Jowendrhan (2 page)

Seithe puts the flat wheel in the trunk while Jo lowers the car back to the pavement. Scooping everything up, he hands it ta his brother, and then rinses his hands in the downpour, strolling back ta me with a glowing glint in his eye, gesturing to his jacket, “Thank you ma'am, I'll be needing that back now.”

Seithe swaggers to us, doin' the same, “She should drive right as rain now, but it would be best just to get your wheel alignment checked when you go get that baby repaired.”

It feels like a rock's been lifted off me giving their jackets back, but now I'm hella cold without them, “I don't know how ta thank ya'll. You're angels.”

They look at each other, and then at the same time they look at me, both of them wearing wicked smirks, as if mawmaw just caught em lookin at naughty lady bits.

Jo answers, “That's mighty kind of you to say, Sherry.”

Seithe purrs, “We'd never leave a lady in distress. We were only doing what anyone with a heart would do.”

“
You look cold. Let's get you back in your vehicle. Do you need us to follow you home just to make sure you get there safe?” says Jo, putting his hand flat in the bottom of my back, steering me, and making me wish I could just stand here and indulge in it a lil longer.

“
Were you on your way out?” says Seithe.

“
I was gonna meet the girls at Pravus, it's downtown, but now I dunno,” I say, reaching the door which Jo opens for me.

Gosh, I could just swoon for southern charm and manners.

“
You don't want to go there,” says Seithe, shaking his head.

“
Why not? I've heard only good thangs. Ya'll welcome ta join us.”

“
Phone them and tell them you won't be making it,” says Jo, using such a deep baritone I swear my toes just jiggled and curled.

“
I won't?” I frown up at him, rain getting in my eyes. Lord above I must look like a bedraggled orphan by now.

“
No ma'am, you're going to be joining us for coffee.”

“
No, ya'll can come to mah place fer coffee. It's the least I can do ta say thank you. I have a fresh cherry pie too.”

“
Perfect,” smiles Seithe, slapping Jo's shoulder, “We'll get on our bikes and follow you.”

The two of them stand there like policemen, not letting me escape, making sure I get in the car, buckle up, and then they close the door for me.

“
Lock it,” orders Jo, pointing at the door.

“
Yessir,” I smile, locking it.

What sweethearts!

*

Seithe
:

“
What the hell are you doing?” I ask him the second we're alone, trailing her Tesla.

“
I don't want her going anywhere near downtown Houston.”

“
Why not?” I demand, damn annoyed.

“
Seithe, dude, where the hell have you been? The Sibitti are here with Erra right this fucking second.”

“
So?”

“
So! So what if they decide to visit Pravus tonight? And then? Then all hell is gonna break loose, plus we're no match for that dude
or
his twin brother.”

“
I don't give a flying fuck about Erra and his boys. They're just a bunch of asswipes from hel. Pravus belongs to
us
, Jowendrhan. It is ours! We decide who gets admission.”

“
But Ellindt is here too! She'll let them in. You can bet both nuts on that!”

Gesturing to Sherry, I struggle to prevent my eyes from turning silver with anger, “What do you plan to do with that?”

His smile could crack the pavement clean in two it's so powerful, “C'mon Seithe. When was the last time you just hung out with a mortal?”

“
What the fuck for?”

“
Redemption. It's time you loosened up and got back in the game.”

“
There's no point, Jo. I've been waiting for a mortal to get the bigger picture forever. The magic lady does not exist.”

“
You won't know that unless you keep knocking on doors with the welcome mat outside.”

“
When she finds out you and me are vampyres she's going to freak out. And then we have to bite her to shut her up, and then she becomes like all the others, after one thing only. I want a  babe who can fall for my mind
and
my kind!”

“
Fine. You're tagging along for my sake then. I like southern girls, they have a guile about them which is a divine mixture between precocious and damned. Inside every one of these princesses playing the good girl card is a woman desperate for some wild attention. Why the hell do you think they like their horses and cowboys so much? It's the only time they get to just appreciate a bit of muscle without being made to feel like walking sinners falling from God's grace.”

“
But we
have
fallen from grace. How's she going to feel
then
?!”

“
Like a million bucks poured in perfume and set on fire. Don't be such a freaking sour puss. You might even enjoy yourself.”

“
Jo, in case you haven't noticed there are two of us and only one of her.”

Wiggling both eyebrows, he says, “Exactly. She'll never forget this night.” Leaning over, wobbling his bike perilously close to mine, he punches my shoulder, “You heard the lady. She has fresh cherry pie.” Giving me his bad boy wink, he laughs into the rain, “And lord oh lord I'm mighty peckish.”

Chapter 2

Sherry:

As soon as I got them comfortable with coffee and pie, I made an urgent beeline to my bedroom to try and clean up.

Oh momma would just die ta see folks in my home for the first time, my heroes no less, and I don't even have lipstick on any longer.

Washing my face, I quickly reapply my makeup and dry my hair. It's not as gorjuss as it is when it's been rolled and set but it's the best I can do with the time I have to do it, cos I am being rude as RuthAnn right now leavin' them be in the living room without so much as a howdy-do.

Pulling on a clean dress, I shove my wet clothes in the laundry basket and check myself over one last time. It's gonna have ta do. Rushing back downstairs, I pause at the bottom, inhaling deeply, squaring my shoulders, and walking back in like a lady, smiling, “Everything alright? Can I get ya'll a drink or sumthin?”

Now I can't tell them apart. Oh lord above! Which one's which?

