Blood Emerald

by Amber Anthony

  Anna ducked her head into the breeze and retorted. “I’ll pick up the coffees. You were so kind to offer me money yesterday. Player and I will meet you at the dog park.”

  She’s a tough nut to crack. Veronique carefully hid her displeasure. “At least let me give you money for mine.”

  “Don’t be silly, I’m prepared today.”

  Are you?

  * * * *

  Player uncharacteristically pulled as Anna tried to balance coffees, it was clear he was heeding a siren’s song. The leash was retracted to the heel position, and Anna was relieved when they entered the fenced area and she released him.

  Anna found—Val?—Viki?—Veronica? sitting at a picnic table. The crowd was sparse today, and they had the run of place.

  “Thank you!” Veronique greeted her. “I guess we’ll call this a Christmas present.”

  Anna smiled tightly. “I’m so sorry, I can’t seem to remember your name.”

  “It’s Vivi and you are…Anna, aren’t you? And your boyfriend is Rick?”

  Anna nostrils flared over her coffee cup.

  “I remembered his name because of the dog…”

  Anna’s expression softened a degree. Did I tell her my name? It was a boneheaded thing to mention Rick’s name. Anna tucked her chin down to her cup. I suppose I must have, or am I paranoid too?

  “Do you two live here, or are you on vacation?”

  For half a second, Anna considered lying. “In a way we’re on vacation. We came for Christmas.” Anna watched the woman absorb her words. I’m going for broke. “New Year’s he’s flying us to the Maldives. Then if the weather isn’t too severe he’s taking me whale watching on the yacht.”

  “You two are world class lovebirds…does he have a brother? I would enjoy a man like that. Who is this paragon of virtue?” Vivi’s chin rested on her hand in full attention.

  Anna sipped as she thought. Bond, James Bond. She cracked herself up and waved at the woman. “He owns his own business.”

  “I need to own a business I can leave like that. What does he do?”

  This woman should walk a pit bull, she’d have more in common with that breed.

  “What do you do for a living, Vivi?”

  “It’s complicated. I run the advance process for an international pediatric A.I.D.S. clinic. I go into these desperate countries and assemble the people so our medical staff can come in and save lives.”

  Anna stared at her, open-mouthed with shock. This beautiful woman was laying her life on the line to help children. What the hell was she thinking to be so guarded? “Oh my God, that’s, well, that’s literally God’s work.”

  Veronique waved her off. “Yes, these days at the beach are really a blessing. I find I meet the most interesting people. Just as we’ve met. And when I’m working in the jungles at night I think about all the big things people are doing around the world. Like the Maldives!” Veronique smiled effusively.

  Anna shriveled at her comments. “I know my boyfriend’s company generously supports children’s charities…”

  “Isn’t that gracious?” Veronique nodded benevolently at Anna’s words, full of enthusiasm. “Perhaps I could put him on our list?”

  “Oh, you should! He would welcome it. And I need to sign over my first paycheck as a donation. It’s the Consort Group International. My boyfriend is Rick Hiatt.”

  Veronique’s face fell. The air thickened. Veronique drew back, her head swiveled to scan their surroundings. “Rick Hiatt?” she whispered, his name a dirge. She called to the dog. “I have to go!”

  “What? But—”

  “I’m sorry, I forgot an important meeting. I’m late. I have to go.” Her demeanor darkened and her tone grew grave. The dog came immediately when called, and she left no time for Anna to gather her wits before she bolted.

  Veronique had the dog running in an effort to keep up with her as she scaled the tall staircase to the parking lot.

  John, her show’s animal trainer, waited there for her to turn over the dog. “Was she a good girl for you?”

  “She’s a keeper. Tomorrow’s Christmas. How about the same time on the 26th?” She slipped him a hundred-dollar bill. “Okay?”

