Carrick's fingertips brushed over the bare shoulder and he bent to brush his lips against it; the merest whisper of a kiss.
"By all means. I've laid something out on your bed." He bent closer and murmured, his lips almost against her ear. "I intend to have you before morning."
He stepped away and gestured for her to follow. "This way."
The vampire led Adelice back into the hallway and up two flights on a curving staircase, past several other rooms and into a large chamber decorated in silver and charcoal, the large bed strewn with grey silk cushions. Heavy dark curtains were draw back to reveal a panoramic view over the town below and the forests and hills of the surrounding area. In one wall stood a door to an ensuite bathroom, and in another stood a metal door with an electronic combination lock and a retinal scanner.
"My bedroom," Carrick stated. "Though I don't technically sleep in here. During the day you'll make sure it's clean and in order. Your room is next door, though I may sometimes let you rest in here for a while.
He opened another door and showed her into a much smaller room with a single bed, a large wardrobe and a dressing table. It was neat and clean but far from luxurious. On the bed lay a simple but elegant white satin nightgown.
"You can clean yourself up and then rest for a while," the vampire offered. "Come to my room two hours before dawn. No later."