“But—” My mouth moved against his fingers.
“But it’s only been a week since we began to rebuild our relationship. I told you I didn’t want to rush you, and that’s exactly what would happen if we went there tonight.” For all of his sexual innuendos and heated remarks he made, he hardly followed through on any of them.
“You are my soulmate,” he continued, his voice emphasizing every word, “and on your way to becoming immortal. We have forever to spend together. A little waiting never killed anyone.”
“Now’s not the time to test that rule,” I said, thinking of the devil. I wasn’t sure what plans he had in store for me on Samhain.
Andre seemed to understand what I wasn’t saying. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, so there’s no reason to be worried.”
For all the assurance that filled his voice and all the determination written across his face, I wasn’t reassured. Not by a long shot.
Chapter 14
“Just so you know, I’m a modern woman,” I said to Andre when his driver pulled up to my dorms, well aware that girl seemed like a more appropriate name for what I was.
Tonight Andre wanted to be the passenger rather than the driver, so we sat in the back seat of the same car Andre had used for our first date. Strange that then I wanted nothing to do with him and now I was disgruntled because I wanted more than he was willing to give.
Oh the irony.
“Forgive me,” he said, his mouth curving up on one side, “for I am not a modern man.”
“I seriously doubt that,” I grumbled under my breath. I mean, this dude was 700 years old. I bet he’d been with a lot of women in a very modern way.
“What was that you said?” he asked. His eyes gleamed dangerously.
“Nothing.”
His hand, which had rested on my hip in a way that wasn’t helping to cleanse my mind of all its dirty thoughts, now fell away as I opened the car door.
Andre grabbed my hand as I began to step out. “Things are probably going to be rough this week. Keep your chin up. I’ll see you again two nights from now,” he said, referring to the next time we’d meet up to discuss the investigation and training.
He pulled me back in for a kiss and I melted against him.
My phone buzzed in my pant’s pocket, interrupting our kiss. Andre made an annoyed noise as I pulled it out. As soon as I saw that Hellhole was calling, I sat back in my seat and closed the door behind me.
“Would you mind driving me to Castletown?” I asked.
Andre’s eyes landed on the ID and I could’ve sworn he stifled a smile. To the driver he said, “James, please take us to the Politia’s headquarters.”
This night was just getting better and better.
***
When I arrived at the morgue, Caleb, Maggie, and Chief Constable Morgan were already examining the body with the pathologist. I held my breath and promised myself I’d breathe solely through my mouth while here. As for looking at the victim, I’d try to keep that to a minimum.
Chief Constable Morgan’s eyes swept over my clothes, and I knew it didn’t escape his notice that I wore the same clothes I had at the crime scene, even though several hours had lapsed between.
Maggie came over to me, and I stepped back. “Don’t touch me,” I warned her.
“Wasn’t going to,” she said, her voice icy. “The chief constable and I need to speak with you. Privately.”
The atmosphere in the room had a hard edge to it. Even the pathologist managed to scowl at me, and I’d never officially met him. Caleb, the only one who seemed comfortable with my presence, seemed to be apologizing with his eyes.
“Sure,” I said, trying to act nonchalant. This was the reprimand I’d been expecting from them all evening.
I followed them out of the morgue, yawning as I did so. As soon as this case was closed, I had every intention of sleeping for a few days straight.
Inspector Comfry and Chief Constable Morgan led me to the chief constable’s office. “Please Gabrielle, take a seat,” Morgan said.
I perched myself on the edge of one of the visitor chairs, looking from one of them to the other. Worry settled deep into my bones, but I tried to not let it show.
Maggie perched on the side of the desk and the chief constable lowered himself into his seat.
He shuffled through some of the papers on his desk. “As of this moment you are suspended from the Politia,” he said not looking up.
For a moment I sat there and just stared. I couldn’t even manage to feel anything other than surprise. Is this really how organizations drop bad news on people?
“I’m sorry, what?”