Chapter 10

Through the door, Margo, an ex-employee demon, walked in like she owned the place. Beside her was her sidekick, Gemma, a troll. Margo smiled at Darien, as his expression echoed Remi’s thoughts exactly.

With an abrupt nod, he motioned them in, his eyes glancing to Remi over top of the heads of those between them. The set of his jaw told her that if Margo started anything tonight, it would be ended very quickly. More often than she’d like, Margo would show up and create discontent among the staff of Serenity. Remi sat still, breathing slowly as Margo and her friend made their way through the crowd, zeroing in on Finn. From where she sat, she could see Finn stiffen as Margo’s hand landed on his arm, and she gave him a charming smile.

With a frozen smile on his face, he inclined his head as he took her order, glancing briefly in Remi’s direction as he did.

Margo turned and looked across the bar at her, a look of disdain replacing her smile before she turned back to Finn. “Do I want to know what that was about?”

Remi looked away from Margo and shook her head. “She used to work here.” She watched the way Finn’s smile faded as he pried his arm free to head back to the bar.

“When did you fire her? Recently?”

Turning in the stool, she looked at him for a moment. “No, it was over a year ago now.”

“Maybe we should look into her.”

Shrugging, she glanced around for Darien. He was across the bar watching Margo also. “Randell was around when all that happened. Ask him.”

Kyran leaned closer and studied her for a moment. Remi hated feeling like she was under a microscope. “I will if it bothers you to talk about it.”

Glancing over at Pascal, she raised her empty glass and made a motion like she was holding a cup. With a nod, he swung around and picked up the coffee pot and a cup. “It doesn’t bother me, really, I just feel dumb anytime I think about it.” She jerked her chin in Margo’s direction. “She was stealing and lying.” She paused while Pascal poured her coffee. “She had me believing some of the lies about my staff. I still feel like an idiot.”

“Ah, chronic liars are good at the stories they tell.” He leaned both arms on the bar and stared at his glass. “How long ago did you and Randell break up?”

Narrowing her eyes, she looked at him.

Kyran grinned and looked down at her briefly, then at the glass in his hands. “That kind of tension can only come from a relationship gone bad.” He tilted his head and looked over at her. “You want nothing to do with him, and he still cares.”

Remi snorted and shook her head. “That’s him caring?” Exhaling, she turned the stool and stared across the patrons enjoying themselves. “That’s him being possessive.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “He didn’t want to be with me. He wanted to own me.”

Kyran was silent for a long time before he looked back to his drink. “Well, everyone has their flaws.”

Turning, Remi looked at him. He had a smirk on his face, letting her know he was going to leave that discussion alone. “What about you, Detective Nelsen? What are your flaws?”

Shaking his head, he tilted it and looked her in the eye. “I’m sure the list is long.”

“At least honesty isn’t one of them,” she said, looking back at the crowd. “So, why a cop?”

He gave her a puzzled look.

“Why are you a cop? You seem like a nice guy.”

“Ouch, Dell really did a number on you, didn’t he?” He shrugged. “I like justice.”

Quirking an eyebrow at him, she held his look. “That’s it?”

Taking a drink, he watched her over the rim of his glass. “That’s it.”

“Hmm.” Sipping her coffee, she turned her attention back to the dancers enjoying themselves to another song.

Darien left the door to Baker as the kitchen would be slow until later when everyone decided they should mix some food with their drinks. He motioned to Pascal, and both of them moved in her direction.

Kyran leaned closer and gave her a slight nod. “I think your nurses are about to end your night out.”

“Ya think?” she said, narrowing her eyes and giving Darien a defiant look. She knew what they had in mind for her. She wasn’t sure she could do it without feeling ill.

Darien stopped and turned her stool, so he could block her in with an arm on either side. He leaned down next to her ear. “You need a bit more blood, sweetheart. You’re as pale as a ghost right now.”

Leaning her forehead against his shoulder, she sighed. “I don’t know if I can, Dare. This morning was one thing…”

He straightened up, his chocolate eyes searching hers. “You need it. You’ve got the auditor coming in the morning. The staff is all wired with the news…”

She waved a hand so he wouldn’t continue. “I know. I just…”

Pascal leaned across the bar, his head close to hers. “I can’t compel you because we all know that doesn’t work on you.”

