by Rachel Lee
“Yeah.” He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. The woman’s scent was everywhere, maddening, luscious, so exquisite it should have been an expensive perfume. And now it was in his bed, too, and would be there probably stuck in the mattress for weeks, no matter how often he changed sheets.
A good thing he still hurt too much, or he’d have probably rolled over and taken her up on every offer.
She touched him again, just lightly, but it was enough to rouse the Hunger and desire to new heights. He stiffened, fighting impulses so deep in his nature it would take a knife to carve them out. Damn, he wanted her!
“You feel a little warmer now,” she remarked, withdrawing her finger.
“Are you through examining me?”
“Sorry.” But she didn’t exactly look sorry. She looked more curious. “What causes this? How does it happen? Does it change your DNA?”
“How would I know? Do you think I’d turn myself over to a scientist to become a lab specimen?”
“No, I guess not. I’m just curious.”
He couldn’t blame her for that, he supposed. And he needed to put some space between them. She smelled far too good, and he wasn’t exactly feeling strong right now. Somehow that attack last night had left him feeling weak in ways beyond the physical.
Then she crossed the line. She did it. He was sure he hadn’t invited it, sure he’d been trying to drive her in entirely the opposite direction.
She leaned over before he guessed what she was going to do, and she kissed him on the mouth.
He froze, battling instincts, battling Hunger, battling every sublimated urge of his kind. How could any human ever understand what the warmth of living lips and hands could mean to a vampire?
She pulled away, leaving just a breath of space between them, then leaned in again, kissing him as if she liked the cool sensation of his mouth against hers.
A groan escaped him, and he could not stop himself from lifting his hand, cupping the back of her head, and drawing her deeper to him. Worse, she came willingly, and he felt the drumbeat of his own quickening, wakening blood, felt the pounding of a need he could never explain to anyone who hadn’t experienced it. He felt her breast brush his chest, a sensation like lightning.
Desperate, he growled, “Stop. Now.” Before he lost it and turned into the kind of monster only one like him could become.
At once she pulled back, her blue eyes wide, her expression somewhere between disappointment and fright.
He pushed up, needing to escape all the possibilities that now hung heavily in the room with them. If she felt frightened, so much the better. What he knew with absolute certainty was that he had to put distance between them now.
At least he no longer felt like groaning when he moved, although the wounds still burned like fire, even though they had pretty much closed.
“I’m going to take a shower,” he said, making his voice as cold as he could. “It might be a good time for you to step out. I’ll unlock the door.”
“I’m staying here until you come out of the shower,” she argued. “You still don’t look very good.”
“I never look good. I’m undead, remember?”
He thought he heard her laugh quietly as he grabbed clothes from his closet, then disappeared into his bathroom. And that laugh, damn it, was as attractive as everything else about her.
The shower was cold, but it hadn’t been worth it to him to put in a water heater since temperature had so little effect on him. Although, maybe he should. Terri’s remarks about Chloe gave him a pang of conscience. Chloe did spend an awful lot of time here during these demonic cases, and surely she deserved a few human comforts. Like a better bed and a hot shower. Maybe even a place to stash clothes.
And then there was Terri. She’d gone from sword-wielding Valkyrie to friend as if someone had flipped a switch. So terrified of him at first, and now…now acting like she was part of his little office family.
Worse, she had kissed him, crossing that line he’d been so determined to draw. A line he had to put back in place somehow for both their sakes. There was no way she could begin to understand the kind of fire she had just played with, no way he could truly explain it to her.
Could he stand having her around, given how badly he wanted her? Did he have any choice? It was beginning to seem he didn’t. The shower got rid of the demon stench, and even some of Terri’s lingering perfume. At the rate she was going, that wouldn’t last long.
He dressed in the bathroom because he was sure she was still out there, waiting to drive him nuts. Although, to be fair, she probably didn’t intend to. Maybe. But how many ways did he have to tell her how much he wanted her, and how dangerous that made him?
Apparently, there weren’t enough words in the entire English language.
When he emerged, she was indeed still there, except that she had moved to the chair. He supposed he ought to be grateful for that small mercy.
“What about your job?” he asked.
“I had the day off, but at this point I don’t care if I get fired.”
He arched a brow but didn’t say a word. Now that she was no longer frightened, it seemed that Terri was going to turn into a very interesting package.
They emerged together into the outer office, and Chloe looked up. Then her jaw dropped in astonishment.
“Close your mouth,” Jude suggested. “I’ve been dead all day, remember?”
Chloe promptly shut her mouth, her teeth almost clacking. “Boss, I didn’t know....”
Jude managed something approaching a smile. Given how much he still hurt, it was probably more of a grimace. “It’s okay. You need your rest, and this one,” he said with a jerk of his head toward Terri, “apparently makes her own rules.”
“I’m getting that impression.”
Terri shrugged. “Sort of like you, Chloe.”
