Authors: D B Reynolds
Sarah felt a rush of pleasure that he'd noticed her admittedly sexy high-heeled boots, but cursed her own clumsiness. “I didn't expect to be walking much,” she muttered. “And I'm not worried about William Cowens."
"No? Then maybe it's the limo driver. A former lover, perhaps?” He said it lightly, but there was a definite growl on his last words.
Sarah laughed. “Right, it's the limo driver. I was just startled, that's all. I'm not used to hanging around police stations."
They had reached her car by then. Sarah beeped the locks open and Raj reached around her to open the door. “Is it Blackwood?” he persisted.
She threw her bag across the seat and gave him an exasperated look. “I told you. I don't even know—"
Raj placed one hand on the door and braced himself against the roof of her car with the other, effectively trapping her. He was so damn
big.
She stifled a brief, irrational urge to run, looking up to meet his amused gaze instead. “Do you know how lie detectors work, Sarah?"
She frowned in confusion at the seeming non sequitur. “Of course. When a person lies about something, there are physiological changes that give him away. Pulse rate, respiration . . . and probably some other things too. It's not exactly my field, but what—"
He leaned down until his mouth was at her ear. “Your pulse and respiratory rates just rocketed, little one. And your luscious heart is going pitty-pat. Either you're madly in love with me, or you're not being totally honest. Although it might be both.” She felt the soft touch of his tongue along the curve of her ear. “Delicious,” he whispered.
She shivered and forced herself to meet his icy blue eyes. Except they weren't quite so icy anymore. She licked her lips, and those eyes followed the movement of her tongue before returning to meet her gaze with a slow, sensuous blink.
Ice can be hot, too
, she reminded herself.
"Why do you care?” she managed to say.
"You didn't come down here to offer advice on vampires,” he chided her gently. “Of course, there's your close relationship with Lord Krystof . . .” He let the words trail off suggestively.
"I
don't
really know him,” she admitted. “Although, I did, er,
see
him at a University reception once. And I could probably get Cyn to set up a meeting or—"
"I don't think so,” he interrupted harshly.
Sarah looked up at him in surprise and caught the dying flash of some emotion in his eyes. “If you have any questions about vampires, you can ask me,” he said. “No one else."
"Excuse me?” she said, his high-handed attitude restoring some of her usual backbone.
Raj gave her a charming smile, one that almost made her forget her newfound determination. “Lord Krystof doesn't deal with humans much. Whereas I—” He nuzzled her cheek softly, placing his lips once again at her ear. “I am at your
complete
disposal."
Sarah didn't need a vampire to tell her that her heartbeat had just gone into overdrive. She turned her face into his, struck by the smoothness of his cheek, by the warm, masculine scent of his skin. “Raj,” she murmured.
"Yes?"
"What are we doing?"
He laughed. “I must be out of practice if you need to ask me that."
Sarah smiled up at him, feeling relaxed and warm, just like she had in the club. It was strange how he could make her feel that way—strange and a little troubling. She started to turn, intending to slip into her car, but Raj had other ideas. He wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted her up to her toes and kissed her—a long, soft, sensuous seduction of mouth and tongue. When he finally ended the kiss, tracing her jaw with his lips as he set her carefully back on her own two feet, she held onto him, not entirely certain she could remain standing on her own.
"I have to go back inside,” he murmured, even as he continued to taste her, his mouth moving slowly from cheek to cheek and down to her neck, where he lingered. “Why don't I come by your place later.” He bit gently into her neck and then kissed away the small pain. “And we can talk all about what's really going on here."
Sarah forced herself to breathe, to take a half step back. She stumbled into the doorframe of her car with a jolt and Raj steadied her with a hand on her arm. She stared up at him, a bit stunned to realize she was actually considering it. He was a vampire. She'd known him only a few days, really only a few hours, and she was seriously considering inviting him over to her house. To talk.
Right
.
"Are you messing with my mind, Raj?” she asked softly.
"I sure as hell hope so."
She laughed and shook her head at her own foolishness. “Not all of us can stay up all night. I've got to teach tomorrow and it's already late."
