He looked nothing like the wild man who’d rocked her world in more ways than one.
For some reason just looking at him left her feeling dazed, dazzled and light-headed with her ears ringing oddly.
Leaning on her elbow, she pulled the crisp sheet above her breasts and stared into those fabulous eyes.
"I’ll get ready for work." Even as she spoke the words, that strange new instinct running through her blood told her that she wouldn’t be setting foot in her office of Gillespie, Pattullo and Hindmarch ever again.
But she needed to hear Daniel say it.
And she got her wish.
"Nope. A newborn cannot be left alone for a number of weeks or months, until we know they have complete control of their vampyre."
Now she frowned.
"But I need to work. I have people who rely on me."
Her grandparents had dementia and they were too vulnerable to be left without support in their care home.
Blue eyes narrowed into hers.
And this time she could feel the whisper in her mind as he read her thoughts.
"It is not a subject up for discussion. You remain here. Your grandparents will be well looked after, Gia. And so will you. You are mine now. Get used to it."
Like hell she was his.
Like hell she would get used to it.
Now she sat, back rigidly straight and she lifted her chin as pride rode to the fore.
"I have debts to pay. I need to work and I need to sing. I have an obligation to the Sly Fox club. I won’t let them down."
Very slowly he shook his head.
Gia recognized a lethal determination when she saw it and the force of a strong will when she felt it.
"You're not leaving this apartment until we know you are in control of your vampyre. A newborn walking among humans is a danger to them and to herself," he told her in a tone that meant business.
The growl in her mind gave her a heady sense of invincibility, of a woman in charge of her destiny, her life and the people in it.
"Who are the ‘we’ you constantly refer to?"
His first response was a cool look, probably because of the cranky tone of the question.
"Get showered. Get dressed and join me next door." He bent to pick up a slim white box from the table and tossed it on the bed. "By the way, I found this on your desk. Whomever he is, you can tell him you're taken."
He turned and walked out without responding to her question.
She knew what was in the box. A single white rose from Enricho, a reminder that he hadn't forgotten about her. She ignored the urge to toss the box out of the damn window.
The blast of annoyance was so strong the force of it had a strange red mist haze before her eyes.
Just who the hell did Daniel think he was to talk to her like that. And who the hell did Enricho Donnati think he was to keep harassing her like this?
Her claws shot out of her fingertips and for an unremitting moment, Gia battled not to throw the bedside lamp at the damn door. However, behaviour like that was hardly showing him she was in control of herself, was it?
Instead she stalked into the en-suite bathroom, racing through a hot shower, before tugging on her oldest blue jeans white at the knees and seams. Along with a fitted white T-shirt that proclaimed, Regular chocolate is better than regular sex. Dragging a comb through towel-dried hair, she simply plaited it and secured the ends with a hair-tie.
On a mission to kick a certain vampyre's ass, she marched down the hall, burst into the sitting room.
And stopped dead.
They had visitors.
Two people stood in the middle of the room and were talking in hushed tones to Daniel.
The woman she recognized.
Saira Pattullo.
As far as Gia was concerned Saira was one of those women other women loathed. She was a petulant, spoilt diva, who threw her weight around in the offices of Gillespie, Pattullo and Hindmarch. Just because she was a daughter of one of the founders gave her no right to make everyone else's life a misery.
Fortunately Gia had little to do with her, but some of the other girls who worked in the administration department absolutely detested her.
Saira’s dark almond shaped eyes seemed to flick over Gia’s clothes, her hair, and the way her full mouth smirked it was obvious she wasn’t impressed. Bitch. The vampyre within Gia rose and emitted a low growl of warning.
"Saira," said the colossal man standing next to Daniel in a gravelly voice that vibrated right down Gia’s spine. Not with attraction, but with something like dread. "Do not annoy the newborn."
Newborn?
It appeared both knew that Gia was a vampyre.
But before she could process that fact, she simply stared at the stranger.
Good God, the man was huge and looked like something out of a fantasy action movie.
His savagely masculine face was unforgettable. High cheekbones, dark eyes framed by thick jet lashes stared at her under heavily hooded brows. His nose was slightly hooked, which made him look like a warrior. His wide mouth was as uncompromising as his jaw. And his hair was tied in a high slippery tail which reached down his back. And she knew, she just knew, that he was a vampyre. A master vampyre the voice in her head whispered the warning. He had the exotic eyes of a big black panther.
And Gia suddenly felt like so much raw meat.
Fresh meat.
But it was the clothes he wore that shocked her to the core.
Heavy leathers the color of red wine hugged every single inch of him, especially the bulge between his thighs. And then she blushed at the thought of being caught staring at his crotch.
Her eyes flew to Daniel’s.
And his mouth twitched as blue eyes danced into hers.
He was laughing at her?
Bastard.
Gia narrowed her eyes in warning.
"I am Ezekiel and I believe you know Saira. Come," said the giant and indicated a low couch. "Please, sit."
Chapter Fourteen
Gia knew something hinky was going on.
And if Saira was aware Daniel and Ezekiel were vampyre, what then did that make her?
