Vampire Assassin League Bundle Five - Loneliness (8 page)

CHAPTER TEN

Oh
...baby!

He wasn’t in tight black ski pants and a fair-isle patterned sweater or a tuxedo. He was wearing perfectly tailored dark slacks, a cream-shaded pullover knitted with really fine threads, and a sport coat. The pants didn’t do a thing to hide muscled thighs, the sweater was falling from toned pecs, and the coat just defined his shoulder width. His hair was the perfect length. He had it pulled back into a queue at the moment, and that just put full illumination on what Munson had tried to describe. The guy wasn’t just hot. He was absolutely gorgeous. And nothing about him looked remotely dangerous. Or sinister.

Or non-human.

Her body was doing all kinds of antics due to his presence. Her breath caught. Her throat tightened. Her clothing felt restrictive and confining. A quiver of something wondrously enticing started at the base of her spine and shot outward, reaching her scalp and her toes at roughly the same instant. She actually gravitated toward him without one bit of resistance.

He’d grinned the moment he saw her, showing off extremely white teeth. There wasn’t anything sharp or odd about them. And then he sobered.

“You’re leaving?”

“Uh...”

“My lady, please. I’ve so much to show you.”

He put a hand out, palm upwards. Rachel glanced down at it and back to him. Her heart felt like it swooped downward before resuming its correct position. Amazing. She’d never responded to anything this way. She’d forgotten the effect of his eyes, too. Dark. Deep. Mysterious. And endlessly fascinating. She couldn’t break contact, even if she wanted to.

And she didn’t.

“Good afternoon, Your Grace! So wonderful to see you again.”

Wystan looked over her shoulder, releasing the odd power of his gaze. He was frowning as he took in Munson’s position. Rachel didn’t have to check Munson’s location. She was right behind her, pinching the back of Rachel’s upper arm through her coat sleeve.

Wystan tipped his head in acknowledgement. “Please. Only a duke is referred to as such. I am a baron.”

“A baron. Okay. What do you call a baron?”

“As I’m also a knight, you may call me Sir Wystan. Or, simply, Wystan.”

“All right. Well. Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Wystan. Truly. We had a spectacular time. But we were just about to leave. Weren’t we, Rachel? Rachel?”

“You would leave me?”

He turned his attention back to her to ask it. He still had his hand out, silently giving the entire decision to her. Her ears filled with a long note of swelling sound. And then he smiled again.
Oh.
The guy had a smile that would’ve sold any number of items if he’d marketed with it. Her entire body reacted, moistening like a parched bit of earth receiving its first raindrop of a storm, while tingling with the imminent danger of lightning that might be accompanying it.

She’d never felt such a thing. It was hopelessly addictive. She pulled her arm slightly, freeing it from Munson’s touch. She’d been delusional. He was no more a vampire than she was. He couldn’t be. They didn’t exist. But the cop in her made her persist enough to make certain.

“Is the sun...down?” she asked him.

His smile deepened. His eyes grew more intense somehow. The tingling sensation turned into sparks that shot through her, creating a series of little tremors.

“Not yet.”

“Can I see it?”

“It’s very cloudy out.”

“But I could still see that it’s daylight?”

“From the east tower. I’ve a grand view of the estate from there.”

“Oh! Sweet! You’re thinking of a tour?”

Munson interrupted from somewhere in the vicinity. Rachel barely heard it. She placed her hand within Wystan’s. He lifted it to his lips, without releasing her rapt gaze. He touched a kiss to her knuckles, and her heart flipped. Or something close. She imagined she was floating, encapsulated in light. Wonder. Joy. Behind her, Munson sighed. The sound contained a bit of awe with it.

Someone cleared their throat in the hall beyond Wystan.

The instant it happened, the bubble of bliss about her popped. Rachel dropped, as if she’d actually been hovering above the tiled floor. The landing jolted slightly. But that was ridiculous. Nothing could alter reality that much. And surely Munson would’ve noticed.

