He let her down easy and the two rested against the warm tile, letting clean water wash away what was left of their play.
8
The fire crackled in the grate and the two snuggled naked on the couch wrapped in a Native American style blanket, Daisy dozing in Jace’s arms.
“You’re staring at me,” she said with a teasing half grin.
He leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. “There’s no better view as far as I’m concerned.”
She swung her legs over the cushion and sat up, rubbing her eyes. “What time is it?”
“Nearly two. Are you hungry? I’m not sure what I can offer, but I saw a store room. I’m sure there are provisions.”
She shook her head. “I feel fine, actually. Considering you’ve fed from me twice, I’m a little surprised I haven’t keeled over.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t take that much. You’re a Were. I don’t have to. Plus, it’s part of sex play, not really for feeding, but if you’re concerned, I won’t do it again.”
“No, it’s part of our play. As long as it’s safe for me as well as for you, I’m okay.”
“You’re more than okay. Weres produce red blood cells thousands of times faster than humans. What I take out is replenished within hours.”
He considered her. “There’s another component I should tell you about as well.”
“What?”
“Now that I’ve taken your blood, you wear my mark, at least temporarily.”
“Your mark?” She lifted her hand to her throat. “Can people see it?”
He shook his head. “Only other vampires. But don’t worry. You’re a Were, so the mark wears off quickly. It has to do with blood replenishment and the waxing of the moon. On humans it lasts for a very long time.”
“Does it work in reverse?
“Reverse?”
Daisy nodded. “Will you wear my mark if I took your blood?”
He laughed out loud. “No, that’s a completely different thing, but what wearing my mark will do is allow me to locate you at any time, if necessary.”
“Hmmm.” Daisy didn’t really comment, just looked toward the door and the window. “It looks like the storm passed. I should check my phone.”
“What for?”
She looked at him, cocking a brow. “Jenny. She might have called looking for me.”
“I thought you said she was with my folks. What are you worried about?” he asked, puzzled.
“Already a typical daddy.” She laughed getting up to get her purse from the table. “They never sweat the small stuff.”
Padding naked into the kitchen area, she stood by the door, the moonlight spilling in behind her.
“You’re beautiful, Dais. Truly.”
She turned to him and smiled. “So are you.”
Taking her phone, she dropped her bag on the table and walked to the couch with a frown.
“What’s the matter? What happened?”
She shook her head. “Nothing, it’s just Aimee texted me a half hour ago. It’s not like her to text so late.”
“Maybe the storm had something to do with it. Service interruption.”
She nodded, scrolling through the message. “Probably.”
“What does she want?”
“Hmmm…” Daisy replied non-committedly as she read.
“Dais—what does Aimee want. She’s the only other person who knows I’m back.”
“What? Oh, sorry, Jace. Yes, it has to do with you. Or us, I should say.”
“Daisy, you’re not making any sense.”
She exhaled putting the phone down. “Aimee thinks she might have someone who can help us with our situation with Violet. She had to call in a favor, so the individual must be a heavy hitter. I don’t know who it is, so don’t ask, but she’s set up a meeting tomorrow afternoon.”
She paused, looking at him. “Where is Violet now? Whoever Aimee has lined up is going to want as much info as I can provide.”
Jace inhaled, lifting one shoulder and letting it drop. “I haven’t seen or spoken to Violet in over a year. She thinks she’s got me under her thumb, believing the distractions at The Red Veil are enough to keep me in line. She doesn’t put much stock in fate, though karma has a strange way of having its way, regardless.”
He leaned in to kiss Daisy’s cheek. “So you’re driving to Houston again tomorrow?”
Daisy nodded. “I have to meet Aimee’s surprise guest myself, though I can’t imagine it’s one of your adjudicators. The meeting is in the afternoon. I’m guessing this person is a high-powered Were.”
Jace shook his head. “That’s not necessarily true. Very old vampires, especially elders, can day-walk like humans. Aimee is a pretty renowned psychoanalyst. I even knew that before you and I reconnected. She’s helped field some of the worst cases of abuse known to the supernatural world.” He paused at the look on Daisy’s face. “I can’t believe you didn’t know that.”
“I did. I mean, I do. She travels so much, that when she comes home, we just hang out as friends. She doesn’t talk shop.”
“Maybe coming home is a way for her to separate herself from the sick shit she hears from her patients. It’s got to be hard.”
“What do you mean?”
“We share the supernatural world, but while Weres and shifters have rites of passage into the fullness of their dual natures, vampires do not. No one has been born into the race of the undead in centuries. Most vampires are made, that’s why we refer to whoever turned us as our makers, not parents.”
“You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.”
“It’s not the process, Daisy. It’s the way the turning was executed. Pardon the death pun. In my world, if a vampire is created in cruelty, with lust and violence, when they first wake to darkness those are the only emotions they recall.
“These vampires are dangerous. They are without conscience and the most predatory of our kind. But if a human is turned with kindness and compassion, then they retain the full spectrum of human emotion. Good and bad. Like regular people. This is where Aimee is renowned. She’s worked with vampires and Weres alike who have lost their humanity and suffer for it.”
