The Witch's Vampire (New Adult Paranormal Romance) (Mystery Springs Series) (19 page)

“What?”
Refuse my feelings and walk away from you?

“Smile.” He took a step toward her, his fingers aching to cup her cheek, but thinking better of the act and stepping back, dropping his hand to his side. “Your smile is brilliant and infectious.” He grinned shyly.
Good Gods!
She had him acting like a foolish school boy trying to win a secret crush.

Her smile faded. She hadn’t had a lot to smile about lately. But he gave her hope that things would get better. “I’ll reserve that smile just for you.” She joked trying to lighten the mood. What she really wanted to do was make him hers.

“Well,” he straightened his shirt and jacket. Sophie stepped forward to help him with his collar and as their hands brushed innocently together, passion ignited. He pulled her in and kissed her firmly on the lips. He didn’t deepen the kiss and neither did she. They both knew this was a kiss to seal the deal.

She allowed herself to sink into him for the briefest of moments, her mind raced to the possibilities of what they could be doing.

He pulled back. “I suppose I should make sure they haven’t sentenced my father to death, otherwise making plans for a dinner date are futile.” He grinned mischievously, but she saw the worry behind his grey eyes. He spun on his heel and headed for the door.

She jokingly said, “there’s always the true mate thing.”

And his hand froze. He turned back and spoke very slowly. “Don’t tease, Sophie.” A sadness touched his face and then he was gone.

Sophie braced herself against the urge to chase after him and shoo away all the sadness in his life. She wanted to lie in his arms and kiss his pain away. Her desire to feel his cold hands on her body was insane. She could imagine what it would be like to make love to him by the make-out sessions they shared – explosive. She’d even consider letting him drink from her and that scared her most of all.

She knew it would’ve been simple to say yes to the girlfriend commitment, but her life was in shambles, and she couldn’t step into that kind of commitment until she found a way to straighten things out; especially her mixed up feelings. Then, if she was still attracted to him, she’d find a way to pursue this connection between them. For now she needed to find a way to help Tiffany before it was too late. 

It was the second time in two days Giovanni found himself hating the idea of leaving Sophie alone. This time his protective nature wanted to keep her safe in her own home. But things had gone past protection. It took everything he had not to break down her door, tear her jeans and t-shirt from her body, and make love to her until she screamed her desire to be his girl. He could imagine his hands on her soft, olive skin learning every inch of her body slowly, painstakingly slowly. He needed to know what it would feel like to plunge into her body while drinking her blood. He could imagine the sounds of pleasure that he’d cause to escape from her lips as he lost himself in her body. He shook his head violently and bit down on his tongue to force the elongated incisors to retreat back into his gums. Something was obviously wrong with him; perhaps it was a good thing they gave each other space for the time being. He made his way down the stairs reluctantly. Giving Sophie every chance to run out and tell him she was wrong, but she never did. Deep down he was thankful she hadn’t, but his immediate emotions left him disappointed.

He heard the argument getting louder as he quickly made it to the living room. His extraordinary hearing told him that his father and Luke were losing the battle. He silently cursed his libido for enticing him to leave them in this serious situation without help.

“The unfortunate reality of the situation is that we cannot identify what or who provoked the attacks,” Eric pointed out.

“I think Sophie made a good argument.” Giovanni chimed in, making it apparent he’d returned to the debate. All eyes
- with varying emotions, turned in his direction.

“Some would say you’re too close to the situation,” Harmony, the Amazonian woman directed her concern his way.

“However close you think I am to the witch doctor is my business and of no consequence in these proceedings.” Giovanni defended himself.

“I was referring to your sire,” Harmony shot back. “But now that you opened that can of worms, it might be important to note you’re compromised two ways. Perhaps you should recuse yourself from this discussion.”

Giovanni ignored the angry glare from Gregor and argued, “Like hell! If I leave this trial there’d be no one defending my father.” He fisted his hands at his side, guilt taking a front row seat on his emotional rollercoaster. “I think you have enough evidence at this point to reconsider the punishment laid out before us.”

“I think we can all agree Luke and Gregor were attacked, but for the safety of all concerned they will continue to be detained. Is that fair?” Anastacia asked the group.

All said ‘yeah’ except Gio, who voted ‘nay’.

“Good, it’s settled.” Anastacia tapped the gavel against the table closing the case for now. Gio may not have liked the outcome, but at least the wolf and his father had been spared, for now.  

“And the nephilim?” Gio asked.

“We’ve called in a telepath.” AB answered firmly.

Gio felt a moment of pity for the young nephilim. Telepath’s were relentless in gathering information, and the ones the council often employed didn’t care about damaging the subject’s brain. While he and Dante had hurt his body in search of answers the telepath would unravel cupid boys mind and not care what else he or she destroyed in the process.

Deep down, he knew he should protest the use of such force, and it bugged him that Sophie had that kind of influence on him. He was someone to be feared, not someone who was sympathetic. He’d built a reputation, and in a few days the dark haired, green eyed vixen was reducing him to someone who’d ordinarily disgust him.

