First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World #1)(42)
Author: Jeaniene Frost

Triumph flared in him. If she’d sacrifice her humanity in order to keep him safe, she had to care for him as deeply as he cared for her. And in that case, she had to be willing to become a vampire once he returned Nathanial to the demon and she got those brands off. After all, that was an infinitely better prospect than being a demon-branded shape-shifter.

He reached out to caress her face, savoring how her scent changed from determined anxiety to something far richer. Then, slowly, his hand curled around the back of her neck. Her heartbeat sped up as he leaned in, closing the distance between them, his mouth parting in anticipation of the sweetness of her lips.

A bang on the door had Denise jumping back even as Spade turned around with a curse.

"Go. Away." A threatening growl any intelligent person would heed.

"Sire, my apologies, but you have an urgent call," Alten said.

"Someone better be dying," Spade muttered, vaulting up to open the door.

Alten held out his mobile phone mutely. Spade took it, barking, "What?" into the receiver.

"Why haven’t you been returning my calls?" Crispin asked coolly.

Denise was still reeling from that almost-kiss when Spade turned to her, covering his cell with his hand.

"I need to take this," he said, and walked out.

She stared at the empty doorway for a second, stupefied. Had she just imagined the intensity of that moment? Had the emotions on Spade’s face as he bent toward her really been there, or had her feelings only cast an illusion of what she wanted to see? That must have been it. Spade sure hadn’t looked anything but aloof when he walked out like nothing had – almost – happened between them.

Disgusted, Denise went over to the tray and began eating. Her stomach didn’t care that she’d just been left hanging; it still growled and gurgled demandingly. She thought about spending the rest of what might be a very long life like this – hiding from Raum, her body no longer recognizable to her in many ways, outcast from her world and not accepted into any other.

Was this how Cat felt, being a half vampire, not really fitting into the human world or the vampire one? If it was, it sucked.

Of course, Cat actually had useful powers. All Denise had from her new abnormalities was an insatiable appetite and the occasional hand deformity. Villains of the world, beware! I can eat you under the table AND gross you out with my monster paws!

She shoved her plate away after eating the fries and the chocolate cake. Having a pity party was useless. She had to start moving on with her life, such as it was. First she’d get cleaned up. A shower would at least take care of her hygiene needs. Then she’d thank Spade for everything he’d done and call Cat, explaining to her friend that she needed her family in the vampire version of a witness protection program. Even though she’d been a horrible friend to her recently, Cat would help her. She and Bones were good people like that.

And Spade could get on with his life, without her risking it or turning it upside down anymore. It was the right thing to do all around.

Spade left Denise’s room and kept walking all the way down the stairs and out the front door before he replied.

"Hallo, mate. Sorry for the lack of response. Been a bit busy, I’m afraid."

"Indeed." The single word had the same emphasis as if it had been bollocks.

Spade waited, not about to start saying anything that would sound defensive or raise Crispin’s suspicions. Either Crispin knew something or he didn’t. If he didn’t, Spade wouldn’t make it easy on him to find anything out, but neither would he lie to his best friend, if he could avoid it.

"Don’t you have something you want to tell me, Charles?" Crispin asked after the silence lengthened.

Spade almost smiled. "Certainly don’t." That was the unvarnished truth.

"Right." Spade could almost picture Crispin’s face hardening. "Why don’t I help you out? You can start by telling me what you’re up to with Denise MacGregor."

Ian must have said something. No one else had recognized Denise except for him, untrustworthy sod.

"It’s nothing you need concern yourself with," Spade replied in the same cool tone Crispin had used.

A snort. "We must have a bad connection, because you didn’t just tell me not to concern myself with my wife’s best friend, did you?"

Spade closed his eyes at the open challenge Crispin threw down. "I know you feel protective toward Denise because of her friendship with Cat, but she’s not one of your people," Spade replied carefully, each word measured. "You’d need to have bitten or bedded Denise for that, and you’ve done neither. So with all the affection I have for you, Crispin, I say again, this doesn’t concern you."

Now the snort on the other line held a tone of amazement. "Bloody hell, Charles, what’s gotten into you? I didn’t believe Ian when he said you were acting barmy, but now you’ve more than proved him correct."

Better Crispin believe he’d lost his mind with lust than discover what was really going on. He was close to finding Nathanial. He could feel it.

"You’re not going to be reasonable, are you?" Crispin said, anger sharpening his tone when Spade didn’t answer.

"If by reasonable you mean asking your permission before I consort with a willing woman, then you’re right. I’m not going to be reasonable," Spade replied.

"Put Denise on the phone. Let me hear from her that she’s choosing to be with you for no other reason than enjoyment of your company," Crispin said curtly.

Considering his last conversation with Denise, Spade wasn’t about to put her on the phone until he talked some sense into her.

"She’s indisposed at the moment. I’ll have her ring you later."

Crispin’s tone went from cool to icy. "You realize you’re leaving me no choice but to assume you’re hiding something."

"It’s unfortunate you feel that way. I’d talk more about it, but I have to go now. Oh, one more thing." Spade made no attempt to lessen the anger in his voice as he went on. "Tell Ian I’m keeping the house."

He clicked his mobile shut, cutting off whatever Crispin’s reply might have been. So much for canceling the party to have a romantic evening with Denise. He had even less time to find Nathanial now that Crispin knew something was amiss. Still, best mate or no, he wouldn’t let Crispin interfere out of a mistaken sense of responsibility.

Denise was his, as Crispin would soon find out.

Chapter Twenty-one

After a nice long shower, Denise came down the stairs. On the first floor, several people she’d never seen before scurried around, preparing things for whatever event Spade had scheduled tonight, she guessed. Now Spade could consider it her going-away party, because she intended to be on the first plane tomorrow, headed to wherever Bones and Cat were. All she needed was the number where to reach them, but for that, she needed Spade, and this Mediterranean house was as big as it was beautiful.