The Lady is a Vamp (The Paranormal Investigations Series Book 1) (3 page)

‘Why not?’

Ruby didn’t answer. She could hardly tell the detective that she had stopped taking blood from Simon because she was trying to help him, or that she was investigating his death herself. Instead, she asked a question of her own.

‘Is it true? About how they are saying he was killed?’

Nick narrowed his eyes at her and in turn answered her question with another. In spite of the seriousness of the situation Ruby was at some level enjoying their banter. He had a quick mind, this cop, as well as a firm body.

‘What are they saying?’

Before she could answer he asked suddenly, as if he hadn’t meant to voice the question,

‘What do you know about vampires?’

Ruby sat back, shocked but trying to keep her face impassive. Of course he could be using the term ‘vampire’ in the way that the lifestylers used it, but instinct told her otherwise. She needed to leave before he discovered just how intimate her knowledge of vampires was. She stood up, picking up her purse and exiting the booth.

‘I have to go, Detective. If you want to ask me any further questions, I suggest you get a warrant.’

Nick stood and faced her, was about to say something when Ruby became acutely aware of the sudden nearness of him, her vamp senses catching fire. The musky smell of him enveloped her and she became aware that she was staring at his mouth again. Whatever he had been about to say was lost as his head came down towards hers and in a wild, unthinking moment they crushed their lips together hungrily. Ruby moaned as his hands went to her hair and tipped her head backwards as his mouth claimed hers, desire coiling tight at her core. Her arms wrapped around him and as she pushed her body into his she could feel the unmistakable hardness in his groin that told he wanted her.

Then he pushed her away roughly, and his face was full of such anger she actually flinched.

‘That’s why I can’t read you,’ he ground out, stepping towards her so that she was between his powerful physique and the table, ‘you’re the vampire.’

Ruby gasped and went to step around him, but he grabbed her wrist, his grip firm enough that she couldn’t get away. With her mental powers useless against him, she was defenceless. For the first time in more than a hundred years Ruby was the prey, not the hunter.

‘You’re under arrest,’ he growled. Ruby forced a soft laugh.

‘For being a vampire? Is that even a crime Detective, seeing as we don’t officially exist?’

‘You killed Simon. And now you’re trying to use your powers to seduce me.’

Understanding his anger, Ruby took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Even though he had scared her and was still gripping her wrist she was still aware of his nearness and the throb of her lips from their kiss. The mixture of fear and desire made her tremble, but she fought to control it and looked him squarely in the eyes.

‘The answer to both those accusations, Nick,’ deliberately using his name, ‘is no. I did not kill Simon, and whereas I would certainly have used my powers on you if I could have, if only to dull your interest in me, you seem to be completely immune to them.’

He frowned at her, thinking hard for a moment, then ignored her last statement.

‘If you didn’t kill Simon, who did? You lot don’t tend to hang around in packs. You rarely find more than one vamp in a state, never mind a city.’

‘Us lot, as you so nicely put it, are indeed solitary. But I didn’t kill him. And you’re hurting me.’

Ruby glanced pointedly at where his hand still gripped her wrist and he followed her gaze, looking apologetic as he realised he was clutching her arm so hard her skin squeezed between his fingers. He loosened his grip, but didn’t let go.

‘I have to take you in for questioning,’ he said, and Ruby felt a surge of fear. She had heard the rumours that a secret division existed within the police force for preternatural crimes, but had never foreseen that she would have any dealings with them. Now though, she felt panic.

‘And then what? Even if I prove I’m innocent, they’ll never let me go. I’ll be locked up, experimented on …’ Ruby’s voice stopped on a gulp of fear. If this was anyone else, convincing them to let her go would be as simple as planting the suggestion in their mind, and the realisation that without her ability she was as defenceless as any human woman made her feel uncharacteristically vulnerable.

Nick shook his head sharply.

‘That won’t happen.’

‘How can you be sure?’ Ruby’s eyes were pleading. She couldn’t risk her freedom. She had an idea, however. They both wanted to find out what had happened to Simon, albeit for very different reasons, and now that he knew she was a vampire there was no reason for her to pretend she knew nothing.

