Gator Baitin' (The Grateful Undead series Book 2)

by Susan Stec

  He got all sad on me with droopy eyes. "Susan, I'm a very powerful immortal. I've lived for over fifteen hundred years without your blood. And I've done nothing to lose your trust. I demand you respect that."

  "And I'm doing just fine without yours, too," I spat back. Sh-yeah, right? Christopher was about to drag me into a fight with demons. Yeah, I was doing just peachy.

  "My blood would also keep you safe. That's the method to my madness, and madness it is, being your mate. Another power you would gain would be the ability to keep your personal thoughts and actions to yourself. That power can only come with immortal age… or my blood."

  "I knew it! You’re blocking me! You-you control freak! Well, screw you!" I said, shoving my face at him.

  "First of all, I'm not blocking. My mind is open to you. You're the one that is unresponsive. Unfortunately, you need to have a desire to be one with me, like I desire to be one with you if you want to hear the thoughts I do not push at you."

  I sat there staring at him. There's always a catch. I took in a long shaky breath. I was so screwed.

  "I promise you, I will ask no more of you than you are willing to give. Just drink my blood and gain my experience. Accept me as a mate, because I'm a crucial element in your life now that we have joined, and like it or not, I'm here to stay."

  "Well that sounds awfully final to me."

  "That it is, my love. That it is." He took my hand and fire followed his lips as they traveled across my fingers. I watched as he turned my hand, nostril's flaring against my wrist. Then he sank his fangs into my flesh and began to suck, slowly, eyes on mine.

  My whole body ignited in flames as he pushed his wrist to my lips. Before I could stop myself my fangs dropped and I was sucking. His blood tasted like the woods smelled; darkly musky, thick, rich, and foreboding. Damnit, I wanted him.

  Hell, I didn't have to make a long term decision today. Just suck a little blood, have a little tussle between the sheets—worry about the rest tomorrow. Right?

  I lifted my free hand and ran the tips of my fingers down his square jaw, stopping at his throat. I could feel a pulse beating wildly, a pulse created by my blood flowing through his veins. I sucked harder. He moaned and did the same. I was so ready for naked flesh—my body begging for his skin against mine.

  I thumbed a button through an eyelet on his shirt and was about to start on another when I felt his lips smile against my wrist. He moved my hand to my side. His chest softly thundered as we drank. I know he read my desire. Heat radiated through my body with every swallow. Every fiber of my being wanted him inside of me. I removed my hand from his and reached for his belt buckle. Again, he pulled it back to my side, though he was clearly as ready for me as I was for him.

  I whimpered and closed my eyes, drawing deeply from his wrist and a memory of his flashed through my mind as vivid as if I were standing beside him.

  I walked with him down a cobblestone street; horse drawn carriages clacked by. I heard a boisterous laugh and followed his eyes to his brother walking beside him.

  "I assure you Marcus, she is a treasure to lay eyes on," Dorius said.

  Marcus warned, "She is the wife of Ferenc, chief commander of the Hungarian troops. He isn't always off, leading the men in the war against the Ottomans. Tread lightly, my brother."

  Marcus pulled his wrist from my mouth and the vision melted away. My eyes shot open. He dropped my hand in my lap, licked his lips and smiled wickedly as he stood.

  His eyes danced over mine and he cleared his throat, straightened his jeans, and headed for the bedroom door. "Shall we go see what Christopher has found?" He opened the door.

  What the fuck? No darling? Sweetie? Not even a stupid Susabella?

  My chin hung at least an inch from my mouth. My body trembled with desire for more of him. Anger rose in my chest at the thought of becoming that intimate and still he could just walk away from me.

  "No more than you ask for, remember?" He stepped through the door and left me curious, hot, and wet with desire—the bastard.

  ~~~

  Chapter 7

  Gotta know if your sweet blood's gonna sate me

  ~~~

  I followed Marcus into the kitchen, not feeling at all sated. He'd won this round. My body was twanging like a frigging guitar string, wound tight. Damn him, he was playing me and he sure as hell knew it.

