Chapter 13

He smiled. "First things first." He offered me his hand. "We're going shopping."

I wanted to protest but couldn't. I really wanted to go shopping because I wasn't rolling in spare clothes.

He led me outside to a waiting black Mercedes-Benz in the driveway. "You drive?"

"Of course. I'm not so far gone that I can't appreciate nice things." His eyes appraised me. He was flirting again. Hmmph. I wasn't going to bite. He led me to the car and I saw Mei Wah behind the wheel waiting.

When I got in, Mei Wah gave me a look that seemed full of shame. "I'm sorry, Miss Kim. Tony told me about Kaniji sneaking into the house."

I noticed he referred to me as Miss, but there was nothing in front of Kaniji's name.

"Believe me, if I had known she was in the vicinity," Mei Wah said, "I would have made certain that she would have never entered the lower level."

"Thanks, Mei Wah. I appreciate that."

Once we were settled in, Mei Wah turned on the CD player and some gentle jazz wafted through the speakers. The music, Mei Wah's apology, and Tony's presence all worked to relax me.

"I guess I'm a handful already, huh?"

"You say that as if it's a bad thing." Tony glanced down at my shirt, but I was gripping it closed. He sighed and looked out the window.

I was intrigued when we pulled up to a deserted looking building instead of a shopping mall. We had to still be in Ohio, but I had no idea where.

Mei Wah let us out. We were standing on a dark, deserted street that felt suspiciously eerie.

"You might want to retract your teeth." Tony said.

I covered my mouth. "I don't know how."

Tony chuckled, reached up, and touched my cheek with his warm hand. He took a step closer to me then placed his other hand on my waist.

I looked up at him. "What?

He made a slight shushing gesture. Gently he drew me to him. My hands clutched his forearms. I'm not sure if it was to push him away ... or draw him closer.

Tony lowered his face to mine until I felt his lips.

Oh my, my, my. I have never felt lips like his before. The kiss was chaste, but it made my knees weaken and almost buckle beneath me. I didn't know I was doing it, but my lips parted and Tony's tongue gently slipped inside.

His hand on my cheek gently cradled my face and slid to the back of my neck to draw me even closer.

I could feel his tongue brush the sharpened teeth. He groaned deep in his throat and drew first my lower then my upper lip into his mouth. A warm tingle spread from the pit of my stomach to tease my core like caressing fingertips.

Tony drew back slowly. "I think your teeth are retracted."

I was dazed for a few moments before registering what he'd said. I ran my tongue along them. "How'd you do that?"

He smiled. "I'll teach you later ... and also how to mask your eyes after feeding."

I blinked.

"Don't worry. These are friends. They're human, and fangs give them unnecessary anxiety."

He took my hand and led me into the building. I was feeling a little anxious myself. What should I make of that kiss? It was powerful enough to make me want more. But, damnit! Tony was a Vampire, Council member, and rich to boot! This was all too new, and I wasn't sure that it was smart to get too emotionally involved when I didn't know the rules.

I watched his back, still clutching his hand as he led me inside the building. He appeared sculpted from marble, hard but smooth. His muscles flowed like an athlete's. Even the way he walked made me think of someone ready to sprint or leap. I swallowed dryly. I was really attracted to him, but I couldn't get the inhuman sound of Kaniji's howling out of my head. Tony is not human. I'm not human, but even he admitted I was more human than he was. I had to really get it in my head exactly what we were and to accept what I was.

"Mr. Yates. Come in." A small, stylish man of about forty greeted us. He took my hand in greeting while Tony introduced me.

"Brett, this is my houseguest, Kim Russell. Kim, this is Brett Scott. He owns a number of fashion houses all over Europe and the United States. He comes through town as a special courtesy to me."

"Yes, Mr. Yates and I go back," Brett said. "He was my best customer when I was struggling with my first shop in Hoboken. What was it? Thirty years ago?"

"More, I think."

I looked at Tony, who had been "turned" during the Depression and was forever frozen at the age of a man in his mid-thirties, a man who had been born before my grandparents. What sights had he seen?

"Won't you follow me?" Brett led us into a surprisingly rich room. It was tastefully decorated in creams and earth tones. Two oversized sofas were the focal points. The lights were dim, and though it was just an old abandoned warehouse, the rich accessories made it feel like the most upscale Parisian store.

Tony and I sat on one of the sofas. I was a little confused. Where were the clothes? And what about the shoes and purses? Tony said that we were supposed to be shopping.

Music began to waft through hidden speakers strategically positioned around the room. A thumping, hip-hop beat made me feel as if I was back at Club Midnight and not a little hidey-hole in the middle of who-knew-where.

I was impressed. Who would have thought Brett Scott had it in him.

A stylish model entered the room. She looked as if she was on a catwalk.

This was a fashion show! I had never been to a fashion show. I glanced around. We were the only people in the audience. Tony had it like that?

For the next hour the most gorgeous people modeled for us. They allowed us to test the fabric between our fingers. One of the models even took off her coat and let me try it on.

"Tell me what you like," Tony whispered in my ear.