His hand toyed with the ends of her hair. “I don’t mean to pry.”
“You’re not. I ... I ... hope ...”
“You and Crimson get the chance to work it out.”
Copper closed her eyes. She’d told him more than anyone else. “Yes. We had some harsh words. I don’t want them to be the last ...”
He put a finger to her lips. “Don’t. Don’t even say it. We will get her back. I promise.”
She kissed the fingertip. Would love to draw it in and suckle it. Roll it with her tongue. Exactly like she’d do with his cock. Now wasn’t the time.
“It must be weird for you. Seeing her mirror image.”
He pulled back the finger like her lips had scalded it. “You two aren’t mirror images. There are differences.”
She snorted. “You’d be the first to say that.”
Bastian waved a hand. “There are.”
“Like what?”
He shifted in his seat. “Your breasts are fuller.”
She looked down. Pulling back up, she found his eyes had gone down with hers. She puffed her chest out. “They are?”
He nodded.
“So I have bigger tits ... And that’s how you can tell us apart?”
“No.” He pursed his lips together. “Crimson is leaner.”
“So I’m fat?”
He made an exasperated snort. “You aren’t fat. She’s leaner. She forgets to eat.”
Copper let out a slight smile. “She’s still doing that, huh?”
Bastian nodded.
“I’ve got more meat on my bones in all places. That sum up the differences?”
“Your hair has more highlights in it.”
“Hmmmm.” Crimson hadn’t been out much in sunshine if all the darkness in the places she’d lived was any indication. Not that either of them needed to be. No tanning, only shades of red for them. None of what he listed sounded like enough to tell them apart. She didn’t like thinking his attraction to her could be caused by his attraction to Crimson. If only she knew he could tell them apart.
“You smell differently.”
“I smell?” She gasped. Then sniffed lightly.
“Not bad. You smell like lavender. And coconut. And you. Something that’s uniquely you.” His voice dipped several octaves. No missing the growth in erection. Nor the way his breathing came faster.
“And you like it?” Her voice sounded hoarse. Husky.
“Oh, yes, Copper. I like it.” He pulled her head up to look at him, stroking the back of her neck. Nerve endings tingled down her spine, bounced outward to her hips and made places zing between her thighs. His nostrils flared. No secrets from a vampire when it came to affairs of the nose. She could feel the slickness and guessed he could scent it.
His lips came down to claim hers.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Despite his words, Tad looked anything but apologetic.
Bastian swallowed. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be watching Lucy,” he grumbled.
She caught her breath deep in her chest. Had Bastian kissed her ... that would have been it. It had been a good thing Tad had showed up. She wanted Bastian but not like this. Not until they found Crim.
“Pope’s with her. She’s still pretty damn ticked off.”
“I’ve decided Lucy needs to move out on her own.” Tad and Copper’s heads both swung to look at him. “I’ve been putting it off. She’s been ready to move on for a long time now.”
Tad frowned. “Whoa, Bas. That hardly seems fair. To kick her out now.”
“You know as well as I do that she’s ready. She’s been ready. But she won’t do it as long as I let her stay.”
“I’m not sure now is the time, though. She’s upset and angry with you.”
Not that there was any love in her for Lucy. But Copper didn’t want to cause more trouble in the setup Bastian had than she already had. No one would believe it wasn’t because of her. Copper reached out and touched his arm. “Don’t do this because of me.”
“It isn’t because of you.” He patted her hand. “It’s time.”
“It is because of her.” Tad’s voice held no anger, no emotion. It sounded flat. Copper blinked at him. She’d never heard his voice sound like this. “Which is fine, but I don’t think you should make a decision right now.”
“Tad, this isn’t the same thing you went through, and you know it. Hell, you’re already looking at places to move without me saying anything to you. Lucy’s been comfortable here, and I’ve not pushed. Today, I push her. She can still work for me. But she needs to live on her own.”
“Bastian, I’m stronger than Lucy ...”
