by Jane Jamison
One more. Just one more shove.
He rammed into her then closed his eyes as Dade’s groan rent the air.
And one more. Hold on. Just hold on.
He tensed, readying for his release when Jack’s groan of climax rolled over him.
“Ours, sugar. Be ours,” he whispered, his power over the dream compulsion weakening.
As his friends fell away from her, she let out a whimper, her body convulsing as yet another release tore through her. With eyes clouded with desire, she turned her head and met his gaze.
“I am,” she promised.
The dream, the world, everything broke apart as the orgasm thundered out of Hank. Bellowing his release, he jerked upward in bed, sensing what he’d find even before he finished jerking out his seed. He groaned as he let go, his seed releasing, and the storm of his climax rushed out of him.
“What the hell, man?” demanded Jack.
“He compelled her.” Dade kicked the side of Hank’s bed. “That’s fucked up, man.”
He kept the sheet over him, hiding the very real result of his climax. The last thing he’d wanted to see when he’d come out of the dream compulsion was his friends. Never mind that it was the first thing he’d expected to see. “Why is it fucked up? You want her as much as I do. Hell, I didn’t hear you two complaining.”
“You took us there,” argued Jack. “Then once we saw her…” He struggled, knowing he fought a losing battle. “Hell, you knew we wouldn’t be able to turn her down. Not with her naked and ready.”
“You could’ve backed out. I only called to you. I didn’t compel you.”
“Still, it shouldn’t have happened to begin with,” added Dade, his expression a mix of anger and guilt.
Hank had known they’d react this way, but it still made him angry to have them against him. “We had to do something. We can’t lose her. I couldn’t let us lose her.”
“Like we want to let her go?” Jack clenched his fists, trying to control his anger, but he was losing. His fangs erupted, and his eyes darkened. “But this wasn’t the right way.”
Hank swung his legs over the bed but didn’t get up. Part of his mind was still with Sunshine in the middle of a field filled with daisies. “Fuck off. Both of you. If it was up to you, she’d be halfway home by now.”
“Still doesn’t make this right,” said Jack.
Hank jumped to his feet. “Then tell me, man.” He was in Jack’s face, angry enough to physically strike out at his friend. “How do we get her to stay?”
Jack stared back, ready for any challenge. “We do what she wants us to do. We take the damn cure.
* * * *
Dade was nervous as he called Hillary’s landline number. They hadn’t yet exchanged cell phone numbers with Sunshine, and frankly, he wasn’t sure it was going to happen. Hillary picked up after only two rings as though she was standing by the phone.
“How you doing, good-looking?” she asked.
Dade smiled into the phone. He’d always liked Hillary. “Not so good.”
“I figured as much since she’s back here.”
Crap. “Did she tell you—”
“She told me the gist of it, but we didn’t get into details. Still, it doesn’t take a genius to see that she’s upset. And confused. Those two things don’t go together well, you know.”
“Yeah. I do. Is she there?”
“Yep, she’s in the kitchen. I’ll call her to the phone in a second.”
Uh-oh.
“What’s up?” he asked, not sure he really wanted to know. Hillary wasn’t known for holding back her opinions. It often didn’t matter if someone wanted to hear them or not.
“Speaking of geniuses, she has a visitor.”
Jealousy hit him first then understanding. “Her friend, that scientist guy, is there?”
“He sure is. Brought in a very special-looking case along with his suitcase.”
Shit. Is it for real? Did her friend actually come up with a cure?
After more discussion, they’d finally agreed to take the cure. Anything was better than losing Sunshine. Yet, even as he’d agreed, he’d half-believed the cure would never be found.
“Yeah?” He paused, unsure of which direction to jump. “Tell me, Hillary. Do you think vampirism is a disease? One that can be cured?”
“I don’t know. But there’s one way to find out. Are you going to find out?”
“If trying the damn cure is the only way to keep Sunshine, then, yeah, I’m going to find out.” He hated the idea of not being a vampire, but he hated the idea of losing their woman even more. Now that the cure was available, he had to hope that, once he took the cure, nothing would happen. Granted, her friend was a genius, but he’d found a cure unbelievably fast.
“So you’re going to change for her? All three of you?”
“Yeah. We’d do anything for her.”
“I figured as much.”
“Hillary, can you send her friend to us? Without letting her know?”
“I guess I could arrange that. But why not tell her?”
“We want one last time to talk to her before we take the cure.”
“You and your friends are good men. You know that, right?”
But were they good enough for Sunshine? Or had she already said they weren’t by not accepting them as they were? “Thanks. So can you put Sunshine on the phone now?”
“Sure thing, honey.”
A muffled sound, obviously Hillary putting her hand over the phone came, and was followed by voices. He could’ve tapped into his sensitive vampire hearing to eavesdrop, but decided to wait it out. Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long.
“Dade?”
Her voice alone could make his knees weak and his cock strong. “Hey, darlin’. How are you doin’?”
“I’m fine.”
