Elemental Reverse Harem Quartet (part 1: Earth)

Chapter 10

One hell of a toothy smile

Malka Selby

Are those teeth real?

Did he put fake teeth in his mouth while a semi-naked man walked through the rain outside and distracted me? I wanted to see plastic joke teeth come away from his gums. I didn't know what to make of the possibility that they were real, and he'd been telling the truth. That I'd survived sinking into the earth like a woman with lead boots in a swimming pool and was sitting and talking with a vampire was no less credible than believing this was the afterlife.

At the sound of footsteps entering the room, I turned, expecting to see the shirtless man from outside, but a mature woman wearing a yellow floral apron over a dress stood before us.

"Sir." She curtseyed. "Beck Colborn is at the door."

"Show him in, Maria. Beck never needs to be left outside. And bring in some water."

The lady's gaze darted to me but didn't linger before dropping to the floor. Through eleven years in posh boarding schools, I'd visited many grand homes that had servants; however, Maria seemed incongruous in this average terraced London home. A please and thank you from Varu wouldn't go amiss, either. How hadn't I noticed Varu's arrogance from the start?

"She's wondering about you being here." He didn't wait for Maria to leave the room before speaking about her in a low voice. "She should know Beck's always welcome. He doesn't need an announcement."

With rain droplets glistening on his bare chest, the man entered. He appeared unselfconscious as he walked toward us. He stopped in the middle of the room and dropped his head in something that was more than a nod but not quite a full deferential bow.

I might not have noticed the subtle behavior but for having watched Maria curtsey beforehand. It left me wondering who the fuck I was sitting with. Who was this Varujan, the Romanian vampire who had servants and visitors bowing to him?

"Come on in, Beck. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Varu remained seated.

I stood up and held out my hand, dragging my eyes from Beck's tattooed torso and up to his face. I might be dead, or possibly not, but I hadn't forgotten my manners.

The stranger's smile was as sexy as his body, a little crooked and a lot cheeky. We held eye contact as Beck walked toward me, and then a big warm hand clasped mine.

"You're fully aware of how eager I am to meet Malka." Answering Varu, Beck's eyes never left my face. "I'm Beck Colborn, and I'm pleased to meet you at long last."

"And you didn't consider bothering with clothes?" Varu chuckled.

"I didn't stop to think about it." Beck glanced down at his body as if he had no idea what he was wearing. My gaze went with his. Raindrops clung to his broad shoulders, and one or two streamed down his body, cutting a curved path over the ridges of his stomach muscles.

The movement of his head forced me to look up. He grinned at me, having caught me staring at his body. I didn't want to stop at looking. I blushed. Our hands had been together for a little too long, so I let go and sat down.

No one in possession of their full faculties stepped out of their house, at night, in the rain, and didn't realize they were only wearing jogging bottoms and sneakers. I deduced Beck might be gorgeous, but he couldn't be the full ticket.

"I was in a hurry to get out of there."

"Fire in a bad mood?"

"Mmmm, yes, but more that I wanted to come and meet you, Malka. Once Haydn told me you were here, there was no keeping me away."