Chapter 24
Shanna fell to her knees beside him. "Roman?" She touched his cheek. He was cold. Lifeless. Was this his normal deadish behavior for daytime, or had he actually killed himself with an experimental drug?
"What have you done?" She laid her head against his chest, listening for a heartbeat. Nothing. But then normally he only had a heartbeat at night. What if it never started up again? What if he was gone forever?
"Don't leave me," she whispered. She sat back, pressing her fingers to her face. She'd tried so hard to convince herself their relationship wouldn't work. But now he looked so. . dead. And it was killing her.
"Roman. " His name seemed to wrench itself from her soul. She bent over, strained with emotion. She couldn't bear to lose him.
There were people in the cafeteria who needed her help. She needed to go. Now. But she couldn't budge. She couldn't leave him. It had been so hard to lose Karen, but this¡ªthis was like her own heart was being crushed. And with the pain came a searing realization.
She could no longer pretend that a relationship with Roman was impossible. It already existed. She was in love with him. She'd trusted him with her life. She'd allowed him inside her head. She'd fought her fear of blood for him. She'd always believed he was a good and honorable man. Because she loved him.
And he was right. She understood his guilt and remorse like no one else. They were connected emotionally and mentally. Cruel twists of fate had hurt them in the past, but now they could rise above the pain and despair by facing the world together.
Something grabbed her wrist.
He was alive! His chest suddenly heaved with an intake of air. His eyes opened. Bright red.
Shanna gasped. She tried to move back, but his grip tightened. Oh God, what if he'd turned into a Mr. Hyde?
He turned his head to look at her. He blinked once, twice, then his eyes slowly returned to their normal golden-brown.
"Roman? Are you okay?"
"I believe so. " He released her and sat up. "How long was I out?"
"I¡ªI don't know. It seemed like forever. "
He glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's only been a few minutes. " He looked at her. "I scared you. I'm sorry. "
She scrambled to her feet. "I was afraid you'd done yourself serious harm. That was a crazy thing to do. "
"Yes, but it worked. I'm awake with the sun. " He stood and headed for the closet. "There should be a medical kit in here. " He grabbed a white plastic box. "Let's go. "
They rushed down the hallway. The alarm was still blaring. People scurried about with frightened faces. Some stared at Roman, while others did a double-take.
"Do they know who you are?" Shanna asked.
"I guess. My picture's in the employee handbook. " Roman looked about curiously. "I've never seen the place so crowded. "
They rounded the corner to the corridor that connected the laboratory wing to the cafeteria. It was jammed with people and bright with sunlight from three east-facing windows. As Shanna passed by the first window, she heard Roman wince. An angry, red burn mark had sliced a path across his cheek.
She grabbed his arm. "The sun's burning you. "
"Only my face burned. You must have blocked the sun from the rest of me. Stay by my side. "
As they rushed through the second shaft of sunlight, Roman lifted the medical kit to the side of his injured face. The sun burned a red streak across his exposed hand.
"Damn. " He flexed his burned fingers.
"Let me hold the box. " Shanna took the medical kit and perched it on top of her head to give her added height. People looked at them strangely, but they made it through the last shaft of sunlight without Roman receiving more burns.
As they entered the cafeteria, Roman gestured toward a man. "That's Todd Spencer. Vice president of production. "
Shanna hardly noticed. She was too shocked by the scene before her. Injured people were lying on the floor. People rushed about. Some were sweeping away debris. Others hunched over the injured, wrapping them with gauze bandages.
A large hole gaped in the wall where concrete columns and glass windows had once stood. Overturned tables, mangled chairs, and food trays were scattered about. The hissing spray of fire extinguishers masked the moans of the injured. And Radinka was nowhere in sight.
"Spencer. " Roman approached the vice president. "What's the situation?"
Todd Spencer's eyes widened. "Mr. Draganesti, I didn't know you were here. Uh, we have the fires under control. We're seeing to the injured. Paramedics are on their way. But I don't understand this. Who would do such a thing?"
Roman surveyed the scene. "Is everyone alive?"
Spencer grimaced. "I don't know. We haven't found everyone. "
Roman headed to a spot where the walls and ceiling had caved in. "There could be someone under there. "
Spencer accompanied him. "We tried lifting that mess, but it's too heavy. I sent for some special equipment. "
A concrete column had fallen and crushed a table beneath it. Roman seized a huge hunk of concrete, lifted it over his head, and heaved it into the garden.
"Oh my God," Spencer whispered. "How could he¡ª?"
