* * * *
Cat was prepared for their appearance even before the elevator dinged, Matt called her from the car. She gestured the men into the room. “Entre.”
Rick peered over her shoulder. “Is that my Sleeping Beauty?”
“Yep. Two shots and she was out.”
Rick’s lips curled at one side. “I guess it’s a good thing she isn’t pregnant.”
Matt’s eyes went round and Cat gasped. “If she is, it can’t possibly be yours.”
Rick gave her a sardonic look. “She’s not pregnant. Do you scent any HCG? Increase in estrogen? Of course she’s not. One little virus and her hen friends are crocheting booties.”
Cat shrugged. “That’s what mortals assume when a girl is swept off her feet and returns from an exotic vacation.”
“They have no way of knowing you’re a vampire and vamps are sterile,” Matt pointed out.
“What about all those kiddos we’ve fostered over the years?” Rick winked. “We’ve kept a few colleges in business over the decades.”
Cat crossed her arms over her breasts. “Boys and girls?”
They both turned in complete innocence. “Of course.”
“Okay, then, but it’s still not the same as having a baby of your own.”
Matt turned to her. “Do you regret that?”
She shook her head. “It is what it is. There are tradeoffs for everything in life. So, no, I don’t regret it. And, if I have the yearning to mother, I always have you.”
Rick made gagging sounds. “T.M.I. newlyweds. It’s time I get my little princess to bed.” Rick bent and gently laid Anna over his shoulder—she never stirred. “See you fine people tonight.”
* * * *
Player greeted him with his usual doggie excitement when the elevator opened on the penthouse. He spoke to the dog as he walked through the apartment. “Yes, I missed you too. Let me put your mom in bed and I…” He stopped dead at the scent of Player on his sheets. “Jesus Christ, Player, Mom is sleeping on your side today, I prefer Eau de Cupcake.” Anna mumbled in her sleep and cuddled into the pillow as Rick covered her with the electric blanket.
Rick watched the dog circle three times, and then lay on the rug next to her. It was good to be back in his sanctum. Nothing like a bedtime snack to promote peaceful rest. He strolled to the kitchen and along the way, noticed the glass wall to the patio was left open. Pouring some O positive, he thought, it would be relaxing to enjoy a few minutes by the pool.
Predawn, the multicolored pool lights shifted as he stretched on the lounge chair and closed his eyes. The sky began to lighten, the tension on the street below radiated upward. Time for this party to move. He swallowed the last of his blood, and headed inside, picking up Anna’s wet towel, dropped at the threshold.
I didn’t realize she enjoyed the pool…she might enjoy the Malibu beach house…when Matt and Cat left it last year he remodeled it to be vamp friendly as well as a vacation property.
* * * *
Larry was up late today, but it was worth it to see the manufacturing process of Yamamoto’s Custom Jewelers. They were the only ones he would trust with the Fitzjarrald family dirk. He watched as the dirk was measured by the computer-aided design software. Painstaking measurements insured the historical piece would be reassembled in newly cast yellow and white gold, exactly as it looked today in the cursed yellow gold and sterling silver.
Mr. Yamamoto pointed to the image. “Lawrence, after this process, we will extract each jewel, clean it and mark it for resetting. The rendered images of your design will give you a clear sense of what the finished piece will look like. I must say, this carved emerald is exemplary use of a precious stone. I know you said it was seventy-seven carats, but we measure it at eighty-two.”
Larry moved in for a closer view. “It is glorious, isn’t it? An associate asked why anyone would carve an emerald, but I think the artisan did an inspired job. There will only be one revision to this design. On the blade, please engrave these words.” Larry handed Yamamoto a typed notecard. Lord, clothe me with the robes of innocence.
Mr. Yamamoto accepted the card and then gave him a puzzled look. “It is not my place to ask why you would go to such expense to recreate an object already in perfect condition. However, this is a costly project.”
Larry nodded. “Sir, do you believe in fables?”
