“No!” Horrified at the thought. “I’m clean. I’m nobody’s meal ticket.”
“I’m worried about you.”
He should be. I was worried about me too.
“I-I’m in trouble.” I caught myself about to look at the bathroom door and stomped on the urge. “That’s all I can tell you, I’ve told you everything else I could.” I tugged at the hem of my PJ top and looked at my bare feet, corralled by his size twelve boots.
He stepped back allowing me to take a deep breath. I watched him as he took his hat off to run his hand through his blond hair, disturbing the neat part. By the end of the day his hair would be all over the place like Einstein’s, as always.
I couldn’t help but smile at the gesture and realized there was something I could impart to him. “Rurik’s lair got attacked yesterday.”
His eyebrows rose up to his hairline. “Who did it?”
“I thought it was you.” From his reaction, I would guess not.
He shook his head. “Is he dead?”
“No.”
“Yeah, you’re not in mourning.”
The comment rattled my already confused morals. I stepped forward and slapped his face without thinking. Colby knew me and how Laurent’s death affected my soul He shouldn’t have crossed that line.
He rubbed his chin and nodded. “I deserved that.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a white envelope to place in my hand. “Plane ticket home. Leaves tonight.”
I stared at it, not sure what to do. This was what I wanted, wasn’t it?
Colby nudged me out of his way and opened the door. “Take the plane, Connie. Get out. Red and I will take care of things here.” Then he left.
I sat on the bed with Colby’s present in my hands. The battle lines drawn across this city were taut with tension, ready to explode. I assumed it to be just between Rurik and Dragos, but Tane seemed to be playing both sides and Colby was the wild card.
Tane told me I’d have to pick a side. Forget Dragos, he’d just eat me. Rurik wanted me but could he protect me? Tane needed me and had the power to protect me but I didn’t know what he would do with me once I outlived my uses. Then there was this plane ticket home. If I took Colby’s offer and left all this trouble behind, I’d live.
But at what cost? Rurik framed for a mass murder and no one believed his innocence but me. Colby and his men hired by Tane and didn’t even know it. If they succeeded in killing Rurik they’d be hunted down by his people and if not, I think Tane would go after them anyway. The city of Budapest would be taken over by a new unknown Overlord chosen by Dragos.
The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
Did I think I could stop all this? No.
If I left and those I cared about got hurt because I kept my mouth shut and did nothing, I’d be responsible. That was unacceptable. I’d already had to sit back and watch one person I loved die. Not again, never again.
This little rabbit was about to draw her own battle line and cross all of theirs.
Chapter Fourteen
“Rabbit.” A seductive, silken voice caressed my consciousness. “Rabbit.” It got louder. I tried to ignore it and go back to sleep. Something smoothed my hair from my face. A light touch brushed my lips and sent a smoldering shockwave through my body.
Rurik. No one inflamed me like he did.
He pulled away from the light kiss but I reached out for more and trapped him in my arms. His deep, low laugh shook his body and I peeked at him from under my eyelashes.
His clear, cold sapphire eyes sparkled a few inches from mine. They searched my face and settled on my hair where he fingered a wayward curl. “There is nothing I’d rather do than spend the night in your warm bed but duty calls.” He tugged at the curl. “Wake up.” He rolled out of my arms to sit on the edge of the bed.
I groaned as I crawled from under the covers and onto his lap. “I don’t have any duties. Why do I need to wake up?” It was mid-afternoon when I finally fell asleep, barely five hours ago. He felt solid and strong when I leaned into his waiting arms. The thin white t-shirt he wore stretched across his shoulders. I indulged myself by sliding my hands under it to feel along his narrow waist. The warmth of my hand disappeared against his icy skin.
I sucked in a surprised gasp and looked closer at him. The pale skin on his face appeared transparent and waxy. His pupils began to dilate and it reminded me of the vampire who chased me down the alley.
I swallowed the ball of tension that suddenly developed in my throat and scooted off his lap.
He smiled, flashing fang. “No fear, Rabbit. I’ve got control over my hunger.”
The memory of him, as he enjoyed the taste of my blood, returned fresh in my mind. Maybe he did have great control but I wasn’t going to test it.
I noticed my small, red suitcase laid on a stand by the door and a stack of folded clothes sat on my night table. “Did you pack for me?”
He nodded then gestured at the pile of clothes. “Get dressed and we will check out of the hotel.”
I’d planned on doing all of this, but after Rurik left. It both pleased and annoyed me that he assumed I’d just go with him. “Where are we going?”
“To safety. An old friend has opened her home to us. At least until matters with Dragos are settled. I can’t leave you here by yourself. If he found out you harbored me for the day it would go bad for you. I need to meet with my people and make plans.”
I carried the clothes to the bathroom and noticed the manila envelope no longer lay on the table. I glanced over my shoulder at Rurik. Did he go through them? I didn’t think so since I still lived. He must have respected my privacy enough not to look inside and packed it with my stuff.
Once in the bathroom I closed the door. I’d never had a man pick out an outfit for me. He’d chosen my black silk blouse, gray slacks, and matching black undergarments. The thought of him touching them gave me goose bumps. I sent a silent thanks to heaven I’d decided to leave the granny panties at home.
The outfit was not what I would have chosen to wear for tonight. Jeans and tshirts were my preference. After I dressed I stepped out of the bathroom and shoved my PJs into my suitcase. The wastepaper basket stood next to it with the remainders of my shredded plane ticket visible. I should have hid it better.
My last pair of heels rested by the door. “Are we going somewhere else first?”
He walked up to me as his eyes traveled from my face to my bare feet. “No.”
“Then why am I dressed up?”
“A women should always try to look her best.” He smiled when my eyebrows shot up. “I’m very concerned at your lack of wardrobe.”
“I’ve destroyed two of my best dresses since I met you. Are you sure this outfit won’t get wrecked? It’s one of my last ones. You may get stuck with my jeans and sweats.” I stepped into my red heels. The extra height brought me closer to his face. His lips wouldn’t be so hard to reach now. Maybe the outfit wasn’t such a bad idea.
He picked up my single piece of luggage and opened the door for me.
“Are we driving in the rust bucket?” I couldn’t help taunt. The Overlord of Budapest drove a fifty-eight year old microcar that belonged in a museum, not on the road. “What happened to that nice black sedan you kidnapped me in?”
“That was a rental, Rabbit.”
It took a few minutes to arrive at the lair—a small house nestled in one of the suburbs. The locals would never guess a kiss of vampires rested in their quiet haven. No traffic passed us as we parked on the sleepy street. Most homes in this city were spaced close together but this neighborhood oozed of old money. The stone fences and the moderate gardens said it all.