by Unknown
Jolie had been in his head the entire time, and she had to fight not to laugh as she pushed energy into his body. It was funny how the man was hell bent on trying to rationalize his feelings anyway possible.
Why couldn’t it just be what it was?
Hopefully, one day he would come to grips with it.
Opening her eyes, Jolie broke the connection. When he sounded like he had just run a marathon, she did indeed grin. Instead of getting off his lap, she leaned in and kissed him again, this time without the guise of feeding. Instead, she wanted to steal a moment and share it with him.
It wasn’t all about duty.
Jolie had grown attached.
Again, he prayed that he would be a saint long enough to remain in control.
“Don’t bet on it,” she whispered to him, as she moved off his lap.
He raised an eyebrow as her laughter brushed his mind. He forgot that they could park themselves in his head and know everything that he was thinking.
Well shit!
Jacques stood and brought Flynn a cup of coffee. “She’s always like that,” he reassured, giving the man a look of sympathy. He turned to walk back to Jolie and kissed her on the forehead.
“What are we doing tonight?” asked Brogan, still sitting in the bed, waiting for his body to be his own once more.
“We need to return to ‘The Sanguivore’, so we can see if we can spot Cassiel’s companion. She is the next piece, and we need to get it done. We’re both heading back to work soon.”
“That sounds good to me,” Brogan replied. Now that his libido was semi under control, he headed toward the table. “My partner has left me about twenty voicemails, informing me that he’s stalking my apartment, and next he’s calling the cops to rescue me.”
Jolie snickered. “Yes, you’re both poor, hapless males trapped in my web.”
Jacques grinned wickedly. “Thankfully.”
“He’s going to dog me until I come up with some viable excuse on why I blew off a case and am missing in action.”
“I have a suggestion, if you wish to hear it,” stated Jacques.
“Sure thing. What?”
“You both need to spend more time together in public.” Brogan wasn’t getting it. “How will that help?”
Jolie took over for her mate. “We’re going to need to appear to be a couple from here on out. After all, I’ll be feeding you for the rest of eternity.”
Brogan sat there looking at the two of them. “Yeah, uh okay,” he replied, still a little freaked out about the ‘sharing’ Jolie part. Granted, his was purely make believe. “What about the case? Because I’m thinking that’s going to be his major thought not who I’m…sleeping with or not.” Okay, that was lame and a half assed attempt to cover himself from what he was thinking.
“Flynn, if I can’t plant some creative thoughts in his head, what kind of vampyre would I be? I just need you to push it as far back in the afternoon as possible. Make it right before you pick me up to take us home,” she said, sipping more tea.
“Okay.”
Jacques leaned down and kissed Jolie on the tip of her nose. “Let me pour you some more tea,” he offered, totally engrossed with his mate.
He couldn’t keep it in anymore, and he needed to know. “Won’t it bother you if Jolie and I play kissy face out in public?” he blurted. “And doesn’t it bother you now?”
Yeah, so much for not looking like an asshole.
Jacques glanced up at Brogan. “No, Flynn, I don’t believe it will and it doesn’t make me upset now.”
“Why?”
“Jolie has enough space in her life for both of us. As you yourself said, I’m her heart and you’re her soul. I’m aware of how closely we’re mated, and I don’t feel threatened by you.”
“Jacques is right, Flynn. We aren’t a conventional couple. From here on out, there are different rules, and you can’t try to make us fit human standards,” she added, leaning forward to pat his leg.
Flynn watched them both warily, unsure if he could believe what they were saying.
“Jacques is my mate, and that won’t change, no matter how many nights you spend in our bed.”
“I’m having a problem coming to grips with it.”
“We see that,” said Jacques. “May I make a suggestion?”
“Sure. It can’t hurt.”
“We’re going to have a long life together. If you plan on surviving it, and not making yourself a neurotic mess, you need to relax and enjoy it,” said Jacques, pouring more tea. “We intend to live life to its fullest. Eternity is a long time to be afraid to enjoy.”
“You’re dead, and you’re telling me to live it up like it’s my last day on earth?”
Jacques laughed as he continued to drink his tea. “Oui.”
Brogan silently observed the two vampyres. It astounded him how comfortable and easy they were together. It gave him some warmth that had been missing, since they opened up to include him in their little group.
Maybe they were right.
“Okay, I can try to relax,” Flynn offered, standing. “I want to work out a little and use the pool. I’ll be ready for the club,” he said, as he began to walk away
Then, he had an idea.
It was time to test the man’s words.
He turned around to lean down and place a deep kiss on Jolie’s lips. It was filled with heat, want, and pulled her fangs into her mouth.
Mission accomplished.
She wasn’t the only one who could play dirty.
When he finally pulled away, he grinned at Jacques and headed back to his room to get changed.
Jolie could hear Brogan’s laughter in her mind. She stared over at Jacques as he was sitting there, waiting until the detective had left the room.
“Jacques?”
“Hmmm?”
“Are you really fine with all this?” asked Jolie, sipping her tea, as she watched his face.
Jacques stared deeply into the eyes of his mate. They had been together for so many centuries that he knew her very well. He truly loved Jolie and wanted her to be happy. He couldn’t help feel the tightening of protectiveness in his body whenever another man came near her, and yet this was different.
