I took off my high heels as I followed Penny up the stairs to my apartment. I figured we had an hour until dawn. I stopped her when we got to our floor.
"Okay, here's a test for you. What do you smell?"
Penny inhaled and wiggled her nose. "Geez. First, front and center, are the rats. I'm getting them out of here Sunday night. The animal rescue people told me of a place and I'll see if Mr. Blade will let me use his SUV to drive them over there."
I kept my snark to myself. Like Jerry would trust his very expensive vehicle to my fledgling who could put a ding on a car just by looking at it.
"Okay, that one was obvious. Now see if you can figure out who's inside. And there's more than one entity there." I had picked up on that before we'd reached the landing.
Penny grabbed my arm. "Oh, God, the demons aren't back, are they? I know I put on a brave front, but they freaked me out, Glory."
"No, not demons. The Cookie Monster reek would be too easy and there's not a whiff of it." I smiled. "Come on, use your nose. Didn't Trey get around to those lessons?"
"He tried, but there were too many mortals in the club and I was fighting my fangs. What can I say? I'm still all about the bloodlust. That's why we went to the park." Penny shrugged, then wiggled her nose again. "I think Trey's here! I recognize his scent." She grinned. "How cool is that!" She grabbed the doorknob and turned it. "Not locked. I wonder how he got in."
"Jerry's here too. And Rafe. They both have keys." I put my hand over hers. "Listen before you go inside."
"No crashes. Guess the coffee table's safe. And I hear the TV. Buzzing. Motorcycle races maybe?" Penny shook her head. "At four thirty in the morning?"
"That's cable for you." I stepped back and let Penny open the door. No crashes. That didn't mean Rafe and Jerry hadn't already demolished my new living room. But the scene we walked into was surprisingly civilized. Of course the three men had heard us approach, heard us talking in the hall too. They were on their feet and facing us as we walked in.
Jerry and Trey stood in front of the couch. Jerry had commandeered the remote and now turned off the TV. Rafe lounged in the doorway to the kitchen where he'd obviously unearthed yet another package of Twinkies left from when he'd lived here. They all stared at us like we'd made them wait. I just dropped my shoes by the door and stared back, not about to make excuses or rush into explanations. Penny and I had obviously survived and I needed a drink. I eased past Rafe and headed for the refrigerator.
"Trey! What are you doing here?" Penny rushed forward, not shy about getting right into it.
"I found your purse in the break room." Trey picked up the black clutch from the coffee table. "I knew you'd want your stuff, at least your cell phone."
"Sure. Thanks." Penny glanced at Rafe. "I guess Rafe showed you where I live."
"Sure did. When we got here, I ran into Blade and he told me what you two were up to. I decided we'd just stick around and see how things shook out." Rafe stuffed a Twinkie into his mouth, chewed and swallowed. "Looks like you survived MacDonald." He stopped me in the doorway with a hand on my shoulder as I twisted the top off a bottle of synthetic. "You could have told me where you were going, Glo. Maybe I could have shaken loose. Done backup for you."
"Not necessary, Rafe, but thanks. I knew you were needed at the club and this was just a quick meeting." I smiled at him. "Ian was a perfect gentleman. He and Penny talked and I visited with Ray. It was no big deal."
"See? No big deal. Which means you can get the hell out of here, Valdez." Jerry inserted himself between us, practically shoving Rafe out of the way. He tugged me into the living room while he examined me with narrowed eyes, like for wounds or signs of abuse.
"Hold on. Don't take off yet, Rafe." I gave Jerry a look that said to quit manhandling me and he let me go. "I think it would be nice if we could all just sit down for a minute or two. Make nice." I smiled, deciding I really didn't like Jerry making my arrangements for me. Yes, Ian's last remark still stung. That I liked a man taking command of me. "Sit. Relax. Don't even think about testing the new coffee table."
Trey looked from Rafe to Jerry, clearly picking up on the vibe between them and not sure what the coffee table had to do with anything. Penny grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the hall.
"Ignore them." She grinned at Rafe, then Jerry. "Love the new furniture, guys. Now, Trey, wouldn't you like to come see the rats I told you about? If you can stand the stench." Penny nodded down the hall.
"Yeah, sure. Wish I could help you out with that. Knew somebody who could take them off your hands." Trey never looked back, just followed Penny.
