Full-Figured Vampire 1 - Real Vampires Have Curves

by Gerry Bartlett

  "I think he'll mind, Flo. I'm not his favorite person." Well, shoot. I'd really looked forward to going to church and sitting through the whole service this time. "Are you sure you trust him? He hates me."

  "I know, Glory." Flo frowned and set down the brush. "I don't understand it. He hates Damian too. Which I do understand. My brother is not popular with other men."

  "Casanova wouldn't be. But I've done nothing to Richard except chew him out for failure to blend. He needs to get over it." And I needed to get over my mistrust if Flo and Ricardo were going to be a couple. He was here almost every night when I got home from the shop. So Valdez—who seemed to tolerate Richard better than I did—and I had to hang out in the living room with the TV loud enough to drown out the sounds coming from Flo's bedroom or give up TV and hole up in my bedroom. Obviously watching me read wasn't Valdez's entertainment of choice.

  "I'm sorry we disturb you, Glory." Flo got a faraway look. "We will go to Ricardo's place from now on. I promise."

  "I don't want to run you off." Maybe I should put up a block to Flo. This mind reading was really getting to be a drag. But at least we were communicating.

  "I've been inconsiderate. But if you would just decide on a lover of your own, you could make your own noises." Flo looked me over. "Are you going to get dressed? Please don't stay home because of Ricardo."

  I should just decide on a lover. The Florence da Vincis of the world could do that. Just decide and the man would worship at their feet or any other body part that needed attention. I got up and went into the kitchen to get a fresh can of Bloody Merry.

  I really didn't want to spend an evening with Richard. He made me uneasy. No matter how devoted he seemed to Flo I knew he still hated me, and was that fair? I was nice to him when he came over. Well, maybe nice is an overstatement. But I tolerated him for Flo's sake.

  "I think I'll stay home. The service is carried on one of the local stations, isn't it?"

  "TV's not the same as being there, Glory. Please come with us."

  I turned on the TV and found the guide channel. "No, look. It's on later. This way I can enjoy my night off, relax and still hear the great music." I grinned. "And if I float during the hymns, then only Valdez will see me."

  "Now I feel bad. I'll call Richard and tell him I stay home too."

  "No, you don't." I walked to my bedroom door. "I'm going to shower and wash my hair. I'll expect you to be gone by the time I get out." I looked at Valdez. "It's steak night, pup. Rib eye, rare." I'd learned over the years that my dog needed red meat at least once a week. Not the dog food variety either. The rest of the time, he was happy to chow down on whatever junk food we had in the cupboard.

  "There you go, Flo. Blondie and I will hang out here. I'll eat and she'll float. No problem."

  "Fine. But I will go to Ricardo's after the service and spend the night and day there." Flo winked. "Maybe you invite Jeremiah to come over."

  Tempting thought. He'd called to let me know he was working on the poison angle. Unfortunately, his guy inside was a lot like Tony Crapetta, scared of vampires, but willing to take their money. Blade wasn't going to hand over a dime until he was sure he would get what he paid for.

  "Don't worry about me. I've got a book to finish reading. Some hand washing to do." I grinned. "At least the thongs you make me wear don't take long to dry."

  "Have you washed the Kevlar vest yet?" Flo hadn't been impressed, even though I'd made her try it on. It had almost fit her, she's got a pretty generous bust herself, but she didn't like the way it made her look. Like Blade had said, it did tend to flatten us.

  "I washed it. I don't suppose you'd consider wearing it under your clothes tonight. Westwood's out there, not to mention the religious nut."

  "No, Ricardo will protect me. And I don't think Westwood has my picture. Both times he shot near me, it was dark. Not like when he aimed at you and Derek."

  "Gee, thanks for reminding me." A night holed up in my apartment with excellent security was sounding better and better. "Have fun. Say hi to God for me." I headed for the shower.

  I'd bathed, thrown on my bat T-shirt and jeans and had just settled down with Shape-shifting for Dummies (just kidding) when there was a knock on the door. Valdez jumped up and growled.

  "Who is it?"

  "Damian."

  "Flo's not here."

  "I don't want Florence. Can I come in? Please."

  "Why?" I looked at Valdez. He looked ready to take a hunk out of Damian if I let him in. Not that I was against the concept.

