Midnight (5 page)

“Wait a minute, you did
what
?” Ellie faced him, her
hands on her hips. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

Marco shrugged. “Nope.”

“Well, that’s it. I always knew there was something
seriously wrong with you. Now I have the proof.” Ellie gestured to the bags she’d
just dropped on the couch. “It’s not too late for me to take these back to the
store. You could let her go, and I’ll give her a ride back to the city.”

“Don’t get any ideas.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “She’s
staying.”

Ellie shook her head in disbelief. “Amara Daniels is a
public personality. Somebody’s bound to miss her. Honestly, Marco, you can’t
just go around kidnapping people because you don’t like what they do for a job.”

“It’s not just that, Ell.” He sighed and paced the room. “You
wouldn’t understand.”

She raised an eyebrow at that remark, obviously annoyed. “Oh,
no?”

“Well, maybe a little.”

Ellie laughed, but she didn’t look altogether amused. “A
little? I think I know you better than anyone.”

She had a point there. Not that he’d ever admit it to her. “Thanks
for bringing the stuff, Ell. I owe you one.”

“Why do I have a feeling you’re going to owe me a lot more
by the time you come to your senses and stop trying to scare the poor woman?
You’re going to let her go home soon, right?”

“Eventually. Just not now.” He sighed. “I just need to get
this worked out. I’ve got to get her off my mind.”

“And you think holding her captive is going to achieve that?”
Ellie stared at him intently. “What the hell is wrong with you? I know you can
be a little impulsive at times, but you’re breaking the law.”

He shoved a hand through his hair. Why
was
he doing
this? It had started out as lashing-out in anger, but it was turning into
something more. A little more quickly and less smoothly than he would have
liked.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Ell. Maybe I’m finally
going crazy.”

She shook her head. “No. That happened a long time ago. Do I
get to meet her?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Ellie glared at him, her blue eyes practically
piercing a hole through him. It always freaked him out when she did that, but
for the most part he was immune.

Just to be on the safe side, he looked away. “Are you out of
your mind?”

“Obviously not as much as you are.”

“I can’t let you see her right now. Maybe later. Besides,
she’s probably asleep by now, anyway.” He’d left Amara alone for hours again.
He just didn’t know what to do with her. Taking out his revenge would be so
much easier if he could be in the same room with her and not want to take her
to bed.

Ellie stood in front of him, her hands on her hips. She
cocked her head to the side, probably trying to read more into the situation
than what was actually there. He shook his head. “Knock it off. I’m not going
to hurt her.”

He knew it, and so did Ellie. She’d known him long enough to
know he wasn’t capable of physically hurting a woman, at least not in a
malicious way. Ellie was a friend. She didn’t need to know anything about his
sex life.

That was the main reason he couldn’t keep Amara. Human women
tended to get hurt with vampires. It wasn’t intentional; in highly physical or
emotional situations control was an elusive thing.

Ellie pursed her lips and stared at him for what seemed like
an eternity. Finally she sighed heavily. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

He laughed. “Of course I do.”

No. He didn’t. He’d made a stupid mistake, but he didn’t
want to change it. He
wanted
Amara here, as crazy as this whole thing
sounded.

“All right. I guess I should get back to my grandmother
before she burns her house down again. Maybe one of these days you can help me
convince her to move back to Massachusetts with me. Then I wouldn’t have to
make so many trips all the way out here.” Ellie walked to the door.

“Yeah, I could probably do that. Of course, I’d miss your
visits.”

“You could always move back, too.”

“Nah. I really like California.”
Liar
. “I don’t want
to have to move back and deal with the snow.”

Ellie saw right through him. “You just don’t want to deal
with my family trying to take care of you. I know they can get a little
obnoxious, but they really do mean well.”

True. There was something about having four grown women
fighting over who got to be your surrogate mother that had a guy looking for a
place to hide.

“Thanks again for your help, Ellie.”

