Pick Your Poison

by Jeanette Lynn

  “The baby thing?” I glanced up to find my mate staring down at me and I grunted, dropping the glittering train trailing me in disgust. “Or telling you? And I know this hasn’t exactly been a cakewalk for you.” My expression softened and I lifted up on tip toe to peck his smooth chin, smiling when he leaned in. “You get brownie points for being a trooper though, does that help?”

  “Both, but before then. Is that why you’ve been acting a madwoman? You’d thought I wanted children? And I don’t want brownie points.” His voice deepened, lowering until it was too low for human ears—a deep, husky murmur near my ear. “You want to reward me, love, you know what I like.”

  “Mmm. Maybe, on all accounts.” My cheeks did that weird I can’t blush so I’ll glow slightly pink thing, which is still mildly embarrassing. I feel like a baby glow worm. I had to admit, having come clean, glow wormy-ness aside, I did feel as if a weight had been lifted off my chest.

  “Good.”

  I blinked as he backed up to take a seat.

  Settling his arms along the back of the dainty, floral print couch, he slid along it languidly to smile at me. “Then you have no reason to hold anything back from me anymore.”

  The look on his face had gooseflesh pebbling my skin. Nostrils flaring, his Adam’s apple bobbed as his throat worked. My sexy mate licked his lips, his heavy lidded gaze enrapt.

  “Give over, sweetheart.” Eyes flashing red as they studied my lips, his fangs peeked out when he murmured huskily, “It’ll be more fun, for both of us, I promise.”

  As I felt my vision clouding and that all too familiar ache building in my gums, I swallowed hard. “Subject change.”

  Gripping handfuls of the smaller yet still extravagant wedding dress selection someone had not so helpfully piled into the dressing room, I shook the voluminous skirts at him, exposing a bit of pale thigh that had him sucking in a sharp breath. Damn, this really isn’t helping.

  Snapping my fingers, I motioned towards my face. “Corpse groom, eyes up here. Now, look, I still don’t want to do this. I say let’s just go with my idea. Hell, I’m open to new suggestions.”

  A short grunt rent the air, nothing more.

  “We could always enthrall them into thinking we had a big, fancy wedding.” Maybe if I showed him more thigh he’d be more willing to agree?

  I vetoed that idea almost instantly, though. He knew all too well how to turn the tables in his favor and I was a sucker for my mate, plain and simple.

  “No.”

  Smiling prettily, I bat my lashes. “It would be easy.”

  “No.”

  “It’s not like anyone will-”

  “No.”

  “Divit,” I whined, uncaring how ridiculous I sounded. Fluffing up the ruffle of the stupid skirt cinching my waist to gingerly step off the platform—dress number sixteen, to be precise—I glared over at him. “This was a stupid idea.”

  Rolling to his feet gracefully to saunter over to me, all calm and collected in the middle of this bullcrap, I huffed.

  He grinned and chucked my chin. “I like this dress on you.”

  “You said that about every dress, all four hundred and thirty seven of them.”

  “Twenty three, but you didn’t try them all on. Mmm... I- Yes, I think I like this one best.” Bending down, his lips met mine. Warm, strong hands inched along my waist, smoothing over my ribs to tuck me close.

  “Oh, and why is that?” Hazel eyes alight, I smiled up at him slowly as his hands crept along the ties at my back, his long fingers tickling their way up my spine.

  “Easy to get you out of.”

  “Okay, break it up, you two! That’s enough of that!” My parents came in then, followed by Callie and Spira, who were both laughing quietly amongst themselves at the grumpy look on my father’s face.

  Grimacing, I pulled a face of my own, groaning as I mushed my nose into my mate’s chest. “Enthrall them now. Seriously. You have my blessing, permission, whatever. We eloped, it was glorious, and they gave us their blessing.” Gripping Divit’s shoulders, I shook him a little, making him laugh. “Do it, glitter-pants. Do it.”

  “No can do, sweetheart. You said you wanted to do this, and I’m hard pressed to follow through.” Tugging me back gently to kiss my forehead, holding me at arm’s length, my vampire lover grinned smugly. “Looks like you’re getting hitched the right way.”

  “I’ll move in with you, right this moment—no joke.”

  Divit paused as if he needed to think about it, but ended up shaking his head. “No, I want to do this.”