  "You guys get all your differences settled?" Christopher asked, face shoved in the laptop, fingers clicking away.

  I ran my tongue over my upper gums, making an obnoxious sucking noise, and glared in Marcus' direction. He gave me a sexy grin that was begging to be kissed until he opened his mouth.

  "I settled mine. What about you, love?" he asked.

  Okay, so I just wanted to bitch-slap the bastard. "Screw you, Marcus."

  "Are you asking me to go back upstairs?" Marcus gave me a toothy smile.

  "I take it you guys didn't do the ole bump and grind? Hope your Mom brings back lots of chocolate. Looks like you're gonna need it." Christopher waggled his brows.

  "You get anything," I asked.

  Marcus' smile widened.

  How can one man create such disdain and physical attraction and the same time?

  Christopher peeked over the computer. "I found enough shit to wonder what the hell the Powers women are up to."

  Trying to put Marcus and my unanswered libido aside for the moment, I hurried over to Christopher. "Let's hear it." I tried to pretend Marcus wasn't watching my ass as I bent seductively around Christopher and gave him a better view. It did wonders for my self-esteem.

  "Well, first off," Christopher said, "there have been five people—all involved in different churches—murdered in the past ten years just like the ones we found. The FBI has labeled the serial killer 'The Sacred-Soul Butcher.' But before Eustis there had been no murders for years it was getting to be old news. I bet it hits the front page of every newspaper from here to Miami as soon as the cops file a report on the motel crime scene."

  "So the serial killer's become active again," I said. "Were his victims all men of the cloth?"

  "Well, not exactly. Mostly women, either pastors or involved in the churches. Before Eustis, the last two bodies were found five years ago—and there could be others that were not documented—in their homes, gutted, the walls full of rhymes. One was a male choir director, the other the wife of a pastor."

  "So whoever is doing this has to be pretty old, right?" I asked. Marcus made animal noises behind me.

  "I think Pastor Julie took up where her mother left off. There were twelve murders back in the seventies and eighties during Pastor Sara's ministry. All here in Florida. All the same MO as the ones during Pastor Julie's ministry. After reading the files, I think Sara tried to quit, because she ministered years without another body showing up. During that time she traveled all over the place, but finally came back here. That's when the family got in the car wreck and they never found Sara's body, remember? When Julie took over, the bodies started showing up again."

  "I wonder if JoAnn's heard of these murders," I said. "She's always going to church. Maybe we should ask her."

  "I'm not ready to let any of the others know we're working on this yet, and if we can pull this information, you know Dorius can. My guess is he's probably knee deep in this shit and that's why he's been following this family. I bet that's what the demon thing with Resi and Zaire is all about."

  "Do you really think there's a demon involved with this? Do you think Sara is still alive?" I grabbed the papers Christopher printed and began to glance through them.

  Marcus stepped up beside me, a concerned look on his face. "Susan, this is not a side job for the two of you. Dorius is obsessed with this family and I think you should check with him before venturing any further."

  "Hell no!" Christopher and I yelled.

  Marcus sounded like a car without a muffler. "I will not let you take on a war with demons. It's not safe. Have you ever fought with a demon, Christopher?"


  I think he was looking for backup. He didn't get it.

  "How hard can it be?" Christopher smiled; shoulders halfway to his ears, palms upturned. He looked so damned cute.

  Marcus paced the floor in the dining room. "This is ridiculous. You don't just summon a demon and demand it stop consorting with a human. You strike a deal with a demon. What will you bargain with? Will you trade your immortal lives? I'm sure that's what happened to Sara. She's probably in the abyss, a servant of this demon. In addition, I'd be willing to bet her daughter put her there. Someone called this thing out of wherever it was bound. Then someone else offered it a more lucrative deal."

  "Okay, so maybe we don't know everything. We probably really need to think this out, Christopher." I sure as heck didn't want to get up close and personal with a creature from Hell.

  "Don't get your panties in a wad." Christopher tossed an angry look at Marcus. "We'll just observe Pastor Julie and see where it leads us. That's all. I refuse to let Dorius know we're involved. I know he has an interest, but I say we just mosey around and assist without his knowledge for a while."

