Chapter Nineteen
Abigail slammed the safe door shut and twirled the combination lock. She'd tossed all her plant information inside. It was her personal safe at the lab, and only she knew the combination. Of course, the info was also on her computer, but no one could access it without a password. If Dad sent Gregori and his buddies to China without her, they wouldn't know what to look for.
She groaned. This act of rebellion could condemn the mission to failure. And condemn her mother.
Tears burned her eyes. The trip had been her idea, dammit. How could they decide she shouldn't be allowed to go?
She'd been afraid this would happen. Her whole life had revolved around two lists - what was allowed, and what wasn't allowed, and the second list had always been ten times longer than the first.
She paced across the lab, still angry. Still hurt. Still mortified. She'd completely lost it. Years of frustration and resentment had erupted all at once.
She'd been too upset to remain at the White House. Her poor father had looked so shocked. And hurt. He'd worked so hard over the years, and she was proud of him. It wasn't his fault she'd never adjusted to public life. Madison and Lincoln thrived on it. Even Mom had loved it before she became ill.
She couldn't face her mother, either. She sure didn't want to hear another lecture about keeping away from vampires. One more item to add to the not-allowed list. Good Lord, her parents would have a fit if they knew she'd kissed Gregori. They'd want to kill him.
They'd have to wait their turn. She was ready to clobber him herself. How could he kiss her one night, then betray her the next? She'd thought he was on her side.
Her mother didn't want her to go to China. Her father had originally rejected her request. He was only going along with it now because he thought the Vamps could sneak her in undetected and keep her safe. It was bad enough to have both parents opposed to the idea, but then Gregori had to join in?
She strode to her desk to boot up her computer, then changed her mind. She was too upset to work. The stress ball from Gregori sat on her desk, mocking her. How dare he betray her! She grabbed the ball and gave it a squeeze.
"Et tu, Brute?" She tossed it back onto her desk and strode to the black-topped table where she'd started examining the plant he had given her. No, she couldn't concentrate right now.
She paced across the laboratory. It was small, but it was all hers. She stopped by the window and looked out. The parking lot was mostly empty, but the soldiers were still at the entrance gate. She spotted another soldier walking along the perimeter of the chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. The grounds were well lit and dotted with security cameras. And there were more military personnel in the lobby. The installation was so well guarded, she didn't need a Secret Service agent here. They dropped her off and returned to the White House.
With a sigh, she closed the blinds. She didn't want to see the soldiers, see the proof that she merely moved from one prison to another. The room was dim now, the only light coming from the lamp on her desk. She wandered over to the long, black lab table. The epoxy resin surface was cool to the touch and bare right now except for her microscope and the plant at the end of the table. She'd cleared away all her work in anticipation of her trip to China.
How could Gregori recommend she not go? Didn't he understand how important this trip was to her? She ought to give him a piece of her mind. Vent, then maybe she could relax.
She paced over to her desk, then dug his note out of her portfolio.
"Feel my wrath," she muttered as she punched in the number.
He picked up the call right after the first ring.
"I am so angry with - "
"Where are you?" he interrupted.
She huffed. How dare he not even let her finish a sentence! "I'm at work because I'm too upset to sleep. But I'm too upset to work, so I - "
"Are you alone?"
"Of course I'm alone. I can't chew you out in front of an audience. I'm so angry that you could kiss me one night and betray me the next! You know how important this trip is to me!"
"Yes, I do."
She glanced at her cell phone. It didn't seem to be working right. "Did I mention how angry I am? Feel my wrath, Gori!"
"I'll feel yours if you feel mine."
She gasped. "Pig!" She disconnected, then heard a chuckling sound behind her. She whirled around and gasped again. The phone tumbled from her hand.
Gregori lunged forward in a blur of movement and snatched the phone before it hit the ground.
She stumbled back. His speed had been amazing, but she was not in the mood to compliment him. "Did I give you permission to come here?"
"I don't ask for permission, remember?" He set her phone on her desk, then looked around. "So this is where you work?"
"What are you doing here? I don't want to see you. I'm still mad at you!"
