by Opal Carew
“He... he—”
“He’s not here,” Michael shouted, when he and Zachary finished their search and headed back to the living room.
Her uncle motioned toward her bedroom. “Pack your bags, Rachael. You’re coming home with me now.”
Gregory’s lips were a thin line as he glowered at her. Having to deal with her family’s treatment of her, knowing they only acted in her best interest was one thing, but Gregory had no business thinking she belonged to him already.
Her uncle just couldn’t marry her off to him. Her stomach twisted in knots with the idea. She turned and strode to her bedroom.
“At least one member of the family must remain with her at all times from now on,” Uncle Tobias warned.
“Yes, Father,” both Michael and Zachary said in unison.
“But what about my seeing her, socially, I mean?” Gregory asked.
She threw several articles of clothing into one of her bags and hmpfd while she listened to the men’s conversation in the living room. What did Gregory think he’d do alone with her? She’d never allow him to get close to her like Adonis did.
“Of course when you’re with her, that’ll be acceptable. No need for supervision.”
She groaned to hear her uncle’s words. On the other hand, she was relieved Adonis had made a quick escape and wasn’t foolhardy enough to confront her family.
She pulled her closet door open and nearly screamed.
Half hidden in the shadows of the deep walk-in closet, Adonis gave her a dark smile. “Didn’t have time for my goodbye kiss,” he whispered, his voice thick with desire.
He moved out of the shadows before she could object, took hold of her shoulders with a firm hand, and kissed her lips, compelling her to comply, to part her lips for him, to acquiesce, sending liquid fire pouring through her veins. But when she resisted, knowing her family would kill him if they found him like this, he pressured her further. “I want you like I’ve wanted no other,” he conceded, his words hushed against her cheek, a kiss punctuating his need.
She finally pulled free. “You’ve got to leave,” she whispered, her heart pounding wildly. The worry of being caught in such a passionate embrace, her whole body flushed with heat.
“I’ll come for you later,” he promised.
She swallowed hard, hating herself for falling for a hunter turned. “They’ll never let me out of their sights, Adonis.” And it was all Adonis’s fault. Yet deep down she understood his hunter need to possess, to crave his old life back in some fashion, to feel wanted and desired, but not as a pawn in somebody’s bigger plan.
He nuzzled her cheek again, stirring her compulsion to hug him tightly and kiss him back.
As much as she didn’t want to give up on Adonis, she knew now, somehow she’d have to get to Piaras, but it wouldn’t be with Adonis’s help. Not now that her uncle would lock her away. The idea sickened her as she would have given anything to be with Adonis when the time came... but the odds were strictly against it.
Adonis tilted her chin up and gazed into her eyes, the longing in his expression still overwhelming any other look, but a hint of business showed in them, too, that no matter how much he craved having her, he could still behave as a hunter would—planning his next move with every intent of winning. “Have Gregory bring you to the antique store tomorrow.”
“But—”
He pressed his mouth against hers, silencing her argument, then he vanished. And at once she felt adrift in a sea of turmoil with no life preserver to keep her afloat.
“Aren’t you packed by now?” Michael said, annoyed.
She whipped around, nearly dying at the sound of his voice in her room.
His scowl switched to concern. “What’s wrong, Rachael?”
As concerned as she was that Michael might have seen Adonis, she felt the blood instantly drain from her face.
“Nothing.” She yanked jeans and blouses off hangers in an attempt to hurry and hide her unsettled reaction. But when she tried to leave the closet, Michael blocked her path, grabbed her shoulder to stop her, and pushed her hair away from her neck.
God, he was looking for bite marks... or something else? Bruising, passionate kisses from Adonis?
“Do you want me to finish packing or what?” she snapped.
Michael moved out of her path. “I told Dad about your coming to see me and about the inquiries you made of me... about vampires.”
He watched her reaction. She tried to act as though his words had no effect on her. That she had nothing to worry about. But she was afraid she failed miserably.