Shanna winced. Roman wasn't bothering to conceal his super vampire strength. "Maybe it's trauma-induced. I've heard of people lifting cars after an accident. "
"Maybe so. " Spencer frowned. "Are you all right, sir?"
Roman was bent over. Slowly he straightened and turned.
Shanna gasped. His proximity to the garden had exposed him to more sunlight. His shirt was smoldering, black and scorched. Smoke drifted from his wounded chest, carrying the smell of roasted flesh.
Spencer winced. "Sir, I didn't realize you were injured, too. You shouldn't be doing this. "
"I'm fine. " Roman leaned over to grasp another chunk of concrete. "Help me clear this. "
Spencer tackled some smaller chunks of concrete. Shanna gathered up ceiling tiles and tossed them in a heap. Soon the crushed table was exposed. Luckily, chairs beneath the table had kept it from being completely flattened. There was a small pocket of air beneath the table. And a body.
Radinka.
Roman seized the table and flipped it over. He shoved the mangled chairs out of the way. "Radinka, can you hear me?"
Her eyelids flickered.
"She's alive," Shanna whispered.
Roman knelt beside Radinka. "We'll need more bandages. "
"I'll see to it. " Spencer rushed off.
Shanna opened the small medical kit and passed Roman a bandage.
"Radinka, can you hear me?" He pressed the bandage against a cut on her temple.
She moaned and opened her eyes. "Hurts," she whispered.
"I know," Roman replied. "An ambulance is on its way. "
"How can you be here? I must be dreaming. "
"You're going to be fine. You're too young to die. "
She gave a weak snort. "Everyone is young to you. "
"Oh God. " Shanna's stomach rippled with queasiness.
"What's wrong?" Roman asked.
She pointed. There, stabbed into Radinka's side was a dinner knife. A pool of blood was forming. Shanna covered her mouth and swallowed hard at the bile in her throat.
Roman glanced at her. "You'll be all right. You can do this. "
She took a few deep breaths. She had to do this. She would not fail another friend.
A young man came toward them with an armload of linen strips cut from tablecloths. "Mr. Spencer said you needed these. "
"Yes. " With trembling hands, Shanna set the bandages in her lap. She folded one into a thick pad.
"Ready?" Roman grasped the knife. "As soon as this comes out, press hard. " He pulled the knife out.
She pressed the pad against the wound. Blood seeped onto her fingers. Her stomach churned.
Roman grabbed a bandage and made a pad. "My turn. " He pressed against the wound. "You're doin
g fine, Shanna. "
She dropped her bloodied pad to the side and folded up a new one. "Are you helping me? Mentally, I mean. "
"No. You're on your own. "
"Good. " She pressed the new pad against the wound. "I can do this. "
Paramedics rushed in, pushing gurneys.
"Over here!" Roman yelled.
Two paramedics wheeled a gurney over. "We'll take it from here," one of them said.
Roman helped them lift Radinka onto the gurney.
Shanna walked alongside her, holding her hand. "We'll tell Gregori. He'll come see you tonight. "
Radinka nodded, her face pale. "Roman, will there be a war? Don't let Gregori fight, please. He's not trained for it. "
"She's delirious," a paramedic muttered.
"Don't worry. " Roman touched Radinka's shoulder. "I won't let anything happen to him. "
"You're a good man, Roman," she whispered. She squeezed Shanna's hand. "Don't let him get away. He needs you. "
The paramedics wheeled her away. Police officers arrived. Flashes lit the room as the crime scene investigators snapped pictures.
"Damn. " Roman moved back. "I have to leave. "
"Why?" Shanna asked.
"I don't think those are digital cameras. " Roman grabbed Shanna's hand and headed for the door.
A paramedic stopped beside him. "Sir, you have severe burns. You should come with us. "
"No, I'm fine. "
"We'll take you in an ambulance. This way. "
"I'm not going. "
"I'm Dr. Whelan. " Shanna smiled at the paramedic. "This man is my patient. I'll look after him. Thank you. "
"Fine. Suit yourself. " The paramedic rushed off to join the others.
"Thank you. " Roman led her out of the cafeteria. "We'll go to the silver room. " He opened a door to the stairwell, and they descended the steps. "This is so aggravating. I really want to see what kind of evidence the police uncover, but I don't dare stick around with all those cameras. "
"You don't show up in a regular camera?"
"No. " Roman opened the door to the basement. They walked down the hallway to the entrance of the silver room.
"I tell you what," Shanna suggested as he punched a number into the keypad. "I'll help clean up your wounds. Then I'll go back upstairs, see what I can find out, and report back to you. "
"Okay. " He peered into the retinal scanner. "I don't like to leave you unguarded, but I suppose you'd be safe up there with the police. " He opened the door and ushered her inside.
