“What about it?” He stiffened under my fingertips. “Damn it, Gloriana, I will not take that ring back.”
“I’m not changing my mind, just trying to work out logistics.” I felt him relax again. I’d made my big strong Highlander insecure about our relationship with my hot and cold attitude and my affair with another man. He’d forgiven but he hadn’t forgotten. I was going to have to work to make him trust me not to back out of this commitment.
“Logistics. We’ve settled the living arrangements, of course.” He kissed my nose.
“Yes, I love our new apartment.” I’d been surprised when Jerry had bought the apartment building that also housed my shop. Then he’d evicted the other tenants on the second floor so we could have a huge apartment. At first I’d seen his taking over the living arrangements as high-handed and manipulative. I’d finally realized that was my kneejerk reaction to almost everything he did when he was simply trying to please me. It wasn’t easy for me to accept gifts from Jerry, but I was learning to do it.
“This is turning out to be a good investment. If you ever decide to give up the shop, this space could easily be rented out to someone else. Places on Sixth Street are always in demand. The rents from the apartments upstairs along with the shops down here, including yours and Mugs and Muffins next door, bring in a good income.” He set a folder on the table next to him.
“I don’t plan to give up the shop.” I ignored his hands on my back as he pulled me closer. “You aren’t counting on that, are you?”
“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Gloriana. I wasn’t suggesting such a thing.” He smiled and traced my frown line which I knew had appeared between my brows. “In fact, I have a wedding present for you.” He reached for the folder and put it in my hands. “Look and see.”
“What is it?” I flipped it open then gasped. “Jerry! It’s the deed to this building. You, you put it in my name.” I scanned the document. There was a lot of legalese but the meaning was clear. Jeremy Blade, the name he was going by in Austin, had deeded this property over to one Gloriana St. Clair for the sum of one dollar.
“No, I sold it to you. You owe me a dollar. I figure you’re good for it.” He was grinning, entirely pleased with himself.
“This is too much!” I blinked as tears filled my eyes. I’d never owned a piece of property in my life. And I had a feeling the price Jerry had paid Damian just a month ago had been in the seven figures.
“Nothing is too much for you, my love.” He rubbed a tear off my cheek. “Did I surprise you?”
“Surprise? You’ve blown me away. I don’t know what to say.” I looked the deed over again. It was real. I owned this entire block. On Austin’s Sixth Street. I worried for a minute, thinking about taxes and insurance, and then deliberately put all of that out of my mind. Jerry said the income was good. It would cover such things. And, if I couldn’t afford it, I could always sell it.
“You’re awfully quiet. Is it too much?” He was starting to look worried. “You know I’d give you much more if you’d let me.”
“So you’ve said.” I sighed and carefully set the folder on the table next to him. “I was thinking how much I like it here.”
“True. We’ve both lived many places. Austin seems like home, doesn’t it?” Jerry pulled me close. “Someday we’ll have to move, but not anytime soon.”
“No, not anytime soon.” I leaned against him. “I’ll always remember Austin now. Where we made our home. Where we married. We have such good friends here.”
“That we do.” He ran a thumb across my cheek and to the back of my neck so that our lips almost touched. “You’ve built a fine business here. I admire that. Keep it as long as you wish. I’ll help any way I can. Or leave you to it. Just tell me what you want, my love. Owning the building will give you options. You can expand if you want. Kick out the tattoo parlor next door if you need that space.” He didn’t have to pull me close this time as I kissed him with all the love that I had. When I finally leaned back, I rested my head against his shoulder.
“Have I told you how much I love you, Jeremiah Campbell?” I ran my hand over his chest, loving the hard contours of my warrior.
“I never get tired of hearing it, lass.” He lifted my chin and kissed me, lying back on the table, until I was stretched out on top of him.
“Wait!” I wrenched out of his arms and rescued my computer, bills and that precious deed, stowing them on a shelf before I ripped off my sweater to fling it across the room. Then I locked the doors.
“Is this my wedding present?” He grinned up at me as he reached for the front clasp of my skimpy black lace bra.
