Читать книгу Love Me Forever - Rosemary Laurey - Страница 10

They both stared at her as if she’d sprouted pumpkins from her ears. She recognized that look in Christopher’s eyes. “We are going to do something, right?”

Justin spoke first. “There’s nothing to be done.” He paused. “Not now. Maybe later.”

“Later?” Dixie waited for clarification. She managed, but only just, not to fold her arms and tap her foot. This was an elder vampire she was dealing with, not a recalcitrant third grader.

“Dixie, I know you’re thinking!” Christopher said. Unfortunately, that was completely true. She veiled her thoughts. Fat lot of good it did now as he frowned at her. “We can’t just barge in on his territory and offer them asylum. It doesn’t work that way.”

“Okay, how does it work?”

“Diplomatically.” Dixie raised her eyebrows at Justin’s reply. He went on. “Precipitous action, even if well-intentioned, would only backfire and result in the vampire equivalent of a territorial invasion. I just went to a lot of trouble to establish boundaries. They need to remain.”

“And so those poor women remain too?”

He shook his head. “For now, yes.” Okay, he’d pontificated before about time and immortality but even so. “It will be taken care of, Dixie. But not by us.”

“Who?” She heard Kit gave a gasp of exasperation. Okay, maybe she was pushing it, but the thought of those two women in eternal bondage…

“Someone who has influence with Vlad.” Justin paused.

“Gwyltha.” The leader of their colony. The woman who’d broken Justin’s heart. “I’ll talk to her when I get home. She has even stronger feelings than you in this matter, Dixie.”

“She’ll stop him?”

“If anyone can, she will,” he replied.

Dixie nodded. “I know.” Much as she hated to sit back and wait, she’d been vampire long enough to know Gwyltha’s powers far exceeded her own.

“Let her handle it, Dixie. Don’t go rushing off on a rescue mission.”

Christopher’s words irritated beyond measure. “I don’t rush off on rescue missions. I plan them in advance!” She stomped out into the kitchen and stared at the never-used stove. She trusted Justin. If he said Gwyltha would handle it, she would. But something burned deep in Dixie’s soul at the thought of those two ghouls…or were there perhaps more?

The whole thing seemed preposterous. Okay, Vlad and Justin barely tolerated each other, but the two times she’d met Vlad, he’d not struck her as evil. Not as books and movies implied. Powerful, intense and stubborn as any other male on the planet, yes. But if Justin said he’d seen ghouls, he had. He’d been willing to deal with Vlad to ensure she and Christopher had safe territory. The least she could do was follow his advice.

She’d let Gwyltha handle this. At least for now.

“Are you all right.”

Dixie turned at Christopher’s words. He stood in the doorway, arms folded, eyes dark with worry. “I will be.” She stepped closer and let him wrap her in his arms.

“Sure about that?”

She had to smile. He sounded so concerned. “Yes. I’m sure…Each time I discover the existence of another mythical creature, it gets easier to believe.”

He stroked her head as he held her close. “Oh, Dixie, what did I drag you into?”

She looked up at him. “By my reckoning, there wasn’t much dragging. I was the one chasing across England after you!”

“But you had no idea what you were chasing after.”

“I knew what you were. I knew you were in danger and I loved you.” She kissed him. “That was enough.”

He kissed her back, his lips sure against hers as her mouth opened, his hands, in her hair and against her back, holding her flat against him. Her body responded as always, molding into his as if absorbing his old strength. “I’ll never get enough of you,” he said into her hair.

“Good.” She grinned up at him. “I know Justin needs to feed, and hospitality and all that, but please don’t stay out late.”

He grinned back. “As if I could, with you waiting for me.” His lips touched her forehead with a soft promise of later. “And Dixie…” He paused, smoothing her mussed hair. “Trust Justin in this.”

She would, up to a point. “How different are ghouls from us? How can you tell one by sight?”

“I’ve no idea, Dixie. I’ve never encountered one.”

Not in four hundred years! “But I thought…” What did she think? “I mean surely…”

“Dixie, when would I? Before I met you, I seldom strayed much beyond the colony, other than to make a presence wherever I lived. I never traveled except to change abode and the odd trip to see Tom, wherever he happened to be. We had reunions in Yorkshire every twenty-five years or so, or when a new vampire was created. But contact with other colonies—virtually never. We don’t permit the making of ghouls, so I never saw one.”