‘If you are innocent, I give you my word you’ll be safe,’ Nick said, oblivious to her thoughts. Ruby shook her head.

‘You may be honourable but can you say the same for your superiors? Look, I can help you. I want to find Simon’s killer as much as you do – a killer vampire in the news risks exposure for us all, and I have a nice, quiet life, Detective and I want it kept that way. Let me help you.’

‘And in return for your help?’

‘You don’t expose me. I’ve committed no crime. I never take blood from an unwilling human, or use my mental abilities for harm. I pose no threat to you or anyone else.’

‘I’ll be the judge of that,’ he snapped, but he seemed to be considering her offer. Finally, he nodded.

‘Okay. We’ll go somewhere more private, and you can tell me what you know. But you attempt to flee and I’ll call the whole preternatural team out to hunt your ass. Understand?’

Ruby nodded, and followed him downstairs. As they walked out of the club he slipped her arm through his as if they were merely going for a stroll, but of course all eyes followed them with undisguised interest, wondering what the cop wanted with the Contessa.

Neither of them mentioned the kiss.

Chapter Three

Nick didn’t speak as he guided her outside and into his very un-cop like red sports car.

‘Nice,’ Ruby murmured, ‘it matches my hair and dress.’ She flashed a flirtatious smile at him as she slid her legs slowly into the car, but although his eyes lingered on her exposed thighs as he shut the door on her his face remained impassive. Ruby sighed. Even without her mental powers, she was used to men being putty in her hands. This man’s desire for her was evident, yet so was his refusal to be swayed by it. Ruby had never felt less in control of a situation, and she knew her own powerful attraction to him wasn’t helping one bit. She risked a glance at him as he got into the car and started the engine, but his gaze remained resolutely fixed ahead. He had an impressive profile, she thought, with that chiselled jaw and straight nose, offset by long lashes and those full, kissable lips. A perfect mixture of manliness and sensuality. His strong shoulders and the bulges of his muscles were evident under his shirt, and Ruby shifted in her seat, heat travelling through her body as she remembered the feel of those strong arms around her just moments before.

‘Where are you taking me?’

‘To my apartment.’

‘Is that wise? Aren’t you scared that I might be lying about my ability to bespell you, and that I might try and drink your blood as soon as we’re alone?’ she teased, although she was partly serious. His complete lack of fear of her was both unnerving and strangely stimulating.

‘Hardly,’ he retorted, never taking his eyes from the road, ‘if that’s your intention, then now that you know I’ve discovered you, you can do it regardless of where I take you. If you could bespell me, you would have done it already. Everyone saw us leave, and there are security cameras around my apartment that will see you enter. You’ll be caught. The way I see it, you’re the prime suspect for Simon’s murder. If you want to prove your innocence, I’m the only help you have.’

Ruby nodded, impressed by his logic. ‘You believe me then, that I didn’t do it?’ she asked. Nick didn’t answer, but admitted to himself that yes, he was pretty sure she hadn’t done it. Instinct told him she was being truthful, and like any good cop his instincts were sharp as a tack. Even so, he knew he was taking a risk; by rights he should be turning her in, even though he knew she was right, the authorities would never let her go.  What did it matter to him what happened to some damn vampire?

Not that he had any problem with vamps
per se,
just cold blooded killers who ruined lives. The one vamp serial killer case Nick had been involved in had been enough to show him that evil bastards were evil bastards, human or otherwise, but that being immortal and often super-strong with a taste for blood made any murderous inclinations a lot easier to fulfil. Whatever his instincts, he had to be careful of this woman. She knew something, as did ‘Lord Azriel’ and Nick was determined to get to the bottom of it before anyone else got hurt.

If he could keep his focus on the case and not on thoughts of what this particular vampire would feel like, naked and willing beneath him. When he had kissed her, felt her body responding to his, the intensity of the desire he had felt had only been matched by his horror as the contact had shown him the reason he couldn’t penetrate her mental shields. She was a vampire. Just as her vamp powers wouldn’t work on him, so his telepathic powers were next to useless on her. As he had sat in the booth talking to her, using all the force of his skill to try and pick up anything from her mind, giving himself a headache in the process, he had thought she was a powerful telepath herself, or just one of those rare people who were naturally immune. His attraction to her had blinded him to what he should have noticed straight away. He should have known it was too good to be true; that he had finally come across a beautiful woman who was immune to his ‘gift’.

