They were all quiet a moment, considering.
“Let’s hope that isn’t the case,” Vlad said, “because I don’t know how we’d find him, especially if he doesn’t leave a scent trail.”
“Perhaps, my lady,” Russell began, “you could check to see if there is anyone in the city who shouldn’t be.”
I popped up. “Thank you. I got distracted by the car shopping. I meant to do this earlier tonight. You guys are easier to see when you’re awake. Talk amongst yourselves,” I said. “I’ll be back.”
I went into the house and lay down on the couch. Fergus followed me and squished his body between me and the back cushion. I had to scoot over to make room for my giant pup or risk my circulation being cut off.
I heard the murmur of voices on the patio, but it was low and easy to ignore. Eyes closed, I looked for the blips in my head that meant vampire. The three on the patio were the brightest, which could have been proximity, but probably had to do with them being the most powerful vamps in town. There was another glut of dark green blips in the nocturne. I scanned the city, slowly searching. I found the red blips of the dragons and the light green of the fae, most of whom were in either the ocean, Golden Gate Park, or the Mermaid’s Bubble Lounge. Having visited, I knew Nerissa and her whole staff at the nightclub were fae.
There were two vampires in Chinatown, one in North Beach, three South of Market where a number of bars and nightclubs are. After checking each of the six free-range vampires and recognizing them, I went back to the nocturne to see if there was someone new there. It took a while, but other than one mafia-type from New York, the rest were ones I remembered. None of them gave off unhinged killer vibes. I mean, any more than a regular vampire.
I opened my eyes to Fergus’ snores and Clive sitting in the leather chair opposite the couch, watching me. The patio door was now closed, and I didn’t sense anyone here with us.
“Where did everyone go?” I whispered
Clive crooked his finger at me, his gaze dark and intent. I grinned, giddy bubbles running through me. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to it. He was too perfect, too gorgeous. He made my knees weak. Doing my best impersonation of an eel, I slid my body over the edge of the couch, landing lightly on the floor and then crawling over to his chair.
“Yes?” Kneeling between his legs, I rested my arms on his thighs. “You called?”
His gaze traveled leisurely down my body before he crooked his finger again. “Closer.”
Grinning, I stood and climbed onto his lap, straddling his hips. “Yes?”
He put his hand on either side of my face and drew me in for a kiss that had me forgetting my own name. The world tipped and I was dizzy. When I finally came up for air, I realized Clive had his hands on my butt and was carrying me soundlessly up the stairs.
He took me into our bedroom, closed the door, and pressed me up against the wall before taking my mouth again. Reaching down between us, I palmed him and squeezed. On a growl, he tossed me on the bed and pinned me beneath himself.
“Are we alone?” I whispered.
Lips quirking up on one side, he looked over his shoulder, first in one direction and then the other. “You tell me,” he whispered back.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I drew him down for another kiss, using part of my mind to check the house. Alone.
I flipped us over, sat up, and unbuttoned his fancy shirt before running my hands over his perfect chest. “Sometimes,” I whispered, “I see you and my mouth goes dry.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Why are we whispering?”
“I don’t want to wake Fergus. Now, shush. I’m telling you something sweet.”
He nodded. “Right. Sorry. Do go on.”
I fluttered my fingers near my stomach. “Champagne bubbles dance through my body and I get lightheaded. It doesn’t seem real. This can’t be my life. I didn’t know I could love someone as much as I love you.” Embarrassed, I traced my fingertips over his abdominal muscles. “I’m not explaining this right.”
He rolled us back over and kissed me soundly before breaking it long enough to pull my shirt over my head. “What you seem to forget, my love, is that it’s the same for me, but I had to wait longer.”
He brushed my nose with his own. “You’re my own little miracle. I trudged through ages, keeping sacred the vengeance in my heart and then out of nowhere you appear, pulling at my heartstrings. Scared, brutalized, alone, and trying so hard to keep your chin up and be brave.”
Tucking a stray hair behind my ear, he kissed me softly, almost reverently. “Just because I cover it better doesn’t mean I don’t get lightheaded looking at you. You take my breath away.”
He shook his head. “It’s hard for me to make sense of everything that had to align in the universe for you to not only be put in my path, but to, against all reason, love me. Part of me is terrified that whatever twist of fate brought you to me will twist again and take you away.” He rested his forehead against mine. “I wouldn’t survive it. I wouldn’t want to.”
“Then I guess we’re going to have to take good care of each other so neither of us has to face the world without the other,” I whispered, my hands in his hair.
He lifted his head and kissed the tip of my nose. “Yes,” he said, leaving kisses along my cheek, my jaw. “Until I am a pile of dust and a distant memory, I will cherish this gift.”
His hand went under me and my bra disappeared. “I think it’s time I show my appreciation for your gifts,” he murmured, his hand caressing one breast while his kisses trailed down to the other.
