Midnight Labyrinth

by Elizabeth Hunter

  But then the music switched to a dancing trumpet and Ella Fitzgerald singing about the stars above her. Gavin danced over and grabbed Emilie away from Ben. “My turn.”

  She giggled and swirled away from Ben. He finished his half-full glass of champagne and sauntered over to Tenzin, who was sitting on the library table.

  “Get over here, Tiny. This is our song.”

  She was still wearing the vibrant purple dress with the hidden dagger sheaths. Her eyes were smoky grey and lazy with amusement.

  “You’re drunk,” she said.

  “Nooooo.” He held out his hand and she hopped off the table. “Just… relaxed.”

  His tie was long gone. His cuffs were turned up. When her fingers slid across his wrist, he shivered. When his hand slid to the small of her back, she looked up. Her head angled as she examined him.

  “Hello, Benjamin.”

  “Hey.” His voice was rough. Damn champagne. “Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?”

  “Yes.”

  “I decided I like the hair.”

  The corner of her mouth turned up. “Good for you.”

  “Tenzin—”

  “You talk too much, Benjamin.” She leaned closer, and Ben’s arm pulled tight. “Just dance.”

  Dream a little dream.

  Ben held her as they spun around the room, her body light against his. As they danced, his mind floated on a heady mix of champagne, triumph, and memory. He and Tenzin were laughing in a cargo truck driving through the Chinese countryside. They were dancing to scratched records on a steamy summer in Venice. They were sparring with daggers in a castle in Scotland.

  He looked down and smiled through the haze of memories and wine. “Hey you.”

  She looked up, her storm-grey eyes lit with amusement. “Hey yourself.”

  So beautiful…

  Ben slowed his steps and let himself feel the gentle curve of Tenzin’s waist under his palm. He let himself imagine how easy it would be to lift her up and bury his face in the pale silk of her skin. Feel her fine, soft hair brush against his lips.

  It was past midnight and he knew the wine had gone to his head, but when Tenzin was in his arms, Ben could admit what he couldn’t in the light of day.

  She was the darkness he wanted to fall into.

  Dream a little dream of me.

  He pulled her closer, and his thumb was against her wrist when he felt the single pulse of her heart. Ben looked down.

  Tenzin’s eyes had turned wary. “I need to go.”

  Ben blinked. “What? Why?”

  She dropped his hand and walked toward the roof garden door. “I have to go. Tell everyone I said goodbye.”

  “Why are you—”

  “There’s something I need to do, so I won’t be back today.” She stepped across the threshold and away from him.

  “Tenzin?” Ben followed, his feet crunching across the gravel, hurrying to keep up with her. “Tenzin!”

  As Tenzin walked toward the edge, into the deepest shadows she used to hide her flight, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

  “Wait.”

  She didn’t pull her wrist away, but her hand came to his chest, resting there in warning.

  Ben opened his mouth. Closed it. He closed his eyes and wished he hadn’t drunk the last three glasses of champagne.

  “What is it?” she asked in a clipped voice. “Ben, I need to—”

  “Tell me to send them away,” he whispered, his heart in his throat. He was in a dream. It was all a dream, and she danced with him in the moonlight and she wore a dress that made her a warrior queen. There was no one else in the darkness, and he was brave. Ben pulled her hand to his face and pressed his lips to her wrist where he’d felt her heart beat. Uncurled her fingers and leaned his cheek into her palm. He closed his eyes and let the words fall from his lips to her feet. “Tell me to send them away,” he said. “I will. You know I always will.”

  The silence enveloped them like a cloak. He kept his eyes closed, unable to meet her eyes.

  It was a dream.

  Her hand slipped from his grasp.

  It was all a dream.

  When he opened his eyes, she was gone.

  “Where did Tenzin go?” Chloe walked over to Ben, who’d abandoned the champagne glasses and was sitting at the bar drinking directly from the bottle.

  “She had something to do.” He turned and swung her into his arms. “What do you have to do? Gavin? What’s that about? I wouldn’t if I were you. Take my advice, gorgeous. Vampires kind of define emotionally unavailable, you know?”

