Part 19 (1/2)
Thomas smiled suavely, oozing charm. d.a.m.n the man, he wasn't a teenager escorting his first date to the prom. He deliberately took Alexandria's hand in his, knowing it would annoy her blond guard dog. ”Not to worry, Savage. I intend to take very good care of her.” He urged her to the door, anxious to be away from Savage and his living, breathing, monstrous house.
Alexandria went with him willingly, seemingly as eager as he was. Out in the night air she stopped and took a deep breath. ”He can be a bit overwhelming, can't he?” she said, smiling. Smiling to rival the stars. Freedom. Blessed freedom. It didn't matter at that moment that Ivan's smile still reminded her of a shark's toothy grin, or that she could hear his heart beating every bit as loudly as Joshua's, or, even worse, that she could smell his arousal. She was away from Aidan Savage and his influence, and that was all she cared about.
”Overwhelming? Is that what you call it? He's completely overbearing. The man acts as if he owns you,” Thomas burst out.
She laughed softly. ”You get used to him. He can't help it. He's accustomed to giving orders. You probably know what that feels like,” she added mischievously.
He found himself laughing with her, relaxing as they made their way to the car he had waiting. He had deliberately hired a limo and driver to leave himself free for whatever might happen in the back seat later.
”I made a good start on the sketches, Thomas,” she volunteered, ”but you didn't specify what character traits were particularly important to you. I think you should decide ahead of time how you want individuals portrayed instead of leaving it all to me.”
”I'd prefer your input,” Thomas said, opening the door for her himself. He wanted to do it, and that surprised him. Most of the time the small courtesies he performed were only for effect. But Alexandria Houton was haunting. ”Doesn't that house bother you?”
She arched an eyebrow. ”Bother me? The house? It's beautiful. Everything about it is beautiful.
Why do you ask?”
”I sometimes feel as if it's watching me, biding its time, hating me.”
”Thomas, you've played too many of your own video games. What a vivid imagination.” Her laughter slid over him, touching him in places usually reserved for intimacy.
His hand inched across the seat toward hers. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted any woman. But then he glanced out the window and saw the reflection of eyes. Glowing, red, feral eyes filled with hate and the promise of retaliation, the promise of death. Unblinking cat's eyes.
The eyes of a demon. Of death. He s.h.i.+vered, and a moan escaped.
”What is it?” Her voice was soothing, like the soft sound of running water. ”Tell me, Thomas.”
”Did you see something weird?” He was choking on fear. ”Out the window, do you see anything?”
She leaned around him to look at the reflective gla.s.s. ”What am I supposed to see?”
The eyes were gone as if they had never been. Was it Savage? His own imagination? He cleared his throat and managed a smile. ”Nothing. I guess I just can't believe my good fortune.”
In the close confines of a car, it was difficult for Alex to ignore her growing hunger. It seemed to gnaw at her insides, spread like a cancer. Her mind seemed to amplify the sound of blood rus.h.i.+ng in Ivan's veins. Beckoning, calling. But her stomach heaved at the thought of touching him, and she fought to keep a smile plastered to her face. He seemed to find every excuse to touch her, brush her leg, her arm, her hand, her hair. She hated it. Loathed it. He made her skin crawl. She hated herself for not being able to return his amorous glances, his touches.
She smiled at him, said and did all the appropriate things, but inside her stomach was rebelling.
Somewhere deep inside her soul, a dread began to take shape, to spread. Thomas Ivan was an eligible bachelor, wealthy, charming, famous. Human. He shared her love of fantasy; he admired her artwork. They had much in common, yet even his lightest touch repulsed her. Inside she began to weep.
Cara mia, do you need me? Aidan's voice crossed time and distance to find her, to wrap her in warm, protective arms.
She bit her lip. The temptation to call for him was nearly overwhelming, but she resisted. She would be human. And she would find a fellow human to love. Maybe not Thomas Ivan, but someone. I'm having the time of my life.
Just so long as Ivan is not.
She felt his withdrawal from her mind, and it felt as if he had taken away her soul and left her dead inside. She lifted her chin and flashed Ivan a particularly brilliant smile. She placed her hand in his as he a.s.sisted her from the car. Determined to enjoy the evening, she took his arm as they entered the theater.
Men seemed to be pressing against her, breathing loudly. Heartbeats thundered in her ears. The orchestra's overture blended with the surging of blood running hotly in veins. Alexandria concentrated on the play, aware it was exceptionally good, yet she was more aware of Ivan's arm across the back of her seat, of his smell. When he whispered in her ear, his mouth against her skin, she was sickened by it.