"Now, why don't we sit down and talk for a minute, all three of us?" I gestured toward the couch. Then I walked over and carefully put my vial, cell phone and keys on a shelf next to a book. This one I needed to reread immediately: Finding Your Inner Peace. Right now my insides were churning and burning. I blamed it on that testosterone in the air again and the way Rafe grinned and Jerry frowned. I was so not in the mood to referee.
"Hold it. What's that?" Jerry just had to notice that vial. "Is that something from MacDonald? One of his drugs?"
"Glory, you're not going to experiment with some of his shit again, are you?" Rafe was right beside me.
"Cool it, both of you. It's nothing you need to worry about. Penny and I are going to try it. It's a one-shot deal. No biggie." I glared at both of them. "And none of your damned business."
"What does it do? Not more of that weight-loss junk, is it?" Rafe said as he and Jerry exchanged glances, for once allies.
"No, I gave that up. You both claim to like my curves." I ran my hand down my side. Oops, not smart. They'd both just noticed I hadn't worn a bra. That got Jerry's eyebrows up and Rafe's grin wider while I settled into a chair.
Jerry stomped over and picked up the vial. "Doesn't look like the daylight drug. And I still have some of that if you want to try it again. With me, of course."
I sighed. "Forget it. Please? And since you're not against all of Ian's drugs, you just made my case for trying something else of his."
Rafe frowned at Jerry. "Tell us what it's for, Glory, and maybe we'll back off. It's not like you to take a risk. And to let your fledgling - "
"Give it up, Rafe. We're doing it." I yawned. "It's been a rough night. Did Trey tell you guys that the demons caught him with Penny in the park and propositioned them?"
"They approached your fledgling?" Jerry finally sat down again on the couch, forgetting about the vial for the time being, which had been my aim in bringing up the demons. "What did Penny do?"
"Turned them down, of course. She's had a strong religious upbringing. Now she's none too happy that I'm helping them snatch Simon's soul." I shook my head. "But I think we've smoothed things over. I let her know I'm doing this just once, for a friend. Simon was bound for hell anyway."
"I'm sorry, Glory. This is getting way out of control. Let me approach Simon, no need for you to involve yourself." Rafe sat on the other end of the couch and leaned forward. "I don't want you messing with demons any more than Blade does."
"Listen to him, Glory." Jerry pinned me with a look, willing me to take the offer.
"No, I'm in this to the end. You know Simon wouldn't meet with you, Rafe. Both of you need to accept that this subject is closed. Right now I'm starting to feel the dawn." I stood and frowned at Penny's bedroom. "It reeks in here, doesn't it?"
"Yes. Come home with me. If we shift, we can be there in minutes." Jerry stood and held out his hand.
Rafe's face hardened, then he shrugged. "Wouldn't blame you. Want me to grab Trey and make him leave with me?"
"Would you?" I smiled at him gratefully. "That would be great. I know Penny's an adult, but I don't feel right just taking off and leaving her here. Like I'm giving permission for them to, you know."
"I get it. Go. I'm on top of this. Don't know how she's sleeping in that bedroom. Bet she jumps at the chance to use your bed. But I'll let her know the offer's good only if she's in it alone." Rafe glanced at Jerry. "I know you don't get this, Blade, but Glory and I are friends. I do things for her, even when I'm not getting sex. Go figure."
Jerry growled, not liking the reference to sex despite the fact that Rafe had just admitted he wasn't getting any.
"Jerry, let's go." I walked around that enormous coffee table and gave Rafe a hug. "Thanks, buddy. I appreciate this. And, both of you, love the new furniture." Rafe's hand lingered at my waist until I pulled away to grab my keys and cell phone. Jerry just stood at the door, watching silently.
"Yeah, Blade did all right. But you should see the bill. I expected to see diamonds inlaid on that damned coffee table." Rafe shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, his face giving away nothing as he watched me join Jerry at the door.
"I told the designer to select a sturdy table." Jerry slipped his arm around my waist. "We would do well to take our next fight outside. It did cost a pretty penny."
"You both have to promise me there won't be a next fight." I looked up at Jerry. "I mean it. This tension between you is getting to me and I don't need it. Not on top of everything else."
"I can make the promise that I won't throw the first punch." Rafe smiled at me. "But can you, Blade?" He shifted his gaze to Jerry and his smile disappeared.
