ClaimMe by Calista Fox Page B

had the club to occupy
her time. And, admittedly, she was ecstatic over the opportunity to keep
managing Body Scenes—even if it had become a lonely and somewhat solitary
venture.
    She’d never share that latter part with Drake, of course.
She wouldn’t risk his guilty conscience holding him back, keeping him here when
he should be out exploring the world with the love of his life. Seeing things
through Shana’s eyes had to be refreshing after two centuries of being a
vampire. She envied them both, but lived with her personal lot in life.
    She told him, “I’m perfectly happy to maintain this arrangement.
I love researching A-listers to invite and, of course, their ploys and bribes
to try to get us to issue an invitation are amusing. I like mixing and matching
the crowd. It’s quite entertaining.”
    He stared at her a moment before asking, “And you’re hiding
up here, watching on the screen from different camera angles what goes on down
there?”
    She shrugged. “I’m more comfortable with voyeurism. I just
don’t trust myself in a roomful of mortals, you know that.”
    “But, Jane. You’ve never hurt anyone. Not even Shana, when
you were faced with the ultimate test of your restraint.”
    Turning away, she said, “That’s just how I feel, Drake.”
    “I don’t like how reclusive you’ve become.” His tone was
compassionate and contemplative. “Are you sure your fear is warranted? Or are
you afraid you might actually meet someone if you go downstairs? Does this have
anything to do with Sean?”
    Not a topic of discussion she liked to have. It was
certainly one she’d kept to herself until she’d met Shana and had felt
compelled to tell her she’d once had a great love, but then she’d lost him. It
had been therapeutic to say her vulnerability aloud and Jane’s admission had
helped Shana to face her own insecurities. Drake had overheard the exchange, so
now he knew about Jane’s past. Well, some of it. There was much more to her
story, but she’d never been able to talk about what had happened just months
after she’d begged Sean to turn her and make her immortal so they could spend
the rest of eternity together.
    Being separated from her soul mate was the equivalent of
having her heart ripped from her chest. She couldn’t stand to suffer that pain
and misery ever again. So, yes. She hid up here.
    Naturally, Drake was too intuitive not to dig a little
deeper and see her distress was more than just anxiety over hurting a human.
She didn’t want to get hurt herself, plain and simple. Not the way she’d been
hurt—no, destroyed —when Sean had been murdered.
    Glancing at Drake over her shoulder again, taking in his
dark, commanding presence, she said, “You don’t have to read me so well, you
know? I’d like to maintain some semblance of dignity.”
    He let out a long sigh. “I’m not trying to damage your pride
in any way. You know me better than that. What I’m saying is, I don’t
understand why you’re so afraid. I’ve made it work with Shana, you can see
that. She’s human.”
    “But that will change. She wants to be a vampire and you
agreed to make her one. So you really don’t have to keep yourself in check much
longer. Or if you do accidentally slip and bite her… No biggie as long as you
stop before her heart does. Which you will. You’re much too level-headed to
screw this up.” Forcing a lighter tone, though the previous subject matter had
made her tense, she quipped, “And as soon as she’s immortal, I’m sure your love
life will kick up a notch or two.”
    His grin was downright wicked. “Not that it really needs
kicking up a notch. She is… Hmm .” He looked positively devilish as he
said, “Inventive. And more than willing to experiment.”
    Jane groaned. “Thanks for rubbing it in.” She’d very much
enjoyed Shana’s adventurous side during their ultra-steamy menage. But she
wasn’t so sure she possessed the willpower Drake did.
    Not one to dwell on