Okay, I have to admit that would be a dream come true. “I’m doing it. Sit down, Trina. Ray, would you get her a bottle of water from the minibar? I’ll be out in a minute.” I headed for the bedroom to change.
“Gloriana, you’re mad. You do realize this weight will come back when you’re off whatever MacDonald’s been giving you, don’t you?” Jerry followed me into the bedroom and shut the door.
“Thanks for reminding me.” I turned on him. “You don’t think I’m haunted by that very thought? Hell, Jerry, for the first time in my life I feel thin! Like I have control over my body.” I grabbed my shorts and T-shirt from the dresser. “What do you know about it? You’ve got all the muscles you’ll ever need. And you don’t have an ounce of fat on you. But I’m not like that.” I jerked off my sweater and threw it on the bed.
“This is your fault, you know. I really didn’t have a clue what I was getting into when I agreed to let you turn me. I’d have lost the weight first if I’d known.” I unhooked my bra, ignoring Jerry’s growl. Interest or indignation at the way my words had jabbed him? At the moment I didn’t care. I picked the sports bra out of the drawer and slipped it over my breasts. Thank God it was looser now, only mildly viselike.
“I’m sorry if you’re having regrets. But it’s way too late for them. Besides, you know I’ve always thought your figure was perfect.” Jerry moved close to run his thumb over one abused nipple. “Now, what the hell is that thing you’re binding yourself with?” He tried to slip it up to look at my breasts again. “It’s too tight.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. I’m going to exercise. It’s a sports bra, keeps me from jiggling.” I swatted away his hand and peeled off my skinny jeans. They were still tight and five fewer pounds would make them slide on easily. Oh, yeah.
“I like it when you jiggle.” He sat on the side of the bed and watched me step into my shorts.
I’d just sat beside him to put on my socks and running shoes when his cell phone rang.
“Yes? What did you find out? Really? All right, I’ll see what I can do. Thank you.” He slapped the phone shut.
“Was that Richard?” I tied the first shoe.
“Yes.”
“Well? Did he get the test results on the stuff in the syringe?” I stopped, scared to hear what he’d say.
“Yes, it was some kind of vitamin compound. Virtually harmless. Fact is, I don’t know what the hell it would do for a vampire.” Jerry frowned.
“See? I knew it!” I pulled on the other shoe and tied it. “Ian’s a genius. He works with chemicals. Maybe vitamins would help us and we just don’t know it. Your hatred for him is irrational, Jerry. It’s based on an ancient feud that should have been settled a long time ago.” I realized that had probably not been the smart thing to say.
“Gloriana, I don’t appreciate that.” Jerry followed me when I got up and walked to the door. “Our quarrel with the MacDonalds is based on wrongs they have done us that you know nothing about.”
“Anything in the last century or two?” I held up my hand when I could tell he was probably going to start trotting out cattle-stealing misdemeanors. “No, forget I asked. Just tell me if you have one shred of proof that
this
MacDonald is the villain you claim?” I waited before I turned the knob. Ray and Valdez could probably hear through the door. Only mortal Trina would be unaware of our conversation.
“Not yet. But I want you to give me your bedtime supplement. The one that’s causing your nightmares and sleep problems. Richard can have that analyzed as well.” Jerry put his hands on either side of my head when I leaned against the door. “I’m convinced you could have died today, Gloriana, if I hadn’t provided you with a daytime bodyguard.”
I looked up at him, knowing what he said was true. I put my hands on his chest and felt the heartbeat that had been with me for so long. Slow but steady.
“I guess you’re right, Jerry. No, I
know
you’re right. But I can’t give you all of the supplement. Let me pour a small sample into an empty water bottle.” I touched his frown. “I need to take it, Jer. Or I won’t lose that last bit of weight.”
“Damn it to hell, Gloriana. This is ridiculous.”
“No, what you mean is
I
am ridiculous. I get that. You don’t get
me
. Too bad. This is important to me. I’m doing it. Take it or leave it. Small sample. What’s it going to be?”
“And if you try to walk into the sun again?” He grabbed my hand and scraped my palm with one fang. Blood welled up and he licked it clean. “You scare the hell out of me, woman.”
