Real Vampires Have More to Love (40 page)

“Oh, yes. Well satisfied. Your reward will be in the alley tomorrow night. Red, you said?” Simon gave me an approving look.

I grinned. “Turbocharged. I’d kiss you, Doctor, but I haven’t had a tetanus shot. Please spare my customers and leave by the back door. Good night.”

I headed into the shop, so relieved to see the last of that crew I wanted to cry. Just being in the same room with Westwood and pretending to tolerate him had taken all my acting skills. I felt drained and sank down on the stool behind the counter. Alesa whined and complained, clearly hot for Simon. No surprise there. If anyone was marked for hell, it was Simon Destiny.

 

Flo’s bachelorette party. Favorite seductress. Too bad I’d been so busy I hadn’t figured out who mine was. Luckily owning a vintage-clothing store gave me a treasure trove of costumes to choose from. After taking care of all the last-minute details for the party and a trip to the alley to sigh over my beautiful new car, I threw together an outfit.

By the time I strolled into Rafe’s club, I knew I looked pretty good and felt in full seductress mode. I was early so I could supervise the setup. The music was on and booming through Rafe’s awesome sound system. Great choice, the kind of tune that made you want to bump and grind into a hard body. I grinned when a hunk in a loincloth, his perfect body oiled, showed up on cue with a tray of Blott-O.

“Nice job, Trey.” I took a glass. “And the costume is perfect. Tarzan?”

“I tried to get Rafe to put up a vine. Don’t you think the ladies would go for a jungle yell and me swinging their drinks to them?” The shifter grinned and flexed his pecs.

“They’d have loved it. But this works. Just watch your neck.” I sipped my cocktail and checked out the scene. The club looked great, the lights dim with colored spots highlighting the tables. I’d arranged for centerpieces, and they’d been delivered during the day. I strolled over to inspect the bouquets of Flo’s favorite red roses decorated with party favors of lipsticks and nail polishes in all the colors my friend loved.

“Nice arrangements.”

“Rafe!” I turned and sighed when I saw him. No loincloth for him. He was elegant in a tux and white satin shirt. Not a button or stud held that shirt closed, exposing his very fine tanned chest down to where the shirt was tucked into slim black tux pants. Yum. I knew it was a bad idea but couldn’t resist moving in to kiss his smile.

“Your club looks fantastic.”

He hauled me against him. “Thanks. I’m proud of what we’ve done in such a short time.” He slid his hand down to cup my bottom. “Like the costume. Seductress. Who are you, exactly?”

“I’m a woman I knew during my gold rush days in California. She could have any man she wanted. Sang in the saloons and couldn’t carry a tune.” I smiled and ran a finger down that delicious band of bare chest. Not wise. Didn’t care. I was into my seductress role, and Alesa egged me on. “No one noticed. She’d flash lots of cleavage and some leg, and guys fell at her feet.”

“Sounds like someone I know.” He grinned, then backed up. “You dumped me. Quit teasing.” He looked me over and frowned. “That dress was any lower, you’d be showing nipple.”

“So?” I swished my red silk skirt. “How do you like my garter?” I was playing a dangerous game but couldn’t seem to give a damn. Seductress. I’d never been one, but a girl could dream.

“Hey, together we can get any man we want. Go for it, girlfriend.”
Alesa had a point. I’d noticed she was getting more powerful and harder to resist.

I put my foot on a chair and slid my skirt up to show Rafe the red and black garter high on my thigh. I didn’t need it to hold up my black fishnet panty hose. But what made him swallow was the fact that I hadn’t worn panties under those hose.

Rafe had his warm hand on my leg before I could have a second thought. “What’s gotten into you tonight? You said you’re going back to Blade. Tomorrow night. What is this? An invitation for a farewell—”

I put my hand on his mouth. “No. Forget it. I’m obviously out of my mind. But I can’t stand the idea of never being with you again either.” I sighed when he moved between my legs, shielding me if one of the waiters came by. “I’m going crazy, Rafe. Alesa’s gigging me with hard, pointy objects whenever I try to think.”

“I’m starting to like her. And I wouldn’t mind gigging you with something hard myself right now.” Rafe bent his head to tease my lips open, barely tracing them with his tongue. His fingers were doing the same, tracking along an erotic path where the seam of those hose hugged the damp crease between my legs.

