INTO THE FIRE (Forbidden Love) (2 page)

Her secrets were something she wasn’t ready for anyone to know. Not now, not ever. She had moved every two years like clockwork, just to make sure that she didn’t get too close to anyone. Sometimes she was forced to move sooner if someone or something started to raise suspicions. It wasn’t a great life, but it served its purpose. No one could know her. No one could know what she was. It was safer that way, for her and for everyone else.

She drove her piece of shit car to the bookstore where she worked. She was already late, and hopefully her boss would understand. But if he didn’t, well, it wouldn’t be the first time she had to start over.

Leigh walked to the doors and entered without hesitation. She was surprised that Hank, her boss, had let the matter go with little question. She watched him leave her alone in the store, then let out a relieved breath. Since it was a week night, the store would be slow for the evening.

She found herself thinking about her vampire stalker. It was a shame, really, that she couldn’t afford any complications. He was cute. More than cute, actually. Her sharp eyes had seen enough of him to know that he was one helluva dish. She had imagined running her hands through that dark hair, wondered if it was as sleek and soft as it looked. He was tall, with broad, strong shoulders, a trim waist and long, long legs. He had eyes the color of melted caramel, or warm whiskey. Light brown just wouldn’t be an accurate description of those eyes. In fact, it would be insulting. And his face! It was the face of an angel! Most likely the one that was cast out of Heaven.

Just thinking about him made her insides turn to mush, and she didn’t even have a clue who he was. And thinking about all the things he could do with those long fingers or with his pouty bottom lip made her shiver in a very good way.

Yes, definitely a distraction.

Which is why she had gone to the detective. She had to stop this madness. She didn’t know what he wanted from her, if anything, but it had to stop before she did something she would come to regret.

Like invite him in.

What would it be like to kiss those delectable lips? Would he be gentle, or demanding? Would he notice that her body temperature ran hotter than most people’s? Would he notice how her scent changed with her mood? Of course he would. Everyone knew that vampires had a very perceptive set of senses. But the real question was would he care? Or would he still want her anyway?

She imagined running her hands all over that strong body. She imagined tasting his lips. She imagined that he would enjoy it when she sank her teeth into his shoulder, marking him as hers for all time….

Her cell phone rang, interrupting her fantasy.

She answered it in a hurry. “Yeah?”

“Leigh, it’s Samuel. Listen, I talked to Angel Knight, and he’s going to put one of his men on detail for you. He said to tell you not to worry if you don’t see anyone, because he will stay out of sight. But we
will
find out who is following you.”

“Thanks,” she said into the receiver. “Tell him that I really appreciate it.”

“Rest well tonight, Leigh,” Samuel said, “You’re safe.”

“Goodnight, Detective,” Leigh said before hanging up. She was happy that this was going to end. Wasn’t she? Then why did she all of the sudden feel so damned disappointed?

TWO

“Don’t worry, you’re safe,” Leigh sarcastically grumbled under her breath as she stomped her way to the front gates of the Knight Estate. “We will find him. Our man hasn’t seen anything out of the ordinary...” she huffed. “What a big fat crock of shit. I swear men are totally fucking useless. It’s just like it’s always been. If you want something done right, you should do it yourself.” Of course, if she tried to take care of her stalker problem herself, her secret would be out. Merrick would find her. It was a risk she couldn’t take.

She stopped at the guard to tell him her name and show ID. Then she had to wait for the man to get approval to let her in. They’d better let her in. Leigh was fuming. For the last week her stalker had not disappeared. In fact, he made no secret that he was following her. He had gone from standing in the shadows to leaning against her car. Samuel assured her that Angel Knight had put a man on her. So where the hell was he? And why couldn’t he see the man who was blatantly following her?

She wasn’t concerned that her long distance admirer was following her now, because it was still daylight. But it wouldn’t be for much longer. Leigh knew that just because vampires didn’t go out in the sun didn’t mean that they weren’t awake. It was late enough in the day that Mr. Angel Knight, California Vampire Clan Leader and Rock Star would be up. If he wasn’t, he sure the hell was going to get his celebrity ass up out of bed to listen to her.

He had to. She had no where else to turn.

