Infamous: (A Bad Boy Romantic Suspense) (21 page)

I knew then that nothing was going to be the same ever again.

I met Dimitri outside the hostel the next evening looking like hell and feeling worse. My eyes were gritty and red and I hadn’t paid much attention to how I looked beyond putting my hair up and wearing comfortable clothes.

Dimitri’s smile died on his face as I came out. He came forward, hand out, and I flinched.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I had a…visitor last night. I think. Someone watching me. A vampire,” I said, standing stiff, not inclined to look at him. “Did you send…it?”

“What? No. I did have someone watching the place, but you wouldn’t have seen them. They’re discreet.”

“And they didn’t notice a leering, creepy vampire peering into the downstairs windows? Great, I feel so much better.”

“I’ll find out who it was, I promise. We clearly need to talk more,” he said, looking around and nodding at someone I couldn’t see. I stubbornly stood my ground.

“That’s not all. My accounts have been flagged. I can’t access any of my laughably low funds or get any sent to me. Which means that, as of tomorrow, I am completely broke, in a foreign country, with vampires out to get me.”

“Shit,” he said, pulling a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, that was my reaction. Do I need to start carrying a sharpened stake everywhere I go?”

“No, but…it does change things. Forget coffee. I’m getting you out of here. Now.” He took my elbow and I stepped back.

“Whoa, hold on. I don’t know you or trust you. Why should I come with you?” My voice was shaky and I was really scared. I didn’t know what to do and felt helpless and watched.

“I don’t think you have a lot of options. But I can protect you. I promise.” He took my hand, rubbing at the palm. His was surprisingly warm and soothing.

“I can’t. I want to go home.” Now I sounded childish. I mean, this was a little more serious than just not getting my way, but I knew I needed help. I just resented needing any. Especially from a near stranger who was too pretty and too non-human to be trusted.

“You can’t, I’m sorry. You won’t get even close. Just…get your things. We can be out of the city in an hour.” He flipped open a phone and dialed. The next thing I knew he was speaking in rapid, perfect German.

I went in and stuffed my sad belongings into my bag. I couldn’t find Tasha, so I wrote a quick note. She had my cell if she needed me. It wasn’t how I wanted to say goodbye, but the truth was, she’d be safer if I wasn’t around. Whoever was doing this had to know she didn’t remember anything. I hoped. Prayed.

Outside, Dimitri was finishing his call when I came back out. We got into his car without any more banter. I hugged my bag to me and watched Dimitri. He didn’t look any worse for wear and though he seemed somewhat concerned, he was also sitting confidently and without any visible signs of tension. I envied him.

He was, I had to admit, beautiful. In this light I could finally see the color of his eyes, which were a dark blue-green. His finely chiseled face put him somewhere in his late twenties but his eyes were far less youthful. They weren’t ancient, but they were…knowing. They’d seen things. They also sparkled a bit with what I could only think of as mischief.

My brain started wandering. It needed a break from all the stress and fear. I wondered what his hair felt like. Whether his stubble would be scratchy or just pleasantly rough against my cheek. Would he be a good kisser? It seemed likely; he probably had several centuries’ worth of experience. At least.

I wanted to feel surprised or shocked at my fantasizing about an undead stranger, but I just…didn’t. All the fear, doubt, and adrenaline was finally finding a better outlet. And that outlet was some fierce sexual urges. I wanted him. It was probably stupid and certainly dangerous, but I did. I wanted to feel something other than terrified and angry.

I didn’t move, just sat with these new feelings. I’ve never been good with sexy times, let alone romance, so I had no idea how to even approach it. Or if he’d be interested. There was no way Dimitri was hard up for partners, sexual or otherwise. And maybe he wasn’t even into ladies.

“This isn’t how I wanted today to go. I was hoping for a more…intimate scenario,” he said suddenly.

“Oh?”

“I was going to take you somewhere with really good food, then convince you to take a chance on a handsome, sophisticated stranger. And spend the night.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

“But I’ll have to settle for whisking you away to Paris instead.” He sighed and sat back as though Paris was the most disappointing city one could imagine.

