“Oh, my God!” I flung myself off the scale and into Ian’s arms. Can you blame me? I’d just had a man promise me the moon. “That would be so incredible.”
“Yeah, incredible.” Valdez was right beside me again. “Let her go, MacDonald.”
“Get back to the door!” I screeched, lunging to slide the weights back to zero. “Damn it, V, I told you to stay there.”
“And, for the record, she was holding me, not the other way around.” Ian laid his clipboard facedown and smiled at me. “Now, I’d better get back to Caine with a receipt for this. Glory, drink from Trina as soon as possible. The effects of her run will be wearing off in a few minutes. You don’t want that to happen, do you?”
“No, of course not.” I followed Ian to the door. I still felt funny drinking from a mortal, but if this is what it would take, and she seemed willing enough, I’d do it. I ignored Valdez’s disapproving look. “Where . . . ?”
“Come with me. Guess the dog comes too. He doesn’t seem to want you out of his sight.” Trina gave Valdez a disdainful look. “Wise of you, mutt. I have a black belt.”
“What? Gucci?” Valdez snarled and showed his impressive canines.
“You want to try me?” Trina struck a pose.
“Trina, get a clue. Valdez would be snacking on your foot before you got off kick one.” I followed Trina into a bedroom. Oh, this was so not happening on a bed. “V? Sit outside the door. She’s just a mortal. If I need you, I’ll yell. You’ll hear me and knock down the door. Think what fun that will be. Then you can tear Trina apart with my blessing.”
“Fine. I’ll be waiting. Eagerly.” Valdez plopped down on the Oriental rug in the hallway. “And keep in mind that locks won’t keep me out. I live to destroy—anyone who hurts my lady.”
“Ooh, see me tremble.” Trina shook her hands in the air.
I sent Valdez a message that said I agreed that Trina was an idiot and that I’d hurry, then slammed the door. There was a chair in the corner of the room next to a window with yet another breathtaking view of the ocean. No telling how many millions this house cost. Slimming down vampires obviously paid really well. The thought dampened my appetite. Then I saw Trina’s open closet door. Size-zero jeans hung there. Zero. I’d never even bothered to dream about such a thing.
“Sit in the chair. Hand me your wrist.” I pulled up a matching ottoman and sat on it.
“What? Not going to do a little more? Most of Ian’s female vamps like turning this into fun and games.” Trina touched my hair. “You’re prettier than some clients. And you managed to get a man like Israel Caine to propose to you. I’m, um, intrigued.” She slid her hand down to my shoulder. “Come on, Glory. At least take me at the neck. It’s so much more intimate.”
I breathed in a jolt of good-quality B positive. Then I shook my head. “I don’t want to be intimate with you, Trina. I save that for the men I love. This is a business transaction, nothing more. And I really hate taking advantage of you this way. I meant it when I said I don’t normally drink from mortals.”
“I don’t appeal to you at all?” Trina brushed against me, her nipples hard against my arm. “Don’t tell me that in the hundreds of years you’ve been alive you’ve never experimented ...”
I glanced at the door, sure Valdez was getting an earful with his supersonic hearing. “I’m not telling you anything.” I pulled her wrist to my lips and hit the vein. The instant the rich blood filled my mouth, I was all about the feeding. I heard Trina moan, apparently enjoying the sensation. She even tried to reach for me again, but I didn’t give a damn.
I was high on the taste and heat of the mortality surging into my body. It was so warm, made me feel so alive. It’s the only time I really felt that way. And I’d missed it. Denied myself the pleasure. And this time . . . Maybe Ian had something here. Because this experience . . . The energy was exhilarating, beyond anything I’d ever felt before during feeding. This was wow! Only the realization that Trina’s hand had crept onto my bra snapped me out of it.
I released her and reared back, plucking away that hand and jumping to my feet. My whole body quivered. Oh, God. I leaned over to make the room stop spinning. This feeling. Like I’d run twenty miles, was still running. My heart pounded and my legs ached. What a great feeling.
I struggled to catch my breath, my hands on my knees as I glanced up and saw the ocean. One of Ian’s surfers caught a wave and rode it in. My adrenaline rush had to be similar. I was soaring.