A knock sounded at her door, and her heart lurched up her throat. How on earth could she explain Gregori's presence here when he'd bypassed all the checkpoints? She dashed to the door to make sure it was locked. "Yes?"
"Miss Tucker?" A guard called from the hallway. "Are you all right? I thought I heard yelling inside."
"I'm fine! I was just talking on the phone."
There was a pause.
She glanced over her shoulder, hoping that Gregori had teleported away. But no, he was still there.
"If you need anything, just call us on the intercom," the soldier said.
"All right. Thank you!" She listened to his footsteps fade away, then she peeked through the closed slats on the blinds that covered the window portion of her door. "Okay, the coast is clear."
"I guess you're not too angry," Gregori said softly. "You didn't turn me in."
She spun around to face him. "You know good and well I can't explain how you got here. And I'm not finished being angry with you."
"I know you're upset. It nearly killed me to see you crying. And it hurts to think about how much you've been suffering over the - "
"Please!" She held up her hands. "I don't want to talk about it. I'm mortified that I . . ." She pressed her hands against her hot cheeks. "I said terrible things."
"You spoke the truth."
She shook her head. "It was a pity party. My parents have always been good to me. I've never lacked for anything - "
"Except freedom."
She winced. "Well, we have to learn to live with the hand we're dealt."
His mouth thinned. "True."
So she lived without freedom and he lived without mortality. "You hurt me. I'm still in shock that you would betray me."
"I did not."
"Yes, you did! My mother doesn't want me to go to China. My dad is this close" - she lifted a hand with her forefinger and thumb pressed together - "to forbidding me to go. He's only allowing it because he trusts you to keep me safe. And what do you do? Tell him I'm safer at home!"
"You are safer at home."
She scoffed. "Why don't you want me to go? You don't want me to have any adventure in my life? Afraid I'll have some fun?"
He arched a brow. "I'd love to have some fun with you."
"Not funny. I'm still angry with you."
"I hear makeup sex is really hot."
"Good Lord, is that all you think about?" She waved a hand. "Don't even bother to answer that. But do me a favor and try to get past your overabundance of testosterone to understand that I'm trying to save my mother's life."
His eyes narrowed. "Try to get past your PMS to understand why I said what I did."
"How dare you bring up PMS!"
"My testosterone made me do it. Now why would a caveman like me suggest you remain safely at home?"
"Good question."
"And I've got a good answer." He stepped toward her. "I don't want you in a dangerous situation because I care about you."
She blinked. Then swallowed hard.
"I can't bear the thought of anything bad happening to you." He yanked the knot of his tie loose. "I think about you all the time. And not just about sex." He grimaced. "It's downright . . . strange."
Her heart squeezed in her chest. Was the poor womanizer in over his head? "You . . . care about me?"
"I care a hell of a lot." He gave her an exasperated look. "Couldn't you tell while I was kissing you?"
Heat rushed to her cheeks. "Well, it was certainly . . . passionate. But there is an obvious reason for that. You have a lot of experience, so it was simply indicative of a high level of expertise - " She stopped when he placed a finger on her lips.
"Scholar."
"Yes?" she whispered against the pad of his finger.
"Think about it." He leaned close. "The kiss was passionate because I'm falling in love with you."
Her heart lurched, and she stepped back. "That - that's highly unlikely. We've known each other only a few nights."
"I started falling the minute I saw you on that balcony."
She gulped. She'd started falling the minute she saw him emerge from that limo. "Well, I have to admit that instant attraction is rather . . . instant."
The corner of his mouth curled up, and his dimple showed. "You ran into my arms last night. You kissed me back. Rather passionately, I might add."
Her cheeks blazed with heat. "That was last night. Tonight I'm angry."
"You're beautiful when you're angry."
"Don't think I can be swayed with flattery. The only reason I'm not screaming at you is because the guards would hear. I'm sorely tempted to slap that smile right off your face, but luckily for you, I'm exercising a great deal of self-control."
"I see." He nodded, his cheeks dimpling. "Then you'll be able to refrain from screaming when I bring you to climax?"
Her mouth dropped open. "What?"
He winced. "That was a little loud. I'm not sure you can keep from screaming - "
"I don't scream!" She scoffed. "I never scream."