“We’re going to Paris? How? Won’t they be checking the airport?” I held my bag tighter, mind whirling. Paris? The city I’d always wanted to see? Not really the way I wanted to see it, but still. Paris!

“I have a plane,” he said, shrugging. I guess to some people having your own plane is no big deal.

“Your own plane? That must be…handy.”

It took about an hour to reach a small airfield outside the city. A sleek, small plane sat on the runway, with a small crew clearly getting it ready. I got out of the car and shivered. For a second I thought about just running towards the dark woods that edged the field. But then I thought about the toothy ghoul in the window and decided, okay, Paris it is.

Inside the plane was ridiculous. I was used to overstuffed coach, being wedged between other passengers with my back and legs cramping up and a seemingly never-ending line to the bathroom. This plane had plush, leathery seats that reclined, large tables, and plenty of legroom. A young man was stocking a small fridge and smiled congenially as we came in. Then he faded away.

I sat down and looked around some more. Golden wood paneling adorned the interior. The light was soft and the windows were definitely tinted, possibly to keep out UV rays. Dimitri sat down and put his feet up, nonchalantly pouring a glass of scotch into a pretty crystal glass.

“We’ll be taking off in five minutes. Please have a seat and enjoy your flight,” the disembodied voice of the pilot gently instructed. I put my bag down and looked at my hands. I’d be holding it so long there were red marks in the skin.

I braced myself for takeoff, but it was smooth. I still had that strange, nearly weightless feeling for a moment. And then we were airborne.

“How long is the flight?” I asked, realizing I’d have to be the one to fill the silence.

“About three hours. We’ll land outside the city, near one of my houses.” He was reading a book I couldn’t make out.

“One of your houses. Of course.” My voice was dull sounding, tired.

“Then we’ll go to my flat in the city. Better to be where a lot of people are. And then we can figure this all out. The council will—”

“If it’s okay with you, I think I’d like to rest while we fly,” I interrupted. I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore and I didn’t care about councils or anything else. I just wanted to sleep somewhere safe.

Which, yeah, is weird when you consider I was thousands of miles above the earth with a vampire next to me. But I felt safer there than I had in a while. Hostel living hadn’t been without its worries.

“Of course,” he said, eyeing me.

“You probably sleep during the day,” I murmured, settling down, pulling my sweater around me.

“I mostly read.” He smiled.

And then I was drifting, miles above the earth, flying towards my dream city, pursued by monsters, and sleeping near one.

When I woke up I was covered in a warm, fleecy blanket. We were still flying and I was completely disoriented for a moment. The lights had been dimmed to a warm purple glow, and while I was still tired, I felt more clear in the head than I had since before the night in the club. Maybe in weeks.

I looked over and saw Dimitri looking out a window, the same book in his hand. It didn’t look as though he’d gotten very far in it.

“We’re nearly there,” he said, turning to me with a smile.

“I hope I didn’t snore.” I took my hair down and started to untangle it, shaking out my bangs a little and hoping it wasn’t too bird’s-nest-y.

“No snoring. Considerable drool, but no snoring.” He smiled and I laughed. My first real one since in what felt like forever.

The descent was as smooth as the takeoff and, in spite of myself, I was really excited. I mean, I was going to see Paris. The museums, the Eiffel Tower, the food. From the plane window I could see a cluster of lights in the near distance. I imagined everyone was happy and drinking wine and being decidedly French.

“What’s it like?” I asked, touching the glass.

“What, Paris?” Dimitri came over and sat across from me.

“Of course, Paris. What else?” I said. Then remembered as he quirked a brow.

“Well, it’s very old. And there are a lot of buildings. Tourists kind of get in the way a lot now. It also doesn’t smell so great in the summer,” Dimitri said. I frowned.

“Still, the wine is still excellent and the food culture is amazing. Not that I eat much.” He looked at me, brow still raised.