“Well, since I can’t afford buildings, I guess this will have to do. How can you keep surprising me?” I unbuttoned his cotton shirt so I could smooth my hands over his chest. Bending over him, I licked my way from one nipple to the other, sucking one into my mouth.
“I consider it a constant challenge.” He moaned when I dragged a fang along his skin, drawing blood then licking it away.
“Good. I want to keep you on your toes, lover.” This man was mine and I wasn’t going to let him forget it.
“Gloriana.” He groaned and pushed his hands into the back of my jeans. Got to love spandex. I wasn’t about to admit the size of mine. In fact, I cut out the tag as soon as I got them. Some things Jerry just didn’t need to know.
I sat up and opened my jeans then hopped off the table to wrestle them off. I didn’t want to delay things while Jerry tried to pry them off. He’d been busy getting naked himself and kicked his own jeans away then lifted me to the edge of the table where he stood between my legs. He kissed me endlessly while his fingers worked their magic. I ran my hands over his hard body, finding all the places I knew made him groan with pleasure. There’s a lot to be said for centuries of history together. The miracle was that we had never tired of each other. That the spark not only still glowed but burst into bright flames at every touch.
He ran his tongue around each of my nipples, his fangs nipping and playing until I pulled on his hair, moaning with pleasure. Then he sank to his knees, breathing in my scent before he pressed his mouth between my thighs. I grasped his ears. There was no need to guide him since he knew just how to make me shriek my release. So soon. I crossed my feet behind his head, rocking into him as he found and plucked the sensitive nub with his lips. My hips arched off that hard table as excitement shivered through me. I was close again. But I wouldn’t let him make me come without him. Not this time.
“God, Jerry! I need you inside me! Now.” I actually remembered that the door into the shop wasn’t soundproof. Of course the clerks out there were paranormals who could hear things mortals couldn’t. Still… The music in the shop got louder. I collapsed back on the table, pulling Jerry up until his erection teased me, nudging for entrance. But he wouldn’t give me what I wanted. Not yet.
“Say it again, Gloriana. Say you’ll marry me on New Year’s Day. Nothing will stop us from becoming man and wife. Nothing.” He was serious, his muscular arms bulging as he held himself just above me. His face was inches from mine, his eyes dark and serious.
“I love you, Jeremiah Campbell, Jeremy Blade, any name you call yourself. I’ll always be yours. Only yours. And on the first day of the New Year, I’ll declare it before all of our friends. Now take me before I go mad.” I scored his back with my nails, afraid I was about to do something mean with my Olympus powers if he didn’t put me out of my misery.
“I love you, Gloriana. And I’m never letting you go.” He plunged into me then, the pressure of his cock all it took to make me bite back my scream of release. I shuddered, feeling my completion rocket through me. His mouth on mine swallowed my squeal of pleasure. I pounded on his back, my heels sliding up and down the backs of his strong legs.
But Jerry wasn’t finished, not by a long shot. He kept staring into my eyes--trying to read my mind? I wasn’t about to let him. I could block my thoughts and did. He was never letting me go? Fine. That worked both
ways. I wanted to belong to him now. He was as tied to me as I was to him. Marriage. In the vampire world it was even more difficult to break that bond than it was for mortals. We were a fairly small community and it was inevitable that we’d see each other, run into each other. Only death would part us. And death for a vampire was rare and never natural.
He held my hips and began a slow seduction again. Teasing me, he kept pulling out until I begged him to push deeper, go faster. He stayed in control, his face solemn until I saw him finally lose it. He began to drive into me, finding the perfect angle that he knew would send me over the brink again. Yes, the tension was there, building, tightening inside me until my toes curled. For a moment I resisted. I didn’t want… But this was Jerry, my beloved, the man who would do anything for me. Even buy me a damned building.
My second orgasm broke me into a thousand pieces as Jerry shouted his own release. I let him go, my hands landing on the wooden table. He lay on me for a few moments, his lips brushing my throat gently. It was a sweet vampire kiss showing love, not hunger for my blood.