I sighed into his mouth. “I . . . can’t, Rafe. You know why.”

“Sure you can.” He pulled me toward his office, making me stumble as my leg fell off the chair. “We’ve got a few minutes, and we’ve proved we can have a lot of fun in a few minutes. I’ll take a farewell quickie.”

I balked at the door. “No. This isn’t fair to you.”

“Screw fair.” Rafe grinned. “No, screw me instead.” He coaxed me inside and shut the door. Before I could stop him, he had me against it, kissing me like there was no tomorrow. Wait. There
was
no tomorrow. Not for us. I shoved, and he lifted his head, giving me a look that promised endless pleasure. This whole scene was so on Alesa. I had to figure out how to get rid of her. Fast.

“I’m so sorry, Rafe. This is not happening. Now I’ve got to go. My guests will be here soon.” I jerked open the door and made my escape. I couldn’t look back. Didn’t want to know what he was thinking. Stupid costume. And damned stupid demon. A wave of heat hit me, and I gasped. “That’s a cheap shot, Hell Girl,” I muttered and headed to the bar for a glass of ice. “Heat me all you want. Set my hair on fire. I don’t give a damn. I’m not playing with any more men. Tonight’s about Flo.”

 

“This is the most amazing party ever.” Aggie was a Siren, of course. The ultimate seductress. She’d left the fish tail at home, not good on dry land. Her tiny top was made of mother of pearl, and her blond hair flowed to her waist. Her low-riding mini was made of more mother of pearl scales. The tiny starfish nestled in her hair were actually alive. Sort of an ick, but cute too when they waved at you.

“Your party was really the gold standard.” I belted back more of the hard stuff, hoping it would lift my mood. My fake smile was wearing thin. At least everyone else seemed to be having a good time. Cleopatras, Marie Antoinettes and several Marilyn Monroes scarfed down drinks, flirted with the waiters and hit the lavish buffet. Diana was Scarlett O’Hara, and CiCi had come as Catherine the Great.

“I love your waiters.” Flo was channeling, well, Flo. Only she’d dragged out a vintage Flo. I loved her roaring-twenties flapper dress. The iridescent beads were a brilliant red and gold. She wore the dress with new high heels and had already persuaded a waiter in a tiny toga to dance with her.

“You’re not the only one. Did you see Richard’s mother?” I grabbed a refill from Jimmy the bartender, who kept jumping over the bar and strolling through the ladies in his Speedo and a gold medal that looked like the real deal. He and the waiters had large bills in their waistbands even though the drinks were on the house. I didn’t ask how they earned their tips.

“Are you kidding?” Flo laughed. “Now I’ve got something on her. Let Mother Mainwaring try calling me out again, I tell you. I’ll threaten to tell her son how she acts around hot guys.” Flo clinked glasses with me.

“She’s been gone a long time. And I’m sure not paying that shiftless shifter for those hours.” I’d noticed Mata Hari a.k.a. Sarah Mainwaring in her beaded bra and harem pants slip away to one of the balconies with a waiter in tight bike shorts over an hour ago. I actually thought she was lucky to have someone to take care of the urges this Blott-O stirred in all of us.

“Should have done Rafe.”
Alesa sounded a little drunk and didn’t bother to throw heat at me. I ignored her.

“Are we playing games?” Aggie was getting antsy, and I didn’t blame her. Standing around drinking and listening to music wasn’t cutting it. Then the lights dimmed.

“Ladies, gather close to the stage. The entertainment is about to begin.” The male voice was achingly familiar. Was Rafe going to dance after all? Did I want him to? For this crowd?

“Of course we do. Take it off!”
Alesa started a chant that rattled my brain.

“Entertainment?” Flo grabbed my arm. “What is it?”

“Wait and see.” I was caught up in the sea of women—there were about fifty of us with all the out of towners—and we surged toward the stage. The lights were down to pitch black when a throbbing beat started. Sex, that’s what it sounded like, throbbing, pounding, skin-to-skin, hot and sweaty sex. A spotlight hit the man on center stage, and my heart stalled. He wore a black satin mask, but I knew who filled out that tux.

He moved and the women sighed. Those hips. No surprise that they handled the beat perfectly. All that blood with a kick I’d gulped pooled right where I knew it would. I wanted to jump on that stage and drag him away by his dark hair. Oh, yeah.

