Accidentally Married to…a Vampire?(Accidentally Yours #2)(40)
Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

What friendly service. Andrus nodded and threw down a twenty anyway. Fernando winked at him.

Yes, very friendly.

“So you still love her, don’t you?” Helena asked.

No. He hated that demon with every fiber of his being. He wanted to take her head and put it in his trophy case, though that wouldn’t be possible—vampire bitch couldn’t even do that much for him since her head would turn to ash.

“I’m half vampire; I love nothing and no one. I want her dead, so I can forget her. And what about you, Bride of the Executioner?” he asked.

Helena winced. “Oooh, God.” She punched Andrus in the arm. “Don’t say that! Sounds like a horror movie.”

Andrus smirked.

“Why do you call him that, anyway?” she asked.

Should he tell her? It might make it easier for her to move on when Niccolo died, given every vampire with the queen’s blood would perish along with her. Yes. Knowing she was bound to a killer could prove helpful.

“He’s the queen’s right hand, Helena, the general of her deadly, immortal army. A ruthless, bloodthirsty assassin.”

Andrus watched her face fill with sorrow. His gut churned with guilt.

She gave an empty nod. “He never told me what he did all night long or where he went. I figured he had some kind of dangerous job. But her general…? Her right hand…? She’s so evil.”

“I’m sorry.”

Helena raised her hand. “Fernando, can I get another?”

“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” Andrus objected.

“I just want to forget him, Andrus. He kept the truth from me, except when he said he could never love me.” She laughed. “How ironic! I’m not even good enough for the Executioner!”

He reached out and pushed her hair behind her ear. “Helena, he can’t love you because he’s a vampire. You, you’re perfect.”

“Andrus! Are you flirting with me?” she asked, amused.

Andrus looked down at his feet, shocked to realize that, in fact, he was. He thought that Reyna had destroyed that part of him—the part that felt affection. Go figure it would be the Executioner’s wife who’d bring him back. But there was no denying it. Helena had an easiness about her. Since she’d entered his life, he could breathe again—just a little.

“Yes, you are perfect. Except for your secret fetish: getting stinking drunk and trying to kiss strange men in seedy bars.”

She laughed and socked Andrus in the arm. “Nuh-uh! That red haired guy bet he could teach me to kiss so well that even a g*y man would pay for a lesson. I was about to make my first hundred.”

What!? She was kissing men for money? He growled and then froze. Wait. They were in a g*y bar? Andrus’ eyes swept the room and realized the truth. Ironically, he fit right in with his leather pants. That might explain why women steered clear of him. Or perhaps, it was because he was a dark son of bitch who always had a cloud of shadows lurking near him.

In any case, he’d have to rethink his wardrobe choices. Aw, f**k it. I like my leather pants.

He looked down at Helena with amazement. How come she didn’t mind his dark side? In fact, despite his snapping and barking, she still wanted to help him. She was strong, smart, and honorable in addition to being beautiful.

Lucky damned vampire. She was an extraordinary woman who could have any man she wanted. How could she, of all people, think she wasn’t good enough for that lowly Executioner? He suddenly realized how badly he wanted to kiss her, for her to want him instead of that vile bloodsucker.

He looked into her eyes. He was going to tell her exactly what was on his mind, “Helena,

I—”

Helena turned and did a little jump. “Oooh. I love this song!” She looked at Andrus. “Hold that thought, Andrus baby! Helena’s gotta go get her Pet Shop Boys on.”

Helena scuttled across the crowded room and pushed her way into a line of fifteen men, locked arm and arm, singing at the top of their lungs and swaying in unison. “Wooo! That’s right, baby!” Helena howled at the top of her lungs. The men on both sides hooted and jeered in response. “You are always on my miiind! You are always on my miiind!”

She sounds like a bloody, drowning cat. Andrus winced as her off-key voice carried through the bar. And that song. Bloody f**king awful, but dammit, she makes me laugh.

The song ended and Helena staggered over to Andrus, giggling. “No encores. Please. I know how much you want one, but the diva Helena needs more tequila.”

He reached in his pocket, pulled out a silver money clip loaded with bills, and slipped out a hundred.

Helena’s eyes lit up. “Ooo. You buyin’ me another?”

“I think you’ve had quite enough, but how much did you say it was for a lesson?”

Helena’s eyes went wider, but before she could say a word, his mouth was over hers.

Her lips softened immediately, and she opened her mouth to him. He instantly felt himself grow hard as her sweet tequila-tainted taste filled his mind, and her warm body leaned into him. Gods, she was irresistible.

Damn…this woman can kiss.

He felt a euphoric rush. He could feel again! He instantly knew this wouldn’t be enough. He wanted her. All of her.

His passion took over. He snaked one hand behind her back, the other to cup her head. He dipped her to deepen the kiss. It was nothing like the lust he’d had for Reyna. Helena’s spirit elevated him; she chased away the dark clouds and replaced them with warm, radiant light.

A tiny moan escaped her throat and reverberated in his ears. God, she was amazing. He broke the kiss for a moment. “Definitely worth a hundred.”

She smiled and reached her arm around his neck, “I think you’ve still got a balance left on your tab.”

She reached her lips to his and pulled him back into the kiss.

***

Legs dangling over the edge of the full size bed, Niccolo stretched, slowly coming out of his deep sleep as the sun set. Heaviness filled his chest.

They’d had to stop at a hotel early in the morning to rest instead of tracking Helena like he’d wanted. But he couldn’t risk his men’s safety since driving in daylight was too risky; anyone of them could fall asleep behind the wheel, and there were four vehicles in their caravan.

He slid the tablet from the nightstand and turned it on. He anxiously waited while the screen refreshed. He hoped Helena’s signal was still there or, even better, close by. When he finally caught up to her, he’d do something he personally objected to; he would glamour her into coming with him quietly.