Deceptive Changes: Kat LaMond Book 1 (19 page)

I could hear people calling from the roadside but I didn’t know if they were good or bad people.  We didn’t stop.  Sven literally threw me on his back and ran like a bullet through the woods.  He stopped after a half hour.  I slid down his back. 

He leaned against a tree.  “Are you okay?”  He nodded.  He was awfully pale.  “Do you need to feed?”  His eyes snapped to me.  I took an involuntary step back.  He was holding his side.  “What happened?”  He pulled his hand from his side.  I saw the blood covering his hand.  “How did that happen?”

“They took a shot at me as we were running.”  I stepped over to him and held out my wrist.  “I’m going to need more than just your wrist.” 

I sighed and tied my hair up.  “Okay.”  He pulled me to him and sank his teeth into my neck.  I hissed at the first bit of pain.  He took long pulls from my throat but didn’t try anything fancy.  He pulled back and smiled.  He licked the wound.  “Ready to run back to the house?”

“Can we just walk back?  I’m sure we lost them.”  He nodded.  He took my hand and we walked the six miles back to the house. 

><                            ><

We walked into the house and found no one around.  “I’m going to change,” I said as I looked down at my clothes.  They were filthy from the chase and my shoes were ruined. 

Sven pulled me into the bedroom.  “I’ll be right here in case something happens.”  I nodded. 

I grabbed a pair of dark jeans and a stretchy black t-shirt, then stumbled into the bathroom and changed.  I cleaned my face and walked out.  Sven was still standing by the door.

“Why don’t you change?”  I looked over him. 

He shook his head.  “No.  I’ll be fine.”  He took my hand and walked us into the kitchen.  My men were sitting at the table.  They looked at us; taking in Sven’s disheveled appearance and my change of clothes. 

Todd sighed and asked, “What happened?”

“We got ambushed.  I bought a new freakin’ car and it’s now totaled.  I didn’t even have it for a day.”  Todd rolled his eyes.  “It’s true, Todd.  We did get ambushed.  If it hadn’t been for Sven we probably would still be out there running from two big, black trucks.”  My guys stood up and gave me a hug.  It was a one handed hug on my part since Sven wouldn’t let me go. 

Todd patted Sven’s shoulder and said, “Thanks for taking care of her.” 

Sven bobbed his head but wouldn’t let my hand go.  I tried pulling but he just tightened.  I looked at him.  He was scared. 

“Sven?”  He looked at me.  I could see his fear more plainly in his eyes.  “Are you okay?”  He nodded but the fear didn’t leave.  “What’s wrong?”  He shook his head.  “I think we should talk.”  I looked at my guys.  They nodded. 

I pulled Sven into his room.  The door had been fixed, courtesy of Charles.  I shut the door and pulled my hand from Sven’s.  He went to grab my hand back but I moved away from him.  “What’s going on, Sven?”

He turned his back on me and sat on the bed, still facing away from me.  “I was afraid that I was going to lose you.” 

I sat down on the chair by the window.  “You saved me.  Again.  I forgot to thank you.  So, thanks.”  He nodded.  “What’s really going on, Sven?”

“I…”  He stopped. 

I tried being patient but I’m not very good at waiting.  I started to walk toward him but he continued to move away from me so I couldn’t look at his face.  “Well, as fun as this waiting game is, I don’t really have the patience.  When you’re ready to tell me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”  He nodded.  I left.

I walked into the kitchen and found my guys still sitting at the table.  “Sven’s in an odd mood.”  They didn’t say anything.  “What’s up, guys?”

“Monica’s dead.  Her head was mailed to us today.” 

I grimaced.  “I’m so sorry, Todd.” 

He nodded.  “We weren’t close, Kat.  It’s that Cyril seems to be pushing things further.”

“Then we need to take him out.”

“It’s not that easy.  My vampires lost him after he came over here.  We don’t know where he is.” 

“Damn.  Well, we still have that one plan.  It may help push the issue if we can cause problems for us here.”  They looked at me.  I saw sadness in their eyes.  “Don’t look so sad.  I’ll try to be good.”  They chuckled but the sadness held.  “Why so sad, guys?”

“We don’t want to put this plan into effect but it’s the only way,” Trace explained.

“When?”  I looked to each of them.  We had to make it look good.  If we didn’t there was no way we’d pull off our ‘break-up’. 