Apparently, though, Angel thought enough of her situation to allow her into his home. The guard waved her in as the iron gates opened. She didn’t bother trying to get her car inside, instead opting to just stomp her way to the door. If he was looking out one of those exceptionally dark tinted windows, he would see her approaching and he would know just how pissed off she really was.

The driveway was well kept, with flowers and shrubs growing along the sides. The house itself was nice too. It had a strange sort of ivy growing on the walls, and that, coupled with the tall, darkly tinted windows, almost made it look like a castle. It really was a nice house.

When Leigh reached the front door, a petite red-head opened it before she could even knock.

“Welcome, Miss Harmond,” the woman said. “I’m Brea, Angel’s wife. Please, come in.” She opened the door wide and made an enter motion with her arm.

Leigh followed the woman inside. She had the prettiest hair, Leigh mused as she walked behind her. It was Christmas red and spiraled down her back like curling ribbon. She was about the same height as Leigh, only she was thinner and prettier.

She led Leigh into a sitting room and offered her a seat. “Would you like something to drink?” Brea asked. Leigh shook her head. She wasn’t sure she wanted anything that would be found in a vampire’s house.

“Will Angel be along soon?” Leigh asked.

“Yes, he’s getting dressed. I was already up because I had to take our daughter to school today. The guard insisted that you were very upset. Angel takes his job very seriously and he wants to meet with you.”

“I bet, seeing as how his man isn’t doing his job,” Leigh grumbled.

“I don’t understand it,” Brea agreed. “Rebel is very good at what he does. I can’t imagine how the vampire who’s harassing you keeps slipping by him.”

“Nor can I,” a deep male voice said. Leigh turned her head to see the legendary Angel Knight standing in the doorway. Although she had never met him before, Leigh knew what he looked like. Long black hair that reached his belt, emerald green eyes that could make a woman swoon with just one look. His mug had been plastered all over the TV and the internet, along with several of his band mates. But in person, wow. He was gorgeous personified.

“Welcome to my home, Leigh,” he said, extending his hand to her. Leigh took it. Angel held her hand longer than necessary, cocking his head to the side. The look on his face was slightly confused. Leigh knew he was studying her, trying to figure her out. Although she didn’t feel any sign of him trying to read her mind, Leigh slammed all of her mental barriers into place anyway. What went on in her mind was none of his damned business.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Leigh said, tugging her hand away from him. There was no mistaking that he knew something was different about her.

“You are not human,” Angel said. It was a statement of fact. Not a question. “Your scent is unique, though similar to one I know. But your skin is warm to the touch, but not sweaty or clammy. Just warmer than most. How very interesting.”

“Who do you know?” Leigh asked. Did he know Merrick? God, she hoped not. That would just blow everything all to shit. She hadn’t spent years hiding from the ass munch just to have him find her now.

“His name is Phoenix. He is a true firebird. He has that same campfire scent that you have, only a little different. You have a slight sulfur scent as well. Are you related, perhaps?”

Leigh shook her head and let out her breath. She hadn’t realized that she had been holding it. “I’m afraid not,” she said. “I don’t have any living relatives.” It wasn’t a lie. Her family was long dead.

“What exactly are you?” Angel asked. Leigh stiffened.

She steeled her nerves and deliberately shook off his question. “Let’s not worry about what I am. I am the
victim
here. I am here because
your
man isn’t doing his job. Stalker boy is still watching me. It’s very unnerving.” Leigh crossed her arms over her chest. The motion was just as much to protect herself as it was defiance. “I just want him gone. So I came to ask you myself to put someone different on it. Someone this jerk can’t hide from.”

Angel thought for a moment, and then said, “I will ask Rebel to come down. I am not sure how your ‘stalker boy’ is eluding him. It is very rare for a vampire to be able to hide from us.”

Angel looked like he was concentrating for just a second, and then returned to the conversation. “He will be down soon,” he said. “Tell me about yourself, Leigh.”

“What’s there to say?” Leigh asked. “I’m just a bookstore employee. I work too much and I am still broke. You already know where I live. What else is there to tell?”

“Is there an ex-boyfriend that might have someone watching you?” Angel asked.

