(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips (2 page)

“
Mio Dio
. Hebe at the party.” Flo fanned her face with her hand. “I must order in more blood with alcohol. We’ll both need it, eh?”

I hit send then grinned at Flo. “Definitely.” I walked over to a rack and pulled out my costume for tomorrow night. “What do you think? Is this too much?” The crop top dipped low in front and was covered in gold sequins. I had matching sheer harem pants.

“It’s perfect!” Flo jumped up to examine the fabric. “When Jeremiah sees you in this, he will carry you off to the bedroom so fast, you won’t have time to open even one present. Better hide it from him until after the party.”

I grinned and held it against me. “It is pretty bold. I’ve got some gold lame bikini panties to wear under it but that’s all. He will love it.”

“I hope you are selling plenty of costumes here in your shop for this party. Are you?” Flo sat again.

“Yes, thanks to you and your clever theme, Flo. I know some people will expect me to just marry Jerry and give up this place, but I want to make it even bigger and better.”

Flo shook her head, clearly mystified. “You’ve always had this thing about independence.
Sciocchezza
, if you ask me.” Flo opened her purse, a vintage piece that made me want to snatch it up and stick a price tag on it. “You marry a rich man,
amica
, so you should enjoy letting him take care of you.”

“Did you just call me crazy?” I knew we didn’t have the same philosophy when it came to men but I hoped we weren’t going to fight about it.

“No, no. Just a little foolish.” She smiled.

“Jerry understands that I like to make my own money. He’s even helping me with a business plan.”

“Well. I am surprised.” Flo glanced at my new tablet and the pile of bills next to it. “He has always seemed a very, how you say, traditional man. He likes to travel, check on his other investments. Don’t you think he will want you with him on those trips once you’re married?”

“We’ll work it out.” Though my stomach had gone into free fall. Trust Flo to zero in on my main worry. Traditional? That was a polite way to say Jerry was a throwback to his sixteenth century Highland roots.

Flo frowned. “I have said too much. Now you are worrying. I shut up and go. Come early tomorrow night. Help me with your mother. I don’t trust her. Do you?”

“Not at all. She gave up too easily on her plan to take me off to Olympus. Of course she’s still plotting.” I hugged Flo tight. “Together you and I will handle whatever trouble she starts.”

“Of course!” She patted my back. “I’m just glad you finally said yes to Jeremiah. He’s been very patient with you.”

“Yes, he has. I’m lucky he didn’t find another woman.” I remembered a real bitch from his past we’d managed to run out of town not long ago. “Or at least the
right
other woman.”

“He’s yours now. And I sense he’s coming. I go out the back.” Flo winked. “Take care of him. Do not be too stubborn about some things.” She looked around the back room again and gestured at that stack of bills. “Are you really so crazy about this little shop? Jeremiah is a wealthy man. Enjoy what he can give you. We could go shopping together, in Paris, Roma. I have wished for this a long time. Don’t be stubborn, Glory. Let him take care of you.”

I refused to fight with my best friend. She just didn’t understand how different we were. She rushed out the back door just as the one from the shop opened again and Jerry walked in, his smile taking my breath away. I had never seen him happier. I ran up to him and threw my arms around him.

“That’s a fine welcome.” He leaned down and took my mouth with his. There it was, the perfect kiss that reassured me we were meant to be. I savored his taste, the way we fit. I sighed when he pulled back. We were both smiling and I saw that he was flushed. Of course I hadn’t done
that
. He’d obviously found a blood donor in an alley along busy Sixth Street on his way to meet me.

“I’m glad to see you. Flo just left. We were talking about the bridal party. I have a sexy costume to wear. What do you think about the Arabian Nights?” I twined my fingers through his curls. He had let his hair grow almost to his shoulders and it was a look I loved.

“If you’re going to be my harem of one, I’m eager to try an Arabian night.” He glanced at the rack where my costume was hanging. “Is yours the green number that I can see through? Try it on now and give me a preview.” He slid a hand down to my hip to pull me closer.

“Mmm. Tempting, but no.” I leaned against him. Flo had raised questions I wanted answered. “Can we talk?”

“If we must.” He let me go and sat on the table, patting the space beside him. “What’s on your mind? Lacy said your mother was here earlier. Did she upset you?”

“She tried. When that didn’t work, she decided to get on the wedding bandwagon. I’m still not sure I believe her act, but she says she’s coming to the wedding and all the other festivities.” I sat and leaned against him. He was so solid and so reliably mine. I slid my arm around his waist. “But forget her. Flo made me think about our future.”

“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.