Fangs And Fame

by Heather Jensen

  That was my cue. I stepped out into the hall and the director, Trey, and the boy named Josh followed right behind me. The director spent a few minutes going over what he wanted us to do, and then I waited in the hall while they went back inside to set up and get the camera rolling. I heard him yell “Action!” and I opened the door to the room slowly, peeking in to see Trey and all of the kids messing around. Josh, the kid who was playing my son waved and I smiled at him, pretending that acting didn’t feel completely weird to me. Then I stepped inside and shut the door. Trey walked over to greet me, messing Josh’s hair while he bragged about what a great kid he was. Of course, none of our narrative would be heard in the video, so Trey was just winging it, which was perfect because it made me laugh and feel giddy, just like the mom I was portraying would feel if she were crushing on Trey-the-music-teacher. We flirted a little back and forth, which I was quickly learning was the easiest part of being in a video with Trey, and then I took a pen off the nearby desk and used it to write a phone number on Trey’s hand. I left the room with Josh, taking care to glance over my shoulder one last time at Trey as I walked out. Trey was watching me with his hands in his pockets, completely oblivious to the chaos that had erupted out behind him from leaving the noisy kids unattended to for a few minutes. The director yelled, “Cut!” and I opened the door again and walked back into the room. “I think we got it,” he continued. “That’s a wrap for this scene. You were all amazing. Great work, everyone!” We all clapped and the kids were beaming with pride at having just filmed their first role in a music video. Trey took a few minutes to sign autographs and snap pictures with the kids, and some of their parents who were hanging around. Then we were changing back into our normal clothes and getting ready to leave.

  “I’m keeping the glasses,” Trey professed as we walked out of the building. He pulled them from his pocket and put them on, grinning at me. “The stylist said I could,” he added, making me grin. “I think they give me a Clark Kent vibe.”

  “Whatever it is, I think it’s pretty hot,” I told him.

  “Is that so?” he asked, leaning closer and wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me toward him. He kissed me quick and I giggled, stealing the glasses from him and putting them on myself. I bit my lip and looked at him. “Oooh, I don’t know,” he said, admiring me. “Maybe you should keep them.”

  “Maybe I’ll wear them tonight,” I said. “I have a surprise for you back at the hotel.”

  Chapter 34

  Aurora

  TREY KNEW BETTER THAN to believe he might glimpse the surprise in my thoughts. I was a master at blocking them, and that skill would certainly come in handy tonight. We were in our suite at the Mandalay Bay casino. We’d come back to relax for a bit and get ready for our early birthday celebration. Now that it was time to go, Trey’s curiosity was getting the best of him.

  “Where we going?” Trey asked casually, popping a cinnamon bear into his mouth.

  “Nice try, Decker,” I said.

  Tytus was waiting in the hall when Trey and I stepped out of our hotel room. “Ready?” he asked, obviously in full bodyguard mode.

  “Almost,” I said as I pulled a blindfold out of my jeans pocket.

  “You sure you want an audience for this?” Trey joked as I covered his eyes with it and secured it in place. “I’m starting to think this is more of a private celebration.” I smiled and took his hand, leading him forward as Tytus walked just far enough ahead to watch for fans. I’d warned him that any group containing three or more girls was a potential threat to our excursion. The hat and sunglasses I’d donned would probably be enough to disguise myself, and the blindfold did wonders to cover up those unmistakable blue eyes of Trey’s. I just hoped that would be enough to get us there without incident. If Trey had to take the blindfold off at any point, the surprise would be ruined. “The last time one of us put a blindfold on, it ended in wedding bells,” Trey joked. “I’m just saying....”

  The halls were pretty bare as we made our way to the elevator. Trey hummed along to the song playing through the small speakers as the elevator carried us to the hotel’s main level. It was no short jaunt across the main floor of the hotel to our destination. The concierge had offered to send a few more security guards to escort us, but I was afraid a larger group would only draw unwanted attention. Tytus and I were both on the lookout for fans as I led Trey through the casino. The chiming of a slot machine prompted Trey to turn his head toward the sound and call out, “Nice! Don’t spend it all in one place!”

