✴𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐭✴

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙣 in the conference room settled back in their seats. Gabe led her over to a chair while Oliver put his head in his hands and plopped down in the seat to his right. She couldn’t tell if he was exhausted or not, he looked perfect. But Vampiri always did. A man at the end of the table stood and approached her. His long strides ate up the distance until he stood inches in front of her. He was taller than even Gabe, a giant. Long, mahogany dreads fell to the middle of his back. He wasn’t dressed like the others. He wore a Valentino suit without the jacket, and a white linen button-up shirt rolled at the sleeves over strong, masculine arms roped with thickly veined muscles. He had a silver torque around his neck. It gleamed brightly against his bronze skin. His face was aristocratic – hard edges and a straight nose, but it was his eyes that were the most alarming. A shade of violet-like she’d never seen, dark amethyst, fathomless and arrogant. Immortals always had that extra flare humans didn’t, and it appeared this immortal had received an extra helping.

His grin was telling. One that said he knew he was every woman’s fantasy come to life. If she hadn’t sworn men off, he surely would be the object of her desire. Hot, dirty sex appeal was pouring off this man in waves. If she weren’t careful, she’d be caught in the undertow.

“I’m Captain Dravaggio.” His warm, strong hand gripped hers. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me and my team.”

He quickly introduced her to the men in the room. There was a set of twins that sat across from her. One was smiling as he lit a red cigarette, blowing the smoke in her direction, the other glared. She didn’t take in their looks because she was still stupidly eye f✮✮king the captain. What was it about him? He made her want to jump out of her seat and onto him. There were some other names tossed about; some guy she thought she heard called Adam, and another guy the captain referred to as Hawke. Then there was Gabe and Oliver, whom she’d already met. Dravaggio was saying something about missing team members and apologizing for their absence when Jes realized the guy with the red smoke was sitting next to her now. How the hell did he get so close without her noticing?

“And because you are so enamored with our captain and didn’t hear the introduction,” he held out his hand and grabbed hers, breaking her out of the trance before continuing, “I’m Royce. Resident badass, all around swell motherf✮✮ker, and every woman’s dream come true. Very nice to meet you.”

He held eye contact with her and gently kissed the back of her hand until she was fully aware that all the men in the room were smiling. Captain Sex God bowed and retreated to the chair at the end of the table then gestured with his hands.