Party Vamps

by Jennifer North

  “Me too.” His smile was so tender it made her breath hitch. Then his lips twitched. “The only time I feel better is when I’m fucking you.” He waggled his eyebrows and bared his teeth. “Wanna do it again and commiserate?”

  “Alex’s cure-all. Sorry, big guy, but this mortal needs food and a bathroom.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her. “Let’s go upstairs.”

  Chapter Ten

  When they got up to the loft, Caro decided to pretend it was morning even though the clocks told her it was late afternoon. She quickly used the bathroom and made coffee while Alex showered. She was sitting on his bed reading the morning paper when he came out of the bathroom looking all damp and delectable.

  She made a quick decision. She wasn’t going to think. She was going to enjoy.

  He gave her a crooked smile as he bent to give her a kiss. “Morning, princess.” He tried to stand up, but Caro pulled him back.

  “Again,” she ordered.

  Laughing his assent, he brushed her lips with his once more then sat down when she ran her tongue along his freshly brushed teeth. God, he was delicious. She got up on her knees to deepen the kiss, smoothing her hands through his damp, silky hair. She broke the kiss, catching her breath before starting in on his jaw line and chin. Tender little nibbles on the ridge above his throat and a big bite at the base of his chin. Half grunting, half laughing, he pulled her closer. He tasted like shaving gel.

  “Mmm, you taste all clean.”

  He chuckled as she licked his collarbone. “Best of all, I’m clean all over…”

  She smiled down into his eyes. “Is that a hint?”

  “Maybe.”

  She pushed him back onto the bed, his stiff cock bouncing and bobbing against his belly. “Hmm, you might be clean on the outside, but I can see that inside you’ve been thinking very dirty thoughts.”

  He reached up a hand to tease one of her nipples. “Dirty to some, but I happen to think they’re one-hundred-percent pure.” He gasped when she took the entire head of his cock into her mouth with one quick suck. After treating him to a lingering lick, she popped him out of her mouth.

  “Yep, you’re clean there too.” She scrambled off the bed and stood up. “I think I’ll shower now.”

  Alex laughed and scrambled after her. “You naughty, naughty mortal…get back over here and finish what you started. Or face the wrath of your vampire lover.” Grabbing her by the hem of the robe she’d borrowed, he pulled her back.

  She giggled and turned around to face him. “Okay.”

  She gave him a big push and he sat down hard, his look of surprise quickly turning into anticipation when she stood between his knees. His hands came up the back of her robe and he cupped her ass with eager hands.

  “No, no. Sit still.” She dropped to her knees, spreading his thighs wide. The head of his cock looked clean and shiny. Rosy. Dewy with anticipation. She gave the slit a little lick, smiling when she felt his thigh muscles jerk and tighten.

  “Show me how you like it,” she whispered, rubbing the soft skin of his glans along her cheek.

  “Jesus, Caro. You know how I like it…”

  She shook her head. “I want to see.” She took his hand and brought it to his cock. “Show me. Give me your royal command.”

  Alex was magnificently aroused—eyes flashing dark silver, nostrils quivering as he drew in deep breaths, hands gripping the edge of the mattress, his ruby ring catching the light and flashing its mysterious fire. With a shuddering exhale he thrust his hips forward to the edge of bed, his princely cock a rich, red arch against his black pubic hair and the pale ridges of his abdomen, the twin globes beneath outlined against the smooth, dark sheets. He brushed her hair away from her face and neck, resting his cool fingers on her nape.

  He cupped his balls with his other hand. “Take them into your mouth,” he rasped.

  She leaned forward and he moved his fingers to his shaft, raising it to give her access to what lay beneath. She gave his swollen sac a gentle lick before suckling first one testicle and then the other into her mouth. He gripped her neck with his free hand, groaning, his thighs straining. Her mouth sank into deep sensory overload—the textures, the flavors, the musky fullness of him were overwhelmingly delicious. His hips thrust forward and he inhaled sharply. He cupped her jaw.