“But Justin knew. At least enough to recognize one, or rather two.”

“He’s been around longer than I have.” Right! Well over a millennium more. “You’re still worried about them.” It wasn’t a question. Christopher knew her too darn well.

“I can’t not worry.”

“Mom, please hurry up!”

“I’m hurrying,” Stella replied. Heck, she’d already stabbed herself half-a-dozen times. She couldn’t sew any faster.

“Everyone’s going to be out ahead of me!” Sam hopped from one socked foot to the other. The combination of vampire cape, white face paint, navy tee-shirt and Rugrats underwear was novel to say the least—almost worth a picture, but she doubted he’d cooperate for that one.

“Give me fifteen minutes, Sam. Go set the timer on the microwave and I bet I’ll beat the clock.”

He scampered off, obviously delighted to be the one timing her for a change, and Stella took the chance to sew in peace. She’d shortened the cape last week, but forgotten all about the pants which looked as if they had about four years’ growing room. Still, it was easy to pull in the elastic at the waist, and now she was tacking up the legs against the clock.

It wasn’t the finest sewing job but Stella figured it would outlast the evening. “Come on, Sam,” she called, “want to go out?”

He barreled into the living room, cape flying behind him, and had his pants pulled on in seconds flat. It took only a little longer to pull on his sneakers and snap the velcro tight. “All ready, Mom.” He grabbed up his empty pillowcase. “Let’s go!”

She crammed her disposable camera into her pocket, grabbed her keys and followed Sam out into the evening. She could almost taste the excitement in the air. Knots of children and parents wandered up and down the street, cautiously avoiding the end of the next block. No parent in their right mind took their kids up there. People were still talking about the trouble up there a few nights back. One of the older Day boys, in the middle of trouble as always, insisted a winged devil had attacked the lookouts. The entire neighborhood—including strict fundamentalist Mrs. Briggs—now held a passing admiration for winged devils.

Stella took Sam up both sides of the block and no farther; then she bundled him in the back of the car and insisted he wear his seat belt, as all good vampires did.

She parked in the Giant Eagle car park—they could hardly begrudge her the space given how much she spent on groceries—and she and Sam walked back and forth from Jaeger to Fifth, all the while making their way northward to the little shop on the corner of Jackson. By the time they were in sighting distance, Sam had a pillowcase of loot and Stella half-wondered if it was time to go home. No, she’d promised to stop by. It was just that…

She knew precisely what caused her to drag her feet. Justin! Not that it was his fault. It was all hers. A couple of nights back, Justin had starred in an incredibly vivid and downright erotic dream. She’d woken up panting and wet. Her wild imagination had rounded off the night with a most spectacular daydream, and now she was scared she’d blush when she met Justin face-to-face.

And so she should. The man had been a perfect gentleman and she’d turned him into a sex object! She’d just have to bite the bullet and get a hold of herself. She only hoped she could look him in the eye without imagining how his lips tasted, or how his cool fingertips felt on her…

“Come on, Mom!” Sam ran back to grab her hand. Stella pushed her inappropriate fantasies to the very basement of her mind and let Sam tug her the rest of the way.

Light spilled over the street from the open door. Kit sat by the steps, wearing knee boots and full-sleeved pirate shirt and looking as if his eye patch was part of the outfit. He dared passersby to come in—if they weren’t scared of vampires.

“I’m not scared,” Sam announced.

“Of course not,” Kit agreed. “You’re one yourself. Whoever heard of someone being scared of themselves?” Sam giggled.

“On the other hand,” Kit went on, “what if you scare away all our customers?”

Sam shook his head. “No one’s scared of kids!”

Kit bent close. “Why don’t you go in and find out?”

