Real Vampires Live Large (32 page)

“Answer me, Richard. Is your mind clear? Do you want me or is the drug doing your thinking for you?”

Richard shook his head. “Damn it, Glory. I don't know.”

“Wrong answer, Richard.” I shoved him out into the hall and wished I had a door I could slam in his face. Would it have killed him to say “Oh, Glory, you're the hottest woman I've ever seen, of course I want you”? He obviously read my mind because he winced and ran his hands through his hair.

“Sorry.” He looked sad, yummy and way too easy to forgive. “Of course you're desirable.”

“Good night, Richard. Get out of here before we do something we'll both regret.”

Richard reached out and touched my hair. “I'm already regretting it.” Then he turned and headed down the hall, still limping, torn pants flapping.

I sagged against the doorframe for a moment, then went to give the dogs the all clear. Two hours until dawn. Maybe I'd call Blade. The VV was still inside me in the form of a damp yearning that made my knees wobbly. This restless urge needed to go somewhere and Blade is my go-to guy. Always. Even an ocean and a continent away. And ain't that a bitch?

Twenty

I woke up still feeling slightly hungover and frustrated. I hadn't called Blade after all. I'd had just enough snap left in my overstimulated brain to figure out that wouldn't be a good idea. Even long distance, he could read me way too well.

It had been bad enough having to call Damian about another broken door. He'd wanted explanations I wasn't about to give. And what about Richard? Would I ever be able to face him again? Oh, God, could I have
been
a bigger slut?

“Finally, you're awake.” Flo sat on the foot of my bed, disgustingly bright-eyed. “What happened last night? There's powder everywhere and I can't find the remote for the TV.”

“Richard and I had a party. Things got a little wild.” I watched Flo's face, checking to see if she might still have feelings for Richard. She just shrugged.

“Richard and a party? What? Did he actually loosen up for a change?” Flo frowned down at a chipped nail.

“Loose enough.” I even said it with a straight face. “Richard's a decent man. I respect him.”

Flo gave me a searching look. For once I didn't want to spill my guts. She didn't press me. A good thing since my anger was on simmer and rapidly coming to a boil.

“Where's the Fangtastic Simon sent you? I know you love the AB negative, but Richard doesn't usually drink it and I doubt you could have finished it off by yourself in one night.” She leaned closer. “Though you do look a little ragged around the edges.”

“Ragged? Like from a Fangtastic binge? Or maybe I just had a rough night.” I leaped out of bed, glad I'd at least had the presence of mind to put on an old nightgown before I'd finally gone to sleep. Not that I'm overly modest—see previous night—but parading naked in front of my roomie with the cute figure wasn't on my top ten list.

“What are you talking about? Too much Fangtastic can't hurt you. And Richard . . . Yes, he has a temper, but he wouldn't—” Flo looked startled when I growled.

“So says the resident expert on men.” I stomped a circle around the bed to keep from venting all over her. Not her fault. Not her fault. She obviously didn't have a clue what Simon had done. I took a calming breath and sat on the bed beside her.

“No, Richard wouldn't hurt me, not physically. But he pissed me off when he poured down the drain the Fangtastic Simon sent. I know he did the right thing, but it was hard to take at the time.”

“He poured it down the drain? Because he hates Simon?” Flo jumped up and stormed to the living room. “How could you let Richard do that? Simon was making a nice gesture.”

“Oh, yeah, really nice. Simon punched it up with a boat-load of that stuff he's peddling.” I headed to the kitchen and grabbed one of the bottles of O positive.

“What? You had the Vampire Viagra?” Flo shook her head when I offered some of the cheap stuff.

“Yes.” I drank, fought off a gag—God, this was swill— then sat on the couch. “Where are the dogs?”

“I asked Lacy to take them for a walk before we go to church.” Flo sat on a chair across the room. “How did you like the VV? Wasn't it wonderful? Did Richard try it too? I can't get Simon to use it, but I think—”

“Flo, stop.” I took another swallow. I needed to do some kind of whammy on myself so I'd think I was still drinking the wonderful stuff I'd had the night before. “Simon
drugged
me. I drank a bottle laced with VV and ended up attacking the nearest warm male body.”

