Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six (19 page)

“I will never be able to look Penny in the eyes again.” Jerry grinned, took my hand and placed it on his chest. “Move in with me and leave her here. Then you won’t have to.”

“Can’t. I’m her mentor, remember?” I sat up and stared down at him. “And don’t rush me. A half hour ago I thought we were no longer a couple.”

Jerry glanced at the clock on the bedside table. “That was more like an hour ago. And we will always be a couple. Make no mistake about that.” He stretched, his naked body a thing of beauty and, wow, pure sex on a stick. “I’m spending the day. You couldn’t blast me out of here. Not with Caine on your couch.”

“Did I ask you to leave?” I glanced at that same clock. Another half hour or so till dawn. I got up and opened the bedroom door, glancing down the hall. Penny’s music was so loud, I could hear it out here. I guess if she were mortal, I’d worry about hearing damage. I grinned and went to check on Ray, not really worried that I was naked. If he woke up and peeked, Jerry would have a good excuse to knock him in the head again. I would probably enjoy watching that.

But Ray was still out. I put a hand on his chest and could tell it was a natural sleep, not yet the death sleep that would hit him when dawn came. I took a quick detour to the kitchen, dragging every bottle of synthetic with alcohol into a bag, then grabbed an ordinary one for myself. I picked up the bag and carried it into the bedroom.

“What’s that?” Jerry had propped himself up in bed.

“Blud-Lite. It has alcohol. I’m hiding it in my closet. So Ray can’t get into it. I’m going to help him dry out if he’ll let me.” I dumped it in the bottom of my clothes hamper, then threw a dirty towel on top of it.

“You’re kidding.” Jerry jumped out of bed, slid a bold hand over my backside just to show he’d noticed I was naked, then took the bottle of synthetic out of my hand and twisted off the top. “You really think he’ll let you do that?”

“Doubt it, but I’m going to offer. I still feel like his mentor, Jer.” I took the bottle he held out to me and took a swallow. “Ray knows I’m not into him.” I grinned. “Not like I’m into you.” I rubbed my bare breasts against his chest.

“He’d better.” Jerry jerked me against him. “Come back to bed.”

“Oh, I am. Just needed to get my strength back.” I quickly drained the bottle, then set it on the dresser. “You’ve fed Ray, I’ve fed Ray. I think we both need to take a rest from feeding tonight.” I ran my finger down the center of his chest to his navel and twirled a curl there. “But not from any other sort of fun.”

“Fun. Yes, I’ve got some ideas about that and I think it’s my turn.” He backed me toward the bed and rolled us until I landed on top of him. “Remember some of the fantasies we’ve tried?”

“Oh, yeah. What can we manage in twenty minutes?” I laughed when Jerry listed four that made me shiver. Oh, yeah. My guy was serious about keeping us together. Now if I could just make sure not to mess this up. Of course there was always help with that.

I
had a new definition of hell: four vampires, one bathroom and an ancient hot water heater.

“Look, it’s my apartment so I go first.” I gave Jerry, then Ray, an uncompromising look. “And, no, I don’t need company in the shower.”

Penny giggled. I swear she hadn’t taken her eyes off Ray since we’d all popped awake at sunset. Well, Ray hadn’t exactly popped. He still showed some effects of a rough night before, lounging on the couch and trying to weasel information from a dazzled Penny about my stash of alcoholic synthetic. Someone should run downstairs and get the man a shirt. Penny glanced at me and winked. Hmm. Maybe not.

“Go ahead, Gloriana. I’ll make sure Caine behaves himself around your fledgling.” Jerry plopped himself in the chair nearest the couch. I swear if he’d brought his broadsword, it would be resting across his knees.

“Right, babe. Go for it. I’m not sure I can stand alone in a shower anyway.” Ray leaned back to smile at me. “When it’s my turn, you’ll have to go in and hold me up, scrub my back.”

“Like hell.” Jerry pulled a knife from the sheath he kept at his ankle and began to clean his nails. “I’ll dump you in the tub, Caine, and hose you down with the showerhead myself. Water should be good and cold by then.” He grinned and waved his knife at me. Even from the doorway I could see that it was wickedly sharp.

