Better Off Red (22 page)

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“My mom tried to supplement the crap sex ed I was getting at school with extra info sessions at home. I got a little curious when she got to the section on masturbation.” I squeezed my eyes closed, thinking about how stupid I’d been. “I accidentally de-virginized myself with a cucumber.”

“Oh, Red!” Camila’s shock was appropriate for how painful it had been. I went on, telling her how Mom had discreetly left a smaller, more hygienic vibrator on my dresser after she’d found the abused cucumber in the bathroom trash.

“It wasn’t one of my finer moments,” I said. “But still, before you, I’d only kissed one other person, even though I’d spent many hours with myself.”

“And was she any good? At the kissing I mean,” Camila asked.

I pushed aside images of the day I maimed myself and thought about that muggy August afternoon, standing between our houses. Kristen and I had been talking, swapping bits and pieces of info about our soon-to-be roommates, when suddenly she just kissed me. At the time, it was amazing, hot and wet, with a lot of tongue. I’d wanted her to take the kiss further, which she would have if Todd’s nosy ass hadn’t come around the corner. It had been the peak of my sexual experience and prepared me in no way for the beautiful demon queen I was with now.

“She was okay,” I muttered.

“Well, baby, as long as she treated you right.” Camila’s fingers brushed across my knee. My thighs automatically opened for her. I looked down as if I could see through the table, imagining her hand going a little higher. She slid closer, closing the natural distance that had come between us as we ate, and kissed me gently on the neck.

Her warm tongue poked out between her parted lips and caressed my vein. Then her soft fingers started their trip north. I had about ten seconds before a wet patch stained my dress. When she brushed the thin fabric covering my clit, my thighs squeezed together.

“Is that lace?” She smiled against my tingling skin.

“Yes.”

“I think we need to get you out of this dress.” Coming with other people around was something I was starting to get used to,

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but I had a feeling the middle-aged couple beside us might not appreciate my high-pitched moans. I turned my head just a little, brushing my cheek against hers.

“Can we go?” I whispered.

“Of course, Red. Just one moment.” Something was suddenly off about her voice, so I pulled away. And then I almost jumped back when I saw the tall, gray-haired woman standing next to our table.

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Camila withdrew her hand and gently pushed my legs together. My heart sank at the thought she was actually ashamed of me, until she turned slowly and pulled me tightly against her side. The way her body suddenly gripped with tension told me she wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed. She was protecting me.

At first glance, there was nothing overtly threatening about the woman, or the two young men she had beside her. They didn’t look much older than me, but the woman was older than Camila, possibly in her late thirties, although her gray hair made her look even older.

Her outfit was a little distracting. The Lycra tube dress was skintight over her firm breasts and just long enough to barely cover her crotch.

It matched her brightly colored stilettos perfectly.

Only highway road crews wore that shade of orange at night, but even the most dedicated of crews didn’t wear that much neon chest-to-toe. With the black and white streaks of her hip-length hair, she looked a little overanxious for Halloween. The fact that both boys wore thick leather collars around their necks only added to the hilarity of the situation, but as she looked me over, there was no urge to laugh. Her eyes were a little too bright and silver. And when she opened her mouth to speak, her fangs were obvious in the dim light.

“I am so sorry to interrupt, but if I’m not mistaken, it’s been months since I’ve seen you last. I had to come over and say hello.”

The woman’s Southern accent was so thick you could almost

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taste the sweet tea on her lips. But despite the velvet twang of her pronunciation, her husky voice was anything but charming.

“It’s nice to see you again, Moreland,” Camila said.

“I’ve decided to treat my pets to supper out. They’ve been so well behaved these past few weeks.” She reached up and gently stroked the moppish, brown hair of the young man to her left. He gazed at her as he leaned into her affections, the way a dog would to his owner. I cringed. Moreland turned back in our direction just in time to see the look of disgust on my face. If my reaction bothered her, she didn’t show it. She kept right on talking.

