by Mary Abshire
"Do you want to go back to playing?" I pressed him. "You said you enjoyed it. I don't want you to give up what you love doing because of me. That wouldn't be right."
He chuckled, then pushed his plate forward as he leaned over the table slightly. "My sacrifices are well worth what I'm getting in return. I wouldn't change anything. Well, I would've preferred things to be less painful for both of us."
His words warmed my heart. We had a deal that would bind us for years, possibly until our deaths if I could give him children. Families often separated over time. I couldn't be certain we would or not, but until then we were going to spend many hours together. I wanted him to be happy and content as much as he wanted me to be. He'd endured pain and losses, too. He deserved to live the life he longed for. After his statement and the countless others he'd professed, I believed he was acquiring what he aspired to have.
I moved closer and bent slightly over the table. "And this return that you're getting, what is it exactly?" Although I knew the answer, I sought to hear it from him.
A grin slid across his face. He lifted his cup of java. "Mind-blowing sex with a blue-eyed half demon. What else would it be?" He finished his drink.
I dropped my jaw. "That's it?"
"Well, not exactly. Sex is part of it."
I straightened and crossed my arms. "Well, I guess I should help you find her. It sounds like you're going to have her occupied for quite some time."
He tilted his head a smidge while he gazed deep into my eyes. "I know where to find her. And yes, I plan to keep her fully engaged."
A spark of desire aroused me. "Fully?" I swallowed, trying to douse the flame.
"Completely." His lips twisted to form a sly smile. "I'm confident I can keep her…entertained."
My heart thumped faster while a need inside me strengthened. Based on what I'd seen earlier when he was in the shower, I was convinced he could fulfill his objectives, and mine. I hoped my wound would be healed in time.
"I agree," I said. "I believe you can fully entertain her."
Eyes rich with longing stared at me. He pressed his lips together while he inhaled a deep breath. His shirt tightened over his chest while his lungs expanded. Upon seeing a hint of his hard nipples, I was fairly certain he was equally aroused, probably more.
"Would you like anything else?" the waitress asked, standing at the side of our table. She had a thick French accent, but she spoke decent English.
I snapped out of my naughty thoughts and shifted my attention to her.
Jeremy stiffened. "Check, please."
The waitress gave a nod before she left. I grabbed my glass of water, then sipped it. The coolness of it helped quench the growing flame inside me. When I lifted my gaze to Jeremy, I found him staring at me. The spark hadn't left him yet.
"I think we should walk for a bit. Besides, I need to find a change of clothes for later," I said as I set my drink on the table.
Jeremy withdrew his wallet from his pants. "Good idea. We have time to kill anyway."
The waitress returned with the bill. Jeremy didn't bother checking it. He handed the lady his credit card, then she disappeared again. I nibbled on more of the biscuit until she returned with his card and receipts. After he filled in the small paper, we left the restaurant and headed out of the hotel.
The bright sun warmed my arms and face as we walked along the sidewalk. Shops had their doors open. The flower store ahead of us had a variety of colorful flowers sitting outside, ready for purchase. I smiled at the beautiful day.
Jeremy slipped his hand into mine. "Do you like flowers?" he asked as we passed the shop.
"They're okay to look at, but they die too fast."
"Did you know that you smell faintly of flowers?"
I came to a halt a few feet from the store. A memory of Drake and me in his condo in Chicago surfaced. He'd told me I had a soft floral scent.
"What's wrong?" Jeremy asked.
I slid my hand away from his, then looked at the shops across the street. "Drake mentioned something like that once."
The loss of Drake still hurt. Arms at my sides, I rubbed my thumb against the underside of my ring finger. The smoothness of my skin reminded me the ring Drake had given me was gone just as much as he was. I was committed to living a happy life, but I also felt a touch of heartache when I thought about him.
"Jessie," Jeremy took hold of my hand again. "I—"
"Come on," I said, tugging him toward the street. "There are a couple of clothing shops over here." I'd stopped him from sharing his sympathy with me because I didn't want to hear it anymore. I didn't want to hurt or feel sorrow. We had a few hours left in Paris. Why not enjoy them?