  “Wow.” Chloe’s eyes widened. “I think you’re done, Benny.”

  “Nah, I’m good.”

  Ben didn’t get drunk very often. Chloe was wondering what had caused him to push past celebration and into whatever mood this was. She saw Gavin’s eyes turn toward them. He’d been entertaining Emilie, who was more than a little toasted herself. He’d been amusing both of them with clever jokes and stories about his bar.

  “You’re done.” Chloe grabbed the bottle from Ben. “Don’t argue. You’ll be mad at yourself if you have any more.”

  “You are… not my mom.”

  “Since you told me once that your mom was a manipulative bitch, I certainly hope not.”

  His face fell. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Why don’t I make you some coffee?”

  “No.” He wiped a hand over his face. “No, you’re right. I’m done. I need water and sleep. It’s been a long night.”

  “I agree.”

  Gavin wandered over. Chloe heard snoring in the background.

  “That was fast,” she said. “She out?”

  Gavin nodded. “Shall I put her in your room, Ben?”

  “Yeah,” Ben slurred. “I’ll sleep… futon.”

  Chloe frowned. “Wait, then where am I sleeping?” She was comfortably buzzed, but the couch was hard as a rock. Plus she didn’t really want to be the third wheel on whatever morning Ben and Emilie had planned. Chloe groaned. “I need my own place.”

  “Come with me.” Gavin put an arm around her waist.

  “Gavin, I’m not—”

  “Going to have sex with me.” He casually kissed her temple. “Obviously not, dove, but I have multiple guest rooms that are all very secure and lightproof. You can take one of them tonight and let yourself sleep as long as you need to.” He smirked at Ben. “Leave these two to whatever extracurricular activities they like tomorrow.”

  Privacy did sound appealing, but…

  “I just don’t want you to think—”

  “I’ll think nothing,” he said, “except that you need a peaceful and private place to sleep.”

  She was wavering. Based on Gavin’s car, clothes, and general demeanor, she suspected his place was probably luxurious as hell.

  “I know you’re friends with Ben.”

  “But you don’t know me that well.”

  Chloe shook her head.

  Gavin said, “Do you remember the locks on the doors at Rothman House?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’ll have similar locks on your own door. It might be my home, but I would not be able to get into your room unless you invited me.”

  Chloe’s cheeks reddened. “I hope you’re not offended. I just—”

  “Of course I’m not bloody offended.” He leaned against the counter. “You’re smart to protect yourself. Don’t apologize for it.”

  “Okay, I won’t.” She thought about his offer. If Gavin had wanted to hurt her, he could have already done it. Added to that, she could tell he carried a healthy amount of respect for Tenzin. Would he risk pissing Tenzin off to hurt her?

  Her instincts said no. Ben trusted him. Tenzin trusted him.

  Gavin said, “I also keep thousand-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets on my guest bed.”

  “That sounds like heaven, and I’m there.” She looked at a wavering Ben and the sleeping Emilie. “If you can carry her, I’ll help
him downstairs.”

  Gavin grumbled, “When did I become the damn responsible one?” He walked to the couch and lifted Emilie. “Irritating humans.”

  Something about his grumpy words made Chloe smile. Gavin was a good guy despite his questionable moral compass when it came to theft.

  “How much longer before dawn?” she asked.

  “I have a few hours.” He carried Emilie down the stairs, and Chloe forced herself to not stare at the lean muscles pressing against his shirtsleeves. He wasn’t even breathing hard.

  Duh, Chloe. He’s a vampire.

  Chloe put an arm around Ben’s waist as he slid off the barstool. “Come on, big Ben.”

  Ben chuckled. “You haven’t called me that since… you know.”

  Chloe’s cheeks turned red. She’d forgotten about that. “Yeah, don’t remind me. I was referring to your height.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Gavin stopped and looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed. “Careful, Vecchio.”

