Deceptive Changes: Kat LaMond Book 1

by R A Baker

  “Safe.” He leaned down and placed his lips on mine, a gentle kiss, and then he pulled back.

  I stepped away from them and looked at the wall clock. Almost five in the morning. I sighed. Another late night.

  I walked out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. Sven and Thorn were lying on the bed, in each other’s arms, and Trace and Erick were in the little sitting area. I waved to them and walked into the bathroom. I turned on the waterfall and took my clothes off. I stepped under the fall of water and started to clean up. Todd joined me a few minutes later. We didn’t fool around and didn’t speak. We finished cleaning off and stepped out. I wrapped a towel around my body and handed one to Todd. He gave me a kiss and stepped out of the bathroom. I wondered what had happened after I left to make Todd so quiet.

  I groaned as I realized that I hadn’t grabbed any clothes. I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the bathroom. I bit back the scream that formed in my throat when Haven appeared in front of me. I stumbled back and hit the door to the bathroom, falling backward. His strong arms wound around me and kept me from falling. I looked into his blue eyes and saw raw desire.

  “Uh…” was all I could get out of my mouth before his lips pressed against mine and took my breath away.

  He pulled back slowly and whispered, “I need you.”

  My heartbeat sped up. “I…uh…” I continued to stammer but no coherent words formed.

  He chuckled softly and righted me. “Katja.” He whispered my name and blinked. He let me go and shifted his eyes.

  As I walked away I ran my hand along his stomach. I sighed and went to the closet. I stepped inside and grabbed some pj’s; pink with little roses on them.

  I shut the closet door and changed slowly. I was being a coward by not walking back into the room but I wanted them all and I didn’t know how to do that without excluding one or more. This was so complicated now. I sighed and sank to the floor. I should just stay in here. It had to be more comfortable than being in a room full of men that were so yummy. I heard the doorbell. Who could be ringing the bell at this hour?

  I stepped from the closet and held up a hand, having the guys wait in the room. I walked to the door and looked through the peep hole. It was Sal. The guy that propositioned us a while back. I groaned softly and walked back into the room. “Haven.” He came over to me. “I need you to get rid of this guy.” He blinked in surprise. “Uh, as in, tell him we don’t live here, if he asks, and look like you were woken up or something.” I rolled my eyes as the doorbell continued to ring. He sighed and nodded. I wished at that moment that I had vampire hearing. I would have loved to have known what was being said.

  I walked over to Todd and wrapped my arms around his stomach. He curled his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. We were silent until Haven walked back into the room. He was laughing softly. “What happened?” I whispered. I was afraid that Sal was still around.

  “He got the shock of his life when I answered the door.”

  “Really?”

  Haven laughed again. He had a throaty laugh, pleasant to the ears. “Yes. When I answered the door he asked if you were here. When I told him that you didn’t live here he wasn’t surprised. I asked him why and he said that he wanted to join some freaky party. When I asked him if he wanted to come in he started to but caught sight of my fangs and paled. He stumbled over an apology and left in quite a hurry.”

  I laughed. All it would have taken was one of the vampires showing his fangs? Hopefully that guy wouldn’t be back.

  I finally took in the room. Trace and Erick were lying in bed with Sven and Thorn. Cuddled together. Haven was still by the door and looking around, smiling. Todd was holding me tight. I bit my lip. I was getting tired but the bed was pretty full as it was. I sighed. I gave Todd a kiss and pulled away from him.

  I climbed into bed and cuddled up to Sven. The bed shifted behind me and Todd laid up against me, wrapping his arm around my stomach and laying his head on my shoulder. I looked over at Haven. He seemed out of place. I sighed again.

  I patted Todd’s arm and he let me up. I slid along Sven’s back and down to the foot of the bed. I walked over to Haven and grabbed his hand. “Come on, Haven,” I said as I pulled on his hand. His beautiful blue eyes held a longing I didn’t understand. I tugged on him until he started moving. We walked around the bed. Trace, Erick, Sven, and Thorn moved over a bit. Todd looked at me, smiled, and slid up against Sven’s body. I climbed on the bed and pulled Haven with me.

