Poisonous Pleasure (13 page)

Scrunching her hair between her fingers, she watched it bounce into tight curls that reached the middle of her back. Dark eyeliner and a smoky effect covered her lids giving her exactly the look she wanted seductive, mysterious, dark. Just the way she felt.

Moving her eyes toward the tattoos and symbols covering her body, she studied each one carefully, bringing the chants out in a gold script. She’d never used any of the words on her body and suddenly she felt curious why.

The first bare symbol was a cross over her heart. She laughed thinking it quite ironic to be located there of all places. Marcella believed in a higher power of good, but she wasn’t sure that her coming from darkness or being mated to a demon prince allowed her in the graces of him or her. Gold letters inscribed in the cross came forward permitting her to read the words.

“Vampire? I see. These must be for the supernaturals. Great, just what the doctor ordered.”

Scanning over to the opposite breast a symbol revealed itself through the twist and turns of the tribal. Focusing on the letters, she read the word, Immortal.

“Now look at you. You could have placed a bow right here and I would have been happy.”

Marcella watched Dominic’s hand began to caress her pussy in the mirror. The diamonds from the ring on his middle finger glistened in the light. She moaned, leaning back into his chest. “Do you like your gift? Don’t ask me what the symbol means, I really don’t know, but it’s something important. I can feel it.”

“I promise to never take it off. I know what you mean about the importance. A memory keeps trying to come, but I can’t place it.

Jason’s reflection came forward in the mirror. “Yeah, something about the symbol hit home with me, too, but I’m not sure what it is. Damn, you look good.” Jason immediately leaned around her to kiss along the curve of her breast.

“You’re gift is under the bed, Jason.”

The top half of his body lifted and opened his hand, the present appearing in his palm. “If this is empty, I’m going punish you tonight.”

Marcella laughed and shook her head. “I assure you it’s not. The gift is something you told me you wanted before the fire. I meant to get it for you, but I didn’t get the chance. I hope you like it.”

He tore off the paper and opened the box, looking up at her with a smile on his face. “Thank you, babe. I can’t believe you remembered about the watch. I only mentioned it that one time in the mall.”

“Yes, but you stared at it for close to thirty minutes. Let’s just say it left an impression.”

He kissed her cheek and began putting it on. Marcella stared into Dominic’s eyes in the mirror. The way his eyes were narrowed told her he wanted so badly wanted to say something, but no words came out and none needed to. She did what she felt necessary to keep him on earth. There was no taking back the past.

“Why don’t we go out tonight and have some fun? We’ll hit up Corpus and Dom can play theme music to everyone we pass on the street. Does that sound like fun?”

Jason laughed and looked toward the demon. “Like that one song, ‘Dude looks like a lady?’ Hell yeah. That’s a great idea, Marcy. Hey Dom, what’s my theme song?”

He looked Jason up and down and turned to Marcella. “I don’t know about his, but I know mine. It’ll be one very fitting for tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

“I need to get back to work. Tonight you and Jason can play the couple. I’m the friend tagging along just for fun. I’ve received my list,” he said, pointing to his head. There’s a soul for me to collect and she happens to be getting ready to go out even as we speak.”

“Dom…” Marcella turned around, afraid to look at him and ask the questions plaguing her.

“I don’t kill them if that’s what you’re wondering. They don’t have to be dead for me to take their soul. And if it makes you feel any better,” he lowered his voice leaning in inches from her face, “I always tell them to straighten up their life. They never know what I do, but sometimes it works. They can feel the difference. Other times, well I tried to warn them, didn’t I?”

“That’s all you can do,” she whispered.

“Yes, now let me have a look at you.” The blue of his eyes raked over her body for a long time. “God, you look good enough to eat. Now change. Vamp will do for tonight. I don’t want you human. Clubs can be rowdy at times. Your senses need to be sharp. Jason, call your mother. She’s about two minutes away from calling the cops.”

“How do you know that?”

Marcella waited for him to answer Jason’s question. A loud sigh left Dom as he looked toward the floor and then back up toward her boyfriend. “I have the ability to be able to tell the near future. I haven’t really given it much attention, but even after I knew our girl was up to no good, I figured I better listen a little more carefully. And you promised your mother you would call, correct?”

