DraculaVille - New York - Book One (31 page)

She ground her hips against his. He ran his hands over her buttocks, and she groaned. “Drake, Drake…”

“My Talia,” he whispered against her ear, nibbling on her lobe.

The coolness of his skin excited her. She couldn’t get enough of pressing her body against his. She needed more. She half rose and reached for the buttons of his shirt. She fumbled to make her trembling fingers work them open.

His hands moved up her sides to her breasts, squeezing their firmness and teasing her nipples. She paused, gasping until the surge of passion passed and she could open her eyes.

“Mom? Dad? What are you doing?”

Talia froze. Drake’s hands fell away. Pip stood across the coffee table and stared at her, a questioning look on his face. He’d changed out of his pajamas into jeans and a Spiderman sweatshirt, and grasped his Nintendo in one hand.

She sat, slapping a hand to her pajama top to make sure it hadn’t come undone. “Nothing. We’re…uh, just, uh wrestling.”

“Why?” He tilted his head.

She moved from Drake to the far end of the couch while he struggled up. He bent over the side of the sofa arm and shook with laughter.

“It’s like this.” She smoothed her hair out of her face and punched Drake in the leg. “We, um, we want to be able to fight the vampires if they ever attack us again. So we’re practicing fighting. Right, that’s it. We’re practicing.”

Pip bounced on his toes and grinned. “Cool. I want to practice, too.” He dumped his Nintendo on the table and leaped on top of Drake. “I’ll fight the bad vampires next time, just see if I don’t.”

Drake grabbed him around the waist and rolled off the couch onto the floor, tickling his sides. Pip howled in laughter and squirmed to escape. The sight of them playing sent a pang of regret through her. They could have been any normal family, spending a cozy evening together. Why did they have to be undead?

She adjusted her clothing while they rough housed. She retrieved her glass of wine. It seemed she and Drake would have to send Pip to Gerri or Felix if they wanted to have some alone time. She sighed as the cold splash of reality quenched her flame of passion.

Pip finally escaped and ran whooping into the kitchen.

Drake sat up on the floor. His hair hung in his face, but he smiled. “Sorry about that.”

“We’ll have to get a babysitter,” she said.

“I’ll make you something to eat.” He came to his feet, and followed Pip into the kitchen.

“Mom.” Pip bounded back, sippy cup in one hand. “Can we watch the pirate movie again? Please, please?”

She tucked her feet under her. “Sure, why not.”

“Yippie,” he yelled and headed for the DVD rack beside the TV, singing, “Yo ho, yo ho, it’s a pirate’s life for me….”

She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. At least they hadn’t yet ripped off each other’s clothes when he found them. That was close.

Drake returned with a platter of cheese slices, summer sausage and crackers. He sat beside her and draped an arm around her shoulders. “To be continued,” he whispered in her ear.

She smiled. “I have to go to Romania, remember?”

“I’ll be waiting when you return.” He kissed her ear and went to help Pip put the movie in the right place.

She squirmed in her seat. She didn’t want to wait weeks to be with Drake. Then again, they needed to talk about their relationship before jumping into something that might cause them pain later. Maybe Pip’s interruption was a blessing.

Drake started the movie, and Pip crawled on the couch between them. So much for intimacy.

Drake opened Talia’s computer and became occupied. She sipped wine and imagined ways to convince Gerri to come over and get Pip without being obvious. She’d have to wait. Maybe while she was gone, she could come to a conclusion about making their relationship work.

Drake let out a sharp breath, staring at the computer screen. “Oh no.”

She sat forward, a chill of apprehension washed over her.

“An old friend is trying to contact me on Facebook. Sounds like she might be in some trouble.” He typed a while.

“She?” Talia gripped the stem of her wineglass until her fingers hurt.
Armantor
rage burned in her chest.

“Yeah,” he said without looking up. “Someone I knew in Los Angeles a few years ago.”

“Like a girl-friend?” She couldn’t help asking.

“Sort of.” He kept typing.

She fisted her free hand to keep from ripping the laptop out of his hands and hurling it across the room.
Sort of
? What the hell was that supposed to mean? “What kind of trouble?”

