Real Vampires Don't Diet (8 page)

"Ray won't be hitting the bottle anytime soon. He'd be a fool to put himself through this again. He said he didn't even get a buzz from what he drank last night." I lifted Nate's wrist to my lips.

"Wait!"

"What now?" I was dying here. To be so close to nirvana

Nathan smiled, suddenly all naughty bad boy. "Ray and I grew up together, you know?"

"Yes, I've heard all about your gilt-edged 'hood.' " Poor little rich kids went to all the best schools the Chicago suburbs had to offer. Then Nate had gone on to Harvard while Ray had made music his life. Did we have to go into this
now?
I was ready to just whammy Nathan and get on with it.

"He tells me pretty much everything."

"So?" Had Ray lied and said we'd slept together? Maybe I'd let him suffer with his hangover a while longer. I dropped Nate's wrist on the bed.

"I know you're just his mentor, Glory. And he really appreciates it. But he'd like your relationship to be something more. We both think you're hot."

"Oh?" Now this was interesting. I barely stopped myself from going all girly, throwing back my shoulders and tossing my hair.

"Would you, well, would you drink from my neck? Pretend we were lovers? Just so I can stick it to Ray?" Nate sat up and put his hands on my shoulders. "It'll be fun. We can pull his chain. I've seen him try some of his 'never fail' moves on you and seen you deflect them. Valdez says that's because it's you and Blade all the way."

"Jeremy Blade and I have a complicated relationship. Which is sometimes on, sometimes off." That dog was going to earn a muzzle if he didn't quit telling everyone I was in a committed relationship. Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't. Getting stuck dateless on New Year's Eve made me feel pretty uncommitted if you want to know the truth.

"Good to know." Nate popped the rubber band that had held my hair back in a ponytail and ran his hand through my curls. Then he slid one hand to the back of my neck the other to the edge of my sleeve to stroke up my arm. Seems like Ray wasn't the only one with some "never fail" moves. "The idea that you and I have been together will drive Ray wild." I shivered. Nates hands were warm, human warm, and I hadn't had that kind of touch in, hmm, decades. He had good instincts, lightly touching the vein pulsing in my neck, then tracing a path to my collar bone where Ray's too-large T-shirt gapped.

"Pulling Ray's chain. Sounds good." I took a breath and tried to think beyond the smell of warm blood and the feel of warm hands on my body. Nathan rolled me on top of him. Like he was getting me into position, then smiled up at me.

"Go for it, Glory. Do whatever you want. I'm game."

He was game, all right. I could feel the bulge of him nestled between my legs. Interesting. Nathan
was
a hot guy, but the only thing turning me on was being close to his warm human blood. But he did deserve a reward for this sacrifice.

"Listen, Nate. Ray and I, well, any vampire can read your mind whether you want us to or not. He'd know in a heartbeat if we lied about hooking up."

"That's crap." Nate ran his hands down my back and cupped my bottom to press me against him. "So I guess we have no choice but to make this the real deal if we want to play with Ray's head." He gently bit my wrist where it lay next to his head.

"Hate to disappoint you, but we do have a choice. I can give you a hot memory of what
could
have happened in this bed. It's what we do when we've fed from a mortal and we don't want him to remember the deed. We plant a false memory and send him on his way. So I can do that here. Then, if Ray checks out your story, he'll see you think we've done the deed, Super Stud." Nate grinned. "Super Stud? Have you been talking to my exes?"

We both laughed. "No, I googled you, though. There are thousands of blogs about you and your prowess." Nate slid his hands up to my waist. "Could be. You won't know until you try me for yourself. You sure you want this to be just pretend?" He had a very sexy smile and his mind was full of interesting ideas of what he could do to me. I decided this had gone on long enough. I looked into his eyes and put him under the whammy. Nathan would think it was real. I'd know otherwise. I proceeded to give him aahem, pardon the expressionblow -by-blow description of us burning up the sheets. I mean, his memories were absolute scorchers. The man never had such great sex in his life. Forever after, he'd measure all encounters with "the time I slept with the fabulous Glory St. Clair."