Daisy considered him, the fire crackling in the background throwing golden light and shadow onto Jace’s handsome face.
“What about vampires who have no recollection of being turned?” she asked.
He gave her a soft, knowing smile. “You mean me, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“I’m an anomaly. I’ve never met another Were turned vampire, and I’ve never heard of anyone being changed while under the influence of a memory-altering drug. So, I don’t know how to answer except to say, apart from obvious differences, I feel exactly the same as before I was changed.”
Daisy understood what he meant by obvious differences, and she didn’t miss the shadow across his eyes as he owned the fact.
He moved his gaze to the fire, watching the flames dance. “That first year and a half was a nightmare. I had a hard time getting a handle on my thirst, but not once did I forget what it felt to love. I wouldn’t have ached for so long if I didn’t have a strong link to my left over humanity.”
Daisy lifted a hand to his cheek forcing him to look at her. His eyes were melancholy and full of regret, and it broke her heart.
“Jace, none of what happened to you is your fault. You were dealt a horrible hand. We both were. We’re strong and we found each other again. Doesn’t that say something?”
He turned his face to her palm and kissed the soft skin before meeting her eyes again. “It does, but I can’t help but blame myself. If I hadn’t been so hellfire determined to have an all-out bachelor party, this might not have happened. Had I been more reserved, more mature—”
“Stop it,” she replied cutting him off. “Violet would have found you one way or another and you know it. A different time, perhaps, but nothing would’ve postponed the inevitable. Talk like this only serves to fester on somet
hing you couldn’t control.”
She jerked his chin to make a point. “Now we need to focus on finding help to protect you and Jenny, and that’s where Aimee comes in.”
He took her hand from his face and kissed the underside of her wrist, resting it back in her lap. “If anyone has the contacts to help us, it’s her.”
“Did she help this Carlos person you mentioned?” Daisy asked.
Jace shook his head. “Not directly. She worked with his mate. She was human and near death at the hands of one of Carlos’s adversaries. He changed her and she had a hard time because of the torture she was put through beforehand. Aimee worked together with Carlos to heal Trina. Aimee has helped a lot of vampires in similar situations.”
Daisy inhaled turning her gaze to the fire. “No wonder she wanted to go to New York for the weekend. I wonder if it was because she needed to check up on patients. I told you, she’s got a real fascination with the undead. In fact, she’s been nagging me to tell her about the bondage ménage I witnessed.”
Jace ran a finger down Daisy’s bare arm, letting his knuckle graze the side of her breast. “If memory serves, you were completely aroused when I ran into you in the backrooms.”
He cupped her breast, running a thumb over her nipple watching her face as the bud puckered at his touch. “Seems to me you’ve got a fascination with fetish and sex outside the box, too.”
She swallowed, leaning back to let him claim her nipple with his mouth, arching up with a gasp. He released the furrowed flesh with a pop and rolled the nub, pinching it between his fingers.
Daisy cried out and moved her hand between her legs to touch herself.
He tweaked her nipple again. “How about we take a trip back to The Red Veil once we settle everything with Jenny. I have something in mind I think you’re going to want.”
“Maybe, but I know something I definitely want right now,” she murmured.
Daisy moved to straddle Jace’s lap, looking at him over her shoulder as she lowered her swollen, wet pussy onto his waiting cock, reverse cowboy style.
He leaned up, cupping both breasts as she rotated her hips back and up, milking his member. “Ride’em, cowgirl,” he murmured, sinking his fangs into her throat again.
9
“Daisy, this is Francisco César. He might be able to help you and Jace.”
That was Aimee’s cue for Daisy to introduce herself.
“I don’t know what to say, Mr. César,” Daisy replied, holding out her hand to the gentleman. “Any help you could provide with keeping this vampire in check would be appreciated.”
The man raised one eyebrow at Daisy’s disapproving tone attached to the title vampire, but he didn’t comment.
Aimee caught his quizzical stare and placed a drink tray on the coffee table with a little less finesse than usual.
“Coffee?” she asked, lifting a delicate cup and saucer, purposely turning her head from Francisco to give Daisy a pointed look.
Daisy noted the decanter on the tray beside Aimee’s porcelain coffee pot, its red contents too dark for even the boldest burgundy and her eyes widened, realizing her gaffe.
“Can I tempt you with a libation, Francisco?”
“How kind.” The vampire’s clipped response, left Daisy inwardly cringing. She’d let years of instilled prejudice ruin their meeting before it even began.
Aimee lifted the carafe and swirled the red liquid, the viscous quality coating the inside of the glass as she poured.
“Still warm.” Francisco gave Daisy a small smile as though acknowledging her slight was unintended. “But what else should I expect from one as lovely and thoughtful as Dr. Aimee Dunne.” He lifted the glass in salute, draining the contents.
The man’s slightly accented voice carried a faint lisp. Handsome despite the trails of blue veining beneath his pale skin. He held himself with an old world demeanor.
It was not quite noon and the sun beat hard through the apartment’s floor to ceiling windows.
“Excuse me, Francisco, but wouldn’t you be more comfortable in a room less bright?” Daisy offered in amends.
