Black Blood Read Online Free PDF Page A

you want
during your summer vacation.”
    She shrugged.
“You know what they’re like with their rules. At least they’ve
mellowed. I mean I’m working with you, aren’t I?”
    He gave an
unenthusiastic yeah.
    Gemma pulled
him to a stop and made him face her. “We always knew it would take
time, but they’ll come around eventually. We just have to be
patient.”
    “I just wish
they’d accept me. I hate the stress on you… and us.”
    “It’s only a
stress if we make it one. You know I have to be careful. That
boarding school threat wasn’t a joke.” She placed a hand on his
cheek. “Look I’ll try for tonight. The trip went well today, they
might be feeling generous.”
    He looked away
with a huff. He didn’t want to be third wheel to Courtney and
Darren again. He wanted to be able to take his girlfriend to the
movies without having to jump through hoops of fire!
    “I love you.”
Gemma’s soft voice appeased him enough to make him smile.
    “Loved you
first.”
    “You so did
not!” She slapped his arm as they continued walking. “I liked you
for months before you even noticed me!
    “Hey, I noticed
straight away, I just didn’t do anything about it.”
    “ Oh, so
we can blame your slow ass then?”
    Harrison
stopped in his tracks, feigning offence. “Slow? You think I’m
slow?”
    Giggles rippled
from Gemma as she wriggled her hand free and began to run. He knew
she was making it easy on him, but he caught her in a flying tackle
and raspberried her neck until she begged for mercy.
     

 
    Chapter Five
    Ponte Vedra Beach,
Florida – 2011 AD
     
    Gemma grinned
as she closed the door behind her. Harrison’s lips were still
buzzing over her skin. It was a warm lick of memory and could not
be extinguished despite the fact she was home.
    She loved
it when he chased her, made her laugh, looked at her with those
chocolate eyes… or called her time angel. Spatia angelus. She grinned and leaned against the wood.
The look of awe on his face was a little off putting, but the fact
he revered what she did was a total buzz. He could so easily have
rejected her the day she told him the truth, but he didn’t and now
he was hers.
    “Gemma, you’re
late! Hurry up and get in here.”
    Her mother’s
sharp snap used to make her jump a mile and scuttle to obey. Her
crab-like habits were fading since her tenacious fight to keep
Harrison. Instead, she drew in a breath, counted to ten and glided
into the dining room. Taking a seat next to Ruby, she shot Dom a
quick look to check they were leaving out certain parts of their
journey in this debrief.
    His nod was so
subtle she nearly missed it.
    “Okay, let’s go
over today.” Gemma’s father rubbed his hands together. “To start I
want to say job well done. Things went smoothly with no glitches
from our end.” Alistair Hart went on to run down each detail from
where they found Arthur Paulson to where they left him. He talked
about things they did well and things they could have done better.
As he drew his spiel to an end he looked at his son. “Dominic,
everything go well for you guys?”
    “Yes, sir.” He
scratched his cheek. “Place was easy to find, everything was where
you said it would be. We left the paperwork where he’ll easily be
able to find it.”
    “And where was
that?”
    Gemma’s stomach
clenched, her gaze dropping to the wooden table.
    Dom cleared his
throat. “We walked past this man that recognized Arthur’s satchel.
He asked about it. Gemma played it beautifully and told him that
we’d found it and could he return it for us.”
    “A little
risky.” Alistair frowned.
    “ He
looked trustworthy enough.” Dom shrugged. “And besides, the most
important thing was that Arthur was saved and you guys did
that.”
    Alistair nodded
as his keen eyes bore into Gemma. In the past, she was always the
first to break. Lying had never been second nature for her. She’d
had to learn the skill and was only just starting to master the
casual