And to Cherish: Vampire Assassin League #23

by Jackie Ivie

He answered it himself. She’d shaken her head before he finished anyway. Okay. He didn’t know her name. He was failing on getting a date. He was going to have to figure something else out.

  “Well. Maybe I should turn off my engine, and...no to that, too?”

  She’d shaken her head again. Sam’s shoulders dropped.

  “Look. I’m running out of suggestions here, okay? I thought you might want to get to know me better. I’m all for that idea, trust me. And...oh, heck. Forget it. I don’t even know your name.”

  She looked at him for long moments, sending something electric toward him. Or something even more powerful. His hairs lifted. His eyes watered.

  “My name is Cherish.”

  Elation filled him. Sweetening the world just about everywhere. His voice carried it. “Cherish. Wow. Your parents named you accurately.”

  “It wasn’t my parents.”

  “Okay. Well. Whoever had the honor of sticking a name on your bassinet – they did a great job. Cherish definitely fits. Does this mean you’re open for a date, too?”

  “Which one?”

  Sam blinked a few times. It cleared his eyes. Then he smiled. “Any. All. I mean, I’m free this weekend. You want to take in a movie tomorrow night, maybe?”

  “A movie?”

  “Yeah. There’s a new one showing at the theatre. I could pick you up. Or meet you there. We could maybe munch on some popcorn, sip a soda. Maybe get a late supper afterwards?”

  “No.”

  Well. Crashing disappointment was a physical force, too. It hit about mid-gut level with sickening effect. He really didn’t know what to do. Sam pulled his gaze from hers and looked down. She was wearing high leather boots with her tight jeans. And damn! But she had a superfine bosom on display right in his line of vision, too.

  “Well. I guess that’s that. It’s uh...been nice meeting you, Cherish.”

  “It has?”

  “Yeah. Excuse me, but I think I should go now.”

  “Where?”

  “My home.”

  “Oh.”

  “Look. You’re probably going to have to step a little to the side. Okay?”

  “A little?”

  “There’s a vehicle behind mine. So, unless you move, we’re pretty much stuck.”

  “We are?”

  Sam sighed heavily. Audibly. He was really tired of being a loser with women. That sigh reflected it.

  “Look. I may be slow, Cherish, but I got the message. You’re sending out all kinds of mixed vibes, but bottom line, you’re not interested. That’s means I should just cut my losses and leave. Got it.”

  “You’re...leaving?”

  “Unless you have a better idea.”

  “Take me with you.”

  “What?”

  “Take me with you,” she repeated.

  Sam’s mouth dropped open. He’d been wrong. The earlier feeling hadn’t been elation. Or, if it was, it had been low volume. Her words nearly sent him airborne. Something about his expression must not be reflecting it, however. Her brows lowered. She glanced away for a moment before looking back. There was the slightest gloss atop her eyes, too.

  “Is that...wrong?” she asked.

  “Oh. Heck no. Just...unexpected. And wow. It’s wow. You want to come with me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Right now? To my home?

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, then. Let me just get you seatbelted in, and...”

  Sam had toyed with putting an arm about her shoulders, but something stopped him. He raced instead to the passenger door, and found it locked.

  Shit.

  “Give me a sec. I’ll have this unlocked.”

  He raced around the back. His door was still gaping wide open. So much for heating the interior while they’d conversed. Man. He was exhibiting even clumsier moves than normal. It couldn’t be helped. He’d found the woman of his dreams. She wanted to be alone with him. At his apartment! Holy shit again. This was incredible.

  He wasn’t exactly virginal, although he might as well be. There’d been some fumbling hook-ups in his senior year of high school. Prom night. Homecoming. He’d even had a girlfriend in college. They’d been together for a full semester. He’d almost asked her to move in. He’d thought they were in love...until he figured out she was ashamed to be seen with him in public. Hard to get past that in a relationship.

  So, he wasn’t that experienced. He didn’t think it mattered. Cherish was a one-woman testosterone feast. He didn’t need experience to sense how different she was. Every cell on his body was informing him.

