Embrace the Darkness (Darkness Series) (14 page)

She swallowed her fear, forcing herself to concentrate on the case. Weldon was continuing Colonel Timmons’s research. He wanted to create vampires—not cure them. But if he’d been bitten, he’d want to find a cure.

“Does curing a vampire weaken him?” Imagine the possibilities if vampires could venture out in the sunlight, move at the speed of light,
and
survive bullet wounds to the chest.

The perfect soldier. Or an unstoppable enemy.

“The vaccine isn’t a cure,” Gerard said with a heart-wrenching sigh. “It’s just a treatment to help alleviate some of the symptoms. The nutrients every vampire needs to survive are in blood, but since starting the treatments, I only need about eight ounces a week.”

“And before the injections?” Her heart beat against her ribs. How much human blood had Gerard consumed over his very long life?

His gaze slid away. “I needed four to six ounces a day. But a vampire who engorges on warm, fresh blood can go weeks between feedings.”

Revulsion turned her skin to ice. “Like a damn bedbug.” She shivered, feeling queasy. “Or like the monster who killed Richard Baxter.”

And my mother and Andrew.

He dragged his gaze upward from the floor. A deep sadness filled his eyes. “The fresher the blood and the larger the amount consumed, the longer a vampire can go between feedings. In ancient times, it allowed vampires to move from city to city without raising suspicion.”

“And now?”

His shoulders rose and fell on an indrawn breath. “It’s a matter of fear and control. In this day and time, there’s no other reason for a vampire to kill.”

“Not even for survival?” Not that she’d accept that defense. But would Gerard?

Sitting up straighter, he looked her square in the eye. “Why kill that which we can control? If I wanted to, I could taste your blood tonight and make you forget you ever met me. I don’t because I wish to live among mortals. But a vampire who kills so violently has no desire to live as human.”

“What about Sonia?” She lived on the fringes of mortal society. Could she be working with Weldon? She’d dealt with him in the past. “If she’s not a threat, then why isn’t she taking the antivirus?”

“Like I said before, she relishes her nature.”

“Enough to kill to protect her secret?” There was no evidence to prove the vampire was male. Hell, there was precious little evidence at all. “Maybe she wants to stop production of the vaccine. Maybe she let Weldon inside and then killed him after she got the vaccine. Is it possible she’s the perp we’re looking for?”

Gerard scrubbed his face with his hands before meeting her gaze. “If she is, you’ll never prove it. Sonia’s too good at manipulating both minds and evidence. She’s a genius with computers and anything electronic.”

“That makes her a suspect.” The intensity in his blue eyes drew her closer. She leaned in, inhaling the crisp clean scent of some sexy, masculine cologne.

“I’ve thought of that,” he said in a low tone that heated her insides. “But Vincent would know if she’d been in contact with Weldon. He would have sensed it. Unless…” He sighed and clenched his fists. “No. It’s not possible. Vincent wouldn’t protect a killer. And Weldon wouldn’t trust Sonia. She helped destroy his lab at Baldwin Industries.”

The cadence of his voice drew her even closer. Their shoulders touched. Heat shot straight to her womb. She swallowed, trying to coat her suddenly dry throat. “What else have you thought of?”

“This.” And without warning, he touched his lips to hers.

Lightning struck inside her chest. Her pulse quickened. She gasped, inhaling his very breath. And when she didn’t protest or push away, he slid his arms around her shoulders and slipped his tongue past her lips.

Flames licked her skin, setting her body aflame. She melted against him, not just accepting the kiss but returning it with a smoldering passion.

His tongue plunged deep, tasting her, tempting her beyond reason. She slid her fingers into his thick hair, holding him close, savoring his mouth’s caress.

Their lips mated, his kiss robbing her of thought, emptying her mind of everything but the delicious sensations he stirred. His arms banded around her more tightly, his hands sliding over her back in an erotic rhythm that sent her senses spiraling out of control.

Gasping, tasting, licking, she slid her hands down the sides of his neck and over his shoulders to feel the hardness of his chest.

“Dear God,” she whispered against his mouth.

Gerard gentled the kiss and pulled away. She felt as if she’d been abandoned in combat.

