Page 7 of Don't Bite The Boss
“How’s your face?” he interrupts my confused tangle of thoughts.
“Better,” I give him a rueful smile, “sorry for trying to bite you – again.”
“Don’t mention it,” he shrugs.
“I’m probably going to try it often,” I add, “vampire and all that. I just thought you should know.”
“I understand,” he nods, opening his briefcase and pulling out a game fishing magazine, “it’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’ll probably have to knock you out next time though; I’ll try not to kill you, just thought you should know.”
“Kill me?” I snort, “as if. Anyway, I thought violence against women was repulsive to you?”
“Most women are not trying to devour me,” he cocks his head to one side and raises that eyebrow again before focussing on his magazine and flipping a few pages. “So, the gloves are off as far as you are concerned.”
“Well, you can try,” I laugh.
“A partnership made in Heaven,” he shakes his head and smirks, looking up briefly before concentrating once more on his magazine.
‘More like Hell.’
We say nothing for the rest of the flight.
3
He wakes me with a gentle nudge of his foot, and I open my eyes instantly.
“You snore,” he says, shaking his head at me, “loudly.”
“I do not,” I raise my chin indignantly, sitting up straight and reaching for my bottle of water.
He shrugs, “I guess nobody else can hear it when you’re in your coffin.”
“I don’t sleep in a fucking coffin,” I splutter, water shooting out of my nose at the suggestion.
His laughter booms around the cabin and, leaning forward, he offers me his handkerchief.
“Thank you,” I mutter, blowing my nose loudly, “and if you want to survive the night, try not to lean so close to me.”
“I’m sorry,” he frowns, “does it make you uncomfortable?”
“It makes me hungry,” I narrow my eyes at him, “and I’ve just woken up, so my self-control isn’t at its best.”
“What self-control?” he smirks, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, funny.” I ignore his chuckles, “where are we?”
“Italy,” he answers, pulling out his phone and sending a quick text before popping it back in his pocket and smiling slightly as he gives me his full attention, “on a small landing strip near the Bay of Naples, close to the city of Quarto. A car is waiting to take us to the palazzo I have leased for the foreseeable future. My villa, the one you and Nick will be working on, is a short drive from there, on the outskirts of the much smaller township that you will also be working on.”
“And you expect me to stay in the house you’ve rented? With you?” I shake my head at the thought of living under the same roof as someone I want to bite every five minutes. Although to be fair, being confined in this close cabin for so many hours has slightly inured me to his scent and made it a little easier to resist.
“It has forty rooms,” he smiles gently, “and separate wings – we will hardly come across one another unless we need to have a meeting. Which reminds me, since you need to sleep during the day, we can meet at 6pm tomorrow night and begin our preparations.”
“Forty rooms, of course it does,” I roll my eyes. I constantly forget how the rich live, “and yes, 6pm is good.”
“Great. We can meet tomorrow night, and possibly the next, but I won’t be there long. I have business to attend to in Rome. I’m just here to settle you and Nick in, he and Charlotte were to be sharing the palazzo too, but Charlotte didn’t think it was safe – she wants to live separately from you. I’ve rented a house in Naples for them.”
“Smart,” I nod, “I’m sure Christopher has filled you in on our mortal enemy.”
“Yes,” he frowns, “who is now alsomymortal enemy, as if I needed any more,” he sighs. “But you needn’t worry. I have security at the palazzo, and it is well fortified.”
