Deep is the Night: Dark Fire

by Denise A. Agnew

  “Tavish,” Danny said, his voice hoarse and his hands clenched at his side. “What are you doing here?”

  “Checking out a book. Doesn’t look like that’s what you had in mind, Fortesque.” Lachlan’s voice reverberated with strong dislike.

  “I’m here conduction official police investigation.”

  Oh, please, Danny. That is the lamest. Erin wanted to slap him.

  Lachlan stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “Erin isn’t enjoying your official police investigation.”

  With a smirk on his face that she never would have imagined seeing on Danny, the police officer stepped forward until perhaps three feet separated him and Lachlan. “That’s for her to say.”

  Lachlan’s gaze centered on her, and she saw that golden glow hovering in his eyes like sparks from a conflagration. He didn’t smile. “Damn right it is.”

  Erin felt her stomach flop. Were these men going to fight over her?

  “This isn’t necessary,” Erin said as she walked toward them. “I don’t want to see either of you in this lounge again. Both of you seem intent on getting me fired, which is exactly what might happen if you keep coming in here and staying for long periods of time.” She swallowed her disappointment in them as she pointed toward the door. “Get out and let me enjoy the rest of my break.”

  Danny glanced away from his adversary long enough to pin her with an intent, almost apologetic look, “Erin, this isn’t over.”

  “The hell it isn’t. If you come near me again, Danny Fortesque, I’m calling your supervisor and pressing sexual harassment charges.”

  His mouth popped open. “Sexual harassment?”

  “That’s right. I thought you were here to investigate these murders. Instead I find out all you want is to—to—never mind. Just get out.”

  Danny’s expression hardened into granite before he moved with swift strides past Lachlan. After the door closed behind him, Erin watched Lachlan standing in the middle of the room. Silence ran deep between them.

  Unable to keep up a pretense of cool collection and feeling like her knees might wobble any minute, she leaned against the sink again. “Thank you. I think.”

  A gentle smile teased his mouth, but then it disappeared as he stalked toward her. She clasped the sink behind her, realizing for the first time that her heart still pounded from the bizarre encounter with Danny and Lachlan’s sudden appearance. As the uncompromising Scot made tracks toward her, she saw the intent in his eyes. Predatory male was written all over him, and in the golden flash that sparked in his eyes for a few seconds, then winked out.

  That flash of fire reminded her of why she couldn’t have anything more to do with him. At least not romantically.

  He stopped in front of her, his nearness sending her senses into instant riot. She inhaled the warm musk of his masculine scent and felt the heat of his body. Even now the damned man made her belly clench with sudden desire.

  He reached up to brush his thumb over her cheek. “Are you going to tell me what that was all about, or are you angry with me?”

  “I’m still angry.”

  When she wouldn’t meet his eyes, he tilted her chin up and held it in his gentle grip. “Unhappy that I interrupted that kiss?”

  “Of course not. You know I didn’t want him to kiss me.”

  “That’s what it looked like. But I wanted to hear it from your lips. After what we did last night…”

  “I’d never be sexually involved with two men at the same time.”

  If she thought her reassurance might take the underlying flame from his eyes, she discovered differently.

  Again he touched her face, cupping it in one hand. Tantalizing and hot, the feeling of his big hand cradling her tenderly almost undid all her defenses. How could she afford to trust him with so many questions unanswered?

  “Erin, don’t pull away from me. I came here to apologize for last night and for not telling you everything. I was afraid if I did you’d turn away from me like my fiancée did.”

  Unwilling to give in to his apology, she said, “Well, I did anyway, didn’t I?”

  He nodded. “I also came here to make sure when you left tonight that you were safe.”

  “I don’t want your help, Lachlan.” She trembled deep inside. “I need to think about all of this awhile and understand what I’m feeling. There’s too much happening.”

