Scarlet Assassin (17 page)

The shower was quick, efficient and hot. Wrapping herself in her fluffy robe, she slipped her feet into her fuzzy pink slippers and wiggled her toes in their softness. A quick glance at her image in the mirror and she was about as ready as she could be to relay the events of the evening.

“Any food left?”

“Of course, I put together a plate for you. It’s in the microwave.”

Daphne had made her own quick change and was the epitome of comfort, yet stylish. Her designer yoga pants, topped with a silky camisole, and hotel quality robe made Francesca feel like Daphne was slumming, sitting with Francesca. The only thing missing was a pair of red-soled designer slippers. They made ‘em, Daphne just didn’t want to get them dirty walking around their apartment.

“Thanks.” Francesca pulled the hot plate from the microwave. She found a fork and was ready to do damage to the steaming meal. Before she could sit down, Daphne stood and made room for her on the couch.

“Sit, wait…but before you do…show me.” Daphne nodded at Francesca’s back.

“I need to eat first.” Gingerly, Francesca sat on the sofa, shifting to find a comfortable spot on her body. Daphne didn’t say anything, she just watched Francesca with a smile that could only be described as
Cheshire
at best. The silence that passed between them was weird for someone like Daphne, who was used to talking the peel off a banana.

“So, let me guess. You went to the Dungeon. You sly fox, you. I didn’t think you had it in you. What was it like? Was it as exciting as watching? Who put those marks on you? What did he look like? Was he–”

“Stop.” Francesca put her food on the coffee table and cupped her hands around the hot tea. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply and sighed. This was going to be tougher than she thought. It was like sharing your most intimate thoughts, but you didn’t want too. Francesca hadn’t even had time to process what happened earlier and now all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. She was so tired, she could barely keep her eyes open. Her emotions had gone from one extreme to another, sexually heightened to shame and doubt. “I’m too tired for this, Daphne. Can we do this in the morning? Please?”

Daphne slid over and wrapped her arms around Francesca and suddenly she was crying. She didn’t know why, but it felt good, a release of all the pent up energy she had experienced came out in a rush of emotion.

“It’ll be okay,” Daphne said, gently rocking Francesca back and forth.

“It’s not that, really. It’s just…I don’t know…it’s just been a roller coast of a day.” Wiping at her eyes she stood and brushed her robe. “I think I just need to go to bed, Daph. Can we please talk about this in the morning?”

“Sure sweetie, but you have to promise you’ll tell me all the gory details. Promise?”

“Thanks.” Francesca grabbed her cell phone off the table and shut her bedroom door, leaning her head against it. Her mind was a mash-up of images, all rolling through like a silent movie. Looking at her cell phone she noticed someone had called before Daphne and left a message. She didn’t recognize the number, so she scrolled through the list of missed calls. She remembered Selene had told her earlier that she’d left her a message. That was the only time the number came in. Sitting on the bed, she hit voice mail and waited. She had to make sure it wasn’t someone from work that she just didn’t recognize their number.

The low, sultry voice made her feel weak, and brought a flush of heat to her face as she recognized Selene’s voice. “Francesca, this is Selene. I…um, well I just wanted to–”

Francesca snapped the phone shut. She didn’t want to hear how sorry Selene was for what happened tonight. She wasn’t sorry. She’d signed up for the session knowing what she was getting herself into. Anything beyond that was between two consenting adults. The vision of Selene’s head between her legs made her tingle. Closing her eyes and leaning back, she slid her hand between the folds of her robe, touching herself. The slick, wet lips parted for her just like they had when Selene had stroked her with her tongue. She jerked as her finger flicked across her clit. Her body wasn’t alien to her, but it was rare that she explored it for pleasure. Spreading the robe wider, Francesca let her hands roam over her body, following the curves and contours. Her lips hardened with barely a touch and her mind remembered Selene’s warm tongue laving over the peaks that pebbled and tightened. Francesca couldn’t help herself, she hit her voice mail again and waited for the low rumble of Selene’s voice to come on.

