by Maggie Mundy
“No, you won’t. You said they’re like family, so I’ll stand tall and put on my big girl panties.”
He leered at her. “Even that sounds sexy to me, as long as I can take them off later.”
As they walked inside, Gordon and Beverly were there, ready to meet them. The house smelled of food cooking, and he knew Adele would be spoiled rotten by these two.
“Gordon, Beverly. This is Adele Carey. She’s been the photographer for our latest show.”
Gordon shook Adele’s hand while Beverly went straight for the hug.
“Now you come with me, dear. Gordon needs Vincent to check on one of the stables. Thinks the roof is going to cave in or something. I’ll show you your room. Then we can have a glass of wine while you tell me all about yourself.” Beverly guided Adele upstairs to the bedrooms.
Gordon leaned forward and whispered, “I thought you might want to feed. Bev will keep your young lady occupied for a while.”
“I wish she was my young lady, but it’s yet to be seen. I will feed, though. It’s only going to be the two of us as Tristan will be staying in London tonight.”
“We’ve a wonderful meal planned for you both, though I know you won’t eat much. I’ll make sure she’s kept busy for the next ten minutes.”
Vincent walked into the paddock, and the deer approached. The animals were treated well here, and he always rewarded them with a carrot after he fed. He rubbed the fur of one of them and calmed the animal. The deer’s blood had an earthy smell to it, and his fangs grew as he inhaled. His incisors slid through the skin and into the blood vessel below the surface. The red liquid nourished him like no ordinary food could.
When he took his fill, he withdrew his fangs and sealed the wound with a lick. The deer nipped the carrot neatly from his hand, and ambled off.
In the kitchen, Vincent found Beverly and Adele laughing as they sipped from large glasses of red wine. Beverly looked up and wagged a finger at him.
“Why haven’t you brought this lovely woman here before?” She winked at Adele. “He wants my sympathy to think he’s some poor lost soul who can’t find a woman to go out with.”
Vincent brought up his hands in surrender. He never won arguments with Beverly, and wouldn’t try now.
“I was waiting until I found someone you would approve of. Adele is the only one who will put up with me, anyway.”
“This one is full of rubbish and flattery like most men, Adele. I’ll go set the table, dinner will be ready in half an hour. He knows better than to be late.” Beverly shooed them off.
Vincent took Adele’s hand and led her upstairs. He wanted her to like his home. “What do you think of my place?”
“It’s beautiful. The antique furniture and the paintings must be worth a fortune. I feel like I’ve gone back in time and I’m not appropriately dressed.”
“You’re always perfectly dressed, except when you are perfectly undressed.”
Adele blushed, delighting him. Vincent loved how he could make her react. He showed her to his room, and she stared at the big four poster bed.
“I’ve never slept in one of these before.”
“I’m not sure you’ll get much sleep in this one either. The bathroom is through to the right. Feel free to put your clothes in my wardrobe there.” Vincent indicated the intricately carved armoire that matched his bed frame.
He wanted her clothes here permanently, but he would take this one step at a time. It was obvious from last night, she wasn’t ready for a commitment yet.
When they descended the stairs, the dining room table was set, and Beverly served the first course. It was nice for his housekeeper to have someone who would appreciate her food. Gordon poured them all some wine and sat down.
“So, what do you think of the house, Adele?” he asked.
“It’s amazing, but you must spend a lot of time cleaning. I only have a little apartment in Bath and find it hard enough keeping it tidy.”
“A girl comes in twice a week and helps me. Gordon has some assistance with the grounds as well. It’s so beautiful it isn’t hard work, and I always loved antiques and old things. I like looking after them.”
“Do you come from a big family, Adele?” Gordon asked.
“I’m an only child, but I have lots of cousins, and a big extended family. My parents live near me in Bristol. Vincent agreed to attend an upcoming wedding with me, for a cousin who’s getting married. He’ll get to meet them all.”
“I’ll want to hear all about it when you get back, Vincent,” Beverly said as she winked at him.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I think I’ll need a strong whiskey before I go.”
He drank his wine and nibbled on his meal as the others chatted. Gordon cleared the plates away while Beverly put the finishing touches on the main course.
“I’m sorry if they’re interrogating you,” Vincent said.
“They’re lovely, and they both seem to care about you a lot.”
Gordon and Beverly returned and served up a wonderful chicken dish.
“How long have you been Vincent and Tristan’s housekeepers?” Adele asked.
Beverly seemed to ponder. “Been here more years than I care to remember. We never had any kids of our own. I had problems, so we sort of adopted Vincent and Tristan.”
“Both Tristan and I lost our parents a long time ago, and it’s what made us such good friends. We’ve been through the same things in life,” Vincent added.
“Which means the pair of them were rascals.” Beverly made a face at him.
“Don’t believe a word she says. We’ve always been perfect gentlemen.” He did so love to tease the woman he considered his foster mother.
Later in the evening as Vincent climbed the stairs with Adele, he made the promise to himself. The next time she was in his home, she would be his partner.
