by Kiersten Fay
They had spent so much time playing and splashing around in the surf, she was practically waterlogged, her mood improved tenfold. She could officially check make love in the ocean off her fuck-it list. When she’d informed Cortez of that, he’d bellowed with laughter. There was something in the way he reacted to her that made her wonder if he was unused to finding amusement in the company of others.
Maybe because he could read minds?
She was back to speculating.
Did knowing what people were going to say beforehand dampen the effect of jokes? Punchlines would be seen a mile away. Is that why he laughed so readily for her? Because to him everything she said was a mystery uncovered.
In any case, she liked that she could make Cortez laugh.
Earlier, she had asked him what other women thought of his island.
Seemingly perturbed, he’d said, “That’s what? The third or fourth time you’ve brought up other women? Do you just want to come out and ask me if I’m a player?”
“Oh, I don’t have to ask.”
He cast her an arch look.
“I’ve had my share of lovers, but no one has ever seduced me as quickly as you. You made my panties drop like they were made of cement!”
At that, he belly laughed till he was holding a stitch in his side.
But now she had a more serious conversation planned.
After returning to the house, they’d had dinner on a balcony that overlooked the ocean. Well, she’d had dinner; he sipped bourbon, eyeing her with something like suspicion. He might not read minds, but he showed an ever-developing aptitude for reading her. Earlier on the roof, he’d sensed her unease and had worked to lighten her mood. Now she was jittery, plotting the best way to broach her interrogation.
Spending time with Cortez had only heightened her curiosity about him. Was Dante right in his assumptions? That although Cortez was a successful business owner, he leaned more toward criminal pursuits? It didn’t seem likely. She might not know a lot about the enigmatic vampire, but he didn’t come across as the type to get involved in forced prostitution. Or drugs, for that matter. But she’d misjudged the opposite sex before, and it had nearly cost her everything.
Throughout dinner, she’d studied his every move as if there was a hidden confession in the angle of his jaw when he drank, or in the tilt of his head as he glanced her way.
The sun had long since set, and speckled moonlight bounced off the ever churning ocean. Once she’d finished eating, they’d settled on a set of lounge chairs by the pool.
“You’ve been pensive all evening,” he said, propping a hand behind his head. “Care to tell me what’s on your mind?” His body went still at his own words, and his lips curled into a marveling smirk.
Now each time he did something like that, she filed it away in her bank of evidence that was quickly piling up.
Down on the beach, she’d asked him how he determined who to hire at the club, curious how she could get on that short list. Again that jaw muscle had ticked, as though he didn’t care for this topic, but he’d answered, “It’s all about attitude. Even if they haven’t worked a day in their lives, anyone can learn anything given the right attitude. I’d prefer to invest in someone eager to improve themselves than someone with experience who’s complacent and jaded.”
“How do you figure out if they’re complacent or jaded?” It was the most loaded question she’d asked him thus far.
“It’s not something people can hide from me.” Then he’d cocked his head at her. “Well, most people.”
She’d added that to the pile, then transitioned her little intake of breath into a nonchalant sigh. “How so?”
Suddenly wary, he changed the subject, directing her instead to thoughts of dinner and what type of wine she’d like this evening and oh yeah, there was something he’d wanted to show her back up at the house.
On the lounge chair, she turned on her side to face him. “I was just thinking about that new drug that’s been circulating around town.” Boom. Right to the point. No more beating around the bush. There really wasn’t a good way to broach this subject so she’d dispensed with tact.
He blinked. “Why would you be thinking about that?”
“I heard it was causing a lot of deaths. Someone I know lost a good friend a little while back. I was just curious. You don’t allow drugs like that in your club do you?”
He gave a noncommittal shrug and gazed up at the stars. “I’m not the moral police.”
“But it’s killing people. Don’t you care?”
His head swiveled around. “It’s not my job to save people from their own stupidity. Ninety-nine percent of the time that’s an exercise in futility. People are going to do what they want. Even knowing it’s no good for them. Besides, it’s difficult to keep that stuff out of a party atmosphere. I’d say a good third of the people who enter the club are holding, another third are looking to buy. However, I don’t condone trafficking in my club. Those who get caught are bounced. Repeat offenders are banned.”
She sighed. That was a relief...unless he banned them to get rid of the competition.
Trying for an easy tone, she continued. “And then there’s that rumor about a group of individuals forcing women into prostitution. Some say vampire compulsion might be involved.”
His expression turned fierce. “Who is saying these things?”
“Just people,” she hedged.
He eyed her for a long moment. “Is that why you jumped to such a drastic conclusion the other day?”
She flushed. “It’s not hard to believe some vamps might take advantage of their natural abilities. You know, compel a girl to think she was happy about that gangbang she participated in the night before.”
He shot upright, anger roiling in his eyes. “Has someone hurt you?”
Her hands popped up, palms facing him in a calming gesture. “NO! I was speaking metaphorically!”
His body instantly relaxed, yet tension remained around his jaw. Resting his arms on his knees, he let out a heavy breath. “Your concerns are valid, but we have laws against such behavior.”
