4 Vamp Versus Vamp (27 page)

Chapter 26

Drexel insisted on entering the condo first. He scoped out the space before allowing me to go inside.

I studied him. He hadn’t let his guard down again since the elevator, but I knew his mind was still lost, his heart sinking in an ocean of unknown. “How about some yummy treats?” I smiled, going for a light mood.

His lips lifted slightly at the corners. “Depends on what you have in mind.”

“And that depends on what you’re in the mood for.” I headed for the kitchen and began pulling out baking ingredients.

“When I was a child, my mom made delicious brownies.” He came over to the island in the kitchen. His gaze traveled over the items I was pulling out. “She would give me a plate with a big piece of brownie and a cup of vanilla milk.” He chuckled, lost in a memory. “She said fairies kissed the milk and that’s how it became sweet with vanilla. It wasn’t until I was older that I caught her putting some vanilla beans in it and mixing it with a spoon.”

“You were close to your mom?” I pulled out the
KitchenAid
stand mixer and began measuring out and dumping the dry ingredients into the metal bowl.

“At one time, yes.” His face turned hard again, and I knew to back off.

“This will be my first time making brownies, so hopefully they turn out well.” I turned the mixer on low and starting cracking several eggs. “Would you mind brewing a bit of coffee?”
He quirked a brow.
“Hey. Who’s the professional here?” I pressed. That sent him moving towards the cupboard for the roasts.

We fell into a comfortable silence, working quietly around each other in the kitchen over the next couple of minutes. We both looked up when the front door opened. Kellan trudged into the kitchen. He was calmer than we’d left him.

He stopped in front of the island, watching what we were doing.

I chanced the question. “Are you okay?” I tried to avoid looking at him so as not to push him.

“I’m better than before.”

Kellan stood there for a minute as I finished thoroughly blending the brownie mix. Drexel passed me the coffee, and I measured out a bit and poured it into the mixing bowl.

“A baking pan, please, sir.” Drexel promptly retrieved the right dish and set it on the counter beside me.

Both men watched as I transferred the wet mixture into the pan. I turned on one of the double ovens to preheat before getting out a small pot and a glass bowl. I added water to the pot and set it on the stove, turning the heat on high to later turn down. I tossed some semisweet chocolate chips into the bowl to be melted slowly by the steam from the water.

I washed the mixer’s bowl and put it back in its place. I measured out some powdered sugar and dumped it into the metal bowl. I went to the fridge and grabbed the blood. I measured out a good amount of the blood into the container with the sugar. I returned to the stove. Seeing most of the chocolate soft, if not melted, I turned off the heat. I grabbed a whisk and moved it in the bowl until the chocolate was hot silk. I then emptied the chocolate into the mixer’s bowl with the sugar and blood and combined all of the ingredients. I added a dash of coffee near the end to enhance the chocolate flavor.

My gaze floated to the boys, who were enraptured by what I was doing. I smiled as I continued to work. I stuffed the brownie pan into the oven to start baking. I dumped the small pot of water into the sink and promptly poured some blood into the saucepan. I turned the stove back on, setting the temperature to medium. I placed the pot back on the burner, where it would stay for a minute while the blood reduced into a thicker sauce.

I retrieved yet another bowl from a cabinet and poured some heavy cream and a few drops of vanilla extract into it.
I snatched a clean whisk from a nearby drawer and began beating the cream at a swift
,
vamp pace
. At the one-minute mark I had beautiful stiff peaks of whipped cream. I tossed the whisk into the sink and placed the bowl in the fridge.

The guys still hadn’t spoken. They were still watching me with a keen fascination.

I pulled out the blender, prepared to try to make a vamp-friendly Frappuccino. I pooled three-quarters cup of coffee, one-quarter cup of milk and one cup of blood into the blender. I tossed in a hearty handful of chocolate chips and pressed the
‘Puree’
button on the equipment. Satisfied with the way the ingredients were merged together, I grabbed the Starbucks coffee ice cream from the freezer and threw two large scoops of it into the blender, followed by two cups of ice. I pressed the
‘
O
n’
switch on the blender and watched as all the ingredients came together into a frosty treat.

I gathered three glasses and three plates from a cupboard, along with three spoons and three straws. I turned the blender off and separated the glass pitcher from the base of the blender. I set the pitcher in the freezer to keep the ingredients cool. I spent the next few minutes transferring the whipped cream into a pastry bag. I checked the blood sauce on the stove; happy with the way it’d reduced and thickened, I removed it from the heat.

I was just about to pull the brownies out of the oven when there was a knock on the door.

Kellan’s nostrils flared, and he visibly stiffened. Drexel went to the door. I knew just by Kellan’s reaction, though, that it was Kai.

“Let him in, Drexel,” I called.

Kai and Drexel both returned to the kitchen. “Whatever that is, it smells amazing,” Kai said. He stepped away to drop a large plastic container on the floor.

“Thanks. You want some?”

“Definitely.” He smiled, moving in to stand beside Drexel at the island.

The men watched me closely as I assembled everything. I placed a large piece of hot brownie on each plate. I poured the blood chocolate icing on top of each brownie, allowing it to run over onto the plate. I piped a decorative swirl of whipped cream and then drizzled the blood sauce on top, finishing off my masterpiece.