I waited until a car passed, then proceeded across the road. Jeremy held on as I pulled him with me. We walked between parked cars before reaching the sidewalk. One shop had clothes on display outside the entrance. Gripping Jeremy's hand, I encouraged him to go inside with me.
"I have to admit, I'm not familiar enough with shopping for women's clothes," Jeremy said as he looked around with me.
"Well, I typically don't wear a lot of dresses, but until my wound heals, this is the best option," I said.
He quickly surveyed the clothes before meeting my gaze. "Long or short?"
"Long for now."
The length of the dress only mattered to me because I had such a difficult time shaving. Without a doubt, I probably missed a few areas. Until I could move well enough, which should be soon, I was going to wear gowns that came to my ankles.
Jeremy pulled me to the back of the store. Several long, sleeveless dresses hung on the wall. They were cute, but the low neckline was a problem. My bandages would show.
"Those won't work," I said to him.
"Why?" he asked. "I think they would look good on you."
"The problem is the neckline."
He surveyed the gowns hanging, then looked at my chest. "Oh…right." A buzzing sound from his pocket stole our attentions. He dug inside and fished out his cell. Brows wrinkled, he answered, "What's going on, Shawn?"
While he was busy, I searched the area for similar items without a low neckline. Finding a round rack on the other side of the store, I decided we should venture over there.
"That's an excellent idea," Jeremy said. "Call me back when you're inside." He returned the phone to his pocket. "He's going to go into the apartment early so we don't run into any problems. He's taking one of the werewolves with him."
"Good idea," I said. "Maybe we can get out of here early then."
"He'll call me back in a little bit."
Excitement rushed through me. I'd soon get to send Viktor's soul to Hell. Then afterword, Jeremy and I could find a home to settle into. A sense of normalcy would return. First, I had to find a change of clothes.
I turned and pointed. "Let's check over here real quick."
We crossed to the other side, then stopped near the dresses that had caught my attention. I let go of his hand to sort through the garments on the rack. I found a short-sleeved red dress with a few white and black stripes in the center. Holding it up, the length stopped mid-calf.
"I like it," Jeremy said. "Your hair color goes well with it, too."
I checked the tag. The size showed medium. It would fit me loosely, which was fine, but the zipper was in the back. I'd have to have help putting it on.
"Do you think my sneakers will look silly with it?" I asked.
"No. I've seen a lot of women wear casual shoes with dresses. Just not at bars."
He gained a smile from me.
"Do you want to try it on?" he asked.
"Well, I'd need help."
"I can help," he said with a gleam in his eyes.
I hung the dress over my arm, then returned to scanning the rack. "Let me look for another first. It's always good to have a back up in case something is wrong with the first item."
Jeremy moved to the other side, then started rummaging through the dresses. As I searched through the gowns, I
spotted a deep purple, almost maroon, long dress with barely-there sleeves. The only problem with it was the low neckline. I considered wearing a black camisole underneath. I took the garment from the rack, then meandered around the store for a top to wear underneath it. I found a wealth of shirts to select from on another rack.
A lady who'd been behind the counter when we'd walked in approached us. Since I didn't know French well, Jeremy spoke to her.
"She wants to know if you'd like to try them on," he said.
"Yes, and you might want to let her know you have to help me."
He relayed the information, but paused briefly and looked at me. When he resumed speaking in French, he made a motion with his hand along the center of his chest. The lady nodded, then gestured for us to head to the back.
"What did you say?" I asked him as we followed her.
"I told her you had a heart condition and was cut open recently, so I have to help you."
"That's pretty quick thinking," I said.
The lady unlocked one of the changing rooms for us. I entered first, then Jeremy followed, closing the door behind him. We didn't have much space to move around, but we weren't bumping into each other either. A mirror hung on one of the walls. I hung the three items on a hook on the opposite side. A thin bench took up the space in the far back.
