By the time he turned into a driveway that wandered up a hill, my nerves were shot. No amount of beautiful scenery could take my mind off the showdown to come. And if I kept stalling, Jerry was bound to find out from someone else. I felt sure Richard would tell him tomorrow night. Especially if he discovered that Jerry and Ian had a feud going.
Had I told Flo not to mention that to Richard? Damn. Surely she wouldn’t . . . Who was I kidding? She’d fill Richard in on all the gory details if she thought it would help with his investigation. And he’d be on the Internet checking MacDonald out anyway even if Flo didn’t say anything. What better reason would Ian have to poison me than that I’d been made by a Campbell vampire? Gee, now I was worried. No, Ian was a businessman. I was fine. Had lost five pounds. Not poisoned at all. Oh, hell. We were here. Wherever here was. Time for truth or consequences. Gulp.
Jerry pulled the car to a stop. We were on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The house behind us must have been built to fit perfectly on the spot. The stone and redwood structure hugged the terrain and had to have fabulous views from every window. It was dark and looked vacant.
“Who lives here?”
“No one right now. One of the Los Angeles vampires bought it as an investment. Then the market dipped. It’s for sale and I have a key. We can go inside and look around.” Jerry got out of the car. “What do you think? Is it romantic enough for you?”
“It’s perfect.” I walked over to the edge of a slate terrace and peered down to a beach far below. Steps had been carved into the side of the cliff. The waves drifted into a narrow beach and the wind had died down to a gentle breeze. I took off my scarf and brushed my hair back from my face. Then I felt Jerry’s hand slide down my back.
“There’s a heated pool. Want to go skinny dipping?” His voice was husky as he slid my sweater off my shoulders again.
“Why did you ask? Seems like you already know the answer.” I reached back and unzipped my skirt, then stepped out of it. My black thong was looser than it used to be and I took a moment to savor the feeling. Then I turned and reached for Jerry’s sweater, a yellow silk that had the look of Rodeo Drive. Flo had certainly had a ball with his credit card.
“I love this sweater on you. It looks great with your dark hair and eyes. But it has to come off.” I threw it over to land on a chaise near the pool.
“Just like this bra. Red is definitely your color. And I like the way it pushes up your breasts and matches that silk thing you have on.” Jerry leaned down to lick a path along the edge of the cami. “But they both have to come off right now.” He made quick work of them.
I undid his belt and slid down his zipper. “Hmm. Are you sure you have time for a swim?” I held his hard length in my hand. “Seems you’re ready to do a little something more.” I shoved down his jeans.
“A little something?” Jerry grinned, tossed away my thong and swung me up into his arms.
I let my heels drop to the ground. “Okay, a big something. Don’t get any of these clothes wet. I do have to go back to the hotel tonight. It’s important.”
“Why?” Jerry managed to kick off his pants.
“The weight-loss thing. I have to drink something special before I sleep.” I made a face. “Sorry if that broke the mood.”
Jerry ran his hand along my bottom. “Nothing could break this mood, sweetheart.” He kissed me, slow and deep, then walked into the pool down some shallow steps until the water hit him midchest.
“The temperature’s perfect.” I slid against him to stand on my feet. I’m not a fan of water, especially lakes with creepy-crawly things in them. But here, in Jerry’s arms, I felt safe.
“You make me hot, woman. I’m surprised the water’s not boiling around us.” He pulled my legs around his waist. I felt his hardness bump my stomach as he kissed me deeply, our tongues tangling together. Then he slid my legs over his shoulders.
“Don’t let me drown!”
“No worries.” He held one hand under my head and began to kiss a path up my inner thighs. My mind went blank and any pitiful swimming skills I had escaped me. Forget that trainer’s core. Jerry had found my real one. Like the core of a volcano, mine was deep inside me with a building pressure threatening to explode as he used his mouth on me. I felt the boiling, roiling, almost insanely explosive power shudder through me. My shudders made the water around us into wavelets but I just gripped Jerry’s arms and reached for what I needed so desperately—release.