  His gaze, filled with male hunger, captured her as his fingers caressed her face. “Let me keep you safe, Erin. It’s torturing me. If anything happened to you—” He choked off the words, and she saw anguish touch his features. “I lost my parents to this damned vampire, and I’m not going to lose you.”

  Vampire?

  “Lachlan, did you just say vampire?”

  “I did, but let’s talk about one thing at a time, please.”

  Passionate and consuming, his entreaty made her heart soften the tiniest bit. “All right.”

  “You still care for me. You love me,” he said huskily, desperation touching his voice with a plea.

  There. He’d said it out loud, the words she hadn’t said the night before despite a deep longing in her heart to scream the words to the heavens. Part of her felt overjoyed, and yet the other part stayed cautious and couldn’t yet believe his declaration.

  She dared look into his eyes, which was a mistake, of course. Longing stirred her heart when she detected the desire inside him. But she also saw something dangerous and rough, and she didn’t know if he directed it at Danny or her. Gently she put her hand over his and drew it away from her face. When he touched her she couldn’t think straight.

  “You’re not the man I thought you were. I’m confused. Please give me this much.”

  He frowned. “Take all the time you need. Erin—?”

  “I can’t do this right now.” Tears threatened her eyes and it angered her. She sniffed and held them back as best she could. She scrubbed a hand through her hair, weariness catching up with her. “Thank you for telling Danny to leave me alone.”

  “I would have dragged him away if he hadn’t released you.”

  She saw the animal inside him come to life. As he leaned closer she knew if she didn’t do something he would forget all convention, all worries and kiss her right here in the employee lounge. She didn’t know, in one second’s space, if she could resist that intimate touch. The heat in his eyes said it all. Lachlan knew she loved him, and part of her hated him for stating it and using that intimate feeling against her.

  She put a hand on is chest to hold him away, but that was a mistake, too. All she could feel beneath the sweater was hot, hard muscle.

  “How did you know I was in here?” Her question came out scratchy and dry.

  “Gilda said you were in here with Fortesque. I had to know what was going on.” His smile held disgust for the man. “Do you know what I wanted to do to him when I saw him restraining and kissing you?”

  She thought she knew, but she asked anyway. “What did you want to do?”

  “I wanted to kick his bloody arse,” he whispered harshly.

  “I’m glad you didn’t. He would have arrested you for assaulting an officer.”

  “If he hurt you I wouldn’t have cared.”

  “Yes, you would have.” Her voice squeaked the slightest bit as she held back a strange anguish tearing at her heart. “And I wouldn’t have bailed your Scot’s butt out of jail, either.”

  A tear trembled on her lower lash, and Erin blinked hard. Unfortunately, the tear escaped and Lachlan leaned forward to kiss it from her cheek. His hot breath branded her with excitement. Swirls of electricity filled her stomach, and as he tilted even closer, she knew she was a goner. Her breath hitched in her throat as he pressed the most tender, exquisite kiss to her mouth.

  “Erin, please, let’s talk later. I’ll explain—”

  “No.”

  His mouth closed over hers again. This time he lingered, challenging her to resist the caress of his lips and the searing temperature th
at rose between them.

  He tasted of cinnamon, and the deliciousness made her dizzy. God, she wanted to touch him everywhere. Wanted him inside her body and soul. She almost clutched him close and responded. Almost threw away caution all together.

  Instead, she pushed against his chest with both hands, and he backed away.

  “You’re no better than Danny,” she said. “And you didn’t explain the other night about that glow in your eyes.”

  “Damn it, Erin, you know I’m not like Fortesque. Have I ever forced a kiss on you?”

  She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Look, I can’t do this here, Lachlan. I’ve got a job to do, and I don’t think Fred is going to appreciate me causing a fight between you and a police officer. And I should be working—”

  “Gilda said she’d hold the fort and Fred off until we sorted things out between us.” He kept close, despite the fact that her gentle shove had sent him a step away. Renewed anger, this time directed at her, filled his dark eyes. “But I can see it’s going to take more than a few kisses to convince you I’m not a sod.”

