Embrace the Darkness (Darkness Series) by Lilly Gayle Page A

with cold, numb fingers. The image refused to fade.
    She took a deep breath, bringing her emotions under control before dropping her hand to her lap. “Andrew and I started talking. Then we started dating.”
    Gerard’s expression changed. Amber wasn’t sure what emotion flashed behind those eyes because he quickly masked it. “Were you in love with him?”
    Pain and loss tugged at her heart. God, she missed him. His friendship. His understanding. He’d been a friend with benefits. But love?
    “No,” she said honestly. “I cared for him deeply. We shared a traumatic experience that bound us in ways a husband and wife never connect, but we were dysfunctional. It wouldn’t have lasted even if he’d lived. But we did date. We went to Nuremberg one night and visited the St. Rochus Cemetery. We were attacked. I know now it was a vampire. It—killed Andrew. And I—froze. But Nicolas saved me.” Just like when she was little. She swallowed the painful memory, unable to deal with it.
    “Don’t blame yourself, chérie” Gerard leaned closer; his eyes filled with understanding and something deeper. Something far more dangerous. “The vampire who attacked your friend entranced you. He would have killed you too if Nicolas hadn't shown up. The question is why? His arrival couldn't have been a coincidence. ”
    His compassion drew her in, tempting her to relax her guard, but she needed to put some distance between them. He was a vampire—a potential killer. And she was a cop.
    “I don't know. I don't know anything anymore."

Chapter 6
    Gerard stayed away from Amber the following evening, giving her time to deal with her newfound knowledge—knowledge he hated dumping on her. Knowledge she’d need to find Tina’s killer. He spent the next night wrestling with his conscience, wondering if he shouldn’t erase all memories of the truth from her mind and continue the search for Weldon without her.
    Vincent was more concerned with keeping Megan safe than in justice or revenge. Sonia had given up the search all together. She’d already returned to her frivolous life of clubs and meaningless sex without a second thought. Gerard wanted revenge. Another mark on his soul.
    Weldon had gotten away with his inhuman experiments. He would not get away with murder—even if Gerard had to enlist the help of a mortal detective.
    Determination led him back to Amber’s door. He knocked, waiting impatiently as she stared through the peephole at him for what seemed like hours rather than seconds.
    “You were supposed to be a nightmare,” she said when she flung open the door. Her brown hair was unbound. It hung in soft waves about her shoulders. Her sleeveless red tank showed a hint of cleavage, her denim shorts a half-mile of tan, smooth legs.
    Mon Dieu! Unwanted heat rushed to his groin, hardening him instantly.
    He cleared his throat and tried to look at her eyes instead of those high, firm breasts. “Sorry to disappoint.”
    She harrumphed. “Not as sorry as I am.” Then a smile touched her lips. “So, I guess I should invite you in. Huh?”
    “We really do need to discuss the case.”
    She arched shapely brows. “Great. This is just what I needed after a stressful day of evading my partner’s questions and trying to think of ways to investigate without mentioning vampires.”
    Doubts and second thoughts plagued him. Was it fair to drag her into his dark world? Fair to come between her and her partner?
    “Maybe this was a mistake,” he said turning to leave. She touched his arm. Heat shot straight to his groin. Again.
    “You’re here now. And I do have a lot more questions.”
    She held open the door, inviting him inside. Whether instinct, the need for revenge, or inappropriate lust led him, he wasn’t sure. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out.
    Knowing he’d surely live to regret it, he crossed the threshold. Amber closed the door and turned toward the living room. He followed, watching the swing of her hips