He could hear the hesitation in her tone. “Good. Listen, could you come back out to the ranch? We’d like to talk.”
“You would? I got the impression that you guys didn’t want to see me.”
“We were upset. Pissed off. But angry enough to never see you again? Hell, darlin’, I’d rather never see the sun again.”
The sigh that came through the phone brought him a little relief. “Good.”
“Then you’ll come back to the ranch? Maybe in a couple of hours?”
“Why in a couple of hours? Why not right now?”
He smiled at the eagerness in her voice. “We have a chore we need to get done. That way, you’ll have our full attention once you get here. Say around one?”
“Okay. I’ll be there.”
It was his turn to breathe a sigh of relief. “We can’t wait to see you, darlin’.” He ended the call, not wanting to give her any chance to change her mind.
* * * *
Sunshine nearly flew out of her car. As she was hurrying toward the front porch, the men came out of their house. Hank held up his hand, stopping her cold.
Fear gripped her heart. Had they brought her there to tell her they were finished? Had they changed their minds between the time Dade had called and now?
“Stay where you are, babe,” ordered a solemn-looking Jack.
“But why? I thought you weren’t mad at me any longer.” If they told her to leave, her heart would break. Nothing and no one would ever be able to put it together again.
“There’s something we need to do first.” Dade pushed the front door open. “Come on out.”
Her mouth dropped open when Walter came through the door. In his hands, he held three small vials.
“Is that what I think it is?” she asked. She stared as each of the men took a vial.
“This is the cure,” offered Walter. “They called Hillary and asked me to bring it to them.”
“You’re really going to drink it?” She looked from one man to the next. Their faces were grim but determined.
“We’d do anything for you, sugar.” Hank held the vial higher. “Even change what we don’t want to change.�
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She moved forward, ignoring their commands to stay back.
“We don’t know what will happen when we drink this.” Jack studied the vial as though it contained poison. “Whatever that is, we don’t want you getting hurt.”
Dade motioned for Walter to go back inside. Walter hesitated then did as Dade requested.
“We love you, Sunshine. As incredible as that might seem, we do.” Hank’s smile was filled with pain mixed with hope. “But then again, most people think being a vampire is incredible, too.”
The closer she came, the more determined she was. “You’re really going to do this? Just for me?” How could anyone love someone that much to give up being what they were? Yet, as soon as she’d had the thought, she knew she’d change for them, too.
“Why are all of you taking it?” she asked, trying to stall to give her more time to think.
“I’m not going to let one of my friends be the guinea pig,” answered Jack.
“Same here.” Dade put his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “It’s one for all, and all for one.”
“Well, then, shit. Let’s get this show on the road.” Hank brought his vial closer to his mouth. “At the same time. Right, guys?”
“No. Please, don’t,” she begged.
“No?” He shrugged. “But why not? This is what you wanted.”
Panic seized her. Dashing forward, she yelled, “No! That’s not what I meant! I don’t want you to change for me!” She struck out, knocking the vial from Hank’s hand. The vial shattered on the porch, spewing out a green liquid.
Meeting Hank’s gaze, she asked, “Did you drink any of it? Please, tell me you didn’t drink any of it.”
“No, sugar. It never touched my lips.”
Relief swamped her, and she had to lean against him for support. Tears sprang to her eyes as she clung to his shirt. “I don’t want you to change. None of you. I love you just the way you are. Please. Don’t drink it. Get rid of it.”
Dade stretched his hand out over the porch railing. “You don’t have to ask me more than once.” He tipped the vial, letting the contents spill on the bushes below. “I hope the hell it doesn’t kill the plants.”
Jack did the same, adding, “Good riddance. And I’d hate to think of Kat getting hold of that shit. Who knows what it might change her into?”
Sunshine giggled through her tears. “God forbid.” Wiping away a tear, she leaned back. “I don’t want you guys to change one thing about yourselves. You’re perfect exactly the way you are.”
“So you’re good with what we are?” asked Jack.
“Absolutely. I know I have a lot of things to learn about vampires, but if you’re willing to accept me the way I am, then how can I do anything less?”
“The way you are?” Dade frowned, not understanding.
“You know.” She made a face. “Fat.”
“Fat and fabulous,” added Hank. “Shit. That sounds like something one of those television people might say.”
“Sunshine, does this mean you’ll stay with us? Not just tonight but forever?” A twinkle gleamed in Jack’s eyes. “Even after we get old and wrinkled?”
“You bet I will.” She let Dade pull her into his arms. “Now how about you show me what bedroom we’re going to be sleeping in?”
“What? Wow. A haystack and a field of flowers isn’t good enough for you? Now you want a bed? Damn, babe, we didn’t know you were so high maintenance.” Jack shoved the door wide then stepped out of the way.
She was halfway through the living room before it hit her, halting her. “Wait a sec. So that dream I had last night wasn’t just a dream?”
“We can talk about it later,” said a very guilty-looking Hank. “After we make wild, passionate love.”
How could any woman turn that down? “Sounds like a plan. But what about Walter?”
