Firestorm: Heart of a Vampire #5 (6 page)

A shimmer of blue across the ballroom caught her eye. Jeremiah, now looking like a thirty-something beach bum, danced with Malia in a way that suggested they’d rather be home in bed.

She took another quick drink as Malia dipped her hands inside the front of his baggy harem pants.

“Is this a party or an orgy?” Eric asked from behind her.

She nearly choked, but replied smoothly, “To each their own.” She wasn’t a prude by any means, but she had the feeling that if someone didn’t step in soon, Malia and Jeremiah were going to forget they weren’t in the privacy of their own home. “I suppose we should separate them long enough to find out more about this guy we’re supposed to be looking for.”

He moved past her, parting the crowd. She hurried to keep pace, nearly jogging to compensate for his long strides.

As they reached the distracted couple, Malia swept a hooded gaze over them, then kissed Jeremiah before facing Cat. “Our host says the man usually appears costumed as a matador. He has not arrived yet.”

Eric searched the crowd, towering over most everyone to see well enough.

“I suggest the two of you act like you’re here for the party, before others grow suspicious,” Malia said softly, resuming her dancing with Jeremiah.

Eric glanced at Cat, then away.

“Come. We’ll be less conspicuous
not
dancing if we don’t stand on the dance floor,” she said, moving through the crush to a far wall.

She was stunned when he actually joined her.

“How often do you attend parties like these?” he finally asked.

“It’s the culture down here. We’re very social.”

A few people passed by. A girl dressed as a green woodland nymph squealed and rushed over. “Cat! I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Nina.”

The girl hugged her, then stared at Eric, her mouth dropping open. “Wow. Didn’t know you had a new toy to play with.”

Eric’s eyes flashed an angry red, his fangs extending enough to be easily seen.

“He’s here to help with the troubles,” Cat whispered.

Shadows darted through Nina’s dark eyes.

Cat asked sternly, “Who are you with?”

Nina smiled once more. “There’s a group of us. We’re following the rules you sent out. Never go anywhere alone, right?”

“Good,” she replied.

“Any word on Jacques?” The girl’s smile turned dreamy. Jacques had that effect on most women.

“Not yet, but it looks promising,” she lied.

Nina glanced around, then leaned closer and whispered, “I heard people from our coven are still disappearing. Is it true?”

“That’s why the guards are trying to get everyone out of the city.”

Nina pouted. “But there’s a bunch of Saint Patty’s Day parties. Balls and masques and all sorts of things. We can’t leave right now.”

Cat started to reprimand the girl, but sighed instead. She was finding this resistance all too often. It wasn’t like there weren’t parties and masques year round. The city was barely slowing down now that Mardi Gras was over.

She wanted to just command everyone to leave, but knew many of the younger vamps, like mortal teenagers, thought themselves invincible. They were also insatiable party animals.

No matter what she did, some would slip through the guards’ grasp and stay. The only way to protect them all was to figure out who was behind it all. Quickly.

“Just stick to the rules and be cautious.” Cat rubbed the girl’s arm, forcing herself to continue smiling.

All she could do was try to keep them safe, and that meant using all her resources, even the stodgy man glowering at her side.

As Nina skipped away to rejoin her group, Eric muttered, “Toy? Do you have many of those?”

She blinked up at him. “Not really, how about you?”

He stiffened. “I do not keep
toys
.”

Knowing there was nothing at the moment she could do, she pushed her worry away. It helped there was a slight fuzziness to her thoughts, deep in the back of her mind. Which had to be why she didn’t stop the words from tumbling out, “Ah, now. Toys can be so much fun,” she teased.

His gaze darkened, his scowl deepening. If looks could kill... “Like your Blake?” he demanded.

She snorted in laughter. “You take things so seriously. And no, Blake is nothing more than a friend.”

Across the room, someone screamed in surprise and happiness. She turned her attention to the room at large, searching for anything suspicious.

She could feel Eric continuing to glare at her, but ignored him. Toys, ha! As if she had a rotating door to her bedroom. With a glance at him from the corner of her eye, she entertained the idea of Eric as someone’s toy. She just couldn’t picture it. He seemed more like the dominant kind, controlling even in the bedroom.

Couples on the dance floor swayed to the music, the atmosphere one of a happy party. And many had a glassy-eyed look from imbibing on too much liquor laced with whatever dragon spice was being used tonight.

A half-hour later, their chatting had become mundane, but relaxed. She sipped at a second drink, this time making sure, as best she could, that it was a clean version. Still, she felt a slight giddiness in her blood. The music’s fast, heavy beat strummed over her skin.

Beside her, Eric stood sentry, perfectly still as if carved from rock. He swept his gaze from one side of the room to the other, then back.

On the dance floor, Malia straightened and shot Cat a glance, then stared toward a dark corner on the other side of the room.

A flash of a red cape. A man, tall and pale. He bent toward a young woman, whispering in her ear.

“He’s here,” she whispered, her heart beating faster.

Chapter Six

E
ric followed her gaze across the room to where the tall, thin man stood, surrounded by giggling young women.

Cat tensed. “What are those girls doing?” She looked over the room. “Going through will be faster than trying to go around. Let’s dance.”

Grabbing his hand, she dragged him into the crowd, just as the music changed to a much slower tempo. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she maneuvered them in the direction of the matador, but there were so many people, it was at a snail’s pace.

He looked around, unable to disagree with her assessment, though he wanted to back away. He didn’t like being touched since his awakening. Yet, somehow, this seemed... not so awful.

They were forced chest to chest from the press of people.

Her body was tense as she stared at the Matador and those around him.