  I curled into Todd and Haven curled into me. I sighed happily and let my eyes slide shut. I heard whispers. Why did they have to whisper just as I was falling asleep, I whined in my head. I tried to ignore the whispers but my name kept coming up.

  I groaned and lifted my head. “Do you have to whisper so loudly?”

  They chuckled. Todd whispered, “We thought you were asleep.”

  “I almost was,” I whispered back.

  “Sorry, babe.”

  “It’s okay.” I laid my head back down and felt Haven curl into me. I pulled my arm from Todd’s stomach and turned into Haven. I hooked my leg around Haven’s and pressed my body tighter to his. He sighed softly and stroked my face.

  He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. I moaned softly and pressed even more into him as our kiss deepened. I couldn’t get close enough to him. I whimpered as I tried to crawl into his mouth and through him.

  He pulled back and grinned. I wasn’t grinning, I wanted him, needed him. I pulled him back to me and kissed him roughly, so roughly that I grazed my tongue on his teeth, cutting the muscle open. He moaned into my mouth and pulled me even tighter to him than I already was. He ate at my mouth, making the blood come faster.

  He pulled back and looked at me with silver eyes. I smiled and ran my finger across his bottom lip. He tilted his head and caught my finger between his teeth and ran his tongue across the tip. I pulled my finger back and stuck it in my mouth.

  When I pulled it out, my finger had the blood from my tongue on it. I brought it to his mouth and he sucked on it. I chuckled softly as his teeth played along the knuckle. I pulled my finger back and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.

  His eyes had turned back to their real color but the desire wasn’t gone. My heart fluttered as his hand travelled across my breast and along my ribs. He stopped his hand on my hip and shook his head. I frowned. “Let’s sleep, Katja.” I groaned and nodded. Probably best that I sleep. Maybe I’ll be clearheaded in the morning. Yeah, fat chance of that.

  I fell asleep with Haven’s arms wrapped around me.

  >< ><

  I woke up to hands on my body. I blinked into the light of late afternoon and found Haven still wrapped around me. His blue eyes were staring into mine. “Morning,” he whispered. I blinked the sleep from my head and smiled but kept my mouth closed.

  I pulled back from him and found that we were the only ones in bed. I flopped over and stretched. Haven ran his hands down my body but didn’t go further. Bathroom time.

  I got off the bed. Haven didn’t follow. Smart man. I cleaned up and walked out. Haven was still on the bed and the door was closed. It was just Haven and me. I looked at him. He was still laying on his side with the black t-shirt and black pj bottoms on. His pale skin glowed against all that black. “Do you need to feed?” He nodded against his arm and licked his lips.

  I walked up to the bed but didn’t climb on. He sat up and slid the rest of the way to me. I tensed as he grabbed my hand and pulled me onto his lap. His skin was cool against mine, not cold like before. He wound his hand through my hair and pulled until my neck was fully exposed. He bent down slowly and kissed my windpipe before moving to the side and sliding his fangs into my skin. I moaned softly as pleasure filled me from the top of my head to the bottoms of my feet.

  I could feel his body respond as he took in my blood. I moaned softly as he ran his hand down my chest and stomach and wrapped around my waist.

  He pulled back and kissed the wound. I could feel it heal. He wh
ispered my name and laid his head against my collar bone. He still had his hand tangled in my hair.

  He lifted his head and kissed me gently, untangling his fingers from my hair, and let me go. I got off his lap and held out my hand. He took it and we walked out of the bedroom. We found the others in the kitchen, talking, laughing.

  I went to the fridge and grabbed a salad. I grumbled softly about rabbit food, and grabbed a soda to make up for the healthy salad. I turned around and found that all seats were full. I sighed and took my salad to the counter and started eating.

  “Starla called,” Todd said softly. I sighed. I’d forgotten to call the other day. I grabbed the phone and finished my salad as I dialed work.

  “LaMond Real Estate. Starla, speaking.”

  “Hey, Starla.” I tossed my salad tray into the recycle bin.

  “Kat, I am so glad you called. Cindy’s out with the flu. I have two houses that she needed to show and I can’t get away from the office.”