“I think I’ll go mingle,” Kyran said loudly and got up, giving her a look that said he agreed with the were and vampire but had to deny knowing because it was illegal. He moved past Darien and disappeared into the crowd.

Finn and Emery were suddenly standing beside Darien, looking down at her. It was like seeing in black and white with Emery’s pale hair and eyes, and Finn’s the exact opposite. She quickly felt defeated with three vampires and a werewolf ganging up on her. “You guys do know that I’m supposed to be the boss.”

“Uh huh,” Emery held out his hand. “And that’s why we need you in full fighting form.”

Groaning, she put her hand in his and gave Darien what she hoped was the look of death, almost meaning it.

Elise came up and leaned close to Darien. “Betany and Iris just came in.” She smirked, “Dressed to kill.” Emery and Finn both turned to look for them. “Iris seems to be zeroing in on Kyran.”

“Oh shit.” Darien looked from her to Elise. “I guess the flavor of the week is human.” He tilted his chin to the two vampires flanking her. “Go run interference before she swamps him with faerie lust.”

The two young vampires grinned. Finn moved away while Emery leaned down. “Go take your medicine and get some rest, Mom.”

She glared at him as he chuckled and followed his friend through the crowd. Sighing, she looked up at Darien and at the big vampire now behind him. “You guys suck.”

Pascal grinned wide at her words and then shrugged. “As often as I can, actually.”

Rolling his eyes, Darien took her elbow and began to guide her in the direction of the break room.

“Is this really necessary?” She asked, hoping she was only imagining the whiney tone in her voice.

Closing the door behind them, Darien stopped and looked at her. “Would I really be asking you to suck on his wrist if it weren’t?”

Pascal cleared his throat and then grinned. “Careful, you’ll give me a complex.” He glided closer to her. “Just relax, Rem. It’s not going to hurt.”

Rubbing her hands over her face, she groaned. “Just get it over with.” It took all of her courage to stand there as Pascal bit into his wrist.

He grinned with red lips and fangs, “Sometimes it’s a fight to get others to see things that are for their own good.”

She glanced at Darien when the wrist was held to her mouth. He gave her a look and nodded. Taking the wrist with one hand, she touched her tongue against the blood welling on the cool skin.

Pascal continued talking as if this was a normal moment. It may have been for him, but not in her world.

“It’s like those that find their mate and for whatever convoluted reasons do nothing about it.” He looked from her to Darien.

She watched Darien’s face turn to stone as he glared at the vampire.

“If I,” Pascal said softly, “were to find the one to revive this dead heart of mine, heaven, hell, and all that lies between wouldn’t stop me from ensuring she was mine for the rest of eternity.” He shrugged, “But there are some that would rather be a fool and allow her the time to be more complete than they’ve ever been.”

Swallowing again, she pressed her hand against her stomach and released his arm.

“Look at that face.” Pascal chuckled. “You would think I taste like battery acid.” His eyes flashing at her, he licked the healing punctures on his wrist and made smacking noises. “Mmm, thirteen twenty-nine. A perfect year.” He gave her a fanged grin, and she forgot all about the taste of the blood on her tongue as the meaning behind his words registered in her head.

“She’s going to get a bit of a buzz off that. Don’t let her do anything she wouldn’t normally do.” Pascal said with a nod to Darien and then left, closing the door behind him.

“Did he…” She looked at Darien and then back to the door.

“Just tell us his age?” He gave her a wide-eyed look. “I think he did.”

“That would make him” —she struggled to focus on the math— “six hundred and eighty-something years old.”

“And you thought I was geriatric,” he said in a dry tone.

Remi giggled loudly and then slapped her hand over her mouth, giving him a horrified look. She was not a giggling kind of gal.

Chuckling, he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the door. “Let’s get you upstairs before you get too giddy on me.”

“We could go dance again. Wanna dance with me, Dare?” She laughed after she said it, never having asked anyone to dance before.

“Sweetheart, if your eyes weren’t glazed like an addict’s, I would love to take you out there and bump and grind for hours.” Darien tightened his hold on her hand and tugged her in the direction of the back stairs.