The elderly Japanese man thought for a moment and nodded knowingly. “This piece means many things to your client. It is in good hands. Each of your requested steps will be performed to the letter.”
“One last thing. We’d like the old gold and silver sent to this address.” Larry handed a simple business card to the artisan. The card read, Tectonic Diving Consortium, with a San Francisco address.
“You realize you could off-set a great portion of your expense by selling me the discarded gold and silver?”
Larry nodded resignedly. “Each step of this process is to be carried out as my client has specified.”
Mr. Yamamoto bowed. “Your project should be completed within three to four weeks.”
Larry shielded himself from the now fully risen sun, and thought with satisfaction, that Rick’s family heirloom would soon be something he could handle with impunity. By the time the dirk was in Rick’s hands, the original gold and silver would be thirty-six thousand feet below the ocean in the Marianas Trench.
* * * *
Rick was home from Cincinnati a week, and Anna tried hard to overcome her natural biorhythms and sleep during the day when he rested. Rick wondered if that could be the cause of her preoccupation. She didn’t behave like her usual upbeat self. Maybe some time at the beach over the holidays would improve her spirits. He ordered the house opened and decorated for Christmas, and planned to surprise her with a getaway.
“Cupcake, are you awake?”
Anna cuddled into him, running her hands down his treasure trail. “Why? What did you have in mind?”
Rick hated to turn her down, but, “Ah, ah, none of that, we’re going on an adventure. Pack for a couple of weeks away.”
“Oooh. Pack what? Where are we going?”
“Pack layers and a swim suit.”
“This sounds intriguing.”
“Well, it is me talking, here. Don’t I bring the party?”
“You sure do.” She fondled him again. “Are you sure we don’t have time for…”
Rick leapt from the bed. “Nope! Plenty of time for that shortly.”
Anna sat up and drew her knees under her chin. “Aw. You’re getting tired of me already?”
“No, we have a time schedule to keep so, get up, shower and pack, we’re out of here in one hour.”
“You’re so bossy! Is Player coming too?”
“We can’t leave Player alone for Christmas. Yes, he’s coming too.”
Anna squealed. “Oh, this is exciting.” She jumped up and headed for the shower.
Rick watched the pep in her step as she tossed a few things into a duffle. Yeah, this’ll improve her mood.
Chapter 17
Rick had Anna navigate as he sought the lighted house numbers in the gated Malibu beach community.
“How can you enjoy the beach?” Anna’s gaze swept from her phone to the horizon and back to Rick.
“A few vamp-friendly improvements, and a beach house becomes welcoming to mortals and vamps alike.”
“Is that guaranteed at one of the travel sites?”
“Are you wearing your smarty pants?” His hand crept up her thigh.
“Nope!” She spanked his hand. “You made me wait. Now you have to wait four more houses.”
The car slowed as it approached a striking Mediterranean modern home with split garages. The barrel tile roof capped a generously deep wrap-around porch. L.E.D. luminaria outlined the circular bricked driveway, evergreen wreaths decorated the massive double entry doors and a twelve-foot Christmas tree twinkled merrily through the shutters of the front window.
“Oh, Rick, this is gorgeou
s! I’ve never been anywhere like this. This is heaven! I never guessed we could share the beach.”
Rick bit his lip. “I don’t want you to miss out on anything because of me. If there is ever an activity you think I can’t do, I can arrange for you to enjoy it. Promise me you won’t miss anything in your lifetime.”
Before they got out of the car Anna’s eyes glistened. “That’s why I love you!”
Rick’s head fell back onto the headrest. “That’s the only reason? Damn! I have to try harder!”
“C’mon Master Dom! Show me your pleasure palace.”
They alighted from the car and Player bounded in front of them. “Oh sure, now it’s all ‘pleasure palace’…”
“This is a vacation! It’s all pleasure, all the time!”
Rick looked over his shoulder as he keyed the lock code. “I’ve got your pleasure right inside!” He swung the door open. “Okay, close your eyes!”
