Chapter 3

Lynda screamed, and the vampire smacked a cold hand over her mouth. Her side pressed up against her office door, her heart slamming against her breastbone. No one was around at this time of night to help her and security stuck to the security cameras that monitored the entrances, stairwells, and parking garage. She didn’t want to die.

She tried to wrestle loose but pushing at him with her elbow was like trying to move a stone wall.

“I'm not going to hurt you, but I don't want to deal with a hysterical woman right now. So I'll take away my hand if you calm down.”

She nodded, and he stepped back. The frantic rush of her blood heated her skin making her hot all over and angry. Her breaths came out in pants. How dare he attack her in her office! “Don't ever do that again.”

“If you stop trying to escape, then I wouldn't have to.” Andrei shrugged. “I thought you dealing with supernaturals would have you knowing better than to run from a vampire.”

“I wasn't running; I was leaving.” She pressed her back against her office door worried that taking a step might make her shaky legs buckle. Yes, she'd been around all types of clients, but none had made her so nervous or afraid for her life. She placed a hand on her chest to mentally slow her heartbeat as she learned in her meditation classes.

He gestured to her desk. “I will bring you a laptop to test and review my data. Then you won't have to fear any corruption or stealing of your program.”

“Thanks.” She rubbed her arms. “Though I'm not saying I agree to help you...or your employer.” Trust was something to be earned, and Andrei hadn't done much for her to believe anything he said. Still, she was curious about his information.

“Wonderful.” He smiled, and the corners of his eyes crinkled giving him an almost boyish look. “I'll swing by tomorrow then. Unless you'd care to have dinner with me?”

“Y…No!” God, she almost said yes. What was she thinking? Going out with a vampire...a potential client? It went against her principles of lining up compatibility before adding passion into the mix.

“Great. I'll pick you up at your place in an hour.” He snatched up his flash drive and stalked to the door where he opened it, then left.

Her nerves danced under her skin. Tired after a long day, and the mad rush of fear he’d induced in her, she sunk into her desk chair, her legs shaking. After several moments her breathing returned to normal and she shook her head. But he has no idea where I live.

* * *

Less than an hour later, Lynda scrambled around her home hunting for her other black heel. Spotting it wedged under the bed, she huffed to reach it. Why had she agreed to this stupid date? No, it was a business arrangement...a meeting... that was all.

Her doorbell rang, and she banged her head under the bed.

“Ow!” She rubbed the top of her skull and scooted out.

She limped to the door with only one shoe on.

“Yes?” she asked as she threw open the door.

Andrei stood in her doorway dressed in a white tux that showed off his dark hair. How did he find out where she lived? Connections? She was unlisted in the phone book and online. Too many chances of a customer trying to connect with her after hours.

“Am I interrupting something?” He asked with a smirk.

“No, just trying to get my other shoe.” Where was he going to take her so dressed up? She'd opted for a black cocktail dress that showed off her legs. It was simple, elegant, and not too dressy.

“Allow me then to assist you?” He asked, his eyes alight with amusement.

“Oh, right. You can’t enter my home unless invited.” She tapped a finger on her lip. “No thanks, I can get it myself.”

“I have a car waiting. Just let me come in.” He held out his hands. “You can always revoke the invite afterward. Kind of like a reset button.”

“Really?” That wasn’t common knowledge. “Huh, how do I know you’re not just telling me that?”

“You don’t. But I would ask you not to blab that information around.” His gaze narrowed. “Sharing our secrets could get you killed.”

She swallowed. For a moment, she debated what to do. If she granted him access then took it back, she’d know if he was lying or not. Might come in handy in the future if she ever needed it. “Sure, come in. My shoe is stuck under the bed.”

He raised an eyebrow and his gaze traveled down the length of her before resting back on her face. Her skin blushed as if he'd touched her, but he stood three feet away from her. What was wrong with her...probably she just needed to eat something.

“How’d it get there?” He traced a finger down her forearm. “Were you naked except for those shoes and kicked them off during a sex marathon that lasted all night and curled your toes and left a blush on your cheeks for days?”

She stepped back. “Nothing like that at all, my heel must have gotten pushed back there from the last time I vacuumed.”

“I like my vision better.”

Liquid heat pooled between her legs and she backed up, hitting the edge of the couch. The regret of letting him have her in this position sank into her gut, but the rest of her body debated jumping him and wrapping her legs around his hips so he could show her what a love marathon felt like.

He chuckled and sauntered to her bedroom.

Biting her lip, she debated following him. What if he went through her things? Or had she left out the dildo she'd used the other night? No, he was the kind of guy that would definitely point it out. Maybe even suggest he help her use it.

“Need help?” She marched into her room with her cheeks burning.

He lifted her bed with one hand, scooped out the shoe with the other, and didn't blink at the very old empty condom wrapper in the corner. “Here you are.”

She took her shoe from his outstretched hand. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.” He winked, setting the bed back. “And I'm available anytime you wish to move furniture to...vacuum.”

Her mouth dried as her stomach turned somersaults. He was awakening her libido, and that meant danger. Emotions couldn't be given free rein, not without the confines of compatibility and values and principles. Then love would be safe, dependable. Not wild and abandoned.