“Ah. Well, since I’ll be a tourist, I’d like to do some touristy things. I can still go out during the day, right? You…people can’t take sunlight, right? Or is that just the movies?” I wrapped my hair back up and pinned it.

“No, that one is true. Unfortunately,” he said, twisting his glass in his long tapered hand.

“What about stakes, fire, mirrors, that stuff?” I asked, forgetting about Paris for a minute. I was genuinely curious.

“Well, like most things, if you stick a big piece of wood through our hearts it’ll mess us up. It’s harder to drive something through the breastbone than you might think, but it’ll end us. Same thing with beheadings, obviously. Nothing can really manage to stay alive headless.” He leaned forward, and I stared into blue-green eyes that twinkled.

“The mirror thing is complete bullshit. We’re undead, not invisible. Fire will hurt a lot, but as long as it gets put out, we’ll live and heal eventually. And before you ask, crosses only have an effect on vampires who believe in them. I’m an atheist, so I think they’re rather pretty, but that’s it.”

“Fascinating. And can you eat anything but blood? I can see you can drink other things.” I waved at his glass. The academic in me was legitimately interested. It helped make it seem less scary.

“Yes, although it doesn’t really taste the way food did when I was alive. So I often don’t bother. Unless it’s spicy.”

We stopped and I looked out at what could only be described as a castle, old and sprawling, with underlights making it glow softly in the night. I rubbed my eyes.

“Your place outside Paris is a castle,” I said.

“Well, yeah. I mean, there’s really no point in being an ancient vampire if you don’t indulge in some clichés now and then.” He grinned at me and stood. Then he held out his hand.

“Come on, Emma. Let’s have some fun.”

I was inclined to agree.

Inside, the castle was less Byzantine or medieval, more vintage eclectic with a slightly gothic flair. And not architectural gothic—more what you’d expect from an Anne Rice novel or
Nosferatu
. Mostly it was in the carved chairs and the prevalence of velvet lounges. There were also a lot of stern portraits and arched mirrors.

“It’s very…homey,” I ventured, looking at furniture that didn’t look like anyone had ever sat on it.

“Thanks. It’s been in the family for…a long time.” Dimitri was leading me by the arm on a tour. It felt weirdly formal but also comfortable. Up close I could smell him again, the pleasant warmth of his skin. I kept thinking he should have been cold, but if anything he felt mildly feverish.

“Would you like something to eat?” Until he said it, I didn’t realize I was starving. I nodded, stomach growling.

I expected to be led into some huge dining room with an appropriately long table we’d have to shout down. Instead, Dimitri took me through some dusty back halls and unused rooms, to the kitchen.

The room was warm, spices and herbs hung drying near a marble counter. The air smelled sweetly of sage and rosemary. A small table had been set up in the back with simple candles and a side table of covered dishes. Rolls, fresh baked, spilled over a basket and a bottle of wine was already breathing.

My stomach made a ridiculous growling sound and Dimitri laughed.

“Let’s feed you, then we can talk.”

For the next ten minutes I just ate, rolls and a lovely squash soup with ginger and lemon. There was a selection of cheeses and fruit, and finally a chocolate soufflé. Dimitri ate a little but mostly watched me.

“You have the loveliest skin,” he said suddenly. I was drinking my third glass of wine and feeling comfortably buzzed. So naturally I gulped.

“Not to wear, I hope,” I managed. He smiled.

“Are you ever serious? I’ve never met someone quite so ready with a sharp quip as you.” He leaned forward and took my hand. My fingers tingled under the light touch.

“You seem to bring out the worst in me.” I drained my glass and poured another. I let his hand stay on mine, turning my palm up so he could stroke it. It tickled in a way that I didn’t just feel in my palm.

“It’s almost translucent, your skin. I can see the veins, trace them like a map”—his finger followed his words up my wrist, gently pulling the sleeve up as he went—“all the way to your heart,” he finished, still stroking the skin. It lit up like fire everywhere he touched.