When he finally rolled off of me with a satisfied groan I opened my eyes to stare at the cheap acoustical tiles above my head. I realized my hands were fisted and I opened them finger by finger then ran my hand over his hair-roughened stomach and felt the muscles contract. I loved how masculine he was. I did. I loved him.
Jerry’s heavy hand landed on my thigh, like he owned it. I turned my head and saw his smile. Satisfaction. Happiness. Not possession. He was glad we’d be together forever. I managed my own smile. If I had doubts I would chalk them up to bridal nerves. Yes, that had to be it. Everything Jerry did for me was out of love, not for any other reason.
“I have an appointment with my lawyer for you to sign that deed in front of a notary, Gloriana. A formality. That will make it yours. Can you come with me now?” Jerry jumped off the table, eager to get to business. He grabbed his jeans and stepped into them.
I wasn’t about to lie around naked and exposed under those fluorescent lights. I was right behind him, snapping on my bra, pulling my sweater over my head. I’d just stepped into my panties when he held my jeans just out of reach.
“You’re awfully quiet, Gloriana. Is this a bad time?” He was serious, watching me.
I grabbed a belt loop and tugged him close then kissed his lips, wishing he’d smile again. I could see that he wanted to please me and I was going to have to stop imagining control issues that just weren’t there.
“You can’t know how much I love that you’re doing this for me. It’s perfect.” I slid my hands down his chest then around his waist. “This marriage should be a partnership, Jerry. How can I ever match this kind of generosity?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He jerked me closer. “All I’ve wanted for centuries is to make you happy.” He dropped the jeans and slid his hands down to cup my butt. “You want to give me something? Give me two weeks away from this shop. For a proper honeymoon. Can the girls handle that?” His smile was back, a wicked one this time that promised all kinds of naughty honeymoon delights.
“Hmm. Sure.” I ran my fingers through his thick hair. “Where will we go?” Sandy beaches and moonlight. Or maybe a mountain chalet. Someplace far away from Austin and my stupid doubts.
“Anywhere you wish.” He kissed me one more time then stepped back. “Now are you coming with me to the lawyer’s office?”
“Can you give me half an hour? Lacy needs to take a dinner break then I can meet you there.”
“Perfect.” He kissed me, pressed the card with the address into my hand then slipped out the back door. I sat in my own chair for a change and realized I probably had a goofy grin on my face. I was beginning to think this was going to work. We could be happy. He was respecting me. My doubts were silly. I struggled into my jeans then just sat there, finally sure I could go through with it. I was going to marry Jeremiah Campbell and have an amazing honeymoon.
“I can see that I will have to take drastic measures.”
“Mother? You weren’t spying on me, were you?”
“Unfortunately.” She was back and glaring at me from beside the back door. “It is not something that I enjoy. Bacchanals in Rome were more entertaining.”
“That’s disgusting.” I was sure my face was as red as her Gucci handbag. “What do you mean by drastic measures?”
“I’m sorry that I have to do this, but you leave me no choice, Gloriana.” She raised her hand.
I blinked and the crowded back room in my shop was gone. Instead I was lying on a bed. It was a golden monstrosity and huge, an ornate four poster. The canopy over my head was draped with gold and white silk. Under me I could feel more silk and big fluffy pillows. I struggled to sit up and look around. The bedroom had fancy French furniture, clearly vintage and that must have cost a fortune. Looking down I saw one of those gorgeous rugs that would feel like velvet under my feet. I was still dressed in my jeans and sweater though my feet were bare. My shoes were on the floor next to the bed. Where the hell was I?
“Mother? What have you done?”
“What you forced me to do, daughter.” She appeared next to me. There was a woman behind her. A woman in a toga. Oh, God. “Here, enjoy your first meal. I’m sure you’ve been craving chocolate. And how about some croissants? You won’t believe what they do with pastry here.” She flicked her wrist and the woman set the tray down on my lap.
My eyes watered as the aroma of fresh hot chocolate wafted from a delicate bone china cup. Next to it sat a pair of flaky pastries and a bowl of glistening strawberry preserves. All of it was laid out to perfection on a tray set with a linen napkin and sterling silver flatware.
