(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips (38 page)

Damn him for making me feel guilty. We’d had this out before I left. But that was Ray, pouring his emotions into his music. It was cathartic for him, I knew that. By the last note, when he bowed his head and the audience went crazy, I had to wipe away a tear.

The lights went up and so did the beat. He grinned and talked to the crowd.

“Bet you thought I was done. I know I sounded like the sorriest son of a bitch you ever heard, pining for a woman.” He walked the stage, leaning down to shake a hand, making a girl giggle and sigh. “But I’m moving on. Sometimes you have to wallow a little before you suck it up and say, to hell with that, to hell with
her
.” He gestured and girls squealed.

“Now I’m no monk. I have needs. You feel me, guys? Do I hear a ‘Hell, yeah.’?” There was a resounding answer from the men in the crowd. “So I picked myself up, which wasn’t easy since I quit drinking, and found a new woman. And this is what she did for me.”

The beat that had been gradually picking up steam behind him got louder and faster. The drummer, a man I knew well, started really rocking. The rest of the band picked up the tempo and Ray launched into a song about hot nights, good times and easy love. No strings and no worries. It was a good dance song and the crowd got into it. I know my toes were tapping.

Charis jumped up and dragged Damian down the stairs with her. They were soon in the middle of the crowd, bumping up against each other and laughing about it, hands in the air. The music swiftly segued into an up-tempo song, another new one. This tune had an island feel and I knew Ray must have gone back to the Caribbean, where he had loved to play before he’d been turned vampire and was robbed of sunlight. I was glad he’d done that. He sang of hot island nights. It was perfect.

Finally he ended the set with one of his greatest hits. It was a slow song that had the crowd dancing body to body. Damian had Charis draped over him and that made me worry. I was halfway down the stairs before I realized what I was doing. I stopped and looked at the stage when the song stumbled. Ray was staring right at me. Oh. Maybe he hadn’t heard that I was back. Shit. I waved at him, not daring to smile, then I plunged into the crowd, working my way toward the stage. I stopped next to Damian first, hissing in his ear that he’d better be careful with my sister, then kept going.

Ray had kept going too, quickly regaining his composure and finishing the song to thundering applause. There were cries for an encore and stomping feet, but he just dropped the microphone, shook his head, and walked off the stage. I knew where he was heading and followed him to the dressing room area. Would he speak to me? There was only one way to find out.

Chapter 17

“Ray? Can I come in?” I knocked on his door. No answer.

“You mean you just walked in here and surprised him?” Rafe came up behind me. “Shit, Glory. The guy was a basket case when you went missing.”

“I’m sorry. It’s not like I did that on purpose. Am I supposed to apologize for being abducted?” I knew I sounded defensive but this wasn’t fair. “Ray, I know you can hear us through the door. Come out here. Please talk to me.”

“Maybe you’d better go. He’s probably embarrassed. You heard his song. He pretty well laid his heart out there for anyone to see.” Rafe winked at me. Yes, he was goading Ray. The men were old rivals and never had liked each other. The fact that Ray performed here was strictly business.

“Fuck off, Valdez.” Ray pushed open the door. “Get in here, Glory.” He grabbed me, hauled me inside then slammed the door in Rafe’s face. “I’m never embarrassed about my music.”

“Of course not.” I looked down at where he gripped my arm. “You really want me to go home to Jerry with your fingerprints on me?”

“I’m not afraid of that asshole.” But he did let go. “Sorry. I don’t want to hurt you.” He threw himself into a chair. “Where the hell have you been for almost a year? Are you okay?”

“Olympus. My mother kidnapped me. Yes, I’m all right. Now.” I sat across from him, making it clear the subject was closed. I wasn’t about to tell him all the gory details of my visit up there.  “Loved the songs. New album almost ready to drop?”

“Yes. I got my groove back. I know that first one seemed pretty bleak but I was in a dark place for a while. Then I snapped out of it.” He took my hand. “I could finally hear my music again, Glory girl. I know who I have to thank for that.” He kissed my fingers. “Can you blame me for freaking when you just disappeared?”

“You got
yourself
clean, Ray.” I gently eased my hand from his. “I love seeing you like this. Loved the songs too. Tell me more.”

He leaned forward and started talking. His eyes were shining and he looked better than he had when I’d left. He’d obviously come to terms with the vampire lifestyle.