“I see you’re treating one of your beautiful pets as well.”

Camila slipped her arm from around my shoulders and threw a hundred dollar bill on the table. I could feel the tension coming off her as she frowned. “She is not my pet.”

“Oh. My. I do apologize. She is wearing your ruby.” I automatically patted the small jewel as if she meant to snatch it from my neck, but Moreland just smiled wider, prattling on. “I assume you are borrowing from Kina’s stock, then?”

I glanced at Camila just in time to see her jaw tighten; her plump red lips twitched. This would have been a perfect time for this woman to shut the hell up, but she didn’t.

“I do so envy you and your sisters. Our master has provided me with such beautiful playthings, but you ladies always get the freshest…” The bitch drew in a deep breath through her nose before she made a dramatic show of licking her lips. “…the sweetest little girls. Do tell me your name, sweet pea.”

Fuck my name; I wanted to let my gag reflex fly. I grabbed Camila’s hand under the table and slid closer to her.

“Uh, it’s Ginger.”

“Well, my darling Ginger, you must come see me after you graduate. I would hate for your flavor to go to waste.”

And that’s when Camila snapped.

I’d seen a pretty decent chick fight on my way to English class last spring. Lots of screaming and hair pulling. One girl had even landed a solid kick to the gut. That was kind of hilarious to watch, the drama of it all. This was much more frightening. No punches

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were thrown. There was no yelling, but the silent, deadly grace that came over Camila would have scared the shit out of me if I had been on the receiving end of her glare.

Camila slowly rose from the table, guiding me up along with her. She spoke calmly, her voice so low and focused, you’d have been a fool to let down your guard.

“I thought you knew how much I don’t like to repeat myself.

Ginger is not one of our pets. She is my mate.”

Moreland’s silver eyes flashed for a brief moment as Camila’s words registered. The look of satisfaction immediately dropped from her face. Camila ignored her shock and looked at each of the boys as she went on.

“Andrew, Luke, you contact me immediately if she mistreats you. Promise me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they both replied with quiet respect.

I followed Camila out from behind the table. Her steps were measured and confident, but where she usually channeled sex with her every move, now I was waiting for her to lash out and punch Moreland in the neck. Instead, she helped me into my jacket and handed me my clutch. She was still strung tight, but I felt calmer and safer the second she reclaimed my hand. She walked slowly toward Moreland until their shoulders were almost touching. Moreland immediately dropped her gaze to the floor, finally too afraid to look Camila in the eye.

“You seem to have forgotten who I am to you. Don’t ever approach one of my girls,” Camila said with a treacherous purr.

“And if you ever speak to me like that again, I will strip you of your adoring pets.” She looked down Moreland’s body, past her hardened nipples. “Or I can just rip your throat out.”

“I do apologize. Please forgive me,” Moreland whispered.

“Enjoy your meal,” Camila replied. As we walked away, there was no doubt in my mind Moreland would have nightmares about the parting smile Camila gave her.

A little nervous and very turned on, I followed Camila outside.

The valet stand was empty, but that didn’t seem to faze her. She

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pulled me to the side, wrapping her arms around my waist. I rubbed her shoulders feeling the tension drain out of her body.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“For what?”

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t,” I said. “She did.”

“Well, you and the girls don’t need to worry about Moreland.

We’ve never passed anyone on to her.”

“What’s her deal?”

“Nothing. She does view you girls, well, all humans, as food and sex toys. But her feeders always love her and she’s never had any violations, so there was nothing I can do.”

“Was?”

“You don’t disrespect me in front of my girl,” she said.

“You have my full permission to rip her to shreds anytime.

Ugh, she’s wicked gross!”

I smiled when Camila laughed. “Thank you, baby. If she pulls some shit like that again, I will.”

“So what’s the difference between being your girlfriend and being your mate?” I asked.

“Girlfriend is very temporary in her eyes. It means that I’d let her play with you on the weekends if she asked nicely. Mate means if she runs into you on the street thirty years from now, she’ll still have to deal with me and I’d still kick her ass.”

