She was pleased.
And somehow, Dorian discovered that delighted him. Odd, given how much he hated humans. What was it about this particular female that made him want to do something for her?
Maybe it had been the attack the night before. Perhaps it had been the sight of her crying silently upon her balcony—alone. Whatever it was, he had woken that morning with the idea and made a call to Ryder, who’d discovered her favorite restaurant. After that, it was a matter of just another few calls to get what he wanted.
Dorian looked Alexandra over in her white sundress with the thin straps at her shoulders and the white sandals with the thick heels on her feet. It allowed him to see more of her amazing legs and the bright blue glittery nail polish on her toes.
Now that they were inside the restaurant without anyone else to overhear or bother them, he knew he’d made the right decision.
The only problem now was her four bodyguards, who were situated several steps behind her. Dorian looked at the one she had called Paul. The guard was tall, with blue eyes and dark hair—and his gaze often went to Alex.
It was obvious to Dorian that the bodyguard wanted Alex. What Dorian didn’t know was if Alex felt the same. Since she didn’t look Paul’s way, she probably didn’t.
“We’re alone here,” Dorian said.
Alex set down her champagne glass after taking a drink. She looked around and grinned. “That’s pretty obvious.”
“Perhaps we can dispense with your guards then?”
She hesitated, staring at him. Then she licked her lips. After another moment, she turned in her chair to address the men. “Why don’t you wait at the doors?”
“I don’t think that’s wise,” Paul said.
Tim, the shorter man with graying hair, quickly said, “As you wish.”
The four of them walked away. When Alex turned around, Paul shot Dorian a look that said the mortal couldn’t wait until he had Dorian alone.
And quite frankly, Dorian was looking forward to it. If the human wanted a fight, Dorian was definitely game. It wouldn’t be a fair battle, but anything to rid him of his pent-up anger would be a relief. And if—
“Why this restaurant?”
It took him a moment to realize that Alex was speaking to him. He’d been so engrossed in his thoughts about what he’d do to the bodyguard that he forgot what he was supposed to be doing.
He shrugged. “I heard the food was good.”
“You’re taking a chance then,” she said with a laugh.
To his shock, he smiled at the sound. “I am.”
“I can’t imagine that it was cheap to book the entire restaurant.”
He shrugged again and finished off his champagne. When the waiter tried to refill it, Dorian put his hand over the glass. “Bring the bottle of Dreagan.” Then he looked at Alex. “It’s just money, and I wanted some time with you without others about.”
“Thank you for this.” She leaned forward and reached for her glass, then took a long drink.
Once the bottle of Scotch and a tumbler were set before him, Dorian poured some of the alcohol in the glass and asked, “So why the bodyguards?”
A change came over her at the question, like a castle gate slamming shut. “There was an incident.”
“I gathered as much. Otherwise, why have four men protecting you? I understand if you doona wish to tell me.” Dorian knew he could get the information from Ryder, but he would find out what had happened.
Alex stared at the golden liquid in her glass. “When I was eight years old someone tried to kidnap me from school for ransom to my parents. One of the other parents foiled the plan. When I was fourteen, there was a second attempt. That’s when my parents hired a man to guard me at all times. Carlos went everywhere with me.”
Dorian watched the way her shoulders hunched up to her ears and her forehead puckered in a frown. The words were hard for her, but it was the parts she was leaving out that were causing the reaction. He didn’t press her for more. He got everything he needed just by watching and listening.
She blew out a breath and lifted her gaze to him. “There were times that Carlos was the only one between me and the slew of cameras with people trying to get a picture. There were a few times where people have tried to kill me simply because I come from money. There were at least ten death threats a week. He kept me safe through it all.”
“Until?” Dorian asked, recognizing that there was more.
“Until five years ago when my boyfriend refused to accept that we were over and tried to shoot me. Carlos jumped between me and the bullet.”
Dorian drank the Scotch and softly set the glass down. “That’s when you hired four guards?”
“I tried doing without for awhile, but it soon became apparent that I couldn’t go anywhere. So, yes, that’s when I hired Paul and Tim. Leon and Delroy came on about six months later.”
“That is no’ a verra good life.”
“Do you go out as you want?”
“Aye.”
She raised a brow. “I told you something about myself. It’s only fair you do the same.”
Dorian leaned forward and refilled his glass, giving him time to think. He couldn’t exactly tell her that he’d been sleeping for the last several million years.
“You don’t like to talk about yourself,” Alex said. She gave a nod. “I don’t either. I think I’m pretty boring, actually. I don’t do anything. I was just lucky enough to be born into a wealthy family.”
“You’re involved in charities,” Dorian pointed out.
She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I just think I need to give back. I feel it’s a responsibility. I don’t do anything like you do.”
“I do whatever Dreagan needs of me, and I always will. But I doona run the business. There are others for that.”
“Is it a large company? I know how big the business is, but how many employees do you have?”
Dorian wasn’t at all comfortable with this line of questioning. Then again, it was better than talking about himself. “Those we employ outside the family are few. We like to do the majority of things ourselves.”