The one on the left smiles at me so cute you juss wanna kiss that sexy mouth, “Music would be nice. It's awful quiet in here.”

That's Jo. He doesn't have the accent.

“
Why doncha pick sumthin out?” Smiling, I walk to the stereo, opening the hardwood door and showing him where the CD's are. “It's all in here.”

Pushing himself up off the couch, again it shocks me just what a long tall drink of lean this boy is. His hair is dark as thunder and his eyes sometimes look like they have lightning in them too. With him right up next ta me it's like looking up at the Statue of Liberty.

Inclining his head at me, he gives me a wink as he stops on my right, “Thanks.”

I look at Seithe, not knowing what ta say.

“
We feel just awful that we've prevented you from going out. I think we should take our leave,” he says.

Bonnie Rait starts singing about giving them something to talk about when Jo catches my hand.

Before I have a chance to answer Seithe, Jo says ta me, “At least let me make it up to you with a dance?”

Seithe stands, coming closer, the two of them standing like giants in my living room on either side of me, “Jo, the lady is home safe and sound. We don't need to be here.”

“
If I'm keeping ya'll, I'm so sorry. That's the last thing I wanna do,” I quickly jump in, staring up from strong cut chin to chin, looking up at designer stubble and perfect straight noses.

They're not hearing or seeing me, but Jo still has my hand in his and he's rubbing his thumb softly across my palm all the while, and it's burning right up my arm with delicious tingles.

Jo lifts his other arm, palm up, showing off a bunch of incredible muscles when he indicates the door, “By all means Seithe, you're welcome to leave. I'll catch up with you later.”

Oh no, I'm causing friction between them. “Really, ya'll don't have ta stay on account of me.”

Jo looks down at me with that soft gentlemanly smile that just melts icebergs, “Would you like me to leave?”

Hell no!

“
I don't wanna keep ya is'all. If ya'll have sumplace ta be, then far be it from me ta be keepin' ya.”

“
If it's not imposing I wouldn't mind another slice of pie,” Jo drawls so close to my ear I take a step back, my heart pounding, suddenly getting the message loud and clear.

The hold on my hand stays loose, his thumb still tracing my heart line with mesmerizing tenderness, and I know it's improper but I don't want him ta let go either. His fingers lace tighter through mine but he keeps his challenging focus resolutely on his brother.

I like the possessiveness of his hold. It's domineering in a very alpha way. As if he's protectin' me, keepin' me safe. It's a hold that says, this is my girl, back off. It's mighty fine.

Seithe's molten stare flicks ta me and he says in that lyrical accent, “Sherry, please tell me you have something stronger than coffee in this house.”

My knees are shaking, the muscle jumping nervously like it does when I'm cold. My name from his mouth is like listening ta an angel speaking in tongues. And I swear on my heart his eyes are glowing!

“
I surely do,” I manage to mumble, pointing at the door, “There's vodka in the ice-box and bourbon in the cupboard above it.” I don't trust myself ta walk right now, even my voice is trembling. The second he stomps down the passage I look at Jo, “His eyes were glowin'!”

Tugging me closer until we're shirt ta dress, he looks down from Mt Jowendrhan ta whisper in a gravelly dulcet voice, “He's an angel.”

“
Get out! How'd he do that?”

Staring down at me he smiles so wide, his eyes turning titanium and hot, glowing with white light, “Like this.”

Squealing, I step back, but his hand shifts too fast, pressing my hips up against his, capturing me hard up to him, “Don't be afraid.” Dipping his head, he whispers in my ear, “Have you ever been loved by an angel?”

“
No sir.”

Oh Jaysus! This isn't happenin' ta me.

A hand hotter than temptation curls around my chin, holding it up, and I'm so stuck inside the muscular straitjacket of his arms that I can't withdraw when plump soft lips press against mine.

I know I'm sahposed ta be putting up a ruckus, but I juss can't find the will ta resist. He's just wonderful and hard, strong and radiating heat, his eyes glowing like beacons in the sky, leading the wise men ta baby Jaysus.

Lost inside those incredible eyes, dizzy with his touch and the way his tongue is licking across mine, his insistent lip hold sucking on my lip, I couldn't move now if there was a rattlesnake shaking warning right behind me. Lightning striking my skirt couldn't get me ta move this second.

When a hand moves the hair off my neck and another hot hard body presses up against my back, if they weren't sandwiching me between them I'd keel right over.

The lips on my neck bolt maniacal insanity right into my bloodstream. I'm suddenly too hot, my limbs too wobbly, the craziness churning my head with vertigo and a shiver crackles right on through me, making me gasp in Jo's mouth.

Oh momma! I'm surely going ta hell for this. Angels or no angels.

Seithe presses his leather trousers up against my hiney, leaning his hips in hard when he bites my neck, synchronized with Jo biting my lip and his thumb nicking softly back and forth over my nipple.

Oh momma! Save me! Jo sure picked the song fer this. If anyone evah found out they'd sure have
plenty
ta talk about.

*

Jowendrhan:

What are we doing Jo?

Having fun, what the hell does it look like,
I reply telepathically.

Let's take her to Pravus.

Choking back a laugh, I know that will reel her mind like a spilling spool.
And then?

And then we do this in style.

You're on. You grab her neck, I'll grip her hips.

On three.

Ayup
, I confirm to Seithe.

One, two, three.

Lifting her up, knowing he has her leaning up against him for support, we dissipate from her living room, coalescing inside Pravus.