Are you reading the human’s thoughts, mapetite femme? Gregori’s satisfied voice whispered in her mind. Even one such as he knows you are wild like the winds.With great reluctance he loosened his hold on her. Go inside the house.
Her eyes widened in mock surprise. You mean he might think we were making love? We would have been if he hadn’t wandered out and interrupted us.
Push me further,chérie, and I may do something you will not like.
She laughed out loud, totally unafraid as she sashayed through the courtyard. As she passed Gary, she leaned over and blew warm air into his ear.
Savannah!Gregori roared her name, a distinct threat. I’m going, I’m going,she said, completely unrepentant.
Gregori waited until she was safe within the confines of the walls before he emerged from the shadows. Gary’s heart was a loud thunder in Gregori’s ears. He smiled, that gleam of a predator’s smile. “For all our time together so far, I do not think we have yet been properly introduced. I am Gregori, lifemate to Savannah.”
“Gary, Gary Jansen. Your—um, wife, Savannah, said I could wander around.”
“Savannah is my wife,” Gregori confirmed, sounding stern and menacing in spite of the fact that his voice was velvet-soft.
“So,” said Gary, so nervous he was beginning to sweat.
“Come back into the house, and we will decide what to do.” Gregori was already gliding past him in that silent way he had.
Gary followed. Savannah was by the fireplace. Once again her skin had a healthy glow. Something burned in the depths of her violet eyes as they rested on Gregori’s impassive face. Gary saw those silver eyes flicker over Savannah’s face. No longer bleak and cold, they warmed to molten mercury, tender and fiercely protective. When Gregori looked like that, it was impossible to fear him.
“I have considered several alternatives to our problem, Gary,” Gregori said softly. “I will lay them out before you, and you will choose which of them you are the most comfortable with.”
Gary relaxed visibly. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
“You are going to be hunted by vampires and those humans involved in the society alike,” Gregori told him. “Any place you usually frequent you must therefore avoid. That includes your family, your home, and your job. Those are the places they will be waiting for you.”
“I have to work, Gregori. I don’t exactly have a huge savings account.”
“You can work for me. I have many businesses and could use someone I trust. Arrangements can be made to move you to any of the cities here in the United States where I have offices, or—and it might be a safer alternative—in Europe. The offer stands whether you decide to keep your memories of us or whether you ask that they be removed.”
Savannah leaned against the wall, shocked at Gregori’s proposal. Feather-light, she touched his mind. Instantly, Gregori’s attention shifted to her. Be silent, Savannah.It was a clear command. Although his face was as impassive as ever, she could feel the imperative smoldering in his mind, and for once she fell silent, watching him closely.
“I don’t want you to erase my memories,” Gary said. “I’ve told you that. Besides, I think I have the right to help you with this mess instead of being shipped off to some foreign country like a child.”
“You do not know the dangers, Gary. But perhaps that is a good thing. If you insist on keeping your memory, I can do no other than protect Savannah and our people. I would have no choice but to take your blood so that I could monitor you at will.”
Gary paled visibly. Slowly he put down the coffee mug, his hand trembling. “I don’t understand.”
“When I am nearby, I can read your thoughts, but I must be close. If I have taken your blood, I will always know where you are, I can track you easily to anywhere on this earth, and I will know your thoughts. If you ever betrayed us, I would know.” Gregori leaned forward, his brilliant silver eyes holding Gary’s captive. “Understand this, Gary. If I had to, I would hunt you. I would find you. And I would kill you.” There was complete conviction in his voice, in the depths of his eyes.
Gary could not look away. He felt as if that penetrating gaze could see right into his soul.
“It is something you should think about,” Gregori continued almost gently. “It has to be your decision alone. Whatever you decide, we will respect it, and we will do our best to protect you. You have my word on that.”
“You once told me the vampire was the biggest deceiver of all. How do I know you speak the truth?”
“You do not. You can only feel what is right or wrong. That is why it is necessary that you take your time before deciding. Once the decision is made, we will all have to live with it.”
“Does it hurt?” Gary asked, curious, his scientist’s brain already seeking data.
Savannah detected the slight smile in Gregori’s mind, the sudden admiration for the slightly built human who came to his feet and began to pace the length of the room.
“You do not have to feel a thing,” Gregori said quietly, his voice strictly neutral. He didn’t want to influence the human in any way.
“I guess it would be too much to ask to let Savannah bite my neck.” Gary made an attempt at humor. He was rubbing his neck, every Dracula movie he had ever seen going through his mind.
A low growl rumbling in Gregori’s throat was his answer. Savannah burst out laughing. She could sense Gary’s growing agitation. He pushed a hand through his hair. “Do I have to answer you now?”
“Before we leave this house,” Gregori replied softly.
“That really gives me a long time to think it over,” he grumbled. “So, if you remove my memories of you, I would go back to my normal life and not have a clue I was in danger. That’s kind of a convenient way to get rid of me, don’t you think?” Sarcasm dripped in his voice.
The silver eyes slashed. Gregori stirred, a menacing rippling of muscle, the predator unsheathing his claws. Savannah laid a detaining hand on his arm. Her thumb feathered lightly back and forth across his forearm. Almost at once the tension in the room eased. But those predator’s eyes remained unblinking on Gary’s face. “If I wanted you dead, Jansen, believe me, you would already be gone. Killing is easy for someone who has lived as long as I have.”
“It isn’t like I meant to offend you, Gregori,” Gary said. “This isn’t easy. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. At least I don’t think it has. We haven’t met before, have we?”
“No,” Savannah answered gravely. “We would have told you. We really are trying to be as honest as we can. This is a tremendous offer, Gary, one I didn’t think would even be considered. You have no idea what an honor it—”
“Silence, Savannah. He must make up his own mind without persuasion. It is his decision alone to make,” Gregori reprimanded.
He doesn’t comprehend the honor you have extended him,she argued. If he knew, he would be less agitated.
S’il vous plait, Savannah. Let him decide.
Gary held up a hand. “Don’t do that. I know you’re talking together. I’m nervous enough. Okay. Okay. Do it. Get it over with. Bite me in the neck. But I’m going to warn you, I’ve never done this before. It won’t be too good for you.” He attempted a wan grin.
“Be certain. There can be no doubt. You must know that you trust me. There might be times when I will have to take human life. You cannot change sides in the middle of the fight,” Gregori warned.