"We are alike," he said fervently. "Both cursed, or blessed, depending on your point of view."
"Joaquin…"
He cupped her cheek in his palm, his thumb stroking back and forth. "Forgive me. I know you want a home and a family, a normal life."
She nodded, tears stinging her eyes.
"I will do my best to see that you have everything you want." Leaning forward, he brushed a kiss across her lips. "And now I must go and take my rest."
She nodded again, her throat tight with unshed tears. Somehow, she would find Vasile and put an end to the curse that plagued her. She only wished that Santiago could do the same.
Chapter 27
"You're leaving?" Zina exclaimed. "Where are you going?"
"To the States," Vasile snapped. "I'm leaving in the morning."
"You've been here less than a month."
"So?"
"I had expected you to stay longer."
He shrugged impatiently. "I have unfinished business to attend to."
Zina's eyes flashed angrily. "That woman?"
Vasile nodded. "I told you I intended to make her my mate; have you forgotten?"
"No." She lifted her head proudly. "I have not forgotten. But you have a duty to me, now. I want you to stay until I'm pregnant."
Vasile stared at her, his eyes narrowed. He started to admonish her for her audacity, but on what grounds? He had married her to conceive a child and the task was not yet done. Perhaps it was his fault. Lying with a woman for whom he had no real affection had proved more difficult than he had expected.
Annoyed with himself and angry with her, he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the bedroom, determined that she would be gravid before the next full moon.
Chapter 28
Michael Flynn stared into the half-empty glass of whiskey in his hand. He had spent the last hour trying to understand what Regan saw in that bloodsucking bastard Santiago—and trying to figure out how the former master of the city had slipped through the barrier that surrounded the park. He had reported the fact to his superiors, who had assured him they would look into the matter.
Michael had spent the last few nights staking out the vampire's condo, hoping to catch Santiago leaving the park; unfortunately, there had been no sign of Santiago, causing Michael to wonder if the vampire had left town. Of course, leaving the city without notifying the authorities was also against the law.
He wondered suddenly if the fact that the murders had stopped abruptly had anything to do with the vampire's disappearance, and then wondered why the devil he hadn't considered the possibility before. Was Santiago the killer? He swore softly. Wouldn't that peel the hide off the hog?
Draining his glass, Michael ordered another drink.
He had been in love with Regan since the day he met her. They had both been working at the time, and there had been nothing the least bit romantic about the circumstances, but later that night, while they were filling out reports, he had asked her out for coffee and they had spent a pleasant hour unwinding and getting acquainted. They had dated on and off since that time; in the last year, neither of them had dated anyone else. Michael had been thinking about asking Regan to marry him at the upcoming department Christmas party. But that had been before Joaquin Santiago arrived on the scene.
Once again, Flynn asked himself what she saw in the vampire. He couldn't believe she was serious about the creep. Fascinated, maybe. After all, vampires were rumored to have some sort of supernatural charm that mortals found hard to resist.
Michael glanced at his surroundings. What the hell was he doing in a dive like this? Muttering an oath, he tossed off his drink. He should just go on home, he thought morosely. There was nothing for him here;—and nothing for him there.
He was about to order another drink when a woman sat down beside him. Her perfume surrounded him, cutting through the cloud of smoke and perspiration that hung in the air. Her hair was the vivid red of a sunset, her eyes were the deepest, brightest shade of blue he had ever seen. And her mouth… it could only belong to an angel—or a temptress.
Feeling his gaze, she looked over at him and smiled, displaying even white teeth.
Michael swallowed hard. He had never been shy around women; in college, he'd had a reputation for being a ladies' man. But this woman, clad in a skintight black dress and black stiletto heels, made him feel like a callow youth.
She smiled at him again. "Would you like to dance?"
The thought of holding her in his arms had him suddenly believing in Santa Claus. Rising, he offered her his hand.
The dance floor was small and crowded, but Michael wasn't aware of anything or anyone but the woman whose body was pressed intimately against his own. He could feel every feminine curve. No doubt she was equally aware of his body's response to her nearness.
"Do you come here often?" he asked, thinking that if she said yes, he was going to be spending a lot of time here himself.
"No, this is my first time." Her gaze devoured him. "Perhaps it was fate that brought me here tonight. Do you believe in fate?"
"I never did before." He studied her face, thinking she looked vaguely familiar.
She laughed, a deep sexy laugh that brushed over his skin like velvet over sandpaper. "Have you a name?"
"Michael."
"Hello, Michael," she purred. "I'm Tatiana."
Chapter 29
Santiago wandered the dark streets of the city. A week had passed since the night of the full moon. He had not seen Regan since then. Though he longed for her company, it seemed wiser to stay away. She had made it clear that in spite of her affection for him, he was not what she wanted. Which was too bad, he mused, because she was exactly what he wanted. Human or werewolf, it didn't matter. He loved her as he had never thought to love again, yearned for her with every fiber of his being, ached to take her in his arms and possess her fully and completely.
He muttered an oath as he turned a corner. He could take her by force. He could bend her will to his, make her want him and no other, make her forget she had ever wanted anything or anyone else, but what kind of love would that be? He wanted her love, freely given, he wanted her to need him with every breath in her body, every beat of her heart. All or nothing, he thought, and knew he would have to settle for nothing. He would be there for her when the moon was full for as long as she needed him. He would help her find and destroy Vasile. And then he would never see her again.
Santiago paused in front of the nightclub at the end of the street. The place was a dive, one of many in this part of the city. He had come here on occasion, sometimes just to pass a quiet night, sometimes to hunt for prey.