and reporting got done.
"Plausible, except both times someone else was involved. Someone with money and
power."
Sophia ignored the dip in her stomach and the shortness of her breath as Zane
turned her hand over and stroked the sensitive pads of her palm. "Who?"
"Lucian Dalakis."
She froze, her blood running cold as she remembered the two words she'd found on
the note with the body last night. "What did you say?" She could feel all the blood
draining from her face.
"Delight Deveraux is now Delight Dalakis. She married him soon after the
incident."
"Maybe that's coincidence." As a reporter, she had to stay objective, but she knew
that Zane was right. There was a connection and it wasn't a good one.
Zane tilted his head to one side, studying her. "Maybe. But Sam Cassidy, the
detective in charge of both cases, recently quit the police force. You want to guess who
he works for now?"
It was easy to connect the dots. "Lucian Dalakis." She'd have to find out everything
there was to know about the man and his family. Maybe they were involved, or maybe,
like her, they were being pulled into a deadly game against their will. If she hadn't
taken the note last night, the police would already be questioning Mr. Dalakis.
"That's right." Zane's grip on her hand tightened. His face looked grim. "And not
just Lucian, but the Dalakis family. There are three brothers, but only two of them,
Lucian and Stefan, live in the United States. The eldest, Cristofor, lives with his wife in
Transylvania."
"Transylvania!" She knew she sounded like a parrot, but she couldn't help it. That
was just too unbelievable. Sophia shivered, but it had nothing to do with being cold.
Her mind was conjuring up all kinds of connections. Janice Barton's blood had been
drained from her body. She shook her head, unbelieving.
Zane sighed, his expression tight. "Did I mention that they're all vampires?"
"That's insane." She pulled her hand away from him. "Maybe they're involved in
some way. Maybe some kind of cult or ritual killing." She knew her voice was getting
louder and shriller, but she couldn't stop it. Vampires! She might not be from Louisiana
originally, but she'd lived here since she was sixteen. She knew all about the local
superstitions and beliefs, but she wasn't buying it.
Not for one second.
Chapter Four
Zane watched the color drain from Sophia's face, which was a feat in and of itself
considering that she'd already been pale. She jumped to her feet, jarring the table and
tipping the bottle of soda that sat there. Only his quick reflexes allowed him to catch the
bottle and right it before the sticky liquid spilled everywhere.
Slowly Zane got to his feet and held his hand out to her. She ignored it and began to
pace. "You're crazy, you know that?" There was only room for her to take about six
paces. She turned when she got to the wall. "You're from New York, not New Orleans.
Besides that, you're a cop. You know better than to believe in mythical monsters."
"It's not myth, but fact." He hesitated, trying to figure out a way to prove it to her
without scaring her. "I've seen things in my lifetime." Some of them he'd do anything
to forget. He shook off the dark memory and focused on Sophia.
"Like what?" She skidded to a stop and crossed her arms over her chest, tapping
her slipper against the hardwood floor. The look in her eye told him he was on thin ice
and about five seconds from being tossed out of her apartment and probably her life as
well. His gut clenched at the mere thought. He wouldn't allow that to happen.
Something was happening between them, some sort of connection he'd never felt before
and he damn well wasn't going to lose it until he figured out exactly what it meant.
He sauntered over to her. One of her feet slid backward, but she stopped herself
from backing away and held her ground. He was ridiculously pleased with her show of
courage even though he knew it had nothing to do with him. When he stopped, he was
so close to her that the toes of his boots were brushing against the black noses of her
puppy-dog slippers. He could feel the heat of her body, smell the sweet scent of woman
and vanilla mixed with the mouthwatering aroma of tomato sauce and cheese.
What man could resist?
Leaning down, he watched as her lashes fluttered, brushing against her cheekbones.
When he pressed his lips against hers, she gave a slight whimper of need that set his
heart pounding. Her hands flattened against the hard planes of his stomach as if she
might shove him away.
He wasn't ready to be pushed away just yet. Flicking his tongue along the seam of
her lips, he traced it back and forth until they parted on a gasp. Taking his time, he
snaked his tongue inside for the briefest of tastes before retreating.
Her fingers curled into his shirt.
Over and over, he played the game of advance and retreat until Sophia had parted
her lips wide for him and they were both gasping for air. Never had he tasted anything
quite so fine in his life. Her particular flavor was marked by the spicy food she'd eaten,
but was tinged with a sweetness that was all woman and uniquely Sophia.
She moaned and plunged her tongue into his mouth. This time it was his turn to
groan as he sucked her tongue deeper. It was just a kiss. That's what he kept telling
himself as his body pulsed with a driving need. He was as affected as she was by the
simple caress. Heat suffused his body, making his clothing feel way too constricting and
tight.