He spent the night worshiping her body, and in the morning, they drove to the airport. Her transport back to Bath was all arranged and Vincent wished like hell he didn’t have to go.
Tristan and Carla met them at the check-in desk. The convenience of flying first class meant no waiting.
Happy to see Carla there, Vincent decided he’d grill Tristan later on how he was treating Adele’s cousin. At the departure gate, he swept Adele into a tight embrace and kissed her, knowing the moment would have to last until he returned.
Tristan coughed behind him. “We need to board.”
Adele had a wicked grin on her face when she looked at him. “Eat lots of red meat while you’re away. You’ll need all your strength when it’s time for the wedding and meeting my family.”
“I’m ordering the steak already. Can I bring you back a gift?”
“An interview with Vogue, New York, would be good. Other than that, a neck massage when you get back.”
“I’ll try to do both.”
~ ~ ~
The week before the wedding passed all too quickly.
Vincent was never nervous about anything, but today he dreaded meeting Adele’s family. He had a valid reason, considering half of them would kill him if they knew what he was. And he found himself envying the couple pledging to love each other for the rest of their lives.
He’d live forever unless killed, or he chose to sit in the sun. Could he cope having Adele as his partner for her very short life? Vincent would not contemplate the thought of her dying. One thing he knew for certain; she wouldn’t want to be like him. Her family and everyone would become alien to her.
For a brief, insane moment he thought about just driving away, but Adele saw him and waved.
As one of the bridesmaids, she wore a hideous green dress with too many ruffles. A blast of wind would have caused her to take flight. She leaned into the open window so he could kiss her cheek.
What he wanted to do was hoist her around his hips so he could feel her body next to his.
More young women in green dresses, including Carla, surrounded Adele as he left the car. Vincent sucked in a deep breath as if he were an animal going to the slaughter.
Adele nuzzled his ear and whispered, “Piranhas don’t just live in the Amazon. I warned you.”
The wedding was being held at a manor house not unlike his. Adele had easily coped with Beverly and Gordon, but Vincent estimated at least a hundred guests milling around. He should have listened to Tristan and not come. How many of them were hunters? Could he assume no one here would sense what he was?
You are a selfish idiot, he told himself. If this ended badly, then Adele would be traumatized. He should make his excuses now and leave.
Adele slipped her arm through his. “You look like you’re about to run. Breathe through this and I promise you great sex afterward. I might even let you tie me up a bit.”
“That’s a lot of motivation. Maybe I’ll blindfold you, too,” he teased.
A man wearing a suit patterned with the constellations of the universe approached him. “Hi. I’m Lucas. Hear you’re into men’s fashion. If you want to know anything, then I’m the one to ask. This is one of my own creations, by the way.” He waved a hand over his ensemble.
“It’s certainly different,” Vincent replied. “Here’s my card. Feel free to send some pictures through and I’ll get the design department to look at them.”
Lucas beamed from ear-to-ear.
Adele took his arm and guided him away. “That was sweet of you, and some of his stuff isn’t bad.”
“Who knows? He might have a few gems we can use.”
“All right, brace yourself and let’s get the hard stuff over and done with. I’ll introduce you to Mom and Dad and then show you where to sit.” She fingered his lapel. “By the way, your suit is gorgeous.”
Vincent held Adele’s hand as they crossed the crowded foyer. Adele stopped in front of a middle-aged couple. The woman had red hair as bright as Adele’s, and a similar hourglass figure. The man sported a full beard and stood at least six-foot-two with muscles to match.
Vincent wasn’t usually intimidated, but he gulped as he stood before them.
“Mom, Dad. This is Vincent who I told you about. He runs the business I did the shoot for. Vincent, my parents, Eileen and William.”
Vincent stood tall and thrust out his hand. William clasped it—hard—and if not for the strength of his vampire body, Vincent knew his bones would have snapped. He gritted his teeth in mock-pain, understanding Adele’s father was testing him.
“Nice to meet you at last. I was starting to think Adele made you up.” William eyed him closely. “So, when are you going to make a decent woman of my daughter and get married?”
“Now, Bill, don’t scare the poor man away,” Eileen admonished. “It’s the first boyfriend she’s had in ages. I was starting to think she’d never find anyone.”
“That’s enough, both of you. Leave him alone.” Adele caught Vincent’s hand. “Let me show you where to sit.” She nodded toward her parents as she led him away. “Sorry about that. They can be crazy at times, as can all my relatives.”
“They were lovely, and to be honest, I like you when you’re indecent.”
She blushed and pecked him on the cheek.
Vincent ended up sitting next to a woman in a large hat decorated with peacock feathers. Every time the woman turned around, one whacked him in the face. Adele laughed as she walked past with the bridal procession, and it made him happy to bring a smile to her face.
He never thought he would ever marry, but enjoyed watching everyone being happy for the young couple. Once the ceremony finished, he stayed inside while the photographs were taken on the patio. He wasn’t family so he wouldn’t be missed.
