Single White Vampire (14 page)

“Yes. But—”

“Just do it,” Kate insisted.

Lucern shook his head, but pushed through the door. A couple minutes later, the door opened and a man walked out. Kate recognized him as one of the male models. She smiled nervously at him, but he didn't smile back—he didn't even seem to notice her standing there. His eyes were glazed, his expression blank.

She watched him walk away, then slid into the bathroom, relieved to find Lucern alone.

“Okay.” She walked determinedly to him. “Let's do it.”

Lucern shook his head as she held out her wrist. “I can't.”

“What do you mean, you can't?” she snapped in exasperation. “You've already bitten Chris and me once, so of course you can. Just get your teeth out.”

“Kate, I can't. It would hurt.”

“It didn't hurt last night,” she pointed out.

“That was because you were overwhelmed with sexual desire.”

Kate flushed, but didn't bother denying it. She
had
been rather hot and bothered. “What's that got to do with it?” Her eyes narrowed. “Chris wasn't—”

“Of course not.” He was starting to sound impatient. “But I can control
his
mind.”

“So control mine.”

“I can't, Kate. Your mind is too strong.”

“It is?” She felt pleasure fill her. Her mind was too strong. Wasn't that nice? She had a strong mind. Oh, she realized suddenly, she even had a stronger mind than Chris, because, from what she'd seen upon returning to the room last night, Lucern had no difficulty in controlling him. She would have liked to gloat about that, but Lucern was still speaking.

“The only time I can get into your head is when you're sleeping, or when you're wrapped up in passion. At least, I assume I can then. You didn't feel any pain when I bit you last night, did you?”

Kate shook her head. “No. No pain at all.”

He nodded. “Then your mind must have opened enough for me to infuse it with pleasure.”

“Hmm.” Kate digested that. “How do you know you can get into my head when I'm sleeping?”

Guilt crossed Lucern's face, and Kate suddenly re
called the erotic dream she'd had in his home. “You didn't…” she said.

He flinched at the accusation, then raised his hands placatingly. “I was just…checking on you. And you looked so sweet and sexy, I started thinking about what I'd like to do to you and I didn't realize you were receiving my thoughts until you…er…” He shrugged uncomfortably. “I stopped right away.”

Kate glared at him, feeling vulnerable and exposed. The dream she'd had in his home hadn't been a dream at all. Or had it? His fantasy? Was it a dream? A waking dream? It hadn't been hers.

The bathroom door opened, and both she and Lucern glanced sharply toward it as a middle-aged man started into the room. Lucern scowled at him, his eyes flashing silver fire.
Leave.

The man stopped abruptly, his eyes glazing over; then he turned and obediently left the room.

The minute they were alone again, Kate grabbed Lucern's hand and pulled him into one of the stalls—she could hardly let him keep putting the whammy on people who entered the bathroom. The stall was a close fit, but she supposed it was good enough for biting. “Just do it, Luc. You need the blood. You're starting to look like the walking dead.”

“I don't want to hurt you.”

She heaved a sigh of exasperation, but was secretly pleased that he was so reluctant to cause her pain. Especially when he was obviously suffering so horribly himself from something she could ease. The pain would be the equivalent of a shot. At least, she hoped that was the extent of it.

“Look. What if I open my mind to you?” she suggested, though she hadn't a clue how to do it. She supposed she would just think open thoughts. “Let's try that, shall we? I'll open my mind and—”

“Kate,” Lucern began, and she knew he was going to refuse. She was standing in a damned men's john—in a stall, no less—offering the stupid man her blood like she was some freak female Renfield, and he just stood there being all chivalrous and Old World. He must be really old. In her experience, men these days took what was offered regardless of whether it was good for the woman or not. Hell, sometimes they took what wasn't offered.

“Dammit, Luc,” she interrupted impatiently. Grabbing the collar of her scoop-necked dress, she twisted it over to reveal the pin she'd used to attach her bra strap to the material.

“What are you doing?” He was scowling again.

Good, she thought irritably. She was feeling rather crabby, herself. She'd thought only babies needed spoon-feeding. Undoing the pin, she slid it free of her bra, quickly jabbed herself on the tip of a finger, then squeezed it viciously until a nice fat drop of blood came to the surface. She shoved it under his nose determinedly.

“Are you hungry?” she asked. She followed when he backed up against the stall wall trying to avoid her finger, then waved it under his nose. Triumph rose within her when she saw his nostrils flare. “Come on. You're hungry. Have a taste. Just a lick. If you don't like it, we'll find you someone else. If you do, a little nibble at my neck will make you feel better. Come on, Lucern, try a
little Kate for breakfast and…” Her words died on a startled gasp as he licked the blood off the tip of her finger. It was such a quick scrape of his tongue across her finger she hardly felt it, but much to her satisfaction, his eyes glowed silver. She had him.