  Veronique returned to the cliffs overlooking the beach and watched Anna’s slow march home. Have a Merry Christmas, Anna. May visions of vampires run through your head…

  Chapter 18

  Her Christmas day dawned before sunset. Anna rose first to plug in the tree and fluff the bow on Rick’s gift. Gaily lit boats trolled along the shore while the revelers sat around bonfires with their coolers. Down the beach, a guitarist strummed carols as the sparkling lights in the palm trees punctuated his tunes. Anna never experienced a Malibu Christmas night. She tiptoed back to the bedroom and threw open the French doors to the covered balcony. She put on her elf hat and crawled back into bed with the Santa hat. It was her turn to watch him rest, or perhaps stare him to wakefulness.

  She assumed his usual pose, reclined with her arm under her head. Then she struck. “Fitz, are you awake?” she almost shouted.

  He wiped his hand down his face and scratched the back of his neck as he rolled over. “I am now, Cupcake.”

  Before he could move from that adorable pose, she fitted the Santa hat over his bedhead. Rick blinked at the camera flash. His hands flew to his groin. “Some modesty, please.”

  “I got a wide shot, but it’s not that big!” She shook her head. “This will be next year’s Christmas card.”

  Rick rolled over to her and caught the phone out of her hand. “We don’t need photos when we can make memories.”

  * * * *

  Anna carried the cooler from the front porch. “Your care package arrived.” By now she was comfortable serving Rick’s sustenance alongside her meals. “Santa brought you an AB negative for dinner!”

  Rick grinned with his hands out for the mug. “Thank you, ma’am, may I have another?”

  Anna stored the rest of the bags and poured herself a coffee. “Mmm! Mocha chocolatta!” She wiggled her nose at him.

  “Are you making fun of me?” He drained the cup and leapt around to grab her. With vamp speed, Rick lifted her onto the counter and he was between her knees. “Drink up. I like mocha chocolatta!”

  Anna wiggled his Santa hat on his head. “They didn’t have that when you were mortal.”

  “It’s in clause twenty-seven. ‘On the twenty-fifth of each month, I get an A positive mocha chocolatta’.”

  “Clause twenty-seven? I’m afraid to ask about the other twenty-six.”

  “The most important clause right now, is Santa Claus.” He lifted her off the counter and led her to the garage door. “Cover your eyes.” He placed his hand at the small of her back.

  “Cover my eyes? Oh Fitz, what did you do?”

  Rick proudly threw open the door to reveal a tricked-out garage with black and white checkerboard floor tiles. A border of competition red tiles framed a large, shrouded shape.

  “May I open my eyes now?”

  Rick pressed her into his chrome and enameled fantasy garage. “Open them now…”

  “This looks like a beauty parlor for cars. You got me a garage?”

  Rick shook his head. “Cupcake, what did I say about your car?”

  Anna hemmed and hawed. “That it’s the cutest little cupcake box you’ve ever seen?”

  “No. I said, it was a death trap, and you needed a real car to stay alive in L.A.”

  Anna saw the shrouded shape on the far side. “You got me the space closest to the door.”

  “Sweetheart, come with me.” Rick caught her hand and led her to the shrouded shape. “Pull that blanket off.”

  “Okay.”

  The blanket easily slid off the highly polished classic Mustang convertible. The custom plate read ‘CPCK’. The candy apple red paint job sported twin white surfer stripes on the hood and trunk, and the interior was a masterpiece of red and black tuck-and-roll leather upholstery. Rick dropped the keys into her hand.
“This is the way I want you to enjoy yourself.”

  Anna’s hands flew to her face as she circled the car. “It smells new!”

  “Trust me, it should! They’ve worked double time to have it here today.”

  Anna stuttered her thanks. “Oh Fitz…this is just…it’s just…too much! Can I get in it? Can we take a ride?”

  Rick looked at her nightshirt and his lounge pants. “Let’s get dressed. Driving topless is different from riding topless.”

  * * * *

  “Oh Fitz, I haven’t given you your gift yet.”

  Rick’s eyes danced between whiskey brown and opalescent. His smile revealed the tips of his fangs. His vampire was coming out to play. “Enough about gifts this second.” Rick dug through the closet and pulled out a rockabilly dress. “Wear this for me. No panties.”

  “You’re a bad boy.”

  “Bad boys love fast toys. You know it!” Rick slipped into his trousers, and then her favorite pullover sweater. She noticed he went commando.