"Then you've been with the wrong men."
Goose bumps skittered down her arms. "And you believe you are the right one?"
"I know it." He stepped toward her. "Your screamless nights are over."
Her heart thumped. "My, aren't we sure of ourselves."
"Must be an overabundance of testosterone."
She snorted. "Well, I'm not a pushover, you know. It's not easy to get me into the sack."
"We could always try the ceiling."
She laughed. When he grinned, she realized what he'd been up to. "You're just teasing me, aren't you? So I won't be mad at you anymore."
"Maybe. Maybe not." He slipped a hand around her waist. "Are you still mad at me?"
"I'm . . . recovering."
"I've always wanted to do this." He grasped the top button on her coat and gave it a twirl. "Laszlo gets such a kick out of doing this."
"Really?" She tilted her head. "Well?"
He shrugged. "Not much fun. Got anything else I can play with?"
She snorted. "You never give up, do you?"
"Not until I make you scream." He dragged his hand up to her neck, and she shivered. "Your skin is turning pink, your lips a dark, rich red."
She glanced at his eyes, and they were starting to glow. It was a heady feeling, knowing that she affected him so strongly. It made her heart race wildly. And her thighs squeeze together.
Desire swept over her, pulling her under like a drug. She'd never wanted someone this badly before. It wasn't like her to be so . . . mindless with passion.
Mindless? She shivered when he kissed her right below the ear. "Gregori?"
"Hmm?" He nuzzled her neck.
"You would never mess with my mind, right?"
He pulled back with a wary look. "What?"
"It's just that . . . I've never fallen for someone so fast before. It's not . . . normal for me."
"You think I'm making you like me?" He released her and stepped back. "I would have to force it on you? I'm not . . . likable on my own?"
She winced. "I didn't mean that. You're very likable. And charming. And more handsome than any man should be allowed to be."
His mouth twitched. "Okay. I'm buying that part. But you still think I'm making you fall for me?"
She frowned. If he was controlling her mind, then most probably she wouldn't have the ability to question it. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that."
He gave her a wry look. "If I was controlling you, we would be naked."
She laughed. "That's true. Forget I said it. I'm sure you would never mess with my mind."
A pained look flitted over his face.
She sighed. She'd really destroyed the mood now.
Her cell phone rang.
"Don't answer it," he grumbled.
"But it might be news about the trip."
"I want to be the one to tell you." He took her hand. "You're going. It scares the hell out of me. Scares your dad, too. But you're going."
Joy and relief burst inside her. "Oh, thank you!" She wrapped her arms around his neck.
He held her tight, and she ignored the ringing cell phone. It felt so right in Gregori's arms. She nestled her head against his chest and listened to the pounding of his heart. If it wasn't for the fangs and the red, glowing eyes, she'd never know he was a vampire. And she was actually starting to like the red, glowing eyes. It made her feel powerful and womanly that she could cause his eyes to change.
Powerful and womanly - those were new feelings for her. She liked it. His super powers were exciting, too. Sex on the ceiling?
"All you need to bring is a backpack with a few clothes and personal items," he said. "We'll take care of the rest."
She smiled to herself. For once, she'd been thinking about sex and he hadn't. "Oh! You need the information on the plants." She hurried over to the safe. "I pinpointed the two most likely areas for finding them."
"That's good." He joined her by the safe. "Then we only need two base camps."
Just as she handed him the information, the phone on her desk rang.
He frowned. "They won't leave you alone."
"If I don't answer it, the guards will come to check on me." She picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Abby?" Her father's voice sounded agitated. "What are you doing at work so late? Why aren't you answering your cell phone?"
"Well, I - "
"I've sent Charles to pick you up. Your . . . your mother has taken a turn for the worse. The doctor is with her now. We may have to take her to the hospital."
Abigail swayed, and Gregori caught her. "I-I'll be there soon."
Her father hung up, and an icy cold wave shuddered through her.
Gregori took the receiver from her hand and hung up. "I could teleport you home in a second."
She shook her head. "They would know you were here." She touched his chest. "Send the men into China tonight. We need to leave as soon as possible."