Surrendering: A Regent Vampire Lords Novel, Book #1 (14 page)

Grabbing her plate, he set it down on the credenza. He picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the large leather sofa. He laid her down, draping his big frame over her smaller one, careful to keep one knee on the floor, so his heavy weight wasn’t crushing her.

“Why, Mr. Fallinsworth, whatever are you doing?”

“You told me to eat up. I plan on doing that. Right now.” He crushed his lips to hers before she could challenge him. His hand snaked underneath her jeans, palming and kneading her rounded ass. She moaned softly into his mouth.

Just then the office door flew open and in walked Ren with a woman in tow. Dev simply turned his head. “Fucking knock next time.” Kate was trying frantically to push him off of her.

“Move,” she grunted.

Sighing, he lifted himself off and helped her up, but placed a possessive arm around her waist. She struggled against him, trying to gain her own space, but he would have none of it. She was his and she would stay by his side. He’d watched her face turn about five shades of red since Ren and Olivia stepped through the door. It was…endearing.

“Sorry for the interruption,
boss
.” Ren had a wry smirk on his face. Fucker wasn’t sorry at all.

Kate was staring at the floor, her face a nice shade of crimson. He loved blushing. It brought the blood closer to the surface of the skin. He gave her a reassuring squeeze while he inhaled deeply, relishing in her intoxicating scent. “Knock next time.
Asshole
.” Ren’s smirk got wider.

“Kate, this is Olivia Morton. Olivia, Kate Martin. Why don’t we sit?”

Kate extended her hand, which Olivia graciously took. “Nice to meet you Olivia.”

“Likewise.”

___________

Kate

Kate was absolutely mortified, her entire face burned. Every time Dev touched her, it was like every brain cell flashed a neon sign that said
DO ME
. She knew someone was coming, yet she let Dev feel her up anyway.
Classy, Kate. Real classy.

She was taken back to the time her mom walked in on her and Alex, her first boyfriend. They had gone to her bedroom to “study,” of course making out instead. Her mom opened the door and caught Alex with his hand on her breast, over the shirt, but needless to say, finding your sixteen-year-old daughter getting felt up didn’t sit well with her mom. She freaked, lectured, and grounded her for a month. Poor Alex was terrified to come around again and they broke up a short time later.

Strange things were happening to her now, had been since she’d arrived here yesterday. She’d actually sensed someone was coming into the room right before Ren and Olivia had entered. How could she sense someone was coming? And why did she keep hearing words whispering through her head? Like in the bedroom earlier, she swore she heard Dev say
mine
, but since his mouth was wrapped completely around her nipple, that wasn’t possible. Add this to the irrationally extreme attraction she felt for Dev and she was feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Dev brought over her untouched plate and handed it to her with a wink.
Jackass
. She watched him walk to his desk chair. Hmmm…make that
sweet ass
.

“So, Kate. Olivia’s here because she has a similar…talent as you.”

Her eyebrows drew together and she looked at him questioningly. “Talent? What talent?”

“She also has dreams.” Kate sat up straight, looking back and forth between Olivia and Dev.

“What are you talking about? What dreams?” She could hardly catch her breath. She was angry, scared and hopeful, all at the same time.

Olivia, who sat on the couch next to Kate, spoke up, gently grabbing Kate’s hands in hers. “I have dreams about real events, too, Kate. I’ve had them my entire life, just like you have. I know what you’re going through and I want to help you.”

Olivia put Kate at ease and she instantly liked her. She was a petite blonde, with a body that obviously was honed by many hours in the gym. Her piercing blue eyes were framed with long, dark lashes and she looked to be about her age.

“How can you help? The only way you can help is to make them go away. And I haven’t been able to find anyone yet that can do that.” God, if someone could help her get rid of these horrific dreams, she would be free. Free at last.
Was that even possible?

Olivia gazed at her with empathy. The hope that had quickly developed was crushed just as fast. “Kate, I know it seems like a burden and honestly, sometimes it is, but you have a
gift
. A gift, which, once you learn to hone and perfect it, makes it extremely powerful. And puts you in control versus feeling helpless. I can help you do that. I can help you control your gift instead of letting it control you.”