  She looked up at him, panting, waiting for his next command. His thumbs came up to stroke her wet lips. She reveled in the passion of his expression—strength and ferocity battling the vulnerability of mind-numbing pleasure. His hair was a wild tangle, his brow a fierce line of concentration, his eyes shot through with silver streaks.

  “Use your hands on the root, your lips on the crown,” he commanded. She curled her fingers around the base of his shaft, playing with the curls she found there, exploring the source of his cock’s power. His fingers trained hers, leading her up the length of his shaft, showing her the pulling, twisting motion he liked best.

  With a breathy sigh, she covered the seeping crown of his cock with her tongue and lips, half kissing, half sucking. She took him a fraction of an inch deeper, suckling the hot, smooth head, tasting his salty heat, curving her tongue over satin planes and throbbing ridges.

  She closed her eyes and sank into sensation. She loved this, loved knowing all his intimate secrets, loved learning exactly how to take him to bliss. When he dropped his hand, she took over the motion and kept it up until she felt his other hand leave her head. He fell back onto his elbows.

  “Oh God…finish me off however you want.” He clenched the sheets with fisted hands and groaned.

  She quickly sucked in all of him she could take, pressing his glans with the flat of her tongue. His shaft surged, the distended veins quaked, his thighs tensed and released. He gave a strangled cry as he thrust his hips forward violently, spurting his seed into her mouth. Her vulva throbbed in response as she vicariously rode his pleasure, moaning, sucking, draining the sweet-salty fluid from his bursting cock. He stroked her cheeks and her hair as he murmured mindless words of thanks. She gave him one last, tender suck and released him, her chest heaving.

  He sat up and gave her a dazed smile. “Sweet mother of God, Caro. What a way to start the day.”

  “Mmm, I love having you for breakfast.” She closed her eyes as he leaned down to kiss her.

  “God, you are so sexy, so beautiful…I think I’m going to have you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

  He pulled her up to stand between his legs, opening her robe and kissing the smooth skin of her belly until she gripped his slippery hair, her knees weakening with suppressed arousal.

  The phone by his bed rang, and with a sighing moan, he moved his lips up to her rib cage. “Don’t answer it.”

  “Len might be worried about me. I haven’t checked my phone for messages yet. He might be trying you to get to me.” She bit her lip as he pushed her breasts together and scraped his teeth across both nipples. Bowing her head, she hesitated and then reluctantly pulled away to look at the phone.

  He put his hand between her legs, murmuring with approval as he instantly got drenched with her juices.

  She read the ID on the bedside phone. “It’s Jack,” she said.

  “Fuck.” He groaned the word, flopping down on the bed and pressing his fingers against his eyes. “I don’t want to talk to him.”

  “Maybe I should answer,” she teased as she sat down next to him.

  “He’ll leave a voicemail. He probably wants to talk about what happened last night.” The phone rang three more times and stopped.

  “Have you guys partied together a lot?” She laughed softly when his lips curved downward in distaste.

  He rolled over to his side, propping himself up on an elbow. “No, not really. Definitely not like anything that happened last night.

  “But you’re friends right? You like him more than just on a business level.”

  “I suppose. We have some of the same interests. We have similar business philosophies.” He began
to stroke her thigh. “We have the same taste in women.”

  “Hmm.” She stood up, realizing he wasn’t going to reveal any of the details of the party he and Jack had gone to—and feeling pretty okay about it because she wasn’t really sure she wanted to know. “I think I will take a shower, if you don’t mind.”

  He sat up, an expression of mock hurt on his face. “Well, as a matter of fact I do mind. What about my breakfast?”

  She brushed his lips with hers. “You’ll just have to go into the kitchen and make us some.”

  He pouted. She went into the bathroom and shut the door.

  When she came into the kitchen fifteen minutes later, her nose twitched at the aroma of fresh coffee and her stomach growled when she saw he was making batter for waffles.

  “You’re making me waffles?”

  “Of course. It’s your favorite breakfast, right? Whatever princess wants, princess gets…”

  As she sat on one of the stools by the counter, he poured her a cup of coffee and handed it to her. She couldn’t contain her smile. “I knew there was a reason I stuck around today.”