  “There isn’t anything…” She felt the tears well again. Ashamed of her lack of restraint and inability to hold back her feelings, she allowed more tears to rain down. She felt them leave a trail down her face, and she rubbed them away with her palms. “It’s too complicated.”

  Her fear they’d be caught in an intimate embrace made her retreat when she wanted to fall into his arms and sob like a ninny. She moved away from Lachlan, wiping away the tears as she left him in the lounge alone.

  Chapter 19

  The vampire waited until last rays of sun swept across the winter landscape and disappeared behind the mountains before he left his hideaway. Already the nip in the air turned icy, and snow flurries touched the night sky.

  By the time he reached the library and slipped inside, most cautious patrons straggled into the frost gathering darkness outside. People stayed in groups these days, as if worried the bogie man would take them otherwise. A few individuals, most men, occupied study cubicles or looked through books on the numerous shelves. They wore an unusual nonchalant attitude that said they didn’t believe goblins or ghouls awaited them somewhere in the cover of evening.

  He admired their misguided bravery.

  People like them made easy prey because they didn’t listen to their gut when it said evil hovered nearby in the gloom. And oh, how he loved shadows. So cold, so solid, so very baneful these dark sections between shafts of light. He could huddle here forever if blood didn’t call to him. If Erin’s sweet possibility didn’t torment him every step of the way.

  From his quiet observation area between two bookshelves, he cloaked himself so that none could see him. It wouldn’t do for Erin to see who he was until he put her under his complete thrall.

  A lone woman passed by him, and he savored the shiver she gave as she walked onward. Perhaps she thought the draft belonged to the building and not his soulless body.

  He observed Gilda striding up the stairs toward the children’s section, and he considered tasting her blood. He could glide upstairs, pin her in a dark and secluded corner and suck her life force. Oh, he would make it pleasurable for her. He didn’t like giving women unneeded pain unless they asked for it. He might touch her nipples, stroke her clit, and sink his fangs into her neck as he slid his fingers into her cunt. As he drained her almost to death, he would give her the biggest, best, most earth-shattering orgasm of her life. What woman wouldn’t want to leave this life with an ecstasy most men couldn’t give them? He relished his inhuman sexual prowess and savored the next opportunity to bring a woman to soul-shaking climax.

  Then again, he’d taken women who possessed strong will. They did not tame easily. The last woman he’d tasted resisted his seduction, and he’d subdued her with force rather than loving.

  Yes, giving a woman a hard, bone-rattling come was an even trade for her blood.

  Of course, the bliss he gave the women made the blood taste better.

  Sometimes his hunger grew too fierce and then he took an older woman like that Pickles bitch. Her taste, as dried up and used as a prune, had given him life force but little enjoyment. She’d fainted. Not that he’d bothered to give her an orgasm. He knew she’d never had one in all her days.

  No. He liked the younger ones. Ripe. Subtle. Their eagerness fueled his feeding frenzy and sometimes, after their orgasm, they died on the spot.

  He sighed. Ah, the hazards of being the undead.

  His attention snapped back to Gilda, and he almost went upstairs. Almost.

  Then he saw a spindly, older man talking to Erin and it drew his awareness back to the woman he wanted more than anything. After the man went away, Erin organized the front area. The huge grandfather clock at one side of the room bonged four thirty. People started to leave the library, and he recalled that the town closed down early these days because of El Chupacabra.

  He laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. Poor El Chupacabra, being blamed for something it didn’t do.

  His bloodlust revived, hardened by a few long hours without nourishment. Deciding that Gilda might taste nice anyway, he decided perhaps he would take her after all.

