Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Whether at home with Titus during the week or at Nightfall on the weekends, Alessia had found her happy place. Lovemaking with Titus sizzled at a level she could never have imagined a few months ago, curled up in her lonely bed with only Hopper for comfort. Titus made all her fantasies come true.
Her friendship with Carina helped her accept all the changes. As cheerful and unfiltered as ever, Carina answered her questions and usually told her too much—to Alessia’s delight. Darius, Bram, and Donovan interacted with her frequently. Alessia hoped they’d find their mates soon.
Alaric continued to be a wildcard. She respected his power while maintaining her vigilance while he was around. His presence was not one she wanted to get too comfortable in. He didn’t have a mate. Who could ever fill that role?
“Enough thinking, Little mate. Let’s go hang out with Marcus and Carina. They have a new toy for their pool. A giant raft with drink holders that can support eight people. Guess who gets to try out a new recipe on everyone?”
“Will you get on the bar and shake your booty for me?”
“Marcus doesn’t value that celebration like you do, Alessia,” Titus answered with a deep belly laugh.
“Maybe you can teach him?”
“Carina put you up to this, didn’t she?”
“Definitely, Daddy! I’ll clap for you,” Alessia promised.
“Well, if you’re going to applaud, I’ll have to put on a show just for you. Marcus may never be the same.”
Alessia was still giggling when they arrived at her friend’s house.
To her surprise, Darius, Bram, and Donovan were there. As she and Carina played in the pool, the men gathered around a table, shaking objects in their hands before tossing them on the hard surface. Even from a distance, the items they played with didn’t look like dice.
“What are they doing?” Alessia asked.
“They’ve waged war against each other for centuries betting on rolls. They call that one Knucklebones,” Carina said, studying the men with amusement.
“Knucklebones. Those aren’t real bones, are they?”
“No, supposedly Marcus’s favorite set disintegrated a couple of centuries ago. Darius carved those for him. Want to go see what they’re doing?”
“Definitely.”
They scrambled out of the pool and wrapped up in thick beach towels. Alessia stood behind Titus, watching as Darius collected oddly shaped wooden pieces into his hands. After shaking them, he tossed them. Instantly, a roar of protest arose.
“How are you cheating, Darius?” Marcus demanded.
“Four vultures? In one roll? He must be doing something,” Bram said.
“I made these dice for Marcus over fifty years ago. Do you think I’d wait until now to recoup the money you’ve fleeced from me over the years?” Darius asked with a penetrating look at the group.
“That’s a good point,” Donovan suggested. “He usually loses.”
“I don’t know whether to be pissed off more by the suggestion that I’m cheating or that I lose all the time,” Darius muttered.
“What’s a vulture?” Alessia whispered.
Titus wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. “It’s that side of the dice. Depending on what faces up, you get a different score.” He pointed to four that each had the same shape. “That’s called a vulture. Darius got six points for each of those and is now officially kicking our butts.”
“Good job, Darius!” Carina said and held out a hand to high-five the vampire.
“When you’re eating gruel tonight for dinner, you’ll regret congratulating him,” Marcus growled. “Come here. You can be my good luck charm.” He scooped a giggling Carina onto his lap and kissed her neck before gathering the knucklebones for his own toss. To his delight, while he didn’t get four vultures, he rolled two.
“Best throw all day! Thank you, Carina.”
“I’m getting you wet, Daddy,” Carina told him, and instantly both women wiggled to stand back up. The men held onto them securely.
“We don’t care, Little mate. Want to learn how to play?” Titus asked.
“Definitely!” Alessia answered and helped herself to half of Titus’s pile of coins in front of her. “When’s my turn?”
Carina hooted and repeated the process with her Daddy’s money before leaning across the table to high-five Alessia.
They didn’t play long with the men—just enough time to get a basic knowledge of how the game worked. Alessia loved the interaction among the group. She crossed her fingers under the table as she wished, Please let them all find their mates.
Chapter
Eighteen
Acouple weeks later, Alessia had enough control over her fangs to return to Nightfall. Carina had loved having her partner in crime back. The two women had sipped cocktails and danced the night away.
“What time is it?” Alessia asked, pushing herself up to sit on the couch. She remembered Titus and Marcus carrying her and Carina into the small gathering room off the private hallway as Nightfall employees closed the nightclub. The two had chatted for a few minutes before stretching out to rest their eyes.