Jerry stared at Rafe, and I didn't doubt there were some pretty pithy mental messages being exchanged. What did I expect? Jerry's pride still smarted from my brief affair with Rafe. And there was something in the way my former bodyguard treated me now, a familiarity that almost shouted, "I've had her." It was subtle, but, to a man like Jerry, it was like a jab with a well-placed sword every time he saw Rafe and me together.
"Can you at least act civilized around each other? Please? I don't expect you to be friends but both of you are in my life to stay. I hope you can accept that." I put my hand on Jerry's chest.
"For you, Gloriana. Only for you." Jerry nodded at Rafe. "I won't fight with him again. Unless he starts it."
"There you go, Glory. You can even bring him to the club if you want. See how civilized I can be?" Rafe sat back on the couch and picked up the remote. "I'll let Trey and Penny have a little more time before I pry him out of here. Take off. I think we've said all we need to."
"Thanks, Rafe. I mean it." I wanted to hug him again, but knew Jerry had just about reached his limit. "Good night."
"Good night." He turned on the TV, obviously determined to act like he didn't care what I did. But I saw through it.
Damn, I hated hurting him, but he was a man who had known the score when he'd tried his luck with me. It had been Jerry who'd hired Rafe to protect me in the first place and I was sure my sire had made it clear he expected the bodyguard to know his place. Now Jerry's arm tightened around me, strong, possessive. I shrugged it off, not happy with this last overt sign of one-upmanship from him, and eased the door closed. Then I led the way up the stairs to the roof.
It was still a beautiful night but awfully close to dawn; no wonder I felt out of sorts, off-kilter. We shifted and flew as fast as we could, arriving in record time on Jerry's back porch. Lights were on and we could hear loud rock music. So much for a peaceful ending to a tense night.
"Seems my daughter is entertaining. She won't appreciate it if I check up on her or interrupt." Jerry frowned down at me. "Is there nowhere we can be alone?"
I smiled, the brief flight having done a lot to blow away my bad mood. What could I say? Two handsome men wanted to be with me. It wasn't exactly the worst problem in the world.
"Is your window locked?"
"I don't know, but I can afford to have it fixed." He glanced up at his second-story bedroom and saw what I'd seen. It was a fairly easy climb to get to his window if we used the ladder he kept in the garage. In minutes he had the ladder out and we were on our way up. Jerry went first and did have to put his fist through the pane to unlock the window. He shoved it open then climbed inside, reaching out to pull me in.
His room was dark but we didn't need light. I reached for his hand and licked away the blood from the cut where the glass had sliced him.
"Mmm. Delicious." I smiled as he tried to unbutton my blouse clumsily with one hand.
"What's this? You know you were driving me mad with the way your breasts moved under your blouse."
"You told me I didn't need a bra. So I left it off. That's a camisole. Do you like it?" I sighed as he palmed my breasts through the silk and lace. I shoved my hands up under his shirt to touch his smooth skin. We always had this need for each other, this instant chemistry.
"I'll like it better once it's on the floor." Jerry leaned down to kiss my nipples through the sheer fabric and pulled first one and then the other into the warmth of his mouth. His fangs were a delicious torture as he ran them around the sensitive tips. I explored his chest, then pushed my hands into the back of his jeans, loving the flex of his hard muscles.
"Told you I heard something up here." Lily's voice made us jump apart. "Just the old man and his lady getting it on."
Jerry turned and hid me behind him. His daughter and two vampires I didn't recognize stood in the doorway.
"Lily. We didn't want to crash your party downstairs." Jerry reached down and grabbed my blouse, handing it back to me. I shrugged into it.
"Hey, Glory. Don't worry, Dad. We won't cramp your style. Just thought someone was breaking in." Lily turned around and said something to the men. They all laughed. "The guys and I were about to call it a night. Just go back to doing what you were doing."
"Maybe you should introduce us to your new friends." Jerry glanced back to make sure I was buttoned back into my blouse, then strode over to the door. He'd had issues with Lily's former friends. That's why he'd invited her to move in with him.
"This is Matthew and his pal Red." Lily waved a casual hand toward me. "My dad, Jeremy Blade, and his main squeeze, Glory St. Clair."
"Hey." The guys offered Jerry a fist bump, which he ignored. He was busy assessing them. Since they weren't drunk or stoned or cursing a blue streak I guess they passed muster.
Jerry just nodded. "It's fairly close to dawn. What are your plans?"