Sam needed no second invitation. He skipped up the steps into the packed shop. Given the size of the shop, ten was a crowd and Stella figured there were twice that many: kids with parents, a cluster of goth-clad twenty-somethings and a bunch of teenagers, a bit too old for trick-or-treating, but lapping up the atmosphere. And it was some atmosphere. A wispy cobweblike curtain cut off the back of the shop. One by one the teenagers took turns venturing beyond it while the others waited and listened to shrieks and yells. For the less brave, rows of bright, red apples hung from a ceiling beam. As Sam watched, mesmerized, a young woman tried to bite an apple as it swung and dangled just beyond reach.

“Thanks for coming.”

Stella turned to Dixie who was wearing a grown-up version of Sam’s cape. “Thanks for asking us and thanks a million for the costume. I still feel I owe you.”

She shook her head. “Let Sam hang around a while and advertise for us and we’re quits.”

“I think my trouble will be getting him to leave.” Sam was already edging his way over to the cobwebby curtain, scared but fascinated by the shrieks from behind.

Just then two wide-eyed teenage girls came out. “That’s scary!” one of them said just as Justin appeared on their heels.

He, like Dixie, wore a long black cape. It accentuated his height and dark looks. He gazed around the shop, his eyes seeming to search her out of the crowd, and smiled. Stella smiled back. She hadn’t meant to do so quite that eagerly, but the sight of him brought back her erotic dream and she half-suspected she was grinning.

“Anyone else dare to venture into the vampire’s realm?” Justin asked. A couple of the boys nudged each other but no one volunteered.

“I do!” Sam piped up.

“You don’t want to,” one of the girls said. “It’s too scary for a little kid like you.”

Sam gave her a look that showed how he felt about being dubbed a little kid. “I’m not a little kid,” he said. “I’m a vampire kid!”

Justin’s mouth twitched. He gave Stella a fast glance that seemed to ask, “Okay with you?”

“Fine,” she replied and realized he hadn’t spoken but she’d understood.

Justin smiled down at Sam’s upturned face and bright eyes. “Sure about this?”

Sam nodded. “Sure. Us vampires stick together.”

Justin glanced across to where Stella stood beside Dixie. Any signal from her and he’d have refused, but he sensed her agreement. Now that was scary! “That’s right. Vampires unite!”

Sam giggled and took Justin’s offered hand. It was Sam’s utter trust that humbled Justin. That and the swift young heartbeat that walked beside him as he parted the dark curtains and led Sam between the stacks of books and into the storeroom beyond. “Can you keep a secret?” he whispered as he opened the door.

“You bet!” Sam raised two fingers and drew them across his chest. “Cross my heart, hope to die.”

How lightly the young speak of dying! Come to that, how lightly mortals speak of vampires. But Dixie had been right, vampires brought in the crowds. “Can we go?” Sam tugged at his hand.

Justin opened the door to the darkened room. Keeping hold of Sam’s hand, he pulled the door closed and flicked on the light. Sam blinked in the sudden brightness. “Here’s where I share my secrets,” Justin said and took Sam over to the bowl of cooked spaghetti. “Monster guts.” Sam ran his hands through them and poked the half grapefruit, or ogre’s eye. Justin lifted him up to touch the strands of wet string that hung from in the doorway. “They hit people in the face,” Justin explained, “and scare them.” Sam had been short enough to walk under them.

Sam lapped it all up. Delighting in the frozen, water-filled, rubber glove hands of the corpse and the bowl of raw egg white dubbed “werewolf blood.” “Want to try them with the lights out?” Justin asked. Sam did, keeping tight hold of Justin with his free hand.

“It’s not scary when you know what it is,” he confided.

“But remember, it’s a secret.”

Sam nodded. “That’s right! Vampires unite!”

What had he started? Still, it was fun to see the amazement on the cocky teenagers’ faces when Sam strolled out smiling.

“Hey! I bet he didn’t go through the whole thing,” one of the girls said.

“I did!” Sam wasn’t letting that insinuation on his manhood pass. “I did it all: the ogre’s eye, the monster’s guts, the corpse. I wasn’t scared.”

Maybe not, but Stella looked worried. Justin needed to talk to her. Kit had come in while he’d shared trade secrets with Sam. “I’ll take over a while,” Kit said. Justin didn’t wait for him to offer twice. He crossed to Stella, as Kit started his spiel. “Any of you lads got the courage of a nine-year-old?” It was an affront no one could ignore. Kit took the first two through the gap between the stacks. Good thing Sam had helped replace the thawing corpse hands with fresh ones.

