by Susan Stec
"Slide that cute, little ass of yours back a bit, sweetie." Marcus wiggled the key out of his leather pants. I could see every bulge. I bit my lip and slid back.
"Ever have sex on a motorcycle?" he asked, straddling the seat.
I got up all tight and cozy, running my hands up leather clad thighs. "Nope, can't say as I have, but it's not happening from where I'm sitting."
"We may be able to work something out," he said, turning the key and revving the engine.
I gave him an encouraging pair of hands.
~~~~
Chapter Thirty-Four
~~~~
Jake whimpered. A middle-aged man and the woman hanging on his arm made cooing noises as they scratched Paul's ears and rump.
"He's so beautiful," the woman commented.
"A wolf, you say," said the man. "I don't think I've ever seen a tame wolf."
"I'm surprised he's not growling and nipping," Jake tried. "He usually doesn't like strangers to pet him."
In response, Paul nosed the woman's crotch, snorted, fell to the sidewalk and rolled on his back, exposing his belly.
"Well, he seems to like my wife's attention," the man chuckled. "What's his name?'
"Paul," Jake said, tapping his foot on the sidewalk, "and we're supposed to be looking for someone, so I guess we'd better get going." He gave the leash a jerk; Paul back-wiggled closer to the woman.
"Aw, look honey," the woman said, scratching Paul's tummy, "he's as snug as a bug in a rug." Paul's snout was buried in the fabric of the woman's dress, his tail beating the sidewalk, and paws kicking air.
Jake's brows hammered together. "That's your skirt, not a rug, and he's a wolf, not a bug." Being very literal, idioms always went right over Jake's head. "Time to go, Paul! We got work to do!" He dug his heels in and dragged Paul a few inches away from the woman's clothing.
"I thought you said you were meeting someone," the man said, stepping back while Paul stood and shook from muzzle to tail, the chain rattling.
"No. I said we're looking for someone," Jake answered, having a tug-of-war with Paul. "There is a difference."
Paul barked, panted an open-mouthed smile at the woman, with eyes sparkling, and abruptly turned and padded off down Royal, with Jake trying to keep up.
A few feet down the street, nose sniffing a trash container on a corner, Paul hiked up his back leg. He hooded his eyes as a stream rolled down the trash receptacle onto the street. Kicking up gutter dust with his back paws, the wolf jumped the curb and sat in front of Jake, his tongue hanging from his mouth.
Jake groused, "Can't you just growl or look ferocious or something? That was the third time you let someone pet you. We'll never get our job done if you keep pausing for attention." Small trails of smoke wafted from Jake's nostrils.
Paul wheezed a snort, prancing a circle around Jake, before bounding off, his nostrils flaring. Meanwhile, Jake spun in a circle, making an effort to untangle the leash around him.
* * * *
Betty was all smiles as the two girls walked out of a gift shop into the casino. "Whaddaya wanna play first?"
"Ching-ching," Resi sang, pumping her fist up and down as she headed for the dollar machines, carrying a plastic cup filled with quarters.
Betty followed, coins jingling in her cup, while several shopping bags hung from her arms.
They sat in front of two one-armed bandits decorated with poker cards. A young woman, dressed in black short-shorts, three-inch heels, a white dress shirt and thin, black tie that hung between perky little breasts, pointed to a name tag pinned under her right shoulder. "I'm Karen. What can I get you ladies from the bar?" She moved her tip jar to the side of a tray she was holding and set down two coasters, two clean ashtrays, and a couple of napkins between the machines.
Resi wrinkled her nose. "I don't smoke or drink." She pushed four quarters into the slot and pulled the lever, sending the cards spinning. Two aces, a four, and two threes settled on the screen in front of her. "Oh, a possible full house, aces high!" Resi clapped, wiggling in her chair, as she pushed buttons under the pictures of the cards she wanted to hold.
"Geez," Betty said, elbowing Resi. "Ya'd think she was offerin' ya blood." She smiled up at Karen. "We'll have two rum an' Cokes, heavy on the rum, light on the Coke." She pointed a finger in Resi's face. "I'm gonna make you par-tay or die tryin'. 'Sides, they're free, hon, an' we don't turn down nothin' fer nothin'."