“It’ll take a little bit of time.  We have to show certain things.”  I knew why we were being evasive.  If Sven heard us, which is likely, we’d be giving things away to our enemy, not that Sven was our enemy. 

“Let’s go out to dinner.  I’m hungry after this whole mess.”  They chuckled.  Damn, I forgot Todd’s truck.  “Your truck’s at the dealership.  Sven didn’t want to let me out of his sight.”

“It’s okay.  We’ll take the company car,” he winked at me.  Hope we don’t get ambushed again.  The company car was a stripped down model Chevy Malibu that was used to run short errands around town. 

“Get ready.  I’ll make the calls.”  They left the kitchen.  I looked around for my purse.  It was in the X3.  Double damn.  I grabbed the cordless phone and called a five star restaurant.  They were, of course, more than happy that I was going to be there tonight.

The guys were ready a few minutes after I hung up the phone.  They were dazzling in dark jeans, dress shirts, and open, dark blazers.  Erick held out his arm to me and I took it.  Trace and Todd were already at the car.  I slid into the back seat and Erick slid in next to me.

><                            ><

Todd drove us to the restaurant.  He pulled into valet parking, got out, and received a ticket stub.  We walked to the door.  I had Erick and Todd on my arms and Trace was right behind me.  The restaurant was done nicely in romantic themes: low lighting, candles, flowers, and subdued tablecloths.  The maitre d’ came rushing over.  He smiled at us and led us to the back. 

The room was private and had two doors.  One door we went through, the other was a service door.  A table that sat six was made up with a creamy tablecloth, a three candle candelabra, a bouquet of wildflowers, and a bottle of champagne.

Erick waved the maitre d’ off before he could pull my seat.  Erick guided me into my seat and took the chair to my left.  Todd and Trace sat across from us.  The maitre d’ laid out menus for us and then left quietly.

We looked at our menus.  I wanted a steak.  I spotted my choice, filet mignon with steamed asparagus.  I placed my menu down and flipped it closed.  The guys knew what they wanted also.  We waited for the waiter to take our order. 

After the waiter had left we got down to talking.  “I think after dinner I’ll set things to where we can’t be in the same room together or something.”  They frowned at me.  “What?”

“We don’t want you to be out of our room.” 

I looked at Trace.  “This will only be for a short time, Trace.”  He nodded but wasn’t happy about it.  Like I was.  “I do need to know where you stand on me ‘falling’ into Sven’s arms.”

“Don’t fall, Kat.  Run to him if you must but don’t fall.”  Todd’s expression was hidden by the bouquet.  I moved it but by then his face was under control.  “Are you thinking more about him, Kat?”  This time I could see his eyes.  They held anger even though his voice was quiet and steady. 

“I don’t think so.  I’m not sure.  He seems to really care about me and I’m sure him being around me for the past week hasn’t helped with his desire.  I don’t have the same desire, if that’s what you’re asking.”  He nodded.  “I like Sven okay.  He’s not for me.  I wouldn’t worry about me keeping my distance from him.”

“He may think otherwise.  If you go to him, that’s playing with a fire that may burn us all in the end.”

“I know, Todd.  Should I have feelings for him before I tear his heart right out of his chest?”

“I think you shouldn’t lead him on.  It’d almost be better if you ran into Thorn’s arms.  That way you could kill him.” 

I snapped my eyes to Todd.  I think he was joking but I wasn’t.  “That’s not very nice, Todd.  Thorn’s misguided and has a control problem.  After this is over, I’d suggest sending him far away from here.”

“You’re right, Kat.  I was being mean.  It’s just that every male vampire I bring to the house seems attracted to you.  I suppose I’m jealous.” 

I could understand that.  “I understand, Todd.  I was jealous as heck when Monica was taking your blood.  I didn’t like your arms around her.  Here I am talking about running to another man’s arms over a fake break-up.”

The waiter came in with our food.  He gently laid the plates in front of us and poured wine that complimented our meals.  He left as quietly as he had entered.  We didn’t say much more. 

We finished our food in near silence.  Our dessert came and the bottle of champagne was opened.  We drank the bottle of champagne and ate our dessert.

