Chapter Seven
Red transported me back to the church in his stinking duffle bag then released me to climb in their cab with a set of orders and a new identity snug in my pocket. It took a while for me to get the instructions straight. I read and re-read them. Not because they were complicated, I was just too tired to absorb anything.
First—move to the Rudas hotel. Second—don’t attract attention, then wait for Colby’s phone call. They would find out the vampire communities ’ reaction to last night’s fiasco before making further plans.
It didn’t take me long to get my stuff together and switch hotels. Working for Colby taught me how to get my ass in gear. When he wanted you to ‘mobilize’, you worked fast and carried your own stuff, or you lost it.
I took one last look at the beautiful river view from the balcony. My curiosity got the better of me and I couldn’t resist examining the building above. Maybe Rurik jumped up and climbed the building when he vanished last night. I could see there were handholds someone ridiculously strong and nimble might use. Since it was so dark last night, my eyes probably tricked me.
The riverfront entrance of the Rudas hotel divulged a drab, late 19th century industrial building, but these architectural impressions proved to be misleading. Hidden inside this retro-modern hotel lived a well-preserved ancient bathhouse built in 1578. At least, that’s what the brochure stated.
I set it back on my new desk. This place oozed with luxury. Red would have to stuff me back into that duffel bag if he wanted to send me home. I crawled onto the down filled bedding and basked in the puff of heaven.
There were so many unanswered questions swirling around my busy head. The foremost being—why did Rurik save me? If he hadn’t drugged me, I may have allowed my attraction to grow. The visit from Dragos masked something bigger brewing in Budapest. He and Rurik obviously didn’t like each other. Maybe Dragos knew of Lizzy’s attraction to Rurik. Could they be having an affair? When out of earshot, Rurik expressed his dislike for her. I decided Rurik had his fingers in too many cooking pots and was going to get burned.
I cracked my jaw yawning and rolled over to allow the sunlight to warm my face. It offered me security. No big bald Nosferatu would crawl from under my bed to suck my blood in the daylight. I smiled and watched the geometric shapes dance behind my eyelids.
I’m not sure what woke me first, the aches in my body or the urgency to use the toilet. Both were equally uncomfortable. Injuries always hurt worse the day after. My back groaned with stiffness as I made an attempt to roll out of bed. It was to be excepted when you’ve been thrown against a stone wall like a rag doll. My legs tried to cramp while I shuffled to the bathroom. I caught a glance of myself in the mirror and grimaced at what looked back at me. People with naturally curly hair shouldn’t fall asleep when it’s damp. My ponytail resembled a huge, fuzzy pom-pom on the back of my head. Rurik would appreciate my rabbit tail. My grimace transformed into a grin at the poof. When had thoughts of Rurik start making me smile?
His tenderness last night caught me off guard. It made me aware of how affection-starved I’d been. He started the evening so cold and malicious then grew into someone charming. Would the real Rurik please stand up?
The odd incident with the disappearing alley vampire bothered me. Rurik did some interesting physical feats—like getting into and leaving my hotel room, seven floors up from the ground. He could have defeated my attacker while I got the wind knocked out of me, then followed me back to the hotel.
Now Colby wanted to use me as bait for Rurik again. We both knew he’d respond, except I didn’t want to hurt him. I never dealt with an internal struggle like this. Each contract I helped Colby complete, the vampire always tried to hurt to me. None of them charmed me, attracted me, or wiped tears from my face. Seeds of doubt bloomed. How could I find out the truth?
My gut told me Rurik was different. I sighed and fluffed my pom-pom tail. Maybe I confused my libido with my gut. I wish I’d been given the chance to peel him out of his suit last night.
A growl came from my neglected stomach. I’d slept through the day and most of the evening. After I flipped through the menu and ordered room service, I picked up the hotel brochure depicting the other amenities once more. A hot, steaming bath with a massage at a genuine Hungarian bathhouse sounded right up my alley.
The entrance to the ancient section of the Rudas came through a portal arch pinched at the top like the toe of a genie’s shoe. The wooden door to the bathhouse lay at the end of this narrow corridor.
I looked forward to a long hot soak and a well-deserved night off. When I pushed at the door to enter, it remained immobile. A little sign beside it showed the hours of operation.
They were closed.
I leaned against the rough, solid, wooden door and banged my forehead on it. I shouldn’t have paused to eat. Sometimes I forgot not everyone lived on a vampire’s time clock. Now, I had to be satisfied with a stupid hot shower.
The door swung open and for a second, I became weightless before falling forward to sprawl onto the floor. I jarred my already sore body hard enough to rattle my teeth and groaned at the sharp pain.
“Rabbit! You’re not who I expected.”
The silken, sexy voice sounded familiar. I rolled onto my back to stare at the source.
A set of widened, pale, blue eyes looked down at me. I sat up, the quick movement sent spasms down my back. The muscles quieted after I stayed still.
Rurik squatted next to me. He turned his charming smile on. “I’d happily accept your company instead.” He wore a blue muscle shirt that accentuated his eyes, and a pair of faded jeans.
Instead of who? The pang of jealousy that accompanied the thought amazed me. I scrabbled up to my feet. “I thought the bathhouse was closed.”
Fluidly he stood with me. “To the general populace it is. Those of us who are—” his grin grew, flashing fang “—daylight challenged, come here after-hours.”
Even dressed casually he was easy on the eyes. He reached to lay a bare touch to my forehead where I felt tender from knocking my head. “It’s an odd way to knock on the door. Most people use their knuckles.” He lifted my hand to exhibit the correct tools for the job.
My eyes narrowed. “I read somewhere, that’s how they knock here. So, when in Budapest, do as the Hungarian do.”
His startled laugh at my wiseass remark made him seem more human. He lowered his face, laughter still shining in his eyes. “I’ll remember that the next time I knock at your door.”
“Next time? I don’t remember you knocking last night.” The huskiness of my voice made it a whisper.
“No, I didn’t.” He stood so close I could smell the mild spice of his cologne. His face was almost too handsome to look at.
A thrill of anticipation ran through me right down to curl my toes.
“How did you find me, my little surprise?”
I placed a hand against his chest, reluctant to keep him from closing the gap. “I wasn’t looking for you.” No breaths or heartbeat moved against my hand. Only warmth radiated from beneath his shirt. He must have fed. “I’m sore from running last night. I wanted to soak in a hot bath.” His heart may not be beating but mine drummed.
“So you knocked to come in?”
I chuckled, feeling the heat of color rising to my cheeks. “Well ... I was, actually, banging my head in frustration. It didn’t occur to me to knock.”
He stepped forward to touch my frizzed out ponytail. His proximity caused me to step back against the door, closing it. “Scary hair.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Such frustration should not be left unfulfilled, especially if it will lead you to bang your pretty head.” He pulled me from the door and stepped in behind me.