by Mary Abshire
"Are you going to the party with us?" I asked.
"No, I'll wait outside for you. However, I will go to the challenge. If anything should happen, I want to be there to make sure you get out safely."
"Alan assured me he would win."
"I had a brief talk with him when I arrived. He told me about the werewolf he's fighting. I don't foresee any issues with the challenge, as long as the werewolf adheres to the rules of the pack."
I lowered my half-eaten hamburger and held it over my plate. "Thank you for coming. I'm glad you're here."
"The VETOV was not pleased with me when I left." His voice had a serious undertone.
I couldn't apologize for taking him away from his duties, or whatever he was doing, because I wasn't sorry. It had been six weeks since he left me. What more did they need from him? He was supposed to give them a report about Alexander, nothing else.
"Why are you here, Jessie? Why are you helping Jeremy?"
"He made a deal with me, and it's a very good deal."
"It better be. I still want to rip him to shreds with my bare hands." He stretched out his legs and locked his fingers behind his head.
The corner of my mouth twitched. The same thought about Jeremy crossed my mind plenty of times. Hiding my grin, I took another bite of my hamburger.
Drake snatched a strand of my hair and played with it. His curious eyes watched me while I ate.
"What?" I mumbled with a fry stuffed in my mouth.
"Are you going to tell me about the deal?"
I swallowed the food. "We canceled our earlier deal. I don't owe him any dates. We agreed I would attend one hockey game, and Dani can go with me."
Drake leaned forward and accidently hit the plate on my leg. It tipped and the fries slid. He caught the dish fast before any food made contact with the bed.
"He gave up everything except one game?" he asked, obviously surprised.
"Yep," I said, grinning with pride. "Since I didn't want to go anywhere with him, I needed it to be worth my while to do this favor for him."
Drake's lips curled into a crafty smile. "You made a good bargain."
I nodded. Once I got rid of Jeremy, Drake and I could spend all our time together without any hassles. The deal was a sweet one and I silently applauded myself for it.
Drake brushed aside my bangs and pressed his lips to my forehead. The gentle kiss sparked a need in me and it wasn't for food.
I set the dish aside, then stared into my lover's dark eyes. "I think I could use a little more loving." I slid my hand up his fine chest.
Drake took my hand, then kissed it not once, but twice. "Are you sure you feel up to it?"
It didn't matter if I didn’t. I wanted him. I wanted his love. Six weeks apart had been too long. I hoped we never would be apart for so long again.
"You should never question a lady in need," I said, nipples growing harder by the millisecond.
He claimed my lips and drew me into a powerful kiss, one full of longing, need, and love. I wrapped my arms around him, locking him to me, and savoring every bit of him. My mind, heart, body, and soul were addicted to him as if he were a drug I couldn't live without. I demanded all of it—all of him—until my mind begged for a break and my body quivered nonstop with delight. As the kiss intensified and led to our hands fondling each other's bodies, I had no doubt he'd meet my demands.
****
A soft touch on my back tickled me. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. I was snuggled up to the man I loved. My head rested under his arm and against his shoulder. Our naked bodies were touching. A sheet covered us from the waist down. I felt a sense of utter peace with him. Safe. Loved. Happy. And ticklish when he grazed his fingers down my back.
"I can't tell you how glad I am that you're here," I said.
He kissed my head. "I would rather be with you than anywhere else at any time."
I smiled and drew a heart over Drake's chest with the tip of my finger. Jeremy had told me I couldn't love Drake because he was dead. Jeremy was completely wrong.
While I continued drawing on Drake's chest, I glanced at the red cocktail dress hanging on the corner of the mirror above the dresser. The short dress was exquisite and probably worth a month of my salary, if not more.
"You will look absolutely stunning in it," Drake said. " But you're just as beautiful without it."
I lifted my head and rested my chin on his chest. "I need to clean up for tonight."
The corner of his lips twitched. "Need any help?"
I slithered off his body. "If you can catch me, you can help." I gave him a mischievous smile as I left the bed.