“I can take myself up, Dare.” She felt so much lighter, and it wasn’t an all bad feeling.

“Yes, you can, but I’m checking the apartment before I leave you there. I’ll call Cait to stay with you when I leave.”

She snorted. “I don’t think Dell meant I literally couldn’t be alone, not when I’m at home.”

Darien stopped and gave her a once-over. “I don’t care what Dell said. I won’t feel right if I’m not sure you’re safe.”

Relaxing her arm, she let him lead her up the stairs. “Who’s going to watch over me when I shower?”

His hand flexed around hers, and she stifled the urge to giggle again.

“Don’t tempt me, A ghrá. You might get a surprise.” He pushed open the door at the top and pulled her through it.

“What does that mean? You’ve called me it before.” She tripped over the trim of the step and had to brace herself against his chest so she wouldn’t fall.

He caught her with a strong arm around her waist and stood there looking down at her. She loved when he gave her those tender looks where his dark brown eyes softened. It made her feel cherished, something she’d never felt before.

Shrugging, he released her. “It’s just a term I picked up.” He turned away from her and went down the hall.

Remi stood there, watching after him. Sometimes that man was hard to read. He was her best friend in the whole world but could just shut down in a heartbeat. He went in and out of all the rooms before he came back toward her. Remi wasn’t sure what Pascal had spiked his blood with, but she suddenly wanted to hug Darien. Just to get lost in the safety of his big arms against his warm body. When he paused a few feet away from her, she swayed in his direction and wrapped her arms tight around his waist.

Darien stiffened for a second before he hugged her back. “It’s going to be all right, sweetheart. You know that, right?” He whispered into her hair.

Burying her face against his throat, she nodded. “It has to be,” she squeezed him. “This is all I have.”

His arms tightened, his warm hand stroking up and down her back. “Let’s get you to your room. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.” Turning, he walked with his arm hugging her into his side. Darien stopped just inside her bedroom door. “Get some rest, Remi.” Kissing the top of her head, he turned to leave.

Remi grabbed his t-shirt to stop him from going. “Kiss me, Dare.” She didn’t know where it came from, only knew she’d like to kiss him once when she was expecting it. Maybe it was brought on by the effects of Pascal’s blood, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to feel a connection with someone, most specifically Darien.

He opened his mouth like he was going to say no and then closed it and grasped her chin lightly, searching her eyes for a long silent moment. Whatever he was looking for, he must have found because he released her chin and cupped her jaw gently. Tilting her head back enough that their lips were only a few inches apart, he stood there, his breath mixing with hers.

She felt everything stop before his warm lips caressed hers in a touch so light it was more like a whisper than a kiss. Stepping into his hard body, she pushed her hand into the back of his hair, encouraging him to stay close. “Again.” She dragged her mouth over his.

He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her in, kissing her again with more passion this time. Her body responded to the movement of his mouth on hers, heating. It always happened whenever Darien kissed her. She loved the feeling, no matter how short-lived it was. It made her feel wanted, needed in a female way.

Darien’s mouth suddenly ravished hers with a kiss hotter than any other she’d had before, and then he pulled back, leaving her shocked he had stopped so abruptly. “I have to go. You need to rest.”

Taking a second, she caught her breath. “Just like that?”

His eyes bore into hers. “Just like that. I’m not a monk.”

Dropping her hand to his shoulder, she looked up at him. There was something in the way he was looking at her, but her brain was too hazy from the blood and the kiss to grasp what it was. Regardless, she knew Darien well enough to know when he wouldn’t bend, and she was certain this was one of those times. “Okay.”

Leaning down, he brushed the hair back from her neck and placed a tender kiss on the side of her throat. “You can have whatever you want, Remi. You just have to ask.” He straightened and gave her a sad look. “But not while you’re stoned on vampire blood.”

Sighing, she stepped back and rested her hip against the wall. “Got it.”

He looked over his shoulder at her bed. “Are you good from here?”

Nodding, she hugged her arms around her waist. “I’m fine. Go.”

It wasn’t like Darien to linger, but he turned back to her and ran a hand through his hair. “Call if you need me, okay? Follow your gut feelings. If something doesn’t feel right, I want to know about it.”

“I will.” She sidestepped past him. “Promise.”