Jason looked down. “Yes. I did last week, but I could tell she was beginning to worry. She’ll want to know when I’m coming home.”

“Well, that’s up to you. You’re free to go any time you want.”

Multiple expressions passed Jason’s face. Tears collected in his eyes while he looked at Dominic. “I can see my mother? She doesn’t have to think I’m dead?”

“You’re pulling a Marcella. Need I repeat what I just said? You can turn human. No one will ever know you’re a collector besides the people in this room. Why don’t you tell her you’ll be home in the morning? It’s not like we don’t live a mere five minutes away. You can come over every day, even spend the night. Marcella will like that.”

“Marcy?” Jason gave her a look as if he wasn’t sure he should leave.

“Call your mother. You need to spend as much time with her as you can. We never know what tomorrow brings…well, minus Dom. Still, nothing would make me happier than you being back with your mom.”

Large arms encircled her and he quickly rushed from the room. Marcella turned to Dominic. “You didn’t have to do that, did you?”

“No, it probably wasn’t a good idea, either. I feel better when someone besides me is here to protect you. But I know that’s what you would have wanted for him if the option became available, so, what the hell. You being happy is all I care about.”

Marcella hugged him and kissed his cheek.

“Also, tonight…I’m not even sure this is worth mentioning. This is why I hate these feelings and usually keep them to myself. It may sound stupid, but just promise me that no matter what happens you won’t do something to jeopardize who or what we are. You’re not Marcella, tonight. So you’ll need to pick a name, any name.”

“I promise I won’t put us at risk.” She thought long and hard for a name, smiling when it came to her. “Veronica.”

Dominic’s face twisted with confusion. “Now, what in the world made you think of that name? I was thinking more along the lines of something sweet like, Amy, or Jessica, but Veronica. That’s a bad girl’s name. Are you trying to tell me something?” he asked smiling, pulling her body against his. “Is a bad girl really underneath that beautiful body?”

“You have no idea. I can feel her.” Marcella said the words seriously, feeling they may be truer than she wanted to admit to herself. “And you want to know why Veronica?” Snapping her fingers, music filled the room by
The
Veronicas. “God, help me I think you’re rubbing off on me,” she groaned.

Dominic tilted his head, listening to the music. “Not bad for chick stuff, I guess. I like the guitar that comes in after the beginning. What’s this song called?”

“Well Miss Popular, let’s go find loverboy. I found a theme song for him after all. It seems he has a
very
bad girlfriend and that’s exactly what we’ll listen to on the way to the club. After the girly stuff I just heard some heavier music will be perfect.”

“Funny, I’ll know what to do when you piss me off.”

Marcella winked and changed her red stilettos and stockings to black, matching the short, tight, black dress she materialized to cover her. The back was completely exposed while the deep V on her chest settled just above her belly button. She headed for the door leaving Dominic in her midst.

“Whoa, you’re not going out looking like that, are you? When I said bad, you know I didn’t mean for you to play the part. It was joke, you know, something to keep in the bedroom. Ha ha, laugh, leave it at the door.”

“I think I
will
play the part tonight. The dress is very cute, don’t you think? I saw it in a movie awhile back.”

“Cute isn’t the word that comes to mind. Sexy, yes, hot, definitely, cute, not so much.”

Jason walked through the front door and stopped in his tracks. “Dom, you’re not letting her go out in that, are you?”

“She’s your girlfriend.”

“Yeah, but she’s your mate. Tell her to change.”

“She’s Miss Popular, or haven’t you heard? I don’t think she’ll listen to me, anyway.”

Marcella laughed and kissed Jason while she made her way through the door. “Nope, I’m not listening, so let’s go. I think it’s a very cute dress, and I want to wear it.”

Dom leaned in and she heard him whispering to Jason. “You let another guy touch her while I’m not around and I’ll kick your ass for good this time. You better have your guard up ten times more, now.”

“She’s not getting an inch away from me. You can bet your ass on that. Son of bitch,” Jason growled, following Marcy.

“You guys chill out and get in. I’m driving.”

Opening the door to the two-door Mercedes, Marcella smiled. “Veronica says stop gaping and get in my new car.”