Maybe I got a little carried away. And maybe this would complicate things, but who could resist? So, damn me, if I didn't lean into good old Nathan, who, have I mentioned, is really a looker in a tall, dark and well built way? Think Denzel a few decades ago. Yum. While I built my fantasy scenario, I kissed him and ran my hands down his body then settled in at his neck. Who was acting? I was really turned on by the AB neg.

"Damn, Glory, this is" Nate gasped when I finally used my fangs. His eyes rolled back in his head and I figured the whole vampire experience was a little too much for him. No problem. I drew on him and felt the wonderful fresh taste burst into my mouth. I swear it was enough to bring tears to my eyes. Why had I denied myself this pleasure?

And not only was the flavor delicious, but the surge of power made my whole body jolt with renewed energy. I literally had to shove my mouth away from Nathan before I drained him. I lay for a moment against his warm chest, relieved that his heart still beat strongly. Oh, God, but that had been dangerously wonderful. I finally raised my head and saw blood trickling down Nate's neck. I'd been so far gone, I'd even forgotten to lick the fang marks closed. I took care of that, then kissed his lips and pulled his hand off my boob.

I patted his cheek and left him to sleep it off. I could tell he was okay, just a little, um, drained. I sauntered down the hall feeling pretty damned good. Valdez must have heard me coming because he met me at the top of the stairs. He trotted up to me, then almost sat on my foot.
"Cheeks pink. And the look on your face Wow, Glory. Musta been
good."

"I'll say. I forgot how great mortal blood can be. Nate passed out when I bit him." I grinned. "But he won't remember it that way."

Valdez glanced at Ray's bedroom door.
"Whatcha gonna do about Caine? Can't believe that a-hole showed those yahoos
downstairs your tits last night."

"I wanted to kill him." I couldn't meet Vs gleaming eyes. He'd been one of those "yahoos."

"Let me tell Blade what happened, and you won't have to.
"

"No. Ray and I had a freak meeting out on the lake last night. I'll tell you about it later. But I need Ray around to help with this situation." I sighed, already coming down from my temporary high. "I'd better go see if I can help him now."

"Yeah, yeah."
Valdez shook his head. "
I'll be at the bottom of the stairs. But I'll be waiting. I can't protect you if I don't
know what the hells going on, you know."

"Yep, I know, pal. I need your help. I always do." I slipped into the bedroom, closed and locked the door, then leaned against it, trying to recapture that high I'd had when I'd taken Nate's blood. I did still feel pumped and ready for anything. Good. Because Ray was awake and tapping on the bedside table. He looked frantic. Yeah, he would since he couldn't make a sound with his million dollar voice.

Maybe you think I should be a little more sympathetic. Hey, I'd had a few adventures with alcohol myself back in the day. The fifties were big on martinis. I'd had some killer hangovers. Nights and nights of pain and suffering. But I did eventually come back, 100-percent recovery. Of course Ray couldn't wait. The voice thing. I sympathized. Really I did.

"Okay, Ray, relax. I think I know what you need, and I've got it right here." I sauntered over to the bed, prepared to make the most of my mission of mercy. Nate had said Ray wanted something more from me. Why not? Glory St. Clair is hot, hot, hot. I did a little hair toss. Wasted effort. Poor Ray was scribbling madly on the pad I'd found for him earlier. He held it up.

"I
know
you need your voice back. I'm not one-hundred-percent sure this'll work, but I think if you feed from me again, it'll help." So much for my sex-kitten act.

Ray fell back on the bed, tossed the pad and pen aside and opened his arms. I knew that look. He figured he'd get a little more than blood with my donation. Ah, so maybe my sex kitten had been noticed after all. Meow!

"Relax, Ray. This is all about the voice right now. Save your other moves for another time. I'll bet you're still hurting, aren't you?" Had to play hard to get, didn't I?

He shook his head, then winced and mouthed the words. "Maybe a little."

"No guarantees, but never underestimate the healing powers of aged vampire blood." I sat beside him and brushed my hair back to offer my neck. Suddenly I was flat on my back, staring up at a Ray I hardly recognized. This man snarled, bared his fangs, then pinned my arms over my head before he plunged his teeth into my neck.