  His mind raced ahead, mentally checking details. He wasn’t a slob, but he hadn’t prepared for company. His living room area was usually clutter-free. It might be dusty, though. He could keep the lights dim. Put on some slow music. Maybe join her in a glass of wine. He had a full wine rack near the sofa. Had he left a sink full of dirty dishes? No. He’d started the dishwasher before leaving. The laundry room? Had he shut the door to the laundry room? He only washed on the weekends. By Friday, the area was pretty much a disaster. He may have shut the door. If not, he could always slip it closed before he escorted her down the hall...

  To his bedroom.

  Sam gulped again. The bowtie tightened. Geez. This was unbelievable. Details, Sam. Back to details.

  The bedroom. Crap. What about his bed? He hadn’t made it this morning. And he’d dumped a drawer-full of socks out onto it to find a pair that matched this suit. Had he put them back? Damn! He couldn’t remember. But wait. He did have brand-new sheets. Satin. In a zebra-striped pattern. They’d looked really sweet against his black wooden bed frame. Hadn’t he put them on...was it yesterday? Yeah. That was right. Just yesterday. They were probably still creased from the packaging. Okay. His bedroom was in a bachelor’s pad. Not pristine, but it would do. Now. For the major question...did he have condoms? He’d made a mental note to stop by a drugstore and actually get some. He hadn’t quite made it that far. Then again, maybe he was over-thinking this. Maybe Miss Cherish supplied her own. This was her idea, after all.

  He lurched into the cab for the key-bob and opened all the other doors with a double-click. That done, he returned to the front bumper area. She hadn’t moved. She was still watching him with those fathomless dark eyes.

  “Um. You ready to go, then?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  Sam held out his hand, palm up. She glanced from it back to him. The buzzing in his ears intensified.

  “I’ll escort you. To the passenger seat.”

  “I don’t think...that’s a good idea.”

  “Well, I’m not letting you drive,” he quipped. “Besides, you probably don’t know where I live.”

  “I don’t think we...should touch.”

  Sam straightened. Dropped his arm. Might as well just figure this out now. Before he was really in over his head. He cleared his throat. That sounded like he was about fourteen years old again. And about as confident. He tried for a deeper tone when he spoke.

  “Look. Cherish. If you go with me to my place? Well. We have to get something straight. I can’t abide a ‘no-touching’ rule. Okay? Touching is going to happen. I’m not even going to apologize. You are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen or imagined. I’m already having troubles. And I still have to drive home. So. Before you commit, I need to know that you’re okay with that. The touching part. And whatever happens in conjunction with it. Uh. You know. Everything.”

  She dropped her gaze to his chest. The shadow of lashes fluttered atop her cheeks, and then the area darkened with what looked like a blush.

  Holy shit.

  That blush almost undid him. Sam’s entire body lurched toward her. To do a lot more than just touch. He barely caught the movement before his feet made it a reality. Hard to overstate what was turning into a raging problem. The chilled night didn’t mute things much. The coat was doing its best to hide it. Even so, he thought he’d done a fair job explaining things. Unless she was completely naiv
e, she had to know what he meant. And even then, he thought he’d been clear enough she could figure it out.

  And this was her fault, actually. Her words had been the match-light to this inferno of interest. Desire. And lust. The more they stood about debating semantics, the more acute it became, too.

  “So. You okay with the touching thing?”

  She nodded. His breath eased out. He hadn’t even realized he’d held it.

  “Sweet. And that means you’re okay with taking my hand? Yes?”

  She hesitated and then put her fingers in his palm. The same instant, an electric bolt hit the parking lot. The light nearest to them exploded. It was followed by the next two, while beyond that, lights were flickering in semi-fizzled mode. Sam watched them do it. And then something completely unbelievable flashed through him. It sparked. Stunned. Enthralled. His fingers tightened on hers. She squeezed back.

  Cherish had a stunned look on her face when he looked back down at her. He could tell the color of her eyes, too – golden brown – but only because she had them wide open. And his vehicle was still running. What the hell? His headlamps were still doing fine.