Kate shook her head. “No. Nope. There’s no controlling my dreams. They control me. You have no idea what kinds of dreams plague me, Olivia. If I could control them, I’d make them go away. I’m sorry that you wasted your time, but there’s no way you can help me.” Tears sprung into her eyes. She could barely speak. “I wish you could.”

Olivia grabbed Kate into a tight hug. Over her shoulder, Kate’s eyes locked onto Dev’s and his were full of sympathy, pain and…
caring
?

“I can help you, Kate. I know you don’t know me and have no reason to trust me, but please do. I can’t make them go away, but I can help you view your dreams in an entirely different way. I’ve done it myself. I’ve helped others do it. I
can
help you.”

She pulled away, holding Kate’s gaze. “I
can
help you, Kate. Trust me.”

Kate shook her head. “I don’t think so, Olivia. I’m sorry you’ve come all this way, but I just don’t think I can.”

Dev came over, crouching in front of where she sat. He held her hands in his. “Kate, love, I know this is difficult. Sometimes the easier solution is to bury your head in the sand. But most often the
easier
decision isn’t the
right
one. Just give it a try. One day, that’s all I’m asking. If you don’t feel this is useful, I won’t ask her to come back. You have my word.”

She’d buried her head in the sand for too many years. Hell, she’d been trying to figure out this dream thing for half her life. Maybe she was going about it all wrong. Maybe trying to stop the dreams wasn’t the right answer. It hadn’t worked so far. If she was cursed with this problem, at least she should learn how to properly deal with it.

“Okay. I’ll try.”

C
hapter 23

Mike

It was a good day for a road trip. Mike and his partner, Jake, had driven to the Northwestern campus, stopping for lunch along the way. His stomach was revolting against the bacon double cheeseburger and biggie-size fries. He’d been popping Zantac and Pepto for the last hour. He needed to lay off that shit. The combo of grease, pills and alcohol was eating a hole in his stomach. Or was it the job? He was headed for an early grave and he couldn’t afford to fill it until he’d accomplished his objective. Maybe he should pull a Jared and eat two meals a day at Subway.

Northwestern’s main Evanston, Illinois, campus was really quite picturesque. Along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, the vast campus boasted large oak and pine trees, colorful vine-covered buildings and several unique churches. Once parked, Jake and Mike headed to Swift Hall where the Psychology Department was housed. They were going to pay a surprise visit to Professor Duncan Bailey, the last person to see Sarah alive.

As they walked through the snowy campus, Mike’s thoughts turned back to Kate. Fallinsworth looked like he wanted to devour Kate on the spot and knowing that he’d followed her, Mike was genuinely worried for her safety. He never should have let that vamp go after her.
Fuck!

“What, man?”

“Huh?”

“You said ‘fuck.’ What’s up?”

Did he say that out loud? “Nothin’. S’all good.” Jake shrugged his shoulders. Mike knew he’d been acting moody lately, but he couldn’t help the nagging feeling that something big was about to go down.

They arrived at Professor Bailey’s office and he wasn’t there. His assistant told them he’d be back in forty-five minutes, so they sat and waited, making small talk with the pretty, young brunette.

Forty minutes later, Professor Bailey walked down the hall toward them studying a piece of paper in his hand. As he spotted them, his steps faltered. He went pale and looked like he was about to be sick. Mike thought for a second the guy was gonna beat feet.

Mike and Jake stood and headed toward the professor. “Professor Bailey, we’ve been waiting for you. I’m Detective Thatcher and this is my partner, Detective Keller. We’re from the Milwaukee PD and we have some questions for you regarding the disappearance of Sarah Hill.” They flipped their credentials to the professor. “Do you mind if we take a seat in your office?”

Professor Bailey stood there. He looked nervous, his eyes darting around like he expected someone to jump him at any minute. “I’ve already answered all of the questions I can from the local police department. I’m afraid you’ve made a trip for nothing, gentlemen. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a very busy day.”