"I'll be right back," Karen said with a tired smile as she plucked a bottle of ibuprofen from the pocket on her apron, and turned on her heel.
Resi giggled and pulled the lever again. "We are going to be in so much trouble. Zaire is laughing in my head." The only moving card stopped rolling, another ace. Resi jumped, sending rainbows of gel in all directions, clapping her hands as bells and sirens filled the air and coins fell into a tray by her knees.
"Yeah, well, you got chuckles—I got me one angry vamp growlin' in my head." Betty pushed some quarters into the slot. "He's bitchin' about us drawin' attention ta ourselves, among other things."
Twenty minutes and three drinks later, Betty asked, "Can ya smell that guy over there?" She nodded toward the blackjack tables right beside them, her finger pointing from under her chest.
Resi pulled her eyes off the spinning cards and followed Betty's finger. "He's watching us." Resi said, nostrils flaring, eyes locked on a tall, blonde man.
"Everybody's watching us, honey," Betty scoffed. "That gel's workin' for ya. A hundred grand—last offer."
"He's also an immortal," Resi said, scooping coins into another plastic cup. "Time to cash in and make a call."
* * * *
Dorius pushed a growl and tossed his hands in the air. "My damn mate is at the casino. That woman is going to be the death of me."
"They're probably safer there," Warren said. "But, last time I checked in with Jeni, she told me there's a lot of vamp-critter activity down near Saint Louis Cathedral. Odd, since you said there weren’t many broadcasts from animal control in our area. You think they're migrating north?"
"Could be. I think I'll check in with the locals tomorrow—ask if they've had any strange behavior here. I have a contact that lives out in the bayou. Maybe he's seen something. I'll check with him as well."
"Sounds like a plan," Warren said, pointing across the street. "Paul's dragging Jake down an alley. Think we should go check it out?"
"Where's the fairy?"
"Last time I saw him, he headed inside Razzoo's Bar and Pub on Bourbon," Warren said as they crossed the street, heading for an alley near the corner of Royal and Orleans Street.
"I can't believe Betty has blatantly disobeyed me," Dorius said. "Even more annoying is the fact that she is not answering me mentally."
"Hey, isn't the casino near the Cathedral?" Warren asked.
"Shit!" Dorius said, quickening his pace toward the alley as he hammered the communication button taped to his chest under his shirt.
* * * *
We headed southeast on Decatur Street, picked up North Peters, and coasted by the riverboat docked at Woldenberg Park.
"Oh, I wish we had time to gamble," I shouted in Marcus' ear. "I love those one-armed bandits!"
"Did you notice the little herd of animals scampering across the road down on Decatur and Peters when we turned?" Marcus asked.
"Yeah, I did," I said, tightening my grip as we headed back towards Decatur. "And they weren’t just squirrels," I shouted, spitting tulle as we leaned into a corner. "I think I saw a couple of badgers. Odd, don't you think?"
"I'm going up Toulouse and try to head them off. I think they were moving toward the French Quarter." Marcus hit the throttle and we sped off down the road, the wind in my veil, the stars overhead.
~~~~
Chapter Thirty-Five
~~~~
"That's what I said," Chick confirmed, eyes on the rearview mirror. "The vamp is meeting us a half hour before the others get here. I wanted a chance to talk to him alone."
Zaire shook her head, eyes in the mirror. "Dorius is gonna kick our asses."
"Nah, he's got too much Betty to worry about," Chick said with a laugh.
Christopher pointed to a dirt road coming up on the right. "That's our turn."
The car's communications device beeped. Chick hit a button on the dashboard and Jeni's voice boomed from the speakers. "Two immortals spotted. Resi and Betty are watching a guy at the casino, probably a vampire. Also wanted to mention that there're an awful lot of vamp-animals down by the river. Paul and Jake are chasing… Hold on a minute; Dorius is buzzing again."
Chick slapped the "call" button, leaning over as she yelled into the speaker, "Is Paul chasing a vampire too?"
No answer.
She hit the button again.
Nothing.
