Part 23 (1/2)

I drew in a breath and let it out in a long low hiss, along with the lowering of my fangs. ”Want to make something of it?”

His eyes snapped wide and he leaned back in his chair. He'd not want me in his bed now at least, now that he'd seen my fangs. More than a small part of me was hurt, and disappointed; if I was honest, I'd wanted him more than any other man I'd been around. Certainly more than Roger.

He reached across the table and scooped up one of my hands, pinning it between his. ”Oh, you are an intriguing one. More than I realized.”

”Are you going to help me or not?” I pulled my hand away while I tried to keep my lips from smiling, to stop the heat that flared between us. ”And I'm married. Remember? So stop with the flirting; it will get you nowhere.”

Grinning, he leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs out so that he brushed up against my bare feet. A move like that shouldn't have held as much heat as what spread up my legs. I swallowed and tucked my feet back under my seat.

”I'll help you, for a month of feeding off you.”

”Too much!” Dahlia yelled from upstairs.

”I know that!” I yelled back.

”Sorry!”

Remo laughed. ”The supernatural world hasn't been this much fun in years. Two weeks of feeding, then.”

”I'll give you two feedings from me,” I said, folding my hands on the table. ”And one taste test.” I unwound the wrap from my wrist and tossed the saturated rag to him. My wrist wasn't healed up, and I pressed my fingers over it to stem the steady flow.

Remo lifted the rag over his head and let it drip into his mouth. Two drops fell and he lowered the rag. His eyes had a strange look to them I'd only ever seen in clients who'd fallen in love with my baking. I had him.

”A week of feeding,” he said.

I lifted an eyebrow. ”Two feedings. And not a drop more. Take it or leave it.”

”What about your brother?”

I leaned back in my seat and smiled at him. ”I heard something about a rival gang in town. I'm sure I can get them to help me.”

”You are a shrewd negotiator.” He grinned. ”I can't wait until you get into trouble again. Consider the deal done.” He held out his hand and I placed mine in it. He closed down and pulled me across the table on my belly. I gasped, the wood surface slick enough I might as well have been on those satin sheets I'd imagined earlier. With a quick twist Remo spun me so my legs swung around. He grabbed my hips and sat me up so I faced him, his head now level with my chest.

”There, that's better.” He lifted my wrist to his mouth, his eyes on mine as he licked along the wound. ”I'm going to enjoy this, though I must admit I would have preferred to take it from your neck.”

I jerked my head to one side, breaking his gaze as if it were a physical thing. ”You have a time limit as far as I'm concerned. You can use it to play your games or feed.”

He grunted and bent his head over my wrist. Unlike Dahlia, who'd been out cold, Remo was anything but. He latched onto my wrist as if his mouth were a suction cup, and the first drag he took . . . hurt. I closed my eyes and counted, knowing that Dahlia had had at best a minute of blood.

For Tad, I could do this. Even as with every second that pa.s.sed, the pain increased, easily doubling. Sweat slid down my cheeks, neck, and arms. At fifty-eight I jerked my hand away from him. ”Enough.”

Remo barely moved except to let out a long whisper. ”My G.o.d.”

”Don't use his name here,” I whispered. ”Don't.”

The vampire smiled as he tipped his head up. ”Fine by me. He left me long ago and I do not miss his pa.s.sing.” His eyes sparked with a light burning hot from within, as if a fire burned behind them.

”Now we can go for Tad.”

”I took a lot of blood from you. I think you should rest,” Remo crooned, and his words made perfect sense. Of course I should rest. No, that wasn't right, I needed to get to Tad, to get him away from Achilles.

I blinked and glared at Remo. ”Stop that.”

His dark eyes widened ever so slightly, showing a hint of violet once more, and a smile curled his lips. ”Stop what?”

”You know what I'm talking about. Stop trying to make me do what you want,” I snapped. Though even I had to admit, the snap was more of a breathy whisper. I shook my head and slid off the table. My legs wobbled as I moved sideways to the counter. The granite was smooth under my hand, and I gripped it for all I was worth. A loud crack rent the air, the granite cracking under the pressure.

Remo cleared his throat. ”I'll gather up my mob and head to the stadium. I'll wait for you across the street.”

I nodded. ”How long before you're there?”

”An hour.”

One hour to get past the SDMP at the gate, and all the way to the stadium. This was going to be tight. Remo stood and stretched, his s.h.i.+rt pulling up, giving me a glimpse of pale belly and a thin line of dark hair that disappeared into the waistband of his jeans.

”Married, huh?”

I whipped my head up, but what could I say? ”Looking isn't the same as touching. I'd have to be dead not to look.”

He laughed. ”I'll see you in an hour, Alena.”

I closed my eyes as he pa.s.sed by me, the smell of cinnamon and honey the only thing that told me he had moved. When it faded I opened my eyes. The room looked no different and yet . . . I was different. I'd made a deal with a devil: a devil I rather liked the look of.

”'I'd have to be dead not to look'? You realize that is rather ironic since most of the a.s.s he taps is dead.” Dahlia strode into the kitchen, Beth and Sandy trailing behind her.

I shrugged but couldn't meet her eyes.

”Wait, you don't really like him . . . do you?” Dahlia gasped. ”Oh my G.o.d, you're hot for Remo.”

”I am not hot for anyone. I'm married.”

”You keep saying that,” Dahlia snorted. ”I don't think it matters anymore.”

I frowned, hating that part of me agreed with her. ”Whatever. We need to focus on getting Tad safe and making Achilles see I'm not the monster he thinks I am.”

Dahlia shook her head and picked up the car keys from the counter. ”You think you can convince him to simply back down from the fight?”

I nodded. ”Why not? I've been able to convince other men to do what I want.” The words popped out of me and I cringed. ”Never mind, it will be up to me anyway.”

”We're coming with you,” Beth said. ”If what you're saying is true, he'll come after us next, won't he?”

I bit my lower lip. ”Yes, I think so. But that's only if he kills me.”

”What's the chances of a hero, trained in the killing arts, with superhuman speed and a track record of 100, killing you, a brand-new monster with a dislike for ruffling feathers?” Dahlia glanced at the two girls. ”No pun intended.”

I slapped my hands on the table and leaned toward her. ”I'm not leaving Tad. At the very least I'm getting him out of there. Do you understand me?” I didn't realize I was shouting until I stopped and the room echoed with my words.