Her skin tone had faded to milk, emphasizing the dark circles under her eyes.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“Don’t change the subject,” Rachel snapped. “I can tell by your expression that you don’t believe me.”
There was no deception that Gabriel could sense in her speech. Rachel believed every word coming out of her mouth. She’d obviously seen something that shook her up, but could it really be her attacker?
“How did he find me?” she asked quietly. If it wasn’t for the fine tension thrumming through her body, he would’ve believed the calm she projected.
“No idea,” Gabriel said. “Are you sure it was him?”
“Positive.” A muscle in Rachel’s jaw began to tic. “You’re the only one who knows where I’m staying.”
Gabriel flinched, his temper pricked by her insinuation. “Are you accusing me of something?”
Rachel stepped closer. Waves of heat emanated from her tiny body as she peered up at him. “No one else knew where I was staying.”
“The police knew, but I take it you’ve already ruled them out.” They stood nose to nose. “So you think I moved the body, took you to the police, and then the hospital so that I could turn around and tell your attacker where to find you? Are you even listening to yourself?”
“I know how it sounds, but that scenario is far more likely than my attacker tailing us all night,” Rachel said. “He’s not an idiot. He isn’t going to sit outside a police station and wait for me to come out. And the police aren’t likely to assist a killer by giving him my address.”
Gabriel kept his temper in check. “I can assure you that I’ve told no one where you’re staying,” he lied easily. He’d had to list her whereabouts in the report he’d given the high council. All random sanguis attacks had to be reported. It was Sang law. The thought that his actions had somehow endangered her made him ill.
Rachel touched her head and swayed.
Gabriel moved quickly, catching her arm. “When was the last time you ate?”
She shrugged, ignoring the revulsion she felt at the thought of ingesting anything solid. What was wrong with her? Blood made her hungry and the idea of food made her sick. Rachel’s lack of an answer was all the encouragement Gabriel needed.
“You’re coming with me. We have to get some food in you before you pass out on the street.” He led her down the sidewalk towards Rue de Seine.
Cafes, galleries, patisseries and used bookstores lined the quaint French street that bordered St Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter. Gabriel found a cafe he liked, then quickly deposited her in a seat.
“That wasn’t necessary,” Rachel said, shaking her head to ease the dizziness. Her arm ached and her body trembled. If she’d been throwing up this whole time, Rachel would’ve thought she’d caught the flu. She rubbed her arm. Maybe she was experiencing side effects from the tetanus shot she’d been given. It had happened before. Or it could be the bite.
Gabriel gave her an entirely too male condescending look. “Obviously it was necessary, if you haven’t even bothered to eat today.”
“Give me a break,” she said. “I just got up.”
His long lashes shuttered his eyes. “What?”
“Up until – ” she glanced at her watch “– an hour ago, I thought it was morning. I slept all day. Getting mugged takes it out of me, I guess.”
His frown deepened.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” she assured him. “Probably just coming down with something. They did all the important tests at the hospital. The guy didn’t have HIV, according to the doctor. Never thought to have them check for rabies.”
Gabriel’s lips twitched. “It’s doubtful he had rabies.”
Rachel smiled, happy that she’d been able to relieve the worry she’d seen on his face moments ago. “I’m sure once I eat I’ll be all right.”
Gabriel sat forwards. “You’re sure it was him?”
Her grin faded. “I’ve been a cop for fifteen years. My job has made me good at remembering details. It was him.”
His expression turned pensive once more.
Rachel squeezed his hand. It was cool to the touch, but warmed quickly. “I’m sorry I accused you of selling me out.”
Gabriel shook his head and dark hair fell over one eye. She brushed it back, her fingers lingering longer than necessary. He was watching her carefully, but he didn’t try to pull away. The tension between them rose, but this time it had nothing to do with discussing her attacker. It had been easy to ignore the simmering attraction between them the first time, given the circumstances, but now there was no denying it.
He cleared his throat. “You better order. I need to get you back to the hotel so you can rest. You’ve been through a lot.”