“That car is over a hundred grand, Marcy. When did you care about what you drove?” Jason took a step toward the passenger door, running his eyes down the length of it.

“Since everything became free. Now get it and please don’t call me by my name anymore, tonight. Dom, you said Jason had a theme song? I want to hear it.” She let them get in and took off out of the driveway, hitting the highway. Uneasiness was beginning to set in, but she remained quiet. The fact that she wasn’t acting like her old self wasn’t sitting very well with her.

“I’m not sure I like Jason’s song anymore. Not with you dressed like that.” Dominic started the music, groaning, and looked out of the window. Marcella instantly died laughing at the words.

“Nice.” She bobbed head to the music, hearing them begin to fade out as a quick flash of her standing on the balcony, in the white gown, assaulted her vision. The lights from the town wavered, but quickly came back into focus.

“Not nice,” Jason snapped at Dominic. “That sounds nothing like Marcella and you know it. Very funny. Now put on something else. If I have to hear one more word about the girlfriend shaking her ass or dancing on guys from out of town, I’ll blow theses speakers.”

“No, no more music. Listen, I have a really bad feeling about tonight. It seems to be growing worse.” Dominic shifted in the seat.

“Do you want me to take her home while you collect the soul you need? We don’t have to go out. Really, I don’t mind.” Jason leaned forward making it obvious his reasons involved Marcella.

“No way, I want to go out. I promise to behave myself.”

“Jason, I mean it. It’s your responsibility to watch over her. Now shift and get rid of the tattoos. You’ll have to go human so they don’t see a difference. You’ll have no abilities, which I like even less. But it’s the only way.”

Marcy sped down the causeway reaching over one hundred miles an hour. “Can you tell me more about what you feel? Maybe if we’re prepared things will go okay.”

“No, I wish I could. All I see is you.” Dom got quiet while his face grew focused. “Rage, you’re going crazy. You don’t even look like yourself. Listen, my predictions sometimes aren’t worth a shit. That’s why I never pay attention to them. At times, they don’t happen at all, but I thought I’d warn you just in case.”

Jason took a deep breath from the back seat. “Not to worry. I won’t let anything happen. After you leave, are you just going to meet us at the house or do we need to come get you from somewhere?”

“It could take awhile. I’ll just meet you both at the house.”

Marcella made her way downtown, parking at a private lot. Dom quickly paid the guy as they walked around the corner and headed to Stingers. A variety of music echoed down the street from the various clubs lining Chaparral Street.

“It’s wonderful, isn’t it? The smell of people everywhere is invigorating. I just want to bite and sample each one.” Marcella laughed at her own joke, but Jason and Dominic looked more nervous than ever. “Chill out, guys, laugh, have fun.”

“Not funny,” Jason whispered, sliding his arm around her shoulders. “I want you to have fun tonight, but please let me know if you feel a change coming on. The last thing we need is surprises or a blood fest.”

“You’ll be the first to know, I promise.” Marcella leaned closer, kissing his cheek. One look at the line stretching from the doorway and she sighed. Putting a little more sway to her hips, she walked directly to the man at the entrance. “Well hello, there.” She sized up his body making sure he noticed. “We really don’t need to wait in this line, right?”

“Let’s just go to the end,
Veronica
.”

Her eyes shot to Jason at the way he said her name, but she returned her flirty gaze back to the muscled man holding the clipboard. “You can’t get in front of the others unless you’re on the list.” The bouncer took a long look up and down her body. “You wouldn’t happen to be on here, would you?”

“As a matter of fact we are. Veronica, Jason, and Dominic. No last names.”

“Everyone has a last name.”

“Just check the list,” Dom snapped.

“And so you are. VIP is upstairs. The Smith party awaits you.”

Marcella smiled brightly. “Why, thank you, kind sir.” She walked in and threw a fifty on the counter with three ID’s all ranging over the twenty-one age mark. “So Dom, how long do you get to stay?” The music was so loud she had to lean forward and yell for him to hear her.

“My girl should be here soon, but she’s not planning to stay long. When she leaves, so do I.”

Jason led the way upstairs, stopping at the top. From the shouts that erupted, Marcella tried her best to see around him. People were chanting his name excitedly, but she wasn’t sure who they all were.