“Jerry, please. Come inside me. I . . .” I reached for him but he shook his head, refusing to stop his delicious torture. What was he waiting for? Tremors shook me. A California earthquake? No, this was the beginnings of my own impossibly delicious violent upheaval. Finally he let me slide down his body to rest my cheek on his shoulder.
“What was that about?” I panted harder than after that trek to nowhere on the treadmill. One of my wildly scattered thoughts was that I’d read somewhere that sex burned calories and revved metabolism. Maybe I should weigh again before dawn.
“Your pleasure.” He smiled. “I know you well enough to realize I pleased you.”
“I’m so pleased I’m limp. Wow.” Thank God we were in the water because I couldn’t have stood if my life depended on it.
“A day of vampire sleep should cure you, lass.” He kissed my cheek. “Ready to see the inside of the house?”
“Not yet.” I reached between us. “I have one more item on my agenda, Mr. Blade.”
“Oh, you have an agenda, madam?”
“Yes, indeed.” I guided him inside me, gasping as he penetrated my sensitive flesh. “Oh, God, that feels good.”
“I didn’t think you could—”
“Hush.” I kissed his mouth shut. “I’m a vampire. I have superpowers, lover. Now, you know what to do. Do it. Until I scream and make waves and you can’t hold back anymore and have to give me all you’ve got.”
“A tall order.” Jerry grinned and walked me over until I sat on the second step.
“I think you’re up to it.” I sighed and leaned back as he began to move. Pressure built inside me almost instantly. He gripped my buttocks and drove into me, his fangs glinting in the dim light. I offered my throat and he took me there, drinking for a moment, then pulling back, a strange look on his face. I didn’t question him, just kissed him and held on to him as he pushed into me one last time, shuddering with his release. I screamed as pleasure rippled through me again, hoping there were no neighbors to report murder being committed on our hilltop.
We leaned against each other for a long moment. I knew the time for talking was overdue. I smoothed my hand up his back, then tugged on his wet hair.
“What?” He leaned back and looked down at me.
“You didn’t drink from me like you usually do. What was wrong?”
He frowned. “You didn’t taste the same. And, trust me, my love, I’d know your taste blindfolded in a room with a hundred other vampires.”
“I believe that. Just like I’d know yours.” My stomach lurched and I swallowed. I was not going to be sick again. No way. I just couldn’t be. I gently pushed him away. “I’m sorry. I guess it’s those supplements I’ve been drinking to lose weight. Now, let’s go inside. I’d like to see the inside of the house.”
“Okay. It’s weird, though. Never thought I’d turn down a chance to drink from you. I’ll be glad when this diet of yours is over and you’re back to the Glory I know and love.” He gave me a searching look, then pulled himself out of the pool. He walked over to a cabana and grabbed two white terry robes.
I couldn’t look away. Jerry naked is art. Perfect male from dark wet hair, worn longish this week since apparently Flo had convinced him to skip a haircut, down to his muscular legs that looked so great in a kilt. And in between . . . I sighed. My warrior was back at poolside, reaching out a hand to pull me out and to wrap me in my own robe. I shivered as I stood next to him and tied the terry closed.
“Cold?” He picked up our clothes and held out his h
and.
“Not really. It’s a beautiful night.” I stared at the ocean, then up at the stars. The moon was just a sliver this time of the month. But our vamp vision served us well along with the glow from the security lights at the edge of the terrace.
What was the deal with my strange taste? I must taste truly awful for Jerry to refuse to drink from me. It was usually our favorite finish to lovemaking. I hadn’t tried to feed from him because of the stupid diet. And I’d missed the closeness of the act. Damn. I shook off the worry and grabbed his hand.
“Come on. This house looks fabulous from the outside.” I walked with him toward the door. Forget the taste issue. That was nothing compared to the Ian issue. I felt disloyal working with a MacDonald. If Jerry laid down the law and forbid me to see Ian again, though . . . Well, I guess I’d leap over that Grand Canyon when I came to it.
“All right, I have the key here.” He pulled out a key ring and went to work on the back door. Then he punched in a code on a pad inside. “Security code. Chip gave it to me. He’s pretty trusting. Guess he’s aware that another vampire would be a fool to cross a member of the ruling council here in L.A.”
