Page 25 of The Vampire Trap

Thomas nods slowly.

Panic seizes me for several seconds. Benjamin said he studied the papers, and none of the victims had shown signs of struggle. If that weren’t true, then the authorities intentionally withheld it. That would mean?—

Thomas’s calm voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts before they can go any further. “I did not kill them, Zadie.”

I cringe. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t need to,” he says flatly, so at odds with the gentle touch of his fingers making lazy strokes up and down my arm. “I may not be a duke, but I do have useful connections.”

“Demon shit,” I cover my face with my hands. What in the Otherworld is wrong with me? “I don’t know why I keep?—”

“It’s all right, Zadie.” Thomas drags me on top of him and kisses me fiercely. “I much prefer your suspicions over blind trust. I can rest easy knowing it takes more than a few caresses to distract you.”

As he kisses me again, I can’t help thinking,I’m not so sure about that.

Before things go much further, I nip at his bottom lip. It surprises him enough that I’m able to roll off him. “As tempting as you are, I cannot stay in bed with you all day. Benjamin might drag Father here to fetch me, and I don’t think I’m quite ready forthatdiscussion.”

I ignore the pout he gives me.

“Fine. I suppose it would be best to let them discover you in my bed on another day,” he concedes. “But before you leave, I must ask you something very important—considering everything that took place last night.”

“Thomas, you don’t—” I try to dismiss whatever obligation he seems to have because of the intimacy we shared.

“Ah, but I do.” He leans over me, caging me in with his arms. “Zadie Hall… will you do me the honor of?—”

“Oh, really!” I try to interrupt him when it seems he’ll go to further extremes than I thought, but it’s useless.

“—Catching a murderer with me?”

I blink once. Twice. Three times as I try to process the last few words. “W-well, I—what?”

Thomas places a quick kiss on my nose. “What did you think I was going to ask?”

I glare, then shove him off me. He flops dramatically onto the mattress, grinning up at me, knowingexactlywhat I’d thought.

“Oh, shut up,” I bite out, though I’m unable to keep the mix of humor and slight embarrassment from my tone. Then hastily, I change the subject. “What, exactly, do you need my help with? I should think you were powerful enough on your own.”

“Can’t I just want to enjoy the company of a beautiful woman I just happen to adore?”

“No,” I say slowly, crossing my arms.

“Well, then I suppose I would like your help in subduing the murderer in such a way that their guilt is obvious to the whole city.”

I raise a single brow, saying nothing.

“How do you feel about being bait?”

CHAPTER TEN

ZADIE

After breakfast, the sun hangs above the horizon, pushing the shadows back and making it safe to travel without worry. Thomas has his groomsmen bring my broken carriage onto his property for repair while he sends his footmen to ready one of his own to take me home.

I’m exhausted and a bit sore in places I didn’t know I had. Each movement sparks a memory of his hands. His lips. The way he moved above me.

The ride home feels long. I’ve already grown so used to Thomas’s company and having someone I can freely share my thoughts with.

I flip through the book of plants admiring the careful drawings and skimming paragraphs that detail the numerous uses and preparations of each one, followed by the effects and ways it manifests. Though I find my mind often wandering to other things.

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