Lily grinned. "Well, Matt here is spending the night and Red is taking off. That was the plan, unless . . . Red?"
The men took one look at Jerry's stony face and straightened from their slouches. They made quick excuses and backed toward the stairs.
"Now what did you do? What mental message did you send them?" Lily cursed and threw up her hands. "I'm an adult, you know. I can do a threesome every night if I want." She turned and hurried down the stairs after the men. "I need my own place, Dad. This isn't working for either of us. Ask Glory."
"She's right, Jerry. The woman is several hundred years old. She can't be treated like a child." I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist.
"I'm not treating her like a child, Gloriana. I'm asking her to value herself. You think I couldn't tell she only picked up those men tonight? She holds herself too cheaply." Jerry ran a hand through his hair. "Where's her pride?"
"You're right. And she's playing a dangerous game, bringing strangers into your home. But good luck playing the father card. She needs time to get used to you, Jer. Lily didn't even know you were her biological father until recently." I hugged him. "Maybe you can teach her to appreciate her own worth."
"Why in the hell does she act like this in front of me?" Jerry stared out at the hallway where Lily had disappeared. "Threesomes? I really didn't want to know that."
"She's hurt, Jerry. Confused. Since Mac died and she found out he wasn't really her father, Lily seems determined to punish her mother for lying to her and you for not figuring out she was yours. This wild behavior is the only way she knows how, I guess. Embarrassing you, an honorable man." I kept my arms around him and laid my head on his chest.
"I try to be. And I would have claimed my child, if I had known she was mine. But Mara lied to all of us - Mac, me and Lily. Guess it's no surprise my daughter is a bit of a handful with that cold bitch for a mother." Jerry ran his hands up and down my back but was obviously still thinking.
I didn't bother to hide my smile. At last Jerry was admitting what I'd known all along. Mara was a cold, manipulative woman and not for him. Yes!
"Just rent Lily her own place. Let her develop a decent relationship with you over time and things will smooth out." I looked up and traced his frown with a fingertip. "Maybe some of your honorable ways will rub off. And she'll get tired of the game playing."
"I can only hope. But those men. I didn't recognize them. Where did they come from? I should have asked questions, not let them take off like that." Jerry ran his hand up my back, then around to fondle my breast, but I could tell his mind wasn't on his work.
"And alienate Lily even more? I don't think so." I blocked my thoughts. Matt had had the blond surfer-dude looks that I'd recognized instantly. I'd have bet the castle that he was one of Ian MacDonald's bodyguards with a night off. Just Lily's luck that she'd hooked up with one of them. Or was it? I'd mocked the Campbell-MacDonald feud, but maybe Ian had his own thoughts on that rivalry.
Of course Matt was good-looking and buff, just Lily's type. Red was probably one of Ray's bodyguards. So he'd volunteered to show Matt around. Surely it was all a coincidence. They'd probably met Lily at N-V, the only club in town now that encouraged vampires to hang out. I'd question Lily on my own later, not about to share my worries with Jerry.
I did what I always did when I wanted to distract my guy. I slid down to my knees and headed south. Oh, yeah. Not all of his thoughts were on his wayward daughter. I soon had him moaning and picking me up to carry me to his king-size bed.
It didn't take long for us to shed our clothes until we were naked, skin to skin. I sighed when Jerry kissed a path down my body, using his tongue and fangs to drive me wild. The dawn was too close for us to do much more than take each other in conventional ways. But it was enough. When I lay sated on his wide chest, I kissed his lips, then sat up so I could look into his eyes.
"I didn't hear Lily come back. Did you?"
Jerry smiled. "Who can hear when you're working your magic, lass? I went deaf, dumb and blind for whole minutes there." He ran his hands down to my hips and pulled me tight where we were connected. How could he possibly still be hard? Yet he was.
"Guess she found a safe place to spend the day." I sat up and moaned as he pushed deep inside me. "I know I have."
"You can always feel safe with me, Gloriana." Jerry reached up to hold my breasts. "And you're right. I need to find Lily her own place. Trust her to live on her own and take care of herself. She has for hundreds of years."
"Fledglings like Penny and even Ray just don't understand what it's like to have lived so long. Have so much history together. Especially like you and I have." I stopped moving, feeling like maybe there was something important I needed to say here. A message for me and maybe Jerry if I could just get it out.