“A vampire named Chip. And he’s on the Council?”
“Yes, Damian and I had drinks with some of the members last night. Some pretty powerful characters. They run a tight ship. I admire that. You don’t want to cause trouble out here or you’re staked.”
I shivered. “That’s drastic.”
“Yes, it is. And it’s why the Energy Vampires didn’t set up shop here. They figured Austin was an easier territory to infiltrate.” Jerry flipped a switch and we saw a beautiful sunken living room. The pale turquoise walls were hung with oil paintings of California landscapes. There was a natural stone fireplace similar to Ian’s and a brown leather sectional couch that made you want to sink into it and enjoy the fire that came to life when Jerry flipped another switch.
“Nice.” I approached the fire and held out my hands. I didn’t want to talk about the Energy Vampires. We’d had run-ins with the bad guys in Austin and barely escaped with our lives. “I like this place. Beautiful art.”
“Chip is a collector. Those paintings are worth a fortune. They don’t necessarily come with the house. What do you think? Should I buy one? As a souvenir of our time here?” He smiled at me. “Which one is your favorite?”
What a question. Leave it to Jerry to go big. No little plastic “I heart L.A.” key chain. I should pick out a favorite painting, one that would probably set Jerry back six figures, and he’d have it to remember our time in California. Oh, hell. Would he want to remember anything when he heard about Ian? I had to tell him. No way was I letting this go any further.
“Sit down, Jerry. We have to talk.” I sat on the sofa.
“Again? We already talked this week. Florence said that was probably enough for a couple who’d been together as long as we have.” Jerry faked a put-upon expression and sat close beside me. Maybe it was good that we wore our robes and nothing else. When he got ready to kill me, I could whip out a bare boob and distract him.
“Forget Flo and her TV talk show advice.” I scooted over so I could face him. “This is serious. It’s about who I went to see in Malibu.”
“The diet guy. What about him?” Jerry moved his legs and his robe parted. He grinned when he saw me looking.
“Quit playing, Jerry. I mean it.” I reached over and covered him. He was too quick for me and slapped his hand over mine, holding it down where he wanted it.
“I know you do. You’re cute when you’re serious.” He had a twinkle in his eyes that I rarely got to see. Jerry teasing was a wonderful sight. He was clearly happy. With me.
And I was about to kill the joy. I gave in and increased the pressure of my fingers for a moment and leaned in to kiss his smile.
“I love you, Jerry. Remember that.”
“Now you’re scaring me, Gloriana. What the hell have you been up to?”
“The man I’ve been seeing. The man who has helped me lose an incredible five pounds.” I couldn’t help it. I had to stand and drop my robe. “Look. My butt is shrinking. It is, Jerry.”
“I can see that, though it was fine the way it was. Now, finish, lass, before I go mad.” But he did reach out and stroke his hand along the curve of my ass, as if testing the size of it. I sighed, then picked up my robe again.
He snatched it away with a grin. “No need to go crazy. Unless this is life or death, you can tell your tale as well naked as dressed. And”—he pulled me between his knees—“I’m sure I’ll accept whatever ‘news’ this is much more happily with this view in front of me.” He leaned forward and licked one of my nipples.
“Oh, God, Jerry, if only it were that simple.” I pushed my fingers into his hair and held his head to my breast.
That got his attention. He looked up. “Glory?”
“Okay, here goes.” I stepped back out of teeth-gnashing range. “The diet guru is Ian MacDonald.”
Here it came. Gaelic. A string of what was surely profanity accompanied by Jerry jumping up and grabbing the only thing in the room that could stand in for a weapon. He brandished a silver candlestick, his face red, his eyes on fire. Finally, he took a calming breath, slammed the silver down on the tiled counter and faced me. I’d slipped on the robe again, figuring rightly that, naked or dressed, there was no way I could sex my way out of this.
“You’ve had truck with Ian MacDonald. Are you mad, woman?”
“No. He’s been, uh, nice to me.” I stayed standing. I wasn’t about to let Jerry look down on me.