  "Did you just say, mosey?" I asked. They both ignored me.

  "It's his job, Christopher, not yours." Marcus said.

  "He hasn't gotten anywhere with either of these women. I will." Christopher defiantly clicked the off button on the computer.

  "I will not let you drag my mate into a fight you cannot win." Marcus glared at Christopher, his fists balled by his side.

  Christopher looked from Marcus to me. "Look, I'm not going into this all stupid. I know what a demon can do. I've been around awhile, remember? I think with Susan's help we could, at the very least, summon it and try to find out what Julie is giving it. Make like we might have a better offer, then we get Dorius involved. Susan has witch and demon blood running through her veins. We just need to educate her and try out her capabilities. That's all."

  Marcus' chest grumbled. "She will do nothing of the sort. I will not stand for this madness. My mate will absolutely not summon this demon! Do I make myself clear?"

  "Excuse me, I'm standing right here." Me summon up a demon? Christopher was talking out his butt? This sounded just a wee bit too scary for my tainted blood. However, Marcus was not going to tell me what to do. "I make up my own mind, blood-mate, remember?"

  "Susan," Marcus warned.

  I sure as hell was not going to start drawing circles with salt, or pentagrams on the living room floor, goddamnit, but I'd be the one to tell them that. "Christopher, sweetie—demon?—depths of Hell?—just where would your little ass be while mine summons?"

  Marcus took the printed information out of my hand. Evidently happy with my response, he stood reading while Christopher answered me.

  "Aw, come on! Give me a little credit. Let's just go back to the crime scene and see if we can find anything we missed. We're not even sure Julie is consorting with it," Christopher said, totally disregarding the 'me' summoning up a demon thing and what part his happy little ass played in it.

  "We can do that," I said, giving Marcus a look that had him flaring up again.

  "I'm going with you." Marcus folded the papers into a brown envelope sitting on the table. His eyes shot daggers at Christopher as he handed them to the little immortal.

  Christopher slapped the envelope against my chest. "Put this somewhere the others won't find it."

  "I can deal with snooping around," I said, taking the envelope. "I'd actually like to find out if she's really involved. It sounds damn reasonable, Markie-poo, don't'cha think?"

  A little surveillance couldn't hurt us, and it sure as hell seemed to be getting Marcus all pissy. At the moment pissing off Marcus put a big smile on my undead lips, even though playing kissy face with a very scary creature from Hell was not on my agenda. I shoved the envelope in my purse until I could find a better place for it, and watched Marcus seethe with anger.

  "The others won't be back for a few hours." Christopher got up, moving toward the garage and my Jeep. "We have plenty of time to check the motel again before we all don our redneck attire and head for the rodeo."

  Marcus grabbed me when I turned to follow. "I don't like where this is going, Susabella. I'll help you for a while, but if it gets out of hand I will contact Dorius. You are not, under any circumstances, playing demon conjurer. Do I make myself clear?"

  Now that just tripped my trigger. Suddenly, summoning the demon brought on all sorts of amusing possibilities. "Look, you don't have to get involved. I'm perfectly capable of handling this. I promise I won't get in over my little undead head if you promise to keep Dorius out of this. Do I make myself clear?" I smiled sweetly at him.

  His eyes searched mine. "Susan, you will be my undoing. I can't seem to get you under control."

  "That's because I won't allow it." I gently pulled my arm away from him, and he followed me toward the garage. I was lovin' it.

  * * * *

  We walked in the woods behind the motel, Christopher in the lead, Marcus and I following. It was still daylight and we needed the cover—not only to stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible—we didn't want to announce our arrival.

  The parking lot was vacant. There was no FBI or police officers anywhere. It looked like the motel was closed down.

  It was a nauseating place, used mostly by those looking for anonymity and illicit romps between the sheets. Coffee cups and cigarette butts edged with red lipstick, fast food containers and room receipts littered the area around the building.

  The motel room in question was closed off with yellow crime scene tape across the door and windows, front and back.