  "I need to talk to you about my sister. I'll be on my best behavior. I swear on her life."

  He sounded serious. Of course I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

  "Don't let him in." Valdez punctuated this with some really ferocious barking.

  "Hush. Lacy's sleeping across the hall." I got up and threw the dead bolts. "And don't attack unless I give the word."

  "What's the word?" Valdez was showing all his teeth.

  I shook my head. "Would you relax?" I pulled open the door. "And, Damian, you'd better not try anything weird." I threw up my mental blocks anyway.

  Damian smiled. "I am never weird." He brushed against me as he came inside.

  "What's this about Flo?" I sat in one of our club chairs and watched Damian try to avoid Valdez. Not easy. My dog was right on him, never more than six inches away.

  "Can't you put the beast away?" Damian had a hunted look. "At least order him to back off."

  As much fun as this was to watch, I did want to talk to Damian about Flo and Richard. "Okay, Valdez. Go sit by the door. I'll let you know if I need you to take a chunk out of Mr. Wonderful here."

  I leaned back and crossed my legs. "Damian, sit. You too, Valdez." Both beasts gave me a go to hell look. Too bad.

  "Gloriana, you look wonderful tonight." Damian settled on the love seat.

  "You are so full of it." No makeup, shapeless T-shirt and barefoot? A raving beauty I wasn't.

  "What I am full of is lust for you, Gloriana." Damian struggled to keep his charming smile going and sniffed. "What do I smell? Have you been cooking? Florence told me you want to eat."

  "I'm not eating yet. It was steak. For the dog."

  Damian sniffed again and leaned toward me. "And lavender."

  "Good nose, Sabatini." I'd tried a new soap Lacy had brought when she'd gone to the store for Flo and me. We were low on a lot of supplies. I hated to be scared to even go to the supermarket. Maybe after Damian left I'd slap on the Kevlar and hit the all-night grocery store.

  "You're still blocking me, Glory." Damian slouched, playing the poor rejected lover. "Don't you trust me?"

  "It'll be a cold day in hell before I trust you again, Damian."

  "You wound me." He put his hand on his heart.

  Too bad he was so damned good-looking. Everything Damian said and did was calculated to be completely charming. And it worked. Five o'clock shadow for the masculine touch. Silky shirt open low enough to showcase his toned body. Loafers without socks to hint at his sophistication. Well-cut trousers giving more than a hint of impressive male attributes. I doubled my block. Too much dwelling on his package was a bad sign.

  "What about Flo? That's the only reason I let you in here, Damian. I'm worried about her association with Mainwaring. They're out again tonight."

  "Ricardo's fine. Not a problem," Damian said it almost by rote.

  "Great guy." Valdez stood and padded into the kitchen. "Any steak left?"

  "No." Okay, this was getting weirder and weirder. "When you two agree on something, the planets are out of alignment. I'm convinced Ricardo, as you call him, has done something to both of you."

  "What could he have done?" Damian yawned, obviously unconcerned.

  "Mind control, Damian. Something you're very familiar with."

  "Don't be ridiculous. No one controls my mind." Damian stood and looked at Valdez. "The dog, sure. Anyone could make Rover roll over." He got a crafty look and he and Valdez lock
ed eyes. "Forget it." He sat down again. "Why do you think Ricardo could do this, what do you call it, oh, yes, whammy on me?"

  "Listen to yourself, Damian. 'Ricardo's great. No threat.'" I frowned. "When you went after Flo and him the other night, you were furious. Did all that anger and mistrust just melt away?"

  "I got to know him. He adores my sister."

  "But he hates me." I stood and walked over to sit beside Damian. "I know I'm not Miss Perfect, but I've done absolutely nothing to provoke such all out hatred."

  "Of course not, Gloriana." Damian picked up my hand. "I'll talk to Ricardo. Explain that we must love you." He smiled and kissed my knuckles. "He will be like a brother to you."

  I jumped up. "I don't want him for a brother!" Damian was obviously not getting it. "He may be stronger than you, Damian. Or maybe you let down your guard around him."

  Now that got his attention. "I never let down my guard." Damian finally looked thoughtful. "But if you're right, which you're not, then Florence isn't safe with him."

