Josephine had said she’d stolen from him because she wanted to know him. Apparently, she knew many. The little wench could make a man feel cheap. If he let her.

And what in the hells would she have to be sad about? She was a beautiful, powerful immortal.

Dew smiled slyly. “You want a repeat with your vampire, don’t you?”

A repeat? Josephine’s fangs piercing his neck again? While she pressed her taut nipples into his chest and clawed him . . .

He shrugged, even as his cock jerked in his pants. “I seek her for business only.” Once she returned for her necklace, all would be well. Time to cleanse my palate. He swooped Brook into his arms.

She squealed. “Someone’s already raring to go.”

They didn’t need to know his erection wasn’t for them. “When am I not?”

“Rune, your neck!” She stared wide-eyed at it. “You have . . . she bit you?”

Dew pawed him. “Let me see!” Her jaw dropped at the bite mark. “That’s so filthy. And hot.”

Gods, it was.

Brook said, “She couldn’t drink your baneblood, though, right?”

“Of course not. Just nipped me with her fangs.”

Dew said, “Still, a bite! She’s a gutsy one for piercing your skin. And you’re a dirty dog for letting her! We knew you walked on the wilder side, but that’s wicked! Can we watch next time?”

“Maybe.” He cast them his crooked grin. “But only if you’re very good girls.”

TWELVE

What. A. Skank.

Jo gaped from her spot inside the courtyard wall. This guy was the biggest manwhore she’d ever seen.

And a thief to boot. The bastard had lifted her most prized possession—from her freaking neck—and she’d never noticed! When she’d seen her necklace in his hands, she’d almost attacked. But she couldn’t risk a capture, and she didn’t know what other stunts he was capable of.

She would be forced to wait here until he got so caught up with those nymphs that he didn’t perceive her own thievery. Wouldn’t take long. The females were climbing him like a rock wall.

They thought it wicked for a vampire to bite a dark fey. They thought her pervy.

Her stomach clenched when he pulled Brook up into his arms and the woman wrapped her legs around his waist.

Jo decided then and there to get more sexual experience. If she’d been around the block, this wouldn’t sting as much. Those nymphs didn’t suffer jealousy. Rune had said “jealousy” like it was a dirty word.

But Jo was jealous. The connection she’d thought she’d experienced with him had been one-sided.

What was new?

He palmed the back of the nymph’s head and drew her to his neck, to the unmarked side. “Here, dove, give us a nip. You won’t break my skin.”

Jo straightened. What the hell?

He leaned away, his hair falling to one side, revealing the shaved part of his head and his pointed ear.

Brook said, “You want to fantasize like I’m the vampire?”

Dew giggled.

“Just so,” he baldly admitted. “And it’d help if you two quieted down.”

The nerve of this asshole! Did those nymphs have no pride? And why would he be fantasizing about Jo when he’d been so quick to pass her over?

To contemplate her murder?

God, this man confused her!

While Dew struggled to unfasten his belt, Brook bit his neck.

Rune commanded, “Harder, dove.”

Yes, Jo had seen weird things in the course of her voyeurism, but this male trying to relive her own bite was bizarre. Despite herself, her fangs sharpened into points.

“I said harder,” he grated.

I would bite him till he howled for mercy.

With a mouthful of his skin, the nymph mumbled, “I’m ’iting as ’ard as I ’an!”

“It’s no good.” He made a sound of frustration. “Leave off, Dew.”

Brook released his neck and jerked her thumb at the other nymph. “She’s Dew.”

That nymph had finally managed to unfasten his belt and was reaching for his fly.

“Whatever.” Rune flexed his claws. “Draw back. I’m about to bleed.”

“So freaking hot,” Brook breathed, but she leaned far back.

He stuck two claw tips into the remnants of Jo’s bite. Piercing his own neck, he gave a mindless groan and his eyes slid closed.

With a whimper, Dew fumbled to get his pants undone.

As his throat worked, blood trickled down his neck. It was so freaking hot. That dark, rich blood of his. To have just one more taste . . .

Ruined.

But unlike the nymphs, Jo did have pride. She wanted him only for the things he’d taken—and now was the time to strike.

Her scent.

Rune’s eyes shot wide when he caught that lush thread of meadowberry. Was he imagining it?

No, Josephine was materializing right in front of him. “Oh, Ruin . . .” Her shoulders were back, her chin raised. Her hazel eyes glittered.

He dropped Brook. Without a glance down, he shoved Dew’s hand from his fly.

Had the vampire seen his attempts to mimic her bite? His fantasizing about her as he used two stand-in nymphs? At least he hadn’t yet brought out her thong.

“Poor Ruin. I’m often imitated.” She gestured to the nymphs. “And never duplicated.”

Why did he feel guilty about the females, as if he’d been disloyal?