Eric felt her heart beat, a galloping pace full of worry. He finally settled on putting his hands on her bare shoulders. Her skin was smooth, silky beneath the roughness of his hands. Touching her, having her practically plastered against him, fired his blood and stirred something deep inside.

She must have felt his reaction, because she gasped, looking up with wide eyes.

Eric eased back. When she started to speak, he interrupted, refusing to discuss his body’s reaction to the female who fit so well in his arms. “Stop staring. The man will know something is wrong.”

Her green eyes mesmerized him, a mix of worry for those around the stranger, and determination to reach him. Get some answers.

But it was overshadowed by her own growing awareness of him.

“We’ll just act natural. Throw off any suspicion,” she whispered, her southern drawl a bit slurred and slightly husky.

His blood fired hotter. He stepped further away before she noticed the extremity of his body’s awakening. She smiled, and his gaze froze on her strawberry red lips. The yearning to taste them was overpowering.

Then she slid her hands up his sides and over his shoulders.

He silently sent a brief thanks the jacket he wore was thick enough that she couldn’t feel his scars. But he forgot all about them when she twined her fingers in the base of his hidden braid and tried to tug his head down.

“What are you doing, Woman?” he demanded.

Her smile widened, growing sultrier as she laughed. “Acting natural. Relax.”

When he didn’t budge, she rose on her tiptoes. Her breath caressed his chin just before she placed a soft kiss on his jaw.

“I want to know what you taste like,” she whispered.

Hot lust coursed through him, making his body ache. He wondered the same about her.

But he wasn’t here for that.

Eric glanced over at the matador, trying to keep his mind on the task at hand. He stepped back, putting some distance between them once more.

She followed, pressing close.

He hardened, his blood firing. He felt the need to take her somewhere, anywhere, and explore these sudden urges. Every fiber in his body screamed to bury himself in her sweet softness and find release. He didn’t know where this lust was coming from, but it was beyond his control.

And somehow, it felt right. Natural. It wasn’t just her beauty, or her wit, or even her spark of sarcasm that she couldn’t quite control. There was something else, an indefinable, unnamable thing that hit him every time she was near.

And damn if he wasn’t enjoying this, her flirting, feeling her pressed against him. Wanted it to last longer, go further. And that was so damn wrong. Maybe he was even more screwed up than he’d thought, not that he was sure
that
was possible.

“Stop,” he demanded harshly, even though it was the last thing he wanted to say.

Hurt flashed in her eyes and she pulled back stiffly.

The next few minutes passed tense and awkward, until they finally reached the other side of the dance floor. She nearly jerked away from him, head bowed, eyes downcast. For a long moment, he worried he’d hurt her. Another long lost feeling catching him off guard. Then he caught a glimpse of the smoldering fury in her eyes.

Damn was she pissed. He didn’t have time to say anything as they reached the matador. Beside him stood Cat’s friend, the girl Nina.

Cat’s entire demeanor changed. Flashing from anger, to worry, to a mask of happiness so fast, Eric wasn’t quite sure he’d seen it all.

Pretending nothing had happened between them, Cat slid her arm through his. She laughed as if he’d said something funny, then swatted his arm, fluttering her eyelashes.

“Play along,” she hissed.

He swallowed, tried to grin.

Her eyes widened and she whispered, “Never mind. I’ll do the acting.”

Incensed at her dismissal, he fought back the reply that he was a warrior, not a damn movie star.

“Nina, love. Who’s your friend,” Cat cooed.

The girl laughed. “Don Juan, or so he says.” She glanced up at the matador, flirting with a heavy hand.

The man wore a mask that covered the upper three-quarters of his face. Black feathers decorated it, along with strange, dark crimson designs that seemed to waver before Eric’s eyes. He smiled at Nina, but it didn’t carry past his lips. He held himself like one preparing to enter the battlefield.

Eric took a deep breath, then nearly choked at the stench of decay.

This guy was beyond wrong.

Something dark and dangerous slithered down his spine. He gripped Cat’s hand on his arm, squeezing tight. She tensed, her lips tightening, as if getting his message and smelling the stench at the same time.

“Nina, darling, let’s go get some drinks for our men,” Cat stated.

The girl started to pout, but Cat took her hand and led her away, sending a quick glance back at Eric, as if warning him to not let the guy get away. He nodded before turning back to the man.

“Women, eh?” the matador asked, his voice stilted, hoarse.

“Something like that,” he replied, trying to figure out the stench of decay and death. It wasn’t natural, not the usual vampire scent—almost dusty, like the ash from a burnt out fire—but more like a rotting corpse.

The man assessed him as well. He grinned, flashing fangs and his dark eyes bled to crimson as a calculating look appeared.

* * *

Beyond pissed, Cat dragged Nina through the thick crowd, towards the last place she’d seen Malia and Jeremiah.

“What are you doing?” the girl asked.

Feeling slightly murderous, Cat spun. “What do you think
you’re
doing? Didn’t we just talk about staying with friends—with people you actually know?”

“I have been,” the girl’s lower lip trembled. “But this guy is really nice.”

Cat’s temper spiked higher and she had to bite her tongue before flaying the girl. After a couple deep breaths, she replied, “This guy is suspected of working with the people who are kidnapping and murdering vampires. Including our sire.”

Nina gasped, paling. “B-but... he seemed so nice.”

With a frustrated shake of her head, Cat pulled the girl through the crowd until they reached Malia.

The woman glanced over at them with a cat-got-the-cream grin, then, reading the situation, straightened. “What?”

“Get her friends together and take them all home. Call Blake to send some guards to watch their place.” She shot the girl a glare. “Nina decided to become friends with the matador.”