Blood Rites Page 78


Fane watched as she moved forward and he felt her tongue run across where she had just bitten him. As she pulled back he saw that her cheeks were tinged a soft red and as he ran his fingertips across her face he felt the heat on her skin.

"Sorry, there was, um, some blood." She let her words trail off.

Fane chuckled as he wiped away the evidence of her tears. "You don't have to be embarrassed, Luna. You can run your tongue across my neck anytime. I assure you I will never object." He laughed as she swatted at him, but was glad he had gotten a smile out of her.

"How are you feeling now? Has the pain lessened?" he asked in a much more serious tone.

Jacque took a deep breath and let it out slow. She closed her eyes, concentrating on her body. She could still feel a dull ache but it was even better than after the first time he had given her his blood.

"I feel much better," she told him honestly. Her brow furrowed when she asked, "Fane, will this affect the Blood Rites since I've taken your blood?"

"No, Luna. Because I have not taken your blood, the Rites are not complete yet."

Jacque nodded her understanding. She rolled onto her back and for the first time looked around at her surroundings. She realized they were in a small but luxurious room. There was soft overhead lighting along the edge of the room. They were lying on a queen sized bed that almost completely filled the space.

"Is this the back of the plane?" she asked him.

Fane nodded. "This is the only cabin on the plane. I came back here when we first boarded to make sure it was ready should I need to give you blood again."

Jacque's face once again took on the rosy red coloring. "I suppose they," she indicated with a nod in the direction of the front of the plane, "all know why we came back here."

"Well, I'm sure they are assuming it's because you needed my blood, but we could give them a reason to believe it was for something else," Fane teased as he started tickling her and she couldn't hold back the soft laughter that came pouring out of her.

Jen and Sally sat tensely in their seats as the wondered if Jacque was okay. She had been so pale when Fane had carried her off. Alina kept trying to reassure them that Fane would take care of her. Still, they couldn't help worrying. About the time the plane hit cruising altitude they all heard a gentle giggling from the direction Fane had carried Jacque. Jen rolled her eyes as she unclipped her seatbelt.

"Oh, for crying out loud," she said as she stood up. "If Jacque gets to get her freak on at 80,000 feet, I'm at least going to get my game on." She turned to look at the other wolves. "Skender, Sorin, Boain," but was interrupted before she could finish.

Decebel stood up, nearly ripping the seatbelt before he remembered to unbuckle it. "Jennifer," his voice was deathly soft, "what the bloody hell do you mean to get your game on with three of my pack mates?"

Jen had to slap Sally on the back as she started coughing at Decebel's words.

"Well, when you put it like that it does sound pretty bad. But those were your words, Sparky, not mine." She turned to Alina, ignoring the daggers that Decebel was glaring at her. "Do you have a deck of cards on this ride?"

Alina's eyes crinkled as she smiled. "I bet we could find some." She unbuckled her seat belt and started going through various compartments that didn't look like compartments until she started hitting buttons that made them open. Finally, after a few moments Alina held up a deck of cards triumphantly. "We're in business," she said, smiling at Jen.

Jen took the deck as she looked at Sally. "You in?"

"Always."

"Okay, boys. Let's see what you got," Jen taunted as she sat down on the bench seat across from the others.

The three wolves looked tentatively at Decebel.

"Oh, for crying out loud, Dec. Tell them you won't beat them if they play cards with the two humans." Jen glared at him.

Decebel had not taken his eyes off of Jen since she had declared she wanted to get her game on. Finally he relented and turned to his pack mates, who all cringed under his scrutiny.

"No touching," he said,as he sat back rigidly, angled so he could watch every move of the game.

The three wolves joined Jen and Sally. Uncertain of where to sit they all sat right on the floor in front of the bench seat Jen and Sally occupied.

"So are we playing hold 'em?" Skender asked Jen.

Sally snorted as Jen continued to deal the cards. "Hold 'em's for sissies," Jen teased with a wink. "We're playing something a little less civilized."

"What would that be…exactly?" Sorin asked his eyebrows raised and his lips slightly down cast.

"Strip poker, of course," Jen said innocently while all three wolves coughed into their hands. "But remember," she added with a wicked look directed at the brooding wolf sitting behind the other wolves, "no touching."

The low sound that rumbled from Decebel's chest had the other wolves cringing. "Jennifer,” Decebel growled in warning.

"Fine. Strip poker is out, go fish is in." Jen glared at Decebel. "Who invited you to this party, anyways? Can't your invitation be revoked?"

"That only works with vampires, Jennifer." His eyes narrowed.

"Well, it would be a little more convenient if some things were universal in the supernatural world," she snapped.

"Some things are universal. For instance, there isn't a being in existence that couldn't possibly want to take a bite out of your mouthy hide." Decebel winked at her as she sat in mid-shuffle, her mouth dropped open. Sally reached over and pushed Jen's chin up, effectively snapping her mouth closed.

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