Page 50 of Be Still My Unbeating Heart

But then the inspector blinked and gave Bastian a brief smile before hurrying off to speak with the officer guarding the crime scene. Disappointed, Bastian was left to ponder their too-brief close encounter.I haven’t done this sort of thing in a while,De Luca had said. Perhaps he wasn’t in the right place, emotionally, for kisses with foreigners, even if he did like Bastian.

And on top of everything else, Bastian reminded himself, theyweretrying to catch a killer. He needed to get his priorities straight, too. So to speak.

He found Whitby eating fish from a saucer outside a restaurant in the piazzetta. She was being fed by a couple of children, who giggled and watched her in awe. They reached out little hands and Whitby let them pet her as she ate.

“What’s going on here, then?” Bastian asked, smirking.

The children looked at him, startled, and fled.

“They just started feeding me,” Whitby said, licking her lips. “I couldn’t say no, Bastian.”

“Of course. It’s hungry work, unlocking all that magical potential.”

“Scoff all you like, but I made this shell move four inches just a moment ago.” Her tail nudged a conical shell that rested on the ground beside her.

“Wonderful, love,” Bastian said. “Well done.”

Nothing to do with the breeze, I’m sure.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” the cat asked.

“Just happy to see you.”

Whitby tutted, her voice food-drowsy. “That’ll be the day. Did you find anything in the caves?”

“Alas, no.”

De Luca came over, looking troubled. His eyes were shaded, and Bastian tried not to imagine pressing kisses into his jaw. He had to focus, but he kept thinking about the way De Luca had felt. That heartbeat echoing in Bastian’s own chest. He couldn’t remember the last time it had felt so good to be close to somebody. Their kiss had unlocked something inside him and, despite it all, Bastian didn’t want to close that door.

He’d had flings in the past, of course. He’d had a thing for bad boys during his early days as a vampire. There was something thrilling about touching the fire and seeing how much of the burn he could tolerate. But he hadn’t been with a man since getting clean. He had forgotten how good it felt: that rough and smooth of coarse stubble against soft skin; the overpowering scent of desire; the way your mind filled with static before suddenly calming, getting lost in sensation, feeling hardness and tension as bodies moved together in a hungry, urgent dance.

He wanted more. He wanted De Luca.Badlynow.

“Any news?” he asked De Luca, shaking the thought free.

De Luca palmed the back of his neck, wincing. “We have a problem. My colleague says there’s a witness.”

Bastian gave him a bemused look. “Witness to what?”

“You killing Emilio.”

“What?! But that’s impossible.”

“The witness gave a statement.”

Whitby yowled with outrage. “Who is this person?”

De Luca gave her a furtive glance. “That’s confidential.”

“But they’re lying, darling!” Bastian threw his arms wide. “A liar doesn’t deserve your protection.”

The inspector struggled to meet his gaze. He rubbed his neck again, hissing through his teeth.

“Let me,” Bastian said, going behind De Luca and massaging his shoulders. “You’re so tense. It’s lucky that I’m an excellent masseur.”

De Luca squirmed free, avoiding his eye. “I’m fine.”

Bastian’s hands hung in the air. “I only thought you could use a little relief from all those knots in your neck.”