She looked up at him and smiled.
His pulse thrummed a little faster, and Saiden couldn’t remember the last time it had done that. He was an enforcer, the very definition of unflappable, yet the curve of her full pink lips reminded him of hope, joy, and a million other things he had long since given up on.
Things that would ultimately just be a distraction if he didn’t focus on his goal. It was supposed to be a quick mission. Get in, get the info, deal with any liabilities as needed, and get out. He'd told Marquin he would be back at the compound by tomorrow morning, which meant he really didn’t have time to stick around just because his target had a pretty smile.
A really,really,pretty smile.
“You’re here for the auditions?” she asked, tossing her braid behind her once more and smoothing down the loose strands atop her head.
A nervous tick, he noted, committing it to memory. “I am. My name is Saiden Massaro. I’m sorry that I don’t have a headshot, but I saw your posting at the last minute.” He gave her his best imitation of a Hollywood grin and hoped it didn’t come off too much like an axe murderer. He didn’t have a lot of experience with charming ladies these days. Not that he ever did, if he was being honest. Like most vampires, he would only truly care about one person in his undead lifetime, and the fates would let him know when they finally arrived.
If they ever did. Lately, he was beginningto question what he’d done to piss Lilith off.
“Do you mind if we go inside?” he asked. “It’s a little warm out here.”
It wasn’t actually that warm. In fact, most Angelenos would probably consider it closer to the chilly side with the coast nearby. The longer he spent in the sun, though, the sooner he would need to feed, and he’d stupidly forgotten to pack a blood bag. If the McLaren didn’t have custom tinted windows, he could only imagine what kind of hangry state he would be in.
He should have fed before he left, but in all the chaos, it had slipped his mind. Not exactly an ideal situation when spending time around humans, but he considered himself more disciplined than most, so he could keep his fangs to himself like a true gentleman. It just sucked.
He watched the debate play out on Cora’s face as she tugged at her thick sweater. Watched her eyes flash back to his expensive car and then down to his decidedly inexpensive clothing. He guessed it was his face that ultimately made her decision because she analyzed his features for considerably longer than a person should in polite society. Whatever she saw must have intrigued her because she turned and unlocked the door to the warehouse.
“Come on in,” she said pleasantly. “I can make time for one more.” She walked briskly into the room, stumbling as she crossed the threshold.
Without thinking, he dove forward and caught her arm before she could crack her pretty face on the concrete.
She steadied herself and gave him a curious look. “Thanks. Those are some quick reflexes you have there.”
“Can’t have my future director getting injured,” he replied with a wink.
She let out a self-deprecating laugh as she passed through the openspace. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” She set her things down on a table in the middle of the room and began unpacking her equipment.
Saiden lingered just inside the doorway, watching her curiously. He could hear her heart pounding against her ribs, so he decided to hang back until she calmed down a bit. It wouldn’t pay off to scare her away too soon.
As she set up her camera, her heart rate slowed back to normal, and the slight tremble to her fingers disappeared.
She sat down and pointed to an X made out of blue tape on the concrete floor. “You can stand there.” Cora scanned a piece of paper in her hand, then set it aside. “I’m guessing you didn’t have a chance to memorize the audition script if you came here last minute, huh?”
He shook his head as he prowled closer, moving at a slow and steady pace so as not to frighten his prey.
“That’s fine,” she said. “We can improv it then.” Cora reached up and flicked a switch on her camera. “If you’re ready, let’s get started. Tell me, Saiden, why do you think you would make a good vampire?”
He couldn’t help it. The question was just too perfect. And if he was going to be forced to deal with humans, he might as well have some fun and give the girl a little thrill before he wiped her memories.
He grinned.
“Because I am one.”
Chapter six
Cora
Cora hesitated for a second at the guy’s response to her question. She wasn’t opposed to method actors, and this guy looked exactly like what she imagined for her film—like,exactly—but if there was even the slightest chance that he genuinely believed he was a vampire, then she needed to get somewhere safe ASAP. She’d watched a movie a few years back about the cult in Florida that killed a girl’s parents because they believed themselves to be real vamps. You just couldn’t be too careful these days.
She let her eyes wander up and down his body again. She couldn’t have painted a better picture in her mind for the villain of her movie. His hair cut was a little modern, but everything else about him screamed violence. And not the leather jacket wearing, motorcycle riding, ‘look at me, I’m such a bad boy’ kind of violence. No, this was ‘if you mess with me your body parts will be washing up in the harbor for days’ kind of violence. It was in his deep-set scowl that lurked on the corner of his mouth even when he tried to smile. His defined muscles that spoke of hours in the gym, likely with a personal trainer. The firm set of his square jaw and those eyes, so dark and piercing she almostthought they were black. She wouldn’t even need contacts for him.
Not to mention his smooth olive skin that made her think his heritage was Italian or Spanish. She was so over the whole pale creature of the night thing. This guy was the perfect dark vampire she envisioned. The kind that lured you into his bed with promises of pleasure you knew he could deliver on, wringing out every ounce of ecstasy from your soul just before biting and draining you dry in the end.
Oh yeah, she would cast this guy in a heartbeat.