“What about Sienna?” I asked when he finally ran down.

“The great Sienna Star. Kicked me to the curb as soon as she felt like she had a handle on the vampire thing.” Ray ran his hands through his hair. He opened his mini-fridge. “Drink?” He pulled out two bottles of premium synthetic blood.

“Thanks. So where is she now?”

“Touring. Management set her up with a team that understands her special schedule. She’ll be okay. No thanks to me.” Ray took a deep swallow of his synthetic. “She’ll never forgive me. Not that I blame her.”

“Lesson learned?” I would never forget how Ray had almost drained Sienna dry when he’d been drunk. To save Sienna’s life, I’d had to turn her vampire. Since he’d also been turned against his will, it was an accident that haunted him.

“Definitely. I won’t touch the stuff again.”

“Good to know. Since you’re turning out amazing music, sober.”

“Which is helping me stay on the wagon.” Ray stood and pulled me to my feet. “But I almost fell off when you just disappeared, Glo. Seriously. Kidnapped? By your own mother? Can I help your old man get revenge?”

“My old man. Jerry?” I laughed. “Okay, I’ll give you that. He’s got a few centuries on you. But then so do I.” I touched Ray’s cheek. Such a beautiful man. He’d been my crush long before I’d met him in person and we’d had a brief fling. “No revenge, unfortunately. I’m stuck with my family. I have to swallow my feelings and deal with it. At least the wedding is back on.” I told him the date.

“You want me to sing? I’ll do it. Just to show Blade that I can. He may have won you now, but we have forever for you to get tired of the son of a bitch.” He grinned then pulled me close, setting our bottles on top of the fridge before he pressed one hand on my butt.

“Ray.” I rested my hands on his chest. “Stop it.”

“I’ll be here for you. Waiting.” He tipped my chin up then kissed me hungrily.

Call me a slut but I allowed it. Even enjoyed it.

“Just a little reminder, Glory girl. You know we have it. That chemistry. Sizzling still.”

“You have chemistry with every woman you meet, unfortunately. But it’s not enough, Ray.” I pushed gently and he let me go. “I just listened to your new songs. You can’t wait more than a nano-second before you have another woman in your bed. I get that. It’s all about your ‘needs’.” I grinned at him. “Man whore.”

“If I were with you, my needs would be satisfied, Glory girl. Every night.” His eyes burned, the blue so bright I had to look away.

“Never going to happen. Move on, Ray.” I made myself face him again. “I love you, I do. As a friend. I’ll always value our friendship.”

“Fuck friendship.” He picked up his bottle and drained it. “You want me to sing at this wedding or not?” He tossed the empty into a trash can.

“Of course I do. You’ve always been my favorite singer and that
is
forever.” I managed a smile. “Have to keep Jerry on his toes, don’t we?”

“Now that’s my Glory.” He gave me one more hug before I walked to the door. “Text me your song selection.”

“Will do. And thanks. I’m sorry I made you worry.” I stopped with my hand on the doorknob.

“You sure we can’t make your mother pay? I’m up for it.” He was the picture of cocky male. My heart turned over. He was probably right about one thing--I’d always have a little thing for him.

“You don’t want to know what she could do to you, pal. The world she’s from…” I shook my head. “Well, Jerry found out how things are up there and it almost killed him.”

“Too bad.” Ray picked up my bottle this time and drank out of it. “Mmm. I can taste you on this. Shit. I may have to write another sappy love song.”

“Do that. They’re my favorites.” I had to fight to keep from touching him again. He was very appealing, standing there and pretending to wallow in his disappointment but more bad boy than any woman would ever be able to tie down. He’d move on and quickly too. But he’d always draw me in a very physical way. I could resist him because I knew who was waiting for me down the street and I would never betray him now.

He’d moved close again, bright blue eyes intense, trying to read me. I shut him out. “You need me, Glory girl, call. I mean it.”

“I’ll remember that. Thanks.” I gave in and ran my hand down the scruff on his lean cheek before I whirled and bolted out of his dressing room. I hadn’t gone more than five feet when I met Rafe.

“He okay now?” He took my arm and walked me toward the dance floor.

“Yes. How about you? This thing with Lacy moved kind of fast, didn’t it?” I breathed in the reek of a hundred mortals to get the smell of Ray out of my system. They were still dancing to Ray’s hits, blasting from the sound system. No sign of Charis and Damian. But I couldn’t worry about that now. I was still trying to show Rafe how not affected by Ray I was. Yeah, right.

