipe there was always a catch. She just had to figure out what it was and whether it affect her current plans.
Felipe turned to the butler discreetly entering the room.Â
"Ah, it seems dinner, or drinks, have arrived," he intoned jovially. "Shall we go look at the menu or live dangerously and have something sent up sight unseen?"
"I've always been fond of danger," Kezi purred, "and there is little excitement enough in willing prey."
"True," Felipe said nodding at the butler.
Moments later they were joined by a pair of young women. Kezi suppressed a smile. Both were excellent examples of the rural south. Comely and with easy smiles and healthy curves. @GemRoux would be quite the contrast which would make her all the more appealing.
"Ladies first," Felipe whispered, sotto voce.
Kezi tilted her head, studying both girls before beckoning one closer. She wasn't particularly thirsty and doubted either girl would offer exceptional taste but it would not do to appear unwilling before the King. A soft touch brought the girl's startled gaze to hers and Kezi glamoured her easily. Generally speaking,m a human's personality mirrored there taste, so Kezi didn't expect much when she set her fangs into the girl's wrist. She wasn't disappointed. The blood was rich and healthy but scarcely memorable.Â
As Kezi drank, Felipe approached the second girl who was watching her companion with wide eyes. Though Kezi hadn't done anything to enhance the girls fears, Felipe had ordered only those who had not previously been tasted by any vampire be served. He liked their fear. Even this small amount sharpened his appetite, especially when she almost screamed as he sank his fangs into her throat from behind.Â
Kezi rolled her eyes to watch Felipe feed. She hadn't missed the fact that he liked fear, which might pose a problem. Gem wasn't prone to fear. Her time in the castle had seen to that and Kezi inwardly cursed her luck. Perhaps the girl could be glamoured....she'd never tried glamouring Gem. Couldn't think of anyone who had, in fact. That didn't mean it couldn't be done. And even if it did turn out that the girl was immune, there were other ways of frightening her. Kezi had a few ideas.
Raising her head after sealing the unnamed girl's wrist, Kezi smiled and licked her lips. Tonight hadn't turned out as bad as she feared. In fact, the night had some definite possibilities....
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