All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(30)

 

Bloody hell. He paced away. He had to stop thinking about her that way. He'd already decided he wanted a Vamp woman who was honest, loyal, intelligent, and pretty. Toni wasn't a Vamp. And he had serious doubts about her honesty and loyalty.

 

But she was very intelligent and pretty. Not to mention intriguing. She seemed to ignite all his senses at once, and it was such an intoxicating feeling, he found himself looking for any excuse to be with her.

 

He stopped. Was that why he felt this compulsion to investigate her? He mentally reviewed his suspicions. No, his questions were legit. It was his attraction to her that was way out of line. She was a guard. She was forbidden.

 

When the alarm went off, he zipped to the bedside table and turned it off.

 

With a little moan, she stretched. Her eyes opened.

 

"Good morning, lass."

 

She gasped and pulled the covers up to her chin. She quickly looked around the room, then focused on him. "What are you doing here?"

 

"We need to talk."

 

"Now?" She squinted at her door, still closed and locked. "How did you get in here?"

 

"I teleported in. Yer door wasna damaged."

 

"That's not the point. You invaded my privacy."

 

He shrugged one shoulder. "Do ye no' look at me when I'm in my death-sleep?"

 

"That's my job."

 

"And investigation is my job. I have a few questions regarding yer employment application. First off, I noticed ye dinna give yer complete first name."

 

She gave him an annoyed look. "I have to go to the bathroom. And you need to do your vanishing act." She slipped out of bed and waved a hand at him. "Hocus pocus, disappear."

 

He stepped back as she strode to the bathroom, and he couldn't help but notice how her breasts jiggled slightly beneath her red T-shirt. No bra. With his superior vision, he could detect the exact location and shape of her nipples. When she passed him, he turned to watch her from behind. Her pajama bottoms were red with little black and white penguins. They fit snugly around her hips and rounded bottom. When she paused at the bathroom door, he quickly lifted his gaze so she wouldn't catch him ogling her.

 

She glared at him. "Why are you still here?"

 

"We havena talked yet."

 

With a groan, she entered the bathroom, then shut the door in his face. He paced about the room. He didn't want to question her through the door. He needed to see her face to help him decide if she was being truthful. He glanced at the clock. He didn't have much time before the sun reached the horizon.

 

He raised his voice so she could hear him. "I wanted to thank you for the wee practice session. I felt more comfortable talking to my dates."

 

No answer.

 

He moved close to the door and heard the water being turned on. "The ladies were verra pleasant to talk to. I enjoyed their company, but…it just wasna right. There was something missing, some…je ne sais quoi."

 

"Chemistry," she said, then muttered a curse. "Idiot. Don't talk to him," she whispered to herself.

 

He grinned. "After my dates, I came back here to go through the phone messages. I found three recordings where the ladies actually admitted to being Vamps. So I called them back and arranged to meet them tonight."

 

No answer.

 

There was a brushing sound, followed by some spitting. He figured she was brushing her teeth. "Ye'll be happy to know that I phoned all the mortals who called during the day. I told them I was verra sorry, but I was already taken."

 

The door opened, and she gazed at him, her pretty green eyes wide with surprise. "You called all of them?"

 

"Aye. Some of them werena home, so I left a message."

 

"There were hundreds of them."

 

"I know. It took me several hours." He rubbed his whiskered chin. "I've been told recently that I'm a rude, arrogant snob, so I'm trying to mend my evil ways."

 

She snorted. "Too late." She walked past him to the dresser and removed some undies from a drawer.

 

Blue and lacy, he noted. "I left a new recording on the answering machine, so anyone who calls today will hear that I'm no longer available."

 

"Oh, that was a good idea."

 

"Aye." He felt a sudden pull as if a vacuum cleaner was sucking out his energy. The sun must be nearing the horizon. "I'd like to discuss yer employment application."

 

"I filled it out truthfully." She planted a hand on her hip. "And I'm insulted that you're questioning that."

 

"I'm no' saying ye lied." He yawned as he moved toward her.