“Glory.” Trina stood behind me, her warm hand on my back. “Are you okay? Do I need to get Ian?” She rubbed my shoulders, even leaned on me for a moment, her breath hot as she kissed the back of my head. “That was incredible. Please come to me again.”
“I . . . I’m fine. Give me a moment.” I finally straightened and stepped away from her. “Thank you. For the donation. For a mortal, you seem awfully at ease with our wacko world.”
“I’ve always been into the paranormal. I just knew that things like vampires had to be real.” Her eyes were shining, but her face was pale and she suddenly sat down on the foot of the bed. “I’m hoping to become one of you. If I please the master . . . You’ll tell him, won’t you? That I served you well?” She put out a shaky hand.
“Sure, you were fantastic. Best feeding ever.” Oh, great. Now I had a serious case of the guilts. Had I taken too much? I stepped closer to her, touched her cheek to see if she was too cold, which would be a bad sign. She grabbed my hand and sighed.
“I want to please you again, Glory.”
Thank God, she was warm and I carefully extricated myself, relieved when she stood. I put up a hand when it looked like she was going to hug me.
“Let’s go. Ray’s waiting. And Valdez, of course. Stay behind me. And, for God’s sake, don’t touch me in front of either of them. They wouldn’t take it well.”
Trina giggled. “Neither would Ian. Men. What do they know about pleasure? Next time, maybe . . . ?”
I shook my head but that didn’t seem to faze her. I headed for the door. When I opened it, Valdez gave me a narrow-eyed look, like he was inspecting me for signs of debauchery. I just strutted past him. Because, boy, did I feel amazing. And, would you believe, lighter somehow. Seriously, I thought my jeans were already looser. Probably my imagination, but I was so going to find a scale when we got back to the hotel.
Ray and Ian were drinking from bottles of his “juice” when Trina and I got back to the living room. They jumped up when they saw us.
“You okay, Glory? You look . . . jazzed.”
“I feel that way.” I turned to Ian. “I don’t know about weight loss, but the effects of feeding from her . . .”
“Quite a rush, isn’t it?” Ian slung his arm around Trina. “She’ll be here for you tomorrow. You must come every night around midnight. I’ll make sure she’s ready. There will be other things you’ll have to do too. Not just this. I’ll explain them tomorrow. For now, I have two bottles of other special products for you to take with you. Drink one before you sleep and one when you rise tomorrow. They’re clearly marked. This is very important, Glory, if you want the effects of your feedings from Trina to last.”
“Babe, we’ve got to go.” Ray glanced at his watch. “I’ve got rehearsal and I’m not leaving you here.”
“Right. I guess that means shifting again.” I hated the thought but felt pumped enough that I figured I could do it easily.
“No need. I have a limo waiting to take you to the venue where Caine told me he’s rehearsing, then it will take you on to the hotel, Glory. I hope that’s satisfactory.”
“Perfect.” I smiled at Ian. Now I was really liking him, MacDonald or not. He’d been nice about the weigh-in. And that feeding . . . Well, who knew? Shoot. Maybe I was high. I smiled at Ray too. Even Valdez got a head pat. Nothing could bring me down right now.
“See you tomorrow, Ian. It’ll just be Valdez and me. Ray, you don’t have to come again. I know you’re busy.” I cuddled up to Ray. Part of the loving-enga
ged-couple thing, of course.
Ray frowned. “We’ll see. Now, let’s hit the road. Forget the Campbells, MacDonald. Take care of my girl or there will be hell to pay from me. Are we clear?”
“Of course. I find all this protectiveness toward your fiancée quite admirable.” Ian walked us to the stairs that led down to the driveway and the waiting limousine. “And think about that other product, Caine. It’s a vampire’s dream come true.”
We settled into the backseat of the limo, the glass up and shielding us from the driver before I asked the burning question.
“Okay, Ray, what’s the other product Ian’s trying to sell?” Maybe my good feelings were wearing off, because now I was a little tired. Running twenty miles will do that to you, I guess.
“He says he’s got something that can allow me to go out in the sun.” Ray stared into my eyes. “I’d see daylight again. You know what that would mean to me, Glory?”
