Page 23 of Crimson Bond

Then she slid her hand over to cover mine on the steering wheel and rested her head against my shoulder. “Thank you.”

Shit.A hotel room alone with her was the very last place I needed to be right now.

Unfortunately, the sun didn’t care about the emotions currently swirling around my heartorwhat was happening below the belt. It was rising, and we had to get off the road and inside.

I pulled off at the next exit and drove to the nearest hotel. Parking close to the door, I grabbed Abbi’s bag, and we walked hand-in-hand to the check-in counter to book one of its blackout rooms. They were specially designed for vampires with no external windows and a mini-fridge for blood bags.

Please let them have a double room available. Please please please.

I was strong, but I wasn’t blind, deaf, and lacking a sense of smell. Plus, battle tended to get all the juices flowing, if you know what I mean. My warrior instincts didn’t know the difference between a bunch of drunken frat boys and a real threat, and I was still keyed up in every way.

In other words, a single bed wasnotgoing to work tonight.

We couldn’t take separate rooms because our cover story was that of a loving couple on vacation.

Besides, Imogen’s bloodhadaltered Abbi’s appearance somewhat, but notthatmuch. If you were really looking, which the federal authorities were, you could tell she was the same young female vampire who’d escaped the Merced Safety Center during an unexpected attack on the gates and mass exodus of inmates. She’d draw far more scrutiny traveling alone than as part of a “couple.”

She wore a ballcap that covered the top of her face and took a seat on a bench in the lobby while I did all the talking at the counter.

The clerk was very friendly, especially for someone who’d been up all night. “Hello folks. Checking in?”

“Yes. We don’t have a reservation,” I told her, “but we’ve been driving all night and really need to get off the road. Do you have a double room available?”

Glancing first at my eyes then down at her computer screen, she said, “Let me look.”

She tapped a few keys and looked up again, smiling. “I have one vampire room left. Looks like it’s a king. Will that do?”

I blew out a quiet whistle. “Actually, could you check availability on your other rooms? Maybe we could just draw the curtains tightly?”

When she gave me a quizzicalyou-don’t-want-to-sleep-with-your-hot-girlfriend?look, I hooked a thumb over my shoulder at Abbi.

“She snores.”

The clerk grinned and wrinkled her nose in amusement. “Okay, lemme see what I’ve got.”

Frowning at the screen a minute later, she said, “I’m sorry, sir, but it looks like all we have left are rooms on the east side of the building with exterior windows. Even with the curtains drawn, I’m afraid there’s a chance of some daylight sneaking in. I’d hate for anybody to get burned.”

“I understand,” I said.

Reaching for the phone she said, “I can call some of the other hotels at this exit for you and see if they have any doubles available.”

She really was a nice girl. I reached for my wallet. “No, that’s okay. We’d have to get back in the car and drive there, and the sun’s up already. We’ll take the king room. It’ll be fine.”

She smiled at me and processed the payment then handed me a key along with directions to the elevator. We thanked her and turned to go, but she called me back.

“Sir?”

“Yes?”

The clerk held out a small packet wrapped in plastic. “Maybe these will help? Earplugs.”

“Ah.” I smiled at her and took the offering, though of course myearsweren’t the problem.

12

Still Awake

Reece

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