Page 26 of Seduction in Blood
When I stopped a foot from the door, I leaned my ear next to it. Nothing. I placed my hand on the wood, and though I wouldn't know unless I tapped against it, it seemed solid. If someone was moving about on the other side, I should still be able to hear something.
I closed my eyes, focusing on any sound from inside the room. Even a ticking clock would give me an indication of how thick the door was. But the only noise that greeted me was silence. I stepped back, considering my options.
I'd be crazy to try the handle.
What if Devon found me snooping? Would that cancel the trial period? I wasn't sure what to think when my first reaction to that thought was one of disappointment. Of course, I wanted to leave, but I wasn't being mistreated nor constantly monitored. Standing in front of a door on the third floor where I'd expressly been told not to venture was proof of that.
The dream I'd tried so hard to forget tumbled through my head again. The smell of honeysuckle, the prick of the thorn, the erotic feelings that had swept through me when Devon found me and pulled me into his arms. The memory was so vivid, I took another step back. The intensity of the ache between my legs surprised me and made my cheeks heat.
I shook my head to dispel the images. Of all times to remember the dream. It had been easy to shake the vision off before. Why was it so difficult to do that now?
Whatever I'd hoped to find up here, I only confirmed one thing. Whatever lay beyond these doors took up ample living space. As I took another step back, the barest sound made me glance down.
The doorknob turned.
My heart thumped wildly as I backed up two more steps. My instinct to run beat against my head, screaming for me to move, but my feet were stuck in place. The knob stopped. Then it turned back the other way.
Was it locked?
I didn't see a deadbolt. The only lock appeared to be a keyhole. Would the knob still turn if the door was locked?
When it turned the other way again, I found the drive to force my feet to work and backed up several paces. Then, not caring if anyone caught me, I flew down the stairs, hitting the second floor hard before turning left toward my room. I was halfway to the door when I heard my name.
"Cressa?"
I stopped, my heart pounding so loudly I barely heard him.
I turned to face the music. Devon stood farther down the hallway, and I had the presence of mind to note that he'd been coming from the other end of the hall. So, his room must be on this floor.
"Why are you running?" He strode toward me. If he was suspicious, it didn't show. He looked concerned.
Think, woman. You've gotten out of worst scrapes than this.
I gulped air and pushed my hair back, taking as much time as I could to come up with a plausible excuse. I took in his workout clothes, which didn't disguise his toned body, and decided sticking close to the truth would be best.
"Cook made me a picnic lunch. It was such a nice day and…I fell asleep. I thought I might have lost track of time." Don't ramble. "I didn't want to be late for training."
He stepped closer. "Your cheeks are red. I hope it's from running. It wouldn't be good if you got too much sun."
I must have looked confused, and he smiled.
"Vampires might be able to travel in daylight, but I doubt you'd find any willing to sunbathe. And while everyone will know you're still human, they would expect you to give up certain behaviors."
He didn't suspect anything, and I was so relieved I couldn't help but get a bit snarky.
"So, no golden tan for me?"
He quirked his lips. "Only if it was your natural skin tone."
"Ah. So, no tan lines."
His gaze warmed. "Would I find any?"
I gulped. That sounded more intimate than it should. I pulled myself together, avoiding his gaze by staring at his lips, which honestly wasn't any better. Damn that frickin' dream. "Some mysteries aren't meant to be revealed."
He smiled, and my knees went weak. His voice was nothing more than a whisper. "And some enjoy a challenge." When I didn't respond, couldn't respond, he nodded, knowing he'd won that round. "You have five minutes. Don't be late."
His steps echoed down the hall of the first floor before I moved. I was stripped down, pulling on my workout clothes, when I realized something. If he had come from his room on the other end of the second floor, who had turned the doorknob?
