“Are your eyes metallic brown or pink?” The question slipped out before Sarah could bite it back. Damn curiosity.
“Both. Vampires have a main eye color and tributary colors that emerge when we’re emotional or stressed.”
“Weird.”
The door opened, and Conn loped to the dining room table, twirled a chair around and sat. “So. Let’s talk.” Dark green, almost metallic, eyes flashed.
“You’re a vampire, too.” Sarah shoved back into the sofa, crossing her legs. Dignity—she needed class and dignity—then she’d stake them. That legend had to be correct. A wooden stake through the heart would kill them. Probably.
“Yes. As is Jase, and our brother, Dage, who is also our king.” Conn nodded.
“The king you’re trying to save.” She glanced at the table of weapons. No stake there. “I need a stake.”
Conn shrugged. “Stakes don’t kill us.”
Well, that figured. She sighed. “Where is Jase?”
“Going through your records in the adjacent penthouse.” Max leaned forward. “Tell us about the night you saw the Kurjan, Sarah.”
Chills swept down her back. She clasped her shaking hands together in her lap. While she didn’t want to discuss it, there was no reason to hide anything, especially since Jase was currently reading Dr. Robard’s reports. “Fine. I went to my brother’s office one night to ask him about the latest financial report from the Mercury lab. The head office is kept separate from the labs, and Andrew works there in downtown Seattle.”
Sarah’s grandfather had raised her and Andrew when their mother had abandoned them. He left the majority of stock in the pharmaceutical research company to her, but Andrew ran the business as the CFO. She had always wanted to teach, and her grandfather had strongly encouraged her to follow her dreams. “The company will always be here, Bella,” he had said, his strong voice reassuring and safe.
Memories flooded into Sarah, and she caressed the threaded embroidery on the couch, allowing the seamstress’s joy to comfort her. “I should’ve had Andrew removed years ago. But I felt sorry for him. He’d already been through hell when Grandpa took us in.” Max had been through hell as a kid, too. Yet he’d turned a bad childhood around, becoming a protector. Maybe she should’ve cut ties with Andrew years ago.
She sighed. “The reports showed an outlandish amount of funding being allocated to research, and that didn’t make any sense. There were no protocols, no blind studies, nothing.” Her voice shook, and she coughed the nervousness out.
Max reached over and placed a calloused hand over hers.
For a brief moment, she allowed the warm strength to reassure her. “Well, that night I got to the top floor and heard noises from the smaller conference room. Figuring Andrew was inside, I headed that way.” She’d do almost anything to take that moment back. Just turn around and leave.
“What did you see?” Max asked quietly.
“Well, I turned a corner and ran smack into Lila Smythe, who was one of our marketing analysts.” A pretty redhead, the thirty-year-old had been with the company for nearly five years. The terror in her eyes as she grabbed Sarah would forever haunt her. “Lila was trying to get to the elevator very quietly. She shoved me and whispered we had to run.” So much fear had been in her terse voice Sarah hadn’t even questioned the woman. They’d run back to the elevator and pressed the DOWN button.
Sarah took a deep breath. “Male voices rose, arguing, and one was yelling something about a virus and how the vampires had found a way to stop the catalyst. That he needed the new data. None of it made any sense to me. Andrew stormed out of the conference room followed by ...” Her voice trailed off as she hesitated. God. She knew what to call him now. “A Kurjan.”
Max flipped her hand around, tangling their fingers. “What happened next, Sarah?”
“We pounded on the elevator door.” They’d pounded so hard. “The door finally opened. Fast. He moved so fast.” In less than a second the Kurjan reached Lila, hauling her up. “He sank his teeth, I mean fangs, into Lila’s neck, and pulled.” Blood. So much blood squirted out and Lila’s head rolled to the floor.
Sarah gagged. She slapped a hand over her mouth, sucking air through her nose.
“Deep breath, sweetheart. You’ve got it.” In one smooth movement, Max deserted his spot on the love seat and sat next to her on the sofa, dropping a heavy arm over her shoulders. “Keep breathing.”
Conn leaned forward, an odd silver ripping through his green eyes. “What then?”