“I’m possessive, mon amour,” he said, sipping his tea. When Jolie took his hand, he stared at her blankly.
“That isn’t what I asked you, mon amour.”
“He’s bonded to us, Jolie. It doesn’t matter what I’m fine or not fine with,” he stated. “We have ventured down a path that I didn't see coming. Then again, I didn't see becoming your mate headed my way either, and yet it was a perfect surprise that I’ve come to love.” He stroked a hand down her hair.
Jolie moved into his lap and wrapped her arms around his body. Slowly, she could feel the hesitation ebb away, and only love remained. “Jacques, take me to bed, and I’ll show you exactly what I feel for you.”
He stared into her eyes and saw nothing but love. “I’m a very slow learner, so it may take a few demonstrations.”
It didn't bother her in the least.
“That’s okay. I’m a very patient vampyre.”
∞ Chapter Twenty-Two ∞
Sunday Evening
Jacques stood in front of the mirror in Brogan’s room, fastidiously grooming himself. He had carefully picked out his clothing for the trip to the club, knowing that Jolie had bested him last time. Tonight, the victory was going to be his, no matter what.
He went with the customary leather pants but paired it with a see through black fishnet shirt. Two could play the revealing game, and he wasn’t above teasing her back. When he added the boots and black leather collar, he was good to go.
It was the best that he could pull off.
He glanced over at Brogan sitting calmly on the couch cleaning his gun. He had picked out a pair of leather pants and a tight black t-shirt.
“You’re not going to out dress her, Jacques,” Flynn said, not even looking up. “Why even try?”
“I know that I won’t, but I would like to put forth an effort,” he answered, standing beside the couch. “How bad do you think it’ll be this time?”
Brogan just laughed.
“That bad, huh?” He was trying to be friendlier with the human and following his own earlier advice. It was hypocritical to tell Flynn to go with it, and not do the same thing. Unless something cataclysmic occurred, they were going to be together a long time, especially since the detective was Jolie’s new guardian.
“All I know is that she asked to borrow my handcuffs.” He watched the look on Jacques’s face. “Hey, I’m kidding,” Brogan teased as he grinned. “She wouldn’t give me a hint. Sorry that I can’t help you out on this.”
Jacques began pacing back and forth as they waited for Jolie. “There has to be more clothing than last time. Please reassure me that there’ll be more. Each time, there seems to be less and less.”
“Hell, there couldn’t be less this time,” Brogan reassured, laughing. Suddenly, he stopped.
Jacques knew that she was close, he could feel her.
When he turned, he wasn’t prepared for what waited for him. “Mon Dieu,” he muttered, staring openmouthed at his mate.
“How do I look?” she asked, enjoying the look on her mate’s face. She had gone for an entirely different look this time, and she wasn’t disappointed. Jolie had opted for a tiny, plaid, pleated skirt that showed more than was legal when she spun in a circle. She paired it with black buckle boots that went to her knees. The stockings cut across her thighs with a slash of lace. Her white formfitting shirt left nothing to the imagination, especially since she cropped it so short that they could see the black lacy bra beneath.
Jolie had added blue highlights to her hair and pulled it up into two cascading ponytails on each side of her head. She looked like a schoolgirl gone too wild. “Jacques?”
He just stood there staring at her, not sure what to say.
“Well, I think he’s the first vampyre on record going to need CPR,” Brogan said, opting to laugh instead of thinking about how his body was reacting to hers. Holy shit, he wanted to commit so many sins right then and there.
Jolie strolled across the room, going to her mate. “You look mouthwatering my love,” she admitted, as she wrapped her arms around his neck to kiss him. She enjoyed the look on his face as he pulled back. “You did try harder this time to beat me, didn’t you?”
“You win! No more challenges,” he declared. “I can’t take it anymore. The clothing is getting worse by the minute.”
Laughter washed down his flesh, only making him harder, if that was even possible. “What? There is more to this one,” she said, spinning in a circle, as both men stared at her. The human one tried not to react and her mate only licked his lips.
“You’re trying to kill me. How about you go change into a nice conservative suit?”
“Mon amour, this was the conservative choice,” she replied, as she sent him a picture of what she was going to wear out that evening.
If possible, his body reacted even more.
Jolie figured it was time to get moving. “Are we ready to go?” she asked, winking at him. She turned, well aware that both men were watching her walk away. It didn't disappoint her that she had their full attention.
“Yeah, let’s go,” said Brogan, getting up from the couch. “I suddenly need a drink.”
Jacques whispered into Jolie’s mind. “So do I,” he replied, and was answered back with her laughter.
∞ ∞ ∞
The club wasn’t as busy as it would have been on a Friday or Saturday night. There were the diehard clubbers and goth kids gyrating to the pulsing music. Jolie took both Jacques and Brogan’s hands, and they slid into the crowd, hopefully unnoticed.
Once hidden in plain sight, she opened up her mind, seeking out any vampyres in the room. She could feel three moving not far from her. She reached out to both Flynn and Jacques’s minds.
“I found them.”