  He laughed. “I’ll remember the waffle trick next time you try to get away from me.” He waggled his eyebrows as he turned on the mixer.

  Caro heard the door buzzer over the whir of the beaters. She reached across the counter and turned off the mixer. The buzzer bleeped again and a zillion different scenarios bleeped into her mind. Jack strolling in, observing the evidence that she’d been sharing a very intimate day with Alex—and firing them both. Nah, he wouldn’t do that, would he? Maybe it was Len and he’d be pissed off at her for the same thing—he’d tell her she was a weak-willed vamp-hag, a loser of a business partner, a silly goose…

  Wait. How would he have found out where Alex lived?

  Jack, of course.

  “I’ll get it,” Alex said, looking at with her amusement, obviously understanding the source of her discomfort. “I hope it’s not Jack.”

  He went to the door and punched the intercom button. Len’s face popped up on the digital display. “Hey, Len. Come on up,” he said, buzzing the door.

  Alex came back to the kitchen and picked up the mixer. “You wanna pretend like we haven’t been up to what we’ve been up to?” he asked, looking pointedly at what she was wearing.

  She tugged at her damp hair and rolled her eyes at her stupidly flaring nerves. “Let’s just tell him the truth. He’ll figure it out and I’m no good at lying.”

  “Okay. Fine with me.”

  Len came in a few moments later, his worried expression easing the moment he saw her. “Thank God. I found all your stuff at the hotel but no you. I called Jack and he suggested trying here.”

  Hiding a wince, Caro hugged him close. “Sorry, Len. Alex had some…issues last night. So I came over here to keep him company.”

  “Oh.” Len took in her wet hair and Alex’s shirt. “I see.”

  She laughed. “Maybe. But probably not too clearly. It’s kind of complicated.”

  Len snorted. “Since when aren’t things complicated between you two?”

  “Since never,” Alex said. “Hey Len, you want some waffles?”

  “Hell yes. I’ve already had breakfast and lunch but I’ll never say no to a waffle.” He slanted a glance at Caro. “You need to do me a favor, partner.”

  “What?”

  “Call Edie McCarthy. Fast. She canceled the latest reception venue and if I’m forced to talk with her, I will kill her. I. Will. Kill. Her. No joke.”

  Caro sighed. Edie McCarthy was the classic fretting mother of a bridezilla client. Lenny usually handled all the Party Mavens wedding accounts, but for some reason, he couldn’t seem to handle Edie McCarthy. “Oh Lord. Give me your cell. I don’t want to have to come visit you in prison.” She grabbed his phone. “Can I borrow some sweats or something, Alex?”

  “Sure, help yourself.”

  “Better make it fast,” Len called to her retreating back. “Or I’m gonna eat all the waffles.”

  Len sat at the counter watching Alex pour batter into a hot waffle iron and appreciating him in casual home attire. Tattered jeans and nothing else. Looked great on him. Even better than the insanely expensive suit he’d worn yesterday.

  “Great place,” Len commented after looking around the expansive, mostly empty room. “You ever try roller skating in here?”

  Alex laughed. “I thought about it before I got furniture.”

  “But a disco ball and kneepads probably don’t fit with the royal vamp lifestyle, right?”

  “Mm. Probably not.” As Alex leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee, Len stared at him, wondering how he could possibly be so casual after all that had happened over the last forty-eight hours.

  “What?” Alex finally asked.

  Len inhaled slowly, hating the thought of talking to Alex about scary stuff. Okay. Caro first. Lyra Murdoch later. “What the hell is going on between you and Caro?” Might as well get right to the point.

  “Maybe you’d better ask her that question.” Alex refilled his mug, his movements slow and deliberate.

  “I figured that would be your answer. But you know, sometimes I like to ask you these things, just to get a different take.”

  “Well, I must confess I’m a little confused about the situation.” Alex’s smile was boyishly crooked, a charming foil to the masculine elegance of his half-naked, wickedly sexy body. He went to the fridge and got out syrup and butter.

