(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips (17 page)

“Thank you, Dad.” I took the bag then kissed Mars’ cheek. “But I’m not sure Jerry will take an elixir. You have no idea how one badly affected him before.”

“I’m counting on your powers of persuasion, my dear.” He smiled. “Now I must go. Wars to be won, you know.”

“Sure. Thanks for coming when I called.” I hugged him again, armor and all.

“I always will, Gloriana. Remember that.” Then he disappeared.

I stepped into my rooms expecting Jerry to be waiting for me. A handmaiden was setting out a meal. The smells were wonderful and I took a moment to make sure it was hearty, with the kinds of dishes good for a man who needed to build up his strength. Then I sent Alesha to see Cornelius to ask for a strengthening elixir for Jerry. I thought it would be better to just slip it into his wine instead of getting into a big debate about it.

Could I really deceive him like that? With a sigh, I headed for our luxurious bathroom. Jerry was stretched out in the enormous tub, all the jets bubbling away. He had his eyes closed, a cheroot in his mouth and a snifter of brandy in his hand. I wished for a camera. Never had I seen him so content.

“Want some company?”

He jumped and water sloshed over the rim and onto the marble floor. “Gloriana. Damn it, I can’t get used to the fact that my senses aren’t worth shit here. I didn’t hear or sense you come in.”

“How’s your eyesight?” I grinned and reached back to unzip my dress. When I let it drop to the floor, I stood there for a moment, enjoying Jerry’s eyes widening as he took in my lacy black demi-bra and the scrap of fabric that passed for panties.

“God, woman, you’re beautiful.” He dropped the lit cigar into the brandy. It hissed as it went out before he set the glass on the deep ledge behind the tub. “Keep going. I’m happy to say that my eyes are working just fine.”

I kicked off my high heels and sauntered toward him. But I turned my back to him at the last second to carefully remove the diamond drops from my ears and set them on the dressing table next to the sink. In my usual shape, I never would have stood like this, letting him see me with the lights on, my ass hanging out. But now I took my time, slipping off the matching bracelet. Then I picked up the brush and twisted my hair up, fixing it with a clip on top of my head so it wouldn’t get wet.

“You’re torturing me. Turn around, Gloriana.” Jerry did sound uncomfortable.

I was grinning as I reached back and unfastened my bra. I shimmied out of it and dropped it on the floor before I finally faced him. “Torture? I think you’ve suffered enough lately because of me.”

“Then you’d better come over here and make it up to me. Don’t you think?” He widened his legs and I could see he was fully aroused under all those bubbles. “Lose the panties.”

I didn’t say a word, just slid my fingers under the narrow strips of lace and let the panties fall to the floor as well. Then I walked to the end of the tub and stepped in so that I was facing him. The warm water swirled around us both as I sat then ran my feet up his legs.

“You’re pretty far away down there. Come closer.” He bent his knees, hooking my legs with his toes. Then I was being dragged toward him. I grabbed the sides of the tub so I wouldn’t go under.

“Hmm. I think I’m getting there.” I let Jerry settle my thighs over his as his cock rubbed against my sensitive opening. “You’re not in a hurry, are you?” I slid my hands down his chest, rubbing his nipples with my fingertips on my way down. “Oops, maybe you are.” I laughed as I guided him into me, clamping my legs around his waist as I took him with a groan. “God, Jerry, no man fills me like you do.”

“I didn’t hear a comparison there, did I?” His growl in my ear, made me freeze. But his hands on my ass didn’t give me a chance to move away.

“No, hell no. Make love to me. Please.” I turned my head and met his open mouthed kiss. We licked our way into each other’s mouth, still unsure how to go on without our fangs to play with. But it was okay, better than okay. I loved him. And I could kiss him forever.

Then he started to move. I braced my feet on the wall of the tub and let him set the rhythm as I stared into his eyes. “Yes!” I moved and the angle got even better. He pushed into me harder and I pulsed around him, feeling the intense pressure that meant I was getting close, closer.

“Not yet, Gloriana.” He pulled out then sat up and moved me until one of those jets in the tub hit me just so.