  Ben snorted but said nothing else while Chloe helped him toward the makeshift bedroom he’d been using. She unfolded the futon and spread out the sheets. Ben sat down hard on the edge and Chloe heard the frame crack.

  “Don’t break the bed or you’ll be on the floor,” she said.

  Ben yanked off his shoes and unbuttoned his shirt. “I’m an idiot.”

  Chloe glanced up from tucking in the corners of the fitted sheet. “You don’t usually drink this much. Everything okay?”

  “No.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’m fine. Forget it. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  She stood and pushed his hair back off his forehead. “We did good tonight, Benny.”

  He smiled. “Yeah, we did.”

  “We’re gonna get Emilie’s painting back for her.”

  “Emilie…” He closed his eyes. “She’s really great, isn’t she?”

  “I think so.”

  “Me too.” He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “You’re the best.”

  “I know. You’re super lucky to have me as a friend.” Chloe pushed him back on the pillows. “Now go to bed.”

  “He’s not good enough for you.”

  She covered him with a sheet. “I’m not talking about this with you.”

  “He’s not.”

  “Go to bed.” Chloe walked toward the stairs only to see Gavin waiting at the bottom step. She could already hear Ben snoring, so she knew Gavin would have heard his words. “Sorry, he’s….”

  “Right,” Gavin said quietly. “He’s right. I’m probably not good enough for you.”

  She couldn’t think of a single thing to say. She was tired and emotionally exhausted. She wasn’t sure how she felt about Gavin other than irritated and attracted. Occasionally at the same time.

  “Gavin.” She sighed. “I’m tired.”

  “So we’ll go.” He nodded toward Emilie’s room. “Your scent was all over that room, not his. Go pack a bag and we’ll go to my place. We only have an hour or so before dawn. Barely enough time for me to get you settled before I need to sleep.”

  “Thanks.” She hurried to pack a bag with the essentials, careful to bring her most boring pajamas.

  Just as a precaution.

  When she closed the door on a sleeping Emilie, Gavin was gone. She could hear him moving around on the floor above. By the time she walked upstairs, he’d already straightened the kitchen and put the furniture back in order.

  “That was fast.”

  He offered her a wry smile. “Cleaning up after drunks is a life skill I’ve perfected. You ready?”

  She held out her weekend bag. “Ready.”

  “Excellent. You have a key to lock up?”

  She nodded. “Just head downstairs. I’ll set the house security and meet you in the lobby.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Chloe pushed the buttons to set Cara into alarm mode after Gavin shut the door. She figured as much as Ben and Tenzin trusted Gavin, they still wouldn’t want him knowing the code for the house.

  Her eyes were barely open when she got off the elevator in the lobby. Gavin waited outside, leaning against the car and chatting with his driver. Every misgiving she’d battled through came rushing back.

  What are you doing, Chloe?

  She was walking into the lair—if he was a vampire, it was a lair, right?—of an immortal creature she barely knew who had a strange, hypnotic effect on her senses. She was a mess, physically and mentally. She happened to agree with Ben. Gavin was most certainly not good for her.

  She should walk back upstairs and sleep on the couch no matter how uncomfortable it was. She should endure Ben and Emilie’s morning awkwardness. She should just find a cheap hotel.

  Gavin watched her through the windows, his mouth turned up at the corner.

  She was being paranoid. Staying at Gavin’s would be fine. He was offering a bed and privacy. He’d protected her at every turn on this crazy, tumultuous evening. He wasn’t some dark creature of the night intent on her ruin.

  She’d be fine.

  Chloe walked out the front door and into the damp summer heat.

  “Did you enjoy that mental argument with yourself?” Gavin asked.

  “Yes. Both sides were persuasive, but the lightproof guest room won out in the end.”

  He opened the door for her. “Doona forget the Egyptian cotton sheets.”

  “Trust me, I haven’t.”

  He smiled when he slid in next to her and gave the driver his address. After the human knew where to go, Gavin raised the privacy screen on the car and opened the small refrigerator to hand her a bottle of water.