  "She says he loves her. But the rest of us…"

  "You seriously think he could be staking vampires with a cross? That he killed Trevor and Marguerite?" Damian shot to his feet. "And my sister is sleeping with him?"

  "I don't know what to think. So far whoever's staking doesn't leave witnesses. We need proof and obviously we're not going to be able to read his mind."

  "No, I tried." Damian began to pace. "He is powerful. You sure he won't hurt Florence?"

  "I'm not sure of anything." I was almost sorry I'd started this. I hadn't really learned anything new and now Damian was fired up. "Why did you come over tonight?"

  That stopped him in his tracks. "Halloween. It's next week. I want you to come to my party."

  "I could use a party."

  "Of course you could. So many worries." Damian moved closer and took my hand again. "And you could be my hostess. Some say that is an honor."

  An honor. Only Mr. Super Ego Damian Sabatini would say such a thing. I extricated my hand and put the coffee table between us. It was a wimpy move. I was blocking. My head ached, but it didn't kill me. I wasn't afraid of Damian's power over me, was I?

  "I don't think so."

  He pouted until he saw it wasn't working. I've known way too many bad boys in my time to fall for their games. But the term "bedroom eyes" could have been invented for a guy like Damian.

  "I promise you'll have a good time. I play Count Dracula and everyone comes in costume. Lots of mortals too, eager to donate a pint or two if you wish to feed from the real deal."

  I glanced at the two empty Bloody Merry cans on the table between us. It was taking more and more of the stuff to silence my inner beast. Which, sorry, but that's what it is. Not that I'm ashamed of it or anything. It's a fact I accepted a long time ago. Like my gambling addiction, I know that it'll never go away, but I don't have to give in to it.

  "Sounds like a swell time, Damian, but I think I'll pass."

  "Mara and Jeremiah will be there. I already talked to her. She says Jeremiah will be wearing his kilt and, when I told her about the costume contest, she promised to blow us all away in something sexy."

  Manipulative bastard. Of course he wouldn't hesitate to use the old jealousy card. And of course it was working.

  "You're kidding. You have a costume contest? Isn't that a little…"

  "Juvenile?" Damian grinned. "Perhaps. I don't know about you, but my childhood didn't feature fun and games. I'm making up for it now." He was on my side of the coffee table. "We'll play, Gloriana."

  "Play" was whispered in my ear and my imagination filled in the blanks. Have I mentioned that I've always had a soft spot for bad boys? And I wondered about Damian's childhood. I was pretty sure he and Flo came from privilege. Poor little rich kids? I figure we all came with some baggage.

  "Let me think about it. The party. Not the hostess gig." I patted his cheek. "That implies a relationship between us that doesn't exist."

  "Yet." He took my hand and sucked one of my fingers into his mouth before I realized what he was up to.

  I jerked my hand away and staggered when Valdez leaped between me and Damian.

  "Did you call me, Blondie?" Valdez growled at Damian.

  "You go too far, dog," Damian snarled.

  "Calm down, both of you." I kept my hand on Valdez's collar. "This is about the time of night Margie was killed. Why don't we go down to Diana's coffee shop and see if she's got any regular customers who might have seen something or someone that night?"

  "Good idea, Blondie. Put on your Kevlar first." Valdez bumped me toward my bedroom door. "Sabatini doesn't need to come with us."

  "Yes, I do." Damian was eyeing my chest.

  I wasn't wearing a bra, but the T-shirt was doing a pretty good job of hiding that fact. That's one reason I've always loved black. It hides a lot.

  "I want to see this Kevlar that Flo told me about. She thinks it's ugly, but I want her to wear it too."

  Did I really want to parade in front of Damian in my Kevlar bra? Why not? I could handle Damian and I wanted Flo to wear one too. Maybe she'd actually listen to her brother if he agreed that it wasn't all that ugly. I had my second one now. It hadn't taken to dye, but Kim had discovered she could use fabric paint on it. I had to give her credit for imagination, even if my seamstress had gone a little nuts on this first experiment.

  "Wait here and I'll put it on." I gave Damian a stern look. "This isn't for your entertainment, Damian. This is a security issue."

  "I won't be entertained." He grinned and crossed his heart. "I swear."

