ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (53 page)

“That man…he didn’t blink.  It was like he was made of stone.”

Dalton ran his teeth over his bottom lip.  “Close enough.”

She snapped her head to him.  “What?”

Dalton heard the ding as the doors swished open.  He held a hand over the doorjamb to stop them from closing again.  He lowered his head beside her ear.  “Stay close to me.  Do not go anywhere here without me, not even the bathroom.”

Autumn nodded, her face white with new found fear. 

The doors swished shut behind them and they were left in a hallway that had amber wall scones and the infernal burgundy carpet.  Several closed doors lined the hallway, but at the end there was more double doors and they were open.  The flicker of candle light moved enticingly and a man, an extremely tall man, moved into the doorway. 

“Welcome!”  He grinned, but his mouth didn’t move. 

Dalton heard Autumn’s breath hitch and catch in her throat.  His own body reacting to what they had seen (or in reality hadn’t seen) by the hairs at the base of his neck bristling, and all of his pores awakened, begging to sprout deep brown silky fur. 

“Forgive me.”  The man said, this time with lips moving.  “I forget sometimes that trick is disconcerting to anyone outside of my…family.”  He bowed to Autumn and took one of her hands, bringing it to his lips.  “Welcome.”

Dalton issued a low warning growl.  He didn’t like the way the fear melted from Autumn’s eyes as this man lifted his pale gray eyes to stare deeply into hers.  His strong angular features were nearly breathtaking.

The man straightened.  He had to be at least 6’5”.  His suit had the look of one tailored made. The dark charcoal fabric shimmered slightly as light touched it and when he moved. He reached a hand toward Dalton.  He shook it begrudgingly. 

“Please, come in.” 

The room was large with several antique couches placed here and there.  A lit fireplace gave a warm inviting glow, and long tapered candles were on every several available surfaces.  Autumn’s fear was completely gone, and she openly stared, her eyes marveling at the high ceiling and Victorian style décor.  A life size painting hung over the fireplace, and she was drawn to it, forgetting Dalton’s warning.  He kept his eyes locked on her back.  She stopped and gazed up at the portrait, it was of their host standing behind a chair with his hand on a woman’s shoulder.  The woman was beautiful, with pale skin and deep red hair.  Autumn squinted up at it, before her eyes widened.  She backed away slowly, until Dalton met her halfway, his eyes also looking at the painting uneasily. 

The man came soundlessly up to them.  “Yes, it is a remarkable resemblance.”  He looked down at them and smiled.  “But don’t worry this isn’t a bad replay of an old love story.  There are no Vlads and Mia’s here.” 

Dalton watched him warily as he moved to a nearby couch.  “Are you Daniel Blacksmith?”

“Yes.  Please sit.”  He indicated the couch opposite of him.  A long coffee table was between them.  “I took the liberties of ordering refreshments from the kitchen.” 

Dalton wanted to warn Autumn to not touch the food or drink, bit she was already thanking him and smiling warmly as she sat down primly. 

Wow, some nice clothes, a fancy building, and one vampire, can transform a nice country girl into a replica of the elite in a matter of minutes.

“Why did you summon us?”

Daniel crossed one long leg over the other.  “A summons?  I thought it was an invitation.”

“Fine.  Why did you invite us?”

He shrugged with one elbow.  “I’ve never had a lone wolf wander into my territory, and certainly not with a beautiful human in possession.” 

So that’s it.  Dalton relaxed against the back of the couch.  “We’re just passing through.”

Daniel flicked his eyes to Autumn.  “Really?  Pity.” 

A man in a white serving jacket wheeled a cart into the room and began unloading a tray of fresh fruits and another of thinly sliced meats and cheeses.  He placed a basket of steaming crusty bread between them, and a much smaller tray with mustards and other garnishes, all with silver handles sticking out of them.

Dalton frowned deeply as the man’s jacket sleeve rode up enough to expose healing fang marks in his wrist.  He was positive, if he could look, there would be a small tattoo of some type over his first vertebrae indicating to whom he belonged. 

