Out of the Dark (Forbidden Love) (23 page)

     Knowing he had much work to catch up on, Angel slipped out of bed.  He was careful not to wake Brea.  He snuck out of his room without seeing the smile Brea was trying to hide in the pillow.

     Angel had slept longer than he had meant to.  By the time he was showered and dressed, it was nearly six thirty.  The sun was had not yet set, but it would soon.  Ricco was waiting for him in his office when Angel got there.

     “Detective Corbin came by today,” Ricco told him. 

     “Yeah?  What did he have to say?” Angel asked.  Ricco told him about the detective’s visit, and his predicament. 

     “He needs a team of vampires to help.  I told him you would call tonight.”

      “Sure, I’m on it.”  And Angel was.  He immediately turned on his computer and began compiling a list of prospects.  Angel had begun contacting each one by phone when he felt a small pair of hands on his shoulders.

      He hadn’t noticed Brea come
in, he was so wrapped up in his work.  He laid his own hand over hers and continued his phone conversation.  Brea remained silent as he talked, massaging his shoulders all the while.  When Angel finally signed off, Brea wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.

     “Busy night?” she asked in his ear.  Her breath sent little shivers down his spine.

     “Yeah,” he said.  He explained what was going on with the detective, and how Angel was trying to help.

     “Got anybody yet?”

     “I think I have four now, and one more once he calls me back.  It’s hard to find vampires that are willing to work with human police, and much harder to find ones I trust.  But it’ll get done.”

     “You haven’t had dinner yet, have you?” Brea asked.

     “No, but I’m fine.  I’ll grab a steak later.”

      “That’s not what I meant and you know it,” Brea smiled.  “Do you need blood?”

     “No, not yet.  I still have some in the fridge for later.”

     “Oh,” Brea said.  Was that disappointment Angel sensed from her?

     “Unless you are feeling up to it,” he said, hopeful.

     “You’re incorrigible, you know that?” she laughed.
  The sight of her genuine smile made Angel feel all warm and tingly inside.  This was the first time she had graced him with her smile since she returned to his home.  He pulled her arm from around his neck and scooted back his chair. 

     “Sit with me,” he suggested, motioning to his lap.  To his surprise, Brea did.  She sat on his legs with her legs draped over the side of his chair.  He put one arm behind her back and the other over her legs.  He looked into her pretty violet eyes for a long moment, admiring her beauty before saying anything.  There were so many things he wanted to say, so many things he wanted to do.  But all of them required her permission.  The tension between the two was so thick he could have cut it with a knife.  He wondered if she wanted to touch him as badly as he wanted to touch her.  From the look in her eyes and the slight part of her lips, he thought probably so.

     “May I kiss you?” he asked.

     Brea nodded her approval.  Angel lowered his head and brought his lips down on Brea’s.  He moved gently, carefully. 
He kissed her for all it was worth, and when he stopped to nibble on her lower lip, she moaned into his mouth.  “More,” she whispered.  Angel was too happy to oblige.  He kissed her jaw and her neck, paying special attention to the hollow behind her ear. 

     She twisted her fingers in his hair and held him securely to her skin.  “Still not hungry?” she asked when his tongue swept over her pulse.

     “Mmmm,” was his reply.  Was she offering what he thought?  His hold on her tightened as he continued showering her with his kiss.

     “Do it,” she breathed.  “I want you to.”

     “Really?”

      “Don’t make me change my mind,” she warned him.  Angel did not need any further encouragement.  He laved his tongue over her pulse, weaving his own fingers in her hair.  When she
sighed her pleasure, he sank his fangs into her neck with skill and precision.  Her life blood poured into his mouth, sweeter than life itself.

     Brea hadn’t intended to offer Angel her throat.  When he kissed her, her body came alive.  As hard as it was for her to admit it, Angel made her feel good.  It wasn’t like when she had her blood drawn for him, or even when she forced his fangs into her wrist.  No matter where he bit her, it caused her body to react in a wonderfully violent fashion.  Her pulse raced, her body warmed, and very sensual pleasure spread throughout her body. 
And no matter where it happened, it never failed to start a fire in her panties.

     Angel made sure to close the wound he had opened, but still continued to kiss and lick her throat until he was sure there was not a drop spilled.  He knew it was pleasurable for a human, but the effect it had on him when he bit Brea
was unlike anything he had ever known.  He had fed from willing humans in the past, but none had ever brought forth such an intense reaction from his groin. 

     Brea had moved so that she was sitting astride Angel, and she proceeded to lavish kisses on his neck.  Angel had two handfuls of her backside, moving her hips so that she rubbed against him.  Had she finally surrendered?  God, he hoped so.  He wanted her so badly.

     But some rude individual had the audacity to knock on the door.  Brea lifted her head and Angel groaned.  Whoever it was couldn’t possibly have worse timing.

     “Come in,” Brea said without changing her position.

     “Angel, we got that track down if you,” Sebastian said, coming through the door.  He paused when he saw the position they were in.  “Want to listen to it,” he finished slowly.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Sebastian actually blushed.

     “No, you’re fine,” Brea said, lifting herself out of Angel’s lap.  “You guys have
work to do and so do I.  I’ll see you later,” she said to Angel as she left the room.

     “I really am sorry,” Sebastian chuckled.  The look on Angel’s face said it all.
  With a not so quiet groan, Angel dropped his head to his desk.  It landed with a thud.

    “I swear, she’s doing it on purpose,” he groaned.

     “What?” Sebastian asked as if he didn’t already know.

“Nothing.
  I got to call Detective Corbin, then I’ll be there to listen to what you’ve got.