  “What are you planning, Fitz?”

  Rick gave her a naughty, mischievous grin. “That car goes from zero to sixty in 5.8 seconds. Do you? I think I could drive you to that.”

  Anna fit herself into the cinched waist dress and tied the ribbon at her breasts. Shirred sleeves fell off the shoulder in such an alluring manner. She held out the wide circle skirt and wiggled under the tulle petticoat. With a twist she clamped her hair up and wrapped the black silk scarf just so. Rick snuck up behind her and pinched her bottom through the dress. “You sneak up too quietly! Stop that!” She puckered into the mirror and checked her lipstick.

  “Don’t bother. I’m going to kiss that right off you, first chance I get.”

  Anna slid his gift into her purse, and they were off on her first convertible drive.

  * * * *

  Anna keyed the ignition as Rick posed in the passenger seat. “Do you know where you’re going?”

  “Uh…no! Where are we going?”

  “Let’s see how she handles the hills.” Even the breeze didn’t wipe the smirk off his face.

  Anna followed Rick’s directions, thrilling at the engine’s thrust as she powered through the curves, climbing into the hills. At the pinnacle, she beamed at him. “Okay, I’m officially lost, but I don’t care, this car is so cool!”

  Rick caught an errant ringlet and slid it back under her scarf. “I know a place. Take the next left.”

  Of course he does.

  The city below was a twinkling holiday tableau. There was a fresh crispness in the air, along with the tobacco and amber of Rick’s cologne. It was getting harder to concentrate.

  “Drive up that steep hill.” Rick pointed two fingers above the windshield. The headlights pierced the darkness to reveal nothing there. Rick waved her on. “Really, there’s a driveway. Go on, it’s steep.” And indeed it was a narrow and precipitous driveway.

  “Fitz, where are we? This view is heaven.” She turned off the car as he moved in for a kiss.

  “I’ve always loved it up here.” He drew a deep unnecessary breath. “Everything is at our feet.”

  Anna leaned across the console for a kiss. Rick’s whisper tickled her ear. “Don’t you think we’d be more comfortable in the back?” Rick twisted out of the front and into the center of the back seat in a second. He fit gloriously with his mighty manspread like a king on his thrown. He held out his arms. “Climb over, I’ll catch you.”

  Her dress poofed as she crawled between the seats and clambered onto his lap. Her knees spread around his hips, nestling her center over his growing interest. They cuddled sensuously on the smooth upholstery.

  “You made this the best Christmas ever. Thank you so much I can’t begin to tell you…”

  Rick cocked his head and placed a gentle finger on her lips. “You could show me.”

  “You are such a cad!” Anna shook her head and giggled. “Words are good too, especially on a night like this.” She tucked her head on his shoulder and imprinted that second in her memory. “It's easy to be with you, we have to remember to make time for each other.”

  Rick’s head fell back and he let his arms rest along the back seat. “Well, I’m curious. What brought on your deep introspection when we’re parked on the finest lover’s lane in California?”

  Anna turned her head to see his beautiful profile. “See, here we are…I’m driving you crazy and…”

  Rick’s arms rushed her into a crushing hug. “I am also here to drive you crazy.” He nuzzled his unshaven face into her neck. “I believe the insanity should begin soon.”

  Anna squirmed and squealed within his grasp. Taffeta and tulle rustled a love song. “I liked it slow the other night.”

  Rick purred into her ear. “I can do slow.”

  Anna dotted dainty kisses all over his face. “I really like this view.”

  Rick observed wryly. “You can’t see the view where you’re sitting.”

  Anna couldn’t bear to leave the tent of his trousers. “But if I turn around we can’t…”

  Rick raised his brows. “Oh, can’t we?”

  “Fitz, we’re in someone’s driveway…”

  “Do you see any lights?”

  “That doesn’t mean they can’t come home at any second!” Anna gasped as she rocked on him.

  “I know…so, let’s be bad.”

