(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips (3 page)

When he finally rolled off of me with a satisfied groan I opened my eyes to stare at the cheap acoustical tiles above my head. I realized my hands were fisted and I opened them finger by finger then ran my hand over his hair-roughened stomach and felt the muscles contract. I loved how masculine he was. I did. I loved
him
.

Jerry’s heavy hand landed on my thigh, like he owned it. I turned my head and saw his smile. Satisfaction. Happiness. Not possession. He was glad we’d be together forever. I managed my own smile. If I had doubts I would chalk them up to bridal nerves. Yes, that had to be it. Everything Jerry did for me was out of love, not for any other reason.

“I have an appointment with my lawyer for you to sign that deed in front of a notary, Gloriana. A formality. That will make it yours. Can you come with me now?” Jerry jumped off the table, eager to get to business. He grabbed his jeans and stepped into them.

I wasn’t about to lie around naked and exposed under those fluorescent lights. I was right behind him, snapping on my bra, pulling my sweater over my head. I’d just stepped into my panties when he held my jeans just out of reach.

“You’re awfully quiet, Gloriana. Is this a bad time?” He was serious, watching me.

I grabbed a belt loop and tugged him close then kissed his lips, wishing he’d smile again. I could see that he wanted to please me and I was going to have to stop imagining control issues that just weren’t there.

“You can’t know how much I love that you’re doing this for me. It’s perfect.” I slid my hands down his chest then around his waist. “This marriage should be a partnership, Jerry. How can I ever match this kind of generosity?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He jerked me closer. “All I’ve wanted for centuries is to make you happy.” He dropped the jeans and slid his hands down to cup my butt. “You want to give me something? Give me two weeks away from this shop. For a proper honeymoon. Can the girls handle that?” His smile was back, a wicked one this time that promised all kinds of naughty honeymoon delights.

“Hmm. Sure.” I ran my fingers through his thick hair. “Where will we go?” Sandy beaches and moonlight. Or maybe a mountain chalet. Someplace far away from Austin and my stupid doubts.

“Anywhere you wish.” He kissed me one more time then stepped back. “Now are you coming with me to the lawyer’s office?”

“Can you give me half an hour? Lacy needs to take a dinner break then I can meet you there.”

“Perfect.” He kissed me, pressed the card with the address into my hand then slipped out the back door. I sat in my own chair for a change and realized I probably had a goofy grin on my face. I was beginning to think this was going to work. We could be happy. He was respecting me. My doubts were silly. I struggled into my jeans then just sat there, finally sure I could go through with it. I was going to marry Jeremiah Campbell and have an amazing honeymoon.

“I can see that I will have to take drastic measures.”

“Mother? You weren’t spying on me, were you?”

“Unfortunately.” She was back and glaring at me from beside the back door. “It is not something that I enjoy. Bacchanals in Rome were more entertaining.”

“That’s disgusting.” I was sure my face was as red as her Gucci handbag. “What do you mean by drastic measures?”

“I’m sorry that I have to do this, but you leave me no choice, Gloriana.” She raised her hand.

I blinked and the crowded back room in my shop was gone. Instead I was lying on a bed. It was a golden monstrosity and huge, an ornate four poster. The canopy over my head was draped with gold and white silk. Under me I could feel more silk and big fluffy pillows. I struggled to sit up and look around. The bedroom had fancy French furniture, clearly vintage and that must have cost a fortune. Looking down I saw one of those gorgeous rugs that would feel like velvet under my feet. I was still dressed in my jeans and sweater though my feet were bare. My shoes were on the floor next to the bed. Where the hell was I?

“Mother? What have you done?”

“What you forced me to do, daughter.” She appeared next to me. There was a woman behind her. A woman in a toga. Oh, God. “Here, enjoy your first meal. I’m sure you’ve been craving chocolate. And how about some croissants? You won’t believe what they do with pastry here.” She flicked her wrist and the woman set the tray down on my lap.

My eyes watered as the aroma of fresh hot chocolate wafted from a delicate bone china cup. Next to it sat a pair of flaky pastries and a bowl of glistening strawberry preserves. All of it was laid out to perfection on a tray set with a linen napkin and sterling silver flatware.

“What the hell is this? Are you into torturing me now? You know I can’t eat.”