“I brought him back safe and sound,” Justin said, just in case Sam’s grin and sparkling eyes weren’t enough to reassure Stella.

“So I see.” She gave Sam a hug and Justin found himself in the ludicrous position of stifling a stab of envy. Come off it. She was hugging her son! It was just…He knew exactly what it was. He’d been longing for her touch again since he’d climbed his way into her bedroom. The sound of her heartbeat had him longing for a taste of her sweet blood.

“Thanks.”

She wouldn’t be thanking him if she could read his thoughts.

“Sam was my assistant.”

Sam repeated the “vampires unite” line. “It was fun, Mom.” His young eyes scanned the room. “Hey, can I bob for apples?”

Justin looked at Stella. “All right with you?”

“Can he reach them?” she asked. The teenagers were having a hard time getting to them.

“If I hold him.”

She hesitated about two seconds. “Go for it, Sam!”

Stella smiled to herself as Justin swung Sam up on his shoulders as easily as if he’d been a bag of cookies. Sam looked beyond cute, cape billowing behind him and Justin stood within easy reach of the apples. She just had to get a picture. Climbing onto a chair tucked in one corner, Stella angled herself just right and got a great snap between the crowd just as Sam grabbed a bright red apple in his teeth.

A couple of people turned at the flash but most eyes were fixed on Sam and Justin. As Justin set Sam on his feet, still with the apple between his teeth, a little girl dressed as Snow White came forward. For a while Justin did the honors of the apple grab, but he soon left it to Dixie to referee and made his way over to Stella.

“This is some evening,” he said. “I’m glad you came and brought Sam.”

“So am I,” Stella replied.

“Me too,” said Sam through a mouthful of apple. She suspected a couple of candy bars had sneaked out of his pillowcase into his mouth, if a chocolate smear on his lower lip was anything to go by.

“Chew first, before you talk, Sam.”

He chewed fast. “This has been the best Beggars’ Night ever,” he announced once his mouth was empty, “and I have the best costume.” He grinned up at Justin. “I wish I really were a vampire.”

Stella just caught the questioning flicker in Justin’s dark eyes. “What makes you say that, Sam?” he asked.

“I could wear a cape like this to school.” He swirled it right and left as he spoke. In the crowded shop he missed the full effect. “Never mind,” he went on with a shrug. “They are just make-believe anyway.”

Justin’s eyes wrinkled at the corners as he smiled. “Certain about that are you?”

“Oh, yes!” Sam nodded. “My mom told me.”

Justin looked her square in the eyes. She sensed outright interest and an odd emotion she couldn’t quite place. “Don’t believe in vampires? What’s this?” He flapped a corner of his cape.

“Beggars’ Night fun!” she replied. “And speaking of that…I think it’s time the littlest vampire was going home.”

Sam’s pout suggested he disagreed.

“I agree,” Justin replied. “Where’s he going to sleep tonight?” He looked at Sam. “Are you one of those coffin-sleeping vampires?”

“No!” Sam shook his head. “I sleep in a bunk bed.”

Justin smiled. Lord, that smile could melt chocolate.

“Good idea. I always thought the coffin bit was odd. Has to be cramped. Tell me, are you flying or walking back?”

Sam giggled. “We came in the car. Mom parked in the Giant Eagle.”

“May I walk with you back to the Giant Eagle?” Justin asked Stella. And waited.

She sensed he was asking for more than a few blocks’ stroll down the narrow brick streets. “Fine,” she replied and at once wondered why she hadn’t refused. Because Sam was grinning like a drunken Dutchman at the prospect, that’s why.

“Neato!” he said, jumping up with both fists clenched.

“That’s what I thought,” Justin replied. “This way your mother has two vampires to look after her. With all these goblins and I-don’t-know-what about, you can’t be too careful.”

“Don’t they need you to help here?” she asked. She didn’t need anyone to look out for her. Never had and wasn’t about to start now.

“The crowd’s thinning,” Justin said. “I believe Dixie and Kit, between them, can cope with anyone left here.”

