"Yes, you will."
Sarah trembled at the heat in those three words and wondered if she'd finally lost her mind for real, just as her parents and her therapists had thought she had way back when.
Raj stood back and watched Sarah drive out of the parking lot. He found himself eager for their next meeting, and not just because he was attracted to her, although, there was no question about that. In fact, his feelings for her went a little deeper than he was comfortable with. He'd wanted her in New York. If not for her rather unique position at the time, as a member of Raphael's entourage, he'd have taken her. But she wasn't with Raphael anymore. The scent of her perfume lingered and he grinned. Oh, yes, he was definitely going to taste his sweet Sarah, and very soon, too.
But he was also curious about what she was hiding. And she was definitely hiding something. He could have taken it from her mind easily. The lightest exploratory touch had already told him she was amazingly susceptible to his will, maybe more so than most humans. But it also told him she was both physically and emotionally exhausted from whatever secret she was keeping. A secret Raj would uncover before too long.
Of course, it didn't hurt that the secret came wrapped in a package he intended to unwrap slowly and with great relish. He wouldn't take her quickly, as he did the women he drank from usually, not like that woman in the bar earlier. Raj didn't pretend to be anything but what he was. He was a predator and humans were his prey. And he was very good at what he did. But for some reason he didn't want to trick Sarah Stratton into doing his bidding. He wanted her to go with him knowingly, to invite him into her home because she wanted him there, not because her mind was clouded with lust. Although, she did desire him already. She hadn't completely surrendered to it yet, but the subtle notes of her body told him she would soon. He smiled to himself. Oh, yes, he was going to enjoy unwrapping Sarah Stratton very much indeed.
Chapter Fourteen
"Fucking Commissioner's throwing a wild card at us, Dan.” Raj heard Scavetti's blustering from down the hall. “Captain says he didn't know about it until a few minutes ago, but he could be lying through his teeth, covering his own ass. They want in on the meeting."
"What meeting and who wants in on it?” Raj asked, strolling into the conference room.
Scavetti gave him a scathing look. “Just a quick bite, huh, Gregor?"
"You're a crude man, Scavetti,” Raj said, not even glancing at the detective as he dropped into a chair at the end of the table, leaving a wall at his back and his face to the open door. “But Felder here seems like a decent sort, so I'll assume that you're a good cop.” He leaned back into the chair, perfectly at ease. “Shall we continue?"
"You got somewhere else to be, vampire?"
Raj gave him a smug glance. “I do now."
"Son of a bitch,” Scavetti muttered. “What is it about vampires and women?” He shook his head in disgust, but his voice held an undercurrent of admiration that he couldn't disguise.
Raj permitted himself a slight smile, knowing it would irritate Scavetti. The burly detective responded on cue, giving him a final glare before turning his delightful personality on his partner. “Cowens and Blackwood are in on the meeting."
"Do they know—” Felder began.
"That we have one of the bloodsuckers here? Yeah, they know. No offense,” he added, giving Raj a look that made it clear offense was very much intended.
"Mr. Gregor—” Dan Felder started.
"Call me Raj."
"Raj?” Tony drawled, stretching out the single syllable.
"A nickname, Detective. We bloodsuckers are quite big on them."
Scavetti's eyes went flat as he tried to decide if he was being played, but Felder intervened once again. “Come on, Tony. Mr. Gregor . . . er, Raj is here to help us. We asked him to come down here, remember?"
Raj pitied Felder, having to work every day with such a noisome partner. But the truth was he did have an interest in getting this case solved quickly, so he tried to be more diplomatic. “Lord Krystof is very interested in resolving this matter, gentlemen. He's asked me to assist in any way I can."
"Lord Krystof, huh?” Scavetti sneered predictably. “Well, isn't that f**king sweet. I thought we were in America, Dan."
"Jesus Christ, Tony, what the hell is wrong with you?” Evidently even Dan Felder could only take so much.
Scavetti snapped his mouth shut, sucking back whatever he'd been about to say. He scowled at Raj, as if daring him to say anything. When Raj remained silent, Scavetti gave his partner an apologetic look. “I'm all right,” he muttered. He turned his back in an obvious attempt to keep his next words private. It didn't work. Raj could have heard him easily, even he'd been standing outside the room and down the hall. But Scavetti didn't know that.
"It just threw me off, that's all,” Scavetti said softly to Dan. “The Commissioner showing up at the last minute like this. This case is important to me; you know that."
"Which is why you should welcome help from the vamps,” Felder replied. “What do we know about their community? Nothing, that's what. So play nice for a change, you idiot."
"Yeah.” Tony gave a nervous laugh and steeled himself visibly before turning back to face Raj. “You okay with William Cowens and his f**king spiritual adviser being in the room?"
Raj shrugged easily. “I have no problem with that. The more information we have, the sooner we can solve this case and get back to our own lives. Believe me, Detective, I am no happier to be here than you are."
Disbelief flashed quickly in Tony's brown eyes, but he nodded in agreement. “Cowens and the Commissioner had a private meeting first.” He crooked his fingers in the air, giving the last two words air quotes for emphasis. “Blackwood's with them. They should be here any minute."