Twice she almost excused herself to go to the ladies' room just for a respite from him.
But she was determined to see this through. She was going to be human even if it killed her. There was a burst of applause just as she heard the words in her mind: It might kill someone.
Shut up! she answered him, exasperated, that in the midst of her despair, he made her want to laugh. But Aidan was gone once more. Just his touch warmed her, and the silliness of his warning.
He was taunting her on purpose because he knew she was repulsed by the man sitting so close to her.
Beside her, Thomas was clapping. The lights came up, and people seemed to swarm around them.
He was in his element, with a beautiful woman on his arm and many acquaintances surrounding them. Powerful men he barely remembered meeting were suddenly stopping to exchange comments on the show. Connections he had been seeking to aid his climb even further up the social ladder were introducing themselves, issuing much sought-after invitations to him and his date.
Alexandria Houton was clearly an a.s.set to him and would be to his career. Proudly he put her on display, strutting because she was on his arm. And he saw that he was not the only one mesmerized by her voice, captivated by her smile. Even the women, he realized with satisfaction, she seemed to charm, bestowing her smile regally, enchantingly.
Thomas circled her shoulders with his arm and drew her closer to him, a display of owners.h.i.+p as they walked out into the night, still followed by his many fans. Alexandria's stomach lurched at the proximity. Then Thomas glanced to his right and froze. Standing not six feet away in the shadows was a wolf. Huge. Blond. With gleaming fangs and red, glowing eyes. Those eyes were staring right at him, the beast's muscular body poised as if to pounce.
Thomas's heart actually stopped, then began to pound. He gripped Alexandria's arm and began to shove her back toward the theater.
”Thomas, what are you doing?” she demanded.
”Don't you see it?” He pointed in his excitement. It was Savage somehow, he was certain of it. ”It's him, I know it is. He's here.” Heads were turning at his raised voice.
”Thomas.” Her voice was soft and soothing. ”Tell me what's wrong. You're very pale. What did you see?”
He forced himself to look more closely. The shadows were deep and dark-and empty of wildlife. He could see a large planter where the wolf had been. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he allowed himself to breathe.
”You're shaking, Thomas. Come on, let's get to the car.” Concerned, Alexandria took a careful look around, scanned the area, and found only humans. You'd better not be tormenting him again, she warned Aidan, but she could not tell if he heard.
”I swear I'm seeing things, Alex. The planter over there looked like...” He trailed off, not wanting to admit his imagination was out of control. What was wrong with him, anyway, that his obsession with Alexandria Houton and Aidan Savage, coupled with his macabre imagination, was producing all-too-real hallucinations?
”It moved?” She was looking at the offending redwood box suspiciously.
”No,” he admitted. ”It just looked... strange.”
”Well, I had a great time tonight. The play was wonderful,” Alexandria said softly.
Little liar. The words taunted her, male amus.e.m.e.nt mocking her.
Her chin lifted, and deliberately she placed her hand in the crook of Thomas's arm as they headed for the limo pulling up to the curb for them. ”Did you like it?” she asked sweetly, her voice oozing syrup. She could almost feel Aidan wince, and he retreated immediately.
Once in the car, Thomas slid close to Alexandria. His thigh rested against hers, and he could feel the soft swell of her breast against his arm. His hand found her chin. ”I know you don't know me very well, Alex, but I'm deeply attracted to you, and I'm hoping the feeling's mutual.”
His mouth was mere inches from hers, and under his mouthwash and breath mints Alexandria could smell everything he had eaten for dinner-the pasta with garlic, the salad with tarragon- vinegar dressing, the red wine and coffee and mint. She nearly gagged and tried to put some distance between them. ”We'll be working together, Thomas. This isn't a good idea. At least not so soon.”
”But I have to kiss you. I have to, Alex.” He was leaning into her, breathing heavily.
She made a sound, shrinking back, but in his ardor he took it for consent. As he lowered his head, his eyes caught the glint of red. He cried out and fell away from her toward his door, staring at the rear window, through which two glowing eyes watched him with clear malice. To his horror the window bulged inward, then shattered, spraying gla.s.s fragments all over him. The huge wolf thrust his muzzle right into the car, fangs exposed and dripping, diving right for his head. Those red eyes glowed eerily without blinking, boring right into him. He could feel the hot breath on him as those white fangs thrust closer still. Thomas screamed and ducked, covering his face with both hands.