“You know I’d do anything for you. Well, almost.” She kissed
his cheek. “You know, one of these days I might just collect on one of those
favors you owe me. They just keep adding up.”

He did owe Ellie a lot. A few times over the years when he’d
been hurt, she’d given him a place to stay and helped him recuperate. Not to
mention the woman was a miracle worker with computers. She’d helped him with an
identity change a time or two. He’d be glad to do anything she needed, just not
right now. At the moment, he had his hands full with a strong-willed actress,
and he didn’t know what to do about her.

Grabbing the shopping bags Ellie had brought, he made his
way up to his bedroom where Amara was probably fuming by now. Hours ago, she’d
told him she wanted to shower. It wasn’t his fault Ellie had taken forever to
do the shopping he’d asked her to do.

The woman was lucky Ellie had even been in town. Most of the
time she lived in New England, in the same tiny little coastal town where he’d
met her years ago. She was only in California occasionally to visit her aging,
slightly senile grandmother. If Ellie had been in Stone Harbor instead of
California, he would have had a serious problem.

* * * * *

This was just wrong. She’d waited forever, and he still hadn’t
returned with anything for her to wear. Well, she’d waited as long as she
could, and she’d had it with feeling like a disgusting, unclean slime-ball. She’d
just have to take a shower first, and wrap up in the sheets or something until
he did what he promised.

She stepped into the adjoining bathroom and turned the water
on as hot as she could without burning her skin. She stripped, tossing her
dirty clothes into the corner of the room. He could pick them up later,
assuming he ever decided to come back up here.

She stood under the hot spray, letting the water run over
her hair and body. She washed her hair, taking her time, and then hiked the
temperature up another notch. It would serve him right if he ran out of hot
water, with all he was putting her through.

After at least a half-hour, she turned off the water and got
out. She dried off with a big towel and finger-combed her hair the best she
could, since she didn’t see a brush lying around anywhere. Not wanting to share
a toothbrush with a crazy stranger, she squirted toothpaste onto her finger and
did the best she could. By the time she was done she felt a tiny bit better, at
least until she stepped into the bedroom and a strange wave of dizziness hit
her.

She sank down on the bed and took a couple of deep breaths.
It was probably going from the steam-filled bathroom to the cooler, dry air in
the bedroom that had done it. She’d probably be fine in another minute.

She wasn’t. She’d meant to wrap something around her, but
she couldn’t manage to get her muscles to move. Her arms were leaden and her
head felt like it was stuffed with cotton balls. She let her body drop back to
the bed, hoping whatever was happening would pass quickly so she could get
properly covered up before he came back. This
would
be the time he’d
burst through the door, when she was lying naked on his bed and too tired, too
boneless to do anything about it.

Lying back on the mattress helped a little. She didn’t feel
any less dizzy, but at least she didn’t have to fight with her body to stay
upright. She drew in a couple of deep, slow breaths, but they only served to
increase the numb feeling in her limbs. She felt like she’d been sleep-deprived
for a week.

She pulled the sheet over her body, knowing she should have
gotten dressed in the clothes she had available. Even dirty, they were better
than nothing. Instead, she let go, giving in to this strange, new sensation. It
was like she was no longer in control of her body—something else was there now,
taking her over. She should fight it, but she was too tired to care.

* * * * *

Marco paused in the bedroom door, not sure if he should
enter or leave. Amara was reclined on the bed, eyes closed, the sheet draped
loosely over her body. The door to the attached bathroom was open, the light on
and a towel crumpled on the floor. Apparently she hadn’t wanted to wait for
clean clothes to take her shower.

Her still-damp hair fanned across the pillow, her natural
color a brilliant contrast to the stark white sheets. Her body was firm and
toned, yet retained the hourglass figure it was hard to find on woman these
days. He took a deep breath, remembering a time when women actually coveted a
body like Amara’s. He missed those times terribly.