"Aye, we do have that. I've certainly lost count of how many times we've lain like this." Jerry pulled my head down and gave me a kiss that touched my soul as much as it touched my lips and my tongue. By the time he drew back I'd lost the words I wanted to say. "Being with you never fails to please me, to make me want more of you, Gloriana. Other women never hold me like this, keep me in thrall. You are my soul mate, as they say. Do you believe in such a thing?"
"Jerry. Jeremiah. Of course I do." Tears blurred his face below me as I pressed my hands on his broad shoulders. He moved again, seemingly determined to take me higher one more time before the sun rose and sent us both into the death sleep. I felt the tension coil inside me, the thrill, and the impossibly intense pleasure that was almost pain. He was right. Neither of us ever failed to feel this. It was more than sex, more than a physical connection. It was two becoming one. I screamed his name as the waves broke and I felt his release inside me surging strong and sure.
How I wished I could have given him a child. A beauty like Lily. Or a strong son to stand by his side against dangerous enemies. But turning vampire ended all hope for me ever having children. Had killed his swimmers too. Lucky for him he'd sired Lily before he'd been turned.
Death pulled at me, trying to claim me. But I resisted, needing to hold him against my heart. Needing to press my lips to his for one more moment. I loved this man, seemed to have always loved him. Yes, he commanded me. But in some ways I commanded him. We would call it a draw if this were a game, neither of us the loser. I smiled as I fell on top of him and let the darkness claim me.
"I can't meet him here." Penny paced around the living room. "No amount of air freshener can mask the smell of those rats. And I change the litter in their cages several times a night!"
"I know you do." I looked her over with a critical eye. Hair shining and bouncing in the new layered cut that still hit her shoulders but curved toward her jaw to flatter her round face. Her black sweater was a wrap that did nice things to her figure. The tie at the waist promised a man that if he tugged he'd get an even better view of the cleavage, courtesy of a new push-up bra she'd picked up at the mall. Her black and yellow print skirt stopped above her knees at just the right spot to show off surprisingly trim legs. And, yes, I'd talked her into some heels, but they weren't so high that she'd fall on her face when she walked. Her pacing was practice.
"So you're meeting him in the shop again. How'd you explain that?" I put my hand on Jerry's shoulder. He'd driven me home and I'd nagged him into making our Saturday-night date into a "let's follow Penny" excursion. Not that we were telling her that.
"I told him we were repainting. In honor of my moving in. That things were a mess." Penny wobbled for a moment, looked down at her shoes, then sighed. "Maybe I should change into my flats."
"No, you're doing fine." I glanced at Jerry. "Men love women in heels. Am I right?"
"Absolutely. They make your legs look longer. Very sexy. You look good tonight, Penny. Where's this man taking you?" Jerry squeezed my waist. He hadn't quit touching me ever since I'd walked out in my red dress with the plunging neckline and my black lizard high heels that said "Do me."
"He didn't say, but Jenny says his frat is having a party. Seems like that's where we'll go." Penny glanced at a silver watch on her wrist. It was delicate, a far cry from her usual black and functional one that could do everything from tell the room temperature to determine the altitude. This one merely gave her the time.
"Guess you'd better head down. Have fun. Jer and I may go to N-V. They're having a good band tonight and Rafe actually invited us." I smiled at Penny, not even feeling guilty as I told the lie. Which maybe wasn't. If she wound up this date in time, we were definitely giving the club a visit.
"You mean it? You're going to trust me to be around this guy without dogging me?" Penny picked up her black clutch, then stopped in front of me. She narrowed her gaze. "Yeah, right. Give it up, Glory. You're blocking your thoughts, which you usually don't bother to do. I know that effort gives you a headache."
"Busted. Fine. So I don't trust you yet. Do you blame me?" I stood and walked to the door. Jerry knew enough to keep silent, but he was right behind me.
"When am I going to get some privacy?" Penny's jaw was set, her eyes flashing.
"When you prove yourself." Jerry put his hand on her shoulder when it looked like Penny was getting a little too close. "Calm down, fledgling. Think about it. The man is a mortal, your favorite flavor from what Gloriana tells me. Even she would be tempted. And you've barely broken in your fangs. It makes sense that we'd feel compelled to 'dog' you awhile longer."
"Come on, Mr. Blade. How would you like to have someone trailing you on your dates? It's humiliating. I won't be able to relax and enjoy myself." Penny stomped her foot, then staggered. "Damn these shoes!"
