Vampire Food 08: He Smelled Like Peach Pie (6 page)

“Probably,” replied Rory. “Other animals survived, so why not alligators?”

He had a point. Russell opened the door and they headed into their chambers. He turned his back to them and stripped off his clothing before dropping to all fours. Em loved to watch him shift and she altered her view between Russell and the awed expression on Mia’s face. Mia looked like a kid in a candy store as Russell’s body elongated, scales covering his skin as it slowly turned to a deep shade of green. His head became flatter, his mouth stretching into a long, flat snout. Russell whipped his body around, his tail thrashing into the air as he turned on short, muscular legs with long claws. Releasing a menacing hissing sound, he opened his mouth wide, displaying vicious rows of teeth. He took a step forward, snapping his lips shut. Mia hopped behind Em, putting her hands to Em’s shoulders to use her as a shield.

Em rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Mia, do you really think he would try to eat you?”

“I don’t know. He’s scaring the shit out of me.”

“That is a cliché that does not apply to a vampire, my sweet. We don’t shit.”

Russell shifted back into a man, giving Em a clear view of his amazing body before he could grab his clothing. He should have turned back around before he shifted back into a man. Em heard Mia moan softly. Obviously the child’s fear had disappeared.

Turning, Em took her hand and led her to the sofa. She sat down and Mia followed her lead. “Mia, don’t wish for things that can’t be freely given.”

Mia grimaced. “Sorry. He does have a beautiful body.”

“That he does. Anyway, we have a favor to ask of you.”

“What’s that?”

“We have come to think that there may be those who plan to destroy as many vampires as possible. Do you have any friends who are of other breeds?”

She nodded as if the question was ridiculous. “Of course I do. I have friends of all breeds.”

“Do you have anyone that you really trust?”

Mia sucked on her front teeth as she was thinking, making a low whistling sound. “I don’t know. I would really have to think about that. I presume that you want me to casually ask around to see if I can get anyone to talk to me.”

“Exactly. We need to find out whatever we can.”

“How do you feel about glamouring humans?”

Em hadn’t thought about that. “I don’t know. It’s not something I usually do. Do you have human friends who are tight with other breeds? We are specifically worried about some of the shifters, but humans and weres could also be involved.”

“Let me think about it. I’m sure that I can come up with something.” Mia hesitated for a minute and then leaned closer to Em. “Can I ask you a question in private?”

Em had been warned. “I suppose.” She rose, leading Em into the other room and shutting the door. Mia walked to the window looking out. Em knew that the lights from the settlement outside could be seen in the distance, and it was always a beautiful sight with the darkened mountains in the background. She turned, leaning on the glass. “I don’t want to get Salt in trouble, but he said something to me the other night. I also remember hearing things my parents said about you. I tried hitting my ass with a belt last night and I still have a sore welt to show for it.”

Em fought an urge to laugh as she held her palm out to stop Mia. “You can stop squirming. I will answer you, just ask me a question.” She sat down in the lounger, gesturing to the opposite one with her hand.

Mia took a seat, turning to face her. “I was trying to imagine how being hit with leather or a wooden paddle would be pleasurable. That’s why I tried the belt. It wasn’t…enjoyable. It hurt.”

“Ah.” Em sighed and leaned forward, taking Mia’s hands in her own. “Mia, if Salt took a leather belt and simply cracked me hard enough to leave a welt it would not feel good to me either. There is a way to do things like that that makes them sensual for
me
. Of course many of those things are dependent on the fact that I have been through so much pain in my life. My pain tolerance is above what most vampires or humans would choose death rather than endure. I have had things happen to me over the years that have altered my perceptions on pain, life, and yes, sex. My suggestion to you is experience sex first. Get to know the soft side of it and become comfortable with your own sexuality. Then, and only then, expand your horizons if you are still curious.”

“Okay. I understand what you are telling me. I also want to know about you and what happens with your men. I have to think that it is unsafe to ask anyone else, although, I’m sure I could get my answers from some of the other men who live in these caves.”