Kate tipped her head to the side and squinted in preparation for what was to come, then remembered about the opening-her-mind thing. She thought,
My mind is open. Lucern can come in. My mind is open. Lucern can come in
.

Apparently, opening one's mind wasn't so easy. She felt Lucern's hands on her arms, then the brush of his lips against her neck, then agonizing pain as he began to insert his teeth.

“Ow, ow, ow.” Despite herself, Kate began to struggle. Lucern pulled away at once. He still held her, though, his hands digging into her arms, his breath coming heavy, the silver fire in his eyes an inferno as he fought to control his thirst.

Kate bit her lip unhappily, ashamed to learn that she was a wuss. But it had hurt so much. No shot had ever been that bad. But, then, shots weren't nearly as large as Lucern's teeth. She pressed a hand to her throat. “I guess I don't know how to open my mind.”

Lucern pulled his hands away. “You'd better leave. I don't think I can control myself much longer.”

Kate hesitated, then moved forward, sliding her arms around his neck.

“What are you doing?” he asked harshly.

“Well, if I have to be sexually excited to let you in so it doesn't hurt, you'd better get busy and excite me,” she said.

“Kate, we're in a water closet. This is hardly the place to—”

“Not very adventurous, are you?” she asked. “Forget where we are and get to it, buddy. This is a public washroom—someone could come in at any moment,” she pointed out. Leaning up, she pressed her lips to his. It was all she had to do. Lucern promptly began to kiss her back, his arms closing around her like steel bands.

Kate supposed what followed was the vampire version of a quickie. It was not at all like the passionate moments they had shared in their suite. She couldn't explain it, but there was intent behind his every action, as if he weren't fully involved, but performing certain acts to excite her as necessary steps toward biting her. He seemed distant somehow. Uninvolved. His kisses were practiced and still exciting, but even as she moaned in response and opened to him, she was aware that he wasn't completely there. At least, she was aware of it at first. As his tongue thrust into her mouth, she became a little too preoccupied to care.

Lucern unsnapped the buttons that ran down the front of her dress and slid his hand inside, then under her bra to cup one breast in his cool palm. Kate moaned into his mouth. She shuddered as his thumb flicked the tip of her nipple.

Next he slid his leg between both of hers, forcing her dress upward until his upper thigh rubbed against the very center of her. Kate gasped, then kissed him almost frantically. When Lucern broke away, she moaned, her head dropping backward as she arched and shifted against his leg, wanting more. She felt his lips nibble along her neck, but everything felt so good she merely
murmured her pleasure and tilted her head to give him better access. Then she was aware of his sucking at her neck. This time she didn't mistake it for a hickey, but there was no pain…until her foggy brain told her what he was doing and that there should be pain. The excitement started to fade away.

Just as Kate felt the first faint stirring of pain, Lucern seemed to realize what was happening and distracted her. He slid his hand under her skirt, his fingers feathered lightly up her inner thigh, urging her legs a little further apart. Then he pushed the wispy cloth of her panties aside and stroked her. Kate forgot all about what was happening at her neck She gasped and murmured in pleasure, squirming in his caress, then cried out as he slid a finger into her.

“Oh, Luc.” She gasped, sliding her fingers through his hair and clutching his head to her as if it were her only anchor to sanity. She moaned as she rode his hand, her body humming with an excitement so fierce her legs grew weak. Kate opened her eyes and tried to warn him that her legs were giving out, but she was distracted by the fact that everything seemed blurry. She wanted to tell Lucern that, too, but it seemed too much effort. An odd lassitude was stealing over her.

The stall wall at her back vibrated as the door of the next cubicle banged open. Kate supposed that someone was in the washroom with them. It didn't bother her too much, but then Lucern lifted his head and frowned. He glanced back at Kate, and concern covered his expression.

Cursing softly, he adjusted his hold and turned Kate, lowering her to sit on the toilet. He didn't say anything,
but his expression was grim as he straightened her clothes and did up the buttons of her dress. Once he'd put her back together, he unlocked the stall door, peered out, then lifted her back to her feet, pulled her arm over his shoulder and half-walked, half-carried her out of the bathroom. Kate didn't see anyone, but the stall door next to the one they'd been in was closed and she could see feet under it. Someone
had
come in, she realized with vague interest.

“There you are! I've been looking for you two everywhere.”

