(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips (23 page)

“You’ve never crushed me yet, my girl.” He rolled me over until he was gazing down at me. “I love every inch of you. Stick thin isn’t for me. Not when there’s so much more to love, to taste.” He slid a hand over my stomach and down between my thighs, while he kissed each nipple, pushing down the lace to suck one into his mouth. “Mmm. You are perfect, just the way you are. Don’t let your mother convince you otherwise.”

“She hasn’t. But there are so many other, more beautiful women out there. Slender, perfectly proportioned--”

“Hush, Gloriana.” He managed to make that happen by kissing me. His open mouth took mine with a hunger that I answered with everything in me.

After that it was as if we needed to claim each other again. To discover that our passion was alive and well and the fires burned as bright. He pushed my thighs apart and dipped his tongue inside until I pulled his hair and screamed his name. Then I shoved him onto his back and took him into my mouth, squeezing his sacs and holding him hostage until he was almost lost. But I needed his seed inside me and sat astride to take it all. The heat once again shocked me. Mortal. My Jerry was a mortal man, vibrant and full of life. I couldn’t let him die. And if he did? Could
I
bring him back to life? It was something I didn’t dare test.

I stared down at him with all the love I had to give. Surely it would be enough to save him. Because I couldn’t imagine going on without him. And I sure as hell wouldn’t stay here.

“You’re amazing.” He reached up and traced a tear that I hadn’t realized had fallen down my cheek. “What’s this? You’re not still fretting about that fight, are you? Where’s the faith? Haven’t I proved myself to you in the centuries you’ve known me?”

I carefully climbed off of him and snuggled into his arms. “I know you can hold your own on the battlefield. Or you could at home, as a vampire. I’ve seen you fight and felt nothing but pity for the men who met your sword.” I kissed his bare chest. “But here you aren’t yourself.”

“Aren’t I?” He glanced down his body. “Guess you’re right. Shit. Even my cock knows I’m mortal. It should be ready to take you again, yet it’s laying there. Helpless.”

I sat up and saw he was right. “Well, I’m sure I can do something about that.” I threw my hair back over my shoulders and crawled down to sit between his legs. “Hello there, Mr. Campbell.” I ran a fingertip around the tip of his cock. It jerked but didn’t come to life. “Oh, being stubborn, are we?”

“Gloriana, don’t mock him. He’s taking time to recover.” Jerry grinned and put his hands behind his head so he could watch me. “Of course if you wish to speed the process along, feel free to take the fellow in hand.”

“Oh, you think that would help?” I grasped him gently, leaning down as if to study him. “Oh, are you tired from all that action earlier, big fellow?”

“You think him big, do you?” Jerry spread his legs further apart. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

“I’m sure it will. You are quite an expert at it yourself.” I patted myself on the rump. “You go on and on about my curves. Seriously? Then why stare at those females climbing the poles at that club last night?”

“A man has a duty to look over any woman who crosses his path. It’s how we assure ourselves that we have the best already.”  He sat up and pulled me closer with his feet. “I’ve known that for centuries, my love. And as soon as we get away from this hellish place, I’ll stake my claim for all to know that you’re mine and mine alone. For the rest of our lives.” He held my head as he kissed me, his mouth hot on mine.

When he finally released me I felt a nudge between my thighs. “Well, look who came out to play.”

“You’re right where he wants you too.” Jerry stayed sitting up and lifted me so that my legs straddled his hips. We sat facing each other and, as he slid inside me, I gasped. This position filled me like no other.

“You can’t claim me soon enough, Jeremiah. I claim you too. No other woman will ever have you like this.” I grabbed his ear and twisted it, just enough to show I meant business. “Do you hear me? You are mine. All mine. Forever. And I won’t catch you gawking at another woman’s breasts or butt again.” I let go and ran my hands over his chest, tweaking his nipples.

“God, Gloriana, don’t threaten me. A man sometimes can’t help himself.” He began to move his hips, wringing moans of pleasure from me. “No self-respecting male can be blinded to the satisfaction of just looking, you know.”

“I’m a goddess, remember? I can turn you to stone, set you on fire, hell, I can probably do a dozen other things to you if you make me jealous, Jer.” I jerked when he pushed against a particularly sensitive spot. “Oh, do that again.”

“What? This?” He thrust at an angle and I had the orgasm of a lifetime.

I shouted his name and held onto him as I quivered from my toes to my nipples. He was suckling one of those, his love bites making me scream as another tsunami broke over me.