  “What?! Why?! It’s not like you have anything to prove! I’m yours, you overgrown putz! As you are so fond of reminding everyone!”

  Shrugging, he let me go to shove his hands in his pockets, stepping back to rock on his heels. “It’s like you said, you’re only doing this once. Why not make it count?” Expression completely sober for once, all kidding aside, he really meant to go through with this.

  “Damn it! Be the tinman, Divit! The tinman!” Stabbing his chest with my pointer finger, I growled out, “When did you get all mushy on me, man? Who gave you a heart?”

  Divit burst out laughing as everyone gaped at me like bridezilla gone mad. Gripping my finger to kiss the tip, he nipped the end. “You’ll have to take it up with my mate, I’m afraid. See, even as a human, she enthralled me, captivated me with a barrage of terrible jokes and garish make up fit for a clown- I mean, queen, from the first.”

  “Rigghhht,” I muttered, squinting up at him as my lips puckered, holding back a disbelieving snort.

  Pressing my hand to his chest, right over his unbeating heart as I tried not to slap him or flat out laugh, he smirked, saying louder, “You have bewitched me. I have no soul to share in this lifetime, but you have my heart.”

  A round of soft, “Awww,”s filled the room, followed by Dad’s, “Oh, brother,” and even in crazy-lady-gone-mad mode I was taken in.

  “You are so full of crap,” I whispered, smiling into his neck as he scooped me up to nuzzle my cheek.

  “Eh, I’m starting to like all this good mate crap. Makes others look bad.”

  Giving his short hair a quick tug, I pulled back, gracing my smug mate with an arch stare. “And you like that?”

  Brown eyes dancing, his lips twitched as his gaze trailed to a couple not too far from us, who were currently watching our exchange. “Of course I do. I’m mated, sweetheart, not sainted. I didn’t have a brain transplant.”

  Two weeks left and counting

  “This isn’t funny.”

  “I don’t find it funny, either. So just say yes and I’ll release you.”

  “Oh, har-har. Not gonna happen. And I thought we already talked about this?” Wriggling around, I snarled at my bonds.

  “We did. I was understanding. I played your game and gave you space. It’s been a month of,” he looked disgusted at this point to even have to say it, he was so over it, “napkins and tablecloths and matching this and planning for that. Who goes to these lengths?”

  “Hell if I know. My family? Callie, since you’d thought to recruit her for this shit since I said no, like a thousand times no. Spira is the only one on my side.”

  “Spira won’t get involved. She hasn’t been around lately, at all, has she?”

  “Exactly. She’s smarter than the average bear. Hence, why I love her.”

  Divit snorted as he checked his handy work. “Of course you do. Those aren’t hurting you, are they?” Divit glanced up at me then, frowning as I glared down at him, my eyes flashing red.

  “Yeah... a month, a whole month of shit. You have no one to blame but yourself.” I bared fangs, hissing, but finally settled. “And, no, they’re fine.”

  Divit nodded to move on to my ankles, which he decided to untie at the last minute, thankfully, massaging the heel of my foot as he examined my blood red painted toes. “I like these,” he admitted, wiggling a little piggy absently.

  “That’s four weeks, glitter ass, and space, wh
at space? You’ve taken everything from this space. I mean, good grief, what is the freaking rush anyhow? I’m going to move all my shit over after the wedding! Like we said the other day, or did you forget? A completely unnecessary wedding that started out small and has somehow been wildly blown out of proportion! There’s a shovel out back, tall dark and blood sucking, and I’m tempted to dig a shelter next to the basement to wait out the storm.”

  His fingers slowly skimmed up my thighs and he inhaled deeply, a soft rumble rattling his chest as my sex clenched. “Four very long weeks, and I can change my mind any time I wish. I want you—need you.” His gaze lifted to meet mine, filled with longing and barely banked heat. “You belong with me. Simple as that.”

  The chair wobbled as I tried to rock it from side to side. “We should have done the Vegas thing, or the city hall deal, like I’d planned originally. Plus, what the frick? You’ve been here every night, dude. Seriously?” But he’d struck a chord with that whole changing minds spiel.

  His thumbs caressed my inner thighs, working their way to my most intimate place, his eyes tracking their path. “Most seriously.”