“Bullshit.” Bastian glared up at the younger man. “That’s bullshit. Lucy is as strong as we let her be, and we haven’t let her be strong.”
“It’s a mistake.”
Copper nodded with Tad. It would cause a rift. She patted Bastian’s arm. And didn’t say anything. Bastian had made up his mind. Nothing she said would change it.
“I don’t think so. I think it’s the push Lucy needs. To come in to herself. If you think we should ... she can stay here until things with Evangeline are done. I don’t think Evangeline would go after her anyway. She wants my lovers, not a charge or a friend. I want Lucy told of the plans tonight. To prepare her.”
Tad clenched and unclenched his fists. Like he battled something highly emotional. “You need to tell her.”
“Of course I will. I’ll be up to see her in a few minutes. It’s OK, Tad.”
Tad smiled but the corners of his lips trembled. “I’ll leave you and Crim alone. You can start back where you left off.” He took a step and turned back. “Your heads were about an in inch from the other. Lips about to meet.” With that, he marched out the room.
Bastian sighed. “I think we were about here.” He lowered his head to about a half-inch above her lips. His warm breath tickled against her skin.
Copper backed up slightly. “What did you mean when you told Tad it isn’t the same thing?”
Bastian frowned, his cobalt eyes displaying a little twinge of pain. But she couldn’t do it. Not now. And couldn’t chance someone’s interruption stopping her. “Tad was kicked out of his house by his mother. She acquired a boyfriend whose door swung both ways, and she didn’t want the competition. He was fifteen.” Copper had a feeling that the more things hit the boy, the less he showed. She never would have guessed that of him, being so direct in everything else. “He lived on the streets, acquiring a pimp who used him in all ways. To him, it probably seems like I’m doing the same thing. Kicking Lucy out because ... of you.”
“You don’t have to kick her out.” Bastian had taken all these people off the streets. It evoked warm thoughts about someone she could never have. Who still could be ... No, she couldn’t think like that. In some odd metaphysical way, she trusted him.
“It’s been coming a long time now.” He leaned back against the soft cushions.
Copper wanted to curl up around his body. For the comfort. “Tad doesn’t know I’m not Crimson.”
“Yes, he does.”
She sat up straight. “What? He does? He never showed any sign.”
“I told him not to.”
“Well, hell. Is there anyone who didn’t know I wasn’t Crimson?”
He chuckled deeply. “Tad and I were the only ones who knew. He figured out on his own that you weren’t your sister. I knew from the start.”
“It was you who picked up the phone the night Crimson called me?”
He nodded. “I must have missed her by minutes. I wish I’d gotten there sooner.”
She patted his hand. “I do, too. But whatever happened, I don’t think she stayed at that phone long. She was taken before she said much to me.”
“We’ll find her.” He ran a hand over his face. “I’d better go talk to Lucy.”
She nodded. “I’m going to bed.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Pleasant dreams, Bastian.”
* * * * *
Only of you. Bastian wanted to go with her to bed. Lock them both in a room and explore their passion. One day, he would.
He took the steps up to Lucy’s room two at a time. Her room sat at the end of the third-story hallway. Crim’s and his rooms were the only ones on the second story. He paused outside Lucy’s door.
He grasped the cool doorknob in hand and entered.
Pope sat in the rolling desk chair at the small particleboard desk in the corner. Lucy stood by the windows, her arms wrapped about her middle. She didn’t turn around to face him.
The room looked as it had when Lucy moved in. He’d never realized there existed nothing of her here. All his other charges decorated. Did something to make the room theirs. Lucy had done none of that. A bed, a night table, the desk were the only furniture. The coverlet, the same one that had been on the bed so many years ago. No pictures. Nothing on the walls, which were virgin white. The room, stale. Cold. Austere. After he’d realized how much Lucy wanted from him, he’d never gone to her room. Too intimate to go there, she’d always come to him. He hadn’t wanted to set up false hopes. Perhaps he should have. Even more reason she needed to leave out from under his wings. Like the chick leaving his mother, she’d fight it. But better for her in the long run.