The evening wore on; Vincent danced and laughed with Adele, finally heading outside with everyone else to watch fireworks. Adele shivered, and he wrapped his arms around her. He didn’t want the night to end, but she was staying with her parents, and he would be returning to London. No chance of going to her apartment for a night of wild sex with her tied to the bedposts.
His cellphone went off. Vincent frowned to see Tristan’s name on the display. For certain, his friend wouldn’t be interrupting him if things were all right.
“Tristan, what’s up?”
“We’ve some news of Henry. It seems he’s been spotted in Bristol. As you’re in that part of the country, I thought you could check him out.”
Vincent took down the details and then stepped back inside to find Adele.
“Tristan just called, and he needs me back in London. I’ll have to head off.” He stroked a hand down her hair. “I enjoyed being your ‘plus one.’”
“I miss you already.” She sighed. “I’m free from the day after tomorrow, and all the family stuff should be done by then. I’ll text you.”
Vincent pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Every time he was with her, it became harder to leave.
~ ~ ~
Henry Rushton smiled for the first time in ages. The young man he had turned had proved more useful than he could have imagined. His new minion was a computer geek and loved research. What he found on the internet could be an answer to all of Henry’s years of pain. He would be cured . . . and he would kill Hugo.
Who could’ve known the answer was there all the time, in witch blood? Now, he needed to find one. The nuisances were all around the country, but he knew there was a small group of them in Bristol. The bastards killed some of his changelings in the past, and now he’d make them pay.
He reread the article. It stated a ceremony should be performed to honor some strange deity. He didn’t care about that; he just wanted the blood. His minion reveled in the concept, anxious to film the killing as they performed the ceremony, then put it up on line.
The back room of the house would be set up with an altar, candles, knives, and ropes to tie the witch down. It reminded him of the old days, when he and his friends enjoyed the lifestyle of the rich who could do whatever they wanted. These days, everyone had a phone with a camera and too much knowledge about how to spread evidence across the Internet.
Lately he contemplated moving overseas. There were still countries in the world where one could do anything one wanted. The problem would be dealing with the purebloods in those countries as well. The refined English didn’t like to get their hands dirty. In other countries, they protected their territories more rigorously. But the only ones here causing him a problem were the ones he had created himself.
If he could’ve caught one of them and dissected them to find out why they weren’t dead, he would.
Chapter 13
With a sigh, Adele watched Vincent’s car motor down the driveway. She’d been worried about today, but it had turned out well. He was the perfect ‘plus one’ and even dealt well with her parents, though she could kill them for the marriage comments. It proved to her more than ever what she needed to do.
Carla threaded her arm through Adele’s. “Seen your sexy man off, then?”
The two of them walked back inside.
“Yes, I did. He’s gone back to London. I think he and Tristan will be busy with this American merger happening.”
“Your parents said they were impressed.”
“I know, and that is yet another reason why I’m going to finish this. I need to go back to us seeing each other in a professional capacity only.”
“You must be mad. You haven’t had a guy in ages, and this one is sexy, rich, and looks like he’s crazy for you.”
“That’s the point.” Adele threw up her hands, frustrated. “The other week he said he’s falling for me, and I told him not to say any more.”
“Why?”
; “You know why. This is all fun and games, but we’re hunters. Long term relationships don’t fit into the scheme of things.” Her heart ached saying the words out loud.
“Your mom and dad did it.”
“She gave up being a hunter to have me, and I’ll be honest, I don’t want to give it up, and I can’t expect Vincent to change his life. The easiest thing is to break it off now before it gets too serious.”
“With this long face you’re wearing, I think you’re too late already. You should be more like me and go after them for the money, sex, and the boots.” Carla’s attempt at humor fell a bit flat.
“Well, this is a wedding, and I refuse to be miserable. Let’s go and see if there’s any champagne left.”
“I like the way you’re thinking.”
Attempting to change the conversation, Adele commented, “I saw the best man trying to catch your eye earlier.”
“I know, but I think Tristan has spoiled me. My standards have gone up to multi-millionaires only.”
~ ~ ~
The following morning, hungover from too much champagne, Adele and Carla departed, both wearing dark glasses to protect their bloodshot eyes. For Adele, it was back to reality, going home, catching up on all the work she’d put on hold due to the fashion show.
A day later, she shopped and restocked her fridge and cleaned the place. Just in case Vincent turned up unexpectedly. She even washed the dressing gown he liked so much. Her afternoon was spent contacting clients and arranging appointments. Several new names had come in due to the fashion shoot.
She imagined the big powers were waiting to see what the feedback would be from critics, but so far, so good. Those critics who weighed in liked her originality and quirky nature. Only one hinted at the fact she attained the job because she was Vincent’s latest squeeze.
The apartment smelled wonderful as dinner simmered on the stove. Carla, organizing a show at a shopping complex in Bristol, would be there as soon as she could. There had been no contact from Vincent, and Adele wasn’t sure if she was relieved or upset.