"This could be fun," he said as he stood close behind me and curled his arms around my waist. He bent to my ear. "Another time," he whispered.
He gathered my dress and lifted it while a tingle of desire warmed me. I raised my arms and he removed the gown over my head. He dropped my dress on the bench. Staring in the mirror, I checked the new bandage. He'd cleaned the dried blood and treated the torn area with antiseptic, but it could still bleed since the stitches weren't in place. Looking at it, the gauze appeared clean. But the big line of bandages going up the center of my body was an eyesore. I suddenly began to feel embarrassed and turned my back to Jeremy.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked.
I lifted my chin up, but I couldn't face him. "I'll be scarred for life. How can you even find me attractive?"
He gripped my shoulders and twisted me to face him. Then he captured my face in his hands and molded his lips to mine. When he thrust his tongue into my mouth, my knees became weak. The passion in his kiss shot my temperature through the roof. Longing burned within me. My nipples hardened while the area between my thighs became wet. He stroked my tongue fervently, rousing my need. I wanted him. I yearned for him to touch me and make wild love to me. But I couldn't just yet. I wasn't ready.
I pressed my hands against his chest. Taking the hint, Jeremy slowly withdrew his tongue, then removed his lips from mine. Staring into my eyes, his hungry gaze said plenty.
"I have always loved you and wanted you. A scar will not change anything. Given the chance, I'll prove it to you," he said.
He delivered a gentle kiss on my forehead, then took a step back, taking his hands with him. I couldn't help but look down. My stupid eyes had a mind of their own and knew where to look. They found what they were eager to see and I swallowed. A touch of heat rushed to my cheeks.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't mean to…"
"Yeah, well, it's not the first time and it won't be the last," he said as he scooted behind, then sat on the bench. Legs spread, he ran his arm across his forehead.
I stepped between his wide legs, then placed my hands on his cheeks. The demon was incredibly warm. I brought his gaze up to meet mine. "Give me time and I'll give you a chance."
He took hold of my hips. "Deal"
The sound of his cell buzzing shifted our attention. As Jeremy collected the phone from his pocket, I stepped back away from him. He checked the screen before he answered.
"How's it going, Shawn?" While he listened to the phone near his ear, his brows tightened, then he shot up. "What do you mean he's gone?"
My pulse quickened as I watched him.
"What kind of note?" he asked. After a pause, he looked at me. "Fuck." He lowered his gaze and turned away from me. He pressed one hand to the wall. "Okay, we're on our way. It might take twenty minutes."
My blood boiled while my heart pumped harder. Jeremy clenched his fist while he lowered the phone in his other hand. When he turned toward me, he had a red face covered with sweat.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Viktor wasn't there."
"How could he not be there?" I asked in an elevated voice. "They had the exits covered."
"I know. Shawn knows. They've looked around, sniffed around, and can't figure it out. It's like he just vanished."
"That's not possible."
"I know," he growled.
Perspiration formed above my brow as my temper grew. "I can't fucking believe this."
Jeremy sat on the bench. "It gets better."
"What?" I moved toward him.
"Shawn found a note from Nassar."
My eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding."
Disappointment showed as he lowered his gaze and shook his head. "We need to go. He wouldn't tell me what it said."
Rage and curiosity flowed through me. If I had the ability to run, I would've dashed out the door.
"Help me get dressed. We'll just buy the clothes and take them. I'm sure they'll fit anyway," I said.
Jeremy rose with my black dress in hand. As he helped put it over me, my thoughts ran wild. How had Viktor found Nassar? Had they known where to meet? Why would Nassar leave a note for me? Why couldn't the werewolves find where Viktor had gone? Nothing made sense and it infuriated me.
I couldn't leave Paris without sending Viktor's soul to Hell. Now that I knew Nassar was in town, too, I longed to claim his sprit as well. And if he was near, then the chances of finding Constantine had to be good. Maybe I would get the chance to destroy all the members of the VETOV. I hoped to find out soon enough.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Jeremy's phone instructed him to make a turn, so he did. We were on the west side of the city and, somewhere along the way, we'd passed the Tombe de Jim Morrison. If we both hadn't been anxious to get to Shawn, we would've stopped.