Andrew rounded the corner, his hair mussed, his face pale. He stopped short. “I thought Andrew would help me.” Sure, they’d never been close. “But, he didn’t,” she whispered. Andrew glared at the Kurjan and asked how the hell he was supposed to clean up the mess. “The Kurjan’s name was Erik.”
Conn exhaled. “Interesting.” He cut his gaze to Max. “Franco’s brother, the scientist, is named Erik.” Conn focused back on Sarah. “Franco is the Kurjan leader.”
Max gave a short nod. “How did you get away, sweetheart?”
“I jumped inside the elevator just as the door was closing. I went immediately to the police station to report everything about the killing, a virus, and vampires. The police didn’t believe me.” Yet they’d sent a car to check out the scene.
“What about Lila?” Max asked.
Weariness lowered Sarah’s shoulders. “The police found her, right where she died. Andrew had an alibi—said he wasn’t even there.” She’d always wondered how much he’d had to pay his three poker buddies, one a retired judge, for the solid alibi. “The police determined I wasn’t strong enough to decapitate someone like that.” So they’d started searching for a dangerous killer.
She bit her lip to keep it from trembling. “I was taken for psychiatric evaluation that didn’t go well.”
“You ended up at Brancrest for a three-month evaluation.” Max rubbed her shoulder.
“Yes. I lasted two months before escaping.” There were too many surfaces to touch. Too many tortured souls had left memories in the objects there. “Several times I wondered if I had imagined what happened, if I was crazy.”
“You’re not,” Max said.
Maybe. The fact that her body flared to life the second he sat next to her spoke of some insanity. They were from different species. “So, what now?”
Conn studied her, somehow looking more dangerous in the plush penthouse than he had hiding knives in his boots earlier. “Now? Well, the plan was to buy your stock. We need the data from the Mercury lab of Pringle Pharmaceuticals.”
“Why?”
Conn glanced up, lifting an eyebrow. “Max?”
“She knows most of it.” Max pivoted her to face him. “The Kurjans have created a genetic virus that attacks our mates and messes with their chromosomal pairs, taking them from a vampire mate down to human form, or lower.”
“Mates?” The word set butterflies alive in her stomach. “So your mates have more chromosomal pairs than a human?”
“Yes. We mate a human, and her pairs rise to twenty-seven.”
How in the hell was that possible? “Do you have a mate?”
“No.”
Hope. It leaped through her veins, followed by true irritation. She didn’t care if Max had a mate. A sigh escaped her. She liked the guy. Vampire or not. “What does this have to do with my company?”
Max stretched his neck. “A catalyst speeds up the virus. Our scientists managed to create a protein that binds to the catalyst and stops it ... just in time to save a pregnant mate. But, well, we used some human scientists to do the work—even though they had no clue what they were working on.”
“So?” What was wrong with humans? Sarah frowned. She was human.
“One of them saw potential in the data regarding the protein and sent it to a colleague at your Mercury lab.” Conn grabbed a cell phone out of his pocket. “The colleague combined our protein with an antiviral he was working on for an AIDS treatment, and basically negated the
protein’s binding power. Made it useless—so it can’t bind to anything, much less the catalyst. We intercepted the data last week, a day after you’d escaped. Your blog and website showed up, and Max came to find you.”
A loud exhale rippled the muscles in Max’s chest. “We need that data so we have time to figure out the flaw in the catalyst cure before the Kurjans do. They’ll try to infect mates and then we won’t have time to slow the virus before it goes too far.”
She rubbed her eyes with her free hand. “Why not just take the data?” The guys were soldiers. Surely they could break into a lab.
Max’s hand tightened on hers. “Believe it or not, your Mercury lab has the best security measures we’ve ever seen. It’s designated a Homeland Security Research site. We’d likely blow the building up trying to get inside, which we can’t do. Neither can the Kurjans.”
She’d seen the financials for the Mercury lab—no wonder the budget was so high. “What about Andrew? He has access, right?”
“Nope.” Conn read the screen of his cell phone. “He’s CFO of the company, but since Mercury lab also works on U.S. government contracts, the safeguards in that particular lab aren’t known to him. He’s a businessman, not a researcher.”
