Be Still My Vampire Heart(70)

 

"Then ye can work for me. Whatever yer salary is, I'll double it."

 

Her mouth dropped open, then snapped shut. "That's not the point."

 

"Actually, it is. Ye could help us find Casimir, and that's a damned sight more important than any work ye're doing for Sean Whelan. What is he accomplishing? He's wasting everyone's time, hunting for his daughter when she's perfectly safe and happy." His eyes narrowed. "Yer heart is pounding. I can hear it."

 

She gritted her teeth. "I don't need the play-by-play commentary on my bodily functions."

 

"I only mention it because ye're struggling with yerself, and 'tis no' necessary."

 

She crossed her arms. "You think I should just give in to you. Live with you, work for you, and do everything your way."

 

"'Twould be easier, aye."

 

Caveman! It was too much like total surrender, and she couldn't do it. "I have my own life to live."

 

"But yer mission is to protect mortals and kill evil vampires. In the end, yer mission is the same as mine." He took her gently by the shoulders. "Ye doona see how alike we are?"

 

"No. What I see is you would be the boss and I would be the employee. You're the immortal vampire, and I'm the lowly mortal. You're faster and stronger than me. Good heavens, you even own a castle, while I have a little rundown cottage."

 

"Ye want a bigger house?"

 

"No! I want to… feel more equal. There's an imbalance of power between us that I cannot—"

 

"Ye think I would take advantage of you? I have sworn to protect you."

 

"It's too fast." She pulled away. "A week ago, I hated all vampires and I was slaying them. I've only recently come to trust you and… like you. I can't… live with you."

 

"Are ye ashamed of me?"

 

"No! Not at all." She was so attracted to his strength and power, but at the same time, she knew she would be completely overwhelmed by him. "I have to protect myself."

 

"From what?" he shouted. "I have sworn never to harm you."

 

She closed her eyes briefly. "I know you mean that, but it doesn't change the fact that we're from two different worlds. There's no future for us."

 

"To hell with the future. We're alive now."

 

"And you'll still be alive a hundred years from now."

 

His jaw shifted as he ground his teeth. "Ye reject me because of what I am?"

 

Good God, she hated to hurt him. "You're the most wonderful man I've ever met. But I need to protect myself."

 

He wandered to the counter and finished his drink. He kept his back to her, his hands fisted on the countertop. "This changes nothing. I have sworn to protect you, and I will.

 

Where do ye wish to go?"

 

A heaviness dragged her heart down. It was better this way. Better to end it now before she was completely lost. "If the Malcontents figure out my name, they'll go to my apartment, so I think Austin's place will be safer. If you could teleport me there, I'll be fine on my own."

 

"I'll stay till shortly before dawn." He turned to face her. "Doona worry. I'll stay in the living room, watching the telly. Ye'll never know I'm there."

 

He must be pouting, Emma decided. He'd been so quiet. But he'd done everything she'd asked. He'd teleported her to her apartment so she could pack more clothes. Then he'd brought her to Austin's apartment. He'd even insisted on paying for the Chinese food she'd had delivered.

 

He sat quietly on the couch. She turned on the telly and found some old sitcom reruns. He didn't object. She sat on the other end of the couch. The remote control rested on the cushion between them, unclaimed by either of them. She slanted a look his way every now and then. He wasn't laughing at the funny parts. His jaw was set, his brow furrowed.

 

He was so still, you would think he was dead. She groaned inwardly. Not quite true. She could sense the energy in him, straining to explode.

 

By four-thirty A.M., she was yawning. She covered her mouth when a big yawn overwhelmed her.

 

"Ye doona need to stay awake," he said softly. "I'll be leaving soon."

 

She rose slowly and stretched. "I guess I'll take a hot bath and go to bed."

 

"All right." He picked up the remote and turned on the Weather Channel.

 

"I'm sorry we don't get DVN here."

 

"This is fine." He turned down the volume to a whisper. Apparently, with his super hearing, he could still hear. "I have employees around the world. I like to know what kind of weather they're facing."