Vampires Are Foreve(23)

Nodding, he raised the phone to his ear. “We’re on our way. Make sure there are tickets waiting for both of us.”

Thomas didn’t wait for Bastien to respond, but then snapped the phone closed and turned away to head through the dining room.

Inez hesitated, and then moved quickly back into the bedroom to snatch up her purse before moving more slowly—and cautiously—back through the hall and into the dining room, holding the cross out in front of her as she walked into the living room. Spotting him by the love seat, she positioned herself by the door of the suite and silently watched as he gathered his knapsack and shoved his binder and pen into a side pocket, then moved to join her. The moment he headed in her direction, she skittered backward, reaching behind her with her free hand to open the door. She then preceded him out into the hall, never turning her back to him.

“You can stop flashing that at me,” Thomas said calmly. “You’re kind of drawing attention holding it up like that.”

Inez quickly glanced in both directions to see that there was a maid and two couples in the hall, all staring at them curiously, and did lower the cross closer to her chest. She didn’t release it, however, but held it tightly in her sweaty hand in case he suddenly pounced.

Heaving out a sigh, Thomas gestured for her to precede him down the hall. “After you.”

“No,” Inez said, and then cleared her throat and said more firmly, “After you.”

Thomas shrugged and led the way to the elevator. She followed at a safe distance, watching narrow-eyed as he nodded at the first couple they passed in the hall. Inez hardly even glanced toward them herself, her attention wholly focused on Thomas as he led her to join the older couple waiting by the elevator.

“That’s a lovely cross, dear.”

Inez glanced nervously to the older woman who had spoken. She managed a weak smile and then glanced sharply back to Thomas as she said, “It was blessed by the pope.”

Thomas raised an eyebrow at the claim and asked with interest, “Which one? The new one or the one before him?”

Inez hesitated, wondering if one had been holier than the other, and then lied and covered her basis by saying, “Both.”

Thomas gave a little laugh and shook his head, murmuring, “It’s going to be a long trip,” as the doors opened and he followed the older couple on board the elevator.

Inez followed, thinking that he was right. She felt like she’d aged ten years in the last few minutes. It was going to be a long flight indeed.

They rode down to the main floor and crossed the lobby in silence. It wasn’t until Inez had followed Thomas into the back of a taxi that he spoke again, and then it was to mutter, “We’ll have to buy you some perfume when we get to the airport.”

Inez’s eyes sharpened on him suspiciously. “Why?”

“Because I can smell your fear, Inez, and it’s making me want to kiss and comfort you,” he admitted easily.

Inez’s eyes widened, her mind dragging up memories of his arms around her, his mouth on hers, the passion coursing through her as he’d kissed and caressed her and then the overwhelming pleasure and excitement as he’d bit her. She was hard-pressed not to slide across the seat and plaster herself to him as the memories assaulted her. She’d enjoyed his touch and even his bite until she’d realized he was biting her.

Shaking away the memories, Inez focused on him again, suspecting he was somehow putting those thoughts and sensations in her mind, somehow making her want him. This was a much more dangerous trip than she’d first realized.

“London Gatwick Airport,” Thomas instructed the driver and Inez watched him silently as she sank back in her seat. When she saw him inhale, his nose quivering slightly, she frowned and wondered if he still smelled fear, or if he could differentiate that from the desire that had shot through her as she recalled their earlier embrace. When she saw the small smile that tugged at his lips and noted that his eyes—normally a beautiful silver blue—now flared more silver, as if filled with fire, she felt herself blush, sure he had picked up on her desire.

Her eyes widened with alarm when Thomas eased a little closer on the seat until his hand brushed lightly against the side of her upper thigh. The light touch immediately sent up a clamoring in her body that was alarming in its strength.

“Get your soulless butt back on the other side of the seat,” she hissed, glancing nervously at the back of the driver’s head. Surely he wouldn’t try to bite her right here with the driver in front of them?

“Sorry,” he murmured. “I thought…”