All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire (Love at Stake #5)

"Nay." He shrugged one shoulder. "I'm sure Vanda did a better job of it than I ever could." Toni gave him a suspicious look. "It's not like you to be modest." Her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh my gosh, are you nervous about dating?"

He swallowed hard. She'd hit a bull's-eye. "It's...hard to explain."

"How can you be nervous? Haven't you been seducing women for ages, so you could get their... blood?"

"That was different. I'm looking for my true love now, the woman I'll marry and spend the rest of my life with. I'm no' really sure how to go about it, or if I'll find the right one. There are so many to choose from."

"Yeah, the dating scene is rough." Her gaze grew sympathetic. "But you shouldn't worry. You'll do fine. You just need some practice. You did really well last night when you flirted with me."

"Ye enjoyed it?"

Her eyes hardened. "I wouldn't say that."

He tilted his head. "Ye're a woman."

"Brilliant, Sherlock. You must be a professional investigator."

He smiled. "I am, actually. That's my area of expertise." He noted the wary look that suddenly appeared in her eyes. Was she worried about what he might find out about her? "Ye said I needed more practice. Would ye let me practice with you?"

She glanced toward the door. "I was just leaving."

"It would only take a few minutes." He gestured toward the parlor. "I would really appreciate it." He could see the wheels turning behind her lovely green eyes. Perhaps if she was nice and humored him, he would forget to investigate her? Fat chance. She was far too intriguing.

"I could spare a few minutes, I suppose." She wandered slowly toward the parlor.

"Thank you." He waited while she dropped her handbag on the couch, then removed her jacket. When she perched on the edge of the sofa cushion, he sat beside her.

She glanced warily at him. "I'm not sure you really need this. You were flirting like a pro last night."

"I dinna realize what I was doing till ye told me. I must have been distracted by all the other emotions I was feeling." Like suspicion. And lust.

"Then you'll probably do fine as long as you don't get self-conscious about it."

"Perhaps. Or it might be easier with you because it doesna matter."

She stiffened. "Because I'm a mortal and beneath you?"

"Nay!" What made her so touchy about that? Had someone slashed her ego in the past? "Toni, I barely know you, but I canna see anything remotely unworthy about you. Any man would be blessed and honored to receive yer love."

Her eyes widened.

"I only meant that we doona have to worry about how we feel about each other. It doesna matter because we canna have a relationship. It's against the rules."

"Right." She leaned back and crossed her arms. "Okay. Since I can't be affected in any way, let's see what you can do. Try your best mojo on me."

Mojo? What the hell was that?

She shifted to face him. "You see me in a bar. I'm a sexy, Vamp lady with a gorgeous set of... fangs. So you make your move..." She watched him expectantly.

Smooth and charming. That had worked for Jean-Luc. "Good evening, miss. Ye're looking quite fetching tonight."

"Thanks." Her eyes narrowed. "Lovely weather we're having."

"Quite so. A bit chilly, perhaps."

"Indeed, Mr. Darcy. I fear the sheep will be shivering on the moor." She made a face at him. "What century did you come from?"

"The sixteenth, but I've adjusted over the centuries."

She scoffed. "Not enough. You're still behind about two hundred years."

"I was trying to sound charming."

"Prince Charming's not a hero anymore. Haven't you watched Shrek?"

He didn't know what she was talking about. "I thought charm could never go out of style. It worked for Jean-Luc."

"I don't know him. Look, you've got to sound more modern. More hip. Try again."

He searched his mind for the right words. "Yo, hot mama, let's get down?"

She burst into laughter. "Now you sound like Phineas, except that you just said, 'Let's get dune.' Oh God, the accent is so funny."

"Thanks." He gave her a wry look. "Perhaps I can mispronounce myself into a lady's affections." Toni grinned. "You still sound old-fashioned."

"Is that such a bad thing?"