“Oh, my God!” I shivered, so sensitive my toes curled. When he lifted my hips to his mouth, I grabbed the sides of the tub and let my head fall back. To hell with my hair. I was about to come apart and Jerry’s clever mouth was the only thing that mattered now. Then, just when I thought I couldn’t stand it another moment, he drew me onto him again, emphatically. Like he was claiming me all over again. How many times had he done that? Declared his ownership. And did I care? Not at all. I rode him with the abandon of a Siren who was all about sex and had found her forever lover.

He shouted louder than I did when he finally came. So much for conserving his strength. I felt his last reserves drain from him as I clenched around him, taking everything he had, everything he could give me. Could he give me his child? I could only dream that he had.

I left him dozing on the bed after we moved from the bathroom and made love again. I got dressed in a loose robe and dried my hair, then headed into the sitting room to make sure a fresh meal would be prepared whenever Jerry was ready for it. I was pretty sure the handmaidens could enjoy the food that had grown cold while we’d been doing our thing. Did they have microwaves up here? I had no idea. But I did know that my cheeks burned as I wondered whether they’d heard us through the walls.

“Mistress, the grand sorcerer Cornelius is here to see you.” Alesha looked flustered as she stopped me in the doorway. “You might want to change your clothes.” She whispered the last. “He is a very important man.”

“I know, Alesha. I’ve met him before.” I snapped my fingers and now wore a black pants suit with a white silk blouse tucked in. Pearls were at my neck and ears, black pumps on my bare feet. I followed her into the sitting room. “Cornelius, thank you for honoring us with your presence.” I sat on a loveseat and gestured for the sorcerer to sit across from me. He was in a business suit, the opposite of silly throwback Waldo who wore his long purple robes.

“Your handmaiden came to me with a request for an elixir. I thought I should come see about this myself. The sorcerer’s world is abuzz with your presence here. And I certainly remember your friend Blade and how he suffered from Waldo’s ineptitude the last time we met.” He folded his hands in his lap. I noticed his perfect manicure. Which made me remember that Waldo’s hands had been less than clean, his nails ragged as if he chewed them off and spit them into his potions. Yuck.

“Um, yes. I hope you know how grateful we both were for your rescue that night. As for now? Well, I thought you were like doctors. That anything that happens in your offices would be confidential.” Had Waldo blabbed about my requests from him? And Flo’s?

“Oh, it’s supposed to be. But I was concerned that you went to that idiot Waldo instead of coming straight to me, Gloriana. You know how incompetent he can be.” He leaned forward, his eyes that uncanny shade of orange I remembered from the last time we’d met. “Will you really trust anything you buy from him? After the fiasco that almost killed your lover?”

“What the hell, Gloriana?” Jerry stood in the doorway. He wore the casual clothes Mars had told him were standard in Olympus. Unfortunately, my father was old school so that meant something from before America had been discovered. Not that Jerry looked bad in the short toga, but, seriously, Cornelius was giving him the eye, like what the hell indeed?

“Jer, you remember Cornelius the sorcerer, don’t you?” I stood and gestured for Jerry to join me on the loveseat. “Cornelius, Jeremy Blade, my fiancé.”

“Of course I do. He saved my life.” Jerry strode over and extended his hand.

Cornelius smiled and accepted the handshake then we all settled in our seats. “Yes, I was proud of that. Quite a close call but we managed. I was just reminding Gloriana here of the dangers of working with Waldo. He’s the fool who almost killed you, Blade.”

“You went to see a sorcerer?” Jerry stared at me. Of course he couldn’t read my mind but he still tried. “Why?”

“Birth control.” I sighed as if this was embarrassing but a woman’s burden.

“Yes, I’d heard that was your mission.” Cornelius glanced at Jerry. “It’s his specialty here. I must say he seems to manage it fairly well.”

“You mean you have to be careful here? About that?” Jerry looked shocked. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have--”

“What? Do you have some condoms in the nightstand I don’t know about? You sure haven’t bothered to pull one out if you do.” I ignored Cornelius or I’d have been embarrassed discussing this in front of him. “What would happen if I got pregnant here? Do you want to take home a baby?”

Jerry picked up my hand. “I wouldn’t mind.” He squeezed my fingers. “But I’m not sure how that would play with Zeus.”

“Really, Gloriana, Blade is right. You were very wise. You don’t want to imagine what your grandfather would do if you were to ruin his plans to marry you off to a god with something like an unplanned pregnancy.” Cornelius narrowed those pumpkin-colored eyes at me. “But then maybe you don’t care about upsetting Zeus.”