Max nodded. “Only the owner, or rather, the majority stockholder, can insist on access—which, for the time being, is you.”
“Until the hearing tomorrow.” If Sarah was found incompetent, Andrew would get control of the stock and either sell to the Kurjans or get them access to the data.
“Right.” Conn replaced his cell phone. “We need to prove you’re not crazy.”
Max shook his head. “Not we, buddy. You’re off to Ireland. Go get your mate.”
Sarah tilted her head to the side. She so wanted to know more about this mating stuff, but would ask Max later. “Ireland?”
“Yes.” Conn stood. “I gave her time to, ah, finish schooling before bringing her home. Her time is up.” Three steps had him at the door. “You’re right, Max. But I’m leaving Jase here for backup.” He turned, and those fathomless green eyes darkened. “You’re a very brave woman, Sarah. Thank you for helping us.”
Panic flashed through her as the vampire left. Brave? Not in a million years. Desperate enough to fight? Sure.
Quiet descended. “So.” She kept her gaze on the closed door. “How are we going to prove my sanity?”
“We have a plan.” Max hauled her off the couch.
The world tilted, and she fought the urge to burrow into his warmth. He carried her through the spacious penthouse to the bedroom, and gently released her legs so her feet met the plush carpet. “For now, you get some sleep.” A quick brush of his lips, and he shut the door.
Alone again. Her mouth burned, and the sensitive skin at the back of her knees tingled from his hold. She had two options. One, escape and get the hell away from the mess. Two, seduce the vampire and give in to the painful demand of her body.
Either choice ... danger.
Chapter 6
Monsters—big, white-faced monsters—chased Sarah through a lab made of stone. She cried out and backed into a cabinet, her gaze wide on the advancing Kurjan. His fingers morphed into needles. Big, dangerous, vampire killing needles. She screamed.
“Sarah. Milaya, wake up.” Gentle hands shook her shoulders.
The scent of cedar filled her nostrils. She opened her eyes, and the sight of male filled them. “Max.” She relaxed with a sigh.
Soft moonlight danced over his face, creating rugged valleys. One button held his shirt together, as if he’d grabbed it before entering the bedroom. He sat on the bed. “You had a bad dream.”
She scooted to a sitting position, resting her back against the upholstered headboard. Vibrations from a man reading a mystery novel wandered through her, and she shoved them away. Apparently the last person to touch the headboard had been alone. Thank goodness. She’d sat on the bed for a moment to think. Exhaustion sucked. “I fell asleep.”
“That’s good.” Max slipped off her tennis shoes with quick movements. He gently rubbed the arch of each foot, and she fought a groan at the exquisite pleasure.
“Go back to sleep—under the covers this time.” He placed her foot back on the bed and stood up, heading toward the door.
“Would you stay?” she asked quietly.
He stopped. His shoulders tensed, and he didn’t turn around. “I’m not in the mood for cuddling, Sarah.”
“Neither am I.” Something inside her calmed. He was big and strong. She wanted him—more than she’d ever wanted any man. “I’m in the mood for you.”
He pivoted, his metallic eyes darkening. “Sarah, there’s a lot you don’t understand.” Reason filled his tone, while color slashed across his cheekbones. Desire. Lust. Oh, he wanted her.
“Yeah. You dole out information sparingly.” Unease flushed through her. “I’m not easy, Max. I mean, I don’t usually extend an invite.” She’d had two lovers in her twenty-eight years of life. She could barely remember what they looked like when faced with a male such as Max.
A wicked smile quirked his lips. “I don’t think you’re easy. In fact, you’re sexy as hell.”
On him, the bad-boy look was more deadly than dangerous.
Yet instead of fear, raw need rippled under her skin. “So. Can this happen without you turning me into a vampire?” She aimed for amused and sophisticated, but her tone emerged breathless. Needy.
He lifted a shoulder. “I already told you. Vampires are born, not made. No one can ever turn you into a vampire.”
“What about a mate?” The question slipped out before she could bite it back.
“I won’t mate you.” His jaw firmed.