She tilted her head, considering. "I suppose it depends on the girl. Some girls like having a man open the door for them. But a lot of modern women would interpret chivalrous behavior as rude. We can open the damned door for ourselves. Don't ever consider us the weaker sex."

"Then ye're misinterpreting my motives. I would open the door to show respect, no' disrespect."

"But do you really respect women? Haven't we just been your dinner for centuries?"

"Ye've been my salvation. I could never have survived without you."

Her eyes widened. "We see things so differently from each other."

"That only makes you more fascinating to me." He gazed into her eyes and saw a mixture of emotions struggling against one another. She was so beautiful. So determined to be tough and hide her wounds. Would it frighten her if she knew how attracted he was to her? "I would never harm you, lass. I hope ye know that."

She pulled back suddenly and looked away. "Were you using mind control on me?"

"No."

"Then why am I--" She gave him a wary glance. "Never mind."

Was she feeling it, too? This strange pull between them. He stretched an arm along the back of the sofa. "Tell me, Toni, when it comes to dating a modern lass, would it be all right for me to kiss her on the first date?"

She pulled her handbag into her lap. "A peck on the cheek would be fine. Or a quick kiss when you say good-bye."

"What if I want more?"

Her cheeks reddened. "If you want to jump in the sack, that's your choice."

"I was only referring to a deeper, more satisfying kiss. But since ye're in a hurry to get me in bed--"

"I think you've had enough practice." She jumped to her feet and pulled on her coat.

He stood. "Thank you. This was verra educational."

"Right." She swung her handbag onto her shoulder. "Believe me, you'll do fine with the dating."

She headed for the front door.

"That's good. I have two dates tonight."

She glanced back. "Two?"

Was she jealous? "The nights are long. I'll see you in the morning before sunrise. We still need to talk."

She shook her head as she reached for the doorknob. "There's nothing to talk about."

"I have questions that need answering."

"You're too nosy."

"If ye refuse to talk to me, I'll have to investigate you."

Her eyes flashed with anger. "Why can't you leave me alone?" She left, slamming the door behind her.

That was a good question. He had two dates tonight and plenty of phone calls he could return. But for some reason, he couldn't leave Toni alone. She filled his thoughts. He desired her, but it was more than lust. She was a mystery. A beautiful, clever mystery. And damned fun to flirt with.

He teleported to the fifth floor to shower and change. First he would go to Romatech to see Connor and begin his investigation. He had a few hours to kill before meeting his dates at the Horny Devils.

In the bathroom, he yanked the T-shirt off, then stared at the words Toni had scribbled. Could she really be jealous that so many women desired him? Or did he just want her to be jealous? One thing was certain. He was totally intrigued by their beautiful female guard.

Angus MacKay's cardinal rule repeated in the back of his mind. A guard must never become romantically involved with his charges. She was forbidden. She was mortal.

"Bloody hell." He tossed the T-shirt in the trash.

Chapter Five

Jedrek Janow moved slowly across his new office at the Russian-American coven house in Brooklyn. So far, so good. His electronic scanning device wasn't picking up any bugs. When he'd arrived Tuesday night, he'd found a few. He suspected there was a mole in his coven, but until he found the bastard, he'd keep checking the office every night.

Such disloyalty and incompetence would not be tolerated. As the new master, he'd made it clear last night that he expected more from this coven. Any member who wasn't willing to die to achieve his goals might as well die now. He'd punctuated his speech by staking a coven member who hadn't looked properly impressed.

That simple act had done wonders for everyone's motivation. The men had offered to hunt for him. The women had offered to screw him. All except one. The little brunette, Nadia, had looked terrified of him.

So of course he'd selected her. He smiled, remembering the brutal hour he'd spent with her. When he'd finally let her slink away in tears, he'd relished the certain knowledge that her fear of him had grown. She still had some spirit in her, though. He'd break it soon enough. It was a game he'd enjoyed many times over the centuries.

