Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod Read Free Book Online

billboard in town. And why I’d never seen him before.
    I shook my head even as I thought it. It didn’t matter who he was, not when I could feel his mesma brushing against my mind. I looked past him to Alan, but the blank look he wore had ‘vampire mind-lock’ written all over it. No help there then, not that I had really expected any. In fact, he was going to be more a hindrance if there was going to be a fight.
    ‘Perhaps Mr Hinkley should wait inside?’ I said, keeping my voice steady.
    Alan turned and disappeared through the door without the vampire so much as twitching. I was impressed despite myself, and had to concentrate even more to keep my pulse at its slowest beat.
    ‘How interesting.’ His voice rolled around me, as rich as sugar-dusted Turkish delight, making my mouth water.
    I tilted my head to one side. ‘Not from where I’m standing. ’
    The vampire had obviously been young when he’d accepted the Gift, near my own age. His suit was ubiquitous vampire-black, but he must have pulled the darkness around him to hide his pale face and hands. Even without the evidence of Alan’s departure, that trick alone told me he was old, over five hundred, at least. And he looked like he belonged to the classic Armani style rather than the excess of black leather that the younger vamps preferred - not that I could be sure without checking the designer labels, but I wasn’t planning on getting that close.
    ‘Your eyes are truly remarkable.’ Smooth silk slipped along my skin as his gaze swept over me.
    Damn vampire mesma . I gritted my teeth and tried to block it.
    ‘Your website picture does you an injustice. You are so much more in the flesh and ... blood.’
    ‘Sorry I can’t return the sentiment.’
    He gently shook his head. ‘Tut tut, Genevieve.’ He took a step towards me. ‘You really don’t mean that. Not when I have been waiting especially for you.’
    I hardened my voice. ‘Then you’ve wasted your time. My visit’s with the police, not you.’
    He took another step, fast, calculated to spook me. I swallowed hard, but held my ground. He stopped within touching distance. Long slim fingers brushed a lock of hair from his forehead while he studied me. ‘Intriguing.’ Half-closed eyes gave him a sleepy, enigmatic look. ‘Why would you involve yourself in something not your affair?’
    ‘It’s really none of your business.’
    ‘But that’s where you’re wrong, Genevieve.’ The words drifted lazy and sweet through the air. ‘You see, this really is my business. I am tasked with bringing this little episode to a satisfactory conclusion for all concerned. I will do better without your ... help.’
    When what he had said sank in, rather than the dream of his voice, surprise tumbled through me, banishing the feeling of languor that had seeped into my bones. ‘Who says your conclusion would be satisfactory for everyone?’
    He grinned, letting me glimpse fang, a push of mesma inviting me to go along with the joke. ‘Why, I do, of course.’
    ‘Uh-huh.’ I nodded slowly. ‘Sounds good.’ I gave him a smile. A wide happy beam of a smile.
    Satisfaction lit his face, but before he could speak, I dropped the smile. ‘Only it doesn’t sound quite good enough.’ I winked. ‘But hey. Nice try.’
    He laughed, and the sound bubbled through me like champagne. I shivered even as sweat trickled down my spine. I gripped the strap of my bag with both hands, holding it like a life-line, concentrating on keeping him out of my mind. The longer he talked, the more the back of my neck throbbed, reminding me I was more vulnerable than usual.
    ‘Genevieve.’ He shrugged an elegant shoulder. ‘What are we to do now?’
    I stared at him, surprised. ‘You’re asking me?’
    He indicated the police station. ‘Once you walk through that door, you make yourself defenceless.’
    For a moment part of me actually felt he cared. I bit the inside of my mouth, hard, to banish the feeling.
    ‘You dispense