She started alternating: a fist hitting the button, a cuss word following.
Christopher began offering a few more colorful suggestions to add to her repertoire when the communications device beeped. Chick hammered the button. "Is Paul chasing a vamp too?
Jeni's voice rang from the dash. "No, Nan, Paul's after something on all fours. Dorius is following them. I had to call the girls to tell them to sit tight. Dorius does not want Betty to follow the vampire."
"How's Lily doing?" Christopher asked the dash.
"Fine. She's playing with her DS. Tootles is in her lap. Lily doesn't seem to mind the smell of carnage. The poor dog is rank, again, and smelling up the van." Jeni answered. "OOPS, gotta go. Dorius is texting a reminder; I need to contact Marcus and tell him to get over to the casino."
Chick glanced at Christopher and hit her blinker to make a right turn. "We'll get back with you when we get to the swamp."
"Ten-four," Jeni said.
"You think Lily was wrong?" Christopher asked Chick. "Maybe that's your vamp and shifter."
"Shit, I knew I was right," Chick said. "And I bet they're both headed here."
"If they are," Zaire said, "Marcus and Susan are probably right on the vamp's ass."
"Both sightings could just be a coincidence," Christopher said, pulling two bags of blood from a cooler at his feet. "We're not the only immortals out there." He handed one over the seat to Zaire. She took it and sunk her extended fangs into it.
"Makes me wonder if we should run back to town. Have a look," Chick said, driving onto the dirt road and slowing down. "We got time."
"Stick to the plan," Christopher said, popping the blood bag on his fangs. "Let's hit the swamp."
* * * *
"He's gonna get away," Betty whispered, picking up her shopping bags and taking a sip of her drink. "That's probably his cab comin' up the drive."
Resi peeked around their hiding place, a potted plant beside the glass doors leading out of the casino. "Shit! Well it's too late for us to call a cab and follow him, now. Let's hope Marcus and…"
"We could share his," Betty suggested, stepping toward the door.
Resi grabbed her arm. "Hold on. Are you sure you want to do that? Dorius said to stand down."
"Sure as shit." Betty wiggled through the door, taking a sip of her rum and Coke.
The security guard at the end of the red carpet leading up to the entrance smiled and lifted his hat. "You ladies need me to call a cab?"
"Nope. We're goin' with him," Betty said, pointing her drink at the blonde man. He was stepping onto the drive as the cab rounded the last corner.
Resi gasped. "Betty! You still have your drink! You can't walk around town with a drink! It's illegal!"
The guard chuckled. "This is New Orleans, sugar, you can take that drink to church with ya, come Sunday mornin'".
Betty whooped, "This is my kinda town!" She sprinted, waving the drink at the blonde man." Whoa! Hey sugar, you got room fer two more?"
Resi smiled at the chuckling guard as she scurried after Betty.
* * * *
"Where'd it go?" Dorius asked as he skidded up to Jake near the back of an alley.
"I don't know," Jake said. "Paul wiggled out of his collar and took off after it. It's not my fault I couldn't keep up—not like I can shift into a thirty-foot dragon in public. Besides, I keep telling you I'm a healer, not a fighter!"
Warren stepped around the corner of the alley. He leaned over, hands on his knees, and sucked in a deep breath. "Paul should be here in a second if he stops barkin' at the damn fence like an idiot. Friggin' wolf gets into the hunt. I met up with him behind the Monteleone. The damn badger hissed, fanged us, and then climbed right up a fifteen-foot, chain link fence like its ass was on fire—looked like it was flyin' over the goddamned fence—and hit the ground runnin' toward the river."
"Then it wasn't a shifter?" Dorius asked, shoulders relaxing.
"Don't think so, just one of the damn vamp-critters," Warren said, slapping his hat against his hip before he put it back on his head. "Saw a shitload of the critters, all headed toward the river. Ain't never seen anything like it.
Dorius hit the "talk" button taped to his chest under his shirt. "Jeni, got any news on the immortal and vamp-animal action near the casino?"
Paul padded over, tongue lolling from his maw. He jumped up, both paws on Warren's chest, and ran a sloppy tongue across the immortal's face.