“Yes, you can. Here.” My mother smiled. “Welcome to Olympus, darling.”

Chapter 2

I ran my tongue over my teeth. Inhaled the woman standing next to the bed after she’d set the tray in my lap. Tested my teeth again.

“Where are my fangs?” I was shaking and the cup rattled against the saucer, sloshing chocolate all over the tray.

“Oh, I got rid of those, darling. Aren’t you glad?” Mother gloated, thrilled with her little trick.

I wanted to toss that tray at her but the smell of chocolate was too much for me. I picked up the delicate porcelain and drank. Heaven in a cup. Had anything ever tasted better? Hell, yes! A-B Negative from a live donor. I slammed down the cup and hot liquid splashed my fingers.

“Ouch. Damn.” I sucked chocolate off my hand and glared at this woman who claimed to love me. “What the hell have you done? Last I knew you were searching for a dress for my wedding.”

Mother gestured and the servant vanished. “I thought I could go along with your plans, Gloriana. Even though they were ridiculous.” She paced the carpet next to the bed. “I knew I had to try to reason with you. Make you understand that the marriage could not take place. But when I turned back and you were having sex with that monster? Drawing blood with your fangs as if that gave you pleasure?” Her voice had risen until I wanted to cover my ears. She stopped beside the bed and visibly collected herself. “Well. I cannot describe how disgusting I found that display. No mother worth anything would leave her daughter to such a fate.”

“What fate? Happiness with the man I love?” I pushed the tray off my lap and jumped out of bed to face her. “And don’t get me started on your worth as a mother. We’ve been through that, haven’t we?” I so wished for my fangs because I couldn’t work up a good snarl without them. “Damn it, Mother. I won’t stay here. Take me back.” I stuck a finger in her face, close enough that she actually took a step back. “Right. Now.”

“No.” She grabbed my finger and shoved me back against the bed. “Calm down. Give this a chance, Gloriana. You’ll love it here once you think about it. I saw the way you drank that chocolate. And you haven’t even eaten yet.” She picked up the croissant and waved it under my nose. “Come now. You know you want to. Savor the taste of real food, darling. Can you smell it? I’m horrified that you’ve had to subsist on blood like an animal for hundreds of years.”

“Damn it, Mother. You won’t win me over with baked goods.” I knocked it out of her hands. Of course I could smell it. But it creeped me out that I couldn’t tune into the things I normally did. Like the beating of her heart, the smell of her own blood, or that of her servant who had crept back in with a fresh pot of that Devil’s brew, the hot chocolate.

“Calm down, Gloriana. Give Olympus a chance. This can be a little visit. Not a permanent arrangement.” My mother looked me over. “Just wait until you see the wardrobe I’ve prepared for you. I don’t imagine you’ll be in such a hurry to leave then.”

“Stop it! I told you Flo is hosting a bridal party for me tomorrow night. Jerry is waiting for me even now.” I followed her to double doors near the bed. “Forget bribing me to stay here. Take me home.”

“This
is
your home. You’re staying. So relax and enjoy the perks of being daughter to a goddess, Gloriana.” Mother threw open the doors. I caught a glimpse of colorful clothes, racks of them. Shoes, handbags. I turned my back on them and grabbed her arm. Her servant gasped and scurried out of the room.

“You have to listen to me. I didn’t agree to this. What if Zeus finds out I’m here? Do you want to be locked up in one of those little cells? He’ll probably lock me up too, if he doesn’t fry us both into ashes with lightning bolts as soon as he sees us. Take me back!” When she just smiled and shook her head, I lost it. I ran to the bed, grabbed the tray, and tossed it at her. I had goddess strength now. It flew. She deflected it with a flick of her wrist but the trajectory was right on. It made an impressive crash landing on that exquisite rug. We both stared at the chocolate and strawberry stained Aubusson and sighed then glared at each other.

“Calm down, Gloriana. I had to do something. You were acting like a love sick teenager. About to make one of the biggest mistakes of your long life. I couldn’t let you tie yourself to that fang wearing monster.” Mother stamped her foot, filled with righteous indignation. Like
she
was the wronged party. “Where’s your gratitude?”