Her mother had lived with wild abandon after her father died and married men she was sexually attracted to, but not in love with. Lynda didn’t want to make that same mistake. She’d almost made a mistake with her ex, as well. Another lesson in the bag; sometimes people lied. And were bad in bed too. That made her snicker a little and put her in a better mood at once.

Quickly, she put on her other shoe and spun on her heels. “Let's go; I'm famished.”

She didn't wait for him but opened her door and stepped into the night. A brisk wind hinting of autumn stirred through the oak outside her home. She shivered.

Now to check and see if he was right about reversing the invitation. “Andrei, you are no longer allowed in my home.”

Still, inside her house, he jerked, black blood dripping from his nose.

She gasped and raced up the porch. “Oh God, I’m so sorry.”

Not answering, he dashed across her threshold and yanked out a handkerchief from his pocket. He dabbed at the blood until it stopped flowing. “I wish you’d have believed me.”

“I don’t know you.” Her insides twisted with shame, despite the protest. “For all I know, you could be lying about everything. Trust comes with time.”

“Shall we?” He handed her the black lace shawl that had been in her closet.

“Did you go through my things?” She wasn't sure if she should be offended or grateful.

He placed a hand on her lower back, guiding her to a limo parked across the street. “Of course not, but this wrap was hanging in my line of sight when you walked out. I figured it would be chilly for you.”

“That was thoughtful. Thank you,” she said, something soft and warm spreading in her chest.

Reaching the limo, Andrei opened the door.

She stared in shock at the car. She knew he came with a lot of money at his disposal, but he’d come in a limousine? “This is for us? Did you rent it for tonight?”

“No, I own four of these.”

Wow, to be that rich. Her rides consisted of bus fares since her Beetle broke down and it cost way too much for repairs. She slid inside. I’ve never been in a limo before. Thank goodness none of her neighbors had tried to steal the car or strip its hubcaps or TV or radio.

Andrei sat beside her. The car rolled down the street without a sound. A divider was up at the other end and she couldn't make out the driver.

She traced the yellow metal on the doorframe. “This isn't gold, is it?”

“Would it be a bad thing if it was?” He leaned back; his arm rested on the top of the seat.

“It's just, elaborate.” She pulled her hand back to her lap. “Think of what you could do by putting the money spent on this into helping others...on building shelters for the homeless, women's safe houses, teen crisis centers.”

“When you agree to our bargain, then you can use your money however you wish.” He rubbed the stubble on his jawline. “I would suggest you find better living arrangements.”

She stiffened but didn't argue. Even if he was right, she wouldn't admit it.

The car turned onto the freeway.

“Where are we headed?” Fancy restaurants were to the east or north of where she lived, and they were headed to the south.

“A surprise.” He gave her a crooked smile that showed a dimple in his cheek and made her breath catch. “I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to treat you to a fabulous meal.”

“Oh?” She tapped an oval manicured but unpolished nail on the seat between them.

“No, I'm not going to tell you where we’re going, you'll find out when we arrive.” He opened a small fridge and pulled out two tiny bottles of wine. “Would you care for a drink?”

The practical part of her brain said no, but she was thirsty, and a drink might loosen her up a bit. If she was going to a fancy dinner, she might as well enjoy herself. Her dates were few and far between anyway lately. What harm would it do?

“Yes, please.”

He opened one bottle and handed it to her.

“How do I know it’s not laced with something or poisoned?”

“Really? A sealed bottle?” He quirked an eyebrow at her, but seeing she didn’t accept, he took a sip of hers, then handed it to her.

“You know, that proves very little. You’re a vampire; not much would affect you.” She sniffed the bottle. A fruity scent filled her nostrils.

Andrei unscrewed his own. “To trust and love.”

He lifted his bottle in a toast.

“To the future,” she answered, then took a sip. The sweetness of the plum wine coated her tongue. “Damn, this is good.”

“It's a dessert wine.”

“And very expensive, I presume?” She sipped more.

He shrugged a shoulder. “A good guess, but easy to discern as I am trying to woo you into accepting our offer.”

“I hope you won't be too disappointed when I say no.” She smiled over the rim of her bottle and drank.

“It's a woman's prerogative to decline anything she wishes.” He licked his full lips, allowing his fingers to lightly trace her hand.

Delicious chills raced up her arm. She wondered what it would feel like to trace his sharp jawline with her fingertips.

She blinked, staring at where he touched her before pulling her hand away. What was happening to her? When had two sips of wine become too much for her? Was it drugged?

“Listen, if you think you can get me drunk and take advantage of me, then you are mistaken.” She pressed her bottle to his chest.

“My apologies,” he took the wine from her and set it aside in the cup holder, “I should've warned you about the alcohol content of the wine, but I thought you would have had similar before with your refined taste and beauty.”

She snorted and crossed her arms. Yeah right, her most recent dates’ ideas for a night out had been to crash the local bars or eat at the steakhouse when they had a special.

“The best thing to do is to get you some food.” He pressed a button. “Take us to La Rouge instead.”

The limo changed lanes, taking the next exit.

“Wait, La Rouge as in the French restaurant that has a six-month waiting list?” She stammered, “Y-you can't just waltz in there and demand a table.”

“No?” He finished off his wine, then drank hers in a gulp. His fingers flashed over his cellphone, sending a text. “I'm asking them to give us the whole place tonight.”

He had to be boasting, right? Then again, the rich and powerful could do whatever the hell they wanted.