So she ended up walking down Fifth Street flanked by two vampires. And oddly, she did feel safe with Justin. Hadn’t he taken care of the Day boys? Something about his presence convinced her he would keep her and Sam from harm. That was a dangerous thing to get used to. Sam had no such reservations. He had the costume of his dreams and a sack full of candy…At nine years old that was pretty close to heaven. They turned left on Lansing and walked side by side down the street towards the car park and her car.

“It looks weird,” Sam said. Sam was right and Stella saw why. Three tires were flat and the car sagged backwards from the one good tire.

“What in heaven’s name!” Justin muttered.

“Mischief night!” Stella groaned it. She was close to tears. Not this! There was no way she could afford a set of new tires.

“Mom, this wasn’t an accident. I bet someone did this!” Sam sounded outraged. “How could they!”

“Never mind,” Justin said. “Let’s get you and Sam home so he can get to bed. Then Kit and I will take care of the car.”

“It will need new tires.” She could hear the panic in her voice.

“Stella,” Justin rested his hand on her arm, “it’s only a couple of tires.”

He had to be rich to think of three brand new tires as “only”! “It’s all I have to get to work!”

“It can be fixed. What matters most? Getting Sam home safely or standing here, fixating about three useless tires?” She couldn’t deny he had a point. “I’m taking you home.”

He did. In Kit and Dixie’s Mercedes. Now Sam had yet another highlight to the evening. So, come to that, did she! It was nice to relax back on real leather and purr through the streets. Not that the surrounding luxury could ease her worry about getting her own car running again. Okay, Justin and Kit might get it fixed but she still had to scratch up the money to pay for it. As they turned onto her street, Sam discovered the automatic windows and was waving to everyone like an emperor in his carriage.

Justin eased into the curb. Stella pushed back the longing to ride longer in this cocoon of expensive engineering. Before she could hanker after it another minute, she opened her door and Sam’s. Bad timing. As she closed Sam’s door, Johnny Day and a couple of buddies sauntered up.

“Well, Stella, if that ain’t a fucking pimpmobile you come home in! Got yourself a rich…”

The last word came out as a gurgle. Justin had him by the throat. Eyes bulging and feet dangling a few inches off the ground, Johnny Day, the scourge of the neighborhood was rendered speechless. “You do not speak to a lady that way. Do you understand me?” Something that could have been “yes, sir” burbled out from Johnny’s mouth. Sam stepped closer to Stella and grabbed her hand. “I will not permit it! Don’t ever forget!”

Johnny nodded as the sharp tang of urine filled the evening.

“He peed his pants!” Sam had meant to whisper it, Stella was certain, but the night air amplified his young voice.

“No shit!” said one of the others.

“You don’t say that in front of a woman or a child!” Justin went on, still holding Johnny.

Then it hit Stella: Justin believed that! He lived in a world where gentlemen didn’t swear in front of ladies. Were they light years apart!

He let Johnny down, not particularly gently, but he did allow him to land on his feet.

“God, man! You nearly strangled me!” The words came tight and muffled.

“Consider yourself fortunate I didn’t,” Justin replied.

“Now scarper, the lot of you!”

Stella figured “scarper” meant disappear. Johnny Day and his cohorts made the same assumption. Sam was grinning enough to split his face at the sight of the neighborhood tormentors running like spooked rabbits.

“You need a burglar alarm system with yobs like that about,” Justin said as they stepped through the front door.

“I need a lot of things,” she agreed, “but new tires will have to come first.”

“Right.” Justin paused just a second. “Give me your car keys and we’ll take care of that. I doubt we can do it overnight. Let me take you to work tomorrow. With a bit of luck, we can have your car ready by the time you finish.”

The thought of not having to cope with tire dealers, to say nothing of calling and waiting for the tow truck, seduced her. “I need to be there at nine.”

“What about Sam getting to school?’

“He rides the bus.”

“Yeah! And if I don’t get to bed, I’ll never get up in the morning!” They both turned at Sam’s contribution to the conversation. “Mom, I’m going upstairs. Come give me a kiss when you’re ready. ’Night, Dr. Corvus.”