  “Did you...see that?” he asked. He should have waited. His voice had a grating quality, and the bowtie was choking him.

  “Yes.”

  “You didn’t...? This is going to sound weird, but, um. You didn’t do that, did you?”

  “No. Did you?”

  Wow. What he was thinking required a step away from reality. It also required a dent in his immediate plans, a rein put on his evening, and a complete idiot to even consider. Sam shook himself mentally. Then he did it physically. And then he grinned down at her.

  “Okay. Well. Apparently this place has an electrical problem. They’d better fix it before someone gets hurt. Remind me to report it, okay?”

  “Yes.”

  He ran his thumb along her knuckles, grazing the flesh. She was so perfect! Small. And just then he heard the sound of his name. Shouted from across the parking lot. By what looked and sounded like the intern, John. Sam groaned.

  “Time to go,” Sam leaned down to whisper it at Cherish’s ear. Got a thrill from being that near her, and had her at the door the next moment.

  “Doctor Reid? Is that you?”

  John’s voice came nearer. Or he was yelling. Sam waited impatiently for Cherish to adjust herself. She removed the sword in its scabbard. Placed it alongside her left leg. Looked across at him. He shut her door and raced to his. They had to leave. Now.

  The intern was not getting a peek at Cherish. Not tonight.

  Maybe never.

  Sam slid into his seat. Shut the door. Hell. He was shaking. He wiped his palms along his thighs before fastening his seatbelt. Maybe she wasn’t noticing his actions as he put the vehicle in drive. And he didn’t once check for John in his rearview mirror.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “So. Hey. You been in St. Louis long?”

  Cherish darted a look toward Samson Reid before returning her attention to her folded hands. Her canines were throbbing. Her heart was pounding. Her body was tingling. Everywhere. Abuzz with the aftereffects of that flash of wonder. She hadn’t lied when he’d asked if she’d done it. She hadn’t. But if she had to guess, she’d say it was a result of their touching. Because they were mates. They’d found each other.

  And it was almost too much to fathom.

  “What?” she asked.

  “St. Louis. And you. Are you a native? You know, were you born here?”

  “Oh. Yes.”

  “I’m from Minnesota. Land of the Vikings, and all that.”

  “Oh.”

  “You ever been there?”

  “No.”

  “Man. I’m going to have to stop asking closed-ended questions. Everything I ask can be answered by a yes or no. And that’s exactly what I’m getting.”

  “Is...that bad?” Cherish asked.

  “Uh, no. I’m just trying to make small talk. Get to know you. It uh...helps dampen nervousness. And...crap. That was a stupid thing to say.”

  His expression matched the chagrinned note in his voice. Cherish glanced at him again and couldn’t look away. He was frowning slightly while concentrating on his driving. The dashboard light illuminated him with shadows and highlights, giving her a very good view. It enhanced his handsomeness, if that was even possible.

  “I was born here. And stayed. I’ve never been outside of the city,” Cherish informed him.

  He glanced at her and then back to the road. In that instant, her heart stumbled. The tingling intensified. She almost gasped.

  “Seriously? Wow. You’ve never left the city? Ever? Not even for a vacation?”

  “No.”

  He glanced at her again. She caught the remonstration in his look while her body gave her the exact same responses as before. Only it felt like bubbles were tickling her nose, too. This mating thing was extraordinary. Entertaining. And extremely fun. Nobody had mentioned that part.

  “I mean, no. I’ve never left. Not even for a vacation.”

  “So, you’re a permanent resident?”

  “Yes.”

  His eyebrows rose and he glanced at her again. Then back to the road.

  “Oh. I should say more. Yes. I am a permanent resident of the city. Very permanent.”

  “Never considered getting out? Checking out the world? Oh. Excuse me a moment.”

  There was a baby bird sound emitting from him somewhere. Cherish watched as he fumbled with a hand beneath a lapel, did something to silence the chirping, before he glanced at her and winked. The wink sent a burst of fizz through the tingling. It was entirely enjoyable. Her eyes widened.

