Читать книгу Immortal Danger - Cynthia Eden - Страница 10

The nurses and doctors on duty swarmed Maya the minute she shoved open the emergency room doors at Memorial Grove Hospital, and she realized too late that she probably looked like death.

The demon’s blood still covered her. It had dried, dark red, on her arms and she could feel a faint stiffness from the blood on her neck. The blood from her own wounds had soaked her shirt and coated her jeans. But at least the gashes weren’t hurting so much anymore.

Yeah, it was understandable that the folks thought they had a severe trauma patient on their hands.

If only they’d been there five years ago…

“I’m all right, I’m all right!” She snapped when they tried to force her onto a stretcher. “The blood’s not mine.” Well, not all of it, anyway.

But her comment made the hospital staff freeze. Then they began looking at each other, faces tense, fear flickering in their eyes.

“And where is the victim?” This came from one of the doctors. A young guy, with intense gray eyes and a stethoscope dangling around his neck.

Knowing the vampires, the “victim” was probably in lots of tiny pieces someplace. Not that she’d tell the pale doctor that.

She shrugged. “An ambulance picked him up.” Her eyes widened as she glanced at Adam. He’d followed her inside. Now, she deliberately pitched her voice low and threaded a note of worry in her words as she said, “Honey, I guess we beat them here.”

His lips pursed. “I’m sure the ambulance will be along any minute, darling.”

Just then, an ambulance lurched to a stop behind the glass entrance doors, sirens blaring, lights flashing. The nurses and doctors seemed to fly to the door.

Maya grabbed Adam’s hand and ran down the corridor with him. They took the stairs to the third floor, and by the time they exited the stairwell, Maya’s steps had begun to slow.

Damn but she was getting weak. She’d have to get some blood, and fast. She’d fed days before, and normally wouldn’t have to drink again for about a month. But a wound, well, that always changed things. The longer she bled, the weaker she became.

Her gaze darted to Adam’s throat and she licked her lips. Fresh blood would make her heal faster, but the way she was feeling, well, the hunger was just too strong.

She couldn’t risk losing control and taking too much.

She’d have to find another source. Lucky for her, she was in a hospital. Sources all around.

Sean’s room was on the right. The door stood partially open, and Maya paused for just a moment.

Adam watched her, that green gaze too intent. “Who’s in there?”

Day watcher. Friend. The guy she’d nearly gotten killed.

Her shoulders stiffened and she pushed open the door.

Machines beeped inside, a steady, insistent duh duh duh that seemed to rake across her brain. On the bed, his face nearly as white as the sheet, lay Sean.

His body was wrapped tightly in gauze and bandages. He’d been cut, slashed with claws and teeth, and left to bleed out on the street in front of her safe house.

Safe house. There was no safe place for her anymore. She’d have to find another secret shelter.

Very slowly, Maya crept toward the bed. Her hand lifted, hesitated over Sean’s disheveled mass of blond hair.

She could feel Adam behind her, watching, waiting.

Her fingers fisted. “You realize—this could be you.”

He didn’t respond.

Her gaze darted to the hospital tray near the bed. Someone had put flowers on the tray. Roses. Sean’s glasses were next to the vase. Lenses repaired now, black frames in perfect condition.

She’d gotten his glasses fixed yesterday. She wanted them there, waiting for him, when he woke up.

“The demon did this.” Not a question.

Maya nodded anyway and then she leaned in close to the bed. Her mouth was inches from Sean’s ear when she whispered, “I got him. I wanted you to know, I—I found him.” He won’t ever hurt you or anyone else, again.

For an instant, she thought she saw his eyelashes flutter and her breath caught in her chest. “Sean?”

His eyes didn’t open. Hadn’t opened, not for two days. At least he was out of the Intensive Care unit. The doctors had told her that he would get better.

Sean had barely escaped death.

Now it was time for him to stay the hell away from her.

Maya backed away from the bed. Turned her attention to Adam. “Take a good look at him,” she said, her voice hard. “Because this could happen to you. If we go after those vampires, and they attack—”

“I’m not worried about getting hurt.” His gaze didn’t drift toward the bed. The intense stare stayed locked on her. “You don’t need to warn me. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“Do you?” Heavy doubt coated the words.

“Yeah, I do.”

He’d been warned. Maya shrugged. “Sean was my day watcher. Had been for the last five years.” Despite what most people thought, sunlight couldn’t actually kill a vampire. That was just some crazy legend that had been circulating thanks in large part to Hollywood.