She suddenly felt irritated. He was worried about her safety when he totally disregarded his own? "Look, I'm fine. The question is, how are you doing? You're the one with a strange, untested drug in your system. "
"It's not untested anymore. " He looked around for something to insulate his hands from the silver door.
"I'll get it. " She shoved the door shut, flipped the silver locks, and scraped the bar into place. "We still don't know if that formula is completely safe. It sure isn't safe for you to be out during the day. You look awful. "
"Why, thank you. "
She frowned at the burn on his chest. "You're injured. You'd better have some blood. " She marched over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle.
He lifted his eyebrows. "Are you ordering me around?"
"Yes. " She put the bottle into the microwave. "Someone has to look after you. You take too many risks. "
"People needed my help. Radinka needed us. "
Shanna nodded, her eyes misting at the memory. "You're a heroic man," she whispered. And she loved him so much.
"You were very brave, too. " Roman stepped toward her.
Her eyes met his. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and never let go.
The microwave dinged, startling her. She removed the bottle of blood. "I don't know if this is warm enough for you. "
"It'll be fine. " He took a long gulp. "There's other food here in the cabinets if you're hungry. "
"I'm all right. We need to take care of your wounds. Finish up that drink, and then take off your clothes. "
He smiled. "I'm beginning to like bossy women. "
"And get in the shower. We need to clean you up. " She strode into the bathroom. No mirrored medicine chest. . That figured. She dug through drawers until she found some antibiotic cream. "Here. Once you're cleaned up, we'll put this on. " She straightened and turned.
"Aagh!" She jumped and dropped the tube of ointment.
"You told me to undress. " He stood naked in the doorway, sipping from his bottle of blood.
She bent over to retrieve the tube of medicine. Her cheeks flamed with heat. "I didn't expect you to do it so fast. Or to stand in front of me. " She approached the doorway. He didn't move. "Excuse me. "
He turned slightly to the side so she could squeeze through. Barely. Her cheeks were now on fire. She was all too aware of what her hip was brushing against.
"Shanna?"
"Enjoy your shower. " She strode to the kitchen and began opening cabinets. "I'm hungry. "
"So am I. " He closed the bathroom door partway.
Soon she could hear the sound of rushing water. Poor guy. Those burns were going to sting. She poured herself a glass of water and drank. She wasn't really hungry, just stressed out. Roman had said she was brave, and she was overcoming her fear of blood. But what about her other fear¡ªthe fear that their relationship couldn't work.
She paced across the floor. How many relationships did work? About half? There was never any guarantee. Was she just afraid of losing him? She'd lost Karen. She'd lost her family. Should she ruin her chance for happiness today because she was afraid Roman might leave her years from now? Should she let doubt destroy this beautiful, overpowering feeling inside her?
She loved him with all her heart. And he loved her. The fact that they'd found each other was a miracle. Roman needed her. He'd suffered for hundreds of years. How could she deny him a taste at happiness? She should be delighted to bring him joy, even if it couldn't last forever.
She stopped in the middle of the room, her heart pounding. If she was truly brave, as he believed, she would march right in there and show him how much she loved him.
She went to the kitchen counter and gulped down some water. Well, she had guts. She could do this. She kicked off her shoes. She glanced toward the bed. The comforter was thick and boasted an Oriental design in red and gold. The sheets looked like gold silk, very fancy for a hiding place.
She looked up. A surveillance camera. That had to go. She grabbed Roman's shirt off the floor and climbed onto the bed. After a few tosses, she managed to completely cover the camera. She jumped down from the bed and pulled back the comforter.
Her pulse quickened as she finished undressing. Naked, she eased through the bathroom doorway. Steam obscured her view, but she could still see Roman in the shower stall. His eyes were shut as he rinsed off his shoulder-length black hair. His chest hair was flattened against his wet skin.
The wound sliced across his chest. She wanted to kiss it and make it better. Her gaze lowered. His manhood was relaxed and nestled in the midst of black curls. She wanted to kiss it and make it. . bigger.
She opened the shower door with a click. His eyes opened. She stepped inside, and spray misted her body and hair.
His gaze swept down her body and back to her face. His eyes took on a reddish tint. "Are you sure?"
She slid her arms around his neck. "I'm very sure. "
He enveloped her in his arms and planted his mouth on hers. The kiss was wild and hungry. No introductory pecks, no sweet build-up, just passion flaring out of control. He explored her mouth. His hands cupped her buttocks to press her against his swelling manhood.
