“You are reluctant to tell me anything about him, aren’t you? Even with the grimoire as your reward.”
“It’s not that, I…” I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
“I understand,” he said.
I looked at him with surprise. “You do?”
“Of course. You don’t want to hurt anyone. I admire that, Sarah.”
“You do?” I said again.
“Yes, I do. However, it doesn’t change anything. The Red Devil must die. And you’re my link to find him while he’s still in the city.”
“And if I don’t, you won’t give me the grimoire.”
“I can give you so many things.” He stroked the hair back from my face. “Anything you desire. I’m a very rich man—even if everyone thinks I’m dead.”
“I don’t want your money. Or any gifts. I just want the grimoire.”
“And I want the Red Devil.”
“I’m sure he’d be flattered.”
He slid his hand down the side of my face to my throat and neck, where he drew a line with the tip of his index finger along my gold chain. “I don’t think you should break your curse at all. Do you know what being a nightwalker really means?”
Gideon was way too close to me, our bodies were nearly touching. I could feel the heat coming off him in waves and smell the scent of his skin. Humans did smell like food to vampires when they got too close—warm, edible, and delicious. I was thankful that, while my chain was on, I had control over my thirst. I’d mostly stayed away from humans since I was sired and replaced my casual acquaintances and friends from my old job with new vampire friends. It was a bit disheartening how easily they’d accepted that I’d moved on to a new social group, but it was safer that way.
However, Gideon tended to get a little too close for comfort.
Close enough for me to feel the hard outline of his BlackBerry in the pocket of his pants.
At least… I think that was his BlackBerry. Or maybe he was just happy to see me.
Or both.
Damn.
Maybe I should answer his question, I thought. And stop focusing on what he has in his pants.
“Being a nightwalker means I’m an out-of-control monster who needs to be staked before
I hurt somebody,” I finally said.
He shrugged and drew even closer to me until my back was pressed firmly against the wall. “Or it means you have oceans of power at your fingertips. Along with your special blood, you could take your curse and make it an asset. Maybe you shouldn’t try to stop the inevitable. Don’t you believe in fate?”
“I believe in not using humans as chew toys. It’s kind of been a rule of mine.”
“So well-behaved for a vampire.” He lowered his head so we were eye to eye and slid his hand around to the small of my back. “Do you ever think about how it would be if you just let go of all that control? I bet you’d find it very pleasurable.”
“As pleasurable as you found your afternoon… nap?” I asked pointedly.
“Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Sarah.”
I braced my hands against his chest. “I’m not jealous.”
“Admit it—to yourself and to me. Despite who I am. Despite who you are. You like me.”
His lips curled to the side and he focused on my mouth for a moment longer than was polite. “And I bet your nightwalker likes me, too, doesn’t she?” He touched my chain and let his finger trail boldly down the front of me. “The part of you that wants to be free and wild and unrestrained?”
Something deep inside me shifted and surged forward. It was a healthy burst of lust that agreed wholeheartedly and without reservation to what Gideon was saying.
He was right. My inner nightwalker wanted Gideon so much she was fighting me right now for control even with my gold chain on. She wanted to make his bedsheets even messier than they already were.
I thought back to what Veronique had said that morning about the Carastrand’s magic only being a temporary thing.
If so, there was no time to waste.
“It’s true,” I said. “I do like you.”
He raised an eyebrow at the admission.
I was so close. I wanted to slip my hand into his pocket and grab the BlackBerry and then run as far away from Gideon as I could get—he was much too dangerous to me on too many levels.
“That’s right,” he whispered approvingly into my ear as my hands slid lower on his body.
“I knew you wanted me.”
He covered my mouth with his and he kissed me. I kissed him back as I attempted to maneuver my way into his pocket to get what I’d come there for.
Unfortunately, despite his healthy libido, Gideon wasn’t stupid. It would have been so much easier if he was. He knew what I was after. His hand clamped down on my wrist just as I felt the cool metal of the cell phone.
“Someone has wandering hands,” he said.
“I thought you wouldn’t mind.”
“But I do.” He stepped back from me and eyed me with sudden distrust. “I’m disappointed in you, Sarah.”
I felt frozen. Caught. Exposed. And a little bit dirty.
“I… I don’t know what—”
“Get out,” he said quietly.
“But I thought we were—”
“Leave now before I get angry and do something I might regret.” His eyes glittered and his hands were clenched in fists at his sides. “I will contact you about the ritual tomorrow.”