I grabbed his arm on one side and Valdez’s fur on the other. “I know that if it doesn’t work and you try it, sweetheart, you’re toast.”
Five
“You’re trusting him. Why shouldn’t I?” Ray leaned back on the leather seat. “I want this. Ian says he can make it happen.”
“I don’t believe it. Not even the Energy Vampires have a formula for surviving daylight yet.” I remembered the head of the vampire cult, famous for their Vampire Viagra, telling me that. (Yeah, go figure. Even vamps enjoy a boost in their sex lives.) “The only way to test a drug like that is to send a vampire into the sun. Who’d be crazy enough to try it out?”
“Ian says . . .” Ray shook his head. “Never mind. We’re here. I’ve got to go. We’ll talk about this later at the hotel.” He leaned across me to look at Valdez. “Take care of my lady.”
“ Your lady. Yeah, right. Don’t let the act go to your head, Caine. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Valdez lifted his chin. “Blade’s at the hotel waiting for her right now. When he hears where you took her tonight, the shit’s goin’ to hit the fan.”
“Let it. Glory’s going to do what she wants. Am I right, sweet thing?” Ray brushed his thumb across my cheek to my lips.
“Yes, you are.” I held Ray’s hand for a moment. “Promise me you won’t do anything with Ian without discussing it with me first, Ray. Please?” I knew how much he missed the sun. He’d been a freak about his boat, his tropical island paradise, his beach. Even the fact that he’d now live forever hadn’t come close to making up for the loss of those hours he’d spent in the sun. He was a “live for the moment” kind of guy. Forever didn’t seem to matter that much to him.
“I’m not an idiot, Glory. You’re still my vamp mentor, babe, but I don’t dance to your tune.” He leaned in and kissed my lips. “Still, I realize I owe you my life. Such as it is. See you later.” He opened the door as soon as the limo stopped. “Say hi to Blade for me. The man doesn’t pose a threat to me, Valdez. He’s stuck in the past. Glory knows it and so do you. My lady’s a ‘now’ kind of woman. When she gets her new look, she’ll be ready for even more changes.” He grinned, then slammed the door.
“Arrogant son of a bitch,” Valdez muttered as the car pulled away from the curb.
I looked back and saw Ray surrounded by female fans and a few photographers. He was laughing and signing autographs, the picture of virile hot guy in worn jeans and leather jacket over a white T-shirt. I’d never seen Blade in that kind of outfit. Probably never would. Just like I’d never see Ray in a kilt. Though he had great legs . . .
“He shouldn’t have gone without his bodyguards.” I frowned as he disappeared from sight. “Some of his fans get aggressive.”
“He’s only a few steps from the auditorium entrance and he is a freakin’ vampire. But I guess he can’t exactly show fang to his adoring public, now, can he?” Valdez snorted. “Call Brit and have her meet him there if you’re so worried about him.”
Brittany was model gorgeous, had a killer body and the skills to match. Valdez had something going with the shifter who was one of Ray’s paranormal bodyguards. Ray’s mortal guards still hadn’t figured out why Ray had added her to his security team, but they weren’t complaining. She could twist any man around her well-manicured little finger, my V-man included.
“Good idea.” I hit speed dial and soon had Brit headed to Ray’s side.
“Don’t worry about Caine. He can handle a few female fans gone wild.” Valdez sat up when we got near the hotel.
“I’m more worried about this sunlight thing. I want Brit on Ray’s tail his every waking moment. Get her alone and tell her that. If he tries to strike a deal with Ian to use this new potion, I want to know about it so I can try to head Ray off.”
“So it’s okay for you to drink whatever swill MacDonald’s cooked up, but not for your buddy Ray?” Valdez nudged me with a paw. “You see the problem with your logic? This Scot’s got a hell of a lot more reason to do something nasty to you than to a world-famous rock star, Glory. You were made by a Campbell. That puts you solidly in the enemy camp in his book.”
“It’s an ancient feud. Surely they’ve moved past it.”
“You’ve been to Castle Campbell, heard the laird rant on the subject. These feuds never die. The one with the MacDonalds is particularly grim. Lots of murder and mayhem in the past. Google the two clans and see what you get. I think you’ll find that Blade will have good reason to go nuts when he hears you’ve put your life in Ian’s hands.”