"Sure you will enjoy yourself." I put my hand on Penny's elbow to help her regain her balance. "Forget we're around. We'll make sure no one, especially Josh, sees us. We have supersonic hearing, remember? We won't interfere unless we sense you're losing control."
"You swear?" Penny looked from me to Jerry. Her makeup was perfect and I almost said something. No, she'd get self-conscious and maybe go add a layer. Right now I wasn't exactly the one she wanted to please.
"Yes, we both swear. Out of sight, totally laying back. Josh will never know we're there." I held up my hand, then put it over my heart. Jerry grinned and did likewise. If there had been a Bible handy, we would have broken it out. "Now head out. We'll be down in a few." I watched her practically bolt out the door. Did she think she could make good an escape? As if.
"What's the plan? I really want to take you somewhere like the club. Wouldn't hurt my feelings to rub Valdez's nose in the fact that you're mine." Jerry dragged me close. "I'd kiss you, but I can see you took special care with your lipstick."
"Can the attitude." I shoved against his chest. "You are not, repeat, not rubbing Rafe's nose in anything. If you can't swear to be charming to my friend, I'll trail Penny on my own and you can be alone this Saturday night." I put my hands on my hips.
Jerry held his own hands up in surrender. "It was reflex. Didn't mean a thing. But I'm going to hate the shifter for a long while yet, Gloriana. He had you and he wants to have you again. It's there in his eyes every time he looks at you. You deny that?"
I felt my cheeks grow warm. And Jerry had his answer. He shook his head.
"So, to please you, I'll keep my comments and my fists to myself. And even take you to his damned club because there's nowhere else for vampires to go and be served a decent beverage. But don't expect me to be friends with the shifter."
"No, obviously that's never going to happen." I touched his jaw and felt the tension there. "I know being around him keeps you pretty tightly wound. And I'm sorry for it, but he's in my life to stay."
"You've made that very clear." He grabbed my hand. "I know better than to ask you to make a choice. So I'm working on keeping my anger under control. For you." He looked down at the shadow between my breasts and then up to my lips. "Damn, but I want to kiss you."
"Go ahead. And thanks. For trying, Jerry. It means a lot to me." I smiled and pulled his head down to mine. "I can always redo my lipstick in the car." I gave him a deep and satisfying kiss. Maybe not a smart move. It got Jerry going and might make us too late to catch Penny and Josh. But we finally came up for air and ran down the stairs. We were just in time to see Josh help her into that black SUV.
"Don't you want to go to your frat's party?" Penny was asking as he held the door for her.
"Naw. It's always the same old, same old. And that's getting to be a drag. Nothing but kegs and a DJ with the music too loud and everybody getting drunk. How about we go somewhere we can talk?" Josh slammed the door and walked around the car, whistling.
Both of us saw Penny's disappointed look before she pasted on a smile as Josh got into the vehicle.
I turned to Jerry. "Damn it, what he just described was the perfect frat party. The kind Penny's been dying to finally attend. Go somewhere to talk is code for 'Let's go parking and make out.'"
"How do you know that?" Jerry stared down at me.
"Never mind. Just run and get the car and pick me up here. I'm going to watch and see which way he goes." I tapped my foot. Damned user frat boy. Not go to his own party? It didn't take a mind reader to see where this was headed. Penny was going to be so upset and I had a feeling she'd already figured the whole thing out.
She'd told me she hadn't read his mind before. Well, I bet she was paging through that dipstick's frontal lobe right now. And getting steamed. No way should she be alone with him once he stopped the car. I anxiously watched the car head down Sixth Street. It turned right several blocks down just as Jerry roared up in his own SUV, black of course.
I jumped in the passenger side and told him where to turn. It didn't take us long to catch up but we stayed a few cars back. Josh's car had tinted windows and it was impossible to see what was going on inside, but I soon had a pretty good idea where they were headed and I couldn't believe it.
"Jerry, they're going back to where that creep dumped Penny, the hilltop where he abandoned her the night she was turned."
"You're kidding me. The man has to have shit for brains. What woman would find that romantic?" Jerry reached over and took my hand. "Do you think Penny suggested it?"
"Had to. If she's read his mind, she's bound to have figured out that Josh is a loser with some insecurities." I realized I was grinding my teeth.