Traffic along the small streets added to our frustration. Few cars drove on the roads. If I had to guess, it was because most streets were one or two lanes in each direction. Motorbikes often passed us when we got stuck behind a slow vehicle. Jeremy honked, but the weak horn did nothing to promote the car in front to accelerate.
Jeremy rounded another corner after the GPS on his cell told him to. The narrow street had a few cars parked on one side, but mostly motorcycles took up the spaces. The buildings were three to four stories tall and had plenty of windows and patios. Flowerpots sat on ledges. We were definitely in a residential area.
Ryan stood on the sidewalk. Seeing us, he pointed down the road and across it. Jeremy's phone reminded us we'd reached our destination. The voice annoyed me. While he spotted a place to park, I took his cell and killed the GPS navigator. If only vampires were that easy to get rid of.
I handed Jeremy his phone after he withdrew the keys from the ignition. We'd spoken briefly during the drive, but he seemed too focused on speeding toward our destination, so I tried not to distract him. His tense body and the constant frown indicated an unhappy mood. It hadn't changed when he pushed open the car door.
Ryan helped me out of the vehicle. His touch instigated an itch that crawled up my arm.
"How did you get here so soon?" I asked.
"I just got here a few minutes ago," he said. "Shawn called me after he talked to Jeremy."
"Have you been inside?" Jeremy asked as Ryan and I came to join him on the street. Together, the three of his crossed the road.
"Not in the apartment," he said. "I went inside the building and looked around the main floor. There's only two exits and they're both on ground level."
The question that repeated in my mind and probably Jeremy's remained the same. How had the vamp gotten away?
We passed several windows with curtain
s drawn before we reached the entrance to one of the buildings. Ryan grabbed the handle, then pulled it.
Jeremy strode in first and surveyed the area. I followed behind him at a slower pace. A long staircase ascended on the far right while a hallway on the left extended to the back of the building. Underneath the stairs, small mailboxes were housed into the wall. I passed a door on the left, then continued until I reached a pair of elevators. Jeremy stopped at the glass door at the end of the hall. He looked around before he stepped outside.
"I don't know how this could've happened," Ryan said, then pushed the call button. "I wanted to be here in case one of my men fucked up. You know how Jeremy's temper can be."
Jeremy strode back into the building with a stern look on his face. I'd seen him enraged before, in Phoenix, and it wasn't a pretty sight. If it hadn't been for Ryan, I don't think Jeremy would've calmed.
"I saw a wolf hiding in the bushes," Jeremy said, then the elevator dinged. "He seemed well hidden until I approached him."
We entered the elevator and Ryan tapped a button on the panel.
"There was another man watching from a car on the street, two in the back and two in the front. Shawn was with the one in the front," Ryan said.
I gazed at my blurry image in the frosted gold walls of the elevator. I hadn't had time to change out of the black dress. We'd left the shop, then gotten the car from valet. My slightly wrinkled garment didn't look too bad since I'd slept in it, but I definitely needed to swap it for other clothes.
The elevator announced our arrival on the third floor before the door swept to the side. I stepped out and noted a window at the back end of the hall next to a staircase leading down. Heading away from the window, I followed Jeremy to an apartment on the right. If he'd kept walking, the hall led to the main staircase. The only two doors on the top floor led to flats.
Jeremy lightly tapped his knuckles on the door. A werewolf opened it, then gestured for us to enter. I walked behind Jeremy into the entryway of the unit. We proceeded to the left, passing a door leading to a closet, if I were to guess, then stepped into the living room. The furniture appeared to be intact. Cigarettes filled trays on the coffee table. Several bottles of liquor sat empty. The patio window overlooked the street we'd crossed. I spotted another small hallway if we continued passing through the room, but Jeremy decided to double back. Ryan had already disappeared with the werewolf who'd let us inside.