Drake sat upright. He reached for me, but I stepped back from him. His pupils dilated and the corner of his mouth curled. The playful look on his face was priceless. He threw his knees over the side of the bed and I darted for the bathroom. I made it three steps past the door when I heard a solid thud behind me. Drake wrapped his arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me off the ground.
"Don't ever think you can get away from me," he said as he set me back on my feet. He kissed my neck, and then added, "I will catch you every time."
My insides quivered, knowing he was right. Vampire or not, he would catch me. "All right, lover, you have a job to do now." I tugged him toward the bathtub.
"Gladly," he said.
What should've taken fifteen minutes to bathe turned into forty-five, and every minute was worth it. By the time I stepped out of the shower, I was surprised my legs still held me up.
Drake stepped out to dress while I dried my hair. I emerged from the bathroom minutes later wrapped in a towel. He stood near the dresser with only his pants on, holding the gown by the hook.
"Going to help me dress?" I let my towel fall to the floor.
He grinned. "Dress, undress…"
He extended the gown to me. Instead of taking it from him, I twisted the hanger around so the back of the gown faced me. Slow and careful, I slid down the tiny zipper.
"Did the man who kidnapped you tell you why he did it?" he asked.
I took the dress off the hanger, then stepped in the middle before I slid the cloth up my body. "His name was Gabe. He was one of Alan's guards. And no, he didn't." I slid my arms through the holes, then pulled the straps over my shoulders. "But I suspect he didn't want me near the challenge." I lifted my hair away from my shoulders as I turned my back to Drake.
"Did he say anything to you?" He zipped my dress.
"He said he didn't want me near Matthew." I dropped my hair, then faced Drake. "He knows I can send souls to Hell."
"How did Gabe find out?"
"He was at dinner with us Friday night. He and Alan asked me questions. At the time, Alan didn't know he was a traitor." I smoothed my hands down my sides.
Drake straightened my straps over my shoulders. "How did he manage to kidnap you?"
"He came to my door after I returned from swimming with Alan." I paused, seeing Drake's eyebrows rise. To avoid a heated discussion, I decided against telling him about the kiss I shared with Alan. I'd confess at another time. "I came back to put clothes on. Gabe came to the door and I thought it was Alan since I had recently been with him. He said Alan wanted to see me. I believed him, so I left with him. When we got to the parking lot, I suspected something was wrong, but it was too late at that point. He slammed me into a car. My nose broke, then I blacked out."
Drake balled his hands at his sides. "How did you get away?"
"After I woke up, I waited for a while, hoping he would stop. When he didn't, I got nervous. I thought he might shoot me and leave me in the middle of the desert. So I lunged for him and tried to strangle him since my hands were cuffed. Well, the car flipped. I managed to get out and run away, but I think we really were in the middle of the desert. I made it to the road and ran. Fortunately, a nice couple stopped and took me to the truck stop. That's when I called Jeremy."
"I was here when you called."
Now I understood the "we" when Jere
my told me "we're coming" on the phone.
I leaned against the dresser. "Well, Gabe had help. Ron, another one of Alan's security guards, kept an eye on me until Gabe showed up. They were getting ready to take me somewhere. I tried to stall them, but Gabe got a little rough."
"Rough?"
I caught a flash of his canines from behind his lip.
"He broke my nose again and kicked me in the ribs." My hand slid over the area. "He must have broken several of them, but I healed fast."
Drake thrust his fingers through his hair. "I'm going to rip their hearts out," he snarled, his tone thick with loathing and brutality.
I then realized I’d forgotten about Alan. Had he made it back safely? Had he found Gabe and the others? I straightened and stepped away from the dresser.
"Have you heard from Alan since we got back? He needs to know there were others. Gabe and Ron weren't the only ones involved."
Before Drake could respond, I twisted the knob of the door and swung it open. I darted out into the living room and headed for the door to Jeremy's suite. I came to an abrupt halt when I saw a man dressed in a casual suit sitting on the sofa. He had his arms stretched out across the back. It took me two seconds to realize he was the Asian vampire I'd met briefly in Chicago before I’d claimed Alexander's soul.