“Sending Zeus into a meltdown?” I shuddered. “He’s scary when he’s in a
good
mood.”

“Well, you’d be wise to remember who’s in charge here.” Cornelius pulled a vial of amber liquid from his breast pocket. “I’ve brought what you requested. I understand, Blade, that you were recently held in the cells. That can take quite a toll on a man’s health.”

“It was a nightmare. But I’m getting back in shape. Training every day.” Jerry kept my hand in his. “I admit I tire easily.” He nodded toward the vial. “If that poison is for me, forget it.”

“Jerry, please. I asked Cornelius for a tonic. Something to help you get your strength back. Mars recommended it.” Tears filled my eyes and I didn’t try to hold them back. “I can’t take a chance that Kratos will kill you in that fight. You
must
win.”

“Kratos is a formidable opponent.” Cornelius set the vial on the coffee table between us. “This elixir is fairly harmless. It will give you a boost that will help you be stronger, faster. Consider it similar to the vitamins that mortals take. Why not give it a chance?”

“Because the last sorcerer’s potion I took almost made my brain boil?” Jerry dropped my hand and stood. “Thanks for dropping by, Cornelius. I will always be grateful that you saved my life back on Earth. But I’m going to win this fight without performance-enhancing drugs.”

“You think Kratos won’t take something to increase his strength before the fight?” Cornelius rose gracefully. “He’s already put in his order. This will just level the playing field. It’s one reason why I came here personally.” He frowned and pulled four more vials from his pockets. “Take one every few days until the day of the fight.” Then he pulled one last bottle from his pocket. This one was bigger and made of brown glass. “Then on the morning of the fight, swallow this down. It should make you able to do your best.”

“Sounds dishonest to me. I’m a Campbell and a Highlander.” Jerry hit his chest. “We don’t cheat. We win on our own merits.”

“Then die on your own merits. This isn’t supposed to be a fight to the death but I’ve heard Kratos has a vendetta against you.” Cornelius left all the drugs on the table. “Gloriana, talk to him. And don’t worry about payment. I have a score to settle with Kratos myself. Calista is my granddaughter and he has treated her poorly. They were supposed to wed but, when this opportunity to marry you came along, he discarded her without a second’s thought. Her heart is broken.” Cornelius stalked to the door. “Beat the son of a bitch, Blade. Kill him if you can. I’ll be placing my money on you.” And with that he left, closing the door behind him.

“That was a surprise.” I stared after the sorcerer.

“Good to know someone powerful is on my side.” Jerry picked up one of the vials. “But I’m not taking--”

“Listen to me. I will die if you die. Because I’m not marrying Kratos.” I wrapped my arms around Jerry’s waist. “Those drugs aren’t cheating. What was cheating was making you suffer in the cells until you lost weight and strength. Kratos is in the prime of life, in top condition. And still plans to use a drug anyway.”

“I’m a warrior, Gloriana.” Jerry’s jaw was tight.

“Who has spent the past centuries fighting with a vampire’s advantages. A vampire’s special skills. Where are those now?” I ran my fingertips over that hard jaw, trying to coax it to soften. “Do you even remember how a mortal fights? What it means to stand and battle without the chance to read a man’s mind or leap over his back? Tear out his throat?”

“Stop it.” He pushed me away but I noticed he didn’t fling the vial to the hard marble floor. “You think I’m not haunted by that fact? Mars puts me up to spar with a servant who is also mortal and I still can’t best him.” He turned his back on me. “Shit, Gloriana, I am less than a man here. How can you still love me?”

“You are my heart, Jeremiah. I never loved you for the way you swing a sword or use your fists.” I slid my hands over his back, feeling how the muscles were taut and yet not as hard as they once were. “I love you for the way you always look out for me, always put me first. You are my hero, my lover, my soul mate.”

He whirled to face me. “And you ran to a sorcerer for fear of having my child.”

I knew these walls had ears so I said what I had to say. “It’s not smart to bring a child into this place, Jerry. Surely you can see that.”

“Of course. Because you expect Kratos will kill me. Then where would you be?” He gave me a long look that broke my heart, then set the vial he still held on the table and stormed out the door.

“Jerry!” Where was he going? Would he be safe? I gestured and Alesha came running. “Get a soldier to follow him, no, two soldiers. I want him guarded. Understand?”

“Yes, mistress.” She nodded and took off.