Shanna stroked his tongue with her own. His hair was slick and wet as she pulled his head closer. She broke the kiss and scattered small kisses along the burn mark on his cheek.
He slipp
ed a hand between them and caressed her breast. "You're so beautiful. "
"Oh yeah?" Her hand glided down his fiat stomach till her fingers reached the tangle of rough hair. She curled her fingers around him. "I think you're beautiful. "
His breath hissed with a swift intake of air. "Oh God. " He leaned against the tile wall. "Shanna. "
"Yes?" She slid her hand up and down the shaft. He was hard, but the skin was soft and pliant. Especially on the tip.
"I don't know how much of this I can bear. "
"You'll manage. You're a tough guy. " She squatted down and took him into her mouth.
His body stiffened. He groaned. He was so big by now, she could hardly take in the whole length. She wrapped one hand around the base of the shaft, squeezing and tugging as she worked him with her mouth. He grew harder and thicker.
"Shanna. " He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Stop. I can't¡ª"
She straightened and rubbed her body against him. He held her tight with his eyes squeezed shut.
Relentless, she tugged on his stiff manhood. She stretched up on her toes to reach his ear. "Roman, I love you. "
His eyes opened, bright red. With a gasp, his body convulsed. She felt the hot gush against her hip.
She hugged him, reveling in the shudders that racked his body. Yes, he would have no doubt that she loved him.
His breathing slowed. "God's blood. " He leaned into the spray of hot water. With water running down his face and hair, he drew back and shook his head. "Wow. "
Shanna laughed. "Not bad, huh?"
He looked down at her hip. "I made a mess on you. "
"So? I'm washable, you know. " She stepped under the spray and wet her hair. "Pass me the shampoo, will you?"
He did. "Did you mean what you said about loving me?"
She lathered up her hair. "Of course. I do love you. "
He pulled her against him and kissed her mouth.
"Aagh. Shampoo in my face. "
"Sorry. " He eased her back under the spray. She arched her back to rinse her hair. Soon she felt his mouth on her breasts. She held on to his shoulders. He grabbed her under the buttocks and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist.
Holding her, he turned and pressed her back against the tiles. He nuzzled her neck. "You love me?"
"Yes. "
He lifted her higher so he could kiss her breasts. She enjoyed every kiss, every swirl of his tongue, every little tug at her nipples. Even so, she was painfully aware that her sex was pressed against his stomach. His fiat stomach. She wanted more. She needed him inside.
"Roman," she gasped. "I need you. "
He propped her up with one arm and eased a hand between them. When his fingers touched her, she moaned and pushed against him. He slid a finger inside her. She rocked against him. Their wet skin skidded and smacked against each other.
His hand stilled. "This is not entirely comfortable, is it?"
She opened her eyes. His were glowing red. She smiled. The fact that his eyes could change no longer frightened her. On the contrary, she loved it. It was so blatantly honest. He could never hide his hunger for her. "Take me to bed. "
He smiled back. "As you wish. " He turned the water off and opened the shower stall.
Shanna held on to his shoulders and kept her legs wrapped around his hips. As he walked across the bathroom, he grabbed a towel and rubbed it along her wet back and hair.
He approached the bed and laughed. "I see you found a good use for my shirt. " He lowered her onto the bed. She started to close her legs, but he grabbed her knees to stop her.
"I like the view. " He knelt beside the bed and pulled her hips to the edge. He kissed the inside of her thigh, then kissed her most intimate flesh.
Shanna was already too excited, too much in need, to last for very long. With the first swirl of his tongue, she was spiraling upward. Luckily he understood her need, for he was wonderfully aggressive. The ascent was quick. She hovered on a glorious plateau, then burst into long shudders of release.
She cried out.
He climbed into bed and gathered her in his arms. "I love you, Shanna. " He kissed her brow. "I will always love you. " He kissed her cheek. "I'll be a good husband. " He kissed her neck.
"Yes. " She wrapped her legs around him. Her sweet, old-fashioned, medieval man. He felt the need to commit himself to her before entering her, and it touched her heart. Her eyes blurred with tears. "I love you so much. "
He reached down to position himself against her. "The last vow," he whispered.
"Hmm?"
He raised his red-hot gaze to her eyes. "I've waited a long time for you. " He plunged inside.
She gasped, immediately tightening at the sudden assault.
He was breathing heavily, his head against her shoulder. "Shanna," he whispered.
At the sound of his voice, she felt her muscles relax. He slid in all the way, filling her. His voice continued to echo inside her head. Shanna, Shanna.