Em wasn’t sure if it was a threat, but she was well aware of Mia’s intelligence. If she had fashioned herself after Em, then had she also taken on traits of Em’s personality? “I’m sure you can. I know there are men in the caves who are into such things, but it might not be safe to have them display their traits. As I said, when it is done properly and with respect, it is enjoyable. When it is not, it is no better than smacking yourself with a belt. It will hurt and it will not be pleasant. The man’s personality has as much to do with it as the man’s knowledge. Hence, even if the man knows how to use a whip, he doesn’t necessarily know how to properly use it upon the body of a soft skinned-woman.” They were playing a game of cat and mouse, and Em was happy to play back.

Mia ran her tongue against the inside of her teeth, giving Em a sly smile. “I suppose I wouldn’t want that to happen now, would I? That is why I’m asking you for details. How am I to judge what is right or wrong if I don’t know the difference.”

“Holy shit, Mia. You are an interesting character. I’m trying to determine if you are just accustomed to getting what you want, or you are honestly trying to snow me with your words. Do you really think it would be that easy?”

Mia’s grin belonged to the Cheshire Cat. She laughed softly and shrugged again, obviously trying to come up with a prudent reply. “I suppose it is a bit of both. You can’t blame a girl for trying.”

“I do love you, Mia. It is amazing to me how much you have grown emotionally over the last six months. You were never really a child, were you?”

Her smile faded. “No. The other children at the fortress were afraid of me. It always struck me as strange that they accepted vampires with no problem, but they feared me. I spent my time reading and on more than one occasion snuck down into the vampire rooms to steal books that I probably shouldn’t have been reading. My mother didn’t know. She was clueless. I think that I made her nervous because she thought that I could read her mind or something. It is hard to have premonitions about other people’s lives. I now hesitate to tell them unless it is really crucial.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. It is not always a good thing to grow up so quickly. Is that why you chose me? Because I wasn’t afraid of you?”

Mia nodded thoughtfully. “That was part of it. You were my idol. I don’t think that you’re afraid of anything. Men drool over you and women want to be you. I wanted to be you.”

“Do you still?”

“I don’t know. I kind of like being me. It doesn’t change the fact that I have tried to base my existence on you. I don’t judge people by their appearance or by what breed they are. I try to always treat people as I would want to be treated.” She shrugged. “I suppose I also know how to push buttons so I get things I want. I’ve seen you do that in such subtle ways over the years.”

Em adjusted her bangs thinking that they really needed a trim. “So I have witnessed. So tell me exactly what you want to know. I may or may not choose to answer you.”

“Does a whip really feel good?”

“You have to understand that this comes from my perspective, but yes. It doesn’t feel good like having a backrub, but in a different way. It is intriguing in the sounds it makes and each hit is filled with suspense. When the strikes are done with care and slowly made harder, it brings a burn to your skin that is overwhelming. It makes a cool hand feel like the most blissful touch on earth. It makes you aware of your own skin and of what the other person is doing to you. It is trust like nothing else because you know that you are allowing this to happen.”

Mia tilted her head, considering what Em had said. “Couldn’t it cut through your skin?”

“Like a knife through butter. I can’t say that I have never been made to bleed, but I heal so quickly now that rarely more than a few drops will be spared. That would be different for you. You will bleed and a man who doesn’t understand the logistics of the act can very easily make that happen.”

She nodded. “Is it always Salt?”

“No. Rory knows how to use a whip and so does Russell. Salt prefers a cattail which is a softer whip with many ends.”

“So what do Rory and Russell prefer?”

It was the obvious question. “Rory likes to use a paddle or a cane. He has variations of each thing, made of out different materials. Russell likes ropes. He likes to tie me up in different positions and he also has his own form of lashes made from different fabrics. Russell also likes switches made from very thin tree branches.”

“Do you have a dildo?”

“A few.”

“Do you use them on yourself?”

“No, but I have three men in my bed so there is little need to masturbate.”

“Will you take Gaelic back into your bed if he returns?”