Kate peered around and spotted Chris coming toward them. His expression was tense, his voice urgent. “Chuck is livid. Lucern won both of the other categories he was nominated for and wasn't around to accept the…Jesus, Kate, are you all right? You look like hell.”

“She isn't feeling well,” Lucern explained, mentally kicking himself. It was his fault. He'd taken too much blood—he hadn't been able to help himself. Once the sweet, warm fluid had burst over his parched tongue and into his mouth, he'd been lost. If someone hadn't distracted him, he didn't know what would have happened. His anxious gaze slid to Kate's wan face, and he berated himself again. Fortunately, he hadn't taken enough to cause serious damage, but Kate was going to feel weak and—

“I thought you were the one not feeling well,” Chris said with confusion. The editor moved to take Kate's other arm and some of her weight.

“It's catching,” Lucern muttered. He steered them toward the elevators.

“Great,” Chris said. “Then I'm sure to catch it next.” He brightened. “But you seem to be getting over it. You've got some color in your cheeks again. At least it passes quickly.”

Lucern flinched guiltily. The color in his cheeks was thanks to Kate's blood. It was also the reason she was now so weak. He was feeling a bit better. A bit. He'd guess that if he could get another couple of quarts of blood, he'd be back to his old self.

“Where are we going?” Chris asked as they waited for the elevator to arrive.

“I'm taking her upstairs to lie down.”

“No.” Kate suddenly forced herself to straighten. She managed the attempt, but swayed weakly. “We should go to the hospitality suite.”

“You're in no shape to go to some stupid hospitality suite,” Lucern argued. “You need something sweet and rest. To rebuild…” He paused, not wishing to say more in front of Chris.

“I just have to sit there. They'll have refreshments,” Kate insisted. She turned to Chris. “Are they almost done with the awards?”

“Yes. Another half-hour, I would think.” The editor glanced at Lucern as the elevator doors opened and they helped Kate aboard. “She should be okay in the hospitality suite. We can keep an eye on her. Chuck will have a fit if she doesn't show.”

Lucern remained silent as Chris pressed an elevator button. He wasn't happy with the decision, but he didn't want to jeopardize Kate's job. And he would keep an eye on her.

Kate tipped the bags over and watched everything she'd purchased tumble out onto the bed; then, she began to sort through the pile. Snatching the black sweater and black wool hat, she hurried to the closet and grabbed her black dress pants. She pulled them on quickly, donning the sweater, too, but stuffing the hat into a pocket. Then she hurried back to the bed to start tossing the things into her new black backpack. Once she was done, she checked her watch.

Kate had spent the better part of the afternoon sitting in a chair next to Lucern in the Roundhouse hospitality suite, eating all the food he kept shoving at her and dutifully drinking the orange juice he'd made Chris go out and find. It had been interminable. Kate had started to feel better rather quickly after drinking the orange juice and eating, at least physically better, but Lucern had hovered anxiously over her. The man had acted like a mother bird.

Lucern had also reeked of guilt, for which Kate could have kicked him. He had nothing to feel guilty for—she had practically forced him to take her blood. And, yes, it had briefly weakened her, but it hadn't harmed her in the end. Still, she did not have aspirations to be on a dinner menu. Even if being there had been mostly pleasurable, she would avoid offering herself up as another meal. So she'd fretted with the problem of how to feed him all afternoon.

Kate had been to several conferences and had never seen the Roundhouse hospitality suite so busy. The fans had arrived en masse, filling the room to bursting, the overflow spilling out into the hall. Chuck had been clearly pleased. Allison, Tom and Deeana had had their hands full answering questions, and giving out little key chains with miniature book covers on them to the readers. Chris had been forced to leave Lucern and Kate several times to confer with some of his own writers, but that had been all right, they'd done fine. With Lucern, the fans had been blessedly gentle. Perhaps that was because of Lady Barrow's announcement that he wasn't feeling well, or perhaps it was because, while he no longer looked like a walking corpse, Lucern was still pale and apparently fragile. Whatever the case, the fans Kate had feared might overwhelm him had all been gracious and sweet. They had also done most of the talking, telling Lucern how much they enjoyed his work and not seeming to notice that he said little in response.

It was at the hospitality suite that Kate had come up with her plan. It was risky and dangerous and utter madness, but it was the only thing she could think of. Knowing that Lucern would balk at it, she'd kept the plan to
herself, asked Chris to accompany him to the cover model reunion dinner, and had slipped out to collect what they would need. Now she checked to be sure that she had everything and peered at her wristwatch again.

She had instructed Chris to bring Lucern back to the room directly after the dinner and skip the rest of the evening. That should be soon. Her gaze went to the hotel window. The sun had set while she'd been about her task; it was dark night outside. That was good. They would need darkness.

