When he took her home after settling Gary back at his room, Gregori turned Savannah into his arms. “You are my world,” he whispered softly, meaning it.
She leaned her head into his shoulder, inhaling his masculine scent. “Thank you for going out tonight. I know it’s hard for you to be among humans, but I’ve spent the last five years living among them. It’s been so long since I’ve had contact with any of our people.”
“I have a hard time,” he admitted. “I want to supply what you need, Savannah. It is difficult to understand the need in you for their company.”
“You’ve always been so solitary, Gregori,” she said softly, “where I’ve had humans around me since I left home.”
His mouth found her temples, then drifted across her eyelids and down to her mouth. He lifted her as his lips teased hers, cradling her in his arms. He took her up the stairs to one of the bedrooms. Gregori made gentle, tender love to her, incredibly reverent, showing her with his body what he never seemed to be able to express adequately in words.
* * *
Chapter Seventeen
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop was dark and mysterious, the perfect setting for the beginning of such a fun adventure. Savannah laughed softly as a couple of locals shook their heads at the pack of crazy tourists crowding into the tavern to join the vampire hunt. She could feel Gregori inwardly wincing, the desire to dissolve and be invisible paramount in his mind, but he hung in there grimly. He turned heads with his impressive stature, the power that sat so easily on his broad shoulders. His expression was stoically impassive, the silver eyes restless, merciless, missing nothing.
Within the bar’s darkened interior, the peculiar night vision their species had gave them an advantage. Gary flanked them, astonished at how many tourists actually went on these hunts. Savannah shot him a glare. “We’re here to have fun, Gary. Don’t start acting like Gregori on me. One grump raining on my parade is enough.”
Gary leaned close. “If you wouldn’t read people’s thoughts all the time, snoop, you might not get so bent out of shape.”
“I was not reading your thoughts,” Savannah objected with an injured expression, her lush mouth in a frankly sexy pout. “It was written all over your face.”
Gregori was definitely having a hard time. Carpathian males rarely allowed other men near their lifemates, certainly not unattached males. He hated the press of bodies. Savannah attracted men the way bees went for honey. Heads turned, and hot gazes followed her progress as they wound their way through the throng toward the back room of the building. Savannah exuded steam. Even in a room filled with bodies, so many that there was really nowhere to sit, Savannah made men feel as if she was the only one there. Dimly lit, with flickering candles, the room held a faint trace of mystery, and she was part of that.
It was inevitable that someone would recognize her; it always happened. Gregori was surprised the press hadn’t gotten wind that she was somewhere in the city and had every tourist spot staked out waiting for her. He gave a little sigh as the first wave of fans swarmed them, pressing close to Savannah, wanting to get near her. Gregori instinctively placed his solid frame between her and the crowd. You are going to start a riot.
She signed several autographs, a hard enough feat with Gregori acting like her bodyguard. Gary walled her in from the other side, recognizing the menacing glitter in the cold silver of Gregori’s eyes. Savannah paid no attention to the two of them; instead, she was sweet and friendly and entered into conversations with people.
When their guide entered, a faint hush followed him. He was impressive, with his long, thick braid, his walking stick, and his dramatic appearance. Gregori raised an eyebrow at Savannah, but her fascinated gaze was on their host. He lit a candle, held his audience for a moment in a theatrical pause, then delivered a warning about the dangerous journey they would be undertaking. He made it clear that drinkers weren’t welcome and emphasized that it was not recommended that small children go on the tour.