“Begging pardon, Sir, but a car has arrived.”

“A car?”

Wystan lowered her hand and turned his head slightly to ask it. He didn’t release her gaze or her hand. He laced his fingers through hers, holding her hand against his side. And she helped.

“Oh. Hello again, Roderick.”

Eleanor came around Rachel. She hadn’t noticed how they’d blocked the entrance to the room. She hadn’t noticed anything. Other than Wystan. And what he made her feel.

“Well. That’s that. No tour for me. Looks like I’m heading back to London. Got a flight to catch. So. Rachel? You...uh...coming with me? Or not?”

Wystan tensed. His fingers tightened against hers. And his eyes grew blacker. Those were physical signs that he cared about her answer, while something indefinable heightened the air about them. Something virile. Dangerous. And endlessly exciting. He wasn’t even breathing.

“I don’t know,” Rachel replied. “Anything I say...would sound like I’m angling for an invitation.”

Wystan lifted their conjoined hands to his lips again. “Oh, no. No. Please. Stay with me. Please?”

Her heart did crazy palpitations within her breast. The bra might be the right size, but it felt like a rubber band around her ribs at the moment and twice as constrictive. She’d never seen such a look. Oh, why was she even hesitating?

“Well. That looks like an invitation to me, Berne. What do you say? Long flight home...or a bit of vacation touring this place? Time’s wasting and I’m probably burning petrol out there. I do love these Brit terms. Loo. Petrol. Chips.”

Rachel barely heard Munson’s chatting over the incessant tones filling her ear. It was like a blending of notes, all in the tenor range. Rachel stepped the tiniest space closer to Wystan.

“You’ll show me the sunset first? Right now?”

Wystan’s lip twitched as if he hid a smile. He pulled her closer by tucking their conjoined hands against his chest. “Most assuredly,” he replied.

“All right.”

Rachel didn’t even feel her lips agreeing, but it was her voice. The waves of tension she’d felt coming off of Wystan altered almost instantly. They evaporated as he closed his eyes, put his head back, and something akin to a sigh came from him.

Was it truly possible that she mattered so much to him?

“Well then. That’s that. Looks like I’m traveling solo. Roderick? Lead the way, buddy.”

Munson’s voice came cheerfully, breaking the spell. Then, the woman was gone and the entire world filled with Wystan. She watched as he lowered his head, snagged her gaze again, and sent her heart stuttering. All of it improbable. Impossible. And incredible.

She couldn’t possibly feel anything for this man. No. She didn’t. They barely knew each other.

“Hold tight.”

“What?”

“We’ve little time before the sun sets. And the tower is some distance, my love.”

“Please don’t call me that,” she replied.

“What?”

“Um...love.”

He chuckled and started moving. Rachel hung on. Images flashed before her eyes. A maze of halls. A myriad of doors. Rooms. Weapons displays. Suits of armor. Fireplaces. Tapestry-covered walls. More halls, some painted with a white finish that glowed, others covered with wooden paneling that sucked up the light. Nowhere could she spot a window, although he had some sort of electrical lighting system. And all sorts of museum-quality furnishings. She couldn’t tell, for certain. They were moving too fast. As it they didn’t even need steps.

Then even the lighting altered.

They entered a supremely old section of the castle, or her eyes were deceiving her. It could be a set for some sword and sorcery movie with its solid stone walls and high arched ceilings. She couldn’t make out height. They moved too quickly, and it was too dark. Any illumination came from torchlight. They passed each torch cresset at a speed that caused the flames to sputter. Wystan snagged one as they flew past. She knew why once they entered a well of space too wide to see the dimension. They were at the base of a spiral stone staircase. It was an immense structure that wrapped about a center pillar of more stone.

“The east tower wheel-stair.”

Wystan said it, although she hadn’t asked. His voice echoed weirdly up the stairs, giving the impression of space. Height. Volume. She’d seen this sort of thing in books. She’d never imagined actually climbing one.