“Richard.” Flo settled back like this was going to be good. Regular roomie dish.

“Yeah, Richard.” I deliberately blocked Flo from reading my mind. I had some really homicidal urges toward her boyfriend in there. Not to mention the fact that I was close to wrapping my hands around Flo's elegant throat and throttling her for being so clueless.

“Okay, I give. Did you like it? Wasn't the rush fantastic? ” Flo grinned like the idiot she was turning out to be.

“No. I felt like I was crawling out of my skin, for one thing. And it was more screaming frantic than rush.” I sure wasn't telling Flo that the only satisfaction I'd managed last night had come courtesy of my XTC 3000 vibrator.

“But Richard is a wonderful lover.” Flo had the grace to look embarrassed. “I know I said he wasn't, but I lied. I was mad at him, for being so much more into his business than he was into me.”

“Yes, he's very intense and still hung up on some of his priestly vows.”

Flo laughed. “He's not celibate, Glory. If he told you that, honey, maybe you just don't do it for him.”

I paused a moment for a little bitter reflection. Could that be why I'd lost last night's battle? No, I'd definitely gotten to the guy. He'd
struggled
with his decision not to take me. I leaned forward. “I know he's not celibate, Flo, but he has principles.”

“Principles? What do you mean?”

“That he wouldn't take advantage of a woman under the influence. Even if that woman did everything but chain him down and force herself on him.”

“The chains are in my closet, you should have used them.” Flo giggled. “Sorry, I couldn't resist. You should see your face.”

“Yeah. Hand me a mirror.” I picked up the bottle of Fangtastic and drained it. I'd just let my roommate see how pathetic I was.

“So Richard played hard to get.” Flo shrugged. “Not surprising now that I think about it. But what happened to the rest of the Fangtastic Simon sent you? Surely not all of it was laced with the VV. That stuff costs the earth.”

“Then your lover was extremely generous.” Or didn't want to take a chance that I wouldn't sample his drug. He'd probably hoped I'd get hooked and beg him to take my power. Become one of the drones Flo had mentioned. Simon must really be in a power crunch to go to so much trouble. “Richard and I dumped it all out. Maybe it didn't all have the VV in it, but I wasn't about to take the chance. Richard even threw away the empty bottles. The man's obviously not into recycling.”

“You should have saved it, Glory. For when Blade comes home. I bet he would enjoy it. He's not the prude Richard obviously has become.”

I took about a nanosecond to think about the combination of Blade and the VV. “Forget it. Blade and I don't need it, Flo. And, last I heard, you didn't need help in that department either.”

“It's not that I
need
it. But if I enjoy something new, where's the harm?”

“The harm?” I grappled with the question. “The harm comes when you take people against their will. Drug them without their knowledge.” Okay, now I was on a roll. “Dangle seeing daylight in front of an ancient vampire, take his or
her
money, then watch the vamp fry when the sun comes up.”

“Bah. You've been listening to Richard. I have seen none of that with Simon. You should come see for yourself. I told you he wants to meet you.”

“He wants to meet me so he can drain my power. Even you admit I'm loaded with it.”

“I can see we're wasting our time discussing this, Glory. We don't agree. I move on.” Flo crossed her legs. “How do you like my new outfit?” She wore a black wool pencil skirt and black and white sweater that I hadn't seen before.

I decided I might as well “move on” too. “New? It's cute. Did Simon take you shopping?” I'd gotten the impression the EVs were practically hermits. I couldn't imagine Simon strolling through a mall with his girlfriend. If Simon did go out with Flo, Richard might have a chance to launch an attack. Of course we'd have to get Flo out of the way first.

“No. Simon doesn't go out much. Typical man. Hates shopping. But he insisted I order something online, then he paid for express shipping. He really is generous.”

So much for the mall theory. “Generous? I thought it was a cheap shot, trying to drug me like that.”

“But didn't you like the Vamp Viagra? I mean, it makes you feel . . . amazing.” Flo ran her hands over her breasts. “Very hot.”