Her arm was resting across her chest, the sheet obstructing
his view of her ample breasts. He licked his lips, wanting badly to taste her.
His pulse sped up at just the thought.

“Are you going to stand there all night, or are you going to
come inside?” She startled him when she spoke.

He took a second to gather his control before he responded. “I
thought you were sleeping. I have the clothes you asked for.”

“I didn’t ask. You offered.” She sighed, her chest rising
and falling with the deep breath. “It’s the least you can do, you know, since
you’re holding me captive and all.”

The more he heard it, the more ridiculous it sounded, but he
couldn’t do anything about that now. He wasn’t about to admit he was wrong, at
least not in this lifetime.

“Are you okay?” He even surprised himself with his concern
for her.

“No. I’m not. Is your shower gel laced with some kind of
drug or something?” She spoke slowly, quietly, almost like she’d just woken up.

He shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I can’t move. I can’t think straight. Everything is cloudy.”
She drew in a ragged breath. “Did you drug me in any way?”

“I wouldn’t do that.” His reply was harsher than he’d
intended. “Are you getting sick?” That was just what he needed right now, on
top of everything else—a sick human. “Do you want me to see if I can get you
some medicine?”

“For what? The only symptom I have is this tiredness… I can’t
even explain this. Just forget it.” She was silent for a long time before she
finally spoke again. “Why me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you choose me? With all those woman out there, I
should think a good- looking guy like you wouldn’t have to resort to kidnapping
to get one.”

He laughed softly, wondering when his irritation with her
had begun mixing with admiration. She was emotionally a lot stronger than he’d
imagined. “It was a moment of weakness.”

“Weak? Ha! It was more like a moment of being a domineering
jerk.” Her arm dropped and the sheet slipped from her breasts. His mouth went
dry at the sight of her distended nipples. He licked his lips again and fought
to keep his fangs retracted. God, what he wouldn’t give for a little taste of
her right now. Just a tiny bit.

He mentally slammed the door on such thoughts. Amara was not
his to taste. She was here to learn, and that was all.
Keep your mind on the
goal, buddy. She’s not here to be your personal plaything.

“Do you hate humans or something?”

Her question took him by surprise. He didn’t
hate
anything; it was far too strong of a word. “Why would I? I was human once.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

He didn’t think he liked the answer rattling around in his
brain—the one that said it was his quickly growing obsession with her that had
driven him to do something insane like kidnap her from her home in the middle
of the day.

An obsession with a human woman would be his downfall. He’d
seen it happen enough times to know that it almost never ended well. The only
hope would be for her to agree to turn—

This train of thought was clearly in need of derailment. He
couldn’t go on letting the fact that her naked body was right there for his
taking distract him. He had to keep his head straight, or she was going to take
advantage.

She shifted on the bed. “I’m not going to be making any more
of those movies, you know, so this little learning experience of yours is kind
of a moot point.”

“Why not?”

She sighed again, and he fought the very strong urge to go
to her. He lost the battle with his fangs. He wanted so badly to sink them into
her neck. Her skin was so smooth and creamy, so inviting…

“I got canned. That’s why I’m not doing any more Midnight
movies.” There was a hitch in her voice and she shivered a little. “I’ve been
looking for another career.”

He tried to tell himself he didn’t care, but his curiosity
got the better of him. “What happened?”

“The producers wanted to capitalize even more on the success
of the stupid movies, so they decided to make the next one rated X.”

He winced at the thought, but he didn’t want to define why. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. And what’s worse is my costar, my ex-fiancé, was
all for it. It turns out he got his kicks screwing women on camera, and other
men in our bedroom.” She laughed, but thought she was on the verge of tears. “So
I guess that’s it. I suppose you can let me go home now, I no longer need any
hands-on training.”

The tears she’d been fighting started and he didn’t know
what to do. He understood a little more now why she hadn’t looked at him. “It
must kill you to have to be so strong all the time.”