What the fuck?
Chapter Twenty
"Drake!" I spun and bumped into his hard body. "What's he doing here? He worked for Alexander." My voice came out panicky, yet hinting of my underlying anger.
"Kuri came here with me." Drake took my hands in his.
I narrowed my eyes at him. How could Drake bring the vampire who'd worked with Alexander to my hotel suite? Nothing made sense to me.
The door leading to Jeremy's suite flew open. The three of us turned our heads as Jeremy jogged in.
"What's wrong?" Jeremy asked as he came to my side. His gaze drifted down my body.
I yanked my hands from Drake's grasp. Confused and angry, I took a step back from him. "What is he doing here? What do you mean he came with you? He worked for Alexander." The tone of my voice was not a happy one.
Jeremy snickered as he faced Drake. "You haven't told her?"
"I haven't had the chance," Drake replied with a malicious look in his eyes.
"Told me what? What the fuck is going on here?" I took another step back from the two.
"Let me explain," Drake said, extending his hand toward me.
Jeremy crossed his arms, causing the muscles under his t-shirt to swell. "Please do."
Energy in the room surged. Drake sneered and flashed his fangs. Jeremy dropped his tight fists to his sides and met Drake's ferocious glare.
"Gentlemen," Kuri said as he got to his feet. "Perhaps I should explain." He had an arrogant look on his face as he came toward us.
I crossed my arms. "I don't care who explains. I need to know what the hell is going on here." I shot a pointed glare at Drake.
"Jessie." Drake outstretched his arm and stepped toward me.
I pushed his hand aside and backed away from him. "Don't you dare touch me."
Kuri stopped a few feet from me with his hands in his pockets. I eyed him suspiciously. The young Asian had a casual, inviting persona, but I didn't trust him for a second, especially since he'd worked with Alexander and had done nothing to help me get away from the evil vamp.
"Kuri is with the VETOV," Drake said. "He was working undercover when you first met him."
"Undercover?" I asked in a calmer tone. "He escorted me to Alexander. He sat next to me and watched as Alexander crushed the bones in my hands."
"I wasn't aware you were working with Drake," Kuri spoke in a soft tone.
"And if you did, would it have mattered?" I snapped.
Kuri looked me dead in the eye, his face devoid of emotion. "No."
"In truth, I didn't know he was with Alexander that night," Drake said. "When we are on a job, we cannot acknowledge that we know each other."
"Okay, fine." I threw my hands up in frustration, then placed them on my hips. "Your efforts weren't coordinated. I get it. That sort of thing happens all the time with law enforcement agencies, but that doesn't explain what he's doing here now."
Jeremy turned away as he chuckled or choked. I couldn't be sure which. When he twisted back around, his eyes met mine and I shot him a heated glare.
Drake faced Jeremy. "Would you give us some time alone?"
Jeremy snorted. "You've been alone with her since we got back. You should have told her by now."
"I don't have to explain myself to you." Drake glowered at Jeremy.
"It involves Jessie's life, so I'm not leaving," Jeremy said with an equally intimidating tone.
"Hey! If he stays," I said, and tilted my head toward Kuri. "Then Jeremy stays."
"Jessie—"
"Or I leave and go back home, alone. You two can figure out everything." I was pissed. Jeremy and Drake had information and neither was sharing. I'd had enough of both of them.
Backing away, Drake ran his fingers through his hair.
"Smart," Jeremy snickered.
"Shut up," I snapped, furious at both of them.
Drake faced me. "We can talk in the bedroom. Jeremy and Kuri can wait out here."
I looked at Jeremy, then Kuri. I didn't trust Kuri or Jeremy, but at least I knew Jeremy. The demon would come to my aid in a heartbeat, whereas the Asian vamp probably didn't care about me or any other human. I had zero trust in him since he'd sat and watched Alexander break my bones. Maybe I'd get lucky and Jeremy would slip and touch Kuri to ignite a little vampire barbeque.