Ha! It had been so long since she was even close to a man that she had forgotten what it was like. “No,” she answered. Merrick was the only one even close, and that relationship existed only in his own mind. But Merrick wouldn’t employ a vampire to do his dirty work. Even if he had, he would have made his move by now. Merrick wouldn’t have waited weeks to take action.

Angel opened his mouth to say something else, but no sound came out. Instead, his eyes were trained on something behind Leigh. She turned.

He
stood there in the doorway, staring back at her in a combination of surprise and guilt. One look at his dark hair and whiskey eyes and she knew exactly who he was. His exquisite eyes had a definite look of hunger in them. As if he wanted to eat her up. Literally. He was wearing well worn jeans and a tight black t-shirt that stretched across his lean torso like a lover’s caress. For just a second Leigh gave herself an inner sigh. He was so yummy. What a shame he was crazy. Leigh jumped to her feet. “You!” she snapped. “You’re the one!”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Rebel answered. He leaned against the door jamb and crossed his muscular arms over his chest. He plastered a blank expression on his wretchedly handsome stupid face.

The smell of sulfur thickened in the air and the temperature in the room rose a good twenty degrees. Leigh rose to her full height, all of five foot six, and purposefully stalked over to where Rebel stood. Her pupils had constricted to narrow slits within the yellow irises. She pulled her right hand back, curled it into a fist, and let it snap forward. She connected with his chin. Hard. Rebel’s head snapped back, he stumbled, and then dropped to the floor. Holy. Fucking. Shit. She had knocked him out. Oh no, that wasn’t good. No no no. Not good at all.

No sooner than she realized that what she had done, Angel was behind her, restraining her. “What the fuck was that?” he snarled. It took all of her self control not to fight him. “Why did you lay him out? He was trying to protect you.”

“No, that’s stalker boy. He’s the jackass who’s been following me for weeks now.” She struggled a little against Angel’s iron grip. “No wonder he never saw anything! You sent him out to watch for himself!”

Angel let her go. “He’s the one who has been watching you?” he asked with both brows raised. What? Was it so damned hard to believe?

“I am one hundred percent positive.”

“
Merde
, this does make things different,” Angel mused. “I can assure you, he will cause you no harm. I have been with Rebel for centuries. He is a dear friend and brother to me.”

“Whatever, I don’t care.” Leigh straightened out her clothes while she talked. “To me, he’s psycho stalker-boy. Get him to knock it the hell off. So long as he leaves me alone, I don’t care who he is.”

“I will have a good talk with him as soon as he wakes up,” Angel promised. He noticed that Brea was smiling. “Nice right hook, by the way. Are you sure you don’t want to tell me what you are? It’s not everyday a woman knocks a vampire on his ass.”

“I should go,” Leigh said, avoiding the request. “Now.” She turned and headed for the door.

“Leigh,” Brea said, coming up behind her, “Here, this is my cell number. Call me if you need anything at all.” Leigh took the small piece of paper from Brea. Not that she would ever use it, but it was the polite thing to do. She left the Knight Estate without a backward glance.

THREE

Oh no, oh no, oh no. What had she done? She used her strength without thinking, that’s what she had done. Leigh berated herself the whole way back to her small apartment. She hadn’t lost her temper in years. And then, with just one look at the man who had been stalking her, wham! Just like that.

Not that he didn’t deserve to be laid out, because he did. Her stalker was none other than Rebel, guitar player for Angel Knight. No last name, just like Prince. Just Rebel. He was a damned rock star! Why would he even look her way? He could stalk any woman he wanted, and they would welcome it! But did he do that? No! He had to go and stalk the one woman in the whole freaking world who didn’t want his attention.

And now, she had crossed a line that she had dared not cross before. Merrick would surely find her now! Every time she used her power, the atmosphere rippled a little. More if she used more power. Merrick would surely feel it, no matter how far away he was.

Once inside her apartment, Leigh did the only thing she could do. She started packing. The only option left for her was to leave and start over somewhere else. She would get a new name. A new job. A new place to live. She rushed about, shoving only the necessities into her suitcase before slamming it shut and running out the door. She jumped into her car and drove off into the approaching night.