“Oh. What do the other sister-queens see me as?”

“My mate, Red. Don’t worry.”

“Good.”

We kissed, just for a moment. I never thought I would be so attracted to power or such an intense display of aggression, but I was, even more so because I knew Camila would never use it against me. That sense of security in her, and myself, made me want to kiss her even harder, letting myself go in her arms.

She pulled back, putting a small step between us. When I opened my eyes, the SUV was there at the curb, the valet standing with my door open for me. Camila tipped him generously, then held my hand as she helped me up into the high cab. That kind of chivalrous

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attention had never been paid to me before. It was something I could definitely get used to. After a few seconds, she was beside me again, pulling the Range Rover out into traffic.

She took my hand and pulled it back into her lap just before she needed both her hands to take a slow left. I took advantage and spread my fingers over her vinyl-covered thigh. Her lips parted, just barely, and a soft sound of pleasure came from her chest.

“So,” I said cautiously. “Where are you exactly in the whole vampire power pyramid?” Camila had the type of presence that demanded attention and respect. Anyone could see that. Even though she deserved more than the reprimand, it was interesting how quickly someone as rude and clueless as Moreland would cower to Camila.

“Power pyramid, huh. In this part of the world, I’m second in command.”

“Really?” That shocked me.

“Our hierarchy is based on the origin of your maker. My maker was never human.”

“You only had one maker? Because Benny said that when you turn, you feed from at least four others.”

“Yes. That is true. That’s the safest way…for the vampires.” A dark look closed over her brow. And there is it was. The secrets. But she’d pushed me to tell her the truth about myself and my family, and now I would push her, just a little.

“You killed your maker, didn’t you?” I said.

She rubbed the back of my hand with her thumb, squeezing me gently.

“I’m sorry, Red. I haven’t had to explain myself in a long time.”

“And you don’t have to now.” I lifted our hands and kissed her knuckles. “I was just wondering. So it’s based on the rank of your makers?”

“Essentially, yes. Abrah was a pure demon. I took on all his powers and his rank.”

“So what are you doing with the likes of us lowly sorority girls?”

“I’m on vacation,” she said, licking her lips.

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“Oh?”

“Yes. When I get bored with you pets, I’ll go to DC, hook back up with Dalhem. That’s Benny’s father. And I’ll let you in on a little secret, baby. He’s pure demon as well.” Which wasn’t actually a secret to me thanks to Cleo. “I’m watching over this chapter as a favor to him. I’ll go back to work keeping the rest of my demon friends like Moreland in line when I’m done.”

“Oh. And when will that be?” I asked, dreading the answer. Of course she would move on. Who the hell would want to live under a sorority house forever?

Camila turned to me, the gold in her eyes sparking a glow in the swirling green.

“Whenever you’re done with me, Red.” She met me halfway as I leaned across the seat, both of us trusting her senses to keep us on the road as our lips pressed together.

❖

“Not yet.” My whisper caught in my throat.

“No. Now is working just fine for me.”

Camila was cheating. I wanted to wait until we got inside the hotel room before I came all over myself. All I had was the tiny bit of security in the fact that she wouldn’t actually fuck me in the elevator of the hotel to keep me from coming apart in her hands. But she had those lips, those soft, full lips and, God, those fangs.

There was a camera mounted somewhere in the over-sized mirrored box. Only she knew where. Fear of having her sharp teeth revealed to the security guards downstairs was not something on her mind. Her fangs grew to their full length, lightly pricking the pulsing vein running down my neck to my heart.

“Baby,” the word slipped out of my mouth, but it felt right.

“Just wait.”

“Why should I? I’ve been waiting all day. I want to taste you now.”My back arched off the wall. I pressed my body between her hips.

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“Exactly.” I pressed against her even harder, forcing her gaze up. Her breath was coming hard, a sawing purr sweeping her scented breath across my lips. “I want to come in your mouth.”