Instead of sitting on the couch, Gia headed for a single chair and sank to the edge.
Daniel was watching her like a hawk and the big male vampyre was examining her so closely a wave of gooseflesh rose uncomfortably over her skin. The hair on the back of her neck prickled unpleasantly.
Witch, hissed her vampyre.
Witch?
Seriously?
What next, werewolves, pixies and elves?
Daniel gave her big eyes and she realized he was reading her like a book. Well, that needed to stop. There must be some way to block him delving into her thoughts whenever he damn well felt like it.
"She has no magic within her," said Ezekiel into the silence.
The uncomfortable prickling sensation on her skin eased and her vampyre settled.
"Thank goodness for small mercies," muttered Saira.
Gia sent her a dark look.
Saira's response was a white smile which showcased lethal fangs.
Gia blinked.
Saira Pattullo was a vampyre, too?
Well, color her not surprised.
The woman was dressed in head-to-toe black leather. It appeared vampyres had a thing for leather. How clichéd, decided Gia with a little sniff of pure disdain.
Saira must have seen something in her face because now she hissed like a snake.
Gia hissed right back at her.
"Ladies," said Ezekiel, his gravelly voice a warning to cease hostilities.
He turned to look at Gia and again she felt power trickle over her skin. She didn't like the sensation and glared at him to stop. He didn't. Instead he moved into her personal space and crouched down in front of her, his leathers creaking over heavily muscled thighs. He held out his hand in a silent instruction for her to place her hand in his.
Instinctually her eyes flew to Daniel's.
He nodded.
Her eyes clicked back to Ezekiel. Her vampyre was on the highest state of alert as she placed her hand in his. It wasn't a jolt of electricity, it was more like a stroke of heat that ran up her arm and spread through her chest, her mind. Her vampyre slammed the door shut to her thoughts, her feelings. Now his smooth brow creased as he studied her, his head cocked to the side in a way that alerted her that this man, vampyre, witch, or whatever the hell he was, wasn't human. She felt a tiny pain in her head, a probing sensation and gritted her teeth. Her eyes glared into his making it crystal clear she didn't like it.
And then the pain was gone.
"You are a powerful vampyre, Gia. I sense a need for revenge riding you hard. If you take my advice you will let it go... Hatred is a destructive force."
"Did I ask you for advice?" she wanted to know and ignored Saira's warning hiss.
Suck it up, Sista, I don't like you either, she let the thought shoot out of her mind.
Ezekiel's dark eyes flickered for a split second. If she hadn't been watching him, she might have missed it.
"Impertinent, too," he muttered as he released her and stood to his full height.
She'd have a crick in her neck if she had to look up at him for any length of time.
He moved away and took a seat on the couch he'd indicated to her earlier. Then he seemed to relax as he stretched out long legs and sat back. All the time his eyes, the eyes of a predator, watched her carefully.
He didn't trust her.
She could taste it, even smell it.
Well, she didn't trust any of them either.
Not even Daniel.
She saw his eyes go slitty and realized he'd picked up her thoughts loud and clear.
"We'll need blood tests to see exactly what stage her emerging vampyre has reached," said Saira to the men, rudely ignoring a fuming Gia.
Well, she wasn't having that.
She jumped to her feet.
"Excuse me? Am I invisible or something? If you come anywhere near me with a needle I'll kick your skinny ass," she warned, her vampyre just itching for a fight.
Gia bared her newborn fangs to a Saira who was staring at her without blinking.
Well, this was something of a personality change for Gia Del Russo.
Since when had she ever been an aggressive person?
Never.
All her life she'd been brought up to do her duty, to be passive, responding to events that happened to her rather than leading and controlling her own destiny.
'You're in control of your destiny now, little sister.'
Too true, she responded, still glaring at Saira and refusing to blink first.
"Gia," said Daniel in a low voice that held a caution to behave. "We need to take blood to test what's happening to you."
His mouth twitched at the insolent look her vampyre threw him.
Boy, was this a character change for the worst. What had happened to his quiet and polite PA? What had happened to the shy and lovely Gia who'd worked for him for two years? And why did the way her chin lifted fill him with pride as well as lust?
Daniel realized his night with Gia had forged a bond between them that was new, raw and incredibly powerful. One night. Just one night and he couldn't imagine waking each morning without her, couldn't imagine not falling asleep with his legs tangled in hers. That fabulous voice the final sound, he heard before sleep.
He wanted to take her hand to his mouth, to sample the scent, the taste, of her, to tell her she was his.
Forever.
She was watching him now, eyes filled to the brim with suspicion, hip cocked in faded jeans. Her feet were bare. Those narrow shoulders showcased by a simple T-shirt of white cotton. Her mouth and her eyes went all sulky in a way that made him just want to scoop her up and take her back to bed.
"Don't even think about it," she told him in a do-not-mess-with-me-pal voice. "I have a gig to prepare for tonight."
He blinked as he recovered fast from the shock that she'd read him.
"Nope," he said.
"I have a contract to fulfil, money to earn to pay off a debt. Trust me, I'm going."