  “You’re impossible,” I said, fighting back a giggle. “That sandpaper voice of yours is as much a giveaway as your face is.”

  His only response was a lopsided grin. I rolled my eyes, relieved when we left the buzzing crowds of the casino and made our way past the restaurants that came next. We continued on, traveling down the long corridor that went past the doors to the events center where Trey’s fans would be lining up in droves tomorrow night.

  But that was tomorrow. Tonight, he was all mine.

  When we finally reached our destination, the woman I had spoken to on the phone earlier silently waved me on, holding open the door for us.

  “I’ll stand guard here,” Tytus said in my head. I gave him a nod and led Trey inside, the door closing behind us.

  “Are we alone?” Trey asked, picking up on the absence of Tytus’s footsteps.

  “We are,” I said as I moved to stand in front of him. I ditched my hat and sunglasses in my purse before I reached up and pulled the blindfold down from his eyes. He blinked a few times while his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.

  “Where are we?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

  “The closest thing to a taste of home that I could find in Vegas,” I said. “Come on.”

  We followed a little corridor and soon found ourselves in a large dome that closely mimicked the feel of being outside. The lighting was just dim enough to be pleasant for vampire eyes. We soon encountered a square tank on the right that housed a golden crocodile.

  “Is this the shark reef?” Trey asked as he put his palm up to the glass, admiring the croc, who kept one eye on us from the other side. “I’ve always wanted to come here, but we don’t usually have time to do stuff like this on tour.”

  “Well, I guess for now you get to be a tourist like everybody else.”

  Trey grinned at me and said, “Have I told you you’re the coolest wife ever?”

  “Not tonight,” I said, grinning back.

  “What’s next?” Trey asked as he took my hand and led the way. We saw a Komodo dragon and tanks holding a variety of fish. The path in the dome was made to look like ancient jungle ruins, and Trey and I took our time, strolling hand in hand between the trees, vines and moss as we moved from one surprise to the next. “Wait a minute,” Trey said as we stopped in front of a large tank that was full of predators from the Amazon. “How did you know I’ve always wanted to make out in front of a bunch of piranhas?” he said as he took a step toward me. He leaned in and softly kissed me on the lips. It only lasted just long enough to drive me crazy, but not at all long enough to be satisfying. He pulled back too soon, staring at me and waiting for my reaction.

  “Check that off your bucket list, weirdo,” I said, my voice just above a whisper. I swear I could feel heat coming off of him in waves. It had just been so long since I’d had him all to myself. I was losing it.

  “Do I still get to have a bucket list?” he said, closing the space between us completely. “I wasn’t sure, considering I’ve technically died once already.”

  “It’s your birthday,” I said as I looked up into his eyes. I was definitely not imagining the intensity I found there. “You can have whatever you want.”

  The grin that came over him next was cocky, but familiar. “I like the sound of that.”

  I thought he might lean in again and give me that more satisfying kiss I was desperately craving, but he straightened instead, and offered me his hand. I took it, determined no
t to show my disappointment, but I couldn’t help but wonder when the power shift had occurred. This night was supposed to be all about me surprising him. I’d been in control just a moment ago. How had he managed to flip everything upside down so quickly and effortlessly? I really shouldn’t have been surprised. It was just such a Trey thing to do. Even as a human he’d done this to me more than I’d cared to admit at the time. We walked on, eventually reaching the end of the jungle ruins in the dome and coming into a building that had a large glass tunnel for us to walk through. Sharks were swimming above and around us on both sides as we slowly made our way forward. Trey pulled out his phone and snapped a pic of a shark as it swam directly toward us and then turned just before its nose bumped the glass.

  “I wouldn’t tweet that pic until later unless you want an audience waiting for us outside,” I said with a laugh.

