Forbidden Blood: A House of Comarré Novella Read Online Free Page B

work while he awaited Marissa’s arrival. She didn’t keep him waiting long.
    His head lifted from his tools at her entrance. “ Buona sera . I trust you slept well?”
    She nodded and greeted him with a weak smile. “As well as I could knowing what I’m here for.” She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. “I don’t blame you for it, you know. You are as much a pawn in this game as I am.”
    “I appreciate your understanding. You would be well within your rights to be cross with me.”
    She laughed, a sad sound very different from the one he’d first heard on the plane. “I am a comarré. I have very few rights.”
    He put his things down and moved away from his workbench. There was little he could say that would make her feel better. Instead, he fell back on his heritage. “Would you care for an espresso? I don’t drink it, but I still enjoy the smell.” He smiled. “That must seem foolish to you.”
    “No, not at all.” She came toward him, her gaze flitting from the overflowing shelves to the stuffed-until-they-could-barely-close cabinets. His laboratory must look like a junk shop to her. “I imagine there are a great many things you must miss. Thank you for the offer of espresso, but I’m still full from breakfast. I’d rather we just get on with whatever it is you intend to do.” She raised her brows as she leaned against his workbench and gave him an intimately appraising look. “What do you intend to do? Did you come up with a plan?”
    “At the moment, the only plan I can think of is trying to introduce my existing daywalking serum into your bloodstream. There will be testing required, but it should give Arnaud the desired effect. It won’t last, of course, so the next time he attempts to breach the day, he’ll be in for a shock.”
    She frowned. “He’ll be furious with you.”
    He shrugged. “I’ve already told him what he wants is impossible. If he calls me back, I’ll simply tell him I’ve done everything I can.”
    “And then he’ll turn you in to the Council of Dominus.”
    Dominic arranged a few things on his bench, trying to focus on something else. “I will deal with that when it happens.”
    He stopped moving when her hand alighted on his arm. Her burnt-sugar scent rolled over him, making his body tighten and his gums ache. She tipped her head toward him. “You’re putting yourself in danger for me.”
    The softness of her voice combined with the warmth of her touch and his growing hunger made it impossible for him to think. “ Si . No. I mean…” He pulled away from her, his face shifting from human to vampire. “You have me at a disadvantage.”
    “Because I ruined your dinner. Should I get Catarina?”
    “No.” He turned abruptly.
    Marissa made a derogatory sound. “You need blood. That’s her job. If she’s not doing it, you can return her to her house and pick another.”
    “I didn’t buy her blood rights. I inherited them.” He was glad for the distraction. “Her former patron was one of my clients.”
    “One that you killed?”
    “One I assisted in ending his life. He included her blood rights as part of our contract.” He sighed, remembering the transaction. He’d thought it such a good idea at the time. “Things were fine between us at first, but when she realized that I was not going to dote on her like her previous patron, showering her with gifts and taking her on every trip, she soured toward me.”
    Marissa pursed her mouth. “You don’t venture out much, I take it?”
    “No more than I need to. And now that my reputation has grown, I go out very little. I prefer my clients come to me. Saves me time.”
    She lifted her hands and looked around. “You prefer this space to the ballrooms of the nobility?”
    He raised his head. “I do. Does that make me boring?”
    She smirked. “Maybe. But I don’t care for them much myself, either.” She nodded at the array of tools before him. “Do you want me to leave you alone