“What the hell is this? Are you into torturing me now? You know I can’t eat.”
“Yes, you can. Here.” My mother smiled. “Welcome to Olympus, darling.”
Chapter 2
I ran my tongue over my teeth. Inhaled the woman standing next to the bed after she’d set the tray in my lap. Tested my teeth again.
“Where are my fangs?” I was shaking and the cup rattled against the saucer, sloshing chocolate all over the tray.
“Oh, I got rid of those, darling. Aren’t you glad?” Mother gloated, thrilled with her little trick.
I wanted to toss that tray at her but the smell of chocolate was too much for me. I picked up the delicate porcelain and drank. Heaven in a cup. Had anything ever tasted better? Hell, yes! A-B Negative from a live donor. I slammed down the cup and hot liquid splashed my fingers.
“Ouch. Damn.” I sucked chocolate off my hand and glared at this woman who claimed to love me. “What the hell have you done? Last I knew you were searching for a dress for my wedding.”
Mother gestured and the servant vanished. “I thought I could go along with your plans, Gloriana. Even though they were ridiculous.” She paced the carpet next to the bed. “I knew I had to try to reason with you. Make you understand that the marriage could not take place. But when I turned back and you were having sex with that monster? Drawing blood with your fangs as if that gave you pleasure?” Her voice had risen until I wanted to cover my ears. She stopped beside the bed and visibly collected herself. “Well. I cannot describe how disgusting I found that display. No mother worth anything would leave her daughter to such a fate.”
“What fate? Happiness with the man I love?” I pushed the tray off my lap and jumped out of bed to face her. “And don’t get me started on your worth as a mother. We’ve been through that, haven’t we?” I so wished for my fangs because I couldn’t work up a good snarl without them. “Damn it, Mother. I won’t stay here. Take me back.” I stuck a finger in her face, close enough that she actually took a step back. “Right. Now.”
“No.” She grabbed my finger and shoved me back against the bed. “Calm down. Give this a chance, Gloriana. You’ll love it here once you think about it. I saw the way you drank that chocolate. And you haven’t even eaten yet.” She picked up the croissant and waved it under my nose. “Come now. You know y
ou want to. Savor the taste of real food, darling. Can you smell it? I’m horrified that you’ve had to subsist on blood like an animal for hundreds of years.”
“Damn it, Mother. You won’t win me over with baked goods.” I knocked it out of her hands. Of course I could smell it. But it creeped me out that I couldn’t tune into the things I normally did. Like the beating of her heart, the smell of her own blood, or that of her servant who had crept back in with a fresh pot of that Devil’s brew, the hot chocolate.
“Calm down, Gloriana. Give Olympus a chance. This can be a little visit. Not a permanent arrangement.” My mother looked me over. “Just wait until you see the wardrobe I’ve prepared for you. I don’t imagine you’ll be in such a hurry to leave then.”
“Stop it! I told you Flo is hosting a bridal party for me tomorrow night. Jerry is waiting for me even now.” I followed her to double doors near the bed. “Forget bribing me to stay here. Take me home.”
“This is your home. You’re staying. So relax and enjoy the perks of being daughter to a goddess, Gloriana.” Mother threw open the doors. I caught a glimpse of colorful clothes, racks of them. Shoes, handbags. I turned my back on them and grabbed her arm. Her servant gasped and scurried out of the room.
“You have to listen to me. I didn’t agree to this. What if Zeus finds out I’m here? Do you want to be locked up in one of those little cells? He’ll probably lock me up too, if he doesn’t fry us both into ashes with lightning bolts as soon as he sees us. Take me back!” When she just smiled and shook her head, I lost it. I ran to the bed, grabbed the tray, and tossed it at her. I had goddess strength now. It flew. She deflected it with a flick of her wrist but the trajectory was right on. It made an impressive crash landing on that exquisite rug. We both stared at the chocolate and strawberry stained Aubusson and sighed then glared at each other.
(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips Page 2