Page 53 of Night of the Vampire
He laughed. "I hear you. But this is important. Where are you headed?"
"I got a hotel," I told him.
Both eyebrows rose. Then he grinned so wide I was afraid he was going to crack his face. "Killian's gonna fucking hate that."
"I don't care."
His eyes ran up and down my body. Not in a perverse way, just checking me out. "I think I like you, Lizzy."
Wiggles finally finished obsessing over whatever he'd smelled and noticed we had company. The hackles rose on the back of his neck and he growled deep in his throat as he inched forward to check out this stranger.
I let him do it, knowing he'd burst into protective mode and bark ferociously at him until I pulled him away, making it impossible to talk.
Imagine my surprise when he only leaned way out, sniffed Jamal's leg, and then sat down on the sidewalk, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
Jamal reached down and gave him a rub on the head, which only made Wiggles more excited.
"What did you guys do to my dog?"
"He's a great dog. What's his name?"
"Sir Wigglebutt. Wiggles for short."
"Hey, Wiggles. How you doin', boy? Are you a good boy? Yes, yes, you are."
It was getting darker. I really needed to get to my room before Killian or one of my aunt's minions found me out here. "Look, I really need to go."
He gave Wiggles one last pat and straightened up, the smile gone from his face. "I'd really like to talk. We can do it somewhere public if you'd like. Or we can go back to your hotel. I promise no harm will come to you. And, like you, Killian is the last person I want to see tonight."
I sighed. "Look, Jamal. I really just want to have a night to myself."
"Lizzy, I want to help you, if I can." He paused, biting on his full lips as he glanced around.
The movement seemed casual, but standing this close to him, I could see it was anything but. With that one quick look, he could probably tell me exactly how many other people were on the street with us, what they were wearing, and if any of them were a threat.
"I've been where you are, Lizzy." At my puzzled look, he corrected himself. "Well, not exactly where you are. Killian didn't claim me as his mate, but he did claim me, nonetheless."
"How long ago was this?"
"It happened in 1877."
Stunned, I could only stare at him. I mean, I knew the myths about vampires, how they were immortal, and I remembered everything Killian had told me last night, but I guess it just hadn't really hit me exactly what that meant.
"You look good for your age."
He barked out a laugh. "Which way is your hotel? Or would you rather go somewhere else?"
"No, the hotel is fine." I trusted Jamal. More so even than Killian. I didn't know why. It was just an inert feeling.
I signed to Wiggles it was time to go and started walking. "I don't want to see Killian tonight."
"I don't want to see Killian tonight, either, as I said. But I have a feeling I'm going to. Especially when he can't find you."
"Is he always so...intense?"
Jamal shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "Yup."
We were both quiet until we got to my room. "I was going to have a pizza delivered or something. Did you want anything?" I asked as he followed me inside and I released Wiggles from his leash so he could explore.