Bram Stoker had hit closer to the truth about vampires and daylight. Vamps were weaker during the day, basically only having strength equal to that of a human. Sure, they could still shift their fingernails into claws and drink from prey, but rousing the energy for those acts was a major drain. Because of that weakness, most of her kind had decided to rest in the daylight hours and hunt and play during the night.

Maya generally followed that rule. But she liked to have someone around, watching her back while she rested.

With Sean out of commission, she’d be on her own.

She cast one last look down at Sean’s still face. Shouldn’t have happened like this. She should have protected him.

Maya turned and left the room.

Adam didn’t speak until the door closed behind them. “You were avenging him. Earlier tonight, that’s what you were doing at the feeding room.”

Didn’t take a genius to figure that out. It wasn’t like she normally hung out in the feeding rooms. Those places, oh, shit, they were hellish. The humans, twisting, moaning, begging for the bites. It made her sick.

And the vampires…Hurting their prey. Enjoying the pain.

Monsters.

Since she was a vampire, Maya knew she fell in the same category.

Monster.

“We need to get a few things straight,” she told him, casually resting her arm against the wall. While her pose was relaxed, she was actually starting to feel a bit dizzy and she needed the support. “If I help you—”

“If?” He growled, shoulders stiffening.

She ignored the interruption. “Then I’m the one in charge, got it? You might think you know vampires because you’ve stumbled onto one or two in the dark and lived to spread your tales, but believe me, you have no idea how vicious some of those bastards can be.”

“Oh, I think you’d be surprised by what I know.”

Maya sucked in a quick breath, then lunged, grabbing Adam and shoving him against the wall on the other side of the corridor. “Shut up, Slick, and listen. Vampires kill. It’s what they do. Most don’t do it quickly, either. They like to play with prey. Make the humans cry, beg. Then the vamps rip them apart.”

Her right elbow pressed against his chest. Adam stared down at her, eyes glittering with anger. No, not anger. Rage.

“I’m strong enough to fight them,” she said. Well, usually. When she hadn’t been bleeding out all night. “They’d make a meal of you.”

She wanted him to understand. This wasn’t some kind of game. If they went after the ones who’d taken his niece, he could die.

He had to follow her orders. To. The. Letter.

His teeth clenched as he gritted, “I’ll do what you say.”

So he wasn’t pleased with that deal. Too damn bad. “I’ve taken on retrieval jobs in the past.” She hadn’t been helping anyone or doing the jobs out of the kindness of her heart. Because there wasn’t any kindness left in there.

She’d done it for the cash. Even vamps needed money. There was the little matter of needing money to pay for the safe houses.

Ah, money. “My fee is two hundred grand.”

“Done.”

Maya blinked. Okay, so she had a rich boy on her hands. Now for the second payment requirement. “And I’ll need your blood.” No sense in her having to go out and hunt for food when she had a perfect source right in front of her. If he wanted her help, well, then he’d have to bleed for it.

Now there was hesitation. And struggle. She saw it in his eyes.

Doesn’t like the idea of a vampire tasting him.

Not that she particularly blamed him. Back in her human days, the idea of a vampire tasting her blood hadn’t been on her top ten list, either.

But times had changed. She had to keep her strength up if she was going to be chasing vampires—especially considering the fact that those vampires would have access to fresh blood.

“How much?”

Maya lowered her arm, but didn’t step back. Even this close to him, she still couldn’t catch his scent. Damn odd. “As much as I need.” She didn’t plan to drain him, or even take enough to weaken him. “Don’t worry. You won’t even notice it’s gone.”

His head jerked in a brief nod.

Maya took that for the agreement it was. “You’ll have to stay with me,” she said, already making plans. “And I’ll need to know every detail about the vampires who took your—”

“Why do I have to stay with you?”

The man sure liked to interrupt. An annoying trait. “For your safety, of course.” He probably didn’t realize it, but just by going into that feeding room and talking to her, he’d already captured the attention of many in the vampire realm. If one of the vampires who’d taken his niece happened to find out about their connection, well, then they’d both be in for a bloody fight.

“Um, of course.”

She waited for him to argue, but he just said, “I’ll need to stop by my hotel. Pick up some things.”

Whatever. As long as they were fast, he could pick up his goodies.

She stepped back.

Adam rubbed his chest. “I’m surprised.”

“By what?” Maya’s head cocked to the right.

“I mean, I’m surprised you trust me enough to bring me into your home.”

Home. Right. She didn’t have a home. They were going to the last safe spot she knew, and the place was closer to a hovel than a home.

