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.“You might do better having a senior officer on board.I just started and Zheng doesn’t have much more experience than me.”“I have some experience.I worked homicide at my last station.” Zheng hadn’t worked it for long but something about this case struck him as necessary.They needed to be in on the investigation.“Then why did you work for the DEA when you transferred?” Aaron asked.Zheng thought about holding back the truth but blurted it out anyway.“Because you were there.”Aaron ran his fingers through his hair.“If the captain asks us to investigate, I’ll go along with it.”“I’ll make sure he does,” Benjamin said.The gleeful expression in Terese’s face threw Zheng for a bit.Was she excited to see her father’s mate doing his job or did she just like a good murder?Chapter FourZheng slid onto the barstool.Images of torn-apart bodies flashed through his head.He hadn’t thought much of vampires before but no one deserved to be killed like that.It wasn’t a murder investigation, it was a slaughter.A glass of red liquid appeared before him.Zheng glanced up to find Banner smiling at him.“Rough day?”“You have no idea.”Banner leaned against the bar.“So your expression has nothing to do with the bodies piling up over at Benjamin’s?”“How did you find out?”“I’m a bartender, love, I find out everything.”Zheng gave a tired laugh.He picked up the glass and drained the contents.The blood wine slid across his tongue but did little to sate his hunger.He needed more.He needed Banner.“What time do you get off?”A sly smile crossed Banner’s face.“I don’t know.How quickly can you fuck me in the back room?”Zheng coughed.“You okay?”“I think I choked on my wine.”Banner tilted his head as he examined Zheng.“You against quickies?”Zheng licked his lips.“Not against them but I’d prefer to spend several hours enjoying my partner.”Banner white-knuckled the bar counter.“I’m done in thirty.”“I’ll be here.Keep the blood wine coming.”“O-okay,” Banner’s voice became more accented.Zheng smiled over the tell.After his horrible day he needed something to take his mind off the bodies.He’d seen a lot of evil in the world but whatever had torn those vampires apart had a level of viciousness he’d never encountered before.Spinning on his stool, Zheng sat so he could watch the people around him.He didn’t like his back to the door.His cop’s instinct didn’t appreciate people he couldn’t see approaching him from behind.Hunger swirled through him, a constant ache he didn’t know if he’d ever soothe.Maybe this was what it was like to be a vampire, to always be hungry.He could see how that might drive a human insane.He’d only been a vampire for a short while and already it gnawed at him.He drank down another glass.“Hey.”Zheng turned his attention to the newcomer.His dark hair lay tousled sexily across his forehead and his green eyes sparkled with mischief.“Hello.”“So, you want to bite me?”Zheng narrowed his eyes at the man.“No.”He turned his attention back to his drink.Despite his hunger the stranger didn’t appeal.“Bog off, Brook,” Banner said.“He doesn’t need your sort about.”“Shut up, Banner.” Brook sneered at him.Anger whipped through Zheng, fast and fierce.He grabbed Brook by the throat and yanked him forward.“Don’t ever talk to him like that.”“Whoa.” Banner jumped over the bar and wrapped his arms around Zheng.“Release him, love.”“He disrespected you.”“Let him go and I’ll let you take me home.”Zheng shoved Brook away from him and watched with satisfaction as Brook ran off through the crowd.He pulled Banner closer.“No one should talk to you like that! Damn, you smell good.”Unable to resist, Zheng slid his nose up Banner’s neck.No one else’s scent called to Zheng.He lapped at Banner’s throat, tonguing the vein of blood he could hear pulsing just below the surface.“Zheng?” Orion’s voice threatened to ruin his moment.“Hmm.” Zheng ignored Orion’s sharp tone.He had important things to do.Orion gripped Zheng’s shoulder.“You’ve become obsessed.I warned you about this.”“Hungry.”“Drink,” Banner urged.He didn’t need any other incentive.Zheng sank his teeth into Banner’s neck.Blood spurted into his mouth.Divine!He hummed over the flavor.He sipped until Banner’s heart stuttered a bit.“Enough!” Orion demanded.Zheng slid out his canines then lapped the wound closed.He’d wanted to argue and continue to suck all that perfect blood but he had no wish to hurt Banner.“You all right?”He cupped Banner’s cheek and tilted his head until their gaze met.“I’m fine,” Banner reassured him.“He can’t remain your only blood source, not unless he drinks enough for two,” Orion said.Zheng turned to face Orion.“What do you do?”“Aaron is human so he produces more blood than a vampire.” Orion explained as if it were obvious.“You can drain Banner if you aren’t careful.”He examined Banner’s pallor.“Do you need blood?”Banner nodded.“I’m feeling dry.”“Here sit down.” Zheng helped Banner to a stool.“I didn’t mean to take too much.”“You didn’t, mate, I just didn’t have a break this evening.Next time I’ll know to stock up.”Zheng kissed Banner on the forehead.“Thanks.”“I can find you a proper donor if you’d like.How is the blood wine?” Orion asked Zheng.“It’s fine but I’m still hungry when I drink it.I had three glasses and I still didn’t feel full.”Orion frowned.“You might have a blood metabolism problem.A rare number of vamps can’t process cold blood—they need it warm to feed.If that’s the case with you I’ll call around.There are still some old-school blood donors around.”“No!” Banner shouted.“Why not?” Orion leaned against the bar and stared Banner down as he waited for his explanation.Banner sighed.“I don’t want him drinking from anyone else [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]