“You do?” She knew nothing of vampire law.
He nodded. “In the past, before The Revelation, keeping vampires in check was largely left to clan leaders and makers—”
“Makers?”
“Those with the ability to sire new vampires,” he explained. “Naturally depraved makers unfailingly breed depravity. Eventually those ruthless clans became a threat to our way of life and war broke out, nearly exposing our entire race before we were ready. To cull the poison and keep the peace, the VEA was established. You know what that is, right?”
“The Vampire Enforcement Agency.”
“Correct. Our laws are absolute, with harsh consequences. Rarely is there a slap on the wrist for an offender. It offers great incentive to toe the line.”
“Are you saying vampires don’t commit crimes?”
He shook his head. “That would be something, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, there are always those who test the boundaries, convince themselves they’re too smart to get caught, or just plain don’t care. However, our transgressions aren’t quite the same as yours. For humans, murder is the greatest sin. Ours is the abuse of power.”
“Abusing power is worse than murder?”
“It is when the abuse of power could cause many deaths as a result. Murder for the greater good is somewhat common in my world. Because we live so long, it is considered admirable for a sire to exterminate his own bad eggs, as it were. Especially now with peace between vampires and humans so tentative. Left unchecked, those bad eggs could potentially sire entire clans that lack basic morals. And that wouldn’t be good for anyone. More so, as the sire and head of my own clan, I could potentially be held responsible for any crime committed by a member of my clan. Needless to say, I thoroughly vet anyone I plan to bring into the fold.” He sipped his drink and glanced up at the stars.
A worrisome thought popped into her head. “A
re you vetting me?”
Bourbon sprayed from his lips followed by a half coughing fit, half belly laugh.
A confounding mix of relief and hurt assaulted her.
When his cutting mirth finally died down, he noticed her frown. “I’m sorry,” he said, still slightly chuckling. “I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve been unable to anticipate what someone will say at any given moment. You can’t believe how refreshing that is. And no, I have no desire to turn any more vampires at present.”
She tried to keep her eyes from popping out of their sockets. He was accustomed to predicting what people will say? She filed that information away, pretending he hadn’t inexplicably yet thoroughly offended her by his abject rejection of the notion of her as a vampire. Not that she wanted that. At all.
Chapter 23
Naia rolled over and found herself embraced by a strong set of arms.
“Good morning,” he muttered drowsily, pulling her closer.
“Morning.” She snuggled against his chest, taking in his sexy, addictive scent.
“You slept quite a long time, no? Did you drink too much last night?”
“I don’t think so. Why? What time is it?”
“Well past lunch. You looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Past lunch? So why did she still feel exhausted? Her muscles ached as if preparing to battle a flu. The last time she’d felt like this...
“Did you know you sing softly in your sleep?”
She bolted upright. “You heard me singing!?”
Letting her go, he folded his arms behind his head. “Don’t be self-conscious. Your voice is actually pleasant.” She resented the surprise in his tone, like he hadn’t expected her claims about her voice to be true. He’d have known that if he’d let her audition. “I’m not self-conscious.” She was horrified! “I didn’t do anything else, did I?”
“Like what?”
“Sleepwalk, or anything?”
“No. Is that a common occurrence?”
“Not common, no.” At least not when her siren half was well fed.
After a late breakfast, she told Cortez she wanted to explore the island a little on her own, still needing to calm her nerves but not wanting him to notice how freaked she was by her midnight-singing.
Still, he seemed to gauge her curiously. “I should check in at the club, anyway. Have fun.”
With that, she scurried down to the beach, pacing like a caged animal. The waves taunted her, boxed her in, the ocean her jailer. The sun ruthlessly beat down on her fevered skin.
How was she already this far along? Sleep-singing meant the siren was growing desperate. Why? She sang just a few days ago at The Pit. It was too soon to be losing it like this. Being on an isolated island was probably just stressing out her siren side.
There was nothing for miles and miles and miles.
Nothing.
This was crazy. She had to get out of here. Just like Cortez, she could eat food, but it didn’t provide what she truly needed. Though her belly was full, she felt as empty and dry as an ancient clay jug. She might as well be standing in the middle of a barren desert.
Panic surged.
He’d heard her singing! It would only get worse. How would she explain sleepwalking out into the night to bellow her song at the sky like a freak? He’d figure out what she was.
In their own way, they both fed off the life force of others. Would he understand her nature? Would he understand what she needed?
Would he give her a job at his club then?
She recalled the last man she had trusted with her secret. James had been just as charming and attractive as Cortez.
She’d thought she’d been in love with him. She’d been a fool.
She recalled sitting on a park bench one morning, openly discussing her lineage with him. How had she ever felt comfortable enough to spill her secrets? At first James had laughed, patronizing her, but not believing her story. Then, arrogantly, she had shown him. Singing out to a passerby, she’d snared a stocky man, causing him to go doe-eyed, frozen to the spot like a pup gazing at its new master.