Before his hand descended over her eyes, Anna caught a glimpse of snow-white linen, fine china and glimmering goldware. Christmas music performed by some symphony orchestra played low on the sound system.
* * * *
“Do you trust me?”
“Trust you?” Anna nodded. “I trust you with my life.”
Rick stepped away from the table to tie a blindfold over Anna’s eyes. She shivered in anticipation at the sound of foil and the turning of a corkscrew. She jumped when the bottle popped.
Rick held the glass to her lips “A taste?” Anna approved the sip and he fully lifted the glass to her mouth. He placed the glass in her hand and poured his own. She held it out for him to touch in a toast. “May we kiss whom we please, and please whom we kiss.” The toast’s notion wasn’t lost on Anna. Leisurely, they sipped in unison. Her head began to swirl with the inviting scents, wondering what complex dishes were waiting. Rick watched her and then began to play out his plan. The sounds of china and glass overrode the music.
“What did you just do?” she asked. She held her wine glass before her lips, as if hiding.
“The food is complex, and I thought you might enjoy something different. You were concerned I would get bored not eating, so I thought you’d allow me an opportunity to spoil you.” He beat around the subject, evading her direct question. The cheerful music relaxed her as she convinced herself to go with his flow. Rick was a man to follow, she was still getting used to that.
Her head spun as she considered beginning a conversation. What do we talk about when there’s a five-hundred-year gap? Do we talk about his trip to Cincinnati? Previously, they discussed art.
“So, who recommended this chef?” Clever, a vampire food critic, Anna mused as she sipped her wine. The wine glass was bulbous and large in her hand.
“I use him lots for entertaining.” Rick pressed a kiss to her cheek. Anna’s eyebrows rose above the blindfold at the thought of who might have been entertained here in the past, and what might have gone on between vamps and mortals.
“You know so much about me, Rick; I read there was some kind of spell or something on your dirk. Tell me about that.” Her voice trailed off as she found a breadstick and lifted it to her lips. She had Rick’s full attention.
“It was in the family for generations before me.” He took a sip of his drink. “Tell me about your family.”
“Rick! You do this every time I ask about you! Mom and Dad like to dance. We’re Irish, and Dad sometimes wears his kilt. My brother is in high school, ugh.”
Rick held his napkin in his hand preparing to spread it over his lap. Anna heard his movements and realized the first course was up. Rick’s right hand held the wild Brown Gulf Shrimp by the tail while his left held a lemon wedge.
“Lemon?” Anna’s nostrils flared as he squeezed the juice over the chilled prawn.
“But there’s more. Allow me.” The sound of his voice ran over her like silk, smooth bass plucking a chord in her heart. His near whisper drew Anna to slide closer and turn her open mouth to him. She felt the firm flesh of the chilled shrimp on her lip first, and then she caught a tang of the cocktail sauce with her tongue and bit the shrimp in half.
“Tell me how it tastes, describe it to me, please.” Now Rick’s voice was commanding a woman who beheld art for a living to describe the food he was smelling and seeing. He had no sense of the flavor.
“The shrimp’s firm, chilled, it has a delicate flavor.” She was caught up choosing words, all she could think of was the next bite. He dragged the shrimp through the cocktail sauce and then drew it over her lip. “I taste coarse cut horseradish mixed with tomatoes.” She nibbled as he moved it closer, right up until she felt his fingers. She couldn’t help it, she puckered slightly and kissed his fingertips, tasting a bit of spice. She caught his hand in both of hers and licked the red sauce off his fingers.
“You make my vampire want to play.” Anna licked torturously slow. “Keep it up, and you won’t finish dinner.” She felt Rick’s hand tremble as he guided the shrimp to her lips.
She heard Rick move away a plate and return. Anna wanted to ask about Rick’s life before the vampire’s bite, however he selected the right forkful of textures and flavors to keep her mouth full.
“How is the salad?”
“The apples are crisp, sweet…The cranberries bite back. The walnuts are rough from being sugared, they’re so fresh they crunch into nothing.” Anna’s calm was shaken, she moved indecently close to Rick. Suddenly there was no space between them. His arm found its way across the back of the chair and she found herself insinuated into his side. The fork in his right hand caught the next bite as she described the crisp greens and the piquant dressing.