“Gratitude? For you ruining everything?” I’m sure my face was strawberry red. Damn. I should have tasted… No. “Jerry’s not a monster and I love him, Mother. If you were eavesdropping then you know he was buying me a home, planning a dream honeymoon.” I looked down and realized Mother had pulled one of her tricks and I was now wearing a toga like hers. My shoes had disappeared and delicate silver sandals sat on the floor next to the bed. “What more do you want from him?”

“I want him to be worthy! I want him to be a god! You are the granddaughter of the greatest god of all. You should have an arranged marriage. Zeus will know who best to have you marry. Let me plan all of this to your advantage, Gloriana.” Mother paced the carpet. She frowned and the handmaiden suddenly appeared long enough to collect the broken dishes and tray. The stains magically disappeared.

“You’re insane. I will never marry anyone else. I could barely convince myself to marry Jerry and I’ve loved him for centuries.” I stomped around the room. It was filled with collectibles that made my resale shop roots quiver. I could make a fortune from this bedroom alone. Oh, who was I kidding? It would take a miracle to get out of here with my skin whole. I’d certainly never be able to take any trinkets with me. Though that vintage snuff box…

“Gloriana, you are thinking like a shop keeper. I can’t tell you how that dismays me.” My mother laid her hand on my back. “When I remember how you’ve had to scramble to earn your own living all these years, it makes me so terribly sad.”

“Yeah, well, it made me strong too, Mother. I’m not apologizing for it. I have a nice little business. I wouldn’t have to scramble if you’d toss down a few of these goodies once in a while.” I heard myself and stopped. Money. I was getting obsessed with it. That had to stop. I was about to ruin another relationship over it. Mine with my mother, mine with Jerry. “Forget it. The main thing is that you don’t want me here. It will get you in trouble with your father. Let’s go. Back down to Earth. I’ve come here so you got your wish. I even drank some chocolate. But I feel weird, off kilter. My vampire nature is too much a part of me now. I can’t just forget it and become a goddess like you want me to be.”

It was the truth. I felt the loss of my fangs constantly, my tongue searching for them and coming up empty. It was uncomfortable. Creepy. Depressing.

“You haven’t seen anything, darling. I have two precious boys. Your brothers. You must meet them while you’re here. You want that, don’t you?” Mother settled into a chair. “And, don’t be stubborn, check out the closet. I’ve picked out a fabulous wardrobe for you. The toga is just for court appearances. I had the best time shopping. Look in the mirror. How do you like your new body? I couldn’t decide on a two or a zero. I settled on a two. Zeroes tend to have skinny arms, don’t you think?”

I swallowed, suddenly queasy. Look in the mirror. Okay. So a goddess could see her reflection. There was a large full-length hanging on one wall next to that set of double doors. I’d never even glanced at the mirror because I was out of the habit.

“Two? Like a
size
two?” I glanced down. The toga didn’t give me much of an idea of my actual size but I could tell I wasn’t Glory as usual. I could see my silver painted toenails past my trimmer boobs. Wow. I couldn’t remember ever seeing my toes without putting my feet up.

I sat on the side of the bed, dizzy. What the hell had she done? My size twelve and double D’s were me. Sure they were bigger than I’d always dreamed of being. But I was comfortable with them. Jerry’s exes had tended to run in the size six range. A two? No way I could…

“Relax, darling. If you want something else, you have only to snap your fingers and picture it. It’s what goddesses can do, you see. It’s a wonderful skill.” Mother was in her element. She’d picked up a large wooden box and now sat with it open in her lap. “I have a jewelry collection here as well. I’m very partial to earrings. Large dangly ones because they show up so well when we have long hair, don’t you agree?” She held up a pair of pearl and diamond drops. “I think these are sweet.”

Sweet? They could have financed a revolution in a third world country. I grabbed my own earlobes, comforted by the feel of the dangling sapphire and diamond drops Flo had given me when Jerry and I had announced our engagement. I got up on wobbly legs to see… A glance in the mirror said they were exactly as Flo had described them and matched my eyes perfectly. I drew closer to that mirror, shocked down to my bare toes. Oh. My. God.

The blond staring at me could not be Gloriana St. Clair. Simply could not be. Sure, I had a computer that let me see myself when I put on makeup, but now… I had the same blue eyes and my face was a similar shape, but hello cheek bones! And look at my pretty sculpted chin and delicate bone structure. My extra pounds had done a good job of disguising what was clearly a petite frame too.

“Mother!” I turned to face her.