It had just been a light enthrallment, nothing like what she was capable.
When James had recovered from his shock, he’d strolled over to the man, and promptly robbed him of his wallet. Naia had been too stunned to protest, her jaw locked open, even as James had yanked her off the bench and tugged her away. Later she had railed at him; he’d just wanted her to do it again. His true nature? A crook.
She’d broken up with him that same day, but had failed to predict the depth of his immorality. That night James had returned for her, crawling through her bedroom window while she’d slept—wearing sound-dampening ear phones!
She’d fought and clawed for her life that night. Could still recall the feeling of dried blood under her nails...
The terrible memory swarmed her, compounding her building dread. Her lungs seemed to shrink ten sizes. Hand over her racing heart, she fell on shaky knees, gasping for breath.
A full-fledged panic attack.
Breathe.
It will pass.
Just breathe.
Movement on one of the upper balconies drew her attention.
Cortez stood there, gazing her way.
She couldn’t make out his expression, but he seemed to be leaning over the edge, looking directly at her. Suddenly he stepped off the ledge, dropping three stories in seconds. Though his form disappeared behind the thick forest that cluttered the base of his home, she had no doubt he’d landed on his feet without a hitch.
Inhuman! her mind screamed.
Had a vampire been the one to attack her that night, she would not have escaped. He’d have overpowered her in seconds. Imagining having to fight off Cortez, picturing that same ruthless intent on his beautiful features seemed so wrong, it made her want to vomit. Could he be so heartless in business? Wanting to use the gift of her voice against people? To dupe and pilfer? According to his own laws, that would be a cardinal sin.
Still, why should she risk it? There was no reason to trust him. She barely knew him. And in less than a week, they would go their separate ways.
With steel in her bones, she reaffirmed her vow never to tell another soul about what she was. Safer that way.
Cortez emerged from behind the foliage moments later, beating a path toward her, concern etched in his features. “Are you ill?” She didn’t know whether it was the memory of the attack or the preternatural display of him diving from such a great height without a scratch on him, but when he reached for her, she flinched.
He pulled his hand back, his brows shooting up.
She scrambled to her feet and brushed sand off her knees, striving for a light tone and a little laugh that she hoped didn’t sound fake. “Did you just clear a three-story fall to ask how I’m doing?”
Studying her far too closely, he nodded slowly. “It looked like you fell. And you’ve seemed distressed all morning.”
Understatement.
She cleared her throat. “No, no. I’m fine.”
He didn’t appear to believe her. When he reached to take her hand again, adrenaline was still fresh in her body, and she shuddered at his touch. He immediately dropped her hand, appearing confused...and maybe a little hurt?
She needed to say something so he didn’t get the wrong idea. “I’ve never been away so long. I suppose I’m a little homesick. And worried about Cole.” And in need of a crowd. “Without me, he finds trouble like water flows downhill.”
“Are you saying you want to go back?”
She shrugged. “Would you mind?”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“Honestly, I felt a little guilty.”
“Guilty?”
“What it must have cost to get us out here. I was afraid you’d think I was ungrateful.” She shrugged. “Or maybe I was afraid you wouldn’t care what I wanted.”
His brows knit. “You
would be with a man you believe doesn’t care about your feelings?”
She blinked, surprised by the sudden hollowness in his tone. “That’s not what I meant.”
“What do you mean then?”
“It’s just that you went through all the trouble to get us here, not to mention all the gifts and clothes. I just didn’t feel right about asking you to take me home so soon.”
“So you would stay somewhere you didn’t really want to be?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to be here.”
He ignored that. “Are you only sleeping with me so that you don’t seem ungrateful?”
Her mouth dropped at the question. His expression was...well, she wasn’t sure if he was upset, or angry. There was a growing flame behind his eyes that warned her this conversation was going off the rails.
“Of course not.”
His gaze narrowed a touch. “I don’t know whether or not to believe you.”
She crossed her arms, suddenly a little angry herself. “Of course you can believe me.”
“You’ve shown me on several occasions that you are uncomfortable. You must have been feeling this way for a while.” When she didn’t respond, something cold slammed down over his features. It gave her heart a kick. He glanced down as if he could hear the sudden rise in her pulse, and his withering expression turned glacial.
“I don’t abide lying, even in the form of omission.” Then he turned his back on her and began walking toward the house. “You won’t have to suffer my presence much longer. I’ll have the crew here by nightfall. We’ll be to the mainland by morning.”
Chapter 24
She followed his rigid form inside. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Cortez.”
He gave a bitter laugh. “I’m not upset.”
“You don’t look happy.”
“You’ve provided me with yet another new experience. I never imagined anyone would feel obligated to stay here with me.” He actually looked thunderstruck. “Most would lie, cheat, and steal to be the object of my affection.”
“That’s not it at all. I love it here, with you. I’m just going a little...stir crazy, I suppose. I’m not used to being so far from home. Or civilization. I kind of need to be around people. Around a crowd.” She stopped before she revealed too much more.