Lost—desolate, she hugged herself. Heart pounding, eyes taking in every inch of his face, she said, “That shouldn’t have happened.”

“I’m sorry.” With a sigh, he dropped his head back against the sofa and closed his eyes. “I feel like I’m cheating on Tina, and we never really dated.”

Her heart plummeted to her stomach. She was about to go up in flames and he felt guilty. Her burning lust fizzled and died.

“I’m sorry I enticed you to sin,” she whispered.

A smile teased the corners of his mouth. “You’d entice a saint to sin.”

Dear Lord! He still wanted her. She felt it with every breath she took. “Then why apologize?” The way she said it sounded like an invitation to sin again.

I’ve gone off the deep end. Officially. I’m trying to entice a vampire into my bed.

He opened his eyes and met her gaze. “Trust me. You don’t need me in your life, Amber. I’m a soulless, blood sucking vampire.”

Pity filled her. He looked so lost and lonely in that moment she couldn’t resist raising her hand to cup his cheek. “The eyes are the window to the soul, Gerard. And no one with eyes as expressive as yours can be soulless. I see your heart in yours every time you mention Tina. And I see your concern for me now.”

He kissed her palm. Warmth filled her. Not the hot rush of desire she’d felt only moments ago, but something deeper—and much more dangerous.

She shivered.

“This has to be about the investigation,” he said. “I don’t want you giving into desires now and blaming vampire glamour later.”

“Is it glamour? Is what I felt when I kissed you part of your vampire charm? Or is it real?”

She watched the slide of his Adam’s apple when he swallowed. His eyes burned hotly. “I guess that depends on what you felt.”

Her insides curled into delicious knots. Had she ever wanted a man as badly as she wanted Gerard?

“Confusion,” she whispered. “I don’t trust what I feel.”

Sadness seeped into his smile. “I understand. And I don’t blame you.” He sighed and straightened. “I want you Amber, but I’d rather have your trust.”

Chapter 9

“Maybe you should leave,” Amber said. A mixture of relief and regret shone in her eyes.

Gerard’s heart pounded.

What was I thinking? Amber deserves so much more than I can give.

Guilt stabbed him like a stake through the heart. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tempted you.”

“You’d tempt a saint,” she said with a smile, throwing his words back at him.

A chuckle escaped. Then he sobered. “Still, I should never have dragged you into my dark world.”

“You didn’t drag me into anything. The blood sucker who committed the Lifeblood murders dragged me into this nightmare.”

At least she wasn’t going to make him feel guilty for almost seducing her.

His momentary relief faded. Did she consider him a bloodsucker too?

Even if there had never been a murder at Lifeblood, he was still a vampire—a soulless bloodsucker—and she was mortal.

He slowly rose to his feet. Conflicting emotions tugged at his conscience, torturing whatever glimmer of humanity passed for his soul. He didn’t have to worry about dying. Not because he was immortal. But because he’d already died and gone to hell. God was punishing him with glimpses of a life he could never have. First with Tina. Now, with Amber.

Whatever hope he had for a normal life withered and died.

“You’re right,” he said with a quivering sigh. “We come from two different worlds.
Merde!
We come from two different centuries.”

Amber’s hand froze as she was smoothing her hair. Their gazes met. Held. Her face was an expressionless mask.

“There’s no need to explain,” she said in an equally expressionless tone. “You feel as if you betrayed Tina’s memory. I understand. No problem. It was just a kiss.”

It was more than just a kiss. A hell of a lot more.

He took a deep cleansing breath and let it out slowly. “I cared deeply for Tina but it couldn’t have been love. I was never as attracted to her as I am to you.”

Amber threw up her hands with an exasperated grunt. “It was just a kiss—a kiss that won’t happen again. You’re not on my suspect list any more, but you’re still a potential witness. You shouldn’t even be in my house. It could jeopardize the case.”

She was using her job to protect her heart. He knew that. But it still hurt that she could dismiss him so easily when he still ached for her touch. “You deserve better than a one-night stand with a vampire. If I didn’t believe that, I’d be inside of you right now.”

A gasp escaped her parted lips. Her pulse drummed in her throat. He could see the pounding as plainly as the flush in her cheeks. “I decide what I deserve,” she said, her voice raspy.