"Tomorrow night then,” he persisted.
She smiled, thinking of Linda's birthday celebration for Sam—what would her friend do if she showed up with a vampire as her date? “I'm already committed to a friend tomorrow night."
"What kind of friend?” he demanded, scowling.
She gave him an exasperated look. “Not that it's any of your business,” she said pointedly. “But she's a friend from the University. It's her husband's birthday party."
"Fine. I'll meet you after."
"Maybe. I don't know—” Her next words were cut off as he lifted her effortlessly and covered her mouth with another lingering kiss. She heard herself moaning softly against his lips and knew if he'd asked at that moment, she would have gone with him anywhere he wanted. He let her go gently, her body sliding down his in a slow, suggestive glide that left little doubt as to the state of his own arousal. She leaned against his chest, feeling safe in the circle of his arms as she caught her breath. “Do you know where I live?” she asked softly.
She could hear his grin when he said, “I can find out.” She had no doubt that was true. In fact, she had no doubt Raj could do pretty much anything he set his mind to. “All right,” she said. She forced herself to pull away from him, to put a few inches distance between them, so she could think. She turned and threw her purse across the seat. “I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes, you will."
Sarah trembled at the heat in those three words and wondered if she'd finally lost her mind for real, just as her parents and her therapists had thought she had way back when.
Raj stood back and watched Sarah drive out of the parking lot. He found himself eager for their next meeting, and not just because he was attracted to her, although, there was no question about that. In fact, his feelings for her went a little deeper than he was comfortable with. He'd wanted her in New York. If not for her rather unique position at the time, as a member of Raphael's entourage, he'd have taken her. But she wasn't with Raphael anymore. The scent of her perfume lingered and he grinned. Oh, yes, he was definitely going to taste his sweet Sarah, and very soon, too.
But he was also curious about what she was hiding. And she was definitely hiding something. He could have taken it from her mind easily. The lightest exploratory touch had already told him she was amazingly susceptible to his will, maybe more so than most humans. But it also told him she was both physically and emotionally exhausted from whatever secret she was keeping. A secret Raj would uncover before too long.
Of course, it didn't hurt that the secret came wrapped in a package he intended to unwrap slowly and with great relish. He wouldn't take her quickly, as he did the women he drank from usually, not like that woman in the bar earlier. Raj didn't pretend to be anything but what he was. He was a predator and humans were his prey. And he was very good at what he did. But for some reason he didn't want to trick Sarah Stratton into doing his bidding. He wanted her to go with him knowingly, to invite him into her home because she wanted him there, not because her mind was clouded with lust. Although, she did desire him already. She hadn't completely surrendered to it yet, but the subtle notes of her body told him she would soon. He smiled to himself. Oh, yes, he was going to enjoy unwrapping Sarah Stratton very much indeed.
"Fucking Commissioner's throwing a wild card at us, Dan.” Raj heard Scavetti's blustering from down the hall. “Captain says he didn't know about it until a few minutes ago, but he could be lying through his teeth, covering his own ass. They want in on the meeting."
"What meeting and who wants in on it?” Raj asked, strolling into the conference room.
Scavetti gave him a scathing look. “Just a quick bite, huh, Gregor?"
"You're a crude man, Scavetti,” Raj said, not even glancing at the detective as he dropped into a chair at the end of the table, leaving a wall at his back and his face to the open door. “But Felder here seems like a decent sort, so I'll assume that you're a good cop.” He leaned back into the chair, perfectly at ease. “Shall we continue?"
"You got somewhere else to be, vampire?"
Raj gave him a smug glance. “I do now."
"Son of a bitch,” Scavetti muttered. “What is it about vampires and women?” He shook his head in disgust, but his voice held an undercurrent of admiration that he couldn't disguise.
Raj permitted himself a slight smile, knowing it would irritate Scavetti. The burly detective responded on cue, giving him a final glare before turning his delightful personality on his partner. “Cowens and Blackwood are in on the meeting."
"Do they know—” Felder began.
"That we have one of the bloodsuckers here? Yeah, they know. No offense,” he added, giving Raj a look that made it clear offense was very much intended.