Michael’s stern look didn’t change. “You’ll be answering some questions when we get to his place.”
She gritted her teeth and zipped up her suitcase, her heart doing flip-flops. How could she keep up the lies and not get herself into any further trouble? “I had planned on taking a nap. And I haven’t eaten lunch yet. Can it wait until after that?”
Michael folded his arms, his expression turning even harder. “You were supposed to have eaten lunch with this Adonis Cameron character.”
She was used to everyone keeping secrets from her, but she’d never told so many falsehoods in her life. And she was certain they’d come back to haunt her. “No, he just came by and left. I wasn’t really hungry at the time.”
Michael touched her cheek. “You’ve been crying. Tears have streaked your makeup.”
He was getting to be as observant as Zachary, although it wasn’t really in character for him. Which could only mean he was truly worried about her. She nodded, but didn’t say anything, afraid she’d give herself away.
He grabbed her suitcase and motioned for her to leave the room. She was certain everyone else in the living room was listening, trying to overhear their conversation. “Why, Rachael? Why have you been crying?”
“Uncle Tobias won’t let me have a contract. And once Gregory stormed out of here, I knew your father would make me return home with him. So I was upset. All right?”
He nudged her toward the door. “Need anything else?”
“Just a few things from the bathroom.” She walked into the bathroom and pulled out her cosmetic bag. After throwing her personal items in there, she followed Michael down the hall. Didn’t they even trust her to pack without supervision? No, suppose not, and if they’d known the vampire visited her like he did in her closet, they’d certainly have had good reason.
No one spoke to her as Gregory seized her arm and walked her out of her apartment first. His actions irritated her to the nth degree. She attempted to wriggle free, but his grip tightened. She hated that her uncle and cousins would feel her suitor was handling her just the way they would an unruly wife in medieval times. Frowning, she gave up the struggle. She wasn’t going anywhere else anyway.
They headed for the cars and Gregory said to her uncle, “I’ll bring her to your place, Mr. Bremerton.”
Her uncle nodded.
Great. Already Gregory was putting the moves on her like she was his, and her uncle totally approved. Now she’d have a lecture from Gregory, but no matter what he said, she had no intention of taking any guff from him. No doubt when she arrived at her uncle’s place, she’d have an even more ponderous lecture from the family. Her skin prickled with exasperation.
Michael tossed her bag into his SUV while Zachary climbed into his father’s pickup truck. Rachael waited for Gregory to open the door to his car for her and glanced up at the kitchen window. But the shade from the eaves prevented her seeing through the glass.
Was Adonis watching her from her apartment? If so, he was sure to be angry over Gregory’s treatment of her. Nothing good could come of it. Then she climbed into the car and Gregory shut the door for her.
As soon as he sat in the driver’s seat, he cleared his throat. “You know I want your hand in marriage. So why did you invite some stranger over to your place? Zachary said he should have known as willing as you were to give up your car keys, you were up to something.”
&n
bsp; But she hadn’t been up to anything. Not as far as Adonis was concerned. Although if they’d known she planned to make up a Huntress for Hire website, they would have had her there.
Not answering him, she waited for Gregory to pull out of the parking lot, but instead he stared at her, expecting her to answer him. She didn’t have to respond to him. It was bad enough that the family inquisition would come next, and then she’d have to provide some answers.
Uncle Tobias drove into the street. Michael followed after.
Gregory tapped his fingers on the console, and she fought the urge to leave the car. But on foot, she wouldn’t get very far. Gregory shook his head. “Part of me was glad he wasn’t one of the hunters who’d wanted to dance with you at the ball, Rachael. If you’d shown interest in one of them, your uncle would have to permit you to marry him. But not some out-of-stater.”
“Please take me to my uncle’s place.” Not that she wanted to go there, but she was sick of being lectured by someone who had no business lecturing her.
