Page 27 of Bloodlust

Like a burning cold.

My eyelids flicker up slowly. "I'm out here for a purpose," I say, gesturing to my smoke. I tilt my head as Dr. Malcolm stalks toward me. "I think you're the one that's bored."

"I don't bore easily, Miss Bianco," Dr. Malcolm notes, looking distantly at the shimmering view. "It's a learned skill."

"Sounds useful," I muse, flicking the cherry on the floor. I hold out the pack. "Want one?"

"Haven't you heard?" Dr. Malcolm turns toward me, half his face covered by a shadow, the other by light. "Smoking kills."

"Hmm...is that so?" I take a step closer to him as I inhale a long drag. When my head rushes, I open my mouth, pushing a cloud of smoke into his face. "I guess I have more in common with cigarettes than I thought."

"You should quit while you're still young," he says, taking a deep breath and sucking in the smoke. His chest rises with...pleasure? Huh. He blows a tiny grey cloudback to me. A game. I see. "It's a horrible habit, Miss Bianco."

"Yes, it is," I agree in a whisper, inching closer to him, hoping that I can get close enough to read him. To understand. "It's very bad..." I lean forward, my finger circling the lapels of his suit. "Dirty..." I twist my neck, my lips grazing his earlobe. "Nastyeven."

"Cam—" He tenses, clearing his throat as he snakes his hand around my forearm, the pressure firm.

"It's just so hard,Doctor," I continue, dragging my hand down his torso at an excruciatingly slow pace. "I seem to thoroughly enjoy things that are bad for me." His grip on my arm tightens as he yanks me back, his eyes cold. I smirk, getting the exact reaction I wanted. "What about you? Got any vices,Hayden?"

"I know what you're trying to do, Miss Bianco," he says, releasing my arm. "It won't work."

"Yeah? And what's that?" I ask. "Give me your expert analysis."

A ghost of a smile plays on his lips. "If I recall correctly, you have no desire for my expert analysis."

"Desire's not the word I would use," I say, giving him a shrug. "Need would be more appropriate." I smile. "This is your chance, doc. Right now... I want it."

"And I'd be more than happy to give it to you," he replies, a masked, teasing edge to his voice. "But not here."

"You can't give it to me here? Why?Too private?" I counter, unable to conceal a grin. "You prefer more...public places?"

"I am open to giving it to you whenever youwant." He cocks his head. "But the first time is always in my office."

"Wherever I want?" I lick my lips. "How very...accommodating."

"I find that it's important to be flexible with my patients," he says. "It's a service I offer."

"Are you offering to service me, Doctor?" I pout. "How unprofessional."

"We're talking about therapy, Miss Bianco," he says, scanning my face. "Are we not?"

"You tell me." I give him a challenging look. "Are we?"

The doctor doesn't say anything for a beat, the humming of traffic and lights and foreign electricity whirling in the air around us. His gaze snaps to the balcony doors. "Your escort is here."

I keep my attention on Hayden. "I don't have escorts."

"No?"

"No," I say, putting out my smoke. "I have pawns."

"Like a queen?" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet.

"No," I say. "Like a king."

"Interesting," he muses, holding out a business card. "Take this, Miss Bianco. Maybe one day, need might outweigh want."

"You just want to get in my head." I take the card from his hand. Our fingers touch for only a second, but it's enough time for all the alarms to sound in my mind. My gaze flicks up. "Don't you?"