"Roman. " She looked into his eyes. There was more than passion in the red glow of his gaze. There was love and wonder, warmth and joy. Everything she'd ever wanted.
He withdrew slowly, then eased back in. I don't know how long I can last. This is so. .
"I know. I feel it, too. " She pulled him forward till his forehead rested against hers. He was inside her head, inside her body. A part of her heart. I love you, Roman.
Their minds mingled so that Shanna could hardly tell the difference between her own pleasure and his. It was all the same, shared by them both. Soon they were grasping at each other and quickening the pace. He climaxed first. His release exploded through her body and mind, igniting her own shattering response.
They lay in each other's arms, catching their breath.
Finally Roman rolled away. "Am I smushing you?"
"No. " She curled up beside him.
He gazed at the ceiling. "You. . you're the only woman I've ever loved. In person, that is. "
"What do you mean?"
"I took vows when I became a monk. I vowed I would do no harm. I broke that. I took a vow of poverty. I broke that, too. "
"But you've done so much good. You shouldn't feel bad. "
He turned onto his side and looked at her. "I took a vow of celibacy. I broke that just now. "
She recalled his odd words before entering her. "The last vow?"
"Yes. "
She propped herself up on her elbow. "Are you saying you were a virgin?"
"In the physical sense, yes. Mentally, I've been engaging in vampire sex for centuries. "
"You've got to be kidding me. You never. . ?"
He frowned. "I kept my vows while I was alive. Would you expect less of me?"
"No. I'm just amazed. I mean, you're incredibly handsome. Weren't the village girls swooning over you?"
"They were swooning, all right. They were dying. All the women I saw were sick, covered with sores and growths and¡ª"
"Okay. I get the picture. Not exactly attractive. "
He smiled. "The first time I overheard vampire sex, it was by accident. I thought the lady was in trouble and needed help. "
Shanna snorted. "Yeah, she needed something, all right. "
He rolled onto his back and yawned. "I think the formula is wearing off. Before I fall asleep, I want to ask you something. "
He was going to pop the question. Shanna sat up. "Yes?"
"If you're attacked, not that I would allow such a thing to happen, but¡ª" He looked at her. "If you're attacked and dying, do you want me to transform you?"
Her mouth fell open. That wasn't a marriage proposal. "You want to turn me into a vampire?"
"No, I wouldn't want to condemn your immortal soul. "
Jeez, he was stuck in such a medieval mindset. "Roman, I don't think God has abandoned you. Your synthetic blood saves lives every day. You could still be part of God's master plan. "
"I don't want to be a vampire. " She winced. "Please don't take that in a bad way. I love you just as you are. "
He yawned again. "You're all that is good and pure and innocent in this world. No wonder I love you so much. "
She stretched out beside him. "I'm not that good. I'm down here enjoying myself while people upstairs deal with the mess. "
Roman frowned, gazing at the ceiling. Suddenly he sat up. "Laszlo!"
"He's asleep right now. "
"Exactly. " Roman touched his forehead. "I'm seeing spots. "
"You're worn out. " Shanna sat up. "You need to sleep now so your wounds can heal. "
"No. Don't you see? All the vampires are dead right now. It's the perfect time to rescue Laszlo. "
"But you're about to fall asleep. "
He grabbed her hand. "Do you remember how to get to my lab? You can bring back the rest of the formula¡ª"
"No! You're not taking another dose. We don't know what kind of damage it might do. "
"I would heal during my sleep. I have to do this, Shanna. As soon as Petrovsky wakes up, he could kill Laszlo. And if we attack his house, he'll kill Laszlo for sure. Come on. " He gave a nudge. "Quickly, before I pass out. "
She crawled out of bed and began to dress. "We have to think this out. How will you get to Petrovsky's house?"
"I'll teleport in, find Laszlo, and teleport back home. It'll be easy. I should have thought of this before. "
"Well, you were a bit distracted. " Shanna tied her shoelaces.
"Hurry. " Roman sat on the edge of the bed.
"I will. " She unlocked the door. "I'll leave this open slightly so I can get back in. "
He nodded. "Good. "
She ran to the nearest stairwell and darted up the stairs. She wasn't sure she approved of this idea. Who knew what another dose of that formula might do to Roman? The ground floor was crowded with people, and she weaved around them as quickly as she could. And what if there were guards in Petrovsky's house? Roman shouldn't go in there alone. In the lab, she found the beaker of green liquid on the table. She picked it up, then noted her purse. What a shame her Beretta was gone.
She grabbed her purse and headed back to the silver room. Maybe she could borrow another gun. One thing was for sure. Roman was not doing this mission alone.
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire Page 24