Laughter coming from the other room told Kate the men had returned. Curious as to their levity, she slipped into the living area. Her eyebrows rose as she took in Lucern's chagrined expression and Chris's amusement.

“Had a good time?” she asked lightly. Her curiosity grew as Chris laughed again.

“You wouldn't believe it, Kate,” her friend exclaimed. “I've never seen anything like it. I mean, you know how the women can be, gathering around the few men in attendance like bees around a flower, but this was madness. I swear, one woman actually plopped herself in Luc's lap and propositioned him for everyone to hear. I thought he was going to bolt.” He laughed again. “Luc looked terrified.”

Lucern grimaced as Chris went on to describing several other advances he'd had to parry. It
had
been madness down there. Lucern detested modern women with their aggressive behavior—except for Kate, of course, who was only aggressive in the nicest possible way. But the women he and Chris had just escaped…dear God! Lucern hadn't been so worried since that time when he
was a boy and the villagers had attacked the castle, torches and pitchforks in hand.

He gave a shudder as Chris recounted the tale of the woman who had leapt into the elevator after them. She'd actually begged Lucern to father her child, claiming she desperately wanted a son as talented as he. Despite the woman's plump flesh and prodigious breasts, Lucern hadn't had trouble refusing the generous offer. He had, however, had trouble resisting the urge for a little taste of her blood. If Chris hadn't been there, he very well might have tried despite the risk. The relief Kate's donation had given him earlier had not lasted long. His body was in too much need. He was again quite literally desperate to feed. It was so bad that he had decided to retire to his room, slip through the door leading directly out into the hall, and go find himself a snack. Several snacks. Although he had to remember not to drink too deeply, as he had done with Kate. His mother and father had taught him long ago that one did not slaughter the cows that produced one's milk.

“I'm heading back now.”

Lucern turned his attention to what was going on around him. Chris moved toward the door.

“Willing to brave those women again?” Kate teased.

Her friend grinned. “I have to talk to a couple of my authors. Besides, they weren't bothering me. Not with Lucern there. Maybe they will without him,” he added with a wink. But as he opened the door, he was nearly run down.

Lucern gaped in horror as he suddenly found himself surrounded by a pack of excited, yammering women.
Every one of them was pushing and grabbing at him. Lucern backed away until he found himself up against a wall, but still they crowded forward, pressing against him, the sweet smell of their blood the only thing he could really concentrate on. He caught words and bits of phrases here and there, but none of it made sense.

“…just love your books…”

“…couldn't afford to attend the conference, but live here…”

“…waited around the lobby…”

“…recognized you from your picture at the back of the book…”

“…followed you to your room…”

“…just love you!”

“…please bite me. Turn me into a vampire…”

“…autograph my breasts?”

“Out!”

Lucern definitely heard and even understood Kate's shout. He also heard her next strident words: “A little of your
special help
wouldn't hurt here, Luc!”

Lucern smiled. He loved it when she called him Luc. Then understanding struck him. She wanted him to use his mind control to convince the women to leave. He only hoped he could focus enough to do so. Doing his best to ignore his hunger, Lucern tried to focus. He sent the message out to the women that they wanted to leave.

Kate and Chris both helped, each grabbing two women by an arm and urging them toward the door. Lucern dealt with the others by mind control, releasing their minds the moment the door was closed behind them.

“Geez,” Chris muttered as he turned the lock. “‘Bite me?' ‘Turn me into a vampire?' These women have to learn the difference between reality and fiction.”

Lucern and Kate exchanged glances, but they said nothing as Chris moved to the door of his bedroom.

“I guess I'll slip out the door from my room. Hopefully, the women aren't watching that one. I'll stop at the front desk and have security men sent up to remove the women from the hall.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Kate waved him off. Both Lucern and she were silent as they waited for the sound of his door opening and closing.

Kate sighed when it came. She turned to Lucern with a determination that, even in his depleted state, he knew couldn't be good. Her first words didn't reassure him.

“I have a plan.”

 

“What do you have in the bag?” Lucern asked with bewilderment as they left the hotel.

“Stuff,” Kate answered a tad shortly. She wasn't pleased with him at the moment, because he hadn't immediately fallen in with her plan. He'd heard her out, a disbelieving expression on his face, then had tried to talk her out of it. He had done his best to convince her to let him simply go bite a couple of conference guests, thinking it a much more sensible plan, but she seemed offended he'd even consider it.

He'd briefly wondered whether her upset might be because she didn't like the idea of his indulging with another woman the delights he did with her, but then he'd tossed that thought aside. She already knew,
thanks to walking in while he was trying to feed on Chris, that he needn't bother with such methods. He supposed she was just generally offended on behalf of mankind itself. Humans didn't mind slaughtering baby cows for veal, but seemed testy at the idea of being food themselves.