"What the hell!" Warren yelled, pushing the wolf down. "You do that again and your head is gonna be hanging over my fireplace!"
Dorius raised a hand and shook his head at them as he listened. "Son-of-a-bitch! Where is my goddamned brother?" He listened for a heartbeat. "Well, call him again and tell him to find that taxi cab!" He hammered the button on his chest, glaring at Warren. "My uncontrollable mate just got into a city cab with the vamp. My friggin' brother had better be following that cab." He looked at his watch. "Let's get the car. We got thirty minutes before the vamp is supposed to be at the swamp."
* * * *
"You go get behind some bushes, watch the trail, and be quiet," Chick ordered Zaire the minute they got out of the Suburban. "I don't want to blow this if the guy plays nice."
They parked the car in the woods about a quarter mile off the dirt road, covered the back of the vehicle with broken branches and leaves, then walked back to a clearing about the size of a football field. The open area was surrounded by dense woods and tall brush. Grass on the far side of the field thinned out, turning into moist, mottled-gray dirt that hugged the river.
"Fuck that!" Zaire hollered. "There's gator tracks running through the dirt from the river into the woods. Bastard jumps me, it's not gonna be a quiet fight."
Christopher huffed, "Look. Just try to keep a lid on it and make sure you warn us if he brings friends."
"Damn it, you better not start without me if he ain't who he says he is!" Zaire said, stomping toward a clump of trees at the end of the clearing. "I better get my piece of him."
Chick turned to Christopher. "I do the talking. You just stand there and act stupid."
"No problem," Christopher said, turning his Gators cap backwards, then sticking earplugs into his ears. In a blur, he was sitting on the hood of the car, Indian-style, eyes closed, head bobbing to the rhythm of an unheard tune.
* * * *
Marcus skidded to a stop in front of the casino, throwing us both forward.
"What the hell!" I shouted, my veil now wrapped around both of our heads. I sat back, tore the damn thing off, dropped it onto the curb, toed it halfway into a storm drain, and turned to the front doors of the casino like nothing had happened. "I don't see them! Do you see them?"
Marcus lifted his eyes from the gutter and shot me a sarcastic expression. "No, but there's a cab coming down the drive."
He twisted on the seat, grabbed me by the hips and slid my dress up around my waist showing way too much butt cheek action. Then the bastard swung me around, ass flying toward the cab, until I was straddling his lap. I was like, what the hell? But before I could utter the words, he covered my lips with his, and our tongues began fighting for top billing. The taxi came to a stop at the end the drive, it
s horn blowing.
My lips followed his when he pulled them off mine and turned to the cab, showing way too many teeth, while waving madly. "Do you see Resi or Betty in the cab?"
My head jerked toward the taxi. I forced a smile and waved, my crotch hugging his. I didn’t fail to notice his reaction to our kiss.
Resi had her face smashed against the rear passenger window, finger pointing, mouth flapping, and eyes big. Betty shimmied in front of her, wiggling her fingers at us as the cab turned out of the driveway with one final beep.
Marcus grabbed the handlebars and took off after it, alternately waving and hammering the horn on the bike. When the vamp turned and waved out of the rearview window, I had to admit, Marcus rocked! Speaking of a rock, I had a steel, tubular one between my legs, vibrating and nudging all the right places every time we hit a bump.
I wrapped my red-leather, four-inch-heeled, fuck-me-like-a-ho, hip boots around his waist, arms hugging, and snuggled closer. I heard Marcus growl, and felt him rocking against me, his lips on my neck sending goose bumps down my spine. I whispered in his ear, "No fangs, sweetie. And whatever you do, don't lose that cab."
~~~~
Chapter Thirty-Six
~~~~
"Please step aside," Dorius said with a tension-filled voice.
Twelve Jehovah's Witnesses shifted to block his way for the third time since their arrival on Royal.
Warren snickered behind Dorius.
Paul growled, the hair on his neck standing on end.
Jake farted. Face flushed, he pulled at the leash and commanded, "Sit!"
The wolf cocked his head, stood his ground, hooded his eyes at Jake and wheezed, his maw turned up at the corners.