Her nails dug into his chest. He wasn't sure if she was trying to hold him closer or
push him away. The kiss might have moved to a whole other level if he hadn't felt the
shift in his own body, the warning that things could get out of hand quickly if he didn't
get control.
Gripping her forearms in his hands, he eased her away from him, breaking the kiss.
Their lips clung for the briefest of seconds as if neither of them wanted the kiss to end.
Zane swore inwardly even as he continued to push her away. It was for her own safety.
"Well," she began, running her fingers through her short hair. Her chest was rising
and falling quickly as she sucked in much-needed air and attempted to calm herself. He
could see the flutter of her pulse in her neck and it drew him. He wanted to run his
tongue over the pulsing vein, feel the life coursing through her body. "That wasn't very
professional." She narrowed her gaze. "For either of us."
Her cheeks were tinged red, partly from embarrassment and partly from the scrape
of the stubble on his jaw. Seems she had very sensitive skin. He'd have to remember
that. "Not professional." Unable to resist, he leaned down and nuzzled her neck,
stroking his tongue across the irresistible pulse at the base. "Necessary," he whispered
as he forced himself to back away.
She gave a small laugh. "Maybe from your perspective, but from mine, it's just a
complication." Putting some distance between them, she started to scuff back to her
chair.
That she could turn her back on him and just walk away from what had just
occurred between them filled him with unreasonable anger. His body was vibrating
wit
h a hunger that only she could assuage. The only thing that would stop the relentless
need streaking through his blood would be to take her, claim her as his. His teeth ached,
he wanted her so badly.
He knew on one level that she was absolutely correct. They needed to keep this
strictly professional. But as a man, he wanted her to acknowledge the connection
between them. His baser animal instincts were screaming at him to claim her, to mark
her as his so that any other man who even looked at her would know that she was
taken, that she belonged to him. Somehow he knew that was true. It was there. He
could feel it in the very marrow of his bones.
This woman was his.
He didn't think or he might never have done what he did. It changed everything
and complicated an already tangled situation.
Grabbing her arm, he spun her around to face him. She appeared more annoyed
than frightened, which was good. "You want to know how I know vampires are real?"
"Sure." She shrugged. He could tell she was humoring him. He'd been holding on
to his temper and his patience by a thread and when she shrugged at him, that thin
thread snapped.
As if sensing the change in him, she tried to move away. But it was already too late
for her, too late for him. He moved steadily forward, forcing her to move backward
until her back hit the wall. There was nowhere for her to go.
Sweat pooled beneath his shirt. His flesh felt as if it was on fire. He shook his head,
trying to regain some sense of control, but it seemed to have vanished in an onslaught
of need. His cock throbbed, and as he lowered his head toward her, he caught a whiff of
arousal emanating from Sophia. She wasn't as unmoved as she wanted him to believe.
She might be able to put on a brave face and pretend there was nothing between them,
but her body didn't lie.
"So tell me," she all but taunted. He could hear the slight quaver in her voice, see
the bravado in her face. Immediately, he felt remorse. He didn't want to frighten her.
What the hell was wrong with him? He took a deep breath and struggled for control.
He almost had himself back on an even keel when she blew it all to hell again by
adding, "Then you can get the hell out of my apartment."
The beast within him surged to life. This was his mate and he could not deny it any
longer. Could not let her deny it.
"How do I know?" He placed his hands flat on the wall on either side of her head
and his thighs on either side of hers, effectively caging her with his arms and his legs.
He could feel his eyes changing and knew that they were beginning to glow.
Sophia's heart was pounding against his chest. "Stop it." She pushed against him,
but he wouldn't be moved.
He ignored her struggles and lowered his gaze until he captured hers. She froze as
he began to smile, exposing his sharp fangs. "I am one."
Sophia wanted to scream, but couldn't make her throat work. There was no breath
in her lungs. It was if Zane's words had sucked all the air from the room. She didn't
believe it. Wouldn't believe it. Yet it was there before her very eyes.
She might pass off the red glow in his eyes as a trick of the light, but those teeth...
She shuddered. Those teeth could not be denied. They'd elongated, growing down past
his lower lip.
Her legs trembled and she felt lightheaded. Sweat trickled down her temple. Goose
bumps raced down her arms. She shivered as a chill racked her body.
She brought her knee upward and shoved at his shoulder at the same time. She
didn't think about it. She just did it. Zane easily avoided her knee and pressed his body
more firmly against hers. Bringing her right hand up, she swung at him. At the last
possible second, he shifted, keeping his head out of the path of her fist. Grabbing both
her hands with his, he held them over her head.
