In order of preference: cunt, blood, mouth—that’s the way he liked the taste of Delilah.

When he lifted his head, he said, “Now, we’re takin’ a shower.”

That didn’t get him a grin.

That got him a smile.

Fuck, his Delilah.

Better than a dream.

* * * * *

At two to nine, Abel prowled the dining room of Jian-Li’s restaurant.

Hooker and his boys were in the alley, prepared for the meeting (that being heavily armed with knives and guns) and chain-smoking.

Xun and Wei were in the kitchen, also heavily armed, with swords crossed on their backs.

Chen, also ready, was at the front door, keeping watch.

Delilah and Jian-Li were sitting at a round table in the middle of the room. Carafes of coffee, cups, jugs of cream, bowls of sugar, pastries Jian-Li had demanded Xun go out to get on platters, all of this was on the table, the women sipping coffee and gabbing like everything was A-OK.

He fought back the urge to snarl.

“Abel, eat a pastry,” Delilah called.

“Not hungry,” he replied, and he wasn’t. He’d had her blood, which meant he’d had a gourmet breakfast. He didn’t need a fucking pastry.

“Honey—” she started, but he turned his eyes to her and she snapped her mouth shut.

She then gave big eyes to Jian-Li, who replied by shaking her head and taking a sip of her tea.

Abel tensed.

Then he called to the back, “They’re here.”

“This is kinda exciting,” Delilah whispered.

“I agree,” Jian-Li replied.

Fuck.

“SUV’s pullin’ up,” Chen confirmed from the front.

Fuck.

He heard and smelled the men coming in from the back.

Abel moved to position himself between the door and the table where his women were sitting.

He saw Chen standing at the front door, eyes to him.

Abel nodded.

Chen nodded back and turned to the door. He saw his brother take in a deep breath, then he opened it.

The scent of vampire and wolf drifted through.

Abel successfully fought his fangs extending and stood braced.

They came in: Vampire one, his human bride, male wolf, his she-wolf queen, and last, vampires two and three.

All the males’ eyes were on him.

The females moved directly to the round table, Sonia greeting, “Hey! Good morning,” with Leah’s greeting being, “Oh thank God! Coffee and pastries.”

Even as this happened and he heard chairs scraping, dishes clinking, his mate and Jian-Li returning greetings, Abel didn’t take his eyes off the males.

They lined up in a semicircle ten feet from Abel.

He divided his attention between the first vampire and the wolf, not only because their threat was strongest, but because they were tense in a way that didn’t sit well with Abel for this supposed we’re-all-friendly meeting.