Dade pointed out the window as Walter hurried to a car. “It doesn’t take a genius to know when to leave. Smart boy, your friend.”
A wealth of love for her true friend welled inside her. “Yeah. He sure is.” Taking Hank’s hand, she added, “Now where’s that bed?”
Epilogue
“Hey, Sunshine, how’s it going?”
Sunshine almost squealed at the sound of Walter’s voice. Since she’d moved to the ranch to be with her men almost six months earlier, she hadn’t heard much from her best friend. A few texts and even fewer phone calls. He’d started working longer hours and didn’t always answer his phone.
“I’m great. But I’m ready to kill you, Walter Crank. Why haven’t you returned my texts and calls? If I didn’t hear from you by the end of the week, I was going to call the police and have them check your apartment for your decomposing body. You’re not bringing home any more of your work, are you? Like the kind that can blow things up?”
“No, no. I’ve been busy is all.”
She plopped down on the new rocking chair the men had bought for the front porch just for her. Watching them while they worked with the horses was one of her favorite things to do. “Busy doing what? What could be so important that you couldn’t return a damn phone call? It only takes a minute to send a text, you know.” Did she sound like her mother? Yet she didn’t care. She’d been worried.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve felt like such a failure recently.”
She sat up straighter. “What? You? A failure? That’s not even in the realm of possibility.”
“Thanks, but it’s true.”
He wasn’t telling her something. Which, of course, made her curious. “Walter, what are you hiding from me?”
The silence between them lasted a little too long.
“Well, a lot has changed. I wanted to tell you, but I thought I might jinx my good luck if I told anyone.”
Now she was really curious. Walter didn’t believe in jinxes.
“What’s going on? Spill it now, or I’m getting on the first plane back there.”
“I met someone.”
She sucked in a breath, surprised to find that she was jealous. But the jealousy wasn’t because she wanted him. It was only because she’d thought he’d always be hers, in a platonic sort of way. But now he’d found someone else to fill the hole she’d left in his life. Someone that might take him out of her life for good. Still, she wanted to be happy for him. If anyone deserved happiness, it was Walter.
“That’s great. Who is she? How did you meet? Come on. Don’t spare any of the details.”
“I will, but not right now. I expect her home at any minute.”
“Home?” She was on the edge of her chair. “As in she lives with you? As in you have a live-in girlfriend? And you didn’t tell me? What the fuck, Walter?”
“Her name is Matilda Hertz, and she’s terrific. I’ll send you a pic.”
Her phone beeped, announcing the photo’s arrival. She stared at the picture for several moments before allowing herself to believe her eyes. Aside from having brunette hair, Matilda looked a lot like her. The photo showed Matilda standing on a stage in front of a set of drums. “She’s really cute.”
“Yeah. She is. And she’s very nice, too. Oh, and smart. Super smart.”
“As smart as you?”
“Well, no, but still, very smart.”
She laughed, loving the way Walter’s mind worked. “Because no one’s as smart as Walter Crank, right?”
“I didn’t say that. Anyway, I need to tell you something else.”
She clutched the phone, for some unknown reason expecting him to tell her something bad. “What is it?”
“I finally found a vampire to take the cure.”
“Oh, shit.” She’d gotten so loud that the men turned to stare at her. She shook her head, dispelling their worry. “How the hell did you do that? And where did you find him?”
“I found her. I met her in the bar where she sings with a band.”
“Her?” She glanced at the photo again. Contrary to what most people believed, vampires could see their reflections in mir
rors. And have their photos taken.
“Matilda’s a vampire,” confirmed Walter.
“Holy shit.” She almost didn’t dare ask. “So? Did the cure work? Did it make her human again?”
“No. I still haven’t found the right solution. Besides, she didn’t really want to take the cure, but she did it for me. In fact, she did it when I wasn’t watching after I’d told her I didn’t need or want her to change. Still, she drank it down, wanting to help me. Isn’t she something?”
“Oh.” Did he sound disappointed? She couldn’t tell. “She sure sounds great. Are you okay with not getting the cure? Are you okay with her staying a vampire?”
“Actually, I think a woman vampire likes to be called a vampiress.”
“Yeah, I know.” She put her fingertip on the fang beginning to sprout. Even after three months, she was still learning how to control her vampire urges. “Want to know how I know?”
It didn’t take Walter long to grasp her meaning. He was, after all, a genius.
“They changed you?”
“They sure did, and I couldn’t be happier.” The sound of a door shutting drifted through the phone. “Did Matilda just get home?”
“Yeah. You guys sure have great hearing.”
“Yeah. We do. You’d better go greet her right, you hear? Oh, and, Walter?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t worry about finding the cure. I don’t think any vampire wants to change back to human. And, besides”—she waved for her men to come to her—“you’ve got better things to do now.”
He laughed, a truly joyous laugh that made her heart fill with joy. “You’re right. I definitely do. Talk to you soon, Sunshine.”
“Real soon.” She ended the call as she met her men on the porch then led them inside their home.
THE END
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