Gift. More of a curse when it came to his personal life. Having an intimate relationship when you were aware of every thought and feeling of the other person was impossible; when every time you touched them you were assailed by their memories. The last time Nick had tried to have a serious relationship, it had ended when they were making love and Nick had picked up on her memories of her having sex with one of his work colleagues the week before. He had sworn off relationships ever since, apart from a few drunken one night stands, when only his intoxicated state had stopped him reading their minds. Until the morning.

Kissing Ruby, and seeing nothing except her, feeling nothing except the coming together of their mouths and breath, had been like heaven. Making love to her would, he was sure, be exquisite.

Nick tried to keep his thoughts out of the gutter as he watched her walk up the stairs to his apartment, her hips and ass swaying sensuously under the thin material of her dress. When she looked back at him over her shoulder with a wicked expression he glared at her, angry that he had been caught staring and that she knew exactly what effect her luscious body was having on him.

‘In here,’ he said shortly, ushering her in and locking the door behind them, pocketing the key. Ruby raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at him.

‘Scared I might try and escape, Detective?’

‘I’m trying to protect you. Unless you want me to take you straight to the station?’

Ruby dropped her eyes, looking genuinely nervous, and Nick felt bad for being mean.

‘Sit down,’ he waved a hand towards the small lounge, ‘I’ll fix you a drink. You can have a drink other than bodily fluids I assume?’

Ruby grimaced at his coarseness.

‘I’ll have a coffee, please. No blood, just a little milk.’

Nick went into the kitchen to fix coffee, watching her through the door. He was pretty sure she posed no threat, but he wasn’t about to turn his back on her. He was taking enough of a risk, not taking her straight in for questioning. He could argue she was a confidential informant, but first he needed to know what she knew. Watching her sit down and cross her elegant legs, smoothing down that velvety blanket of hair, she looked both vulnerable and beautiful. When Nick handed her a coffee his eyes were kinder, and she looked at him in surprise.

‘Thank you,’ she said softly. Nick sat down next to her, amazed to feel his heart pounding in his chest. This woman was bewitching him, even if she thought she was unable to.

‘So tell me about Simon,’ he said, sipping his coffee, so hot it burnt his lips. Just how he liked it. Her own cup in her lap, Ruby looked down at it and then back up.

‘Simon was, well, obsessed.’

‘With you?’ He could easily imagine that. Simon was a young guy with a thing for vamps, and she was a hot, female vampire. It didn’t take a genius to figure out he would be all over her. Nick felt a sudden pang of jealousy at the thought of them together, but Ruby shook her head.

‘No. With becoming a vampire. I tried to convince him there was no such thing, but he had had an encounter with one before, abroad. At first I thought he just wanted to be a donor, but then he started asking for mine. When I refused, he said he knew another vamp who would do it. I thought he was lying, or some wannabe had convinced Simon he was the real thing, but then the other night, I sensed him. Another vampire, a powerful one. Then Simon turned up dead.’

Ruby looked at Nick, who was studying her intensely.

‘Are you still trying to read my mind?’

Nick shook his head.
Thank God she can’t read mine
, he thought
, or she would know I’m thinking about taking her on this couch right here and now.
He cleared his throat, annoyed at himself. He never got distracted at work, what the hell was wrong with him? He had to wonder if she was able to use a little of her influence on him after all.

‘So,’ he tried valiantly to concentrate, ‘you’re saying there’s another vampire in the city. Don’t you lot tend to keep away from each other?’

Ruby winced at his second use of ‘you lot’. Obviously the NYPD preternatural branch didn’t teach their officers much in the way of inter species relations. She had to fight a childish urge not to stick her tongue out at him.

‘Usually, yes. This new vamp may just be passing through, or intending to frighten me off and make New York his own personal hunting ground.’