There was truth in what he said, but she didn’t want to interview humans. She wanted to be here in Motham, in the nitty gritty chaos of it all.
You want to be here with him.
No! Absolutely fucking no way!
She yanked open the passenger door and got in, ignoring him as he got in beside her and started the car.
She tried desperately to reason with herself, but all the while her skin smarted with humiliation. It felt like she was being sidelined, while he took on all the juicy, interesting stuff.
Or worse, was he sending her to back to Tween because he didn’t want to be anywhere near her.
And shame to say, that thought cut deepest of all.
Clasping her purse on her lap, the invitation felt like it was burning a hole in the leather. Of course it was a vital clue. One that she should share with her boss. Immediately.
Except, damn him, she wasn’t going to mention it. Not yet.
Not after he’d summarily dismissed her.
Clare pinned her lips and didn’t say a word all the way back to the station.
CHAPTER 12
Oliver stood opposite the ornate entrance of Vlad Kominsky’s dress shop, his lips curling with distaste.
It had been a while since he’d had any dealings with Vlad. The last time had been while investigating Vlad’s missing nephew, Matteus.
He didn’t relish the thought of having to associate with him again. Vlad Kominsky was a cunning, two-faced vampire—a survivor, yes, but at other people’s expense. Oliver had always seen through him.
And yet, somehow, with his flamboyance and his ability to charm, he’d won himself an eager and wealthy clientele of monsters, and more lately humans, with money to burn and a desire to impress.
Oliver suddenly recalled another creation, a red dress, and felt an almost visceral longing as he imagined the silk fabric under his fingers, the feel as he ruched it up Clare’s legs until he reached her panties, slippery with her need. The dripping wet pleasure of her perfect cunt, so ready for him.
His breath caught sharply in his throat.
Shut. It. Down.
Thank the gods she would be away for a day or so. Sure, going and interviewing the human families needed to be done, but truthfully, it was more about getting her away from him. From the urge to touch, to bite, to fuck her senseless. The scent of her body, her nearness in the car, the memories it brought back made it patently clear he couldn’t have her tagging along with him until he’d got himself in check.
It was absolutely the best plan, both from an investigative and personal perspective. But as he’d watched her slam the car door and stride into the station an hour ago, her shoulders up around her ears, it was clear as day that she was mighty pissed at him.
And even that was a fucking turn-on.
He strode across the street now, his gaze sharpening as Vlad opened his shop door and ushered out a couple of customers, a wealthy, svelte-looking human and her partner, clearly wolf, clearly also very wealthy.
Things were changing around here.
But Vlad had not. He looked like something out of another era, his black hair swept back and oiled, his burgundy cravat beautifully tied. His smile to the departing humans was obsequious with just the tiniest flash of the diamond in his fang. It was part of his edgy appeal. He didn’t retract his fangs, never had. He’d flaunted them fully extended for centuries. Vlad had managed to escape the mass stakings. Rumor was, he’d taken a young colonel in the human army as his lover, who’d protected the Kominsky family members, though this had never been proven. Unless he’d turned him, the human himself would be long dead, making that rumor even more difficult to verify.
Maybe Oliver would have grudgingly admired Vlad for being a survivor. If his surname was anything but Kominsky.
Oliver skimmed across the street and silently entered the shop.
Vlad didn’t hear him. Oliver’s speed was his hallmark. He prided himself that even a vampire couldn’t detect his presence immediately.
So it was with a certain smug satisfaction that he leaned against the door jamb and drawled, “Vladimir Kominsky, long time no see.”
Vlad almost visibly jumped, turning swiftly to face him, and for a second Oliver caught a tightening of the other vampire’s features.