"Ow! Son of aRay! Ease up!" I jerked my arms free and grabbed his hair so I could flip us until he was under me. I couldn't have done it if he hadn't still been weak from alcohol poisoning. "Now drink like a civilized vampire, not an animal, and try not to rip out my throat." I put my arms around him and held him close as I felt the pull of him drinking from me. Wow, I'd expected a little finesse, maybe a few nibbles before he sank his teeth into me. Instead I'd gotten a ferocious attack that still had me shaking.

"Calm down, Ray. I know what your voice means to you. But, damn it, you hurt me again like that and I'll throw you across the room. Just so we're clear." I braced myself, ready to pull Ray off of me if he went too far, tried to take too much.
I
had to be able to function when all was said and done. Sure he was desperate. And probably saying every prayer he knew that this would work for him. I was praying for him too. But I wasn't willing to die for him.

Gradually his movements became less frantic, and I closed my eyes and relaxed into the rhythm. Now, though, I became aware of his hard body against mine and the way we were lying tangled together like lovers. I'd been in a similar position with Nathan just minutes before, but somehow, with Ray, I was way more distracted by every place we touchedbare legs, chest against chest, his hips pressing into mine and the way his hand cradled the back of my neck. Ray carefully licked the punctures closed, his tongue making me shudder.

"Want to go for best two out of three, vamp girl? I think I could flip
you
now that I've got juice."
I slapped his arm. "This wasn't a game, Ray. How do you feel?" He'd spoken in my mind. "Try to talk. Out loud. See what happens."

He touched my throat. "Sorry. Too rough. You okay?" His voice was raspy. But he could speak. We grinned at each other.

"I'm a freakin' miracle worker, but you attack me like that again and I'll hand you your ass on a platter, vamp
boy!'
I yawned and stretched."

"Did I take too much?" Ray sat up.

"I'd have stopped you before I let you do that. I'm okay. I fed from your buddy Nate before I came in here. So I'd be in top form."

"You and Nate? How'd go?" Ray's voice was getting stronger, but still just a whisper.

"I'll never tell." I sat up and leaned against the headboard. "How're we going to go vamp hunting with Sienna Star underfoot?"

"Problem. Hotel. Tell Nate. Later." Ray sighed. "Voice not right."

"Sorry." I really was. This was a hard way for Ray to learn that he just couldn't drink alcohol. "How does your body feel?"

"Better." Ray rubbed his forehead. "But still hurts."

"I'll feed you again later. Hopefully that will help. I'm trying to dilute that poison in your system. Stay up here. We don't want to start a panic with the band. But I need to go down and talk to Will. You realize we're going to have to go out to the EV

stronghold if we want to deliver Simon to Aggie."

"How?"

How indeed. Maybe going after Simon Destiny was foolish. But I saw this as a golden opportunity to rid the paranormal community of one of the worst excuses for a vampire to ever show a fang. So I was determined to try. Muscle wouldn't do it. The King of the Energy Vampires was way too powerful and the demon he worked for too scary for us to just bull our way in and drag the leader out with us. No, it was going to take some pretty clever maneuvering. We had to lure Simon away from the safety of his lair.

"Simon's bored. He told me that much when I saw him last." And hadn't that been a treat? For some reason Simon had actually expressed an interest in hooking up with me. Not that I take that as a compliment. The guy's just about as gross as Aggie. Has this unusual talent, though. He can make himself look like your heart's desire. If he decides to, of course. He hadn't bothered when I'd seen him last. "Maybe we can use his boredom to our advantage."

"Also has drugs. Go out there. Try some. Together." Naughty smile. Ray knew the Energy Vampires were famous for their Vampire Viagra. It enhances sexual pleasure for male
and
female vampires. Trust me, no male vamp
I've
ever met had ED

issues. The VV is strictly to ramp up the pleasure. Think wild monkey sex for hours on end. I never said
it
was a
bad
thing. Except for loss of control and, of course, the fact that it costs the earth.

"I guess we
could
go out there and
pretend
to want to try some. Together." I threw Ray one of my own naughty smiles then crawled out of bed.