“Francesca, this is Selene. I…um, well I just wanted to talk to you. I…it’s…well what I’m trying to say is it’s been a while since a woman has made me lose control like that and I wish I could say I was sorry, but to be honest, I’ve been thinking about you since you came in with your group. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful when I asked about your being a virgin. I just wanted to make sure that I didn’t hurt you. If I’d have known I probably wouldn’t have…scratch that, I would have still made love to you, but maybe it would have been different.” The message paused and then Selene spoke again. “Look, I have an errand to run, but I wonder if you might like to have lunch, well maybe coffee would be better. Just to talk, of course. Call me if you’re interested. No sex, I promise.”

The call ended with the usual instructions for deleting, saving or ending the call.

Just listening to Selene’s voice had been enough to send Francesca over the edge as she worked herself into a frenzy. She felt like she was being thrown against the breaking waves as her orgasm crashed around her. Shuddering, she squeezed her legs together, bit her lip and tasted blood.

“No sex, I promise,” she remembered Selene saying. “But what if I need you to touch me again, Selene?” Her name hung on her lips as she drifted into the arms of sleep.

Chapter Twenty-three

Selene waited for Ian at the coffee shop near the club. She’d changed the meeting place when a little bastard had shown up at Clarissa’s office. Marshal was still tucked away nicely in her basement where he belonged, at least for now. He wasn’t important enough to be a pawn, maybe a small fish in a big pond, but she knew he was connected to this whole thing in some way.

Clarissa was positioned on the other side of the barrier, where she could listen to the whole exchange with Ian. While he was a vampire too, he wouldn’t be able to pickup on Clarissa as easily as if she fed on human blood. It left a scent trail a blind hound dog could follow. Selene’s own recent human feeding would trigger Ian’s olfactory nerves, knocking them off the charts. She still wore the same clothes she had worn earlier when she fucked Francesca, all in an effort to bring Ian to his senses, so to speak. He’d have a hard time not letting it trigger his own change. This should be interesting, she thought as she sipped her tea.

Selene?

Clarissa?

Selene, I’m having a hard time sitting here with that woman’s scent all over you. Can’t you change your shirt at least?

It’s all part of the plan, Clarissa. If you’re having a hard time and you don’t feed on human blood, imagine the hell Ian is going to go through when he sits down. It’s all part of the plan. He knows where AJ is and we need him to talk. I don’t have time to play his game, so be patient and let me do what I’m good at.

I hope you’re right. I can feel AJ’s in danger and I don’t think we have much time.

I know, I know.

“Selene, there ya are girl. How’ve ya been?”

Selene stood and just as she thought, Ian wrapped her in a bear hug pulling her off her feet. Giving her a peck on the cheek, he leaned back and leered at her. “You’ve been busy,” he said, sitting her down.

She hadn’t washed her face, barely wiped the wetness off, so she knew Francesca was all over where he had just placed his lips. Target located. He might tag on her scent, but he would never get close enough to Francesca for Selene to worry. Sitting down across from him, she noticed the instant glassy-eyed look on his face, he was reveling in the array of scents that she was giving off.

“Thanks for meeting me here, Ian. Sorry, I had an emergency come up here making it impossible to get to the low valley.”

“No problem, girl. Next time you can come over to me gaff and we’ll get a couple of gingernuts, that is if you favor the reds.”

Disgusting, all Ian thought about was feeding his dick and money, and if the two went hand in hand, he was a happy camper. Part him from one of those things and he became the demon you never wanted as an enemy.

“Did you bring the money?”

Before he could answer a waitress interrupted them.
Fuck
, she just wanted to part him from his money, get the information she needed and be on her way. Luck was never on her side.

“Calm down Selene, we’ll take care of business, but in the meantime this beautiful woman needs to make a living, dontcha girl?” Ian said, wrapping his arm around her hips, pulling her closer. Poor thing never knew what hit her as she giggled and stared at his baby blues. “I’ll have a dark ale. You do have those here dontcha? Selene, what’ll you have? One of those prissy drinks with an umbrella?”

“I have my tea,” she said rocking the mug in her hand.