  “Oh, my god, I can’t. I just can’t. There’s no talking to you when you’re being like this.” Biting my lip, I squirmed, muffling the moan welling in my throat with a groan.

  Divit’s finger traced along my slit and he smiled, reveling in the way such a simple touch, a light, teasing caress, made me shiver. “And there’s no talking to you when you’re being... difficult.”

  “Ugh. Mmm...” My thighs clenched as my fangs slid loose. “I’m not even going to say anything anymore, then.” Because it was getting really hard to think.

  Parting my thighs to make room for his wide shoulders as he rested my legs over them, his fingers skimming over my skirt, his eyes glittered. “Good. No need. Enough talking, more showing.”

  “Oh... wait! Wait!” Just as his head was about to dip, his fangs running along my thigh as his tongue rasped the sensitive flesh, I quivered and whimpered. “Okay, so I’ll make you a deal!”

  Divit paused to glance up at me. “I’m listening.”

  “We move in together, make it official and all that shit, tonight, but...”

  “No buts.” My mate’s hands slid up my thighs and over my hips, caressing the globes of my ass as he gripped a cheek in each hand and gave them a squeeze. “The only butt I’m willing to entertain notions of, of any kind at this moment, is this one.”

  I must have waited too long to respond, too busy gaping down at him to form coherent thoughts, let alone sentences. Divit’s head dipped again, his tongue peeking out to run across my slit.

  I gasped, jerking up to meet his mouth as he hissed against my flesh, his tongue lapping at my folds as his hands on my ass yanked me towards him. The chair creaked as he pressed himself closer, the sharp points of his fangs pricking my labia as he uncovered the bud hidden just there.

  “Divit...” My hips jerked and I felt the phone cord wrapped around my wrists give, stretching as I fought to wrench free. Sucking my pleasure button into his mouth, I cried out as his tongue circled the swollen nub, my legs trembling as I quickly drew close.

  There was an ominous pop from behind me as Divit pulled back to stare up at me, gripping the legs of the chair hard enough to splinter the wood as red eyes met mine. “Now. Say it now, and I’ll give you want you want.”

  Curling my fingers around the cord slowly, I spread my legs wide, treating him to a show, and leaned forward as far as my position would allow.

  My vampire lover sat back on his haunches, nostrils flaring as I licked my lips and smiled slowly, nothing but heat and need in my crimson irises. Inhaling deeply, basking in the smell of sex in the air, I recognized my mate’s want mixed with mine.

  My gaze dipped and I glanced down, eyeing his throbbing erection as it tented the front of his pants. Nodding encouragingly, smiling a welcoming smile, I motioned him closer. He obliged, hissing low in his throat as I brushed my nose along his jawline. Sucking in a deep breath, I inhaled deeply to note him doing the same.

  We both shuddered as he pulled back.

  Lips quirking, I let my gaze roam over him once more, lingering on the way up. “Oh, no, baby, you say it first.”

  Mild surprise registered on my vampire lover’s face, but then I swung my arms up and around, catching them over his neck, the cord still in my hand.

  Jerking him towards me, I hissed, then nipped his chin hard enough to make him grunt and jerk back. Smirking, I gave him a hard shove that sent us both flying towards the floor as I tackled his belligerent ass.

  Gripping his wrist, I yanked it over his head, ignoring the incredulous laugh he let out as I snatched the other one. Wrapping the cord around them, I secured them good and tight, his amused stare nothing short of accommodating as he shook his head at me.

  “Having fun yet?” he asked, trying not to laugh outright.

  Rolling to my feet, I gave him a short, placating smile before I reached over for my purse. “I will be.” Plopping down, I placed my little black bag over his chest.

  Ignoring his unnecessary commentary, I got comfortable, straddling him, while he nudged my ass with his cock. A small smile spread across my face, blossoming into a grin as I slowly pulled out a small, plastic egg.

  Cracking the colorful orange bit in half as my mate watched on in calm but curious silence, pulling out a small bit of twine, I unfurled it from the little ball it was rolled up in to reach for Divit’s tied wrists.

  “What... is... that?” Divit’s eyes widened as I leaned over him, a small spark of blue glimmering in the twine’s light brown strands.

  Almost too late, he let out a loud shout, upending me to roll over and scuttle to his feet.