“Yeah.” Rachel glanced away. She couldn’t believe how bold she’d been. She never made moves on men, especially men she didn’t know. Rachel wondered what she would’ve done had Gabriel responded in kind. From the look on his face, she could tell he’d been tempted, but he hadn’t acted. Instead, Gabriel had remained chivalrous to his core.
A lot of predators sought victims by gaining their trust. Even as the thought fluttered through her cop brain, Rachel knew that wasn’t the case here. Gabriel had been just as shocked by her attacker’s audacity as she’d been. She’d seen it in his eyes before he’d carefully schooled his expression. Now he was brooding. Or at least he had been until she’d touched him.
Rachel had felt his muscles lock under her fingertips, but for some reason she couldn’t stop herself. She’d wanted to feel his hair since he’d taken her to the hospital. It had looked so soft, so tempting. She forced her traitorous gaze away from his rough-hewn face.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” she asked, staring at the menu like she could understand French.
“Later,” he said. “The French don’t dine this early, only tourists do.” Gabriel grinned at her, then caught the waiter’s attention.
“I’ll have beef stew. You do have beef stew, right?” she asked.
“Oui, madame,” the waiter said.
“And bring us a bottle of house red,” Gabriel added.
“I don’t think I can drink anything.” Rachel looked at Gabriel. “I’m not even sure I’m going to be able to eat.”
He touched her forehead. “You’re a little warm. How are you feeling?”
“Flu-ish.”
“For how long?” he asked. Gone was the flirting.
Rachel sighed. “Since yesterday. Could be the shot, but it’s probably the bite working its way through my system. It’s not unheard of for people who suffer from a human bite to get sick afterwards. I’ve been through it before. I’ll live.”
The waiter returned with the stew and their wine. He placed the steaming bowl in front of Rachel. “Smells delicious,” she said, looking at the beads of fat floating on top of the broth. Her stomach threatened to rebel as she lifted the spoon.
“I think you need to tell me exactly what happened last night,” Gabriel said after the waiter retreated into the kitchen. “Start from the beginning and don’t leave anything out, including the significance of the necklace.”
“That’s personal.” Rachel put the spoon down. She couldn’t share the pain she’d been through with a stranger. Could she?
“You have my word of honour I will not tell anyone,” Gabriel said.
There was no denying he meant what he said. Rachel could see the sincerity in his eyes. If she were prone to fantasy, she’d say she could see his very soul. It glowed like a soft beacon inside of him, warming her.
Once Rachel decided to open the floodgates, the words flowed out. She told Gabriel everything, starting with the domestic battery she and Paul had investigated. She explained what had occurred the days after he’d been shot. How Paul had lingered in a coma and had eventually been taken off life support. His family had given her the St Michael’s medal he’d been wearing the day of the shooting. The bullet had grazed the edge of the medal leaving a perman
ent gash behind. She’d put the necklace on at the funeral and hadn’t removed it since.
Rachel described the man who’d attacked her. Talked about his teeth, the blood, and green glowing eyes. She gave a blow-by-blow account of how she’d struck him and broken his nose, then how something had spooked him.
When she was done, Rachel felt as if she’d been put through an industrial tumble dryer. She hadn’t talked about Paul and the shooting since it had happened. She still couldn’t believe she’d told Gabriel everything, but there was no denying the relief coursing through her. An invisible weight had been lifted. And it was all thanks to the man sitting across from her. “Thank you for listening,” she said.
“Anytime.” Gabriel reached for her hand, but drew back before he touched her. “How are you feeling now that you’ve had some food?”
She shrugged. “The same.”
Gabriel forced a grin as dread filled him. He’d listened to Rachel pour her heart out. She’d been carrying so much pain, so much guilt. It wasn’t fair. She didn’t deserve to have this forced upon her. No one did. If he’d had doubts about the symptoms before, they were gone now. Rachel had caused a blood exchange with the vamp that had attacked her when she’d broken his nose.