“I’m sorry, Jerry, but Valdez is here to take care of me. Let him do his job.” I felt the slide of his tongue again and fought the heat that pulsed deep inside me. Sorry, but I found it erotic as hell.
“Right. Shifting into human form. Carrying you to bed. You and Rafael are getting quite chummy, aren’t you?”
“We have no choice. He’s stuck with me. Now it’s worse than ever since I might get up during the day. I’m sure he’s exhausted.” I made myself jerk my hand free. “I’ve got to go. Trina’s waiting.”
“And then you’ll feed from her.” Jerry followed me into the living room. “She’s become your pet, then.”
“Just temporarily. She’s very generous.” I smiled at her. She held one of Ray’s new CDs and apparently he’d signed it for her. “When this is over, it’s back to synthetics for me. You know that’s what I do.”
“I’m not sure I know what you do anymore, Gloriana.” Jerry turned to Trina. “You have Glory’s supplement for tonight?”
“Yes, it’s right here.” She looked at me, then, at my nod, handed him the bottle.
“I’ll take just this much.” Jerry poured about an inch into an empty water bottle and screwed on the cap. “Is that satisfactory, Gloriana?”
“Fine. Thanks, Jerry.”
“Good night.” With a nod, he walked out to the balcony, jammed the bottle into his jeans pocket, then shifted into bird form. He flew off without a sound.
“Wow. You really are popular, Glory.” Trina giggled. “Thanks for the CD, Mr. Caine. It’s awesome.” She managed to cram it into her fanny pack. “Let’s go, Glory. It’s awfully late. You don’t want to get caught by the sun.”
“Hey, Trina.” Ray approached her and took her arm. “Have you seen Ian outside during daylight hours?”
“What?” Her eyes were wide. “No way. He’s a vampire. Creature of the night and all that. Why would he be out during the day? Seems like he’d go up in smoke or something.” She giggled again. “But what do I know? You guys tell me. What would happen if you went out in the sun?” She looked from Ray to me.
“We’re not sure. Stories are that we turn to ashes. That’s all that’s ever found of a staked vampire after his body is left out in the sun.” I shook my head. “This is not a topic I want to get into. Ray, will you be here when I get back?”
“Sure, Glory. Too close to dawn for me to go anywhere else.” He yawned. “I’m going to take a shower. Have fun, ladies.”
I opened the hall door and Trina, Valdez and I headed to the elevators.
“I’ve got my second wind now. But let’s just do fifteen or so. Why don’t we get off at four and jog up the rest of the stairs?” Trina started stretching and made me do the same.
When we got off the elevator, the corridor was empty. We did a few more of Trina’s warm-up exercises, then headed for the stairs.
“Ready?” Trina opened the door into the stairwell and Valdez bounded through. Then she slammed it with him on the stair side and pushed a dead bolt home while she and I were still in the hallway. Before I knew what she planned, I was staring at the pointy end of a short wooden stake, my back against the door.
“Trina? What the hell?” I heard a crash as Valdez hit the door and it vibrated between my shoulder blades.
“You manage to come through that door, dog, and you’ll make this stake go right through Glory’s heart!” Trina hissed at the door, then concentrated on me.
“Why?” I tried to grab her hand but that only got me a warning jab with the stake. “Why are you doing this?”
“You don’t want me to be a vampire, you bitch. You tried to talk me out of it last night.” She aimed it at my heart and I felt the sting as it pricked my skin through two layers of fabric.
“It’s for your own good, Trina. You have no idea what you’re getting into.” I tried to catch her gaze so I could whammy her. Do some vamp mind control on her. No luck. She’d obviously spent enough time around Ian to know better than to look at me directly.
“It’s my dream. And tonight I heard Ian tell his guards that he was never going to make it come true. He’s already picking out a new mortal to serve him.” Tears welled up but Trina ignored them. “I thought that meant he was going to finally make me a vampire but the guards laughed and said that they’d finally get to have me for their playmate.”
“Maybe he meant as a new vampire.” I saw the elevator open down the hall and a man step out.
“No, he didn’t. The guard made it very clear that I’d be passed around, then drained and tossed in the ocean or wherever they put the trash.” She shuddered and the stake sank deeper. “Mortals don’t count for much with them. That’s why I wanted to be a vampire.” Her eyes were wild as she snarled in a good vamp imitation. “You told him, didn’t you? That I wasn’t worthy. This is all your fault. Die!” She raised her hand to take a good whack at me when she was grabbed from behind.
