Her accusation was like a punch in the gut, and Finn tried to keep his temper in check while he moved back, but it was in vain. Hurt by her belief that he could lay a hand on her, he decided to show the witch how dangerous he could be. Before she could react, he pushed her against the wall with enough force to make her teeth rattle and fisted his hand in her fiery hair, revealing the milky white column of her neck. His fangs on display, his voice rumbled like thunder as he looked deep into her eyes. “You believe me capable of hurting you, cursing you? You think so little of me?”
“You’re a vampire. It’s in your nature to seduce and dominate. The proof is what you’re doing right now.”
Her pulse, but a hair’s breadth away, shivered under her tender skin, almost distracting him. “So, you’re saying that apart from sending you to sleep, you think I used my powers over you to make you want me? That I’m doing it right now?” He said the words almost in disbelief. Her words baffled him, and despite his temptation to show her what a vampire was capable of, he slowly released his grip on her.
“You can say whatever you want, but there’s no magic involved, and I know you don’t fear me. Your pumping heart tells me so. I know the smell of fear, and that’s not what I detect on you. The arousal I smell is your own. Dismiss me if you want, but don’t lie to push me away. It’s useless anyway, as not even lies will make me leave. I gave you my word and intend to keep it, whatever you think, however you act. Think about what happened and how you’re reacting and feeling. That’s all I ask. It was consensual sex. I don’t take what isn’t offered to me and never will.”
And on those words, and despite the scent of her lust in the air, he left and closed the door behind him.
Chapter 9
Damn vampires, or more correctly, vampire. Unique, singular, and a fucking annoying one by the name of Finn O’Malley. She shouldn’t have allowed him to stay with her when she’d been weak and vulnerable. As he’d said, he may not have used his seduction powers on her, but just the way he’d been, his look, the warmth that lingered in his gaze, and his scent when he’d got close had been enough for her to succumb.
The danger of attraction and overflowing lust. She should’ve thought about it earlier and found a man, any man, to let loose with, and then Finn wouldn’t hold such fascination for her.
Anger led the way when she finished drying herself and went to her office. But slowly, a healthy dose of regret and contrition was added to the mix. She hadn’t treated Finn fairly, and she knew it. But it was difficult to separate her aversion for bloodsuckers and her undeniable attraction to Finn since she’d first met him. Part of her intrinsically trusted him; the other wanted to end his life. She knew he was frustrated by her behavior, but for Violet, it was slowly bringing her down. Especially since what had happened to her.
Seated in her office, she leaned back on the rickety chair and examined her papers.
From as far back as she could remember, she’d always had a passion for helping those in need. Since becoming orphaned at an early age, it had been her personal mission. Digging for information, investigating. Certain members of the High Council had noticed her little successes and had decided to give her some specific directives. Disappearances, thefts, unsanctioned encounters with humans, most of them required investigation.
When she checked though her notes, there was nothing that raised her suspicions or could implicate her personally in any way.
Violet opened her laptop and scanned her emails. Most of them were from before her kidnapping and already read. Nothing from her contact at the High Council, and nothing suspicious in an unopened one. It was another dead end.
So, why was she so happy? Why did she feel she was nearing closure on a special case?
With a sigh, she got to her feet to head to the kitchen but made a detour to her parents’ room. The door just ajar, she had kept it as it was the day they’d been killed. Apart from dusting, she couldn’t bear to touch anything.
Light and airy, it showed what her parents were like before they disappeared. For her, the thick floral comforter was like her mother, warm and enveloping. The furniture made of dark, sturdy wood, was like her father. The color made her think of her father’s hair color too.
Their scent was now faint, about to disappear. Swallowing hard, she stood in the middle of the room, looking around and unable to move. Here originated a wound that never healed and many questions that were still unanswered—her first case.
For as long as she could remember, she’d desperately searched in vain for the vampires who’d murdered her parents. Her only failure that all her other successes couldn’t overcome.
Even though she knew deep down that her parents would prefer to see her happy, to forget about the past and live her life, a piece of her heart that couldn’t forget still beat.
Immersed in her past, remembering her mother’s kindness and her father’s good sense, Violet sighed. Her temper had always been volatile and intense, and Finn had a talent for pouring fuel onto her blaze, knowingly so or not.
As Violet conjured him in her head, she felt him behind her, silent, unmoving.
Her eyes went to the image of her parents, her favorite one where they were hugging on the front porch of their house. Her dad had said it was the day they’d signed the papers to buy their home. She missed them so much.
“I’m sorry, Finn.” The words were out before she realized it. Although they surprised her,