She was infected. No longer human, Rachel was now a revenant that would soon be crawling back to the grave.
Like most viruses, the sanguis virus would take a few days to fully incubate. Once it did, if Rachel didn’t receive more blood from her sire, she’d die.
Anger engulfed him as he glanced at the vibrant, brave woman seated across from him. How dare a stray take the life of one so noble? It wouldn’t mean anything to her in the end, but Gabriel vowed to himself to avenge her. In the meantime, he’d make Rachel as comfortable as possible.
“What he has taken from you is unforgivable, but you must move on. Enjoy your time. There is no getting your –” he paused “– life back.”
“St Michael’s medal back,” Rachel said at the same time.
For a moment their words hung in the air, a jumble of sentences not meant to be strewn together. Then her brows slowly drew down over her brown eyes.
“What did you just say?” she asked. “Better yet, what do you mean?”
Gabriel didn’t know what to say. He was shocked as much by her statement as she’d been by his. How could she still be worrying about such a trivial item when her life as she knew it was over?
“He bit you,” he said slowly.
“Uh-huh, and I told you I’ve been bitten before,” Rachel said as if she were speaking to a child.
Gabriel took a sip of wine. “You don’t understand.”
“You said he didn’t have rabies.” Rachel glanced at her bandaged arm.
Most women in Rachel’s position would be in hysterics by now. “No, not rabies. Something far worse.” Gabriel stared at her, taking in the arch of her brow, the soft curve of her neck, the gentle rise of her breasts. So beautiful and full of life. He wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms. Hold her tight and never let her go. He had to say something. Explain what had happened, but . . .
How do you tell someone you are beginning to care about that they’ll be dead by the weekend?
Five
“I don’t feel so good.” Rachel clutched her stomach and hunched over.
He rose to his feet. “We need to get you back to the hotel.”
She swayed. “Not until you explain what’s happening to me.”
Gabriel sighed. “I will, but this is not the place. What I need to tell you requires privacy.”
“Fine, but you’re not leaving until you do,” she said, daring him to argue.
Sadness clouded his eyes. “You’re not going to like what I have to say.”
Rachel stood as Gabriel threw money down on the table. “I’ve got news for you. There’s nothing you can say that will be worse than the day I learned my partner had been removed from life support.”
Gabriel’s expression was grave when he finally answered. “Remember you said that after we talk.”
Rachel’s feet were dragging and they still had a block to go before they reached the luxurious Luxembourg Parc boutique hotel. She felt worse now that she’d eaten, and the dread of the upcoming conversation wasn’t helping matters. What could Gabriel possibly say that was worse than Paul’s death? And what had he meant by the attack costing her life? She glanced his way. He remained focused on the sidewalk, lost in thought.
Her head spun and Rachel reached out to steady herself. Her hand missed and she began to fall. Strong arms swept her up before she hit.
“This is embarrassing.” Rachel fidgeted and looked around to see if anyone was watching. “Put me down.”
His blue gaze arrested her, stopping her struggles. “You are in no condition to argue.”
As much as she’d hate to admit it, Gabriel was right. Besides, Rachel enjoyed being in his arms. He carried her as if she weighed nothing, cradling her close to his chest. Each step he took lulled her, until she eventually nodded off.
The dark-haired woman left the party, bidding her friends goodbye. She walked down the busy boulevard, then turned left onto a quiet street. The crowds faded in the distance as her long strides took her further away from safety.
Her ebony skin shimmered in the darkness. It flowed like the black fabric of her cocktail dress. The tap, tap, tap of her heels sounded obscenely loud in the stillness of the night. Rachel watched the pulse jump under the skin at her neck. It throbbed in time to her steps. A coppery fragrance reached her, so enticing that Rachel had to find out where it was coming from. The woman turned, startled by someone behind her. Then she smiled.
“Oh, it’s just you,” she said.
Rachel’s mouth was sand dry as she licked her lips. So thirsty. So hungry. So hot. She shifted, trying to get comfortable, but it was impossible.