“Are you going to keep threatening me?” He worked a finger in between us, touching off a firestorm that blew me apart again. Water, fire, all the sensations that roared through me had me a shuddering mass of sensation that took all control from me.

“No! I’m sorry.” I sobbed against his hard shoulder and then bit down, drawing blood. It tasted salty and wasn’t unpleasant but lacked the sexy zing that we’d enjoyed as vampires. I traced the bite with my fingertip and watched it heal in an instant. Good to know. Or at least I tried to take note of that as I fell back into my body after one more cataclysmic orgasm.

“I love you, Gloriana.” Jerry sank back on the bed, pulling me with him.

“I love you too. But you’d better stop right now.” I lay on him, spent. “No more orgasms. I think I may have died a little bit this time.” In fact, my insides were quivering so much that if he had planted his seed, I feared for it. So I lay very still, just breathing as I attempted to gather my strength.

“I was just trying to please you.” He ran his hand down my back and patted my butt. I quickly adjusted it back down to a size six. Enough of the generous ass. I’m sure he was happy to have less of me on top of him anyway.

“You pleased me a little too much.” I finally slid off of him and lay on my own pillow. I definitely felt wrung out. I glanced down at the sheet. No sign of bleeding. Good. I needed to ask Alesha about a pregnancy test before Jerry and I did any more gymnastic lovemaking.

“There’s no such thing as too much pleasure. Or at least that’s what you used to say.” He was up on one elbow. “What’s changed?”

“Nothing. I guess it’s this place. Mother listens in on our thoughts. Freaks me out.” I rubbed the hair low on his stomach. “I forgot her completely just now. Then, after all that shouting and calling for God, I remembered, that’s all.”

Jerry laughed and captured my hand. “Hebe can listen, even watch, for all I care. You realize she has Mars in her bed now. Since they’ve had to admit to their affair, Mars is strutting around like he’s caught a big fish. Which he has. Zeus’s daughter. And stolen her away from Hercules.”

“But he’s married, Jer. And Hercules is furious. He even confronted me about their affair.” I pulled up the sheet.

“What? He threatened you?” Jerry looked around like he wanted his knife.

“Relax. Luckily my brothers told him to back off. He got the message. He’s on Zeus’s shit list now so he’s probably long gone. Back to his wars.” I grabbed his hand. “I promised Alex and Anni not to go out anymore without an escort.”

“I should hope so.” Jerry frowned. “This is a dangerous place, Gloriana. And Hercules may have said he was leaving, but Mars told me that god has powerful friends. Your father isn’t taking a threat from him lightly. He certainly never goes out without a half dozen soldiers surrounding him.”

“Wow. And my two little brothers faced their father down.” I climbed out of bed. “All to protect me.” I yawned and stretched. “I’m taking a bath. Are you joining me?” I laughed when Jerry jumped out of bed and picked me up. “Guess so.” I leaned against him as he carried me to the bathroom. Yes, I hated Olympus but I would miss getting to know my brothers better. My grandmother too. A family. After craving one for so long, it was a shame I couldn’t just enjoy mine, strange though it was.

Chapter 11

“Your sister and your friend Florence are here, mistress. They want to come into your bedroom. Shall I let them in?” Alesha had served me my usual hot chocolate in bed. Now she took the tray, frowning when she noticed it was barely touched. “Or I can send them away if you aren’t feeling like company.”

“My stomach is upset. But I’ll see them.” I threw back the covers. The very fact that Flo and Charis were together made me eager to see what they were up to. Flo was right about one thing, it could be boring here in Olympus. When I wasn’t worried about the future or dodging irate gods.

“Upset?” Alesha frowned. “I can assure you, Lady Gloriana, that your food hasn’t been poisoned. I test everything myself before I serve you.” She stepped back from the bed to give me room when I headed for the bathroom.

I stopped next to her. “What? You think that’s possible? That someone could do that? I’m immortal. Surely…”

“The sorcerers are very clever. More clever than the gods want them to be.” She looked up, her eyes sad. “Oh, what some here wouldn’t try if they wanted you gone. And many do. The handmaidens talk you know. Lady Roxana is furious that Lord Mars is favoring you and that Lady Charis has befriended you. Then there is Lord Hercules, of course. He may have left Olympus, but he has allies. Either of them could pay for a person to sneak poison into your food.” She straightened her shoulders. “I won’t let that happen.”