“I’m not sure. She wants me to call her.”

“You’re not going to, are you?” Her stomach dropped.

He glanced at her. “I don’t know. I’m hesitant to contact anyone from my past. It could lead to too many questions I can’t answer.”

She let out the breath she’d held. “Good. I think you’re right. Best to leave the past alone.”

He closed the laptop, but he seemed distracted. She suspected he only pretended to watch the movie. She wanted to ask him more, but she also wanted to appear unconcerned. This wasn't like her—this crazy
armantor
jealousy made rationality about another woman impossible. She’d always been the one in control. Always had a firm rein on her feelings. This absurd, overwhelming craving for Drake drove her nuts.

They watched the movie, bundled on the couch like a happy little family. But Talia’s nerves stayed on edge. When she finally said good-night at two a.m., her stomach twisted when Drake reached for her laptop.

Damn it. Why did the
armantor
connection have to make her suspicious and possessive? She raised her eyes to the ceiling and closed the door to her bedroom, leaning against it. Talia the tiger never allowed relationships to intrude in business. She had this tremendous DraculaVille project to complete and it wouldn't be easy with the accelerated time-line from the Romanians. Still, she couldn't deny the new softened edges of her life were more pleasant than her former solitary existence focused on nothing but work. Having Drake around, even Pip, comforted her in a way she'd never imagined possible. Her little family had become important to her, and a tiger protected her own.

Tomorrow she’d tell Drake they had to talk when she got back from Romania. She’d tell him she didn’t want him going to California while she was away. Otherwise, she'd be constantly upset, worrying about him and wanting him at the same time.

Right. That’s what she’d do. Take control. They’d talk when she got back, settle things, and she could focus on her work without emotional distractions. She headed for bed, relieved. Everything would be okay. Yet even in her sleep, Drake talked to some lovely blond and Talia jumped on the woman, ripping at her hair.

No. He could never go to California without her.

Chapter 34

“Drake?” She tapped on his door the next evening. It was almost seven. He was usually up by now. “Are you awake?”

Her day had been tortured. She hated how upset she’d been last night over the woman contacting Drake. In the light of day it seemed ridiculous. Everyone had old girl-friends or boy-friends. It was the past. If he’d wanted to be with that person he would have left long ago. It was stupid for her to worry, urged on by the stupid vampire mate thing.

“Drake? Pip?” She knocked louder. Still no response. Her heart thudded and she cracked open the door. “Hey guys, time to get up.”

She pushed the door wide, and the breath left her chest. The room was empty, the bed neatly made and no clothes or toys on the floor. She held onto the door frame as her gaze rested on a white envelope propped on Drake’s pillow.

It took a few moments for her legs to operate. In a daze, she moved to the bed and took the envelope with shaking fingers. She ripped it open and unfolded two sheets of paper.

Dear Tal,

I’m sorry to leave without saying goodbye in person. I had to leave right away after what I learned last night, and I didn’t want to wake you. Don’t worry, Pip is with me. I know you wouldn’t have been able to take care of him since you’re going to Romania tomorrow.

There’s so much between us that needs resolving. I hate that I had to leave before we could discuss our situation and work out a solution. Sometimes you’re pulled in two directions and you have to choose to resolve one in order to concentrate on the other. I hope you understand and won’t be angry.

I do love you and want to be with you more than anything. Our time will come, I feel certain. But I have to make an end to my past first. Please understand.

I decided to go to California for two reasons. First, I need to get my affairs straightened out so I can leave that part of my life behind. It will be good for me to do that while you’re away.

Second, the friend I told you about needs my help. It’s too complicated to explain in a letter. I’ll call you as soon as I get there and tell you about it. Hopefully I can do everything I need to and be back in New York by the time you return.

I’ll look forward to continuing our interrupted evening. Until then, take care and be careful in Romania, my love. I still don’t feel good about that place.

Please know that you’ll constantly be in my thoughts while we’re apart.