  I couldn't keep from grinning back. My inner slut was having a great time flirting with such a hottie. Of course I realized that if I hadn't been playing hard to get, Damian would have moved on long ago. He'd started this pursuit as a "Get Blade" maneuver. Now it was a "Get Glory to admit she wants me" deal. I wasn't admitting anything, but I did slap on some makeup while I was in my bedroom.

  When I came out in my bra with my T-shirt over my arm, Valdez was staring at Damian. But Damian was staring at me. His mouth dropped open. "What is that all over your chest?"

  Chapter Eighteen

  I looked down ruefully. "Bull's-eyes. Can you believe it? My seamstress was making a little joke. I'd told her Blade threw knives at me and sometimes missed. She painted on targets."

  "And this Kevlar really repels knives and arrows?" He moved closer to touch the fabric. "It's not heavy. I thought it would be thick. Like chain mail."

  Valdez growled. "Valdez, stay by the door. That's an order." My dog subsided with a sniff. "Kevlar heavy? No, but that's a common misconception." Interesting. I think Damian had served his own time as a warrior. He had the same look of concentration Blade had gotten when he'd examined my first Kevlar bra. This one was higher in front and it made me feel very safe. Safe from stakes anyway. Damian had his hands on the Velcro.

  "Nope, that stays closed. What do you think? Is it too ugly for Flo?"

  Damian traced the fabric above my breasts. "I like more of a plunge, but it's the woman underneath that matters. Keeping your heart safe. That is beautiful."

  Oh, gosh. Just when I'd figured Damian for an unredeemable jerk, he said something like that. Then his clever fingers stroked the bumps of my nipples.

  "Cool it, Damian." I backed up and ignored the shivers he'd started. "Do you think you can get Flo to wear one of these?"

  "I'll try. Without the targets, of course." He grinned, obviously happy he could make me back up. Not to mention, make my nipples stand at attention.

  "You need to wear one too."

  He moved close again. "Ah, Gloriana. You do care."

  "Vamp to vamp. We all should wear one as long as Westwood is using us for target practice." I held up my hand. "Look, but don't touch again, Sabatini. If you want a vest made, I can give you my seamstress's number. Call her and she'll fix you up."

  "Is Blade wearing one?" Damian actually backed off when I jerked my T-shirt over my head.

&nbs
p; A sore subject. Of course he wasn't. These macho males. Impossible.

  "Not yet. But he's thinking about it." I grabbed my purse. "Let's hit the coffee shop. Ask around. Unless you've got other plans."

  "My other plans would be carrying you to your bed and showing you some more screaming orgasms. For real, this time." He gave me his patented "I'm too sexy for my fangs" look.

  "Then we're going downstairs." I shoved past him and picked up Valdez's leash. "The three of us."

  "She doesn't want you in her bedroom, Sabatini." Valdez pressed himself against my legs while I clipped on the leash.

  "I can speak for myself, Valdez." I opened the door. "Let's go."

  Damian made an excuse and headed for parts unknown. He wasn't interested in any activity with me that didn't involve the mattress mambo. I've got rhythm and didn't doubt for a minute that I could dazzle Mr. Sabatini with some of my creative moves. But Damian was going to have to work a little, no, make that a lot, harder before he'd get on my dance card.

  Diana was behind the counter when I got downstairs. Valdez settled at his usual post right outside the door after he'd given me the all clear for the dash from the front door to the coffee shop. First the coffee shop, then the grocery store. I still had the keys to the hearse and a list of things Flo needed, including a new bottle of nail polish remover. I could definitely rationalize using Damian's spare car.

  "Hey, Glory." Diana grabbed a can of Bloody Merry. "I was just going to take a break."

  "Good." I looked around. Only two customers, both mortals, sat at tables. One was reading the newspaper, the other stared at a laptop screen.

  "I'm here about the night Margie was"—I lowered my voice—"found out back."

  Diana gulped her drink, then sat at a vacant table as far away from the customers as she could get. "Horrible. Poor Kenneth."

  "I was thinking poor Margie. She was supposed to meet Kenneth here that night. Did you see her?"

  Diana stared down at her can. "Can't say that I did."

  "Mind if I ask your customers if they saw her?"

  "Are you playing detective?" Diana looked grim, which was appropriate under the circumstances.