If Anna stopped to dab at her mouth and angled back just so, she noticed a gap in the blindfold. She froze at the expression on Rick’s face. His eyelids were half closed in ecstasy. As she described the blue cheese, he bit slightly on his bottom lip. He sat tall, hanging on her words, then put down the fork and ran a finger around the inside of his shirt collar. Was it Anna’s imagination or was Rick turned on by the food’s description, or by feeding her?
Turning her face within inches of his, she released a mouthful of warm breath toward his cheek and his eyes sprang wide open. The tip of his tongue darted over his bottom lip. He froze at her proximity. “Anna, are…you…ready…for…your…next bite?”
Anna swiveled in her seat and drew her hands to Rick’s thigh. “Are you?” Anna slipped off her shoe and ran a bare foot up Rick’s pant leg. Her heart beat through her chest, she knew he could tell.
“Are we going to get through dinner, Fitz?” Anna’s voice was thick with desire. He hesitated to answer while he regained his composure. His gaze fell to her hands on his thighs, her fingers gripping tighter.
“Of course, we’re just two people enjoying a meal.” Rick sat back. Anna smoothed the tenting dinner napkin in his lap. Something told her he was headed for sheer torture while she ate. Rick’s finger traced Anna’s profile as he whispered “However, my seductress of the most dangerous type, all innocence and charm, I suggest we continue your meal, you’ll need the strength.”
Rick drew in a long unnecessary breath and she heard him run his hand over his face. Anna waited patiently. If there was a bit of salad dressing on her lips she could feel him brush it aside with his thumb or bend close for a disarmingly chaste kiss. The salad was reduced to shreds and she squirmed. Then she was overwhelmed by the aroma of steak.
“New York Strip with an espresso rub, grilled rare, served with pan-roasted fingerling potatoes and garlic buttered broccoli.”
Anna laughed, “Garlic buttered broccoli? You’re a brave vampire.”
“I’m tougher than a little garlic. You’re going to love this. It’s sauced with demi glaze.”
“Is the glaze bloody?”
* * * *
He sliced the delicate cut of beef and the juice ran red. “Oh, yes it is…” His undead heart hiccupped its sluggish rhythm and the subtle smile returned to his face. He took her hand and dr
ew her finger in the blood. “This will be divine.” He gently suckled her finger long after the beef blood was gone. Boldly, Rick, pierced her fingertip with his fang and drew a drop of her blood onto his tongue.
His head dropped back, in the ecstasy of tasting her without a sexual preamble.
“What took you so long?” Anna reached out to him and he caught her hand, kissing the back of it.
“You know I didn’t intend to do that,” Rick said as he grinned boyishly, shook his head and gently placed her hand on the table.
“I wanted you to.” Anna removed the blindfold. “You know, we’ve danced around the subject of my feeding you.”
“Cupcake, you’re not food.”
“So every woman who feeds you is groceries?”
“In a way. Anna, if I fed from you every time we made love, you’d be dead. The human body is quite remarkable at replenishing blood, but c’mon, there’s a reason people are only allowed to donate every fifty-four days. We go at it at least once a day, and I always bite,” he reached out and touched his most recent mark. Her heart skipped a beat as she flushed with the memory. “I always take a little of you. You don’t seriously expect that I would choose to endanger you.”
“Okay, I see…”
“My very serious question at this point is, am I giving you what you need? Am I enough lover for you?”
“As a mortal, I need to know you need me.”
“Cupcake, you didn’t answer me. I need to know.”
Anna threw down her napkin and gathered her wits to flee.
Rick’s vampire reflexes blocked her at the French doors. “We each have questions. We can’t run from the answers.”
Anna was surprised and embarrassed by the sobs and flood of tears that overwhelmed her.
“It’s true isn’t it, I’m missing my mark somewhere,” he persisted.
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