  “As I said before”—he opened his own bottle, but his was opaque and she saw red on the cap—“I agree with Ben. I am not good for you.”

  He put the bottle to his mouth and upended it, swallowing the liquid as Chloe stared. When he finished, his tongue came out and licked the drop of red staining his bottom lip. She could see the sharp points of his fangs peeking out.

  “But,” he continued carefully, “though I may agree with Ben, that does not mean I’ll stop.”

  Her heart pounded, and Gavin’s predatory gaze cut toward her throat.

  “Gavin?”

  “A good man would stop pursuing you,” he said softly. “A deserving one would wait. He’d be patient.” His eyes left her throat and locked with hers. “I’m not a good man.”

  19

  Ben leaned against the counter with a bag of frozen peas on his head, waiting for the coffee to brew. The pain reliever was working, but slowly. He heard a thump in the hall, then Emilie walked up the stairs.

  “Hey.” She blinked. “I’m here.”

  Ben held out his arm and she stumbled over, tucking herself under it.

  “No more champagne,” she mumbled into his chest. “Ever.”

  “Agreed. From now on, we stick with scotch.”

  That earned him a feeble laugh. Emilie stepped away and rubbed her face. “Where is everyone?”

  Ben ignored the stab of worry that Tenzin hadn’t come home. She’d said she wouldn’t. He didn’t know why he was surprised.

  “Tenzin’s out. Chloe texted me to say she stayed at Gavin’s house last night. She’s planning on sleeping late, and she’ll drive over with him tonight.”

  Emilie’s eyebrows went up. “Oh really?”

  “She made sure to specify his guest room was very nice.”

  “Sure it was.”

  Ben tossed the frozen peas on the counter and leaned back on the counter, taking in Emilie Mandel in all her morning glory. It was the first time he’d seen her so unbuttoned. Her hair was up in a loose knot. Her makeup was all gone. She’d borrowed a pair of Chloe’s sleep shorts and a T-shirt, both of which were a little baggy on her. She looked messy and relaxed and undeniably beautiful.

  He crooked a finger at her. “Come ’ere.”

  “How long until the coffee is ready?”

  “A few more minutes.” He tugged on th
e waistband of her shorts. “But I have something to wake you up.”

  He reached down, cupped her bottom, and lifted her up to the counter before she could protest. Then he stepped between her legs and caged her in with his arms. “Hi.”

  Emilie’s mouth had dropped open in surprise. “You’re stronger than you look.”

  “I don’t look strong?” He closed his eyes and nuzzled into her neck, which fell at the perfect height for nuzzling. Had he been thinking about that when he designed the kitchen? Possibly. The counter was the right height for all sorts of things.

  “Of course you look strong, but that was a serious Tarzan move there. I’m so impressed I can’t even find it in me to protest the manhandling.” She put her arms around his neck and tilted her head so he had better access. “Good morning. You’re very snuggly this morning.”

  He loved women. They were so delicious and soft and smelled so good. “I had all sorts of plans for last night, and then…”

  “Champagne happened.”

  “It was really good champagne.”

  She smiled. “And you have fun friends. I can’t figure Tenzin out though.”

  His smile froze. “Yeah, she’s… different.”

  “I got that feeling.” Emilie kissed him softly. “I think it’s great she has you. Not everyone would be so cool with a roommate out of the norm, you know?”

  He desperately wanted to change the subject, so he ran his palms along the tops of her thighs.

  “So, I was saying that I had plans for last night.”

  Her smiled turned from sweet to seductive. “Is that so?”

  Ben leaned in and kissed along Emilie’s collarbone, letting his tongue taste her skin. “You know, I think this coffee maker is really slow.”

  Emilie’s hands dug into the ridged muscles at the small of his back. “You mean we’ll have to entertain ourselves while it’s brewing?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  Her voice was high and breathless. “What could we possibly do?”

  Ben lifted Emilie and she wrapped her legs around his waist. “I have an idea, but we’ll have to go downstairs.”

  “Does this idea have anything to do with the mirrors in the training area?”