When would surprises cease? Stella stared as Sam went upstairs, toting his pillowcase behind him. “He never goes off to bed on his own like that.”

“Maybe, he decided I needed you to myself.”

Stella’s throat went dry, as something stirred deep inside her. “Why would you need that?” Dumb, dumb question. She wasn’t that far out of the loop!

He chuckled, deep, slow and sexy. If she’d had any smarts she’d have run a mile. Obviously, she had no smarts. She wanted to be kissed senseless by Justin Corvus, to be held by strong arms that could hold a child and terrorize a thug, to listen to his rich voice whisper in her ear. She didn’t remember stepping into his embrace but could barely recollect her life before he pulled her close and locked his arms around her. She lifted her face to his, heart racing and lips parted in anticipation.

Anticipation was nothing! Her mind went off in a wild spiral of desire as his lips parted hers. She pressed herself against him, relishing the feel of a hard male body, the force of his chest against her breasts and the strength in his legs. His tongue found hers and she forgot all about his body, could only concentrate on his kiss.

Two could play that game! She matched him thrust for thrust and stroke for stroke. Meeting his desire with more. He was strength and comfort and need and want and he offered more than she’d ever dreamed. Or had she never had time to dream?

She didn’t care, not with his hand on her breast. She gave her mind over to Justin and pleasure, angling her head back as he pressed a row of soft kisses down her neck. Her legs went soft with need and heat. Only his arms held her upright as he slowly licked the base of her neck. She clutched his sweater and gave a little moan as wild, sweet pleasure invaded her brain.

She could still stand. She’d half-expected to collapse in a boneless heap on the floor.

“I’ve got to leave, Stella,” Justin said. “I’ll wait outside while you lock up, and I’ll be back to pick you up in the morning.” She nodded. She wasn’t too sure she could get her mind around words. “See you then.”

“Wait!” She managed that much. Should she get adventurous and try a whole sentence? “Justin, thanks for bringing us home, and giving Sam such a great time and…” She paused, not sure if she wanted to say, “For kissing me witless!”

He seemed to understand. “The feeling’s mutual. Don’t worry about the car. Kit and Dixie have business contacts here. We’ll find someone to give you a good deal.”

The street was clear when he left. That was a relief! She’d half-expected Johnny Day to be messing up Justin’s car, but they were nowhere in sight. Seemed a man ready to stand up to them was all it took to intimidate that bunch. She locked the door and went upstairs to tuck Sam in for the night.

He was half asleep. “Do you like Dr. Corvus, Mom?” he asked. What a question! And one she should have expected. “He’s been a good friend.”

“Wish he was a real vampire.”

“They’re only make-believe, you know that.”

“I know.” He opened both eyes and smiled. “But he looked like a real one when he grabbed Johnny Day like that. Lifted him off the ground!” She’d noticed. For a few seconds she’d been scared Justin would go too far, but she knew in her heart he never would. Even hurting a street punk was something Justin would never do without extreme provocation. “Can’t wait to tell Tony, and everyone at school, how Johnny peed his pants on our sidewalk!”

She hoped there were no repercussions about that.

Stella fell into bed and all but collapsed into a deep sleep. If she’d overheard the conversation a few blocks away, she wouldn’t have slept so easily.

“I’m going to get her…and him,” Johnny Day hissed.

“Yeah?” Warty Watson, his right-hand man and part-time sycophant, muttered. He had a sore jaw from the punch he’d gotten earlier for laughing at Johnny’s stained pants.

“I’m gonna see to the bitch,” Johnny said. “She’ll get what’s coming to her.”

“And him,” Warty added. “You owe him too. What you gonna do?”

Johnny thought a minute. Thinking wasn’t his strongest point. “Plug her with lead!” he announced. “Shoot her dead. And him. Thinks he’s so great with that big car and that stuck-up voice.” He paused to smile. “Let’s see how he sounds as he gets bullet after bullet in his chest.”

“Maybe we should get them separate,” Warty suggested.

“One at a time like.”

Johnny thumped him between the shoulder blades. “Maybe we just will. Of course, we could get the kid first.”

Warty shook his head. Even he had his limits. “No, leave the kid. He’s harmless.”