“And does he know you’re my woman?” Jerry growled this, his fangs down, his eyes hard.
“I told him I’m with Ray. Just like the tabloids say. He seems to believe me.” I reached out a shaking hand but thought better of touching him. “He knows you made me. But Ray went to Malibu with me. We played the devoted couple in front of Ian.”
Jerry’s mouth tightened. He hated the idea of my “devoted couple” act with Ray. He’d seen it for himself. Not good for his pride. And the reason he’d trotted out the giant ring the night before. I always wore Ray’s ring in public those nights. It absolutely killed Jerry.
“And you think MacDonald bought your act.”
“Sure. Ray paid for my treatment. He and Ray even talked about some other things, stuff Ray might try. Your name never came up.” I had probably just said too much.
“You’re a fool, Gloriana! He’s using you to get to me.” Jerry stalked to the window and looked out. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he had you followed after you left there. I told you I smelled another vampire on the roof last night. If one of his spies saw us together, he knows you’re mine.”
“Stop saying that!” I stomped my bare foot. “I am not yours. Or Ray’s or any man’s.” I knew I was getting off the subject but he’d just hit one of my hot buttons. “Damn it, Jerry, your attitude is not helping.”
“Listen to yourself, Gloriana. You’re spouting twenty-first-century women’s lib idiocy and ignoring the fact that you’ve probably set me, yourself and even Caine up to be staked.” Jerry threw off his robe and climbed into his clothes. “Get dressed. We need to get back to the hotel. I need backup and so do you.”
“Jerry, you’re overreacting. Ian’s done nothing—”
“Hasn’t he? Why the hell do you taste funny?” Jerry stopped to stare a hole in me. “Tell me more about his weight-loss thing. How does it work? You look pale. Why?”
“I’m a vampire. I’m always pale.” I held on to the back of the couch, suddenly nauseated again. Damn.
“Don’t play games with me, my girl.” He strode over and put his hands on my shoulders. “I want the truth. What’s he doing to you?”
I shook my head. No way was I going to tell him anything else about the supplements and my reactions to them. That would just reinforce his opinion that I was on a suicide mission. I didn’t believe it. Or maybe I didn’t want to believe it. I just pulled on my clothes and wal
ked in stony silence out to the car.
Jerry grabbed my arm as I was about to climb in. “Talk to me, Gloriana. I’m worried about you. This is dangerous. Don’t you see that?”
“What I see is that you’re all about an ancient feud. Do you even know Ian MacDonald?”
“Of course I do. We’ve fought many times. He hates me; I hate him. His family and mine are sworn enemies. He’d like nothing better than to cause me pain.” Jerry ran his hand through his hair. “And hurting you would do that. More than you could ever know.”
I felt my anger soften a little. “I believe that, Jerry. But believe this. I’m doing this diet thing. Can you try to be rational? Not make it all about you?” I opened the car door. “Let’s go back. It’s too close to dawn for either of us to think straight.”
“That’s not true. And I’m not the one being irrational.” Jerry waited until I was settled, then slammed the car door. “I’m thinking that you’re too damned concerned about how you’ll look on Israel Caine’s arm at the Grammys to think about anything else. So you’ll risk whatever it takes to lose a few measly pounds. Well, I hope it’s worth it, Gloriana, because, trust me, Ian MacDonald will make sure you pay well for your moment in the spotlight. I just hope it’s not with your life.”
I took a shaky breath and decided I couldn’t respond to that or I’d burst into tears. Was I that shallow? That vain? And what was the freakin’ deal about my tasting funny? We rode the miles back to the hotel in tense silence. By the time we got to the rear entrance, I wanted Jerry to say something, at least promise he wouldn’t go after Ian until . . . Until what? After the Grammys so I could look good? Maybe I was that shallow and vain.
He helped me out of the car and walked me to the back door. It was just thirty minutes until the sun would come up and I was dragging. I’m sure Jerry was too, but you’d never know it to look at his firm step and squared shoulders. He was clearly so livid he was about to morph into a bat and screech, which, according to him, was a great way to blow off steam. I’ve never tried it myself or been tempted to.
Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs Page 14