  Trey nodded in agreement, and we both sat down on a long bench that ran along the sides of the tunnel. He put one arm around my shoulders and leaned in, pointing to another large shark that was slowly passing by. “I wish I knew what that guy was thinking right now,” he said profoundly. “If only I could read his mind.”

  “You mean you can’t?” I asked. He smiled dismissively at me for a second before deciding I might actually be serious. I closed my eyes in mock concentration, and then, in my pathetic attempt at a growly shark voice, I said, “Look at those vampires in there. They think they’re so big and scary. Come on in, and I’ll show you who’s at the top of the food chain.”

  Trey’s laughter echoed off the glass and bounced around us in the tunnel, making me feel so light that I couldn’t help but add my own laughter to the mix.

  “Just when I think I have you figured out, Mrs. Decker,” he said.

  “You should know better,” I said as I got to my feet, pulling him up with me. We continued on through the exhibit, stopping to pet some small stingrays in the touch pool and admire the tanks with jellyfish and eels.

  “I think I like jellyfish,” I said as I pressed my palm up against the glass in front of me.

  “Makes sense,” Trey said as he stepped up behind me, so close I could feel his warm breath on my shoulder. “They’re beautiful ... and deadly. Remind you of anyone?”

  I turned around, a small smile playing on my lips as I leaned in and softly whispered, “Maybe.” I slipped past him, satisfaction growing my smile at the sound of his heartbeat shifting gears. Trey played it cool, following me as I led the way to the end of the exhibit. We found ourselves inside what appeared to be the remains of an old shipwreck. The large glass viewing panels along the edges gave an amazing view of the sharks, turtles, and other sea creatures swimming in and out of the wreckage around us. A blanket was spread out on the floor near a viewing spot that revealed the sharks lurking below our feet. A picnic basket waited there, surrounded by several throw pillows.

  “I can’t believe you did all this,” Trey said as he intertwined his fingers in mine, pausing to take in the view.

  “It was nothing.”

  “It’s not nothing,” he insisted, moving toward the blanket. We sat down next to each other and took in our surroundings. “It’s like having our own underwater oasis, smack dab in the middle of the desert. It’s amazing.” He gently cupped my cheek his hand and I glanced up at him to see that his eyes were glowing blue now. His voice was low when he spoke again “You’re amazing.”

  My goal tonight had been to spend some time alone with Trey, and it was clear that he appreciated it as much as I did. All of the tension that had been building for the last few days bubbled up to the surface. He leaned toward me slowly, but deliberately, in a move that can only be described as predatory. I searched his face, following the hard line of his jaw right down to those perfect lips.... I closed my eyes in anticipation, and his mouth came down on mine, bringing with it a sea of Trey’s emotions. I welcomed each wave, discerning feelings such as gratitude, content, and a sense of longing I recognized all too well. His lips were spicy cinnamon. I would forever equate the smell and taste of cinnamon bears to this exact moment with him. This was it. This was the kiss I’d been waiting all night for. I raked my fingers through his hair, just above the nape of his neck. He responded by deepening the kiss. The thump-thump of his vampire heart filled my ears as it hammered in his chest, and I made a conscious decision to stop holding back and let mine race to match it. The simple, yet vulnerable act made me feel like a school girl who couldn’t believe she was actually kissing the quarterback. Trey was grinning when we pulled apart, and he leaned his forehead against mine. In the absence of having to catch our breath, the sound of our hearts throbbing took center stage, lending a passionate soundtrack to our underwater escape.

  “Thank you,” Trey said, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “For letting go with me.”

  “Occasionally I have my human moments, too,” I clarified. “What can I say? At some point you rubbed off on me.”

  “It’s not just that.” He bit his lip in thought as a large, green sea turtle gracefully swam by, settling comfortably on the bottom sand. I sensed that Trey had more to say so I waited patiently. “I’m more than capable of manipulating my heartbeat,” Trey continued. “I’m actually pretty good at it. I just choose not to, and it isn’t just because of the game of human charades we’re constantly playing.” It was obvious he was searching for the right words. I put my hand on his arm, squeezing lightly. “What I’m trying to say is, from the beginning I’ve wanted you to know exactly what you mean to me. And when I found out you were a walking lie detector, I guess I just figured that would be one more way for you to see what kind of an effect you have on me. All the time.”