  Not one to be deterred, I gripped the magicked string in one hand, compliments of Callie, hopping onto my mate’s back to tackle him once more. “Oh, I don’t think so! Get back here!”

  “Like hell! What are you, nuts?! Get that away from me!”

  Straightening with me latched onto his back like a lemur, he yanked and tugged his bonds. I had to give myself credit, those knots were good and tight, and I’d wrapped that cord around his wrists as many times as I could.

  With the magicked string idea a bust, I had two, maybe three minutes tops, to plead my case with him.

  Running around to the side of the couch, Divit lurched, dumping me over the back to double back by my small kitchen area. “You wench! Magicked rope? I’ll bite your ass! If I don’t beat it first!” Snarling as his head shook in disgust, the man was incensed. “No, I’ll beat it and then bite it, you treacherous pit viper! Who was it? Who helped you? Callie? Stefan? I’ll wring their necks!”

  At this point I figured I should just start talking, so I did. “Okay, so look! Here’s the deal! I had this idea, right? You don’t want a big assed wedding, and I don’t want anything to do with any of this shit! I’m just done, okay! So here’s my plan!”

  “Plan? Clearly you had a plan. What was it? Tie me up and force me to agree to more ridiculous bullshit? More stipulations to be your mate! Another thing holding you back, holding you from me, and I don’t even know what the hell else! I mean... fuck, Genie, what the hell do I have to do to prove myself to you?!”

  Staring after my mate from over the back of the couch, I stilled.

  Breaking his restraints easily, his arms flexing as the cord snapped and he shook his hands loose, he stormed over to me angrily.

  Gripping my shoulders, he lifted me up, until we were nose to nose, growling out softly, “I love you, you vile, annoying creature. No more rules, no more deals. You’re going to marry me so you don’t feel guilty about screwing over your parents, you’re going to move in with me, and we’re going to live happily ever after, and a bunch of other fairytale shit that makes anyone in their right mind nauseated just talking about, it’s that disgustingly sweet. You got it?”

  “Well, yes, but with one little thing.” Smiling up at him hopefully, I held my hands u
p pleadingly, extending my index finger in my left hand to waggle it at him, an innocent enough expression on my face.

  Growling under his breath, Divit dropped me, letting me fall on the couch with a loud plop to stomp off.

  Racing after him, I rounded the couch, skidding into the kitchen. As he went to pick up the beat up chair I’d been tied to, righting it and making to push it back into the table, I went slamming clumsily into his side.

  Scrambling for purchase, the impact sent us stumbling over each other’s feet, a tangle of limbs and curse words as we spun in a crazy half circle. Catching himself first and then me as we careened towards the wall, Divit gripped my shoulder, propping us up along that wall we’d almost smashed into with the other. Once he was sure I wouldn’t go off like a whirling dervish, spinning like a top around the kitchen again—taking him, willing or not, with me—he let go immediately.

  Stepping back, his hands reached up to lace his fingers behind his head, pressing his skull against the resistance it created as his eyes squeezed shut tight. “I’m thinking maybe I should leave.”

  “What? No! Why? You haven’t even heard me out yet!”

  Without bothering to look at me, my mate let out a long, weary sigh as my hand clasped his forearm. Shrugging, eyes still firmly shut, his head gave a small shake. “I think, at the moment, it would be for the best.”

  Wrapping my arms around his waist when he made to turn away, his movements stiff and jerky as his hands loosened to drop at his sides, an air of defeat about the usually stubborn male, I dug my fingers into the bottom of his ribs. “Oh, I don’t think so! You’re not pussing out on me now, glitter-dick! This isn’t over until I say it’s over, asshole, and we are far from it!”

  My mate, who had started slowly walking towards the door, making as if to ignore me—dragging my curvy rump along with him as I latched on to him and my feet dragged the floor—paused to glance down at me. Opening his mouth to respond, I hissed, cutting him off. Something flashed in his eyes then and he arched a brow.

  “We started this all off on a whim, two jackasses trying to figure out a party spell’s riddle gone to shit, which is as ludicrous and convoluted as it sounds, and yet here we are.” Blowing out a short puff of air, I continued. “I know what I said before, and I actually have to admire your surly ass for making me go through with this, even when it grew to the monster it is, but I want to do this our way. We can’t back out of it now, and at this point I honestly don’t want to...”