The fight was over before it had really begun. Sophia knew she didn't have the skill
or the strength to defeat a man like Zane. Closing her eyes, she shuddered. A picture of
Janice Barton's body flashed in her brain. Was this what happened to the poor young
girl? Had Zane overpowered her with his strength or had he seduced her and then
drained her body?
Even as she thought it, her instincts were screaming in denial. In spite of her terror,
in spite of her disbelief, she knew somewhere deep inside her that Zane wasn't a
murderer. Yes, she felt he was more than capable of killing someone without an ounce
of remorse. But he would only kill to protect himself or someone weaker. How she
knew this, she didn't know, but the knowledge was there all the same.
Even now, she realized that he wasn't hurting her, and at no time had he hurt her.
Yes, his large hands were wrapped around her wrists, but he held her loosely, his
fingers stroking her skin. His massive body was pressed against hers. She could feel his
arousal against her stomach, but he simply held himself there. This was a man who was
keenly aware of his strength.
"Shh," he soothed. "I won't hurt you. I would never hurt you."
It was only when he spoke that she realized she'd let out a small whimper, part
fear, part arousal. His words washed over her shivering body, warming her. She found
herself believing him.
What was wrong with her?
She tugged gently and he released her right hand and then her left. He eased his
body away and she found that she missed his heat. Okay, she could deal with this. She
was a sensible woman and she'd get to the bottom of this.
his eyes began to glow again. Thankfully his fangs had receded. "You're a vampire?"
Zane shivered and turned away, sucking in a deep breath before facing her again.
"Yes."
Now what? She had a million questions, but why would she even ask them?
Nobody would ever believe her. She still didn't really believe it herself. "So this is like
Interview with a Vampire?" She shook her head, feeling as if she'd fallen into an Anne
Rice novel.
"No. This is very real."
"Prove it." She needed more than just glowing eyes and fangs to convince her.
Maybe he was one of those Goth guys who got off on pretending to be a vampire. Or
maybe he was some kind of magician or illusionist.
Suddenly, he took a step away from her. She hadn't realized he'd actually been
holding up her body. The lack of sleep, hunger and shock had all taken their toll on her
and she felt herself sliding down the wall.
Zane swore, snatching her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing. The man was
built. Shaking her head to clear it, she sensed him moving swiftly. "I'm all right. Just not
enough sleep or food."
"It's my fault. I shocked you unnecessarily, and for that I am sorry." He lowered
her and she felt the cushions of the loveseat beneath her. Zane looked totally disgusted
and she knew that it was himself he was upset with.
"No big deal. It's not every day a girl gets to meet something straight out of legend
and myth." For some reason that made the corners of his mouth twitch upward.
"What's so funny?"
He shook his head as he pulled off her slippers and tossed them aside before
reaching out
and snagging the blanket from the back of the chair and carefully laying it
over her. "I felt the same way when I first saw you."
Her forehead wrinkled as she tried to understand. "I don't get it."
He stood over her, watching her carefully. "You reminded me of a fairy is all. Your
hair, your build." He shrugged.
The big bad cop looked embarrassed. If she wasn't mistaken, he was blushing. It
made him seem more human somehow, less like a threat.
"I should go." Even as he said the words, he made no move to leave.
The heat that had been overshadowed momentarily by the fear surged back,
suffusing her body with a need so great she almost groaned. "What are you doing to
me?" She had to know if this was some kind of vampire thrall. Couldn't they do that?
But, then again, maybe he was a hypnotist. Her logical mind struggled to find
reasonable answers to explain what she'd seen.
"What do you mean?" His eyes narrowed as he studied her.
"This--" She broke off, not sure exactly how to put it without embarrassing herself.
She shifted uncomfortably against the cushions, trying to ignore the surge of heat
between her thighs. "This sexual need. It's not normal for me." His eyes widened at her
candor and a slow smile lit his face. The man really was incredibly handsome.
"I thought it was something you did. Maybe some fairy magic." The humor left his
face as he eased himself down onto the sofa beside her. "I feel it too. I've never felt this
way about a woman before."
"Really?" She knew she sounded skeptical, but really, he was absolutely gorgeous
and exuded a raw sex appeal that would instantly attract women. And she
was...well...ordinary at best, strange at worst. Not many men over the years had been
attracted to a slender, flat-chested redhead. "It's not some kind of trick or illusion?"
Would he even tell her the truth?
He reached out and gently pushed a short lock of hair from her forehead. "Really.
The power of it knocked me off guard and made me lose control. There's no excuse for
the way I frightened you." His eyes looked so sad, she wanted to cry. "You're the last
person in the world I want to fear me. I feel a connection to you." He picked up her
hand and placed it flat on his chest before laying his hand over her heart. "I don't know