Silent Cravings (49 page)

Reece, like the others, was nonplussed but interested in tagging along as she went through the meet-and-greet with the rest of the vampires on the floor.

John was on his way out the door, snarled something that made Angus smack him upside the head, and scurried away. His boyish good looks weren’t very charming with that attitude.

It took every last shred of Analie’s willpower not to gasp in horror and dive for cover. The idea of anyone other than the alpha smacking the deputy was something she didn’t dare even
think
about. And when John hurried off instead of retaliating by spraying Angus’s blood across the walls, Analie’s opinion of the surly deputy dropped to some point below Ashi’s level.

Weak deputies never lasted very long.

Wesley, however, didn’t seem to mind their dropping in for the impromptu meeting. Like Ken, he was blond, pale, tall, and slender. However, he had a scruffy goatee, and his clothing would never win him any favors with the effeminate vampires down the hall. He favored jeans and T-shirts, much like Christoph, and had Reece clucking his tongue over his outfit in no time. Wes paid him little mind.

The vampires were quite content to socialize with each other. Clarisse was brassy enough to ask Mouse if Christoph had given in yet, which started off a whole line of chatter Analie didn’t want to hear about
at all
.

Though the topic at hand turned her cheeks and ears an endearing shade of pink, she stayed. It was almost like being at a pack gathering. She had never been more at ease here than at this moment, hanging out with her temporary New York pack.

“Ye need tae just bite the lad and get it over with,” Angus said, irritated.

“No she don’t, ye ruddy ox. She’ll scare
’
im off.” Clarisse shot back.

“So what? Ye wait too long, and he’ll be thinkin’ he does nae ever need tae do it.”

“I don’t understand what the problem is,” added Wesley. “He’s been here over a month already.”

Reece agreed. “It’s not like you’re acting like John. He’s just being a coward about it at this point.”

Mouse signed something that had all four of the other vampires—Angus, Clarisse, Wes and Reece—rolling their eyes.

Clarisse frowned. “I’m going to have to up the ante.”

“Ugh, not again,” Reece said.

Clarisse’s expression turned rather sly as she put her attention on Analie. “What do ye think, Ana, love? What would it take tae get the boy tae loosen up?”

As much as Analie liked this strange little group, the one thing she never wanted to think about was her or her packmates getting bitten. She’d entered in on the bet, sure, but it was more “laugh lest we cry” than agreement with it.

She was very glad she was pink and flat-faced right now. If she’d still had her Were qualities, she would have been bristling.

“Aw, man. I don’t know, guys. He’ll never volunteer himself.” She frowned as if in thought, but was actually trying very hard to suppress a massive shudder. “Mouse, I think you should just ask. This might sound weird, but start with ‘I beseech you, a favor if you will.’”

Everyone was giving her a funny look.

“It’s the formal way to ask for something in Goliath. If the Were likes you, they won’t refuse if you preface your request with that statement. It’s an honor and a pleasure to aid a friend.”

If Christoph found out she’d told Mouse that, she was going to be mauled.

Mouse was not terribly happy to be part of this conversation. She’d edged her way to the back of the group and made a face when everyone turned to look at her. She made an irritated gesture when Clarisse folded her arms.

“It’s not dumb,” Reece said, seeming appalled at her response. “It’s just… different than you’re used to.”

Clarisse didn’t seem impressed either. “Mouse, are ye ever going tae ask the lad?”

Mouse threw up her hands and stalked toward the door, trying to flee without having to answer. Angus casually got in her way so she couldn’t escape.

“Well, lass?” he asked, beard bristling as he grinned.

She huffed silently at the much larger vampire, gesturing impatiently that he should move. He did nothing of the sort, the others looking on with mild amusement and barely hidden curiosity, awaiting her answer.

This was like getting grilled by the pack when something was afoot that you didn’t want to talk about. Analie felt sympathy for Mouse, but wasn’t about to step in and call attention to herself. Besides, she was just as curious as the others.

Mouse looked very much like she would like to strangle Angus, if only she could reach his neck.

The others started goading and encouraging her to answer, and she finally snapped, signing something with savage jerks of her hands. Judging by the satisfied looks on the others’ faces, she’d just agreed to go ask him, though as soon as Angus moved out of her way she disappeared, the sound of her apartment door slamming coming only a moment later.

Clarisse laughed. “Bets are on for how long it takes her tae do it.”

“Twenty dollars on tomorrow night,” Reece said.

“Fifty on two hours from now,” said Wes.

Angus grinned. “Fifty bucks on an hour and a half.”

Analie had been Mouse’s satellite up until now, carefully making sure to stay near her at all times. Now she was hanging out in room full of relatively unfamiliar vampires. It made her jittery.

“Five dollars on one hour,” Analie spoke up.

So far she’d bet ten dollars total on the two wagers. That was big money for her, and she dearly hoped she’d win at least one. It looked like she was going to have to dip into her savings account for Freddy’s upcoming birthday.

Wes glanced at Analie. “Can I switch to an hour, too?”

Clarisse smirked. “Sure, why not?”

“I’ll keep watch,” Wes said, grinning.

“Excellent! I’m going tae watch a movie. Ye lot can join me while we wait, if ye like.”

“Aye,” Angus replied.

“I’ve got to finish getting ready for work, but thanks,” Reece said, waving and heading out.

“I want to see a movie!” Analie said, excited. It had been a while since she’d watched something. Her Saturday movie nights with Freddy had been abruptly cut short and even though he visited, they hadn’t built up the courage to ask anyone for the use of their television.

Clarisse led the way back to her apartment, ignoring Lisa’s sour look. The other vampire left, taking refuge in the foyer. Angus immediately made himself comfortable on her couch, and vetoed every movie Clarisse mentioned until she chose one in exasperation that sounded suitably violent for his tastes.

An hour later, Wes came rushing in.

“She did it! Ha! Pay up!”

Clarisse blinked, pausing the movie. “Aye?”

“You bet your ass.”

“The proof?”

“I just saw her go upstairs looking like she was going to her own funeral. What the hell else would she be doing?”

“Ha! So she hasn’t asked him. Not yet.”

Wes groaned and ran his hand down his face. “Come
on.
”

“It’s as good as done if she asks him,” Analie told Clarisse. “He won’t refuse her. Betcha
anything.
”

Mouse stopped outside Christoph’s apartment, gritting her teeth in frustration. She figured Clarisse had started a betting pool on this, too, and wasn’t too happy about it. She wanted to get it over with so she wouldn’t have to listen to the sly comments and questions anymore.

If he said no, well… fine. Then the rest of the house would bug
him
to give in instead.

“She might procrastinate past the hour. I’ll bet ye she twiddles her thumbs outside the door, or leaves and comes back later,” Clarisse declared.

“Ye’re ruddy daft, woman!” Angus said.

“Am not!”

“Are!”

“Not!”

Mouse eventually summoned the courage to knock on the door. She almost fled right then and there. For once, she was grateful both for the fact that she was a vampire—no blush would mar her skin—and that she was mute. She wouldn’t have to stammer out the words; she could just write what she wanted to say without risking sounding like an idiot.

Ashi ignored the knock. Whoever it was most likely wasn’t there to see him and, if they were, they could wait on someone else to answer the door.