He finished scanning the room. It was clean, and it would stay that way now that he was in charge. The former coven masters had been idiots. Ivan Petrovsky had ended up betrayed and assassinated by his own coven. Katya Miniskaya had made a ton of money, only to squander it all in a pathetic attempt to kill a former lover who'd jilted her.

Neither Ivan nor Katya had recognized what was truly important. When Roman Draganesti invaded this building during the daytime to rescue one of his minions, Ivan had simply increased the number of day guards. The idiot! Draganesti had been awake during the day. The significance of that had completely evaded Ivan. And Katya.

A vampire who could stay awake during the day could rule the world. All vampires would have to bow to him for fear of being slaughtered during their daily death-sleep.

"Master?" Yuri knocked on the door. The door was open, but he was afraid to enter without Jedrek's permission.

Good. They were learning fast. Jedrek sat behind his desk and dropped the bug detector in a drawer. "Enter."

"I have the report and photos you requested."

"Show me."

Yuri set some digital photos on the desk. "This is Romatech and some of the Vamps who work there."

Jedrek recognized the pictures of Draganesti and his bodyguard, Connor Buchanan. "Who is this?"

"Gregori Holstein. A vice president at Romatech."

"Where is the information on Draganesti's home?"

Yuri gulped. "We haven't been able to find it. Yet," he quickly added in response to Jedrek's glare. "Here are some photos of his townhouse in the Upper East Side."

Jedrek looked through them. There was a kilted Scotsman and a young black man in the MacKay uniform.

Yuri pointed at the photo of a third man. "This guy arrived last night. We're not sure who he is. He doesn't match any of our older photos."

Jedrek studied the picture of a young man in a red and green kilt. "Another damned Highlander. I swear MacKay has an endless supply of them." He picked up the last photo of a young blonde woman. "Who is this? Their whore?"

"Perhaps." Yuri shifted his weight. "She's mortal."

"How can you tell?"

"I...recognize her. I fed on her Monday night."

Jedrek set her picture down. "Wasn't that the night you let Sashenka get slaughtered?"

"Connor Buchanan killed him," Yuri said quickly. "We had everything under control until he showed up."

Jedrek curled his hands into fists. "It was three against one. You should have killed the damned Scotsman. What did I tell you about incompetence?"

Yuri paled. "It will not be tolerated."

Jedrek stared at the man, allowing Yuri's fear to grow as the seconds ticked by. He breathed deeply. He loved the smell of fear. "You are fortunate the event happened before I became master. I am hungry now. Fetch me a mortal."

"Yes, Master." Yuri bowed. "Right away."

Jedrek smoothed a finger over the face of the girl in the photo. "Bring me a blonde. I hear they're more fun."

After a subway ride and short walk to Washington Square, Toni arrived at the second-floor apartment she shared with Sabrina. She dropped her handbag and keys on the coffee table, then shrugged out of her jacket and tossed it and her scarf on the love seat. Sabrina's cat, Vanderkitty, jumped from the easy chair to weave around Toni's legs.

"Hey, Van." Toni rubbed behind the orange tabby's ears. "Have you seen your mama?"

Van gave her an annoyed look, then marched off to the kitchen area to assume a regal pose by her food bowl.

"Don't give me that. I know Carlos has been feeding you." Toni peered inside Sabrina's bedroom.

It looked the same as it had last Sunday--discarded jeans on the floor, textbooks lying open across the purple chenille bedspread. Before going out Sunday night, Sabrina had spent most of the day studying for finals this week--finals she had missed. Toni had visited all of Bri's professors on Monday to explain why Bri would be absent. She would receive incompletes in all five of her classes.

It was as if Sabrina's life had suddenly frozen in time, and her room along with her. Toni wondered if their lives would ever be the same.

She turned on the bedside lamp, then dug through the top drawer of Bri's bedside table. Her heart squeezed when she spotted a birthday card Bri had kept. Toni had given it to her years ago. It was the first time she'd bought a card that was addressed to "Sister."