Bastian nodded to Pope. “I need to speak to Lucy alone.”
“Yeah, man.” Pope skulked out.
Bastian watched Lucy a moment. Her long hair golden, shimmering. He’d never seen it outside in sunlight. It would probably glow like an angel’s halo. Twilight’s dying light cast shadows. She’d let her shades up, pushed her curtains aside.
His powers rose up inside of him like a cobra doing its charmer’s dance.
“I’m not going to apologize.” Lucy’s muffled whisper was almost too faint for even his ears.
“I’m not going to ask you to.”
She turned a half step away from the window. “Good.” She studied him, careful brown eyes appraising him. “She’s a bitch, Bastian. Putting on acts around you. She’ll never love you the way I ...”
“Lucy.”
She stopped, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “You know that I love you. I’ve loved you ever since you came for me.”
First time it had ever been spoken aloud. “Lucy, I adore you. I think the world of you. But ...”
“No! Don’t say it.” Her hands left her middle, balling into fists, swinging forward. “You cannot love her, Bastian. She’s not good enough for you. She doesn’t want you. Need you. Doesn’t want to take care of you. She’ll never be there for you.” Lucy paced, ranting, tossing her hair behind her as she turned a sharp corner. “Not the way I do. The way I can. If you’d ever let me.”
“I’m not sure what I feel for her.” The her he spoke of was Copper. Only Lucy didn’t know that. “But I know ... what I feel for you. I adore you. I enjoy you. I’m not in love with you. Never have been. Never will be.” He had to tell her the truth. Destroy her illusions. Only fair to do it now. Before she got any more torn up inside.
“It’s her. I hate her.” Her mouth twisted.
“No. I wouldn’t be in love with you even if she weren’t in my life. It’s not meant to be.” He took a step closer. Lucy bordered on hysterical.
“It was meant to be. Until that bitch came to you. She ruins everything. Everything she touches.” Lucy took the three steps to him. Grabbed his hand and knelt down in front of him. “Don’t let her ruin you. I’d never do anything to hurt you.” Her hands reached out and grasped between his legs.
Bastian shimmied backwards. Disentangled her hands. “No.”
“Yes! Let me ease you. Feed from me. You came up here to me. To be with me.” She frantically grabbed, trying to keep her contact with his cock. Her knees hit the floor harder, making a thudding sound.
His hands clutched her shoulders, shaking her slightly. “No. I came up here to talk to you about what happened. And what will happen.”
She stilled, her eyes searching his. “What?”
“Lucy, you’ve stayed here longer than anyone else I’ve ever taken in. The time has come for you to stand on your own.”
Her body sagged to the floor. “You’re kicking me out? Over her?”
“It’s time, Lucy. You have a little while to find a place of your own. Then you need to move out. You’ll still work for me. I’ll still be there for you. But you can’t live here anymore.”
Her breath panted. “Out on the streets. I’ll be out on the streets.”
“No. You’ll find a place to live. Tad has been looking. He can help you.”
“Noooooo.” She moaned, sinking deeper into the blue-carpeted floor. “I don’t want to go.”
“You need to move out, Lucy.”
Her eyes sought his again. “Please, Bastian. I’ll be good. I’ll even be nice to her. Don’t make me leave.”
He cut his eyes away at the sorrow, the disillusionment he saw there. He’d never meant to hurt her. Should have said these things long ago. “It’s time. I’ll help you, I promise. One more thing.” She stared down at the floor. “Look at me.” Her head lifted. Her hand brushed hair out of her face. “You ever raise a hand to Crimson again, you will lose my help and your job.” He made his voice clear. One day, she’d know he could never be what she wanted him to. Once she got out on her own.
Her eyes narrowed to slits, reminding him of a cat’s. “I wish she’d never come here. We could have been happy.”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Damn you, Bastian. Damn you to hell.”
“I’ll expect you to be prepared to leave within a few days.” He ignored her curse. He’d been to hell and been damned long ago in his life.