Mine.
No, he wasn’t. I’d rejected him. As a lover anyway. He danced close to the edge, daring us to touch him and using those hips to toy with us. When a vamp from France tried to grab him, I wanted to rip off her arm and beat her with the bloody end. Rafe just grinned and danced out of reach.

Oh, God, give me strength. The place smelled like lust, every woman there screaming for him to come and get her. My mouth was dry, my fangs down while I gripped the rim of the stage, flanked by Flo and CiCi. They both looked as fired up as I felt. His shoes were shiny black and caught the light as he turned so we could see his super fine butt flex in tight black pants after he tossed away his jacket.

“Ahh.” The ladies loved the butt action.

He’d worn a loose bow tie around his neck. Now he jerked it off, twirled it and tossed it to CiCi in the crowd. Another grin and his dimples forced a moan from me. CiCi clutched the tie like she’d won a big prize.

“Take it off. Take it all off,” my elegant friend crowed.

I wanted to slap her.

He just winked and toed off his shoes, kicking them aside before he ripped his belt out of his pants and cracked it like a bullwhip. One of the werewolves in the crowd howled and begged him to crack it her way. He flicked it twice more before he threw it behind him and slowly unbuttoned his cuffs.

“Oh, yeah. Keep going,
generoso
.” Flo looked like she wanted to crawl onto the stage and bump and grind against him.

“What would Richard say?” I whispered.

“Who?”

He pulled his shirt out of his pants, then turned his back on us again. Oh, yeah, teasing. He shimmied and shook the shirt off until it puddled on the floor. We yelled as his back flexed and he raised his arms to show off his muscles.

“Gawd, I like a man who knows what he’s got.” Aggie leaned closer and lost a starfish. She didn’t even bother to pick it up.

He turned to face us again and unbuttoned his waistband. Except for the throbbing music you could have heard a pin drop. I swear none of the vampires bothered to breathe. And when the zipper slid down? Every woman there leaned forward, me included. I should have put up a barbed wire barrier. One of Lacy’s were-cat friends looked ready to spring.

Black satin briefs. Very skimpy briefs. Oh, my. Yes, I’d seen what stretched that satin, but none of the others here needed to. My guy was turned on doing this. Yes, he was. He stared at me, his eyes dark and intent. Like we were alone in this enormous room surrounded by women who whooped and hollered like they’d managed something wonderful. There were high fives all around. I wanted to clear the room and take Rafe where he stood. I licked my lips and felt Flo and CiCi bump against me, dancing to the music. Reality check.

“Keep goin’, big guy.” CiCi did not just say that.

Suddenly the lights went dark, total blackout, and the shock kept even the vampires from seeing. When the lights came back up a minute later, we all stared at the stage, empty except for a pair of black satin briefs.

“Oh,
mio Dio
, but I need a drink.” Flo leaned against me on one side, CiCi on the other.

“What a floor show.” Aggie grinned. “That guy was so totally hot. I’d like to know where he went.”

“Yes, well, he’s not dessert on the menu.” I tried for a smile but failed, finally handing Aggie her starfish and gesturing toward the buffet I’d ordered for the paranormals who could eat. As usual, it was getting heavy play. Lacy and Erin flirted with two of the waiters as they filled plates and fanned their flushed cheeks.

“You know, I think I recognized him.” Flo gave me a side-long glance. “But I won’t say anything. Any more surprises, Glory?”

The lights flickered, then dimmed again. “Ladies, here to perform for his special friend and the bride, Ms. Florence da Vinci, N-V presents Israel Caine!”

“Oooo.” Loud squeals, and there was a stampede toward the stage again.

Tears pricked my eyelids as I followed a thrilled Flo and CiCi. That Ray would do this for her . . . Especially after the way we’d parted. He walked to the edge of the stage and leaned down to kiss Flo on the lips. He waved to the crowd, then winked at me.

“Ladies, I hope you brought your dancing shoes. The band is with me, and we’ll run through our set. Are you ready?”

“Yes!” There were cheers and squeals, and Lacy actually cartwheeled around the room like a kitty on a catnip high.

“Okay, then. Flo, get up here. Sit next to me for this first number. I seem to remember this song is one of your favorites.” Ray walked to the edge of the stage and held out his hand. My sophisticated friend blushed as she let him help her to the piano bench. He settled her next to him, then sang a ballad she’d asked for the night she’d announced her first marriage to Richard. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.