“Bring her a prissy drink with one of those umbrellas and two cherries. She likes fruit in her drink, if you know what I mean.” He slapped her ass as she walked away still giggling. “So Selene, I have this problem as you know. I need you to take care of it as soon as possible.”

“Money?”

Patting his chest, he said, “Right here. I’ll pass it to ya as soon as we work out the details.”

“We worked out the details, Ian. This meeting is just a formality.” She pointed back and forth between them. “You just need to tell me where De Marcus is and pass me the ball.”

“Ah, here we are, a dark ale for your sir,” the waitress said, placing the frosty glass in front of Ian. “And here we go for you, ma’am.” Smiling, she placed a tall glass with brightly colored liquid in front of Selene.

“What is it?”

“It’s called Sex with Jennifer. It’s my favorite.” She winked at Selene.

“Really, well thank you, Jennifer.”

“Oh that’s not my name, it’s the name of the drink.” The waitress giggled.

“I kinda figured.”

“Oh, you were being funny. I’m sorry.” Turning towards Ian, she asked, “Is there anything else?”

“Not yet, my sweet, but check back in about ten minutes and I’ll be ordering another one of these if I like it.”

Walking away the waitress giggled some more and Selene just shook her head. Ian was beyond unbelievable. No doubt he’d have the waitress bedded before the night was over.

“So Selene, where were we?”

“De Marcus. Where is he?”

Stroking his chin, Selene could hear the coarse stubble sanding his fingers as he slid them back and forth. He was stalling, but why? Either he was here on De Marcus’ behalf or he really wanted De Marcus dead.

“You didn’t hear this from me, get it?” His gaze shifted around the room as he leaned in and sniffed in Selene’s direction. He stalled again, letting the smell of her last feeding envelop him.

“Ian.”

“You smell divine, my girl. Male or female?”

“What?”

“The person you feed on, I can smell them on you. Young, nubile and fresh. Virgin?”

Selene sat back in her seat, trying to put some distance between them. Ian was starting to freak her out. Their business needed to conclude as soon as possible or he would be her next entree. 

“I haven’t heard the answer to my question, Ian. Spill.” Her voice was menacing as she reached down into her boot and fingered the stiletto nested safely.

“I heard that De Marcus was at the coven today. Something about taking care of some business there. I figured he pinched Butch, but the bastard called me today about something else, so
he’s
alive and well.”

“So where’s De Marcus? Is he still there?”

“Naw, he finished his work there and now he’s here, searching for some property that belongs to him.”

“Property?”
Clarissa
.

“Yeah, I don’t know what that means. The bastard has his fingers in a lot of crap, that’s why I want him gone. Some of that is my crap, and I ain’t sharin’, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I’m reading you all right.”

“Good, now when will you have the job done?”

“I need a little more information than,
he’s here
. Who’s at the coven?”

Ian shrugged, watching women at another table rehashing their night at the club.

“Ian.” Selene snapped her fingers.

“What?”

“Who was at the coven today?”

“According to someone I know, it’s an outlier. She’s a pain in Butch’s ass and he wanted to end that pain, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Selene knew exactly who Ian was talking about. AJ was at the coven. She checked her watch. If she was right, AJ had been there for more than a couple of hours. Nothing good would come from her being there, nothing.

Ian slid a brown paper bag across the table in front of her. “Here’s the first half of the payment as agreed. You’ll get the rest when I get De Marcus’ head.”

“On a pike or have we graduated to a box? Selene said, thumbing through the hundreds, just as she’d ordered.

“A picture will do just fine, lass.”

Stuffing the money back in the bag, she pushed it in her back pocket and slid across the seat closer to Ian. “If you try and fuck me over, I’ll find you, cut your head off and stick it on the biggest pike I can find and put it on the busiest road for all to see. Got it?”

“You don’t ’ave to be so dramatic, Selene. I’ve known ya now what…almost a century? In all that time have I tried to take advantage of you?” Ian smiled. “You know what I mean.”

“Where is De Marcus?”

“I heard he’s staying down in the seedy part of town. Doin’ some recruiting of some sort.”

“Great, this just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it?”

“I’m afraid not. He’s got some pisser with him.”