Chloe dipped her head, but Terri caught the smile before it could be fully hidden.
“And now,” said Jude, “I am drowning in females who constantly disrespect my wishes. Lovely. Between the two of you and Garner, I’ll probably need to be committed before long.”
He made his way to the couch and sat, trying not to wince. “Damn demons,” he muttered.
“You’re spoiled,” Chloe said. “The rest of us don’t expect to heal overnight from something like that.”
“The rest of you aren’t vampires.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “No hunting tonight.”
“No,” Terri agreed. “You really don’t look good.”
Jude frowned at Terri. “Tell me something.”
“If I can.”
“Why in the world did you follow me last night? I need more than that you felt a compulsion.”
She colored faintly, a reaction that had a strong effect on him. Hunger. Desire. This woman was going to drive him insane. “Well, I did feel a compulsion. But I’d been thinking about coming to see you, anyway.”
“About what?”
She bit her lower lip, drew a breath, then plunged in. “I’ve been feeling all week like someone is watching me. Stalking me.”
“You think I’m doing that?” The notion annoyed him.
“No.” Hastily, she shook her head. “I know you can’t be out in the daytime. And anyway…well, frankly, I’m getting to be afraid to go anywhere alone. I won’t go out at night anymore unless I absolutely have to. Like last night, I was out only because I have to work late. It’s awful, but I don’t feel safe anymore.”
He frowned. “It might be because of what happened to you last week. A reaction to trauma.” Then he vanished into his own thoughts for nearly a minute, turning around possibilities. “Or, it could be that scum Sam. Maybe my suggestion didn’t take.”
Terri drew a sharp bre
ath. “I haven’t seen him. But then, I haven’t seen anyone, at least that I’ve noticed. It’s just this creepy feeling. I even have it at work, although not in my apartment, at least not yet. I know it sounds nuts.”
He looked from her to Chloe, suddenly certain that he needed to keep an eye on Terri. “Do you want an assistant?” The impulse took him almost by as much surprise as it took Chloe. Too late to snatch the words back though.
Chloe’s jaw dropped again. “Really? I’d love some help.”
Jude nodded toward Terri. “She seems to cling, and she might be out of a job if she keeps this up.”
Chloe looked at Terri. “Easier than trying to break in someone who doesn’t begin to know what’s going on around here.” Then, a wide smile dawned on her face. “That would be cool. Terri?”
“I’d love it. At least for a few hours every night. I still need to keep my day job.”
Jude pierced her with his gaze, wishing he could read people’s minds. “Why? Why do you want to work here?”
Terri hesitated, biting her lower lip in a way that nearly made Jude groan. That woman had absolutely no idea just how desirable she was in every way. Even that little expression of uncertainty, biting her lip, made him think of the ways he’d like to bite her himself.
“Because,” Terri said hesitantly, “it seems like you’re doing important stuff. More important than what I do.”
“Now that’s relative.”
Then Jude closed his eyes, letting the pain wash through him, waiting patiently for his body to do its job. Of one thing he was damn sure. He might have just made a very big mistake. Because he had just invited the lamb into his lair.
And she was such a good-smelling lamb.
“Aw, hell,” he said suddenly, interrupting the women’s conversation. “Would one of you get me a bag? I’m hungrier and wearier than I thought.”
“Probably all that healing,” Chloe said knowledgeably.
Actually, thought Jude, it was probably Terri. He was going to get well and truly sick of canned blood, trying to leash his hunger.
Just another lash on his journey of atonement, he thought grimly. He deserved every one of them.
And possibly a million more besides.
Chapter 6
Terri found her first night on her new job rather…different. She didn’t know exactly how to describe it. Jude, far from being a lion who seemed always on the edge of pouncing, just relaxed. Well, what else could he do?
He was still clearly weakened from his encounter with the demon. He made no pretense of working, just sat on the sofa, sometimes closing his eyes as if another wave of pain washed through him. She wanted to ask why he kept doing this, kept exposing himself to such dangers, but figured she’d get another of his non-answer answers. Or maybe, and possibly worse, she’d hear a truth that would make her unhappy. He seemed to deal out both kinds of responses regularly.
Regardless, with him sitting right there, she couldn’t even ask Chloe about him. She did, however, have plenty to learn from Chloe about the job basics: where everything was located, which cases were in active files, where and how they did most of their online research.
And the Rolodex.
The Rolodex fascinated her. Different colored tabs marked the cards.
“The red ones are always to be put directly through to Jude if he’s here.”
“Important people?”
“Vampires,” Chloe said.
Terri blinked. Apparently, she hadn’t totally moved past shock. “Uh…there are more?”
Jude spoke almost sarcastically. “I regret, madam, I am not the last of my kind.”
“I meant here. In town.”
“Yeah, sure, just a couple,” Chloe said. “Some of these live elsewhere. Anyway, when they call, it’s important. Always.”
