“Oh, yes; don’t look at me like it’s such a surprise to you. He was ready to bite my head off when he found out I saw you leave and didn’t stop you.” Despite the heated discussion, they both kept their voices to a mere whisper to avoid detection by the rogue if he was still roaming the hospital corridors.

“You’re wrong. He doesn’t love me. He’s got somebody else.” Maya pushed down her rising tears. It wasn’t fair for Yvette to bait her like this—although maybe Gabriel had her fooled as well.

“Gabriel? Are we talking about the same guy? Mr. Lonesome himself? In all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him with a woman. He’s never dated, and from what I’ve heard from the guys, he doesn’t even go along to any of their fuck fests—”

“Their what?”

“Some of the guys are a little rambunctious and need to let off steam from time to time. They think I don’t know, but trust me—I know. The vampires who’re not bonded, they can get quite wild when they roam the cities and go out looking for pussy. All I’m saying is that Gabriel never participates.”

Maya swallowed back her shock. Yvette’s frank language was unexpected, but why should vampires be any different from other men? But that wasn’t the point. Even if Gabriel didn’t participate, it didn’t change anything about the fact that she’d caught him getting a blowjob from some woman.

“I suppose he’s just more secretive about it. Doesn’t change anything about the facts,” Maya insisted.

“Which are?” Yvette prompted.

“There was a woman at the house when I left.” That was all she would say. Yvette could draw her own conclusions. And by the looks of it, she was a very smart woman. She would put two and two together and make sure it added up.

“The witch? You’re talking about the witch?” Then she had the audacity to chuckle. “You honestly think he has something going with a witch?”

“She was in his room,” Maya hissed under her breath, careful not to raise her voice in case the rogue was near.

“And I’m sure there’s an explanation for that.”

Maya crossed her arms over her chest. She’d already heard his explanation: it’s not what it looks like. As if that explained why he’d had his pants down his thighs with the woman’s head in his crotch. He was just the same kind of philanderer as the vampires Yvette was referring to, the only difference being that Gabriel liked to conduct his debauchery in private. And Maya wanted no part of it.

“I—”

Yvette put a finger on her lips. “Shh.”

Maya’s ears perked up. She stopped breathing and listened for any sound from the corridor outside. In the distance, she heard footsteps. Somebody was coming. She exchanged a look with Yvette, who nodded. She was trying to make out what direction the footsteps were coming from when she realized that there was more than one person approaching.

Maya ignored the chill that settled on her skin and tightened like a noose around her neck. She could sense him—he was near. Her grip tightened on the stake she still held in her hand. She wanted to sink back deeper into the closet, but in the next instant the door was ripped open. Light flooded the room, and for a millisecond she felt blinded.

“Thank God it’s you,” Yvette exclaimed and stepped out into the corridor. Maya caught a glimpse of red hair before Yvette blocked the person out with her body. Then another set of  heavy footsteps rushed closer.

“Where is she?” Gabriel’s frantic voice echoed in the hallway.

A moment later, he’d pushed Yvette and the other vampire she now recognized as Ricky aside. He pulled her into his arms.

Maya had no time to protest before he took her mouth and kissed her. This wasn’t the tender kiss he’d bestowed on her earlier: it was fierce, demanding, and desperate. She was too stunned to do anything but react to him. Her body melted into his and allowed him to invade her mouth with his seeking tongue.

Vaguely, she heard others arrive behind him, but everything was a blur. Gabriel demanded her full attention. It took her a full minute to gain control over herself and to remember what he’d done to her. Just because she was safe now didn’t mean she’d forgive him for betraying her.

She shoved against his chest and swung her hand back to slap him. But her action was cut short—he’d caught her wrist just before her palm connected with his face.

There was a flash of red in his eyes, but when he spoke, his voice was calm. “You might think I deserve that, but I don’t. You and I have some talking to do.” He released her wrist.