“Put the knife away, Jerry.” I sighed and took advantage of the lull to grab my clothes and hurry into the bathroom. What a circus. Oh, no. Bad choice of words. Because who should jump out from behind the bathroom door and cause me to drop my underwear and dress but Spyte?

“Israel Caine.” The demon wasn’t in clown costume today but black jeans and T-shirt. He shouldered the door closed and we were shut inside together. How creepy was this?

“What about him?” I picked up my dress and hung it on the hook on the back of the door. “Get out of my bathroom.” I could barely move without touching the demon and I sure wasn’t taking off my robe with Spyte the spy in here.

“He’s a hell-raiser. A prime candidate. We could make every song he puts out an instant hit. Or we can give him his mortality back. Tell him that. Reel him in for the big guy and you’ll be shrinking before you know it.” Spyte gave me a hip bump in case I missed the point.

“Ray is basically a good person. He’s just a little depressed. I won’t be the one to send him to hell.” I set my underwear on the back of the toilet, then sat on the closed seat. “Get out of here. I need a shower and you’re not invited.”

“Too bad. Curvy women were once my thing.” Spyte stared at my robe and I figured he could see right through it. “True hell is when you still appreciate the view but can’t do anything about it. Trust me on that.”

“And that’s what you want for Ray?” I jerked my robe closed, even though I hadn’t even been showing cleavage. “Get out. Leave my friends alone. You approach Ray and no way I’m helping with Simon. That’s our deal. Don’t drop in here again. You screw this up and I bet Lucifer will be mighty unhappy with you. Am I right?”

“Yes, of course. But then he’s always unhappy and bored. Takes a lot to amuse him. It’s a hell thing. Sure, he gets a charge now and then when we bring him somebody unexpected. Like a do-gooder who does bad or a really public figure who falls prey to one of our seductresses.” Spyte gave me another once-over. “You seem to keep your guy happy in the sack. We’ve got a job opening in that department. Pay’s lousy but there are benefits you wouldn’t believe.” Spyte’s leer made me shudder. “Lucifer likes to interview applicants himself. I’ve heard those one-on-ones can be quite an experience.”

“Get. Out.” I hopped up and opened the lid of the toilet. I pointed to the water. “I’m sure you know the way.”

“Funny girl. Hurry with that shower. Your bud Valdez is on his way and I don’t think your lover is going to be happy to see him.” With an evil grin, Spyte vanished, just not into the bowl.

I looked all around, even behind the shower curtain, then stripped and turned on the water. So what if the water was still cold? I had to hurry. Rafe and Jerry in the same room. They needed a referee and Penny wasn’t up to that task.

To my surprise my fledgling had come through with a pair of false eyelashes her sister Jenny had given her. Getting those on straight slowed me down, but I’d just made it into the living room when there was a knock on the door. I knew who it was so I sent Penny into the bathroom for her shower before I let Rafe in.

“It’s Rafe. Stay calm, Jerry.” I gave my lover a warning look.

“What the hell’s he doing here?” Jerry jumped up to stand by my side. Ray just smiled. He’d taken off his boots and had his bare feet propped on the back of the couch.

“This is gonna be good. Oh, how I wish for the days of popcorn and beer.” Of course Ray knew all about my fling with Rafe. It had infuriated him and hurt him at the time. Now he just wanted to see how Jerry handled it.

“Shut up, Ray.” I unlocked the door and opened it. “Come in, Rafe.”

“What is this?” He looked from a glowering Jerry to a grinning Ray. “An ambush?”

“No.” I put my hand on Jerry’s chest and felt the rumble of a barely suppressed growl. “Not at all.” I stared up at his frowning face. “Jerry, maybe you should head home and take your shower there.”

“Not likely.” He smiled suddenly when he saw Rafe sniffing the air and obviously picking up on something that caused a furrow between his own dark brows. I’d showered off my hint of sex, but Jerry reeked of me and how we’d made love the night before. Ray had probably noticed, but no longer cared enough to even give me grief about it.

“Glory and I have business to discuss. It’s none of yours.” Rafe shut the door behind him. “I believe she asked you to leave.”

