The Quest (26 page)

He shrugged, and while keeping his gazed locked on me, he pressed the bottle to his lips. With each swallow, his Adam’s apple bobbled. By the third gulp, his eyes enlarged and he lowered the beer. My subtle hint must have sunk into his head.

“Are you…thirsty?” He rubbed the back of his hand over his mouth.

The way he asked and the serious look on his face indicated he understood my need. In a way, I found his response entertaining.

“Don’t worry. It’s manageable,” I said. “I can go without.”

Jackson set his bottle down, clinking the glass on the counter. “Are you sure?” His eyes seemed to hold a hint of sadness. Or maybe it was concern. “I haven’t been a donor before, but for you, I would make an exception.”

Laughter threatened to spill from me. I held back, grinned and gave him a stopping signal with my hand. “Really, I’ll be fine.”

“Are you going to be stubborn about this too?” He stepped closer.

My amusement faded, having had enough of the derogatory comments. “Look, I don’t bite unless it’s an emergency. This isn’t one.”

His brows drew closer. “Then how do you satisfy your thirst?”

“Boss uses a needle to withdraw it from Jonas. The blood is stored in vials for when we needed.”

His eyes lifted as recognition settled in. “Ah, you inject it intravenously. Clever. No bite marks to worry about then.” He smiled.

No bite marks and taking blood in measured doses helped keep me on a regular diet. Vampires didn’t require large quantities to survive, but the way the fluid rejuvenated the body and mind made the elixir very appealing. Sinking fangs into a vein and letting the blood flow fluidly encouraged the vampire to take more when only a small amount was necessary to survive. Boss had warned me weeks ago about the effects of biting, but I’d found this out recently when I’d bit Jonas to heal my wound from the garguman. Thankfully, I managed restrain myself, but I didn’t know if I could do it again and I was not in the mood right now to test my self-control.

“Just tell me where I can clean up and sleep.”

Jackson stripped off his shirt, revealing ripples of solid muscles along his chest. Unable to resist the appeal of his fine torso, I stared. He had a patch of light brown hair in the center and delectable brown nipples. My mouth watered as I thought about sucking on them. Damn, he had an exquisite, strong body.

He set his shirt on the counter. “Why do you make everything so difficult?” He took a step closer.

I backed away as heat rushed to my head and between my legs. I couldn’t decide if I was angry or aroused. My body opted for both.

“I told you, I’ll be all right.” My upper gum began to ache. Licking my lips, I felt two sharp points among my flat teeth. Still, I couldn’t look away from his muscular torso.

He backed me out of the kitchen. “What’s the matter? Afraid of a little wolf blood?”

I held up my hand to him and stopped. “I’m not doing this.”

He took my hand and pressed it to his chest, the edge of my hand close to touching his nipple. His body felt warmer compared to any man I’d ever touched. Beneath the sold muscle and layer of skin a vibrant heart thumped.

“Are you going to tell me you don’t want to taste what I’m offering?”

I dragged my wide eyes from his chest up to his handsome face. I couldn’t lie to him. I did want to taste him and not just his blood. I wanted to roll my tongue over his chest and along other places of his robust body.

“I’m offering a donation to you. I know you won’t hurt me.”

I swallowed hard. He tempted me in the worst way with his body and heated blood. My two desires were powerful, especially combined. Could I control myself if I gave in to my needs?

Sweat surfaced above my brow and the back of my neck. “Jackson, I–”

He pressed his lips to mine and backed me against a door. My hip bumped into a knob, and I arched my back. Jackson seized his opportunity, curling his arm around me and forcing me to touch his body. I let out a soft whine as his tongue dove deep inside my mouth. He tasted of beer, smelled of rain and the outside, and felt incredibly hot. My body warmed and thrived with lust. He sucked on my tongue, slid his hand down my rear and pressed me closer to his groin. The hard muscle beneath his jeans encouraged me to partake in more pleasure. He was a temptation I could no longer resist.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and clung to him. He flicked my tongue playfully. When he rubbed it over one of my canines, it took all my effort not to bite him.

“What do I have to do to get you to bite me?” He nuzzled his nose down my cheek before he kissed my chin. I tilted my head back and ran my fingers through his soft hair as the kisses continued down. “Do I have to bite first?”

