that.” She gave him a stern look. “You’re both responsible for the girl’s wellbeing. Keep a close eye on her, and don’t allow her to leave. It’s for her own safety. Do we understand each other?”
Blake nodded.
Oliver grunted. As if he needed to be told. He knew what the drill was. “I’ve got it covered. This is my case.”
Maya raised a surprised eyebrow. “Gabriel will decide that. In the meantime, do as I say.” Then she put her hand on the door handle. “And Oliver, I’m really sorry I accused you earlier. But if you bite her now, Gabriel will have your ass.”
Oliver huffed angrily. “I have no intention of biting her!”
“I’ve seen the way you looked at her.”
Blake put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and opened the door in her stead. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he doesn’t touch her.”
“Thanks, Blake.”
When the door closed behind her, Blake grinned at him. “Well, let’s see how we can make our charge a little more comfortable.”
Before he could reach the door to the living room, Oliver pulled him back. “Oh, I know what you’re doing.”
His half-brother glanced over his shoulder. “Just saving a pretty girl from the big bad vampire.”
Oliver clenched his teeth. “You’re not saving her from anything! I saw her first.”
“What’s that got to do with it? She clearly doesn’t like vampires, and since I’m the only human around at the moment, don’t mind if I try my luck.”
“You’re not gonna try anything, do you understand me?”
“How are you gonna stop me?” Blake challenged.
Many things came to mind as an answer: to rip his throat out was one of them. Shocked by his violent thoughts, Oliver dropped his hand and simply glared at him. Blake knew full well that he wouldn’t hurt him and thus draw Quinn’s wrath upon him. But it didn’t mean, he’d allow Blake to make a pass at the girl.
“Why would she go for you? You really think you’re that charming?” he mocked.
Blake grinned and pulled his stomach in, puffing his chest out like a peacock. “Oh, I am. Much more charming than you can ever be. Plus I have an advantage: I’m human. I’m afraid, for once, you’ve encountered a woman who isn’t gonna drop her panties for the mighty vampire.”
Fuming at his claim, Oliver opened his mouth and let out words he wanted to take back a second later. “She’s already offered me sex!”
A gasp from the door made him cringe.
Shit, shit, shit!
He shouldn’t have allowed Blake to provoke him. In slow motion, Oliver turned toward where Ursula stood in the door frame, staring at him in horror. Clearly, she hadn’t wanted anybody to know what she’d said to him in that dark street. Neither had he. Not only had he told Maya about it, which Ursula thankfully didn’t know, but now he was even bragging to Blake about it. Stupid move!
“Guess my chances just went up,” Blake murmured.
“Shut up!” Oliver hissed.
Ursula glared at both of them. “If you think that I’ll spread my legs for either one of you, think again!”
“But I’m human,” Blake said.
“So are millions of other men in this country, and I won’t sleep with them either.”
“But you don’t even know me yet.”
Oliver couldn’t suppress a grin at Blake’s pathetic attempt to win her favor. At least it took the heat off him.
“I’ve seen enough!” Then her eyes shifted and she stared at Oliver. “And what are you grinning at?”
Instantly, he put on a serious face. “Just a facial tick. Don’t take any notice of it.”
By the indignant look she tossed him, he realized she knew he was lying. But was she at least giving him points for originality?
She huffed, obviously lost for words, and turned, slamming the door behind her.
One nil for the vampire. At least he still had a chance.
“No way did she offer you sex.” Blake’s incredulous words made him turn his head.
He wouldn’t be goaded into giving any more secrets away than he already had, such as that Ursula had kissed him—quite passionately at that. This time, his half-brother would not provoke him into saying something he didn’t want to divulge. Therefore Oliver simply shrugged.
“Think what you want.”
It was bad enough that Maya knew about it. He could only hope that she didn’t pass this piece of information on to Gabriel. Knowing his sense of propriety, he’d pull him off this case instantly and have somebody else watch her. Not that it was a real case yet. At the moment it was nothing more than