Shaking the thought from my head, I squeezed between Drake and Jeremy and headed for the bedroom. Drake followed me and shut the door.
"Have a seat." He gestured toward the bed.
I folded my arms and stiffened. "I'll stand."
Drake came to stand in front of me. Eyes black as the midnight sky stared at me. Was he trying to intimidate me? Oh hell no. My temper ignited like a bomb. I lifted my hand and swung, slapping him across his face. As my hand tingled and throbbed, his cheek turned a shade of pink.
"Let. Me. Explain," he said.
I held my arms tight across my chest, walked over to the bed, and sat down. "Explain."
He paced in front of me. "Back in Chicago, I ran into Kuri while I was exterminating Alexander's guards. He gave me your phone, told me you were with Alexander, and both of you would come out soon. He said it was smart to use you to track him. Based on that comment, I didn't believe he was aware of your soul-catching ability. He offered to stay and help me fight Alexander, but I talked him out of it. I didn't want him to know about you. He left, or so I had thought. When I saw you walk out of the club, my only thoughts were of you." Drake stopped and faced me.
"He saw everything, didn't he?" I asked. "He saw me claim Alexander's soul."
"Yes, he did."
Drake knelt in front of me and placed his hands on my knees. My cocktail dress covered most of my thighs, but not all.
"I intended to keep you hidden from the VETOV. I didn't want them to know about you, I swear it."
"But they know now."
He nodded. "Kuri informed the committee before I had a chance to explain anything. I've spent the last six weeks trying to protect you. They think you're a threat."
My anger dissolved and was replaced with a touch of fear. The fact Drake was on his knees and almost pleading didn't provide me with a warm and cozy feeling.
"A threat?" I asked. "How am I a threat? I'm half human."
"They are concerned about the demon part of you."
"Because I can catch souls."
"Our souls are the last bit of us that we have on this earth."
"And nobody wants to spend eternity in Hell."
Drake nodded.
I started to feel like the Titanic, sinking and without hope. My life had taken a major downward turn. An organization of vampires knew I could catch souls and send them to Hell. This couldn't bo
de well for me.
Drake moved to sit on the bed next to me. "I've been working to convince them you are an asset." His voice sounded hopeful. "For thousands of years, some of our kind have roamed free, killing. We don't have to kill to survive. We encourage all to follow our rules. But there are still ancients, and even newer vampires, that don't. We can finally enforce justice on those that think killing is natural."
"What do they think?" I asked, my voice glum.
"Some agree with me and support me," he said.
After a few seconds of silence, I said, "And some don't."
"I'm still working on convincing them." He grazed his fingers along my forehead and scooted the hair from my eye.
I took his hand and lowered it onto my lap. "Why didn't you tell me, Drake?"
"All I could think about was having you in my arms and protecting you from Jeremy and the werewolves."
"You conveniently forgot about the vampire sitting in the next room."
"I was going to tell you."
I shook my head, not wanting to believe I was enemy number one to the entire class of vampires. Me—half-demon, half-human. I’d started as a nobody in the supernatural world and had risen to the top of the most wanted list with a red target on my forehead. How was I going to survive? How was I going to explain this to Sean? Or to Dani?
"Drake…" I shook my head. "I don't know what to do. I've spent my life hiding from supernatural creatures and now you're telling me the governing vampires think I'm dangerous. What am I supposed to do?"
His loving eyes stared deep into mine. "Trust me. I will always protect you."
"How am I supposed to survive if they're going to come after me?" My pulsed increased.
"They are not going to come looking for you. I'll take care of you."
I wanted to believe him, but I knew that if ancient vampires considered me dangerous, they weren't going to sit around and let me walk the earth freely.
"How, Drake? How?" I asked, panicky. "You can't stop all of them."
"With your help, I can convince them you are our ally."
"My help?"
"Come back with me. Stand in front of the VETOV. Answer their questions. Talk to them," he said.