The man placed two long stemmed glasses in front of Dalton and Autumn and made a flourishing grand gesture as he popped the top of a champagne bottle and poured the golden liquid for them.  Autumn’s eyes gleamed happily, like a child visiting Disney World for the first time.  It would be hard to convince her that she was in grave danger. 

“I assure I have no intentions other than to just entertain you this evening.” 

“What is this place?  It certainly isn’t an actual hotel.  And why did you send us a key?” 

Daniel waved the waiting server away with a graceful small gesture of his hand.  “Oh it is.  My overnight guests are…not typical, but we have an excellent five star restaurant on the ground level that the locals seem to enjoy.  The key was for a complimentary room.”

“Funny, I’ve never heard of this place.” 

His seemingly permanent smile didn’t falter.  “There’s no need to advertise.” 

Autumn was helping herself to the food.  “This is really lovely, than you.” 

“Of course.”  He replied with a downward tilt of his head.  He kept his attention focused on her.  “What is your name?”

“Autumn Coates.”

Dalton groaned inwardly.  He wished he had of thought of pseudonyms for them.  Although Thomas’s long ago words echoed in his ears. 

Don’t lie to a sucker, Dalton.  They seem to always know the truth.

His eyes changed, so slightly Dalton doubted Autumn picked up on it.  “Coates, you say?”

“Yes.” 

“I knew some Coates…once.  Are you from Luray?”

“No.  I’m from Syria.”

“Not far.” 

She shook her head, sipping the champagne. 

He turned his attention to Dalton.  “And you?  I don’t think you’re from Syria too.” 

Dalton shook his head slowly.  “No.  I’m from a different part of the state.”

“So, you aren’t a lone wolf?”

“Not exactly.”

His smile froze, and the tension in the room cranked up a notch. 

“Please expound upon that.” 

Autumn even noticed the change and set her glass down carefully, angling her body more towards Dalton.  He laid an arm along the back of the couch, pressing her shoulder with his fingertips, so she would come closer to him. 

“I have a small pack in Spotsylvania, but I’m traveling in search of a mate.” 

Instead of the tension lifting, it grew heavier.  Daniel’s perma-smile seemed to shrink in on itself.  “And you choose a human?”

“Not exactly.”  Dalton didn’t notice the downward sweep of Autumn’s eyes, but Daniel did. 

“As much as I can appreciate a plaything, I hardly think she’s one.” 

Dalton ground down on his teeth.  Autumn stiffened against his side.  What could he say?  That she was kidnapped accidentally?  That he couldn’t take her as a mate because she was human?  Any of those statements would give Daniel Blacksmith (in his mind at least) permission to pursue her for whatever reason.  On the flip side of that, and the most important part of it to Dalton, any of those statements could cause Autumn pain; especially the last one.  He didn’t want to cause her anymore pain.  He decided on a riskier, more direct approach. 

“She’s with me, and that’s all that matters, regardless of circumstance.”

Autumn relaxed and raised her eyes.  Daniel regarded them for a brief moment before laughing heartily.

“Don’t ruffle your fur!  I was only curious.”  He laid a hand on his knee.  “Please…have some dinner.” 

Dalton took a plate and helped himself to a small amount of the fare.  The three of them sat in an uneasy silent regard for each other.  When they had finished their plates and drank the champagne; Daniel resumed the conversation. 

“Your pack, is it very small?”

“I have a few.”

Daniel nodded.  “So, you’re growing?”

“I’m…reorganizing.”

Daniel smirked, one long finger rubbed his upper lip.

“In other words, you lost some of your pack because you’re not mated.”

“You seem to know a lot about packs considering what you are.” 

He shrugged carelessly.  “I’ve had some acquaintances of your kind.”  He uncrossed his legs and stood.  He took the champagne bottle and poured more for Dalton and Autumn.  “I would actually like some more.”  His pale eyes moved over Autumn, but didn’t linger. 

“Why?”