But she knew what he really meant. Taking him with her was a big step. Generally, she trusted two humans in the world, and one of them was currently unconscious back in his hospital room. But, once she’d tasted Adam’s blood, she’d be linked to him.

Trust wouldn’t be an issue then.

“Before I sleep, I’m gonna need to drink from you.” Her mouth grew dry at the thought. “After that, trust won’t really matter.” Because if she wanted to, then she could control him through their blood link.

He nodded once, curtly.

“Don’t worry. I promise, it won’t hurt…much.”

His gaze fell to her lips. Lingered.

A curl of heat rose in her stomach.

What the hell?

Maya shook her head. She was covered in blood. Weak with hunger. And the sun would be rising soon.

Time to go.

“Come on. I need blood.”

His hand lifted to his throat.

She growled. “Tempting. Very tempting. But if I drink from you now, I’ll drain you.” Since she hadn’t actually drained anyone dry, yet, she’d rather try another option.

They were in a hospital. Blood was nearby, right down the hall, actually. Just waiting for her.

Time to break into the blood bank.

Adam stalked the small interior of Maya’s safe house. The place was shabby, too small, and covered in dust.

She’d taken him there after their brief pit stop at his hotel. She’d driven too fast, speeding over the deserted streets and traveling past the edge of town.

This wasn’t the house she’d used when he’d watched her for the last few days.

This place was a dump.

But a very, very secure dump.

There were a grand total of three rooms in the house, but the whole place was wired with state-of-the-art security. Cameras outside the house. Motion sensors. Steel doors and windows with automatic locking shutters.

The little vampire obviously believed in being prepared.

He figured as far as backup houses went, it could be worse.

It could also be a hell of a lot better.

The shower stopped, the crashing of the water dwindling to a faint trickle. He heard a rustle of sound. Muttering. Then Maya opened the bathroom door and stalked toward him.

Adam stared at her, a bit surprised. She’d finally gotten rid of all the blood. Her smooth skin was shining, glistening with drops of water. She’d secured a white towel loosely between her breasts. The bottom of the towel barely skimmed her thighs. When she moved, the terry cloth shifted, revealing and concealing in tempting flashes.

Adam swallowed and realized with a bit of shock that he was getting aroused by a vampire.

When she’d touched him on the street, rubbing her body against his and drifting her fingers over his throat, he’d felt a stirring in his groin. When she’d put those red lips on his flesh and licked, his cock had jerked to attention.

Now, all it took was a flash of thigh, and the lust he felt stirred to life.

A vampire.

What was happening to him? This wasn’t part of his plan.

Screwing a vampire definitely hadn’t been on his agenda. No matter how soft her skin looked or how red her lips were or how—

Maya walked past him. Her bare shoulder brushed his arm, and the contact seemed to send an electric current through him.

She stopped at the bed. Dropped the towel and treated him to one fine view of her ass.

And of the black dragon tattoo that blew flames at the base of her spine.

He blinked.

His lust seemed to double.

Oh, he hadn’t been expecting that.

His hands lifted and he stepped toward her. The need to touch her suddenly burned through him. The lady obviously wasn’t the modest sort and if she hadn’t wanted him to play, she wouldn’t have stripped.

She had a good ass. Tight. Firm. Just the right size for his hands to grip and caress.

His fingers skimmed over her flesh.

Maya jerked on a T-shirt that he hadn’t even noticed lying on the bed. Then she spun around and caught his hand. “I don’t remember giving you permission to touch, Slick.”

He swallowed. His cock pressed hard against the edge of his zipper. “Thought the striptease was an invitation.”

She snorted. “When I give an invitation, you’ll know it.”

He clenched his teeth and fought to rein in his desire.

She pushed him back. Reached behind her, maneuvered a bit, and pulled up a thin scrap of lace.

Probably supposed to be some kind of underwear.

His control slipped, just a bit. Now it was his turn to grab her, to wrap his hands around the silken skin of her upper arms and to yank her against him. “You like teasing men?”

Her chin lifted. “This place is the size of a shoebox. It’s not like either one of us will get privacy while we’re here.”

But she could have changed in the bathroom. That walk across the room, the falling towel, the bare ass, it had all been designed to get to him.

To turn him on.

“Baby, if you wanna fuck, all you have to do is say so.”

Her mouth tightened. “I’ll remember that lovely little tidbit.”

Well, shit.

Adam drew a deep breath, smelled her. Damn flowers. How did she do it? No other vampire had ever carried a scent like—

“It’s time.”

He blinked.

“Dawn’s coming.”

Understanding hit. The little vampire wanted her drink.

She thought she could control him that way. Thought she’d be able to look into his mind, link with him.