“Not going to happen.” Rafe stripped the stake from her hand and wrapped his arms around her. “Glory, what do you want me to do with her?”
“Hold her still. I’m going to whammy her.” I grabbed her chin and looked deep into her eyes. “Trina, you’re not going to remember this night except that you and I ran up the stairs and you fed me as usual. Nod if you understand me.” I waited until I got that nod.
“Now, listen carefully. You’re not ever going back to Ian’s again because you’re afraid of vampires now. They have sharp teeth and they hurt when they bite you.”
“Hurt?” She shuddered in Rafe’s arms.
“Yes. But forget that because those people were just pretending to be vampires. The fangs were fake and they just wanted to scare you.” I obviously wasn’t going to get my nightly feeding now. I’d just outsmarted myself. “It’s all over. You don’t know any real vampires. They’re just make-believe creatures in comics and storybooks. You don’t want to have anything to do with those scary characters anymore.”
“Scary. Want to go home.” Tears ran down her cheeks and she sniffled.
“That’s right. You just came here to get a free copy of Israel Caine’s new CD. You were lucky and he signed it for you. Now you can go home and take down all those vampire posters and put them in the trash. Good night, Trina.” I nodded and Rafe released her.
“Night.” She turned and walked away toward the elevator.
“Sorry about that, Glory. I failed you again.” Rafe shook his head, his dark hair falling over his face.
“How on earth could you know she was going to pull a stunt like that?” I threw the dead bolt and jerked on the stairwell door. “I’m going to run up these damned stairs if it kills me, which it might. And your punishment is that you have to do it too.” I looked down. “Barefoot. Come on.”
“Thanks a lot.” He grinned, those damned cute dimples showing. “I should do it in dog form.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. I won’t have the strength to open the door when we get to the top. It’s on you.” I started off then, determined, since I wasn’t going to have Trina waiting.
When we got to the twenty-third floor, I was huffing and puffing and Rafe did hold open the door and slide the key card for me when we got to the suite. It was close to dawn and I could hear the shower running. I pulled open the bag with my bottles of supplements inside. The bedtime bottle was empty. It didn’t take a genius to know who had drained it.
I stomped into the bathroom and threw open the glass shower door. “Damn you for a thief, Israel Caine.”
“Glory! So glad you could join me.” Ray grinned and rinsed the last of the shampoo out of his hair. Of course he had no shame when it came to his naked body or his thievery.
I slammed my fist into his flat midsection. “Bastard. Idiot. Why did you do it?”
“Oof. Why do you think?” He turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his middle.
“I can’t believe, with the Grammys coming up and your big duet, you’d take a chance like this. What if you walk into the sun and get burned? Did you think about that?”
“You healed. So will I.” He picked up another towel and dried his hair. Then he opened my webcam and got busy with a comb. “That Ian MacDonald is brilliant. I’m ordering several of these. Do they come in colors? I’d like black and silver for a bathroom I’ve got on the island.”
I slammed it shut. “That’s my mirror, you damned stupid son of a bitch. Ooo.” I stomped my foot and words failed me. Then I found some more. “Did you even think about the fact that now I won’t lose any more weight? How selfish can you get?”
“Obviously pretty selfish.” Rafe stood in the doorway.
“Who the hell are you?” Ray jumped in front of me. “Glory?”
I sighed, just about ready to signal Rafe to take Ray down. What a pleasure to watch my bodyguard beat the living crap out of my “fiancé.”
“This is Valdez in human form, Ray. He just saved my life for about the zillionth time.”
“What?” Ray looked him up and down. “I see why Blade doesn’t want you like this, dog breath. Shift back or at least put on a shirt.”
“I don’t take orders from you, Caine. You need me in here, Glory?” Rafe leaned against the doorjamb, relaxed but obviously alert to whatever needed doing.
“Not now, but genius here took my supplement so he may be doing some strolling during the daylight hours. Whether you want to stop him from frying or not is on you.” I smiled and stepped around Ray to head into the bedroom.
“Wait a minute. What do you mean he saved your life? What happened?” Ray followed me, not concerned that he was about to lose his towel.