"Insecurities? What do you mean?" Jerry made a turn as we left the main highway and followed a narrow track up the hill. He turned off his headlights, not really needing them with his vamp vision and clearly getting off on playing private eye as he tailed Josh.
"The guy obviously likes Penny, but doesn't have the guts to be seen with her. Because she's not the same size six that most girls the frat boys date are." I sighed and looked out the window as we bounced along, noticing the brush and trees that lined the rutted road. The isolation was either creepy or romantic depending on your agenda.
"That's ridiculous. She's very attractive. I've always been partial to redheads." Jerry reached over and tugged at one of my curls. "After blondes, of course."
"Thanks. But you're old-school, Jer. Bless your blind eyes and Neanderthal outlook. Josh is a twenty-first-century guy and he wants someone model-thin on his arm. At least in front of his posse." I ran my tongue over my fangs, down at the thought of that idiot's attitude and how he was hurting Penny. My vulnerable fledgling's new fangs were probably already aimed at Josh's jugular. And she'd drain him dry unless we got there in time to stop her.
"He's ashamed to be seen with our Penny?" Jerry's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "That bastard! I'll teach him to toy with a woman's affections."
We were nearing the clearing where Penny had lost her mortality. Sure enough, she and Josh were already out of the car and he was lying flat on the ground, staring up at her like he couldn't believe she'd managed to put him there. Jerry pulled the car to a stop and we both jumped out.
"Stop! Penny, what are you going to do?" I ran up to her. Jerry was on her other side but neither of us touched her. She had tears running down her cheeks and a shoe in each hand.
"Help! The chick's gone psycho on me. First, she says let's go park, then she throws me to the ground and threatens me."
"Death by Payless?" I snickered. "Were you scared, fella? How'd a little thing like Penny manage to throw you anywhere?"
"Caught me by surprise is all." Josh wouldn't look at us. He just got to his feet, keeping a good distance between himself and Penny, and brushed off his expensive khakis. "What are you doing here? Oh, never mind. Guess that's obvious. This is a prime make-out spot. But I'm not letting her get in my car again. Can you take her home?"
"You thinking of abandoning your date? Up here?" Jerry grabbed Josh by the front of his designer shirt.
"What else can I do? She's nuts. Look at her. She tried to put a high heel into my skull." Josh's eyes were saucers as he focused on Jerry. "Uh, what the hell's going on here?" He'd finally noticed Jerry's fangs. And, yes, they were huge.
"I'd say you are about to enjoy a little payback for disrespecting Miss Penny here." Jerry lifted Josh by his shirt and deposited him in front of Penny. "Do what you will, Penny. I certainly won't stop you."
"Jerry! I'm supposed to be mentoring Penny. 'What you will' sounds a little too much like carte blanche." I put my hand on Penny's shoulder. She was shaking.
"You think I'm going to kill him?" She managed a laugh. "As if."
"What? Kill me? No, hell no." Josh struggled but Jerry wasn't letting him go. When the fancy shirt ripped, Jer just shifted his grip to the man's arms, which made Josh screech.
"Settle down. It'll only hurt for a short while. Then . . . nothing. If you're lucky." Jerry smiled at me. "Gloriana, I believe you were given a description of hell recently. Will Josh here enjoy it?"
"Doubt it. Seems there are all kinds of upgrades. Fiery furnace is out. New tortures are in. The punishment fits the crime." I gave Josh a thorough head to toe. "Nice-looking. Demons will go for you. So I'd guess if you're an asshole in life . . . ? Well, I just don't want to think about what the lowlifes in hell would think you'd earned as your reward down there." I had no pity to spare for Josh as he began gulping back sobs.
"He was ashamed to be seen with me, Glory." Penny dropped her shoes and stepped into them, then turned to look at me, her eyes bleak. "That theater in a mall halfway across Austin? To a movie that none of his frat brothers would be caught dead seeing? It was all so no one would catch him with that fat girl he'd invited to the Ugly Chick party."
"No, I didn't mean it. I liked that movie. It was the only place it was still playing." Josh took a big, watery gulp of courage. "You want to go to the party? Let's go. You and me, right n-n-now."
"Too little, too late." Penny wheeled around and got in his face. "Listen to me, Joshua. I can read your thoughts. Get it? Yeah, I'm a genuine freak. Something you've never seen before. And something you won't remember after I get through with you." She glanced at me. "I haven't totally lost my mind, Glory."
