Author: catstark

From Inside the Grey House:

Two sets of hands pulled her up and out. They set her on the bathmat on her side. She lay shivering for a couple minutes as she was given more water and bits of oranges. A terry cloth robe was laid on top of her to help her chills. Natalia clutched at the robe trying to control her ragged breath. She became more aware of her surroundings as the room became brighter. She took a deep breath, and smelled a flower garden, then the scent of wicks being extinguished. She tried to sit up and was helped by two sets of hands. Her eyes rolled back as a wave of dizziness hit. She put her head between her knees and threw up.

“Rabbit” was the first word that came up today. I laughed a little as I didn’t think I had used that word in any part of the trilogy. Then remembered I used “rabbit” at least once in the first book. Because there are rabbits on Vincent’s estate. As that is in the first book, and not the second, I had to find another word.

From Inside the Grey House:

“How? He has no idea.” She sounded perturbed.

Vincent strolled over and grabbed her bandaged arm. He squeezed, giving her a mean look as he did so. He was angrier than ever before. His mood didn’t improve when she kept in her pain and gave him a dirtier look. “You left your blood. That’s all he needs.”

“Bullshit. You’re the only vampire I’ve ever heard of that can tell one human’s blood from another. And if for some reason Edwin can, he’s never met me. All he knows is that a human killed his men, not which one.”

From Inside the Grey House:

“You’re used to getting things your way. You won’t with her. It’ll be interesting to watch.” He paused to take another sip of the fine brandy. “I wonder how much she’ll get away with?”

Vincent stared out the window, considering his friend’s words. He wanted to argue, but knew Joseph was right. He considered how much he had already done for the human, although he only met her four times. There was something about her, as there had been with the five other women he had had long relationships with. Something that caught his attention from the moment they met. He had taken it for granted that Natalia would stay with him after he freed her. Now, Joseph was telling him she wanted to stay, but as a human, not as a vampire. He wondered if it mattered.

The memory of last night and of what he had done to Lorraine’s female came back to him. He had allowed himself to pretend it was Natalia chained to the wall. The ferocity with which he attacked and killed her had been funneled through his frustrations of not being able to be with the human of his choice. He didn’t believe he would rip Natalia’s throat out. What of the fact that she didn’t want to be changed? Did it matter? He turned back to Joseph, who was now sitting on the edge of the desk, swirling the last sip of brandy in the glass.

“How much have any of them gotten away with, Joseph? As long as she doesn’t betray me or hurt any in our family, she’ll have what she wants.”

“What does she want? Do you really know?”

“No, but I’ll get it out of her.”

“She’s in the master bedroom as you asked. Will you be using that room for a while?”

“Until I trust her, yes. Bring my clothing down from my room at the first opportunity.”

From Inside the Grey House:

While gathering up the papers, Natalia kept catching glances of descriptions and paused when she saw the description a third time. She flipped back to the other descriptions and saw it again: short, female, Asian vampire, black hair and eyes. Hunts in new bars for single males, but doesn’t pick them up until target is drunk.

Natalia’s heart stopped. Jeffery was hunting Kimberly.

From Inside the Grey House:

He crushed her with his weight, stopping any response with a hard kiss. She reacted immediately, digging her nails into his chest. He grunted into her mouth as he felt the welts she gave him. He pulled away, no longer hiding his desire.

There was a smile of absolute happiness slowly taking over her face. “Let me up. We’re not making love in the dungeon.”

His gave her a hyena’s smile. “What’s wrong with making love here?”

“There are things I want to do that would be rather uncomfortable on a cement floor. We’re moving to my room.”

From Inside the Grey House:

Natalia took a few spoonfuls of the stew. It had been cooked long enough that the meat had fallen apart, and the vegetables were soft. It was very tasty. As she ate, she thought about Lilly’s statement. Now that she was with Vincent, she couldn’t think of anything that she wanted, except Vincent. She pushed the thought from her head, deciding Lilly was wrong. Vincent wanted her for the same reason she wanted him: for sex. There was nothing more between them. He would only give her as much as she gave him. The thought didn’t bother her; it just made things simpler. She settled into the seat and continued eating the stew.

From Inside The Grey House:

Vincent growled as he rushed forward, healing himself along the way. She slashed as he charged, using the light weapon effectively. He pulled back when blood gushed from the wound on his neck. He fell to his knees, grasping his neck, trying hard to hold in his blood. Anthony was yelling for her blood, demanding the fight be stopped. Vincent closed his wound, wondering if Anthony was right. He was starting to feel rather hungry. He had lost more blood than he thought he would. He had to take her down. He looked up at the beautiful woman wondering how to do it and saw the look in her eye. She hid it quickly, but not quickly enough. Vincent’s eyes roamed to her right arm: the bandage was soaked with blood.

From Inside the Grey House:

Behind him followed a woman in a flowing yellow dress. She had a slight smile on her face and in her eyes. Her black hair streamed out behind her revealing various tattoos. Behind her were two younger women, similarly dressed in flowing green and blue dresses. Mierka was at the rear.

Vincent led Lilly and her women upstairs to the spare bedroom, not wasting any time on greetings. His people stayed out of his way. Joseph was at the top of the stairs, waiting. As Vincent’s foot hit the second-floor landing, his guard started walking, also mute. Joseph held the door open for Vincent and Lilly, nodding to the ladies as they walked by. He knew who they were and respected them.

From Inside the Grey House:

Vincent’s eyes traced the line of her body from the crook of her elbow down her torso to her tight thighs. She had shaved recently. Catching the ogle, Lorraine slowly drew her hand down her body to her thigh, showing off her manicured nails. The blood red polish was a sharp contrast to her ghostly white skin. Transfixed, Vincent’s eyes stayed on her hand as it traveled back up her thigh. He shook his head to clear it then realized the trail of red he was hallucinating was actually her blood. Her fingers were digging hard enough into her skin to pierce the flesh and draw blood. He was by her side in an instant, kneeling by her thigh, waiting for permission. He was highly agitated, and very hungry. He wanted, no, needed blood.

From Inside the Grey House:

“You attack our boss, and he will kill you. She brought this on herself! You defend her now; I won’t stop him from punishing you!”

Rebecca’s words penetrated his mind and Charlie changed back into human. He gave her a sheepish look and muttered under his breath. His wife shook her head, grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the room, headed for the dungeon. If she threw him down there, Vincent would not. Charlie didn’t fight her, knowing full well that she was right. It wasn’t his place to fight Vincent. Charlie allowed himself to be taken to the dungeon, where his Alpha wife shackled him in one of the smaller rooms.