Love, Drake

She crushed the papers between her hands. Gone. He was gone. It seemed unreal. He was here last night, wrestling with Pip on the living room floor. A choking feeling constricted her throat, and she bit her knuckle. Damn it. He'd left before they resolved anything. And to help a friend? Another woman? Her fingers pulverized the paper into a tiny ball. That hateful, yet undeniable,
armantor
jealousy rose like bitter bile in her throat.

Her cell phone rang, and she ran into the living room to find it.

“Hello?”

“Tal? It’s Gerri.”

“Ger, I…” she stopped, unable to speak. There was no explaining the pull of the
armantor
connection, the deep unreasonable surge of emotion that swept over her when she thought of some woman from Drake's past, or actually any woman, going near him.

“Tal, what’s wrong?”

She couldn’t answer for a few moments. The blank darkness of his absence filled her. “He’s gone.”

“Drake?”

“Yes.” She sank onto the sofa. Cold emptiness replaced her former flash of heated emotion.

“Where did he go?”

“I…” She paused, thinking of a way to explain what Drake's absence meant. If only they'd had time to talk. Now she had to leave in the morning and fly to Romania without knowing how they would settle this crazy tie between them. What if he never returned?

“I’m coming over.” Her friend hung up.

Talia leaned back, numb and cold. She couldn’t mark time. Her mind spun with reasons not to feel so drained, but the stupid vampire soul-mate relationship defied reason. To believe that she, Talia the tiger, was subjected to such raw emotion astonished her. How could he leave her like that? Didn’t he feel the separation their way she did? It was like a heartbeat she counted on hearing every minute of the day was suddenly silenced.

As she sat quiet with eyes closed, a distant thread of the connection echoed within her. It was faint, but detectable. Her eyelids popped open. He was alright. She felt it. With a deep sigh of relief, she raked her fingers through her hair. At least she could tell he wasn't dead.

Gerri used her key to get in and settled on the sofa beside Talia. She didn't say anything. She just rested an arm around her shoulders. Maybe she understood more than Talia had thought. Drake had gone, and life would be unsettled until he returned. They would all miss the nucleus of comradery Drake had brought into their lives. Only Talia would have to deal with the loss of love.

***

Talia paid the cabbie, and he hoisted her two suitcases onto a cart. She wheeled it into the airport and headed for a ticket counter. Her mind focused on her task in Romania, but occasional distracting visions of Drake and Pip intruded in her thoughts. She gritted her teeth. Patience was never her forte. However, until she settled issues with the DraculaVille campaign to the Secretary's satisfaction, she couldn't return to New York.

“Hey, boss.” Felix met her at the check-in for their flight to Romania. His face held no expression, so unlike his normal ebullient nature.

No doubt Gerri had called and filled him in on Drake's disappearance. It made her vulnerable that he assumed she was upset about Drake leaving.

For the first time in her life, she wanted a relationship. Why did it have to be a crazy no-win scenario with a vampire? She shook her head. Only she could be stuck in such a bizarre situation. She glanced at the bead bracelet she'd thought would protect her from her attraction to Drake. Now it seemed more a talisman of his love. She gave a soft snort. What an idiot idea. She had gotten soft in the head. When she arrived in Romania she intended to cut it off.

“I already checked in.” He jerked his chin to the ticket counter. “They’re not busy yet.”

She nodded and rolled her cart to the counter. On auto-pilot, she handed over her ticket and passport, waiting for a boarding pass and processing of her luggage while tapping one foot. Couldn't these bozos hurry? She wanted this trip done so she could return to New York and reunite with Drake. She glanced at her assistant, irritation bubbling in her gut at his concerned expression.

Felix took her arm as soon as she passed the check-in procedures. “Come on, Tal. We’ll get some coffee and wait for the call to board.” He led her through screening and then escorted her to a coffee kiosk.

She jerked her arm free and found a chair.

“You gonna be okay?” He sat across from her on one of the molded plastic seats outside the boarding gate.

A sip of hot coffee burned her tongue. “Of course I'm okay. What the hell are you talking about?” She blew into the cup. Did he and Gerri think she’d fall apart because Drake had left? Talia the tiger was made of tougher stuff.

He shrugged and poured sugar into his cup, eyeing her askance. “I just thought...you know...about Drake...”