  Still, Erin drew his attention a little longer. As he watched her, Erin seemed nervous. He knew why and relished that she could feel his presence. His intimate touch into her mind said she didn’t care for everything that happened to her of late. And although he wished to possess her in body, mind, and soul, he didn’t want her sexual blossoming to diminish. No, the heady energy gave him life, and he consumed it and suckled it like a babe at a mother’s breast. Food for his immortality, warm and as sweet, came in the form of her sexual vigor. Erin’s awakening held wonderful and terrible consequences she couldn’t yet envision.

  He laughed, and Erin’s attention jerked toward his area. She gazed right at him. At first he felt a bizarre apprehension. Could she see him?

  But, no. Her gaze went right through him.

  Suddenly, he didn’t know if he liked that, or not.

  * * * * *

  “Fred’s been giving us weird glances all day,” Gilda said as she scanned the room. “Not to mention Candice and Greg.”

  “I’m trying not to notice,” Erin said.

  Both Candice and Greg worked the second kid’s area as well as the research rooms upstairs. They’d come downstairs at various times of the day for one thing or another and their attitude held a strange coolness Erin didn’t try to decipher. She supposed the town gossips managed to spread the word that she’d done the nasty with Lachlan last night and somehow that made her a pariah.

  “Besides,” Erin said, “I don’t think Fred is looking at you. It’s me he’s watching and it’s making me nervous.”

  Gilda lowered her voice. “Don’t worry. All he saw was Lachlan going into the lounge and then Danny storming out.”

  Erin made a soft huffing noise. “That’s all?”

  “I distracted him with some questions after that.” Gilda’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “You’ll have to tell me later what happened. Both men came out of that room with their eyes blazing. I half expected to hear sounds of a knock-down, drag-out fight happening in there.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  Gilda sobered a little. “No, sweetie, it isn’t.”

  Erin smiled weakly. “And I always wondered what it would be like for two men to want me at once.”

  The phone at the front counter rang stridently, and Erin wished the day didn’t seem so damned long. She wanted the peace and quiet of a good book and maybe hot chocolate. She needed something to remove the anxiety that seemed to have gripped her since the strange encounter with Lachlan and Danny earlier in the day.

  Fred came up to the desk, and Erin’s anxiety rose at the displeased stare on Fred’s face.

  “Erin, do you have a few moments?” Fred asked. “Come into my office, please.”

  Erin followed him back toward the small office area near the restro
oms and lounge. Back here Fred reigned supreme with Arlene, an elderly woman that worked part time in the mornings assisting him with secretarial duties. Arlene hadn’t come in today so they had the office area to themselves. He gestured toward the chair in front of his desk, and she sank onto the hard, cold wood. Her muscles felt tight as boards and her nerves rattled. Taking a few glances around the room of his utilitarian office, she wondered why he didn’t have any family photos around. She tried a deep breath to eliminate apprehension, but it didn’t seem to make a difference.

  Fred sat down in his plusher chair. After adjusting his glasses on his nose, he spoke. “I wanted to ask you if everything was all right.”

  Oh, oh. Here it comes. “Yes, of course.”

  “Danny Fortesque called me.”

  Renewed irritation flashed inside her. “Oh?”

  Fred leaned back in his chair a little, his position casual and relaxed. “He’s very concerned about your safety because of this Scotch fellow.”

  “Why would Danny call you about that?”

  Fred shrugged, and the harsh florescent lighting bounced off his wispy white hair. “He asked me if I wouldn’t watch out for you while you were at work. And if Tavish showed up and harassed you again, I’m to call the law.”

  Erin shifted in her chair, her fingers clutching the chair arms. “Lachlan didn’t harass me. He came in because he was…because we had something personal to discuss.” She swallowed, her throat dry as crackers. “I’m sorry if that was inappropriate.”

  To her surprise, Fred’s narrow face creased in a smile and one dimple dented his left cheek. The older man’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Personal, eh? Well, don’t worry about that. I wasn’t angry with you, if that’s what you were thinking.”

  Relief loosened her grip on the chair arms. “I thought for sure you were going to reprimand me.”