Page 90 of The Vanishing
Seriously? I’m staring at this bewildered male with deep golden-blonde hair framed in bright sunlight. “You’re beautiful,” I say.
He blinks and draws back in his chair, looking off to the side as if I couldn’t have been talking to him. As if there was some secret third person in the room that I’d missed.
“And obviously intelligent,” I go on. “Driven. Whywouldn’tI be ‘hounding’ you? I’d be a fool not to. So have dinner with me… Is my maleness distasteful to you? Is that it?”
“No—I…” The doctor reaches up and scratches his head, mistrust coloring his eyes. “You want sex, right? I’m human, so you couldn’t possibly want to feed from me. You’re too high level. So if we have sex, you’ll feel satisfied and move on?”
Dios mío. NowIdraw back. What the hell? Where is the fun in cutting to the chase like this? The best part of a new romantic partner is the seduction—and I’mgoodat that part. Why is he fucking it up? “Doctor J., this isn’t a hostage negotiation. It’s just dinner. Does dinner equate to sex in your world? Is it squeezed in between the appetizers and main course? Between the bread rolls and the salad? Sounds kinky. Messy.”
He watches me for another moment like he’s struggling with something. I’m thinking I should just pull the plug on this. Clearly, he isn’t interested, so I should get up and leave.
The doctor takes a deep breath and slides his handsome glasses back onto his face. “Come to my house next Friday. I’m on call, but I’ll be home after seven.”
“Your house?” I ask, my eyebrow raised. “Are youmakingme dinner then?”
“Sure, that’s what I’m doing.”
“Doctor Davies. Why are you trying so hard to deflect my sincere advances?”
He blinks at me as if I’ve asked him a stupid question. “I’m human. You’re a ranked vampire and I don’t understand what you want from me. And I’mbusy. I’m a full-time doctor. How many times—Should I say it in another language?”
We’ve been speaking in polite Japanese, but I feel wicked. “Sure. Say it in English.”
“Because I’m too busy for your puffed-up vampirebullshit.”
Silence. Not a single sound in the room and I’m speechless. He said the phrase perfectly, nuanced with an airy British accent. I unfold my leg and lean forward, as if doing so will help me discern something deeper.
Who is this human? Why does he smell like this, and why does he vaguely resonate within my nature? Pulling me toward him as if a fishing line is hooked into my navel.
I shake my head. This is not part of the seduction, but I can’t help myself. I respond in English, narrowing my eyes. “What are you?”
Doctor Davies straightens his back and blinks. Expressionless. “Boku wa isha desu.”
I’m a doctor.The intercom buzzes. The doctor presses a button and speaks into it, telling his nurse he’s on the way. When the phone clicks off, he stands, somewhat frantic. “Shit.” Again, perfect English as he whirls around to grab his brown leather backpack from the floor behind his desk. He weaves his arms through the straps, checks his watch and moves toward the door.
I turn, dumbfounded. “You’re not going to give me your cell number or address? Yourfirst name?”
He glances over his shoulder as he moves. “Ask Sora at the nurse’s desk.” Then he’s gone. Only the subtle and sweet scent of him remains.
“Why the fuck is he being so weird?” It’s not like I’m asking him to do my business taxes or help me move into a third-floor apartment without an elevator. It’s just dinner, dammit.
I sigh, standing and walking out of the office and down the hall toward Sora at the nurse’s station. When I’m there, she smiles, setting her elbows against the low desk and cradling her chin in her palms.
“Hello, Jun.”
Pretty female. She’s bonded, of course. But she wears these red cat-eye glasses that complement her narrow face. “Hey, Sora. How are you? Kids alright?”
“I’m great. The kids are with their father. God save him. Are you here on official business? Or are you returning another book?”
“Returning booksisofficial business, so I’m not sure what you mean.” I fold my arms and lean against the high counter, grinning. “Can you please give me Doctor J.’s address? He’d rather I ship the books to his home.”
“Right.” Sora smirks, pushing her glasses up her nose. She sits straight, her fingers tapping in a rapid motion against her keyboard as she focuses on the monitor. “You don’t mind humans at all, do you, Junichi?”
She’s asked the question casually, but the insinuation is heavy. I keep my response innocuous. Last thing I need is rumors spreading around the aristocracy. “I encounter and work with humans on a regular basis—both here and abroad. I’m accustomed to them.”
“Doctor J. is sweet—and he’s weirdly cute. For a human.” She grabs a sticky note and pen, writing down the address. “He was an excellent hire for the hospital—you should be pleased. He’s very popular with the low-level vamps that come in to see him. I think being around higher-ranked vamps like us makes him nervous for some reason. It’s been three months since he started, but he’s still prickly with me sometimes.”
I raise my eyebrow. “You call him Doctor J. as well? I keep asking but he won’t tell me his name.”
Sora looks up at me, blinking her dark brown eyes. “That’s his name, Junichi. It’s spelledJ-A-E, as in the Korean iteration. Doctor Jae Davies.”
I rub my palm into the top of my head and scoff. I’ve been calling this heinous male by his name the entire time. Fortwo weekshe said nothing.
Incredible. This curious, delicious little doctor. Despite myself, I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing him again next week. It’s been a very long time since I looked forward to something.
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