He sat down smoothly again.  “Your kind is useful, especially in this setting.”

Dalton shook his head and lifted the glass to his lips.  He spoke quietly before sipping.  “So you want lap dogs.” 

The hearty laugh again.  “Goodness no!  I have enough of those.  I’m looking for guard dogs if you will.”  He held up a hand as Dalton bristled.  “Please allow to explain.  I am looking for guards, but I wouldn’t treat the wolves as inferiors.”  His smile turned wicked.  “As a matter of fact, I have something you may be interested in seeing.”  He stood and walked gracefully to the other end of the room, and dialed a single number on the phone there, just like the man downstairs had.  He spoke quietly into the receiver before coming back to them.

“What is it?”

“She’ll be here soon.  Who knows?  Maybe she’ll be the answer to your problems.” 

“I doubt anything you have here will be the answer to my problems.” 

A woman entered the room dressed in a sequined gold gown that fell to the floor in a straight line from the cinched waist.  The neckline plunged to her navel, barely covering her small breasts.  She placed a hand on her hip and gazed coolly at them. 

“This is Tonya.  She’s a special associate of mine.” 

Tonya smiled and Dalton could see pointed teeth drop down over her canines.  Autumn sucked in her breath, but didn’t move. 

“You see she’s vampire.”  Daniel looked at her.  “Show them what else you are.”

The woman shook her tawny hair loose from the up do, and slid her arms out of the straps of her gown.  She stepped out of the rumpled fabric completely nude.  Her skin was as perfect as porcelain. 

“Is this really necessary?”  Autumn asked brusquely. 

“Yes, it is.”  Daniel replied amused. 

The woman fell to her hands and knees.  She arched her back, and Dalton heard the sickening familiar crunch and snap as her body contorted. 

Autumn issued a small scream, but Dalton grabbed her and clamped a hand over her mouth.  Sweat beaded at his temples, his own body straining to join the woman in her contortions. 

The woman made a snorting noise as her body continued to reshape itself.  Dalton could feel Autumn’s breath and saliva hot against his palm.  Her body shook. 

With one final push the woman was no more.  A large white wolf stood in her place.  Not a werewolf, but an actual wolf.

“Thank you, Tonya.  I’ll have Stephen bring your gown to you.”

Dalton still held his hand over Autumn’s mouth, and strained her body against him to try and watch the white wolf leave.  Once she was out of sight, Dalton whipped his head around to Daniel, letting Autumn’s mouth go, but pulling her body tightly to his side.

“How In the hell is that supposed to fix my problems?”

Daniel leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.  His eyes glinted a new emotion.  Pride? 

“She’s one of the undead, yet she lives.”  He held a hand up for emphasis; palm up and fingers curled, like they were holding an invisible ball.  “She must have hot living blood coursing through her veins to shift like that, yes?”

“Yes, I’m following you.” 

“She can be mated.”  Daniel smiled, leaning back against the couch again.  “And she’s very powerful.”

Dalton fanned his fingers across his chin and mouth in one sweeping gesture. 

Autumn looked at his profile uneasily.  My God, he’s considering it!  She stood, yanking Dalton to his feet.  “Thank you for the wonderfully…um...odd time…but we really must be going.” 

Daniel watched her with keen interest and amusement.  “Oh, yes of course, I understand.  You both should visit again, before leaving the area.” 

Autumn turned and smiled as wide as she could, hoping it was convincing.  “Yes, perhaps we will.” 

Dalton stared up at Daniel, his mind racing.  “How is it possible?”

Daniel grinned, but his eyes became dark and cold.  “It’s a secret, but if you’re truly interested, give me a call.  Maybe we can work out a deal of some sort.”  He reached in his slacks pocket and produced a business card with the embossed burgundy DB and a phone number.

Dalton made the card disappear, and Autumn watched the two of them with anger and something close to regret.  No one really wants me.   

Daniel placed his hands behind his back and stared lovingly at the portrait over the fireplace.  “You really do have an uncanny resemblance to her.”