“I’ll expect you back here tomorrow night toact as my consort one last time,” Corbin said, frowning. “And thistime do not be late.”
“I’ll be here,” I said grimly. “I can’twait to get it over with.”
Then, without a backward glance, I lefthim.
Chapter Fourteen
When I walked into Corbin’s office the nextday, just as dusk was beginning to fall, I saw a strange girl withcreamy cafe au lait skin and striking green eyes walking out of it.Her pierced lip and all black clothes screamed Goth chick but theaura of power I felt tingling around her like static electricitymade me think she was something more. She was human…but notcompletely. Who was she and what did she have to do with Corbin? Ifelt an instant zing of jealousy that made me mad at myself.
The girl gave me a furious glare from herjade green eyes as we passed but I refused to drop my gaze. I canstare down vampires—I’m not afraid of Goths. Even ones that aremore than human.
When I finally got past her and into theoffice, I saw Corbin tucking something into the breast pocket ofhis tailored suit jacket.
“Hello, Addison. I’m glad you’ve come ontime tonight,” he said blandly, looking up.
“I told you I wouldn’t miss it,” I snapped,giving him a glare. “Who was that?” I jerked my head in thedirection the Goth girl had gone.
“A business acquaintance. No one you need tobe concerned about,” he said coolly. He frowned but then theexpression on his face changed to one of concern. “Are you allright? You look…tired tonight.”
“Thanks a lot, Corbin. Like I don’t knowthat “tired” is a nice way to say you look like shit.”
“You are lovely as always,” he said quietly.“I was simply worried about your health.”
“My health is fine. I’m just a little sleepdeprived, that’s all.” I had no intention of telling him exactlywhy I’d gotten so little sleep the night before… it wouldgive him too much satisfaction.
After leaving his daytime resting place, Ihad managed to wait until I got back to my car to cry but once Istarted, it took a long, long time for me to stop. I hadcursed myself for a fool and told myself that nothing between uswas ever going to be possible. That I didn’t want it to bepossible. Corbin was a self-absorbed, arrogant jerk and hewas a vampire. Why should I give a damn about him or what hethought or said or did?
But no matter how many ways I tried to makemyself feel better, I just couldn't help remembering the look inhis eyes when he’d told me to get out. Couldn’t help feeling likeI’d killed something fragile and beautiful that was in the processof being born between us.
When I had finally made it home and gottento sleep, I dreamed over and over of a big black boot grinding acrimson rose bud into the dust. That was bad enough but then thedream changed to a girl with red hair crying for her lost baby.Poor Janet! I thought. I went to her, wanting to comforther, to put my arms around her and tell her everything would be allright. But when she looked up…she was me.
I had woken up in a cold sweat and couldn’tgo back to sleep, though it was hours until my alarm was set to gooff. Add that to the fact that I’d had to pull a rare day shift inorder to be off for the stupid Roderick thing that night and I wasabsolutely exhausted.
“Well, as I said, I’m glad you are here ontime,” Corbin said, apparently deciding to drop the subject of my“health”.
“And why is that? Are we having a freakingcocktail party before we commence the ass kissing for Rodericktonight?” I demanded.
“I wouldn’t call it a party,” he said. “Butyes, we are having a kind of gathering and since it intimatelyinvolves your friend Taylor, I thought you might like to witnessit.”
Instantly I was on high alert.
“What about Taylor? What are you doing toher?”
“I’m not doing anything to her—I amensuring that she has someone to protect and take care of her, atleast until the time—if that time ever comes—that she can take careof herself.”
I bristled on my friend’s behalf. I knewthat Taylor was a crappy vampire but there was no way I would admitthat to Corbin.
“She manages just fine. Just let her moveback in with me and I’ll take care of her.”
“No.” He frowned at me sternly. “Absolutelynot. Didn’t I say she would get no more of your blood?”
“What do you care if she takes my bloodafter Roderick leaves?” I demanded.
“I told you it will not happen again. Taylorwill not drink from you again. Nor will any othervampire.”
I put a hand on my hip. “You’re gettingawfully possessive for somebody who’s basically just a businesspartner.”
“I am your master—at least for now.” Hiseyes blazed silver. “And I have put out the word in Tampa that noother vampire is to touch or taste you in any way. To do so meansdeath and I will not hesitate to enforce that penalty.”
“So you put out the word to every vamp onthe street that you own me? Thanks a lot, you big asshole,”I stormed. “What do you think that’s going to do to my professionalreputation?”
“I don’t care what it does to yourreputation as long as it keeps you safe,” he replied.
“Why you…” I couldn’t come up with a badenough word to call him. While I was sputtering angrily, someoneknocked on his office door.
“Master?” came a voice I recognized asbelonging to Corbin’s cute-as-a-button vampire office assistant—theone who was so confused about the idea of a “booty call”.
“Yes, come in,” Corbin said in a bored tone.Obviously he was done discussing the “do not touch” order he hadpractically stamped on my forehead for the rest of the vampirecommunity.
The little curly-headed