She gripped Wystan’s hand a bit tighter, and grabbed his arm with her free hand as he started up the steps. She couldn’t tell how many steps he climbed, or how many floors they passed. She kept her eyes on him, ignoring the whorl of stone about them that confused and dazed. Her senses should have been reeling. They weren’t. She actually felt like she was vibrating.

The steps ended at a landing of more stone, backed by a large, unadorned wooden door. With what looked like ancient hinges. An enormous plank of wood was across it, bolting it shut. Wystan lifted the bolt with his free hand, secured it into a hook on the side, and pulled the door open.

Fresh air assailed her. It carried a chill. A light sprinkling of snowflakes. And a brisk breeze that blew out the torch almost instantly. They didn’t need the light. It was definitely late afternoon. Even with the cloud cover she had no trouble seeing Wystan. The breeze pulled some of his hair loose from his queue. He truly was gorgeous. Massive. Strong.

And like nothing dead.

The sudden squeezing sensation about her heart was almost painful. Rachel sucked in a breath with surprise. It wasn’t remotely possible. Or probable. Or even plausible. She’d just met him. She wasn’t even sure there was such a thing as love anymore. She’d seen too much. Experienced worse. She couldn’t possibly be feeling anything like love. Not this soon.

He stepped toward the stone encircling the parapet, taking her with him. Rachel wasn’t fond of heights, but she didn’t feel remotely scared. Emotions long dormant, took over. She was young. Unfettered. Slightly giddy. And the view was breath-taking. In any direction. Rachel swiveled in place, trying to take it all in. Wystan turned with her, always at her side. His fingers still locked to hers, holding her close. She’d never considered holding hands to be so heart-warming.

It just was.

There was a lot of light in one section, blooming over a huge wall. That was probably the faire. Dark spots interspersed the grounds. They might be forested areas. She could make out headlights piercing the gloom. That could be Munson’s car. It was just beyond the outer wall. Rachel counted three of the huge stone walls encircling the grounds. The sight was magnificent.

“How...high are we?” she asked.

“Thirty meters. Maybe.”

“Seriously? How many stories does this place have?”

He grinned, highlighting the little laugh lines about his eyes. What light there was glinted off his perfect teeth. Nothing out-of-order. No fangs. No pallor. Nothing paranormal. Nothing vampiric. Anywhere.

“I don’t know for certain. Some parts of the castle have four levels. Some five. Others only two. Construction was ongoing for centuries, using various stone masons. Not much is exactly square. Some of the doorjambs are off-kilter. The doors fit, but they slant. It’s rather entertaining.”

“It’s an amazing view.” She shivered.

“You cold, my love?”

He dropped her hand and had her wrapped in his jacket almost before he’d finished asking. Rachel snuggled into it, getting warmed. Enwrapped. Captivated. And then she steeled herself to ignore it.

“I asked you not to call me that, Wystan.”

“Oh. Yes. You did. Apologies.”

He grinned. She didn’t return it.

“Um...listen. Before we go any further, I need to...thank you.”

“Thank me?”

“For showing me daylight. Specifically...for showing me how you look in it.”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, you heard me. I don’t know you very well, Wystan, but I think I might like to. I mean, I had a really great time uh...last night. I mean this morning. With you. Um...in bed. But I have to tell you. That was an anomaly. I’m not that easy. I was really close to leaving before you showed me this.” She gestured toward the sky.

“I do not understand.”

“Look. Wystan. If we’re going to take this to another level, we have to clear the air.”

“We do?”

“Sex is one thing. And if that’s all you’re looking for, well. You might as well just keep looking.”

He chuckled and his eyes warmed somehow. And that was ridiculous.

“You are so...young.”

Rachel’s lips tightened. “Look. I’m almost thirty. And age has nothing to do with it. I’m a cop. We don’t trust easily. We don’t like subterfuge and lies. We get hives when we’re confronted with nut cases. And we
really
detest frauds.”