Excitement zinged through me, aroused by his suggestion. I kissed his ear. “Don’t tease me.”

Jackson and I had our differences, just as much as I did with Boss. Though I tried to hold myself back from Jackson in the past, I couldn’t anymore. Sure, we’d come close to having sex weeks ago, but this time was different. Maybe my thirst played a part. Maybe all the stress and anxiety had taken a toll on my defenses. Maybe all the tension between us intensified our needs. Whatever the reason for my lack of resistance, I wanted him so badly I was ready to have an orgasm from his mere touch and kiss.

His warm breath brushed over me. If he nipped me, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from biting him. All my self-control would fly out the window in an instant. The good news–he was stronger than any human was. Perhaps the werewolf could handle me. Oh, the thought of sex with him made my lower muscles tighten. He pressed his lips to my neck. The anticipation of his teeth touching me intensified my desire to the point I thought I’d burst.

Then he jerked his head and stepped away from me. A millisecond ticked by before someone knocked on the door.

Heart beating fast and mind hazy with lusty thoughts, I stared at Jackson with a look of pure confusion. “Who–”

“I won’t hurt you,” a male voice said. It sounded familiar.

Jackson and I froze, staring at each other.

“I came to talk. If I wanted you dead, I would have killed you at the dump.”

Chapter 18

Jackson’s stiff body faced the door. He balled his hands tightly, causing the muscles in his arms to bulge. I stepped to his side.

“Who is it?” He mouthed rather than spoke.

“The vampire who took my memories and left me at the dump,” I answered softly.

“Don’t forget, I saved your life the other night,” said the vampire on the other side of the door.

I clenched my jaw, unhappy with his subtle reminder. What was he doing at the home of Jackson’s brother? How did he find me?

Jackson bent and yanked up the tail end of his jeans. He removed something he had strapped to the inside of his leg and straightened. I peered close at his large hand, trying to see what he had, but from the side I didn’t have a clear view and the object was too small. He made a clicking noise and aimed his arm at the door. The object was a tiny gun.

“I came to talk,” the vampire said.

Jackson and I locked eyes. The visit by our guest took me by complete surprise, and from the tight look on Jackson’s face, he wasn’t taking any chances.

“I think we should let him in,” I said.

He directed his gaze at the door. “This could be very dangerous.”

Dangerous didn’t begin to explain what we were about to do. The gun wouldn’t have much of an impact, if any, if the vamp knocked down the door or decided to attack. Jackson had superhuman strength, as did I, which might benefit us. Two against one seemed like better odds against a vampire, unless he was one of the old ones. In any event, I had my dagger to use if I needed it, and that would quickly put an end to his existence.

“I give you my word, I mean no harm,” the vamp said.

His word had zero meaning to me, considering he took my memories and left me among the dead. Why would I ever take his word to heart?

Jackson glanced at me, and I nodded. Better to grant him entrance than for him to force his way in, which I suspected he would.

“Stay behind me.” Jackson lowered his gun and began unlocking the door. After he finished, he jerked the door wide open and stepped back with his gun pointed at the vampire’s head.

The tall stranger slowly stepped into the entryway, his gaze unwavering from Jackson. He wore dark pants and a chocolate colored leather jacket. His hair, a touch darker than his jacket, fell gracefully over the front of his shoulders. He lifted his arm toward the door. “May I close this?” He shut it without waiting for an answer.

As Jackson backed up, I moved closer to him, staying at his side. Several feet of distance separated us from the vampire. If he chose to attack, he’d have to make a big leap to reach us.

The vamp raked his dark eyes down Jackson. “Did I interrupt something?” A sly grin tweaked his lips.

“How did you find me?” I asked, changing the subject.

“I have my ways.”

“Explain them,” Jackson said, pointing the gun at the vamp’s chest.

“You can put your weapon down. You should know it wouldn’t stop me.”

Jackson lifted the gun higher, aiming it at the vampire’s head. “If I put a few bullets in your head, it will slow you down enough for us to get away.”

The vampire gave Jackson a chilling glare. “I’ll still find her. I
always
do.”