Chapter Eight
Bastian paced his room. Waited for any calls from his contacts about Evangeline. His beast raged, wanting to take the girl down the hall. Needing her blood. And yet, the man in him wanted to go to her and hold her until morning. The beast and man agreed on wanting her. But the man had more patience than his vampire side.
Suppose he’d been wrong about it? He ought to test the Conduit theory.
He licked his lips, then his fang tip.
Paced again.
He picked up the phone and dialed.
“Allo.”
“Allo, Nathan.”
“Bas!! How are you?” Nathan’s voice rose, full of pleasure.
“I’m good.”
They talked a good few minutes before Henri figured out who was on the phone and took it.
“You evil man.” Humor laced Henri’s speech as he picked up. “I’m going to make you pay later.”
Nathan chuckled. “I’m counting on it.”
“How are you, Bastian?”
Bastian hesitated. “I’m OK, Henri.”
“Oh? Only OK?”
“A lot going on.”
The presence slid against Bastian. He breathed, feeling the pinches at his mind. He could smell Henri’s cologne. “I had no idea you could do that.”
“A new talent. You let me in.”
“I had no reason to keep you out, my master.”
Henri gargled. “You know I hate that infernal nickname. Zut alors. It would be interesting from this distance to see if you could keep me out, with your strength. Now tell me everything, mon étudiant.”
“Evangeline has come for her revenge.”
“Merde. You should have killed the bitch when you had the chance.”
“She wasn’t like Marie. And as I recall, I did try.” He’d gone after Evangeline after she’d attacked him. But she didn’t seem to have the bloodlust Marie did.
“True. She ran. What is she up to now?”
“Evangeline came after my current lover. She kidnapped her.”
A noise sounded in the hallway. A step. Barefoot on wood.
“I’ll call you right back.” He mumbled it.
“D’accord.” Henri slapped down the phone.
Bastian eased to the door. Scooted into the hallway. Empty. H
e searched up and down it. No strange smells. Copper’s, old from earlier. Tad’s. Lucy’s. Lucy’s shouldn’t be there.
He took three steps to the walkway. Tad and Lucy stood talking on the steps. They shouldn’t have had to pass by his room on their way to the first floor.
Bastian advanced on them. “What were you doing in my hallway?”
Tad and Lucy blinked at him. “Huh?” Tad queried.
“My hall? What were you doing in my hallway?”
Tad grimaced, his face drawing up. “We took Crimson some dinner. She didn’t get to eat earlier. Came down the back staircase. Lucy didn’t get close, if that’s what you are worried about.”
Lucy touched his arm, her eyes shining, contrite. “I told you I wouldn’t do anything to her again.”
Bastian sighed. Paranoia. Not a good thing. “I scented you both outside my door. Didn’t know why you’d be there.”
“No problemo. I know you’re on edge, fearless leader.” Tad grabbed Lucy’s wandering hand.
“Be ... cautious.”
“We will.” Lucy glared at Tad for stopping her. “We promise.”
Bastian stalked back up to his room. He must have heard them walking past his door to the steps. Get a grip. Evangeline (or her minions) couldn’t get in. He had the place secured. He radioed his sentries and asked them to do a recheck of the grounds. But nothing would come of it.
He redialed the phone.
Henri answered before it rang on Bastian’s end. “What the hell happened, Bast?”
Bast. Henri must have been worried. He never called him that.
“Nothing. I thought I heard something.”
“Did you?”
“No. Two of my charges walking around.”
“Ahh. The rescued. So Evangeline seeks revenge on you? She has your lover?”
Bastian sighed. “Yeah. I think she kidnapped her. To get to me. Henri?”
“Oui?”
“Have you ever encountered a Conduit? Like you told me about.” He lay down on his bed, reclining back.
“Oui. Twice. You think you have one?”
“Yes. I think I do.”
“The lover?’
“No. Her sister. How did it feel when you found Nathan?”
Blood Lines: Conduit Page 9