Fangs flashed and the woman’s smile faded. She didn’t get a chance to scream as the sharp teeth tore at her slender throat. Blood bubbles escaped from her mouth as unnatural desires were fed.
Rachel cried out and bolted upright. Gabriel was seated in a nearby chair. He rose instantly and came forwards.
“What happened?” he asked.
She blinked. “I saw him. I saw . . . she’s dead.”
He frowned. “Who’s dead?”
“The woman.” Her body arched as she threw the covers off. “How did I get here?” A moan escaped before Rachel could stop it.
“You fell asleep in my arms. I fished the key out of your pocket and put you to bed.”
Rachel rubbed her hands down her thighs. “I ache. What’s happening to me?”
A pained expression passed over Gabriel’s face. “What I’m about to say is going to sound crazy.”
Rachel writhed on the bed. She couldn’t seem to ease the need burning through her body. If she didn’t get relief soon, she wouldn’t hear a word that Gabriel had to say. She bit her lip and blood welled.
Gabriel’s gaze locked on her mouth. He hadn’t moved, but the heat coming off him was approaching nuclear. His eyes devoured her. Everywhere his gaze touched ignited an answering flame inside of her.
She mewed. “What are you doing to me?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” he said. His nostrils flared and his muscles tensed, revealing the outline of his straining arousal.
Rachel’s breath caught as a new kind of hunger struck. “We’ll talk later.” She reached for him, and he came to her without a fight.
The second their lips fused Rachel was lost. Her mind took a back seat to her need. She blindly stripped Gabriel’s shirt off, feeling the hard planes of muscle that had been hiding beneath. She couldn’t get enough of him. Rachel followed the dark trail of hair down his stomach, her greedy fingers seeking his hard length. Gabriel gasped when she closed around him, but stopped her from exploring further.
“Not yet,” he said through gritted teeth. “I want this to last.”
He reached for the front of he
r blouse and ripped, sending buttons and material flying. Rachel threaded her fingers through his hair as she pulled him into another embrace. Tongues, lips and teeth collided as they devoured one another in a frenzy of melding flesh.
Gabriel’s hands seemed to be everywhere at once, stroking and teasing her until Rachel was convinced she’d expire from sheer delight. Somehow he managed to finish undressing them both then went to work pleasuring her from head to toe. Gabriel had a very talented mouth that he put to good use. It didn’t take long for Rachel to reach her first peak.
Her body continued to quiver as he slipped inside of her and began to move. Sweat glistened on his forehead. Her hands danced along his spine, feeling the muscles bunch beneath her fingertips. Rachel couldn’t tell where she left off and he began. He reached between their bodies and stroked until she soared ever higher. Rachel was still crying out in passion, when she felt a slight sting below her ear. Gabriel nuzzled her neck, gently lapping the spot, while he rolled his hips, driving deep to tumble her over the edge. He gave one last thrust, then followed her into oblivion.
It took several minutes before either of them could move. Gabriel slowly withdrew from her and gently kissed her lips. “Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“For sharing something so precious with me.” His thumb gently brushed her neck.
“It was just sex,” Rachel said, knowing it was so much more.
Gabriel met her gaze and shook his head. “No, it wasn’t.”
Rachel’s heart fluttered at his admission. It would be so easy to love this man. She shied away from the idea. She still hadn’t heard what he had to say. She might not feel the same afterwards. Even Rachel realized it was already too late. The vulnerability and need she’d seen in Gabriel’s blue eyes had allowed her to unlock the pain she’d been harbouring. Whether he realized it or not, they needed each other.
“We better get this over with,” she said reluctantly.
Gabriel rolled off her, taking his warmth with him. “I was hoping we could . . . ”
She smiled. “Maybe later.”
His lips thinned. “I doubt you’ll be in the mood after I explain what really happened the night you were attacked. In fact, I’ll be amazed if you don’t toss me out of the room.”
Love Bites UK (Mammoth Book Of Vampire Romance2) Page 4