"Nope."
"Watch me."
She turned on her heel, marched into his bedroom suite and banged the door so hard the room shook.
Silence.
"Well, well, well," drawled Saira from the couch. He turned to look at her. The vampyre medic looked as if she was sucking on a lemon. "Looks like you've got yourself a handful of trouble, Daniel. Looks like you're going to need to play hardball with your newborn. I don't remember Gia having a potty mouth."
"She didn't. This is a new development."
"What's this about a gig?" asked Ezekiel, taking his life in his hands as he reached out to play lazily with the ends of Saira's black hair. Without looking at him, she jerked her head in a movement that warned she didn't like it. It seemed old Ezekiel was still interested in his ex-wife. Daniel managed to suppress a grin at the scowl on her face that told the world Saira was not interested in Ezekiel.
"Gia has a voice you wouldn't believe. She's been singing at the Sly Fox club downtown and making a nice little sum each night."
"What does she need the money for?" asked Saira, accepting the fact that Gia could sing without a blink.
"Her late husband was in arrears to the wrong people. The mafia, specifically Enricho Donatti. She's paying off the debt."
Saira's dark brows winged into her hairline. "Whoa, didn't see that one coming. I'd say you have a little problem in your hands because there is no way she's stable enough to be exposed to humans. Her bloodlust would cause mayhem."
"I agree," said Ezekiel.
"Other than locking her in the room, I don't know what else to do."
"You could beat the crap out of her for one thing and teach her a little respect," snarled Saira.
Daniel's vampyre rose.
"Respect is earned, Saira, not forced. No one will ever lay a finger on her. Do you hear me?"
Saira rose, hands on hips and tossed him a dark look.
"You need to toughen up, Dan. You're too soft. Always have been."
"And you need to take your nose out of things that do not concern you. I have Ian Macpherson and a whole battalion of Centuri guarding the exits. She'll not get out of here tonight. You have my word on it."
Ezekiel rose, folded his arms and stared at Daniel through narrowed eyes.
He knew that look.
"And don't even think of using magic on her, witch."
"I doubt very much if it would work. From what I could read from her, she appears immune to such influences." He heaved out a sigh and stalked to the window to look out upon a city in darkness. "I am meeting with your father later to discuss the deteriorating global situation... and Gia. He may decide to keep her under guard until she becomes a little more... co-operative."
Daniel heard the warning and reacted to it.
He didn't want to break a confidence, but Saira and Ezekiel and his father needed to understand what Gia had gone through.
"She is a victim of a spousal abuse so extreme that at one point she was readying herself to take her own life." When Saira's eyes went wide, he nodded. "The way she has embraced becoming vampyre has come as something of a shock, I admit. But I understand her reaction, too. Not once has she suffered nausea or any discomfort, that I can ascertain. I was at least expecting dismay, even fear. Instead it has become clear to me she feels free and empowered, happy even, for the first time in her life. I won't have the light of hope for a better future for herself extinguished by you or by anyone else. We must give her a fighting chance to find her feet. She's bright and talented and smart. And underneath the mouth, she has a good heart. She just needs a little time."
Ezekiel nodded. "Why don't we bring in Anais to help her find those feet?"
"Yep. She was fantastic with Charlotte when she was on the edge," said Saira.
Good idea.
"I'll talk to her,
" said Daniel.
He knew that Anais would help in any way she could.
Like himself Anais was an empath.
She lived to help others.
Chapter Fifteen
However, if Daniel could see the way Anais was behaving at that moment, he might change his mind.
She was in the vast walk-in shower in their bathroom, temper still sparking as she washed off the sweat of her incident in the fight club with Marcus.
How dare he embarrass her like that?
Just because she'd won their bout?
He was a bad loser.
Hot soapy water ran down her back, stung the livid and clear handprint on her ass.
And again her temper clicked up another notch.
She knew she'd played dirty, using her supposed distress against him.
At heart Marcus was a big softie and couldn't bear the thought of her being upset in any way. So she'd struck a low blow. So what? Surely the whole point of fighting under the tutelage of Ian Macpherson was to win?
Did it really matter how she won?
Lifting her face to rinse honey and oatmeal conditioner from her hair, she didn't hear the bathroom door open, didn't feel the displacement of air. The first she knew she wasn't alone was when large hands slid up wet skin to clasp her breasts.
Anger to arousal in two seconds.
Every time he touched her, her body betrayed her.
Her nipples went hard as he nuzzled the sweet spot in her neck.
She arched to let him taste her.
Marcus adored nothing more than to take a little snack when they indulged in love play.
He gripped her wrists, placed them behind his neck, opening her up to his seeking hands, searching fingers.
When those fingers entered her, his thumb circling in a relentless rhythm around her clitoris, she arched her back and gave a little sigh of pleasure. God, he played her body like a violin. He knew exactly what strings to pluck. Her climax was a lovely long and slow rise that took her up, up, up, until she shuddered.
"Am I forgiven?"
She blinked, the question dumping her abruptly into reality.
The Vampyre Legal Chronicles - Daniel: Book: 3 Page 10