“Okay. Blue tabs?” There were a half dozen of those.
“Clergy members who help us out.” Chloe flipped to one. “This is Father Dan. He helps us most, and he’s the only one who really knows what Jude is. The thing is, unless you’re talking to him or to one of the red-tabbed cards, watch what you say. You’re going to have to learn to cover.”
Terri nodded, concealing her surprise that any clergy worked with Jude, and that one apparently knew what he was. She was starting to get used to having her preconceived notions turned on end. “I already did that last night.”
“What happened?”
She told Chloe about the neighbor who had complained and what she had said.
“Oh, lovely,” Jude drawled from the couch. “Now I’m a dog trainer.”
“Did you want me to tell him the truth? My friend the vampire is in there fighting a demon?”
He merely looked sourly at her and said, “It pains me that my assistants have to become such inventive liars.”
Chloe sniffed. “I think it pains you more that you were called a dog trainer.”
He made a grumpy sound.
Chloe looked at Terri. “I think he’s hungry.”
“Quit telling me what I am. I’ll let you know.”
Chloe made a face. “Men don’t change at all just because they become vampires. Give them a little demon gash or two and they act like cranky babies.”
Terri couldn’t help it. She giggled and got a glare from Jude.
“As for the rest of these people,” Chloe continued, “the yellow tabs are clients, the green tabs are sources. And none of them, absolutely none of them, knows.”
Terri nodded. “I understand.”
“We do everything possible to make Jude seem human.”
A snort from the direction of the couch.
“When a new client calls, we simply make an appointment for them in the evening, after sunset. We’re not exactly overrun with paying clients, so it won’t be a big hassle.”
Terri was surprised. “Then how do you stay open?”
“I have means,” came the answer from the couch. “I haven’t been a wastrel for the last two centuries.”
“Were you before?”
Jude, who had been leaning back, sat up a little, wincing. “I was the youngest son of the Earl of Kenwick. Which made me absolutely useless.”
“How so?”
“Younger sons get no inheritance, no one really wants them about, and my father was prolific to say the least. As his youngest son, I suppose I should be grateful that he bothered to scrape together enough money to purchase my cornetcy in the army. At least I didn’t have to go into the church. Although in retrospect…” He let the thought trail off. “Regardless, I never had the opportunity to be a wastrel, unlike my eldest brother. As soon as I came down from Eton, I was in uniform.”
“No choices at all?”
“None. One is a product of one’s times, after all, and in my times, those were my choices. Anything else would have shamed my almighty family’s honor.” An almost-laugh escaped him. “I wish my father could see me now—engaged in business. Trade. Oh, that was a dirty word back then.”
“So you were just supposed to be a soldier for the rest of your life?”
“Or marry well. At my station, I could have married my way out of the army, had I the least interest in taking to wife the daughter of some wealthy tradesman who wanted an entrée into society.” He gave a shake of his head.
“That’s nuts,” Chloe said.
“I quite agree. And I think I am hungry.”
Terri jumped up first and returned quickly with a bag for Jude and a couple of tissues.
“Thank you,” he said, the politest words she had heard issue from him in two nights.
“You’re welcome.”
His eyes studied her for a moment. “You’re taking to all of this quite well.�
�
“I’m actually enjoying myself.” She returned to her chair beside Chloe, giving him the space from her he seemed to crave. As he drank, more slowly this time, she asked another question.
“So you’re a lord?”
He wiped his mouth with a tissue. “No. Never. I was Colonel the Honorable Jude Ashton Messenger. Honorable having to do with my father’s status, not my own, I assure you. The military rank I earned.”
Terri tried to imagine it, but she knew only the barest history of those times. “It must have been a hard life.”
“Better than being in the ranks. Well, except in battle. Someone had to lead. And in those days, officers most assuredly did not lead from the rear.”
Which, she thought, might explain a great deal about this man.
He took another drink, and wiped his mouth. “I spent a few years in India, then my regiment joined the Peninsular Army in 1809. Served under Wellington all the way through 1814, had a brief furlough, and next thing I knew I was in Belgium. And then…Waterloo.”
“I guess I should read some history.”
His eyes were lightening again, growing more golden. “If you want the big picture.” He sighed. “It was a long time ago. So much of what seemed important to me in my former life hardly matters anymore. Most especially to me.”
“How are those wounds?”
“They still feel as if someone is holding a torch to them.”
“Ouch,” said Chloe. “No better at all?”
“A little. It’ll pass.” Then he looked at Terri again. “I felt you praying when you were out in the hall.”
“You could feel that?” The notion amazed her.
“I wasn’t the only one who felt it. I’m sorry I got so angry with you, Terri, but you have to promise me to stay away at these times. I wasn’t the only one who sensed you out in the hall. The demon did, too.”
A little chill trickled down her spine. “What are you trying to say?”