He spared a glance for Aimee before answering. “You need not concern yourself, my dear. I am of an age where the sun no longer poses a threat.”
He waved a dismissive hand toward the windows. “On extremely robust days, perhaps a mere inconvenience of warmth, but no more.”
He flashed a bright smile, the points of his fangs discreetly retracted. Clearly the man had learned to assimilate and camouflage when necessary.
Aimee poured Daisy a cup of coffee and handed her a creamer full of whiskey. “I think you need the strong stuff, Dais.”
The elder vampire chuckled. “This is actually a delight. It’s been over a century since I’ve unsettled a young woman. My life as an adjudicator general is both repetitive and dull. He lifted his empty glass in salute. “Thank you, my dears. Truly.”
“Francisco was a conquistador.” Aimee nodded, impressed. “He was part of Cabot’s expeditions in South America.”
“Yes, yes—but that was a long time ago, and unfortunately where my human life ended. Not many know the dark magic found in the jungle or the terrors that lurk.”
He paused remembering. “I didn’t have the expertise of Dr. Dunne to help me recover my human equilibrium. It was difficult, but now I do what I can with the adjudicators across the country.”
“Adjudicators? Are you familiar with Carlos…uhm…” Daisy snapped her fingers trying to recall the name Jace said. “Salazar, yes…Carlos Salazar of New York?”
Both sets of eyes turned to her in surprise.
“Jace told me how his new wife had her troubles assimilating to her new existence.”
Francisco momentarily glanced at Aimee. “Yes, well—I know them, both. Not that they have anything to do with the situation you now face.”
Daisy blinked at the clipped answer and put her coffee cup on the table. “Forgive me, Francisco. I didn’t mean to overstep again.”
“No one thinks that.” Aimee patted Daisy’s hand but shot her another pointed look.
Francisco burst out laughing. “Oh, if stares were daggers!” With an amused grin, he held his glass for Aimee to refill.
“So, down to business.” He cleared his throat. “Aimee told me of your plight.”
Daisy nodded. “Yes. This woman Violet is a bad piece of work.”
He swirled the stem of his glass. “Violet Beaumont has not been an easy fix. Sanctions have been leveled by every adjudicator council in the country, yet she flouts us still.”
He paused, regarding Daisy. “Has she threatened you or your child? Jenny is the natural child of an existing vampire, regardless of conception, and entitled to protection, as are you as his chosen mate.”
Daisy bobbed her head. “She hasn’t threatened us directly, only intimidated through Jace, promising murder if he doesn’t abide by her demands.” She paused. “Violet is Jace’s maker.”
The vampire curled his finger over his upper lip. “That complicates things.” He looked at both women sitting across from him on the loveseat. “Has Jace renounced Violet in front of a council, officially rejecting her for her abuse?”
Daisy spread her hands. “I don’t know, but I doubt it. I don’t believe he realizes that’s an option.”
“Traditionally, it isn’t. Your maker is your maker and that is that, but in recent cases judgements were found in favor of severing the bond between maker and progeny if the maker is found to be unfit.”
Daisy snorted. “Unfit? Try psychotic. She’s been systematically killing the male children in Jace’s family for over a century. The woman is completely off the reservation.”
Francisco put his glass down and looked at Aimee. “Is this true? Is there a way to document these claims?”
Aimee shrugged. “If we had time to dig through pack archives, we might find a link to the original incident with Jace’s great-grandfather, Micah.”
He put his wineglass on the tra
y and stood with fluid grace. “I will need those documents if I am to approach the national council for an order of execution.”
“Execution?” Daisy asked shocked.
Francisco turned his unblinking eyes to her. “What did you think, my dear? You cannot order a life sentence for an immortal being. It’s impractical and leaves too much variable to time.”
His gaze softened and he lifted a hand in a gesture of accord. “One family cannot be made to suffer such a scourge. It isn’t fair or right. Repeated, unrelenting attacks on a single bloodline is something we will not tolerate, especially when the family in question is guiltless of harm.”
With a nod, Aimee thanked the man and showed him out, promising to be in touch. She walked back and flopped onto the couch with an exhale. “I think it’s time you let Jace’s parents in on what’s been happening.”
Daisy nodded. “His father is on the council for the Matthews pack. It’s the only way we’ll get access to those records.” She picked up the whiskey, pouring the rest into her cup, shooting it back with a wince. “I’ll tell Jace tonight.”
“Will he go for it?”
She shrugged. “He doesn’t have a choice.”
Daisy pulled up the gravel dirt drive, frowning since there were no cars in front of the house. Her phone battery died halfway back from Houston and she forgot her charger.
She parked and went inside, letting the screen door slam behind her. “Hello! I’m home,” she called.
No answer.
Jace’s father was set to pick up Jenny today from preschool and stay with her while Dad was out repairing sections of fence along the south pasture.
“Carson? Jenny?”
Still nothing.
The landline phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Daisy! Where the hell have you been? We’ve been calling you for hours,” her father said, his voice shaking.
“My phone died and I didn’t have my charger. Why? What happened?”
The Red Veil Diaries (Volumes 1-4) Page 32