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Excerpt from CRIMSON by Kate Hill
Available now from Changeling Press
When the kiss broke, he whispered against her lips, “Or you could come upstairs with me. No pressure, of course.”
“Oh, of course.” She grinned. No pressure except that I can’t seem to get enough of you. She cleared her throat and stepped away. “I’m just going to the ladies’ room first. Wait for me?”
“All morning if I have to.”
Another smile tugged at her lips and she brushed a kiss across his mouth before heading for the restrooms.
She stood, her hands braced against the sink, and closed her eyes, her pulse racing. Though she was a centuries-old vampire who’d had lovers before, something about Richie was different. Usually she kept control around men, but with him she felt like a lovesick schoolgirl. Not only was he physically attractive, but she liked him. Somehow she knew his rather silly sense of humor concealed a lot of alpha vamp power. She liked that. It was a rare quality among ancient vamps who tried to cultivate controlling, mysterious personas.
The bathroom door banged open as Mel rushed inside wearing a curious smile.
“Hey, you’re really taking the rebellion act to new levels, aren’t you?” Mel asked.
Sondra turned to her friend and wrinkled her nose. “Huh?”
“You and Richie. Close dancing all night.” Mel winked. “Nigel would just love it.”
“Mel, what are you talking about?”
Mel’s smile faded when she realized Sondra really had no clue about what she was hinting at. “I thought you were with him to get back at Nigel, but you really don’t know.”
“Richie’s waiting for me, so unless you plan to tell me what’s going on --”
“He’s an Elixir Maiden.”
Sondra’s brow furrowed. “Huh?”
“You heard me.”
“You’re telling me that stud out there is a drag queen?”
“I thought you knew.”
“No.”
For the first time Mel looked a bit uncomfortable. “He’s a really nice guy. The drag thing is just a job for him.”
“Wow,” Sondra murmured. No wonder she’d caught his scent all night but hadn’t seen him. He’d been on stage in full makeup wearing a beaded gown and a wig.
“I should have minded my own business,” Mel said, slamming her fist into her palm. “Zigor told me to keep my mouth shut, but did I listen to him? No. I had to be nosy. It’s this hotel. Since moving here, I’m becoming as big a gossiper as members of the staff --”
“Mel, it’s okay. I was bound to find out sooner or later,” Sondra said, though she wondered if Richie intended to tell her before or after he took her to bed. Not that it should matter, but somehow it did.
Sondra strode out of the bathroom and approached Richie who sat at the table, finishing his drink.
“So you’re a musician, huh?” She stood beside him and placed her hands on her hips.
He looked startled by her tone and said, “Yeah.”
“Would you care to elaborate on that?”
“Elaborate?”
“Yes. Does the term drag queen fit in anywhere?”
He chuckled. “Oh, that.”
“Yes, that.”
He reached for her hand and squeezed it gently while gazing at her with those melting eyes. “I prefer the term female impersonator.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think about it. Besides, you sat there for hours watching my show. For all I knew you were just being coy by pretending not to care that I’m a performer.”
“Coy?” She wrinkled her nose.
“Obviously I was wrong. Does this change anything?”
She glanced down at their joined hands then back to his handsome face. He wore a hopeful expression she found most endearing and his delicious scent cried out to her. Lord, she longed to sink her fangs into his gorgeous throat, feel that hard, lean body against hers, this time without the barrier of clothes. Even if it was just for one night. She could hardly imagine an ongoing relationship with a drag queen -- not with a Creator like Nigel in her life, but that didn’t mean she and Richie couldn’t enjoy one night of unbridled passion.
“No.”
“Good. Let’s go upstairs.”