  “Okay. Give me the addresses and I’ll show them.” I grabbed a tablet and pen and wrote down the addresses.

  “You’re a lifesaver.” She breathed a sigh.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t called. I’ve been tied up.” I babbled a few more stupid excuses before she cut me off.

  “Don’t worry, Kat. I’ll see you when you get in. The first showing is in an hour.” I looked at the clock and then the address. Damn, ten minutes to get ready.

  “Gotta go, Starla. Talk to you when I get in.” I hung up the phone and ran through the house. I grabbed a grey tailored suit, shoes, and a blouse. I laid the suit and blouse on the bed and ran into the shower. I cleaned off quickly and toweled off. I applied some eyeliner and mascara and ran into the room. I was putting my underwear on when I realized that someone was in the room with me. I turned and saw that it was Haven. I gulped and said, “I don’t have time,” and slipped into my suit. I took the towel from my head and shook out my hair by way of styling. I slipped on my shoes and ran out of the bedroom.

  I grabbed my purse, yelling a goodbye to my guys, and was blocked by Sven. I groaned as I skidded into him. “I don’t have time, Sven. I’m sorry but I have a couple houses to show and I’m late.”

  He grinned and held up a sheet of paper. “You might need this, Katja.” I smiled and grabbed the paper from him.

  He held my hand and wouldn’t let me go until Haven appeared at my side. I looked at him. He was wearing one of Todd’s suits, black pinstripe. It fit him perfectly. “Take Haven,” Sven whispered and kissed my cheek. I nodded and he let my hand go.

  I ran out of the house and groaned as I realized I didn’t have keys. Haven laughed and held up a set of keys. They were for the new Durango. He opened the door for me and helped me in.

  A second later he was in the driver’s seat. “Where to?” I gave him the sheet of paper.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  We arrived at the house with a minute to spare. I got out of the truck without help, thank God, and walked up to the client, an older couple with graying hair and a little dog. The dog growled at Haven and trotted over to the little flower bed and peed on the single flower that was left before winter completely took over. I guess the little dog didn’t like flowers.

  “I’m sorry I’m so late. My name’s Katja LaMond. Shall we?” I escorted them to the door and unlocked it. They walked in and Haven and I followed. The little dog trotted after its master and sniffed around.

  I was relieved when they were done asking questions and the little dog was driving off with them. I turned to Haven. “That dog didn’t like you one bit.”

  “Most animals don’t. We aren’t entirely human, Katja.” He smiled and lifted a silver eyebrow. His hair gleamed in the sunlight.

  “Not entirely human, huh?” I shook my head and looked at my watch. I had enough time to run over to the office and grab the files for the next house.

  “That’s what makes us excellent lovers,” he said as he grabbed me around the waist and kissed me. I thought about calling Starla and saying screw the next showing but I couldn’t. It was my company but I was letting Starla run the show.

  I kissed Haven for another thirty seconds and pulled back. “I’m sorry, Haven. You don’t know how sorry I am but I have to go by the office before I show the second house.” He set me down and sighed.

  We got back in the truck and I told him where to go. He parked in front of the building and we walked in. Starla’s mouth dropped open when she saw Haven. I asked him to have a seat and walked into the office. “You have got to tell me where you find your men, Katja.”

  I blushed and shook my head. “Trade secret.”

  “Please? I need the variety you have.” I looked at her. She was talking about variety to me. Starla loved men and had a harem of men that pleased her immensely. When I hired her, I was divorced and wasn’t dating. I never envied her her men. I was happy without and now look what happened. I have a harem of my own. I didn’t know how she kept up.

  “You have variety, Starla. Anyway, the client’s going to think about the house. Here’s the info on them. Next?” She handed me a folder. I opened it and gasped. Damn. Sal. I hung my head down and plopped into a chair. Where was the luck in that?

  “I can’t show this house.”

  She turned her eyes from Haven and stared in shock. “You have to. I really can’t get away and the others are out with other clients.”

  I stifled a groan and nodded. “I’ll see you later, Starla.” I walked out of the office with my heart in my stomach.