“You were gone a long time. It just seems fast to you.” He kept his voice even, not giving anything away, but I knew him. Was he happy, trapped? I couldn’t tell for once.

“Come on, Rafe. We’re still friends, aren’t we?” I stopped and nodded toward his office. “You want to talk about it?”

“Not really. It is what it is. I stepped up. The baby’s mine and I love Lacy. We’ll make it work.” He pulled me along, steering me around the crowd. “Our families are going to be a problem. But you know what that’s like.”

“Yes, I do.” I finally saw Charis heading for the door with Damian. “Look who my sister is leaving with.”

“Casanova.” Rafe laughed. “You think I should go run interference?”

I told him about Charis’s powers. “I have a vision of Damian making her mad and running away with his pants on fire.”

Rafe stopped next to the outside door that led to the sidewalk. “I’d love to see that.” He kissed my cheek. “You want me to walk you home?”

“No, I’m okay. I have Ed at the shop. He’s doing my books. He said you were his reference. Should I be hiring him?” I moved over when a couple came out who couldn’t keep their hands off of each other.

“He’s great. Especially at tax time. You’ll save money in the long run. And he makes a hell of an Aretha Franklin too.” Rafe looked away when the couple stopped a few feet away and kissed. “The wedding back on?”

“Yes. You’ll get your invitation.” I gave him a hug. “We’re okay, aren’t we?”

“Yes. Moving on.” He rubbed my back. “But you know I’m here if you ever need me, Blondie. I feel like I let you down. I hate to think that you were taken away like that and I wasn’t around to stop it.”

“Rafe, no one can stop my mother or father when they decide to do something.” The truth of that made my stomach squeeze. “You’re not my bodyguard anymore. Besides, you could be standing right beside me and if Hebe wanted to suck me back up into her world, I’d be gone and there’s not a thing you could do about it.”

“Well, that’s a pisser.” He put me away from him and looked me in the eyes. “I’m damned sorry about that.”

“Me too, buddy. Me too.” I sighed. “Sometimes I miss the old days, me in the Suburban, you in dog form, howling to drown out my singing. I had no idea back then that I had these Olympus connections.”

“They aren’t all bad. Now you can sing better than most people, thanks to your mother.” He squeezed my shoulder. “We had good times, that’s true. But I’m damned glad to be out of the fleas and fur, if you want to know the truth.”

“I guess so.” I looked down the block where the crowd had thinned to a trickle. “I’d better go. Must be closing time for you.”

“It is. Take care, Glory.” Rafe turned when one of his employees called his name.

“You too.” I was strangely reluctant to go back to my shop or apartment. I breathed in the cold night air. Freedom. It was the first time I’d been alone in a long time. I walked across the street to the small park and stepped behind a bush. For years I’d been afraid to shape-shift. Now I effortlessly turned into a bird and flew up to sit in a branch where I could see the activities on the street. Same old thing. I flew farther and saw Austin’s state capitol building, brightly lit at night. It was beautiful and there were plenty of trees to sit in. I flew from branch to branch for a while, just enjoying the peace and quiet. No people to talk to, no noisy television or demands on my time.

Finally I flew back to Sixth Street, then to the hill at the end where Damian lived in a castle, yes, a castle on top of that hill. His sports car was parked behind the house and I heard Charis’s laughter coming from the terrace out back. It was a great place to host parties, including the Winter Solstice Ball in December. He’d offered to host my wedding there but Flo and Richard had been married there and I didn’t want to copy my best friend.

Now Damian and Charis were sipping drinks at a table where they could enjoy the panoramic view of the city. I decided I didn’t need to be spying on my sister who was an adult anyway and flew back toward my home. I landed in the alley behind the shop, the one we had nicknamed Death Alley because of all the problems we’d had back there.

A man stepped out of the shadows. “About time you got here.”

“Ian!” My heart pounded and I realized I’d grown careless. Ian MacDonald had caught me in the act of shifting. I knew better than to just do that without checking for observers. But then Ian was clever when it came to lurking.

“Did I scare you? Sorry.” He didn’t sound like he meant it. “I’ve been talking to Cornelius. The sorcerer told me you were finally allowed to come home. You’ve got some interesting relatives, haven’t you?”