Dying to Date(30)
Opening the door, she found Tarian standing with his back to her. She paused and took the opportunity to study him. Tension knotted in his tight shoulders. He must have had time to exchange his regular suits for more casual attire before setting out after her but still, she appreciated the speed at which he’d managed to come to her aid.
You’re a means to an end to him, she told herself. Even if that end is in everyone’s best interests. It doesn’t change the facts.
She couldn’t trust him. Ever.
“I’m ready,” she called.
He turned to her, but there was no pleasure in his eyes. “Then we should get going.”
“I’ll drive,” she offered. “You couldn’t have gotten much sleep.”
He inclined his head. The fact that he hadn’t argued told her just how exhausted he must be. She’d slept the day away while he’d put a safe buffer between them and Dominic. Given that he’d spent the night before awake with the necromancers, he must be asleep on his feet.
Together they left the run down motel in wary harmony.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had to drive herself anywhere. Not only was Manhattan not exactly conducive to owning a car, but she had a driver whenever there was a need. Ignoring the whole trying-to-avoid-a-group-of-zealous-necromancers thing, she rather enjoyed the freedom of the wide open Arizona roads. While Tarian slept in the passenger seat, she’d spent hours flying down the dark pavement. There was definitely something to be said for racing through the desert on empty roads, feeling like the last people on earth.
However, her joy at the open road shriveled when her companion came to. Melissa glanced at the clock on the dashboard, wondering if she could use the dawn as an excuse to pull over for the night and escape the confines of the small car. But the traitorous timepiece showed at least two hours before she could justify stopping for the day.
“No trouble?” Tarian asked, pushing himself up in the seat.
“No sign of your criminal cousins,” she replied. “Looks like we’re still ahead of them.”
Silence stretched, and it was anything but comfortable.
“You made good time tonight,” he offered, glancing out the window.
“Not like there are many cops to catch me in these parts.”
“If we continue to make such speed we might shave a few hours off our estimate.”
Her hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Excellent news.”
“Still, it’s good to know that—”
“Stop,” Melissa cut in. “Just…stop.” She drew in a deep breath out of habit as she tried to figure out how to best phrase her request. “I can’t sit here and chitchat with you as if nothing has happened,” she said.
His head turned slowly to look at her. His powers might allow him to sense the changes in her body, but that advantage worked both ways. Melissa counted the steady heartbeats echoing in her ears.
“I regret you were drawn into this.” His words broke the uncomfortable silence.
She glanced at him before looking back at the road. “Your fault.”
“I know.”
“What, did you walk into Fated Match and decide it was a great day to screw with a vampire’s life?”
“No.”
“Was I your way of taking your pound of flesh from the vamp community?”
“Didn’t even cross my mind.”
Her grip on the steering wheel tightened. Those words had sounded so sincere, and the weakest part of her wished they were. “Then why?” she said. “Why did you pursue me?”
His gaze never wavered from her. Melissa felt its weight like a physical touch as she waited for him to respond.
“You won’t believe a thing I say,” he told her, his voice soft in the quiet of the car. “Any answer I offer will be dismissed. Tell me I’m wrong.”
What had she expected? That he start waxing poetically about being struck by her beauty and just having to have her, despite the barrier of their species? Her life rarely worked out so perfectly. No, there was more to the story than lust, if he’d even been serious about his attraction to her.
He’s right. She’d distrust whatever answer he gave her. It was a useless line of inquiry. Melissa shook her head, knowing just days ago she would have trusted him so easily because she’d foolishly hoped he was something he could never be.
“There’s a twenty-four hour convenience store ahead,” she said, as they drove through one of the small towns that had peppered their journey. “We should stop for supplies.”
She didn’t bother waiting for his reply, merely slowed to a halt outside the brightly lit store. Pushing from the car, she inhaled the desert night air. She needed a break. Trying to figure Tarian out was giving her a headache.