“How big is your family?”
“Big,” he replied.
She crossed one long leg over the other. “I always heard that it wasn’t wise to work with family.”
“We wouldna have it any other way.”
“It allows you to keep things private.”
He grinned. “Aye, it does.”
“I admit, I always hate the auction because I’m always afraid of who I’ll have to spend a few hours with. But you intrigue me.”
“Oh?” he asked with a raised brow.
She licked her lips and glanced away, her expression shuttered as her face turned red. “I... Well, usually men are doing whatever they can to get me into their beds.”
Dorian realized she was embarrassed at the admission. And somehow he liked that. “How do you know I willna?”
Alex’s hazel eyes briefly met his, her face flaming red.
“You’re a beautiful woman. Is it any wonder men want you?”
She tucked her hair behind her ear, the pleasure of his words obvious in the way that her lips curved into a soft smile. “Yet most of those men want me only for my money.”
“If they can no’ see you for you, then they doona deserve you.”
Alex blinked and leaned her head to the side, staring at him. “That’s good advice.”
He gave a nod and brought his glass to his lips, letting the smooth taste of the whisky slide down his throat.
The next few minutes were taken up with ordering food. Dorian couldn’t stop looking at her. Alex wasn’t anything like he’d imagined she would be. She was cautious, reserved, and vulnerable—though she tried valiantly to hide it. But he knew what to look for.
Paul saw it as well, which was one reason her bodyguard was so protective.
“Do you have anyone close to you?” she suddenly asked.
Dorian hesitated as he thought of the other Kings. “I used to, but I’ve kept to myself for a long time now.”
“Why?” She then waved her hand, her face creased in regret. “I’m prying. Forget I asked.”
“I lost someone verra close to me.”
“I know all about loss.” She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward to put her arms on the table. “My parents were killed in a plane crash when I was fifteen. My grandfather died of heart failure two years later, and my grandmother I lost six years ago.”
Without thinking, Dorian reached over and put his hand atop hers. “I’m sorry.”
And to his shock, he really was. She had suffered many difficulties, and he knew exactly how that felt. The fact that they had something in common, something that pushed him to actually like her, wasn’t something he’d expected.
Their gazes locked for long moments.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Dorian spotted the arrival of the meal and removed his hand. They were silent as they ate, each absorbed in their food. He felt Alex’s gaze on him and knew she wanted to ask who he had lost.
Once more she had shared, and she wanted him to do the same. If only he had something else to give her, but he didn’t.
Finally, he set his fork down and leaned back.
“You don’t have to tell me,” Alex said. “I can see you still grieve deeply.”
“I’ll always mourn for her.”
“Her. Oh,” Alex murmured.
Dorian inhaled and softly blew it out. “My sister was murdered.”
“Oh, God. That’s awful. I’m so sorry.” She reached out and placed a hand upon his arm in comfort. “Do you know who’s responsible?”
“Aye.”
“Have they been caught?”
He had to look away before his hatred consumed him. It rose swiftly, urging him to get retribution. It would be so easy. How could he answer her? He was sitting with one of the beings responsible for destroying everything, but he couldn’t say that.
Memories of the mob of mortals attacking his sister filled his mind. He heard her screams of pain, saw her tears.
Suddenly, it was too much. He wanted to kill, to maim, and to wipe away every remnant of human beings from the face of the planet. With every fiber of his being he wanted things back to the way they were before the mortals arrived, when he had his family and his dragons.
He pulled his arm from her, suddenly unable to bear being near her. He thrust back his chair as he got to his feet to walk to the glass wall behind him and the view everyone in New York seemed to appreciate.
Everyone, that is, except him.
There was no way he could be here. He knew how important the artifact was, but he held too much rage, too much anger to be able to do what Con wanted. If only he could’ve gone with his plan where he wouldn’t have to be around the mortals.
And he would after today. He just had to get through the rest of lunch, and then tonight he would take the object and return to Dreagan where he belonged.
A soft hand came to rest on his back between his shoulder blades and slowly slid to his arm as Alex moved to stand before him. Her eyes held a wealth of sadness that brought a rush of emotion that tightened his throat.
No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t look away from her. He was trapped, ensnared by her eyes that held sympathy and understanding.
“I’m so sorry, Dorian,” she whispered. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
He gave a shake of his head.
“I shouldn’t have pried. Please forgive me. I’m just curious about you. I knew you didn’t want to talk about it, and I pushed. It’s one of my many faults.”
He wanted to tell her that it was fine, but the words wouldn’t come. To his surprise, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his.
The feel of her warmth and her softness undid him. His anger evaporated, promptly replaced with need that surged through him with such force that he shook with it.
How could his body betray him like this? With his enemy? She was his foe, wasn’t she?
Dorian stopped thinking when her arms tightened and her breasts pressed against him. He inhaled deeply, pulling in the floral-citrus scent of perfume that didn’t smell like a false scent, but rather a part of Alex.
His eyes closed, and for just a moment, he allowed himself to take comfort in the arms of a mortal, to forget the ever-present anger and just...be.