  Christopher walked along the back wall searching for an entrance, looking like a curious child. Marcus and I waited in a cluster of trees on the back of the property off the main road.

  "If you're as big and powerful as you make yourself out to be," I said all sweet like, "I see no reason we can't handle this alone. Think of how much fun it would be to bring down a human working with a demon, especially one Dorius has been after for years." I was jerking his chain again, enjoying the hell out of it.

  "You're evidently unaware of the repercussions of your actions. A demon is nothing to play with. You're putting yourself in a grave position. They're crafty, and I cannot let you do this without knowing the full consequences."

  "Oh, for Christ's sake, lighten up. Can't you just live a little, or have you forgotten how?" Pushing Marcus' buttons was just too easy.

  "Hey you guys, we can get in the back window," Christopher shouted a whisper.

  Marcus pulled me close and whispered in my ear, "It's not too late to change your mind." His breath made me tingle, and damn if the his upturned lips didn't confirm he knew it.

  "Can we wait for a better time to taunt each other, my, oh so 'happy with our differences settled, glad to be sucking on only your wrist' mate?"

  He affectionately rubbed his fangs against my throat. "You try my patience, Susan. And I will hold you to that statement as soon as we are in a more appropriate place."

  "Come on you two," Christopher hissed.

  I reluctantly pulled away from his embrace and headed toward the window Christopher stood impatiently beneath.

  Marcus boosted Christopher to the ledge and he disappeared inside. He linked his hands, offering me a stirrup to place my foot. I grinned, grabbed his shoulders, grazed my breasts across his cheek, and reached for the window. He lifted me higher. I leaned in. The bastard bit me on the ass. I yelped, fell head first through the window and landed on the floor in a heap.

  I heard him chuckle. "Oh, you're asking for it, Mister!"

  "Counting on it," he sang, climbing through the window.

  I stomped across the dimly lit room.

  We stood at the end of the bed, not a sheet or blanket left on it. The forensic team had removed everything that wasn't nailed down. Red blood seepage, dried in odd macabre shapes, covered half the mattress. I wrinkled my nose. "It smells awful in here."

  Marcus' nostr
il's flared. "The demon smell is stronger without the bodies present. There's a smudged pentagram over here and a circle of salt to keep the mortal out of its grasp. I'd guess a witch or sorcerer is involved. Did anyone bring a camera?"

  "There's one in the Jeep," Christopher said.

  "And just think, love, only a mere demon is responsible for all of this blood," Marcus said, and added a condescending smile.

  Christopher started singing the lyrics to Do Right Woman. When I pretended not to hear, he sang to the bloody wall.

  "I feel it my duty, once again, to remind you both that demons are horrific to deal with." Marcus used his serious voice.

  "...right all day wooo-man…"

  I gritted my teeth and tried to stay focused on Marcus' words. "They often talk in circles to confuse, and once a pact is made, it's very difficult to get out of it."

  "…gotta be a dooo…"

  "They can take any form they choose, and while in that form they can act beguiling, or deadly."

  "…all night maaan…"

  I was getting a headache.

  "Think of all the possibilities. They can appear exactly like someone you know."

  "…it's a man's world…"

  "The worst predicament would be to find yourself under the demon's control in the Otherworld. You would have to rely on someone here in our world to retrieve you."

  I glanced at Christopher. He was still facing the bloody walls, humming softly, small hands stuffed in his pockets, and rocking on his cute Spidey shoes.

  "Marcus, you're singing to the choir," I said.

  Christopher turned and smiled at me. I curled my upper lip under.

  "We're not going to get devoured by a damn demon, Susan," Christopher said. "Come on, Marcus. We haven't done a friggin' thing to bring a demon down on us."

  "Yet," I said, eyes in mistrust mode.

  Marcus, totally oblivious to Christopher's sexual snark, was all business. "I suggest we photograph these symbols. We have a wizard who is exceptionally good with demon theology at BAMVC. He may be able to find out which demon was summoned."

  "We don't need BAMVC," Christopher responded quickly. "Susan has lots of books and we can start there, or check online."