  “Maybe you could start by telling me what the situation is. And don’t worry, I’m gonna be asking Caro the same questions.”

  Alex expertly pried the waffle loose from the iron, flopped it onto a plate and pushed it toward Len, who doused it with syrup. “The situation is normal, Lenny my friend. It’s all fucked up. Here’s how I see it…” Alex paused to watch him fold half the waffle onto his fork and shove it into his mouth. “I love her and she loves me. The sex is so insanely good I can’t live without it. And my need to feed from her is beginning to make me physically and mentally ill. But she won’t let me feed because she doesn’t trust me and I don’t know how to prove I’m trustworthy. Time would probably help my cause, but what do we do in the meantime? Start a serious, committed relationship? No. She wouldn’t trust me. Fuck each other, but continue to see other people so I can feed and she can feel free? No, she’s totally jealous—even though she’d never admit it. And I fully admit that right now I’d probably go evil vamp on anyone who comes near her. So that’s the puzzle, Len, my boy. How’re the waffles?”

  “God, they’re terrific. Your mom taught you well.”

  “That she did.” He plopped another waffle on Len’s plate. “So do you have a solution for your two old friends?”

  “Nope. That’s what you call a really impossible situation. You either need a ton of willpower, which neither you nor Caro seem to have. Or you need several states or, better yet, several countries separating the two of you. Or you need to get married and forget about it.”

  Alex laughed. “You know what the truly fucked up thing is? I’m beginning to think that the last option might be the best one for us.”

  Len almost choked on his waffle. He gulped coffee.

  Caro came back all rolled up in Alex’s NYU sweatshirt and track pants. “What’s fucked up?” she asked as she sat down at the kitchen counter next to Len. “Did you eat all the waffles?” She took a big sip of coffee.

  “No, there’s plenty.” Alex put a plate in front of her. “Len thinks we ought to get married.”

  She choked, spraying coffee down the front of her shirt. Len guffawed and pounded her on the back.

  The door buzzer rang loudly. “I’ll get it,” said Alex, handing Caro a dishtowel as he walked by.

  Len tried to send her a reassuring glance when Jack’s voice came over the intercom, but she wouldn’t look at him. Uh-oh.

  “Jack’s coming up.” Alex put another waffle on Len’s plate.

  “I hate it when you guys talk about m
e,” Caro grumbled, pushing her plate away. “And with Jack here I won’t even be able to yell at you.” Her lower lip was beginning to protrude ominously. “I’m not hungry anymore.”

  Alex took the plate back and poured syrup all over the waffle. He took a dripping bite and, with an expression Len would have to categorize as a leer, said, “Oh, that’s right. You already had breakfast.”

  Caro threw the dishtowel at him. Alex laughed around his waffle.

  “Mmm, it smells delicious in here,” Jack called out as he came through the door.

  “It’s an undisputed fact that Alex makes the very best waffles.” Len pushed away his plate and patted his belly.

  “Well, I’ve been cheated then because I’ve never had them.” As Jack came around the kitchen counter, he raised an eyebrow and glanced at his watch. “Especially not for dinner.”

  Caro hopped off her stool. “Sorry to run out like this guys, but I think I need to go change and make some plane reservations.”

  “What happened to you?” laughed Jack, his gaze on her spattered shirt.

  “Coffee went down the wrong way.” Caro hurried toward the bathroom.

  “Is she okay?” Jack asked as he watched her walk away.

  Alex shrugged. “Have a waffle.”

  “Okay.” Jack came around the counter and got himself a plate, finding things easily enough for Len to notice how comfortable Jack was in Alex’s kitchen. Hm. Was this part of why Caro seemed so upset? Was there something really going on between Jack and Alex?

  Oh God. Why were things so fricking complicated when it came to vampire relations?

  “So,” Alex said, after Jack sat down and happily began digging into a waffle. “I hate to be a big, bloody downer at this lovely, impromptu get together, but since the major affected parties are here and relatively sober and relaxed, I think it’s appropriate to ask.”

  “What?” Jack and Len asked at the same time.

  “When are we gonna take down Lyra Murdoch?”