I wasn’t looking forward to the moment when we had to ‘fight’.  I suggested we go to the apartment and make love before we did this.  I left my apartment open for just such an occasion.  They agreed without any coaxing from me.  I paid the bill and we left.

><                            ><

When the four of us walked into the lobby the receptionist waved.  We waved back and took the elevator to my floor and I let us in.

I flipped on the small light in the living room.  The apartment was clean and kept that way by the same service that was provided to all residents. 

Todd picked me up and shoved me against the wall.  He kissed me hard on the mouth.  I opened to him.  He stuck his tongue in and we kissed.  I could tell he wasn’t happy.  Not unhappy that he was against me, no, he was definitely happy there.  He wasn’t happy about what I planned to do and I felt it in his mouth, tongue, and the way his hands were holding me against the wall.

He pulled back abruptly and we sucked in air.  He growled low in his throat and stripped my shirt off.  His mouth covered my breast through the flimsy fabric of the bra.  He bit into me and pulled noises from my throat.  He unsnapped my jeans and pulled them and my underwear down.  I started to unsnap his jeans when his hands pulled mine roughly away.  He held me against the wall with his upper body and undid his jeans.  He wasn’t wearing underwear. 

He entered me as he sucked on my neck.  He pounded into me as his hands roamed my stomach and grasped my hips.  I could only hold tight with my legs as he took me there against the wall.  I cried out as the orgasm shook me.  A moment later he cried out against my chest.  His legs were shaky as I unwound my legs from his waist.  He let me slide down the wall but he kept me pressed between him and the wall.  He breathed against my neck for a few moments and then backed off.

I stood against the wall for support.  Trace and Erick had disrobed and were ready.  I gulped as I looked at them.  They were lovely.  Todd sank to the ground and let out a breath.  I could feel wetness on my thighs.  I walked out of there and into the bathroom.  I cleaned up and walked into the bedroom.  The lighting was low.  Trace and Erick were lying on the bed waiting.  Todd was sitting in the chair beside the bed.  I guess he was going to be a spectator.

I climbed into bed with Trace and Erick.  They ran their hands along my body.  Trace whispered, “We want to try something new.”  I didn’t know if this would be a good thing. 

“New?”  They nodded.  “What kind of new?”  Erick held up a bottle of lubricant.  Oh.  “That kind of new?”  My mind couldn’t keep up.  It was stuck on the lubricant.  “I don’t think that’d be a good thing.”

“Come on, Kat.  Just try it.  If you don’t like it, we’ll try something different.”  My heart thudded in my chest at what they were suggesting.  I didn’t trust my voice so I nodded. 

Trace laid me against the bed and teased me as he kissed his way from my lips to my chest to my stomach.  His hands played with my breasts as he slid lower.  His tongue flicked out.  I moaned as he continued to give my clit attention.  Erick’s mouth closed on mine.  I opened my mouth to kiss Erick and cried out against him. 

Trace moved away and Erick gave me one more kiss before moving away too.  Trace straddled me but didn’t enter me.  He kissed me gently on the lips and then rolled us over so I was on top.  Erick came up behind me.  I bit my lip.  I couldn’t do this.  I shook my head.  Trace held my face to his and kissed me.  I felt Erick’s hands slid along my bottom and spread some of the lubricant. 

Erick kissed the back of my neck as he gently nudged my butt.  I stopped breathing as he gently entered me.  It was an odd feeling.  Intense.  Filling. 

“Are you okay?” he whispered.  I nodded.  He slid in further until he was completely inside me.  I took a shallow breath.  Trace lifted my hips gently and maneuvered so he was at my other opening.  He slid inside. 

I cried out as the intensity of the whole thing hit me.  They stopped.  “I’m okay,” I breathed.  Trace continued to slide inside me.  It was so intense.  I could feel both of them inside me.  They started to move slowly, controlled movements.  As Erick pushed inside me, Trace slid out.  They both fastened their mouths to my neck and bit me.  I cried out softly. 

They found a rhythm and started to push me further.  I could feel the orgasm building as they slid in and out of me, as they nibbled my neck.  Erick’s chest against my back was a warm weight against me.  He pressed me against Trace’s chest as the rhythm changed.  I could feel they were close.  I whimpered as I came closer.  They bit my neck again and I went over the edge.  I screamed and clawed my passion.  They came shortly after.  We lay in a heap on the bed with me sandwiched between them.