I tried to analyze just how I'd felt the night before. Mainly I'd been out of control. Damian had complained about the same thing. Richard too once he'd had it in his system after barely tasting me. It obviously took iron will to not have sex once you were into the VV. Iron. Oh, boy, speaking of iron . . . Richard had been incredibly hard. Side effect? Or was that typical for him? No assist from VV needed.

“You're getting a dreamy look, Glory. I think something did happen with Richard last night. Maybe you're cranky because you feel guilty. Taking a lover while Blade is away. Just blame it on the VV and move on.” Flo bent down to pluck a white dog hair from her skirt. “Will sheds all the time. You should brush him.”

“Move on. That's always your philosophy, Florence.” I saw that I'd upset her. “Look, I'm sorry. I'm hungover. Too much VV and not enough action. And I wouldn't brush Will on a bet. He's been shifting into human form.”

“Oh?” Flo looked interested. “Is he handsome?”

“Very. And arrogant. Think Mara as a macho male.” I got up and stopped next to Flo. I put my hand on her shoulder. “I'm sorry if I snapped at you. But tell your boyfriend not to do me any more favors.”

“That's exactly what Simon thought. That he was doing you a favor. The VV is highly prized. He made a generous gift.” Flo looked around and grabbed the lint roller from the table next to the TV. “I love black, but this is ridiculous. ” She attacked her skirt. “I should make Will shift and clean this for me.”

I wasn't going to touch that one. The image of Will, toned muscles flexing while he wielded a lint roller, suddenly got to me. Obviously the VV still lingered in my system. No way was I attracted to him in any form.

“Let me get dressed or we'll be late for church.” I headed for my bedroom. “Did you invite Simon to come with us?”

“Yes, but he wasn't interested.”

“Too bad. Church would be good for his soul.” I stopped in front of my closet and decided I hated all my choices. I'd remembered to hang up the velvet dress I'd worn the night before. I pulled out the full skirt and rubbed the soft material between my fingers. It would have moved so well on the dance floor.

If that damned VV hadn't messed up the evening, would I have ended up in bed with Richard afterward? I knew we had chemistry, even without the VV boost. But I'm not a slave to my hormones. I needed a connection with a man before I allowed him sleepover privileges. And Flo was right about one thing, Richard put his “mission” ahead of everything else. Unusual in a vampire. We're pretty heavily into self-indulgence. Yeah, even me. Okay, okay, especially me.

“Pretty dress.” Flo was right behind me. “What do you mean, Simon needs church for his soul? I told you Richard is wrong about him. Simon doesn't send vampires into the sun and the VV is a good thing. What do you know that I don't?”

“I don't know what you know, Flo. For example, did you know Simon is Freddy's father?” I pulled a red corduroy shirtwaist out of the closet and threw it on the bed.

“Freddy? Frederick von Repsdorf?” Flo sat on the bed, careful not to wrinkle my dress.

“The one and only.”

“So Simon and CiCi ...” Flo and CiCi have a bit of a rivalry going. Over men naturally.

“Centuries ago. She knew he was a vampire, but had no idea Simon could give her a baby vampire until after the deed was done. Kind of a nasty trick, don't you think?” I pulled out some cute black patent peep-toe heels and a patent belt to go with the dress and tossed them on the bed.

“I'm sure Simon didn't intend . . .” Flo picked up the belt and hit her thigh with it. “I've heard born vampires are only fertile every hundred years or so after they turn. He probably didn't know—”

“He knew. He considered CiCi a ‘worthy vessel,' and I quote the great man himself.”

"CiCi
is
a countess.” Flo hit the bed this time, a good whack. “So Freddy's a born vampire. Simon's son. And gay.” She smiled. “I wonder what Simon thinks of that. Frederick may be the end of his line.”

“Who knows? If Simon could get CiCi pregnant, he probably left baby vamps all over the world. Unless the fertility thing is a one shot deal. Maybe you should ask him about it.” I concentrated on accessories, since the idea of baby Simons populating the vampire world seriously creeped me out. Would some be fork-tongued like their father? At least Freddy had dodged that bullet. I shuddered and dug out a black purse. Nope. I was getting into dowdy territory. I settled on a black and red tapestry. Definitely more interesting.