Regardless, his instincts told him he needed to find a way to help Christopher without ruining his reputation, and to avoid seeming weak in the eyes of the council. It would be easier that way. They’ve already made it clear that he had loyalties elsewhere. While there was truth to the accusation he was still committed to his place on the council. The safety of the town and its inhabitants came first. What the council didn’t understand was his loyalties at this moment were on the same path. They were the ones not seeing the truth of the matter. He nodded his head to the council, “I’ll have him brought back to headquarters.” He pulled the angel half-breed up out of his chair.

“No. Carter will take him, along with Luke and Gregor to the police station.” AB interrupted Giovanni from exiting with his prisoner.

Two Amazon women stepped to either side of him and waited for him to release Christopher. They towered over his six foot three inch frame. He released Christopher rather quickly.

“I think that would be good. Sorry, Gio but I have to agree with everyone else on this. You may be too close to the situation.” Eric offered as he patted Giovanni on the back.

Giovanni nodded stiffly. He’d have to find another way to rescue Christopher. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever expect to want to protect a possible hunter, but Sophie, and the feelings she elicited in him, made him want to be a better man in her eyes. He hated the way she seemed to be nervous or anxious around him at times. He also disliked being shoved aside which was what his long-time friends and fellow council members were doing.

“I’ve spoken to Sophie about proper protocol when addressing the council.” He grumbled. He needed to protect her and letting them know he’d dealt with the insubordination appropriately would keep her from seeing the council’s wrath – which could be merciless when warranted.

Chapter Twelve

The council dispersed quickly and Giovanni made his way from the room faster than most. He needed to find some privacy and put tog
ether a plan to save the idiot nephilim from untold punishment. He wanted Sophie to see him as more than a monster, and saving Christopher, while it was the right thing to do, might also win him points with his raven-haired nymph.

He felt a touch of guilt for lying to the council on reprimanding Sophie, but he knew it was necessary. At least they’d be happy they decided to give each other space. The space would keep him from having divided loyalties. But the space didn’t keep him from imagining how he could, and would, someday, take pleasure in making her scream his name in the throes of passion for all the trouble she has caused him. All of the ways, included touching her skin, which only pulled him deeper into the fantasy his mind was creating. He loved the heat her touch created between them. So much warmth for a man who’d been cold for so long. A harsh cold reality he’d simply accepted long ago as his own penance.

“Proper protocol?” Sophie stood in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest, and irritation written all over her beautiful face.

She startled him, stopping him in his tracks to search for an acceptable response. He was surprised to see the woman had followed him down the stairs, and he wondered if she knew the punishment Christopher was about to face.

Sophie narrowed her knowing green eyes on him. “Pray tell,”
dear Gods why am I speaking in old English?
“What is proper protocol?”

“Sophie,” he sighed heavily, “if I hadn’t addressed it they would’ve sent someone else to address it with you.” He moved closer, needing to touch her. He slipped his fingers into the belt loop of her jeans and pulled her waist against him. A mischievous smile made his lips twitch upward, “This new promise of cooling things off for a while is not going to work if you insist on looking at me with that disapproving glare.” He opened the door behind her and slipped them into the den. “If you insist on remaining in close proximity to me, flashing those beautiful green eyes in my direction I won’t be able to keep my hands off of you.” He whispered in her ear as he pressed her against the wall. Evidence of his attraction to her pressed into her body and a moan escaped her lips. She didn’t mean to, and she slapped her hand over her mouth immediately, but it was too late.

He nuzzled his lips against the skin of her neck and tingles of energy ran through her body. Normally, she was ticklish on her neck, but his touch sent passion through her, overriding the usual response from her sensitive skin. His lips kissed the apex of her neck and she almost lost it. His day’s growth of stubble scraped against her hyper-sensitive skin, and her knees went weak.

“You drive me mad with need.” His voice was raspy as he slipped a knee between hers to support her weak-legged response.

“Really? I don’t mean to.” She lied to him and herself. “If you’ll tell me what I’m doing wrong, I’ll stop.”
Please don’t stop.

For a moment longer he was lost in her honeyed scent, then her words funneled through his fuzzy brain, and he pulled his head back, shock in his eyes. “You really don’t know the power you have over me, do you?”

Sophie shook her head, her long black hair moving with the motion. She didn’t dare speak for fear her voice would give her desires away. If she had half the effect on him as he had on her he was a saint in pulling away.

That sexy grin tipped his lips upward again. “I could tell you, but I’d much rather show you.” He pressed her harder against the wall making it impossible for her to escape-not that she wanted to escape. His hands moved to her arms and caressed her skin soft as a feather sending involuntary shivers down her spine. His eyes grew darker, and bore into her soul as he pinned her to the wall with a simple look. One hand moved under her shirt and caressed her belly. Sophie felt herself losing control. With every touch her need for him grew. She wanted to touch him back, but every time she reached for him he snatched her hand, kissed the inside of her wrist, and put it back down at her side. He was forcing her to feel his need for her, and enjoy his touch.

His hand moved up her stomach and with two fingers he unclasped her bra. Thankful she was wearing a front clasp. A gasp left her lips, and he covered the sound with his mouth. Every part of her body ached for his subtle seduction, his gentle touch. She pushed her chest forward, her breasts aching for his cold caress. But he held back. “I feel your need for me, I can smell your desire, taste the urgency in your kiss and body language, but do you feel my desire for you?” He asked, really needing her to know he wanted her.