Free Vampires Are Forever by Lynsay Sands Page B

sharply back to Thomas as she said, “It was blessed by the pope.”
     
    Thomas raised an eyebrow at the claim and asked with interest, “Which one? The new one or the one before him?”
     
    Inez hesitated, wondering if one had been holier than the other, and then lied and covered her basis by saying, “Both.”
     
    Thomas gave a little laugh and shook his head, murmuring, “It’s going to be a long trip,” as the doors opened and he followed the older couple on board the elevator.
     
    Inez followed, thinking that he was right. She felt like she’d aged ten years in the last few minutes. It was going to be a long flight indeed.
     
    They rode down to the main floor and crossed the lobby in silence. It wasn’t until Inez had followed Thomas into the back of a taxi that he spoke again, and then it was to mutter, “We’ll have to buy you some perfume when we get to the airport.”
     
    Inez’s eyes sharpened on him suspiciously. “Why?”
     
    “Because I can smell your fear, Inez, and it’s making me want to kiss and comfort you,” he admitted easily.
     
    Inez’s eyes widened, her mind dragging up memories of his arms around her, his mouth on hers, the passion coursing through her as he’d kissed and caressed her and then the overwhelming pleasure and excitement as he’d bit her. She was hard-pressed not to slide across the seat and plaster herself to him as the memories assaulted her. She’d enjoyed his touch and even his bite until she’d realized he was biting her.
     
    Shaking away the memories, Inez focused on him again, suspecting he was somehow putting those thoughts and sensations in her mind, somehow making her want him. This was a much more dangerous trip than she’d first realized.
     
    “London Gatwick Airport,” Thomas instructed the driver and Inez watched him silently as she sank back in her seat. When she saw him inhale, his nose quivering slightly, she frowned and wondered if he still smelled fear, or if he could differentiate that from the desire that had shot through her as she recalled their earlier embrace. When she saw the small smile that tugged at his lips and noted that his eyes—normally a beautiful silver blue—now flared more silver, as if filled with fire, she felt herself blush, sure he had picked up on her desire.
     
    Her eyes widened with alarm when Thomas eased a little closer on the seat until his hand brushed lightly against the side of her upper thigh. The light touch immediately sent up a clamoring in her body that was alarming in its strength.
     
    “Get your soulless butt back on the other side of the seat,” she hissed, glancing nervously at the back of the driver’s head. Surely he wouldn’t try to bite her right here with the driver in front of them?
     
    “Sorry,” he murmured. “I thought…”
     
    Thomas didn’t finish the sentence, but moved away and turned his head to peer out the window, as if he was trying to ignore her presence in the car. She decided to wait until they reached the airport to ask for the explanations he’d promised her. For now she was content to let him ignore her. It was incredibly disturbing to realize she was lusting after a dead, soulless thing.
     
    Frowning, Inez peered over him, taking in his strong, pale features. He wasn’t pale like the dead, but pale like a man who spent little time out in the sun. There was a healthy pink glow to his cheeks and she wondered grimly if it was her blood that had given it to him.
     
    She stiffened as his nose quivered again and he glanced her way so that she caught a glimpse of the silver fire in his eyes. Inez shrank back into the cushioned seat, feeling like a cornered cat. Fortunately, he immediately turned his gaze away again and she was able to relax a little.
     
    Watching him warily, she decided his idea hadn’t been a bad one. The first thing she was going to do when they reached the airport, was visit duty free and buy a bottle of perfume. Inez didn’t want him being