Not starting the car, Gregory took a ragged breath. “Your uncle wants me to marry you. It doesn’t matter that you’re not interested in me. East coast Casanova can take a hike. He’s not going to have you.” He shoved his key into the ignition.
Her lips pursed, Rachael looked out the window. Although Gregory masked his hunter possessiveness while attempting to pursue her, his words revealed he would fight for her if he had to. Is that what she liked so much about Adonis? He rarely masked his feelings for her? Despite the trouble Adonis could find himself in, he was willing to stand up for her?
Right, as he hid in her closet and gave her another spine tingling kiss. Although hunters had outnumbered him four to one and the odds wouldn’t have been fair for any hunter. Plus he hadn’t been armed. Well, with hunter weapons anyway. She groaned inwardly at the thought his canines could extend instantly at the least provocation instead. When he’d hissed next to her, she couldn’t force herself to look at him. The fear she’d see him as he truly was now—a vampire like the one who’d marked her with his wickedly sharp fangs—would color her perception of him forever.
“Where’d you meet him?” Gregory asked, this time his tone at least attempting civility.
The lies would never end at this rate, and she was certain to get caught up in her stories if she wasn’t careful. “Listen, Gregory, I know you want to marry me. But I’m not ready to settle down yet. I want to hunt vampires like you and I were both taught. Uncle Tobias has never allowed me to hunt the human vampires, and I need to do so, for my own sanity.”
“That’s for the hunters, not huntresses to do. You’re to become a mother.”
He didn’t seem to understand her deep-seated reason for wanting to go after the human vampire rogues because of her past, despite her hints to the family as to the reason. But she had never openly discussed it with anyone. Not even with her cousins’ wives. Hunters and huntresses didn’t have vulnerabilities. Or at least that they admitted. Otherwise it could mean their defeat in the battle with those who would turn the city upside down.
“I have every intention of becoming a mother one day, Gregory. But I want to hunt like a real hunter, first. I know once I have children, I’ll never be able to. The thing is we have the same gene, you and I, which creates the urge to end the renegade vampire’s existence. Having children, doesn’t end that for us.”
“How would you know?” He looked at her incredulously. “You’ve never had a baby.”
“I’ve talked with others who have. They still have the urge to hunt. But of course, they have other priorities now. With most, it doesn’t matter. For me, it does.”
“When you’re married and have children, your priorities will change. As for now, considering a contract may be out on you, and your most recent reckless behavior with an unknown hunter, your uncle would say no to your hunting anything vampiric.” He cast her a harsh look. “Even if it meant taking down another vicious vampire dog.”
Time to change tactics, if her uncle was going to saddle her with Gregory. At this rate, he would be worse than her cousins. But at least with them, she didn’t have to marry them. “All right then, take me on a date tonight.”
His blue eyes stared at her, a frown winkling his brow. Inwardly, she smiled. He was trying to figure her out. Keep the guys guessing was her motto. “A date.”
“Yes. Show me how to hunt a human vampire.”
He grunted. “I thought you’d want to go out to dinner, a movie, or something like that first.” When she didn’t respond, he said, “I’d have to get your uncle’s permission. And I very much doubt he’d agree to it.”
“Of course.” She assumed her uncle would go along with it if she showed more interest in Gregory. Her uncle might believe their work together would encourage her marriage to him. Or even that under his supervision, this hunting preoccupation she had would be satisfied.
He drove out of the parking area. “Your uncle might not go along with it on account of Piaras having a contract out on you,” he reiterated, sounding resigned to failure.
If she had approached Adonis with the same proposition, would he have asked her uncle’s permission? No, he would have taken her on a hunt anyway. At least she was sure he would. If he could reach her now.
“Your uncle wants you to remain in a hunter’s house at night at all times, from what he told your cousins. And after this deal with that hunter, it’s a good bet he’ll want you watched all day long, too.”
“Then you’ll have to convince him you’ll keep me safe on a hunt.” She wasn’t about to get into it with him over being guarded all day long also.