“I’m going to have to tell him what’s going on, Rafe. No more secrets.” I felt Jerry’s hand slide into mine. Possessive. I understood and accepted it.

“He’s going to blow a fuse.” Rafe glanced at Ray. “And what the hell is
he
doing here?”

“I’m here for the show. I can’t wait to see how Glory keeps the two of you from killing each other.” Ray sat up, looking more alert by the minute. I saw that he had finished one bottle of synthetic.

“Think you can walk, Ray? Go lie on my bed. We don’t need an audience.” I nodded toward my bedroom. Maybe that wasn’t a good idea with the alcohol stashed in there, but Ray wasn’t budging.

“No, too weak. I’m still sick. Either bring me a real drink or call me a cab.” Ray patted his pockets. “Hell, I don’t even have my phone or wallet.”

“Yes, I know. You’re here to dry out. If you think you can handle it.” I really didn’t want to get into this now, especially not with this audience. Rafe and Jerry both looked ready to reach for cab fare and to haul Ray to the street.

“I can handle it. But I don’t want to.” He rubbed his forehead. “Whatever. Go ahead, do your thing. I’m going to bed.” He heaved himself to his feet and staggered toward my bedroom. He hit the wall on his way and I ran to help him, tossing back the covers to the clean sheets I’d put on the bed after Jerry and I had gotten up at sunset.

“I’m sorry, Glory. Call Nate. He’ll come take me off your hands.” Ray pulled my fingers to his lips.

“Not right now, Ray. I’ve got my hands full.” I sighed. “Rest. I’ll check back with you in a few minutes. Okay?”

“I feel like shit. What’s the matter with me? I’m supposed to heal.” His eyes fluttered closed and I pulled my hand out of his.

“You’ve abused your body. Even vampires have limits.” I turned and left the room. No time for this. At least the living room was quiet. Which meant Rafe and Jerry weren’t fighting. Yet.

“Now, Gloriana. Want to tell me what you and Valdez are working on together?” Jerry gestured for me to sit on the couch. Of course he was beside me, too close beside me, in an instant.

Rafe sat in the chair Jerry had used earlier. He studied me with his warm brown eyes and I knew he was hurt and not a little disillusioned. I could easily read his thoughts. There Glory goes again, back to Blade and her old dependent ways. I sat up straight and slid into a corner of the couch, using my knees to put some space between Jerry and me.

“Okay, here’s the deal. Alesa, the demon who possessed me before—”

“Valdez’s ex-wife.” Jerry glared at Rafe.

“Yes, she was that. Anyway, she went down to hell after we drove her out and apparently bragged about how strong I was.” I looked at Rafe for help.

“Knowing her kind, that was to save face. She was trapped in Glory for a good long while. Any demon worth her salt should have been able to jump right back out again after what happened. Instead, she was stuck in Glory. Couldn’t get back to hell until we used extreme measures.”

“Right. The exorcism and the power of love.” Jerry looked beyond grim. “This all goes back to you and your demon origins, Valdez.”

Rafe leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Which you knew about and appreciated when you hired me to look after Glory. Thought my powers might be useful.”

“Okay, so that’s a standoff. Am I right?” I didn’t like the heat rising from Rafe or the way Jerry’s fangs were glinting in the lamplight.

“Not exactly. What has that to do with now? You sent this demon bitch back where she belongs. So you’re done, Gloriana. Valdez no longer works for me. He’s no longer your bodyguard or your lover. Am
I
right?” Jerry stared at me, almost daring me to close my mind to him.

I didn’t. I opened it wide. “No, he’s not my lover. That’s history.” I turned to Rafe. “I’m sorry, Rafe, but Jerry and I are together now. What you and I did . . .” I stopped. No need to dredge that up. “Anyway, I’m committed to making our relationship work now.”

“Committed. Working. Fine. Have at it. But you and I are in a hell of a mess.” Rafe glared at Jerry. “Sorry, but we’re committed too. And if I don’t help you, Glory, we’re both up shit creek.”

“Explain.” Jerry bit off the word.

“Alesa did such a sales job on me that two demons showed up, determined to make me an offer I couldn’t refuse.” I sighed. “They want me to work for Lucifer, to collect souls for him.”