The Lady is a Vamp (The Paranormal Investigations Series Book 1) Read Online Free

leave before he discovered just how intimate her knowledge of vampires was. She stood up, picking up her purse and exiting the booth.
    ‘I have to go, Detective. If you want to ask me any further questions, I suggest you get a warrant.’
    Nick stood and faced her, was about to say something when Ruby became acutely aware of the sudden nearness of him, her vamp senses catching fire. The musky smell of him enveloped her and she became aware that she was staring at his mouth again. Whatever he had been about to say was lost as his head came down towards hers and in a wild, unthinking moment they crushed their lips together hungrily. Ruby moaned as his hands went to her hair and tipped her head backwards as his mouth claimed hers, desire coiling tight at her core. Her arms wrapped around him and as she pushed her body into his she could feel the unmistakable hardness in his groin that told he wanted her.
    Then he pushed her away roughly, and his face was full of such anger she actually flinched.
    ‘That’s why I can’t read you,’ he ground out, stepping towards her so that she was between his powerful physique and the table, ‘you’re the vampire.’
    Ruby gasped and went to step around him, but he grabbed her wrist, his grip firm enough that she couldn’t get away. With her mental powers useless against him, she was defenceless. For the first time in more than a hundred years Ruby was the prey, not the hunter.
    ‘You’re under arrest,’ he growled. Ruby forced a soft laugh.
    ‘For being a vampire? Is that even a crime Detective, seeing as we don’t officially exist?’
    ‘You killed Simon. And now you’re trying to use your powers to seduce me.’
    Understanding his anger, Ruby took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Even though he had scared her and was still gripping her wrist she was still aware of his nearness and the throb of her lips from their kiss. The mixture of fear and desire made her tremble, but she fought to control it and looked him squarely in the eyes.
    ‘The answer to both those accusations, Nick,’ deliberately using his name, ‘is no. I did not kill Simon, and whereas I would certainly have used my powers on you if I could have, if only to dull your interest in me, you seem to be completely immune to them.’
    He frowned at her, thinking hard for a moment, then ignored her last statement.
    ‘If you didn’t kill Simon, who did? You lot don’t tend to hang around in packs. You rarely find more than one vamp in a state, never mind a city.’
    ‘Us lot, as you so nicely put it, are indeed solitary. But I didn’t kill him. And you’re hurting me.’
    Ruby glanced pointedly at where his hand still gripped her wrist and he followed her gaze, looking apologetic as he realised he was clutching her arm so hard her skin squeezed between his fingers. He loosened his grip, but didn’t let go.
    ‘I have to take you in for questioning,’ he said, and Ruby felt a surge of fear. She had heard the rumours that a secret division existed within the police force for preternatural crimes, but had never foreseen that she would have any dealings with them. Now though, she felt panic.
    ‘And then what? Even if I prove I’m innocent, they’ll never let me go. I’ll be locked up, experimented on …’ Ruby’s voice stopped on a gulp of fear. If this was anyone else, convincing them to let her go would be as simple as planting the suggestion in their mind, and the realisation that without her ability she was as defenceless as any human woman made her feel uncharacteristically vulnerable.
    Nick shook his head sharply.
    ‘That won’t happen.’
    ‘How can you be sure?’ Ruby’s eyes were pleading. She couldn’t risk her freedom. She had an idea, however. They both wanted to find out what had happened to Simon, albeit for very different reasons, and now that he knew she was a vampire there was no reason for her to pretend she knew nothing.
    ‘If you are innocent, I give you my word you’ll be