“I’m not sure he’ll agree with you taking part in a hunt. I’m not sure I do either.”
She sensed he wanted to please her even if it meant doing something that was dangerous for her, which made her regret that she couldn’t feel more for him.
Gregory glanced at her. “You know, I’ve been asking your uncle for four years when he’d allow me to date you.”
She leaned her head against the glass. “He never mentioned that last night was going to be my coming out. I’d never have agreed to it.”
“He knew that. At least that’s what he told me. When we saw you arrive at the ball in jeans and a turtleneck, we were quite shocked. I was looking forward to seeing you dressed up for a change.”
“You’re supposed to marry the person, not the clothes they wear.”
“You wore your clothes pretty well, I have to admit. I only wished I’d had the chance to dance with you.”
Had he wanted to her hold her tight in a sensuous, stirring dance? But whatever he felt for her, she certainly didn’t share with him. Now Adonis... he was a different story. The thought of dancing close with him, of feeling his hard, aroused body enveloping her, of his claiming her in front of all the other hunters…she closed her eyes and chastised herself. How foolish the notion. He was a vampire! No longer a hunter. And thinking of him as a hunter would only get her into more trouble.
Forty-five minutes later, they arrived at her uncle’s palatial estate consisting of the main two-story, rambling ranch house and twenty smaller brick homes situated five acres apart, each a hunter family’s home. Several vehicles sat in the circular drive of the main house, and instantly Rachael knew something was up.
She turned to Gregory. “What’s this all about?”
“It’s a rally for a hunt.” He hopped out of the car and hurried to her side.
She knew that, but they hadn’t had one in a month and normally a hint of a big strike would have surfaced. Was this was the family secret she hadn’t been privy to?
Zachary walked onto the porch. He shook his head at her and leaned his shoulder against a fluted column.
She attempted to overlook him, but there was no ignoring the fact she was in for a lot of questioning next. “And you’re going on the hunt?” she asked Gregory as he opened the car door for her.
“I was, but now that I have you to watch out for, I
may not be going.”
“My cousins can watch over me, if you’re not taking me on a date.”
“They’re going on the hunt. Well, one of them was to stay behind with you. But I’ll see if I can have the honor instead.”
“She’s to be taken to the conference room,” Zachary said, then gave Rachael a look that meant she was in real trouble now. “Father has some questions for you.”
She tried to stall the shiver that trailed up her spine.
She knew the family inquisition would not be as easily dismissed as Gregory’s questions of her. Which meant she was doomed.
***
Adonis jerked a hunter’s sword off the wall of his home while his sister wrung her hands and watched.
“What are you going to do, Adonis?” Danai asked, her voice soft, but filled with concern.
“I’m going to claim her for my own, one way or another.” His soul burned for Rachael, and he had to have her. There was no going back. But he knew his sister would feel he was headed for disaster and wouldn’t approve.
“You can’t. Rachael has to kill Piaras, and if she manages, you know she’ll never get out of his estate alive after that.”
Running his hand over the brass hilt of his sword, he did not want to think of what could become of Rachael. Piaras wouldn’t give her up. There wasn’t any other way this was going down. “I can’t think of anything else but her.” He looked up at his sister and saw the annoyance in her scowling face. “You can’t understand how I feel.”
He’d never been so driven to be with a woman every second of the day. His thoughts were no longer his own—every image of her replaying in his mind, the softness of her cheek against his, her warm breath against his ear, the feel of her breast in his hand, but more than that, she didn’t look on him with horror, like the huntresses would undoubtedly do, nor did she see him as an outcast like the vampires who had taken him in did. With Rachael, he was an equal. A hunter with one hell of a problem.
Oh, yeah, she denied she could be his, but he knew her family would expect this of her. If Rachael was shipwrecked with him on a tropical island, and there was no one to influence her decisions, she’d be his without a doubt.