“How? I’m not wearing any tracking device.”

“You’re right. You’re not wearing one.” The vamp smirked.

For a few seconds, I chewed on his words. If I wasn’t wearing a tracking device, how could he follow me? Was I carrying another bug with me somewhere?

“My dagger?”

The vamp gave a lazy blink of his eyes and a shake of his head.

“Where is it?” Jackson took a step forward. “Where did you hide it?”

My heart picked up extra beats. Tension thickened. If Jackson drew too close, the vamp could attack him. I really didn’t want to be in the middle of a nasty battle between a werewolf and a vampire. Sure, I wanted answers from the thief, but I wanted them without a fight.

“Why don’t we take this down a notch,” I suggested and placed my hand on Jackson’s bare shoulder. “He came to talk. Let’s talk.”

“Fine,” Jackson said. “But he’s not leaving until he tells us where the bug is hidden on you.”

I silently agreed. The last thing I needed was a vampire who could stalk me wherever I went. No thank you.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

He smiled at me. “Daniel.”

I crossed my arms in front of my breasts. “You owe me an explanation.”

“I came to give it.”

Surprise washed through me for a few seconds until reality set in. Why would he take my memories only to track me down and tell me the truth later? I suspected an underlying agenda behind his sudden urge to come clean with me. Still, I wasn’t about to let him walk out without getting some information from him.

“Okay.” I glanced at the furniture behind me. The long sofa backed up to the far wall. A smaller version faced the television. I didn’t want to sit near him, so I looked at the vamp and said, “How about you sit on the small sofa? Jackson and I will sit on the other.”

“All right,” Daniel said.

As he stepped toward me, Jackson gripped my arm and tugged me back while keeping the gun pointed at Daniel. Amusement flashed on the vampire’s face as he continued toward the smaller of the two sofas.

“I told you, I’m not here to hurt anyone,” Daniel said.

“There’s a bounty for Shelley’s death. You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t believe you,” Jackson said.

Daniel sat in the middle of the brown loveseat and stretched out his arms along the back. “I’m afraid the Senator is a very determined woman. She always has been. The trait must run in the family.”

Jackson crossed in front of me and took a seat in the middle of the large sofa. His body remained tense as if he were ready to act fast if the need arose. He never once took his gun off Daniel.

I sat on the edge of the cushion at the farthest point from Daniel. “So tell me, why did you take my memories?”

He patted the cushion with his hand, very casual, very playfully. “Before I begin, were you able to find the birth record and petition?”

How interesting that he planned to tip us off to the two items in question.

“If you knew about the documents, why didn’t you simply give us copies of them?” I asked.

“I knew she’d been born here, but didn’t know her exact date of birth. As for the petition, again, I only knew of its existence, not the date. I’m keeping a very low profile in town, so I couldn’t search for the documents myself. I’d hoped you would secure them.”

My curiosity rose. Low profile equaled hiding. Wanting to stay on the subject currently at hand, I’d inquire later about his lack of presence in the city.

I pressed my hands over my kneecaps and leaned forward. “We have Galluzzi’s birth record. We haven’t found the petition yet.”

When Daniel lowered his arms from the cushions, Jackson lifted his arm and aimed for Daniel’s head.

“You need to find the petition. It will help you. As for the birth record…” He threaded his fingers together in his lap. “You now know who her father is.”

“Lorenzo DeLaguardia,” I said. “Who is he, besides her father?”

Daniel lifted his chin and stared directly at me. “Only one of the most dangerous sons of bitches to serve the devil.”

My heart accelerated as I attempted to comprehend his words. “He serves the devil?”

“He’s a close and trusted servant to Lucifer.”

“How do you know this?” Jackson asked.

“Galluzzi propositioned me in late 2005. She informed me she was frustrated and wanted to plot Shelley’s death, but she needed help. I won’t take a job unless I know all the details about my potential employer.”

I scooted my rump over the soft cushion a tiny bit. “Why did she hire you? Why not use one of her other connections?”

“Because I was a good friend to Anubis.”

Stunned by his confession, my jaw nearly dropped. He
was
a good friend to my vampire lover, the God of the Underworld. He had easy access to kill me, but he didn’t.