I retrieved the vamp frap mix from the freezer. Grabbing an extra glass, I divided it into four cups. I added whipped cream on top, followed by a drizzle of blood. I slid a straw into each glass and put a spoon on each plate. One by one I placed the treats in front of the men. They each gave me an appreciative look before diving in.

Moans echoed through the room. I’d heard the saying, “The best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” but I didn’t understand it until now. Kellan and Kai weren’t fighting; they also weren’t grunting at each other or scowling. They were caught up in the glory of food. Perhaps good food did have its place in preventing wars.

I allowed myself the simple pleasure of absorbing their reactions to my food. It was the greatest joy watching their eyelids fall to half-mast as they closed their mouths over a spoonful of ooey-gooey goodness; their lips puckered and cheeks caved in as they sucked up the vampuccino.
Ooh, I like that name.
Within minutes their plates were clean and their cups empty.

“That was so good, babe.” Kellan licked his lips.

Drexel nodded in agreement. “You made my mother’s brownies taste like dirt.”

“I’m glad I came when I did. You’re going to make a killing in this baking business.” Kai sucked his spoon into his mouth, trying to get every ounce of flavor off it.

“Thanks, guys.”

I began to pile their plates and cups together. Kellan seized my hand between both of his. “Don’t worry about the dishes. I’ve got them. You just drink your drink. I think you’ll be surprised how close you came to the real thing.” He immediately took over for me.

“I’m going to get started on the security stuff,” Kai announced, pointing towards the container.

“I’ll help him,” Drexel offered.

“Thanks.”

Kellan had the counters cleared and wiped down within a minute and focused on washing the dishes. “Drink,” he ordered.

I smiled, bringing the straw to my lips. The moment the flavors hit my tongue, I moaned. This was what I’d been missing from my human days: the perfect cold coffee drink. The tiny bits of chocolate were so small they instantly melted upon contact with the heat of my tongue, blending into the taste of everything wonderfully. I alternated slurping the drink down with zest, sipping slowly, trying to savor all of it, and dipping my straw in the whipped cream and blood, then sucking it into my mouth.

Within two minutes I handed Kellan my empty glass. “I will definitely be making that again.”

He winked at me, his smirk revealing his dimple. My heart warmed at the sight of him. His hands were covered in
soap suds
as he washed the dishes at a gentle human pace. The domesticated side of him riveted me. I could stand here all day watching him. It was a moment of fascination, like watching a tough biker clad in leather cuddle a little puppy.

“You like what you see?” He wagged his brows.

“Always.” My reply was breathless.

***

It took Kai and Drexel a couple of hours to run all the necessary wires and set up the security system. The end result was nothing short of
jaw-dropping
.

“I feel like I’m in a maximum-security prison.” I eyed all the features nervously.

“Only you have HBO and a shower to yourself.” Kellan smirked.

I rolled my eyes, focusing on Kai as he walked us through everything. He handed us several remote controls that were linked to cameras throughout the condo, inside and out. There was now a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall between the dining room and the living room showing all of the camera feeds. He’d installed a fingerprint entry system on the front door. Only people whose fingerprints were in the master record would gain entry. He’d taken a new scan of our fingers with a handheld scanner.

“I’ll scan Sanders on the way out, but I’m giving him emergency access only, which means if the alarm is tripped, then he’ll be able to get in.”

“What if someone’s outside, like earlier where someone was by the balcony, but not inside yet to trip anything?”

Kai pursed his lips. “Do you trust the guy enough to give him total clearance into your private space?”

I instinctively looked to Drexel. “Is he trustworthy?” I knew this would push him to admit something to himself as well as answer my question.

He swallowed hard, a glint in his eyes. “Yes.”

“Add him. If I’m uncomfortable with it later, then we can remove him.”

Kai didn’t look happy, but nodded his agreement nonetheless. “There’s an emergency lock feature on the bedroom doors. If someone breaks in, you can call security and wait for
their
arrival in one of the rooms. I’ve sprayed the doors and windows with a clear material that should make them bulletproof and laser-proof.”

“If someone breaks in and I hide in the bedroom, won’t they be able to see me on the camera feed?”

“In any bedroom but the master, yes. With the remotes, you can disable the cameras with the click of a button. So if someone’s staying in the guest room and you don’t want to intrude on their privacy, you just click the power button on the remote attached to it.”

“There are so many remotes.” I frowned.

“I’ve installed an app on both yours and Kellan’s laptops that will allow you to have total control of the cams as well as a live video feed of them from anywhere without the remotes.”

“That sounds more my speed.” I set the remotes he’d handed me on the kitchen counter.

“Thanks for doing this.” Kellan stuck his hand out towards Kai.

Kai reluctantly shook Kellan’s hand. “I didn’t do it for you.”

“I know. I still appreciate it, though.”

Kai didn’t reply. His gaze settled on me. “I’ll check on you later. Call me if you need anything.”

“I will, thanks.” I moved towards him, wrapping my arms around him. I pressed my face into his chest, inhaling him. I savored his scent since he was the only vampire I could smell. “I really appreciate it.”

He hugged me back tightly, not caring that my fiancé and bodyguard were watching. I drew back and he cupped my face. “I’ll always be here if you need me.” He kissed my forehead and backed away. He picked up the nearly empty container that he’d brought with him.