The question threw her. She had not expected Mia to ask about Gaelic. “I don’t know. Why?”

“Because I think he is the sexiest man I have ever seen.”

Gaelic was technically Mia’s maker, although each of them had given Mia blood. “Is it because he created you?”

“No, you all created me. I have always thought he was beautiful even when I was in a child’s body. I wouldn’t want to step on your toes by going after him though.”

That would be difficult to do because he was in New York and despite her dream, he probably wasn’t returning to the caves. “I will have to think about that question.” She really didn’t have room for Gaelic in her life, but Em wasn’t sure how she would feel about him being with Mia either. He was a great lover and could teach her well, but…she had no desire to know if Gaelic was interested in Mia. After all, ignorance was said to be bliss.

When they came out of the bedroom, Rory and Russell were gone. Salt said that they had gone down to the lab. He had said that there were bolts of fabric in one of the airtight lower caves and Rory and Russell wanted to get working on the sun fabric as soon as possible. Mia went with Em and Salt to the storage area to see what was available for metal sheets. As Em had speculated, there were quite a few old steel tables with legs that could be placed over the sleeping vampires who lived in the upper chambers. It would be but a temporary fix, but it should work. They had gone to look for anyone who Em deemed was in immediate danger and had told them of the plan. They had then taken one of the larger tables up to their bedroom. Salt had said that it was going to be slightly claustrophobic to sleep in, but it would probably work. The tables would obviously be crushed if too much weight fell on them, but they would help some.

Mia had been impressed with Em’s admirable take-charge attitude. Hopefully nothing would happen in the near future, but if it did, they were at least somewhat prepared. Salt had explained to Mia that steel tempered with a compound called liquid alaneum was far lighter and ten times stronger than the metal of olden days that was used in construction. He said that it should prove strong enough for their needs. Additions could be added to make the legs longer, but for now, they could sleep in relative safety.

Mia wandered down the hall. She had the answers to her questions, but rather than sate her curiosity, it made her pussy boil with lust. Em was also right that she should gain experience with normal sex first. So far, Salt had been her only lover and he had been spectacular. Of course, she might now have a problem finding a man to live up to Salt’s memory. It had been naive to choose one of Em’s men for her first time. It had set the bar very high for any who would follow.

She wandered into the main hall. There were still people playing the various games, even though the night was already half-over. She had gotten very good at Battleship and she walked over to see if there was an available board. Two of the boards were empty and she sat down. Mia lined up her ships and then looked around for a partner to play. Joust, a very attractive vampire with light brown hair and eyes, joined her. He had nice build, thin like Salt, but not nearly as muscular.

“Looking to get beaten at Battleship, Mia?”

“No. Looking to win at Battleship.”

Joust chuckled at her comment, sitting down to place his ships on the opposite board. She like Joust and it could prove to be a very enjoyable way to pass the night.

As they played, her mind wandered to Rory. Mia knew that she lusted after Em’s men, but she would never act upon that desire. There was nothing on the face of the earth that would make her do anything to cause distrust between herself and Em. Of course, private dreams were not really betrayal as long as she never acted upon them.

She had told Salt that Rory wasn’t the right one for her, but in her dreams, Rory was perfect. He was gentle, yet treated her with a firm hand. She also knew that Rory had a foot fetish and even the idea of a man washing and then sucking upon her toes was incredibly intriguing.

Mia won four out of the five games. She gave Joust a brilliant smile. “I have so enjoyed playing with you, but the sunrise is nearing and I’m getting really tired.”

It was a half lie, but she didn’t want to upset Joust. He had good qualities and she just might want to keep him in mind for future reference. He rose, taking her hand and kissing it. “I look forward to a rematch to reclaim my title.”

“I look forward to it also. Maybe when the sun goes down we can play again.” She really did want to see him again. Maybe then they would take things further, but tonight she really wasn’t interested.

Joust walked her to the door and gave her an unassuming if not very enticing kiss. Mia returned it and then leaned upon her door smiling. “I really am tired. I look forward to tonight. Maybe we can discuss other matters as we play.”