She crouched down and found a push dagger hidden inside my pant leg. It was a small one infused with magic—one I only used in emergencies against another Mage. Stunners weren’t easy to come by, so I hated losing one.
“I suppose you forgot you had this as well?” she asked, setting it on the floor next to the other.
“You could say that.”
She held up my boots and felt inside, then looked closer at one and turned it over. I worried my lip, hoping she wouldn’t find…
“And this?” She pulled out another blade tucked in the back heel.
“I made it myself. The handle folds out from the bottom and you can pull—”
“I see.” It looked as though she was struggling to conceal a smile. “Maybe you should remove your socks.”
The Vampire chuckled. “Careful, Blue. Those hooves might be the deadliest weapon she’s concealing. Vile, to be sure.”
I peered over my shoulder and gave him a cross look. I didn’t rattle easily, but I was determined to find out what pushed his buttons so I could give him a taste of his own medicine. I lifted my foot and peeled off the wet sock. “If this is leading somewhere, I can tell you right now that I’m not stripping naked. If that’s the deal breaker, you need to let me know.” I hurled the black sock over my shoulder and heard it smack against the Vampire’s face.
I didn’t need to look to know that I’d hit my target. I could hear the revulsion in his whispered obscenities.
The woman named Blue stood up, and she was a couple of inches taller than me—maybe five foot ten if I had to guess.
Her eyes swept down to my chest, and when I noticed hers was bigger, I almost wanted to puff my girls out.
“I need to check your bra,” she said.
This gal was all business, and I had a feeling I wasn’t going to get special treatment because of my gender. I reached beneath my shirt and unlatched the hooks, executing a maneuver that all women know how to do when it comes to removing a bra through a shirtsleeve. She turned it in her hands and discovered a small piece of wood I’d concealed in the slot where the wire once was.
The Vampire snorted. “A toothpick for dinner?”
I glared over my shoulder. “I think we both know it doesn’t take much of that kind of wood to paralyze a Vamp.”
His eyes narrowed at my flagrant use of a derogatory word for Vampires.
My eyes narrowed at the red panties wrapped around his fingers.
When Blue’s phone vibrated, she checked the message, her feather earrings brushing against the side of her face. “It’s Viktor. I need to run. Can you finish this up?”
Horrified my strip search was transferring over to a man, I looked at the Vampire, expecting a gleeful expression. Instead, I saw a man sitting with his legs crossed, smelling a tube of my lipstick before swiping it across his wrist.
“I’ve got it covered,” he said absently. “How is it that you can’t afford to eat, but you seem to have plenty of face paint?”
I folded my arms as Blue hurried down the hall. “You’d be surprised what women leave behind in the bathroom.”
He rose to his feet and approached me with an elegant stride, his head inclined. “I’m Christian Poe. Thought maybe you should at least know my name before I get close to those ample breasts of yours.” He gave me a wolfish grin and brushed up beside me. “Come on, lass. I won’t bite. Just up to the golden arches; I only need to see your midsection.”
“I’m not lifting my shirt unless you carry large bills in your wallet.”
“Suit yourself. Would you like me to drop you off in the puddle I found you in, or is there someone you can call?”
Blue hadn’t seemed fazed at leaving me alone with him, so she must have gone through the process too.
“Just pat me down and get it over with.”
“With absolute pleasure. Shall I get some baby oil before we begin? Sometimes a little lubrication helps with the process—makes it sufferable.” He curved his arm around my waist and whispered in my ear, “My hands can be rough.”
“You talk too much.”
Christian leisurely ran his hands up the front of my shirt, just beneath the curve of my breasts. He was inches away, and I lifted my chin to look closely at his mouth, making sure he kept his fangs in check.
“Sorry, lass. I can see you’re vexed, but it’s my job to be thorough.”
I gave him an indifferent look, which provoked him. He wrapped his arms behind my back as if he were hugging me, fingers splayed as he moved them upward. He watched my face for a reaction, undoubtedly using his keen hearing to see if my heart was doing a quickstep. I kept my breathing calm, my expression stoic, and my eyes on his lips.
Probably not the best place to look since he had an inviting mouth, but when the tips of his fangs peeked out, that was enough to rein in any sense of desire. I loathed Vampires and rejected that part of me. I used my Vampire gifts as a necessary evil, but evil it was.
His eyes tightened just a fraction when he ran his hand over a healing bruise, causing me to wince.
“If you’re about done rifling through my panties and feeling me up, I’d like to speak with your boss.”