Hurt swirled through her, surprising in its intensity. She’d asked for only the night—but he could’ve wanted more. “So you’re offering a fuck, not a future?”
He stilled. The air thickened. “Talk like that, sweetheart, and I’m offering a spanking.”
She fought a gasp. He’d threatened her. That shouldn’t be sexy. Temper lifted her chin. Intrigue sped up her heart rate. Temper won. “Don’t worry, Max. I’ve changed my mind. You can go mate any eighteen-year-old bimbo you want.” She bit her lip.
“No, I can’t.” The dark amusement in his voice spiraled her temper further.
His gaze dropped to her nipples—her hard, pebbled, needy nipples. He took a step forward, fists clenching. Electric pink shot through the brown when his gaze rose. “Vampires are male only. Many of our mates are human. Enhanced females.”
He took another step closer, visibly making himself stop. “They’re few and far between.”
His voice, so dark, so sexy, warmed her blood. Her chest rose with quick breaths. She tried to control the breathing, but an awakening in her abdomen took over. She hadn’t felt anything for either Jase or Conn, and they were vampires. Only Max. That had to mean something. “So I’m a potential mate? One of the few?”
“Yes.”
Confusion slowed the thoughts in her head. “Even so, I’m not for you.” Geez. It wasn’t like she’d offered the guy forever.
“No.” He tucked his hands in his back pockets. “I’m not taking a mate, sweetheart.”
She rolled her eyes. “Ah, I get it. Your job is too dangerous. . . you’re a lone wolf ... you don’t deserve love.” Throwing out all the lame reasons from a romance novel she’d read lately, she let sarcasm loose.
He lifted an eyebrow. “Remember that spanking? My palm is beginning to itch.”
Vulnerability warred with need. She twisted, placing her feet on the floor, scrunching her toes into the carpet. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“Then you’re not as smart as I thought.” He toed off his boots. “In response to what you said”—he held up his forefinger—“first, my job is dangerous, but I’d protect you.” He raised another finger. “Second, I’m nowhere near a wolf—lone or otherwise. Believe me, I know a couple. And finally”—he held up three fingers—“love is something I’ve ne
ver understood.”
He was matter-of-fact about the last part. How sad.
“So that’s why you don’t want a mate?”
“No.” He tugged his shirt over his head. “Our mates are in danger—much more than usual. The virus we’re trying to cure might destroy them.”
She kept her focus on his rugged face, not on the devastating breadth of his chest. “Is mating forever?”
“Yes. When a vampire mates a female, her chromosomal pairs increase to twenty-eight, making her nearly immortal. She can die by beheading, just like vampires.” His hands went to the buttons on his jeans. “The virus negates the mating bond, unraveling chromosomal pairs. We’re not sure if it will stop at making them human or keep going until they’re, well, nothing.”
Why was he taking off his clothes? She slid off the bed to stand and face him. “I didn’t ask to be your mate.”
“Yeah, Milaya, I know.” The buttons of his jeans popped free. “But you feel this—thing between us—as much as I do. Something here.” He touched his fingers to his chest and kicked out of his pants, leaving naked male. Aroused naked male. A very well-endowed male. “Just thought you should know everything. Most vampires mate with a bite to the neck during sex. I won’t bite ... your neck. Now take off your clothes.”
Heat rushed into Sarah’s face. Her panties dampened. Sexy. The man was too sexy to be real. “What does that mean? Milaya?”
“My pretty one. In Russian.” One eyebrow rose. “The term fits you. Now strip.”
Warmth flushed through her. The term fit her? She’d asked for this—and damn if she didn’t want him. With a huff, she yanked her shirt over her head.
“Very nice. Your nipples look like candy.” He moved to her, pressing her to the wall with his muscular body. Hard and full, his cock pressed against her with masculine demand.
Cool and casual, she forced a smile. “Thanks.” She reached for the clasp of her jeans.
“Let me.” Rough and calloused, his hands covered hers.
“I can do it.” Control—she needed to keep some.
“Ah, sweetheart”—he pressed both palms into her shoulders, caressing down her biceps, past her elbows, to clasp her wrists—“you might want to be careful how you play.”