"Mr. Gregor—” Dan Felder started.
"Call me Raj."
"Raj?” Tony drawled, stretching out the single syllable.
"A nickname, Detective. We bloodsuckers are quite big on them."
Scavetti's eyes went flat as he tried to decide if he was being played, but Felder intervened once again. “Come on, Tony. Mr. Gregor . . . er, Raj is here to help us. We
asked
him to come down here, remember?"
Raj pitied Felder, having to work every day with such a noisome partner. But the truth was he
did
have an interest in getting this case solved quickly, so he tried to be more diplomatic. “Lord Krystof is very interested in resolving this matter, gentlemen. He's asked me to assist in any way I can."
"
Lord
Krystof, huh?” Scavetti sneered predictably. “Well, isn't that fucking sweet. I thought we were in America, Dan."
"Jesus Christ, Tony, what the hell is wrong with you?” Evidently even Dan Felder could only take so much.
Scavetti snapped his mouth shut, sucking back whatever he'd been about to say. He scowled at Raj, as if daring him to say anything. When Raj remained silent, Scavetti gave his partner an apologetic look. “I'm all right,” he muttered. He turned his back in an obvious attempt to keep his next words private. It didn't work. Raj could have heard him easily, even he'd been standing outside the room and down the hall. But Scavetti didn't know that.
"It just threw me off, that's all,” Scavetti said softly to Dan. “The Commissioner showing up at the last minute like this. This case is important to me; you know that."
"Which is why you should welcome help from the vamps,” Felder replied. “What do we know about their community? Nothing, that's what. So play nice for a change, you idiot."
"Yeah.” Tony gave a nervous laugh and steeled himself visibly before turning back to face Raj. “You okay with William Cowens and his fucking spiritual adviser being in the room?"
Raj shrugged easily. “I have no problem with that. The more information we have, the sooner we can solve this case and get back to our own lives. Believe me, Detective, I am no happier to be here than you are."
Disbelief flashed quickly in Tony's brown eyes, but he nodded in agreement. “Cowens and the Commissioner had a private meeting first.” He crooked his fingers in the air, giving the last two words air quotes for emphasis. “Blackwood's with them. They should be here any minute."
Raj sighed, thinking every extra minute spent in Scavetti's company had to be taking at least an hour off his immortal life. But he waited, letting thoughts of the lovely Sarah Stratton, and what he had planned for her, make those minutes pass more pleasantly.
He jerked his thoughts away from Sarah and fixed his sight on the door moments before a big man in a dark suit walked into the room. He recognized Police Commissioner Thornton from his picture in the lobby behind the bulletproof glass. With him were William Cowens, his bodyguard, and Edward Blackwood. Commissioner Thornton took a look around, his gaze lighting briefly on Raj before moving on to Scavetti. “Have you begun the briefing yet?"
"No, sir,” Scavetti said. “Captain said to wait for you and Mr. Cowens."
"Then let's get this started. William,” he said, addressing Cowens, “these are Detectives Scavetti and Felder.” He indicated each man in turn. “They're heading up Patricia's case and I have every confidence in their abilities. He pulled out two chairs, offered one to Cowens and sat in the other. “Edward Blackwood,” he continued, with a nod toward the HR founder, “is Mr. Cowens's advisor in this matter and will be serving as his press spokesman unless we decide a more personal statement is warranted.” He didn't bother to introduce the bodyguard, of course. It wasn't appropriate and no one took offense. The man eyed the room carefully, his gaze lingering on Raj before he moved to take up a position between his client and the door, while still having a clear view of everyone in the room.
"And you, sir,” Thornton said, addressing Raj directly, “must be the representative from our local vampire community.” He all but choked on the words, which Raj found amusing. That most humans preferred to believe vampires didn't exist was understandable, even preferable, to the vampire community. As he'd told Krystof, vampires survived largely by living below the radar, so to speak. If the humans thought too much about what walked among them, they might be prodded into doing something about it. And as powerful as vampires were, they were few in number, especially compared to the billions of humans now walking the Earth.