“God, Alesha. I can’t let you risk your life for me.” I swayed and sat back on the edge of the bed, suddenly dizzy. Was it from the idea that this place could be so deadly? Or was I pregnant? I beckoned her closer and she set the tray on a table.

“It is my choice, mistress. And I take tiny bites and sips. Not enough to kill me. So far nothing has made me ill. But you look pale. Perhaps I haven’t been careful enough.” She pressed a palm to my forehead. “Your skin is clammy. Should I send for the sorcerer Cornelius? I am sure he would never harm you.”

“No. But you can tell me if there is such a thing as a pregnancy test here in Olympus.” I whispered, afraid my mother might be listening. The last thing I wanted to do was alert her to my plan. To my shock, Alesha burst into noisy tears and hid her face in her hands.

“What?” I put my hand on her shaking shoulder. “Alesha, talk to me.”

She finally looked up with reddened eyes. “Oh, mistress, if you choose to kill me it is only what I deserve. Throw a lightning bolt at me. Please.” She bowed her head, like she was waiting for it. “I should suffer for what I’ve done.”

“Why would I want to do that? What have you done?” I was feeling really nauseated now. This was not going to be good. Whatever had her crying was a secret I didn’t want to hear.

“I’ve betrayed you, mistress.” She sobbed again, pulling up her long skirt to hide her face. She wore a plain white slip under her simple dress but it was embroidered with pink flowers. Lovely.

I shook my head. I was losing it if I could be distracted by her underwear. “Betrayed? How? Spit it out, Alesha.” I was getting mad now. This girl had become like a friend to me. I’d trusted her and now… Why hadn’t I bothered to read her mind? I started to then but she began to talk before I could concentrate enough to do it.

“You are not pregnant, Lady Gloriana.” She started to hide her face again, then seemed to think better of it. She lifted her chin and took a shuddery breath. “I know that for a fact.” 

“Oh?” I stood, pretty sure I knew what was coming. “How?”

“Your mother made me put the birth control elixir in your chocolate every day. If you didn’t drink chocolate, then I put it in something else you ate or drank.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “I’m so very sorry, my lady, but you have been on the potion since the day your lover arrived here.”

I was about to shake her silly when I stopped myself. This was a handmaiden, a slave. I knew she probably hadn’t had a choice when my mother had ordered her to do this. I just stared at Alesha and her words poured out.

“Mistress, believe me. I didn’t want to betray you. Your mother is terrifying. She threatened me and I knew she meant every word. If I didn’t do it and you got pregnant?” Alesha sank to the floor, “I would be dead or worse.”

“I can’t imagine worse, Alesha.” Yes, my voice was cold but I was pissed.

“Can’t you?” She wiped her eyes and stared up at me. “You know Demos-one-ear, the man who drives your mother’s carriage? How do you think he lost that ear? Your mother caught him listening at one of her doors. She sliced it off herself, with a knife she borrowed from a passing soldier. Demos would have bled to death but she cauterized the wound with a hot iron while two other servants held him down. She wanted him to live as an example to the rest of her slaves. His screams were heard throughout the kingdom.” Alesha sobbed.

I swallowed, about to throw up. Did I believe her? Unfortunately I knew my mother very capable of such meanness.

“I’m so sorry, mistress.” Alesha choked out the words. “I should have refused and taken my punishment.”

I looked down at her bowed head. Of course she’d had no choice. Even
I
was afraid of Hebe and she was my mother. A slave would have to do her bidding no matter what other loyalties she felt.

“Get up, Alesha. I don’t blame you for this. My mother didn’t want me to have Jerry’s child and she always gets her way, doesn’t she?” I looked around, surprised Mother didn’t appear on the spot. No, my mother was too smart for that. She didn’t want to land in the middle of her daughter’s rage and I was shaking with it. Plus with sick disappointment. “Go tell my guests I’ll be out in a few minutes. Serve them something nice.”

“Yes, mistress.” Alesha straightened her skirt. “Please don’t tell your mother I told you about the birth control. It was supposed to stay a secret.”

“Oh, I’m sure it was.” I looked around the luxurious room. I stalked over to a vase, priceless I was sure, and threw it to the marble floor. It shattered with a satisfying crash. Next came a candy dish, porcelain and very fine. I crammed the chocolate truffle it held into my mouth before I aimed it at the Venetian glass mirror across the room and got a twofer. Then I realized who would have to clean up the mess. Destroying priceless objects wasn’t making me feel better anyway. I took a breath and headed for the bathroom. Alesha scurried out of the room to take care of my company.