“If it's too heavy, I'd be happy to carry it—as I told you upstairs,” Kate added through gritted teeth.

Lucern felt a smile threatening at her irritation. He forced it back at once. He rarely smiled. Chalking up his desire to do so now as just a symptom of his bloodless state, he shifted her bag to his other hand. The woman hadn't given it up easily. After more than an hour of arguing, Lucern had finally given in to her plan. Mostly because he was starved, she was stubborn, and it was the only way to get out of their room. He knew darn well she would hound him until he agreed.

Having relented and agreed to try her plan to garner him a one-stop meal, however, didn't mean Lucern had given up courtesy. When she'd produced her “bag of tricks,” as she referred to it, he'd immediately insisted on carrying it. Kate seemed to see the move as some slight to her strength. She could carry her own bags, thank you very much. But he wouldn't let her.

Sheesh, Lucern thought. Modern women sure were a pain.

“Here we are,” Kate announced, leading him to a taxi. She gave the driver an address as Lucern followed her in. Apparently, she had done her research. She obviously believed in being prepared—just like Bastien.

Despite the pain he was suffering, Lucern felt his lips
twitch with amusement. He couldn't help it; Kate was just so delightfully cute.

It wasn't a long ride. When the taxi stopped and Lucern got out, it was to find they had been dropped in front of a restaurant, of all places. Luc stood staring at the building in bemusement as Kate followed him out.

“Kate, I think we're in the wrong place,” he said as the taxi pulled away. “I don't see—”

“This way.” She took his arm and steered him up the street. “I didn't want the cab to drop us off in front, in case our little adventure made the papers tomorrow. The cabbie might have remembered picking us up and dropping us off there, and they would be able to trace us back to the hotel. Now, that isn't a worry.” Her voice was brittle. Despite this being her idea, she seemed extremely tense.

“Ah. Good thinking,” Lucern murmured. He didn't want to point out that the way they were dressed—not to mention the metallic clinking of the backpack he carried—would make them memorable anywhere. And being dropped off a couple of buildings down would be of little help. Still, it wouldn't be a concern. Lucern would see to that. He had no intention of endangering Kate.

He spotted the building they sought, but Kate grabbed his arm and led him past it. He was about to ask why, when suddenly she turned down an alley that ran along the opposite side of the building.

“I cased the place before I went shopping,” she whispered as she skulked down the alley, dragging him behind her with one clawlike hand entrapping his wrist. She was walking in the most peculiar fashion; crouched
over as if she thought that would reduce the chance of being seen.

Lucern eyed her behavior with some bewilderment, and wondered if her usually sensible mind had snapped. Surely she understood that walking in such a manner made her no less visible, and also made her look as if she was up to no good. Apparently not.

He sighed as the toe of his shoe hit a stone and sent it skittering, which in turn sent Kate skittering, too. She burst into a run, dragging him along with her until they reached a dumpster a little more than halfway down the alley. She pulled him behind it, then crouched there and peered out fearfully.

“Did you hear that?” she asked in an anxious whisper. “I thought I heard something. I don't see anyone, though. Maybe it was just a cat or something.”

“Or a rat,” Lucern bent to whisper in her ear. He knew it was a mean thing to do, especially when he knew what she'd heard. But he simply couldn't help himself. She was so easy to tease. He hadn't had this much fun in…well, centuries, he realized with surprise.

“A rat!” Kate straightened abruptly, her head slamming into the bottom of his chin.

Lucern jerked back. Wincing, he rubbed the spot even as Kate grabbed her head and issued a howl of pain. She cut the noise off almost at once, of course, but still, Lucern couldn't help but think that perhaps stealth was no longer possible in this endeavor. Kate wasn't very good at this crime business.

“Shh,” she said sternly, as if Luc had been the one who'd just let out the caterwaul. Lucern let her get away with it, instead watching with interest as she pulled two
woollen hats from her pocket. She donned one, tugging it onto her head and pulling it down over her face. It was a ski mask. When she had the holes adjusted so that only her eyes and lips showed, Kate handed him the other.

“Put it on,” she ordered. Taking the backpack he held, she set it on the ground with a clank.

“I am
not
putting this on,” he said with disdain.

Kate heaved an impatient sigh. “Put it on, Lucern. I don't want to open the papers tomorrow and find your wan face glaring back at me.”

“How could—”

“Security cameras,” she interrupted grimly.

Lucern snorted. “They would hardly have security cameras in a—”