“We need to separate,” said Jacques.
“Sounds good to me,” replied Brogan.
“Flynn, you’re to keep your mind open and touching ours at all times. We can’t take the chance that you get trapped again and something happens that we can’t stop.”
“I understand, but do I need to remind you that I’m the cop?”
Laughter floated into his head as Jolie and Jacques looked amused by his words.
“Flynn, don’t make me force you. I need to be able to focus. Please,” she pleaded, as she reached up to touch his face with her hand.
“Fine.”
“Let’s separate and look for Cassiel’s companion.”
Jolie slid seamlessly into the goth kids, blending with little effort. She kept her mind open to search the room as she monitored Jacques and Flynn at the same time. There was no way she was making the same mistake as last time.
Immediately, Jolie could feel the vampyre near. She secured her thoughts and asked the men to do the same. As the vampyre moved toward her, she was ready.
“They’re just about here.”
“They can’t feel that you’re one of them, mon amour.”
“I’ll draw them to me.” She heard Brogan’s protest in her mind, and opted to ignore it. “Flynn, they can’t hurt me. Besides, I have my heart and soul to watch over me.”
It appeared to appease him.
“Jolie, they’re right next to you,” cautioned Jacques.
Jolie just sent him warmth as she focused on the upcoming danger.
As Jolie spun in a circle, dancing to the beat, someone’s hands went to her waist. Without warning, her body was yanked against the front of an incredibly handsome vampyre.
He was stunning, in a golden haired deity kind of way.
She paused, putting her hand to his chest as she smiled up into his face. It entertained her that he looked pleased, like his trickery had actually worked. Then, she could feel him push into her thoughts, trying to find out as much as possible.
Oh, he was in for a surprise, as Jacques helped her hold together the carefully constructed fantasy which she had created in her mind.
When he called to her, Jolie followed his suggestion to follow.
Brogan didn't like it one bit. This all felt off and way too convenient.
“They’re trying to control her,” he whispered into Jacques’s mind.
“She is well aware, mon ami. Just follow at a safe distance.”
“Can he over power her?” Just then, Jolie’s laughter brushed through his mind and caressed his body. Even at a distance, he was overcome with emotion and was forced to inhale sharply.
“She is trying to keep him out of her thoughts. He thinks that tonight she’s going to be his snack, and that will lead us to the killers.”
“I hate this,” he muttered. It all went back to his chauvinistic belief that women should be kept safe.
Again, there was more laughter.
Jolie followed the male vampyre as she stared deep into his eyes. When they were off in a corner, and alone, he called to her before slamming his mouth brutally to hers.
Both men objected in her head.
As the vampyre deepened the kiss, Jolie ran her hands up his body. She felt him tense beneath her fingers as lust poured into her from his mouth. Jolie began fighting to stay in control as he desperately tried to overwhelm her. Even with Jacques’s help, she was inundated.
When his fangs descend into his mouth, Jolie knew that she needed to move fast. Nipping his lip with her teeth, she broke the skin. He reacted immediately, deepening the kiss.
This was her moment as she swallowed the pooling blood that was accumulating in his mouth.
As quickly as the kiss came, it ended.
“Come my little pet,” he whispered. “Tonight, you’re mine.”
Both Jacques and Flynn could feel the lust pounding into Jolie’s body from the male vampyre. It was washing over them in different ways. Jacques was ready to kill and Brogan was try
ing to keep Jacques calm as they focused on Jolie’s safety. As the detective reached into his mind, the ugly red haze filtering through every one of Jacques’s thoughts portrayed his true feelings.
“Jacques, calm down. She’s fine.”
“I don’t want him touching my mate.”
Brogan knew he needed to distract Jacques. “Why did she bite his lip?”
“Jolie wanted to drink his blood, so she’ll be able to control him when they get where they’re going.”
“Can she do that?”
“Yes.”
Brogan had never seen Jacques this enraged, and he wondered if this is what Jacques felt when he was touching Jolie or near her.
“No,” he said, reading Brogan’s mind. “This is different. You’re family, and he isn’t.”
Well, that was good to know.
Both men focused on Jolie and the direction she was heading. They followed as she was led out behind the club through a private exit. They met in front of the door and Brogan stepped forward.
“No. We’ll wait until she calls us. She has a plan.”
Who was he to argue? Instead, he turned and faced the club, making sure that no one was going to sneak up on them.
It looked like for now, they would bide their time.
Brogan only hoped that Jolie knew what she was doing.
∞ ∞ ∞
Jolie followed him to the alley.
Once there, she took in all her surroundings. She could feel more vampyres out there waiting for her. Jolie carefully secured her thoughts, keeping her mind open to Jacques and Brogan as she offered them repeated reassurance that she was just fine.
Now, whether or not they bought that remained to be seen.
“Come to me,” called the male vampyre out loud.
Jolie walked toward him and stopped in front of his body, perpetuating the façade.
“She’s a beautiful specimen, Dieter,” said a voice from the darkness.
Jolie waited patiently as a woman walked into the light. When she took her place beside the handsome vampyre, Jolie could feel the push of energy, trying to scan her mind.
Both Brogan and Jacques protested.