Drinking from a human gave a vampire enormous power over the victim. Enough power to glimpse into the victim’s mind. To see memories. To touch dreams.

Once a vampire drank, well, she’d have control over the prey. She’d be able to get him to do whatever she wanted.

No wonder Maya wasn’t too worried about trust being an issue.

If he’d been human, well, she would have been right to think that way.

But since he wasn’t, all bets were off.

There’d be no control. Unless he was the one doing the dominating.

“You’ve probably heard talk about what happens when blood’s exchanged.”

Not really an exchange if he didn’t get to taste her. Not that he was particularly into that, but—

Her eyes met his directly. Blue, not hunter black. Not yet. “I’ll just take enough now for a bond. That way, if you get into any kind of trouble while we’re working together, I’ll know.”

If only he believed her.

Adam had never met a vampire who didn’t lie. He tilted his head back. Gazed up at the cracks in the ceiling and muttered, “Take your drink.” For all the good it will do you.

She rose against him. Her breath blew over his skin.

He should have been repulsed. Ashamed. He’d never given his blood to one like her before. Never offered his throat in submission.

Never been a fool.

Never been prey.

Until now.

His choices were nonexistent. If he wanted to find Cammie, Maya was his only hope.

“Relax. I told you, I not planning to hurt you.”

Actually, he believed the woman had said she wasn’t going to hurt him…much. The pain wasn’t an issue, though. He could deal with pain. He’d managed easily enough in the past.

But it burned in his gut that she was already lying to him. While he’d never been food for a vampire, he’d heard the stories from the lucky few who’d managed to survive. Ripping, slashing pain. Teeth that cut, severed.

Mental screams that were never voiced because by then, it was too late. The vampire was already in the prey’s head.

He remembered the foolish humans he’d seen at the feeding room. Eyes glazed over. Blood trickling down their throats. Had they tried to scream when they realized—too late—that it wasn’t all dark fantasies and passion? In that last second before the vampires took control, had they been afraid?

Her lips were on his throat now. Soft lips. Pressing gently. His hands clenched into fists. “Get it over with,” he growled.

“If that’s what you want.” A faint whisper.

He stared up at those cracks—like spiderwebs in the ceiling.

Her tongue swept over him, a warm, wet caress that caused his cock to jerk in reaction.

He was sick. No other explanation.

The edge of her teeth pressed into his neck. The pressure was hard, and he prepared for the piercing pain as—

Heat exploded through him, a blinding flash that shook his body. For a moment, he worried that he’d lost his control, worried that the beast was free, that it would destroy Maya—

The ecstasy hit him. Waves of pleasure, the feelings so intense he shuddered—and wanted more.

His hands locked around her. One hand held her head to him, forcing her mouth tight against his neck. The other hand clenched around the curve of her ass, pressing her against his swollen flesh.

No pain. They’d been wrong. There wasn’t pain, just—

Pleasure.

She could drink from him all day, he didn’t care. The feel of her mouth, sucking on his neck, licking, was one of the most erotic things he’d ever experienced.

Better than sex. Stronger, harder, so much bet—

Her head pushed against his hand. She wanted to stop.

No.

His fingers tightened. He could make her keep drinking. There was no danger to him. He could—

What am I doing?

His hands dropped from her. He stepped back.

And immediately missed the press of her mouth.

But the haze was clearing from his eyes. The lust still blazed through his body, the remembered pleasure seared his nerves, but at least his sanity was returning.

His fingers touched the wound on his throat. The skin was tender, but he knew the wound would heal soon.

His gaze locked on Maya’s face. She licked her lips, and her eyes slowly faded from black to blue.

Then that stare narrowed on him. “You don’t taste like a human.”

His heart was racing. Arousal, not fear. “Oh? And just what do I taste like?”

She didn’t answer. Just stared at him a moment longer as if trying to figure out some sort of puzzle.

Good luck with that one. He’d keep his secrets from her until he was damn good and ready to reveal them.

His cock was so hard and thick that he was pretty sure the zipper of his jeans might be leaving a permanent impression on his flesh.

He’d just gotten turned on by a vampire’s bite.

Impossible.

Or so he’d thought.

His gaze dropped to the front of Maya’s T-shirt. Her nipples poked against the fabric, sharp, tight peaks.

She’d been aroused by the exchange.

Good. So he wasn’t the only one being driven to the edge.

“We’ll talk about your niece at dusk. Figure out a game plan.” She was obviously dismissing him for the time being and ignoring the tension between them, and her own need.

Interesting.