  Haven came up and looked at me with concern. “What’s wrong?”

  “I have to show a house.”

  He chuckled and rolled his eyes. “You’re a real estate agent, that’s generally what they do, Katja.”

  “You don’t understand. The house I have to show…Sal is the client.” He sighed and rolled his eyes again. “Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Starla can’t show the house and neither can any of the others.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to the truck. I groaned as I got in. I didn’t want to show the house.

  We drove to the house and parked. Sal was waiting in the driveway. He was sitting in a current year Cadillac Escalade. I sighed. Of course he had money. I pasted a business smile on my face and walked up to him. “Hello, Sal.”

  “Katja. I didn’t know that was your company.” Yeah, right. He got out of the truck and grinned as he caught sight of Haven. “So, is that another of your lovers?”

  I groaned and walked off. I opened the door to the house and said, “Show yourself around. If you have any questions come ask me.”

  He tsk’d me. “Now, now. I expect you to show me, Katja.” I refused. He shrugged and walked into the house. I could hear him squeal in delight at one thing or another. He walked out of the house a half hour later and said, “I’ll take it. Just because you graced me with your presence.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You sure lay it on thick.”

  He grinned and said, “I have to woo you somehow.”

  Haven appeared beside me. Sal gasped and stepped back. “How did you…?”

  I shook my head. “Are you sure you want this house, Sal?”

  “Why wouldn’t I want it? It’s a beautiful house. Besides, I need to leave my apartment. I’m tired of paying rent.” He flicked his eyes to Haven and then back to me. “And…if I buy the house, I can invite you to the housewarming party and you’ll already know where to come.”

  I sighed. He was never going to give up. “Why don’t you find a nice girl and settle yourself down?”

  “I don’t want a nice gal.”

  I had a thought but I didn’t know if she’d thank me for it. “Why don’t you meet me down at the office? I know a lady that has a harem of men and she’s looking for new blood.” His eyes lit up and drool slid out of the corner of his mouth. I shook my head and walked off.

  >< ><

  Haven drove us back to the office with Sal following close behind. All three of us walked into the o
ffice. I pointed to a chair and Haven made Sal sit. I walked into Starla’s office. “Okay, you’re probably going to kill me but I can’t stand it anymore.” She gave me a wide-eyed stare. “You see that pudgy guy I came in with?” She nodded. “Well, he’s into harems and stuff. He’s annoying to me but I figured you might like him, seeing that you’re looking for new men. Besides, he’s rich. He’s going to buy the house.”

  “You’re throwing me to the pudgy guy? Why don’t you want him?”

  “He tried to pick us up in a bar. He’s tenacious and probably a really good lover but he’s not for me and my plate is too full to be adding more.” I frowned as I thought about the men in my life. I blinked and turned to look out at Haven and Sal. They were talking and chuckling.

  “I’ll talk with him. No promises, Kat.” She smiled as she watched the two of them. I followed her gaze and she wasn’t looking at Haven. Hopefully they hit it off and I didn’t have to worry about Sal any longer.

  “Thank you, thank you,” I whispered. “I’ll send him in. You can have the commission if you can get him off my back.” She laughed and waved her hand. Sal stood up and walked to the door. I opened it and he stepped in. He didn’t even acknowledge me. He had eyes only for Starla. Maybe this could work. I walked out of the office and pulled Haven with me as I walked out of the building.

  He nudged my side and said, “It looks like you helped bring two souls together.” I nodded and got into the truck.

  >< ><

  Haven drove us home. I groaned as he stopped the truck near the door. We needed food. How did I forget? Oh, yeah, Sal. I rolled my eyes and got out of the truck.

  We walked into the house and found the guys still in the kitchen. Trace hid a slip of paper as I walked into the room. I let my shoulders sag a bit and told them to get a list ready for shopping.

  “Oh, guys,” I said before I left the room. “Get ready. We’re all going clothes shopping, too.” Todd took in a deep breath. He hated clothes shopping as much as I did but the vampires needed new clothes. I was going to need to go back to work. This was going to cost an arm and a leg to clothe them.