“That’s overstating it, don’t you think? I’m just trying to lose a few pounds. That’s all.” I frowned at the cloth bag in my lap with my two bottles of supplements. “Ray’s deal is much more serious. He’d have to actually walk into the sun.”
“Yeah, well, he’d have to stay awake to do that. Seems unlikely.” Valdez showed his teeth. “Once Blade hears the man’s got you drinking God knows what and biting mortals, MacDonald won’t live long enough to give Caine a glimmer of light.”
“You leave Jerry to me, V. I mean it. Not one word to him. I’ll tell him about this when I’m ready.” As the car pulled up in front of the hotel, I decided Ray was right about one thing. Blade’s reaction to this deal with Ian would be important. If Jerry started issuing orders to me again like he’d done for centuries now . . . Well, it just wasn’t going to work. And I was really tired of the same old arguments. You know?
With that depressing thought going round in my head, I walked into the hotel. We had to dodge only two paparazzi who snapped pictures of Valdez and me. I’d forgotten V’s leash, which earned us frowns from some of the hotel guests and probably a headline about me and leash laws. I leaned down and grabbed his collar as we approached the front desk and the clerk behind the counter.
“You have a gym here, right?”
“Yes, of course, Ms. St. Clair. It’s open twenty-four hours for your convenience. You may use your room key card to enter.” The woman knew exactly who I was. Any consort of Israel Caine’s could have walked an unleashed herd of rabid hyenas into the lobby and she wouldn’t have cared. “Would you like for someone to show you where it is?”
“Is there a scale in there? I want to weigh myself.” I smiled sheepishly and leaned in. “I’ve been dieting and I’m dying to know if I’ve lost any weight yet.”
The clerk quickly hid her thrill at having something to sell to the tabloids. This was sure to hit newsstands soon. Which was fine by me. Better than the baby-trap stories.
“Of course we have scales, a state-of-the-art gym and even personal trainers available if you want one.” She snapped her fingers and a bellman appeared at my elbow. “Fritz, escort Ms. St. Clair and her dog down to the gym, please.”
“No trainer necessary and I forgot my key card.” And my purse. I travel light when I change into a bat. I smiled. “I’m hoping someone upstairs will let me in after I weigh.”
“No problem.”
In less than a minute I had a new card and Fritz was leading us down a hall to the gym. Once I knew where to find th
e room with the scales, I quickly dismissed the bellman with a five-dollar bill I kept stashed in my pocket for emergencies.
“This is crazy. You really need to weigh now? You just left Ian’s place. What’s this going to prove?” Valdez slumped next to the door in the spot where I pointed. “Blade’s going to be looking for you. He’ll be on the roof right now.”
“This will just take a minute. Ian said I might have already lost a few pounds, and I feel lighter. I want to check it out.” Jerry and I had set up this date before I’d met with the reality show people. I’d tried to estimate how my evening would go and picked a time, but I was cutting it close. Well, Jerry was used to me running late and this was important. I took a breath, closed the door with Valdez on the outside and looked around to make sure there weren’t any security cameras recording this. Paranoid much? You bet. Then I stepped on the scale.
After adjusting the weights, I just stared. Subtracted the three for the jeans of course, then looked again. The scale didn’t move. So this was it. My weight. I couldn’t believe it. Two and a half pounds. I’d lost two and a half pounds. Just like that. I leaped off the scale, slammed the weights back to zero and then happy-danced around the room. I flung open the door and hugged a startled Valdez.
“I actually lost weight. And not a little like I might have done before when if I’d snacked on a mortal who’d taken a run, but two and a half pounds!” I hugged him again, then reached for the waistband of my jeans. Could I get a finger inside there? Yes! “Look! Can you believe it? This is insane.”
“It’s got to be a trick. Maybe the girl at the counter here at the hotel works for MacDonald. They set this up.” Valdez obviously wasn’t buying it. “And you’ve got to see if it’s still off in the evening when you wake up, remember?”
I took a moment to think about that. Diabolical, but possible. Vampires are nothing if not devious. And Ian could be doing this to get a Campbell’s woman to trust him for some reason. I didn’t want to believe it. Or come down off this high.
Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs Page 8