He found he wasn’t quite as capable of ignoring the need. The lust pumped through his blood, driving a hunger he’d never expected to feel.

If her bite felt that good, he couldn’t help but wonder, how would it feel to fuck her?

She walked toward the wall. She punched in a series of codes, and a faint whur filled the air. There was a soft clank as the shutters locked into place.

“What are those for?” he asked, and his voice was harder, deeper than he intended. She had control. If she could fight the desire, so could he.

Maybe.

Control had never really been his strong suit.

He tried again, clearing his throat and deliberately not looking at the bare expanse of her pale legs. But he bet they’d feel good wrapped around him. “I thought the sun didn’t hurt you.” He knew it didn’t. He’d once tied a vampire to a tree and waited for the sun to rise and the fire to start.

Nothing had happened.

Lucky for him, it had been easy enough to start a fire another way.

“The shutters don’t just keep out the sun,” she said, yawning a little and heading toward the bed. “They keep the monsters out, too. They’re made of reinforced steel. It’d take someone with a hell of a lot of strength—more strength than a vamp has—to get past ’em during the daylight.”

The lady sure believed in being prepared.

She pushed back the covers, climbed into the bed. Then she threw a pillow at him. Hard. “You should fit on the sofa in the den.”

The den? His fingers curled into the lumpy pillow. Since when did the place have a den? There was a bathroom the size of a closet, a miniscule bedroom, and he’d been pretty sure when they entered the house they’d walked through a kitchen.

Huh. Now that he thought about it, he did remember seeing a rather ragged green couch in the kitchen.

And there was really no way he was going to fit on it. “I think I’d prefer the bed.”

She stretched out. “Um, I’m sure you would.” Another yawn, one she made no attempt to cover. “But you’re getting the sofa. Or the floor. Your choice.”

What a fine choice it was.

“There’s food in the cabinets, if you get hungry. Pay to…keep it stocked.” Her eyelids began to lower.

“Uh, Maya?” Surely this wasn’t it. The great vampire was just going to curl up now and go to sleep?

And he was going to stay up, horny, all damn day long?

What about the bite? Did she think they were linked now, that she could trust him?

A long sigh filled the room. “Slick, I’ve been hunting all night. I killed a demon, got my body ripped open, and had to deal with you.” She drew out the last, making it seem as if his presence had been the most stressful part of her night.

Adam frowned.

“Now, I’m tired, and apparently, I’ve got one hell of a hunt planned for tomorrow.”

But he hadn’t even told her all the details about Nassor and his pack yet.

“So I’m going to bed.”

“You need to—”

Her eyes closed. “We’ll talk tomorrow.” Her voice had started to slur.

Well, damn. The vampire was dismissing him.

Just curling up and going to sleep.

He spun and stomped toward the door.

“Brody.” No sleepiness in her voice now.

Glancing back over his shoulder, he found her stare trained on him.

“I’ve got you in me now. Got your taste.” Her eyes were wide open as she told him, “We’re linked. Don’t think about lying to me or betraying me. I told you that I’d help you find the girl, and I will.”

But only after she’d gotten her beauty sleep.

Adam bit back his impatience. Just because he didn’t need sleep didn’t mean that she could stay awake and be strong.

Even the undead had to rest.

He gave a curt nod.

“Turn on me, and I’ll kill you.” Her eyes flashed black for just the briefest of moments. “Believe me, if you even think about betraying me, I’ll know.”

No, she wouldn’t. She had his blood, yeah, and though she didn’t realize the fact yet, it would give her more strength than she’d ever possessed.

Maya would need that strength in the nights to come.

Yet other than the physical power the blood gave her, there was no other connection. If he wanted, he could let her into his mind. But only if he allowed it.

The vampire kept applying human rules to him.

A serious mistake. Human rules had never applied to him.

Not in all the centuries of his existence.

“Sleep well, vampire. You can trust me this day.” For the day, she could. After that, well, they’d just have to see.

Her gaze bored into him and he knew she was trying to test their blood link. He could feel her power stirring in the air around him. Deliberately, he projected a calm, steady presence back to her.

She nodded her head slowly. Settled back against the bed and closed her eyes, apparently satisfied that she didn’t have to worry about him while she slept.

Adam stared at her, emotions, needs churning in him. Maya Black wasn’t quite what he’d expected.

She was making him feel. Making him want.

Not an ideal situation for one of his kind. Because when creatures like him wanted something, well, they took it.

After all, they were the strongest of the beasts that roamed the land.

Yeah, if he wanted something, he took it.

And, usually, he killed anything that got in his way.