TWENTY SEVEN

     Chase stood in front of the hostess stand at Rhino’s.  Would the hostess never return to her post?  He had been standing there for at least five minutes.  From what he could see, the restaurant was busy.  Surely on a night as busy as this, all the employees would be working.  His plan was simple:  Get a table in the red head’s section, follow her home, and take her. 
Easy as pie.  If he could only get a seat!

     The hostess finally returned, and smiled at Chase as if she were only gone a few seconds instead of a completely inexcusable amount of time.  She was short and petite, but pretty enough.  She weighed maybe a total of one hundred pounds, and only if she was soaking wet and wearing every stitch of clothing she owned.

     “Welcome to Rhino’s,” she chimed, “Table for one?”

     “Yes,” Chase replied, smiling back at the girl.  Yes,
should would make a tasty snack.  “But I would like to sit with a specific server.  She’s about this tall,” he said, holding his hand in the air to mimic the girl’s height.  “Very red hair and pretty.”

     “Oh, you must be talking about Brea.  I’m sorry but she’s not here tonight.  She’s on vacation.”

     “Too bad,” Chase said with a smile.  It was all he could do not to snarl at the poor girl.  “Any table will do then,” he resigned.  At least he may be able to get more information from whomever his server might be.

     Chase followed the small woman to a table in the corner.  It was only a matter of seconds before a male server introduced himself.  He was quite pretty for a man, with blonde hair and brown eyes.  He was tall enough, but he carried himself in a light on his feet fashion.  Brandon, he said his name was.  Chase hastily ordered and waited.

     When Brandon delivered the steak, Chase took what was probably the only opportunity he would get to ask about Brea.  “Do you know the red head who works here?” he asked.  “Her name is Brea, I think.”
     Brandon narrowed his eyes and stared at Chase.  “Yeah, I know her.  Why? You lookin for her?”

     “I have seen her in here before, and well,” Chase feigned shyness.  “I thought I would like to
meet her.”

    
“What for?” Brandon demanded.  Was this man her friend? He seemed awfully protective of her.

     “She is very pretty,” Chase replied.  “I thought if she was single, I might ask her out.”

     “Well, I can help you out.  She’s not single.  In fact, she’s dating Angel Knight.” Brandon retorted.  It was obvious that he did not trust Chase, and with good reason.

     Pretending not to hear the warning in Brandon’s tone, Chase continued.  “So when might she be here?”

     “I told you man, she’s taken.”

     “But I do enjoy a bit of competition,” Chase smiled.

     “I’m sorry, I can’t help you,” Brandon said politely.  “I’m not allowed to give out information about other employees.  That includes personal information as well as schedules.”

     “Too bad,” Chase said.

     “Isn’t it?” Brandon said over his shoulder as he turned to leave Chase’s table. 

    
Even though Brandon had not been willingly helpful, he had given Chase what he needed.  Brea, what a lovely name, he thought, would not be at work for a while.  She was likely staying with Angel.  That is where Chase would watch.  She would have to leave the estate sooner or later.  And when she did, Chase would know about it.  He felt it was time to enlist some of his human acquaintances.    There was forever a mix of adoring fans at the Knight Estate gates.  A few well placed spies would alert Chase if she left during the day.  And he would watch himself at night.

     Once he had proof that the mating was complete, he would strike.  With a smile, Chase dropped a bill on the table and left the dining establishment.

    
Who in their right mind played music that loud at three in the morning?  Vampires, that’s
who
, Brea told herself.  She had just settled in her room for a nap when it started.  All the time she had been in Angel’s home she had not heard any of their music.  Not that she wasn’t familiar with it, she had been a fan long before she met Angel.  But that wasn’t something that she advertised and Angel didn’t ask.

     The music filling the house was definitely Angel’s.  Brea recognized the style.  But it wasn’t any song she had ever heard before.  Deciding that it must be new, and that she wasn’t going to get a nap, Brea decided to check it out.

     She wandered into the wing of the house that held the studio.  Sebastian had explained to her once that due to the strange hours the guys kept, it was easier to have their own place to record and practice.  It made sense.  But Brea had never had a reason to visit the studio before that night.  She got turned around looking for the right room, but eventually she found it.

     Keelie and Ricco were standing next to a glass pane that separated them from the band.  Most of the band members were just standing there while the music blared in the
background.  Angel was wearing a pair of large headphones and singing into a microphone.  Brea could not hear what Angel was singing. 

     “Ok, this time we lay it down,” Sebastian said from the other side of the room.  He was sitting in front of a panel full of switches and knobs. 
Must be the mixing board, Brea thought.

     “Would you like to hear it?” he asked Brea.

     “Yeah, if the guys don’t mind.”

     Sebastian tapped a button and Brea could hear what the guys were saying on the other side of the sound proof glass.  They were talking idly amongst themselves.  Angel’s eyes caught hers and he gifted her with his winning smile.  “This is your song,” he said into the microphone while looking at Brea.

     Brea smiled.  It was cool to have someone dedicate a song to her, even better that it was Angel.  Everyone except Angel left the small room and joined Brea and everyone else.  The music started and Angel nodded his head in time with the beat.  When he heard his cue, Angel opened his mouth and started to sing.

     His voice was rich and sexy.  Brea listened to the words and felt the rest of the room slip away.  Even though the song clearly qualified as hard rock, it was a love song.  He was singing about needing her, about not wanting to breathe or dream without her.  He sang about adoring her.  It was then that Brea realized that he hadn’t just dedicated the song to
her, he had written it
for
her.  About her.

     “When did he write this?” she asked no one in particular. 

     “Just a few days ago,” someone answered.  Brea didn’t know who it was, nor did she care.  All she could concentrate on was Angel.  She unconsciously moved closer to the glass and put one hand on it.  Angel sang with so much emotion that Brea could feel it from him.  When the song was finished, Brea stood there watching Angel for who knows how long.