  “Uh. Sorry about that. Last time you’ll be interrupted. Swear.”

  “It is?”

  “I turned off my phone. I am not taking calls this weekend. Not from an intern with a big nose and a lot of questions, anyway.”

  “A big nose?”

  “It’s a metaphor.”

  “A metaphor?”

  “Yeah. He doesn’t have a big schnoz, if that’s what you’re asking. He’s just a big snoop and wants to know everything. Especially the things that don’t concern him.”

  “Oh.”

  “That does remind me however. Where did you get your falconry training?”

  “My...training?”

  “My bird landed on your shoulder. Without an ounce of caution. I know Nightshade. He’s not your social butterfly. He doesn’t take to others easily. And yet you? He didn’t have one qualm.”

  “I don’t have any training.”

  “Seriously? That was one heck of a move you made, then. How did you know he’d respond to you?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “You have some set of instincts, then. You should consider taking up falconry. You’d be amazing. And...if you do, I think I can find a first-rate teacher for you.”

  He grinned. Her heart did another odd movement, thudding rapidly, giving two short bursts, and then returning to a rhythmic pounding she wasn’t accustomed to yet. All very mystifying. Exciting.

  “Who?”

  “Me.”

  His grin widened. Cherish gasped. It was audible. She had to look away, back to her hands. This was...unbelievably exhilarating. And she couldn’t wait to get to his home.

  He was reading her mind. Or something.

  “Finally! This is my turn-off. We’re almost there. You can probably guess where I live. Yes?”

  “Why?”

  He rolled his head before returning his attention to the road. “Dang. I was told everyone knows Soulard is the place to live in St. Louis. It’s a historic neighborhood, full of chic apartments, and all kinds of entertainment. It’s where all the cool people hang out. And now I find out I was lied to. I’ve got a certified permanent resident of St Louis telling me it was all a story. Good thing I’m only renting. Ah. Here we are. Hang tight. Looks like its busy tonight. I’ll have to park where I can find space. You don’t mind a small walk, do you
?”

  “How small?”

  “Couple of blocks. And if you want, we can pop into a pub or café and maybe have a brewsky. Or a latte, if you’re a coffee drinker.”

  “A brewsky?”

  “A beer. Would you like that?”

  “I just want to be with you,” she answered. “Alone.”

  “Oh...man! A woman who knows her mind. And speaks it. How in the heck did I get so lucky? Where have you been hiding all my life, Beautiful?”

  He was at her door, holding it open, his hand out to her. Cherish eyed it warily.

  “I was here. In St. Louis. I already told you,” she replied.

  He chuckled. “Sounds like my sense of humor needs work. And my timing. You ready? Oh. One slight item. You probably should leave your weapon here.”

  “My...sword?”

  She pulled it against her leg defensively. It was part of the personae she’d assumed after Akron gave her power over not only mortality, but anyone she came across. She’d wanted to look fierce. Strong. Competent. She’d updated her look as she found something she liked. The corset was from the Edwardian period. The leather jacket from the 1950’s. The jeans were newer. They’d replaced her leather mini-skirt. She’d also trained with Margolis, one of VAL’s sword masters. He’d given her this sword. It was part of the barrier she hid behind. The one Akron had spoken of.

  “It’s real, isn’t it?” Samson asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Thought so. It’s pretty lethal-looking. Not that I’m a judge. I know birds and animals. Not weapons. But, don’t worry. I have an alarm system on the rig. Your sword will be safe. Promise. We can even lock it in the back compartment if you want.”

  “I have to leave it?”

  “We probably won’t need it. It’s a small walk, and I’m a big guy. I’ll take care of you. Trust me.”

  Cherish swallowed and looked away for a moment. Did she really dare trust another? Even if he was her mate? She looked back toward him. Met his eyes.

  “Besides, I have to tell you. You really don’t need the enhancement. Not that I have much experience with taking a smoking-hot, warrior-goddess chick through the neighborhood, but I’m going to guess you’re going to attract attention. A lot of it. A sword would be overkill. Here. Maybe you should wear my coat.”