“I’m sorry, Professor, but this isn’t a request. We need a few minutes of your time, so we can either do that here or I’ll be happy to escort you to the local PD and ask my questions there. Your choice.”

A flash of anger crossed the professor’s face. “My office is fine,” he clipped. The professor headed toward his office. “Mary, hold my calls until we’re through here. And call Frank. Tell him I’ll be late for our one o’clock appointment.”

“Yes, Professor. Right away.”

Bailey took a seat, but Mike and Jake remained standing. A little intimidation tactic wouldn’t hurt. The bastard was hiding something. He felt it in his gut.

He took out his notepad and pen. “So, Professor, tell us about your relationship with Sarah Hill.”

Professor Bailey genuinely looked taken aback. So that wasn’t his angle, then. “I don’t have a relationship with Sarah Hill, Detective. She was my student, plain and simple. Quite frankly I’m offended you’d suggest otherwise.”

“I meant no offense, Professor. We’re simply trying to find a missing young girl and you were the last person to see her. As you can imagine, we’re trying to put all of the pieces together so we can locate her as quickly as possible.”

Professor Bailey gave a clipped nod.

“So, on the sixth of February, the night of her disappearance, what did you and Sarah discuss?”

If it was possible, Professor Bailey paled even more. He cleared his throat. “Nothing important. We discussed a project that she was having trouble with. She needed some guidance. It was a short conversation, that’s all.”

Jake piped up. “What was the project?
Specifically
?”

“I don’t really recall. I’d have to go back and look at my notes and the projects due in class at that time.”

Mike raised his eyebrows. “That was two weeks ago, Professor. You can’t remember what project was due two weeks ago?” He let his voice drip with sarcasm.

A look of indignation crossed the Bailey’s face. “Detectives, I have several research projects underway and I have many students helping me with various aspects of them. In addition, I am responsible for the entire Psychology Department curriculum. You can’t possibly think that I’d remember what each and every student was doing. I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast this morning.”

Mike wryly smirked, one corner of his mouth turning up. “Personally, if I was the last person to see a girl that went missing shortly afterward—
call me crazy
—but I’m pretty sure I’d remember what the conversation was about.”

Jake spoke up. “We’ll wait.”

Professor Bailey flicked his eyes to Jake’s. “Wait for what?”

“For you to look at your notes, Professor.” When Bailey looked confused, he prodded, “To determine what the project was about? We’ll wait.”

“W-Well, that could take a while, Detective. Why don’t you come back later this afternoon and I’ll have that pulled for you.”

Mike smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
So you can run, dickhead? Think again
.

“We’ll wait.”

“Of course, Detectives. My apologies. I do want to help. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and even the little things have been slipping my mind. If you’ll wait just outside with Mary, I’ll check my notes and be out shortly.” He pressed the intercom button. “Mary, would you be so kind as to get these detectives each a cup of coffee? They’ll be waiting in the reception area for just a bit.”

There was only one way in and out of the office, so there wasn’t a chance the professor could escape, but he wouldn’t put anything past the slimy bastard.

“That’s a kind offer, professor, but we’ll wait in here. We’ve got nothing but time on our hands today.”

The professor paled even further, but went to work tapping on his computer. Mike sat back patiently waiting for whatever bullshit he was going to spew at them. And now that he’d seen his reaction, bullshit was exactly what it would be.

C
hapter 24

Kate

Kate and Olivia had been working all day, with the exception of a short break for lunch. She was getting tired. She’d fought Olivia for the first couple of hours, insisting Olivia didn’t understand the sickening nature of her dreams, but Olivia had then shared a few dreams of her own. Kate had been confused as to why she dreamed specifically of Sarah, and she saw others being held as well, but her dreams seemed centrally focused on Sarah. Olivia had explained the dreams were random in that way. Even she hadn’t figured out how to dream of something specific when she wanted. She didn’t think it could be done.