All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(23)

 

She pulled her handbag into her lap. "A peck on the cheek would be fine. Or a quick kiss when you say good-bye."

 

"What if I want more?"

 

Her cheeks reddened. "If you want to jump in the sack, that's your choice."

 

"I was only referring to a deeper, more satisfying kiss. But since ye're in a hurry to get me in bed—"

 

"I think you've had enough practice." She jumped to her feet and pulled on her coat.

 

He stood. "Thank you. This was verra educational."

 

"Right." She swung her handbag onto her shoulder. "Believe me, you'll do fine with the dating." She headed for the front door.

 

"That's good. I have two dates tonight."

 

She glanced back. "Two?"

 

Was she jealous? "The nights are long. I'll see you in the morning before sunrise. We still need to talk."

 

She shook her head as she reached for the doorknob. "There's nothing to talk about."

 

"I have questions that need answering."

 

"You're too nosy."

 

"If ye refuse to talk to me, I'll have to investigate you."

 

Her eyes flashed with anger. "Why can't you leave me alone?" She left, slamming the door behind her.

 

That was a good question. He had two dates tonight and plenty of phone calls he could return. But for some reason, he couldn't leave Toni alone. She filled his thoughts. He desired her, but it was more than lust. She was a mystery. A beautiful, clever mystery. And damned fun to flirt with.

 

He teleported to the fifth floor to shower and change. First he would go to Romatech to see Connor and begin his investigation. He had a few hours to kill before meeting his dates at the Horny Devils.

 

In the bathroom, he yanked the T-shirt off, then stared at the words Toni had scribbled. Could she really be jealous that so many women desired him? Or did he just want her to be jealous? One thing was certain. He was totally intrigued by their beautiful female guard.

 

Angus MacKay's cardinal rule repeated in the back of his mind. A guard must never become romantically involved with his charges. She was forbidden. She was mortal.

 

"Bloody hell." He tossed the T-shirt in the trash.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 5

 

 

 

 

Jedrek Janow moved slowly across his new office at the Russian-American coven house in Brooklyn. So far, so good. His electronic scanning device wasn't picking up any bugs. When he'd arrived Tuesday night, he'd found a few. He suspected there was a mole in his coven, but until he found the bastard, he'd keep checking the office every night.

 

Such disloyalty and incompetence would not be tolerated. As the new master, he'd made it clear last night that he expected more from this coven. Any member who wasn't willing to die to achieve his goals might as well die now. He'd punctuated his speech by staking a coven member who hadn't looked properly impressed.

 

That simple act had done wonders for everyone's motivation. The men had offered to hunt for him. The women had offered to screw him. All except one. The little brunette, Nadia, had looked terrified of him.

 

So of course he'd selected her. He smiled, remembering the brutal hour he'd spent with her. When he'd finally let her slink away in tears, he'd relished the certain knowledge that her fear of him had grown. She still had some spirit in her, though. He'd break it soon enough. It was a game he'd enjoyed many times over the centuries.

 

He finished scanning the room. It was clean, and it would stay that way now that he was in charge. The former coven masters had been idiots. Ivan Petrovsky had ended up betrayed and assassinated by his own coven. Katya Miniskaya had made a ton of money, only to squander it all in a pathetic attempt to kill a former lover who'd jilted her.

 

Neither Ivan nor Katya had recognized what was truly important. When Roman Draganesti invaded this building during the daytime to rescue one of his minions, Ivan had simply increased the number of day guards. The idiot! Draganesti had been awake during the day. The significance of that had completely evaded Ivan. And Katya.

 

A vampire who could stay awake during the day could rule the world. All vampires would have to bow to him for fear of being slaughtered during their daily death-sleep.

 

"Master?" Yuri knocked on the door. The door was open, but he was afraid to enter without Jedrek's permission.

 

Good. They were learning fast. Jedrek sat behind his desk and dropped the bug detector in a drawer. "Enter."

 

"I have the report and photos you requested."

 

"Show me."

 

Yuri set some digital photos on the desk. "This is Romatech and some of the Vamps who work there."