  “This is all too much…”

  “Not yet. Let me hold…” Rick caught her slim waist in his hands and spun her. “Hold on to the front seats.” Her high-heeled feet hit the floorboards. He was right, the view was exquisite. She heard a zipper and felt his hands skating up her hips, his thumbs caught under her buttocks so he could tenderly knead them. She felt the crinoline rise up to her shoulders and she felt his cool breath on her ass. “You’re right, this is quite a view.”

  * * * *

  Anna gave a shocked, breathy, “Fitz!” as his tongue lavished attention at her sex.

  “Emm, most delicious thing I’ve eaten all night.”

  Anna stiffened and grabbed for balance as his fingers played her like an instrument.

  “Cupcake, you’re so wet. I’ll bet I have to send these trousers for cleaning.” Anna was incoherent. “I want you to touch your breasts for me, I’m a little busy here.” He heard her peel down the gathered flounces of the bodice and smiled. She was such a good little submissive for him. “How does that feel—your fingers pinching your nipples while I finger you?”

  He felt her thighs quiver. His grin widened as his cock grew harder and broader. “Answer me, Anna,” he insisted in his Dom voice, and she was powerless to refuse.

  “It’s hea…hea…heaven.”

  “Not yet, I hope no one comes home before I’m done with you. We could be like this for hours. I want to taste you.”

  Anna’s head bucked back as she arched into hands. “I’m…can’t wait.”

  “Shush…. I’ll take care of you.” His arm snaked around her hip and his hand covered her mound, playing with the curls nestled there. His index finger circled lazily as he pressed kisses down the back of her spine. His vampire came out to play when he unzipped the back of her dress.

  Anna gasped in true alarm and pulled out of the moment. “Rick, you can’t undress me here.”

  “I just want to see you. Trust me, I won’t undress you. Where else could I hide while I eat you up?”

  “Oh, dear, God!” Anna threw her supplications to the heavens and shook her head at his reasoning when she felt him pitch her forward. She threw her hands out for balance, but the broad span of his hand caught her firmly and his tongue traced her crease completely. She wailed with pleasure.

  “Do you see those lights on the next ridge?” He watched her bob as her moans drew on. “They’ll hear us, and think it’s bobcats.” Anna heaved forward nearly breathless with her moans.

  His lips, tongue and teeth attentively worshiped her clit, and circled swollen lips. Anna’s breathing hitched in gasps. “I’m so close, so close.” Ric
k’s tongue stopped, he withdrew, though his fingers continued those maddening circles.

  “We better slow down, I don’t want you to hyperventilate.”

  Anna shrieked a long, low, “Noooooooo.” The dogs in the neighborhood below answered her.

  “Good, God, they’re gonna call the cops on us.”

  “You think? I guess I was right to slow down. Let me try this.”

  Anna shook with anticipation.

  * * * *

  She heard Rick slip out of his shoes and then the fluid sound of his trousers sliding down his muscular legs. When they dropped she heard the definitive sound of his wallet and keys hit the floorboard. She knew he was naked from the waist down. If anyone comes home now…

  Rick bent over her, his sweater brushing her back. “Gee, I hope we’re still alone by the time I…”

  She cried out at the feel of his long thick cock spreading her. He settled back on the seat and grabbed her hips, grinding her down on his hard length. “You’re so wet, it might be hours before I come.”

  Anna surrendered to his mastery. She allowed him to move her as he wished. Willingly submitting to his expertise, she giggled giddily, “This just gets better and better.” Her head lolled back praying for his nibbles.

  His hips delivered a flawless thrust at her g-spot and she bucked to replicate it. “That’s a good spot, let’s do that again,” he teased.

  Anna’s voice was drowning in hunger. “Again, oh, Fitz. Again.” With unerring precision he did, indeed, do it again and again and again. “Cupcake, you have my permission to come.” His hands held her fiercely as his hips left the seat. She savored every ripple and ridge of his fine cock. She felt him thicken and warm from her heat. His Dom voice commanded. “Come for me. Now.”

  The dark universe drew down into her, twisted and erupted in constellations of sensation. Her limbs were electrified, a fine sheen of sweat covered her body, her muscles shook with tension and then blessed release. All air within her exploded in an inhuman wail.