  He pulled my palm to his chest, holding it firmly over his heart. I gazed into his searing blue eyes and thought I might understand. I’d never been the easiest person to read, even before my moon-given talent had reinforced my emotional barricades, but Trey was used to knowing exactly where he stood with people. He created music, and when it was released, it would either sell or it wouldn’t. Magazines for which he graced the cover would either fly off the stands quickly, or not at all. Fans would either snatch up tickets to come out and see the live shows, or choose to spend their money somewhere else. He wasn’t good at delayed gratification, and who could blame him?

  “You’re still a bit of a mystery, Aurora,” he continued, searching my eyes. “Don’t get me wrong. It’s one of the things I love about you. Still, it’s nice catching a glimpse of what you’re really feeling every now and then. So for that, thank you.”

  Chapter 35

  Trey

  YOU COULD SAY THE official birthday celebration started in the middle of tonight’s show. We were about to start into the acoustic set – or at least I thought we were – when Jonas ran off the stage all of a sudden. The fans looked just as confused as I was as I blinked and eyed the other guys suspiciously. O’Shea shrugged and gave me his best innocent face, but I knew they were up to something. I was actually quite relieved when Jonas walked back out onto the stage a moment later carrying what appeared to be a normal looking birthday cake, candles and all.

  “Awe ... you shouldn’t have,” I said as he held it out in front of me.

  “True,” Jonas said, grinning and earning a round of laughter from the fans.

  “This is the part where you all come in,” O’Shea said, gesturing with a big sweep of his hand for the crowd to follow his lead. He started singing happy birthday into his mic, and the fans sang right along with him.

  I stood there, grinning like an idiot. Aurora smiled up at me from her spot next to Kacie in the front row, and I realized she’d been in on it. Of course she had, and from the looks of the amazing cake in front of me, she’d probably supplied it. I blew out the candles when the singing stopped, earning a round of applause for my mad candle-blowing skills. Jonas held up a plastic fork, and I took it from him.

  “It’s real?” I asked into the mic, laughing.

  “What do you mean?”
O’Shea said, feigning insult.

  “I mean, you didn’t bake a laxative into it or anything?”

  He answered with a none-too-convincing “Nooooo....”

  “I’m trusting you,” I said, bringing my finger to my eye and then pointing to Aurora. “If I’m in the bathroom all night, I guess that’s on you.” That earned a bunch of laughs from the fans, and Aurora laughed with them, shrugging her shoulders in a perfect imitation of O’Shea’s earlier gesture. I pointed at the fans now, saying, “You’re my witnesses. If the show goes to crap now, you know who’s to blame.” I nodded in the direction of Chase and Jonas, who were standing closest to me. Then I used the fork to scoop up a bite of chocolate cake and brought it to my mouth. The cake tasted great, even to my sensitive vampire palate. “Mmm.... It’s good, actually,” I said.

  “Don’t act so surprised,” Jonas said dryly.

  I laughed and clapped him on the back. “Are there any more forks?”

  Jonas’s expression was a blank, but Neon came out onto the stage a few seconds later, a whole handful of forks held up for me. The fans screamed for him in greeting, and he waved and took a bow before handing the forks over to me.

  “Try it,” I said, handing one back to him. He scooped cake onto it and took a bite, nodding his approval as he chewed. “Neon, ladies and gentlemen!” I said into my mic. “He’s got my back.”

  “That’s what you pay me for,” Neon said, leaning into my mic, which just made me laugh. “Anytime,” he said, waving to the crowd before he sauntered off the stage and disappeared into the shadows again.

  “Now comes the real test,” I said, holding forks out to the guys.

  “You don’t have to ask me twice,” Chase said, stepping forward to sample the cake. Jonas and O’Shea followed suit, each taking a bite.