"Good to know." I stayed out of this, pretty sure Penny was in control.
"F-f-freak?" Josh craned his neck, trying to get another look at Jerry's fangs. His eyes rolled back in his head and I thought he was going to faint, but he had more stones than I'd given him credit for. He gasped when he glanced back at Penny. Now she was letting her own fangs show and they were glistening in the moonlight.
"Yep, I'm a vampire. Newly made the night you dumped me out here." She poked him in his chest. "I drink blood and your type is extra delicious." She opened her purse, pulled out a timer, set it and handed it to me, then jerked his hand to her mouth and sank her fangs into the vein at his wrist.
"My God! My God!" Josh screamed and the sound echoed over the hilltop.
"Got to admit, he's taking this better than I would have thought," Jerry said conversationally.
"Yes, and Penny is keeping her head." I patted her on the back. "Good job, fledgling."
Josh stared at me wild-eyed. "This is not happening. Bad acid. Maybe one of the guys slipped something into my water bottle."
"Sure, Josh, that's it." I grinned and winked. "And that sucking sound Penny is making? That's a vampire version of a hickey on your wrist. You headed up here with the bright idea that you could make out with her, then take her home. Maybe take it all the way this time. Fat chicks have to be desperate. Am I right?"
"No. I offered to take her somewhere." He jerked when the timer buzzed.
Penny dropped his arm and raised her head, sighing with pleasure before she took the timer from me, opened her purse and dropped it in. Then she pulled out a wipe, tore it open and blotted the blood off her mouth.
"Delicious. What a shame this didn't work out. I was sure he'd make a good pet. But who needs this kind of douche bag for any purpose?" She glared at Josh. "Yes, he offered to take me somewhere. Let's see. Bowling at a lane on the other side of Austin. Or maybe we could hit a game room, same area." She closed her purse with a snap. "Meanwhile, all his buds are living it up at the frat house with a live band, no DJ, and open bar. Forget the keg."
"How did you - " Josh winced when Penny jabbed a finger into his midriff.
"Shut the hell up, you lying loser. My sister is going to that party. My twin sister. I thought we'd meet up there. Guess we won't now." She abruptly turned her back on him so that he wouldn't see the tears that suddenly filled her eyes. "I've had enough fun. Let's get out of here."
"Two things you need to do first, Penny." I was still in mentor mode. "Remember?"
"Oh, yeah." She blinked, then turned and grabbed his wrist. He tried to wrench free but it was useless. She sneered, then licked the puncture marks closed and they disappeared. Finally, she sighed. "I really wish he could remember this. The whole lesson."
"Let me take over." I gently moved her out of the way. I stared into Josh's eyes until he was under the whammy. "Josh, you brought Penny to this hilltop thinking to score but she told you off. Told you that she had figured out you were a loser and she could do way better. Then she got a ride home with friends who'd followed her up here so she wouldn't have to waste another minute with you." I turned him toward his car. "Now you're going to get in your SUV and you're driving straight to the frat house. There you're going to tell all your frat brothers and everyone else at the party that your heart is broken because the beautiful Penny Patterson dumped you on your sorry ass. Got that?"
"Penny dumped me? Heartbroken. Must tell all the brothers." Josh nodded and walked to his car. He started it and headed down the gravel road.
"Wow. He'll do it? He'll tell the whole frat that we dated and I dumped him?" Penny was actually smiling now.
"Yes, indeed. Our power of suggestion isn't. A suggestion, anyway. It's a command." I hooked my arm through hers and shared a smile with Jerry. "Now get in the car and fix your face. Jerry and I are taking you to N-V with us. You look too cute to waste it and I want to dance. I bet Trey gets a break sometime tonight and he'll want to dance too."
I gasped when Penny crushed me to her in a hug. "Glory, how can I ever thank you? I thought this was going to be the worst night of my life and you just turned it around."
"The night is young." I climbed into the car and checked my own lipstick in the makeup mirror. What a rush. First time to do that in a car. Jerry winked at me, easily reading my mind. Too bad it reminded me of the demons and that issue yet to resolve.
"Yes, Penny, Gloriana and I have learned that a night can turn to crap in a heartbeat." Jerry patted my knee, then started the car.
"Amen to that, Jer. Amen to that." I sighed and put my lipstick away. It would be too much to hope that we could just enjoy an uneventful night out.