Her desire heated his blood. He ignored temptation. “Getting involved with me drags you in deeper. It changes our relationship.”

That arrogant chin notched up, her eyes blazed. “What relationship?”

Her challenging tone stung. So did her refusal to acknowledge their mutual attraction. “You said it, Amber. I’m a witness. Making out with me like a horny teenager could damage your credibility.”

Her eyes bulged and her mouth gaped. She sputtered, moving her hands erratically before dropping her gaze. “It was just a kiss. We didn’t make out and we didn’t have sex.”

“But we both wanted to,” he said softly.

Her chin snapped upward, her eyes widened. “It won’t happen again,” she said with a slight tremor in her voice. “It was just raging hormones. I got it under control now.”

Not hardly.
He could smell her desire—and her fear. His pulse jumped. “It was more than a kiss, Amber. You felt it too. We’re drawn to one another like—”

She smiled. “Two horny teenagers?”

Another laugh escaped—bitter and harsh. “Yeah. Just like that.”

Sadness crept into her voice. “And that’s all it can ever be.”

Harsh reality doused his desire. Despite centuries of practice, he’d never experienced a kiss as heartfelt as what he’d just shared with Amber. Just thinking about it made him ache for what could never be. He was immortal. And Amber wasn’t.

“I understand.”

“It’s not that. I mean…” She flushed. “I’m a cop. I don’t get involved with witnesses or anyone else involved in a case. But I did with you, and I can’t let it happen again. I can’t jeopardize the case. Please understand.”

“I do. Getting involved with a vampire isn’t safe.” And he’d never do anything to intentionally put her in danger. “But it
was
a great kiss. Wasn’t it?”

Color stained her cheeks. Her pulse jumped. He could see the rapid pounding in her neck, smell the increased flow of blood through her veins.

He’d never felt such profound relief.

“Good or not, it can’t happen again.” She eyed him suspiciously. “It
won’t
happen again.”

Was she trying to convince herself? Or did she suspect him of using glamour?

“I didn’t manipulate you, Amber,” he said softly. “Not physically, emotionally or mentally.”

Tension drained from her face. “I know. I participated. Hell, I probably instigated it. Now, we have to move on and pretend it never happened. So, don’t come to see me again unless it pertains to the investigation.”

The attraction between them was undeniable. And impossible to ignore. He’d still keep an eye on her—protect her—but she was right. He couldn’t see her alone again.

“Call if you need me?” He reached into his wallet and pulled out a business card—the one he gave to hospitals and members of the Organ Procurement Transplant Network. He was still in charge of Lifeblood’s organ procurement and the OPTN maintained the only national patient waiting list for organ transplantation.

Her hand shook when she reached for the card, her fingers brushing against his, sending a hot rush of desire straight to his groin.

Mon Dieu!
His chest cramped as he leaned in and gently kissed her forehead. “Good-bye, Amber.”

“Bye.” Her smile was hesitant. “I’m sure I’ll have more questions for you. So, we’ll see each other again. It just can’t be like—this.”

“I know.” Why was he delaying his departure?

Just get the hell out before you break your resolve and make promises you can’t keep.

He walked to the door. She followed. Slowly. “I
will
call. But it’ll be official police business.”

“I know.”
Merde! Just leave.

“I wish things could be different. But it’s not possible. You’re a—well, it’s just not possible.” She smiled to soften the blow.

It didn’t help. Whatever was between them was too damn powerful to just walk away and not look back.

Unable to resist, he leaned forward to kiss her one last time. Their lips connected. Heat stirred him to life, hardening him instantly. He pulled her closer. She didn’t resist.

Plowing his fingers through her silky dark hair, he bent her backwards over his arm as he kissed her with every ounce of passion he possessed—marking her. Branding her. Ensuring she’d never forget him.

He sure as hell wouldn’t forget her. Even if he lived to be a thousand.

Her hands entwined around his neck. Her tongue dueled with his for dominance. She pressed closer until he thought he’d lose control and take her right there in the foyer.

Gasping for breath, he raised his head and slowly pulled her upright. Dazed and flushed with desire, she inhaled deeply. Her pulse beat erratically in her throat.