The Recruiters (7 page)

She came out a minute later wearing a skin-tight, see-through top with no bra, a pair of jeans that looked like they’d been painted on and a pair of 4 inch heels. I shook my head and smiled, “Oh, the boys are gonna love you.”

“
Really?” she smiled and said as she turned a circle for me. “That’s why I do this.” She picked up her keys from the table and headed for the front door.

“
Nope,” I said. “Not that way.” I grabbed her hand and headed out to the balcony in the back. I closed the sliding glass door behind us and turned to her. “Now, climb on my back.”

“
You’re joking right? What do you weigh? 115? 120? You can’t hold me on your back.”

“
Try me,” I said and I turned my back to her. She started to climb on and I lifted her easily the rest of the way, with my arms securely tucked under her perky behind.

“
Hey, you’re a lot stronger than you look,” she said.

“
Now hold on… and don’t scream, okay? We don’t want anyone to see us up here.”

“
Okay,” she replied then said. “Up here?”

I heard her gasp and clamp her hand over her mouth as I jumped out and up the thirty feet to the roof, easily avoiding the balcony above us. Then I turned and ran at full speed the length of the building and jumped, easily clearing the twenty feet, to the building next door. I continued running but heard her say “Wait!” when she saw that there wasn’t another building to jump to.

I smiled and jumped, landing softly on the ground then headed for the tree line, running the last two miles until we reached the edge of the parking lot of the strip club, in a dark corner where the security cameras couldn’t see us. She didn’t move. “Stacy, hun, we’re here,” I said. She lifted her head and looked around.

“
Ooh,” she whispered and she slowly released her arms. I released her legs and quickly spun around to steady her when she discovered that they weren’t ready to hold her up yet. She stood staring at me for a few minutes, until her legs stopped shaking and her breathing returned to normal. “So, I get to look like this forever?” she said as she looked down at her body.

“
Yes,” I said.

“
And I get to have tons of amazing, mind-blowing sex?” she said.

“
Yes,” I smiled.

“
And I don’t have to kill people?”

“
No, you don’t,” I said.

She stared for another minute. She stuck out her hand and traced her finger down my check, then both hands down my body, around my backside, then back up, finishing by gently squeezing my breasts. “Still soft and nice,” she said.

“
Thanks,” I replied.

“
Okay, I’m in,” she said. “When?”

“
I’ll pick you up tonight after work. You can stay with us until we leave for the island in a few days.” At least I hoped it would be in a few days, I thought as Matt raced across my mind.

“
That soon, huh?” she replied. “What island?”

“
It’s near the Bahamas. It’s quiet and private. We’ll do the change there,” I said.

“
Cool,” she said.

“
I don’t think I need to tell you, but please don’t say anything to anyone, okay? It’s important that you don’t,” I said.

“
Oh, I won’t,” she said. “Besides, I don’t want any competition.”

“
Competition?” I said.

“
I want to be the only vampire hooker,” she smiled and she turned to head into work, but then she stopped and turned back to me.

“
What? What’s wrong?” I said as I quickly moved to her side.

“
Does it hurt?” she whispered.

“
Oh,” I said, looking down, then back up again. “I’m not going to lie to you – during the change? Yes. It hurts. A lot.”

She thought for a second. “But you’re okay?” she said. “There’s no pain now? And it was worth it?”

“
Correct,” I said. “No pain now.” Except when I’m away from Matt, like now, I thought. “And it was definitely worth it.”

“
Okay,” she turned to head inside and called back over her shoulder. “I get off at two a.m., pick me up here?”

“
I’ll be here,” I said then I turned and headed home.

Chapter Nine

I went home and watched a movie with Carlos, during which he gave me an incredibly stress-relieving back rub. “You have amazing hands, Carlos,” I groaned as he once again found another stress pocket and worked it out.

“
You think my hands are amazing, Sarah, you should try my—Oops, never mind,” he chuckled.

“
Yeah, oops, never mind,” I said but suddenly that very image was in my head. I don’t know if it was the combination of the back massage and what he had said, but suddenly the two of us writhing around naked was the only image in my head, and my body instantly was responding with the familiar throbbing between my legs. I sat up quickly, a little too quickly.

“
Whoa,” he whispered under his breath. I tried to avoid eye contact with him, but I could feel him staring at me, almost as if he had seen the same image. Not possible, I hoped. He would have had to have been linked with me at the time and I hadn’t felt him in my mind. Of course I wasn’t paying attention to my head, only to how good the backrub felt.

“
Enough back rub for tonight. I have to go get ready to pick up Stacy. Thanks, though,” I mumbled as I climbed off of the couch.

His mouth hung open as he stared at me. I could feel his eyes boring into me. I cringed and prayed that he wouldn’t say anything. Finally he cleared his throat. Deciding that ignoring what had just happened was probably the best course, he said, “Yeah, no problem. Anytime, Sarah.”

I was waiting for Stacy just outside the door at two a.m.. We had to convince the bouncer that we would be fine though. Luckily I had thought about this ahead of time and I drove the car to get her. He never would have let us leave on foot. He walked us to my car and made sure we were inside with the doors locked before he turned and went back inside. “Damn, I wanted to run again.” she said as she sat back in the seat and closed her eyes. “I’m exhausted,” she said. We drove the few miles in silence and I had to wake her when I pulled into the driveway. “Stacy,” I said. “We’re here, hun.”

“
What?” she said as she looked around. “Oh, sorry.”

“
Don’t be,” I said as we got out and walked inside. Carlos stood up from the couch as we walked in. He looked at me first and a knowing look passed between us, but then he saw who I was with and his mouth dropped open as he checked her out. Good, I thought, a perfect distraction. “Carlos, this is Stacy. Stacy this is our best friend Carlos,” I said as he stood there grinning his goofy Carlos grin.

She leaned to my ear and whispered, “Is he one too?” I saw his smile get bigger.

“
Yes he is,” I said.

“
Cool,” she said as she walked over and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you Carlos.”

“
Likewise, Stacy,” he said, smiling as he looked her up and down again.

“
Well, it’s late and I know you’re tired,” I said. “Let me show you to the guest room, Stacy.”

“
Oh, I’m not sleeping alone,” she said, as if I was supposed to know this. “I can’t sleep alone in a strange place.”

“
Oh,” I said as I looked down. “Okay.”

“
What? What’s wrong?” she said.

“
Well,” I said, “It’s just that I sometimes have nightmares when Matt’s not here. He had to go away for a few days. I need Carlos with me to help with that.”

She grinned. “Then I guess we’re gonna be one big happy family,” she said as she walked down the hall.

I turned and looked at Carlos, who had the biggest grin on his face I had ever seen. His gaze slowly turned to me, “YOU ARE SO AWESOME, SARAH,” he said. Then he ran down the hall. I shook my head and smiled as I followed. This was going to be a long night.

Carlos and I had just finished putting clean sheets on my bed (it was a bigger bed that would better fit the three of us) when she came out of the bathroom. She had on one of my tank tops and the smallest bikini underwear I had ever seen. I reached over and closed Carlos’ mouth before his drool fell onto the bed. I put my arm around him and patted his back. “Are you gonna be alright sweetie?” I asked as I smiled at Stacy.

“
Huh?” he stammered as he straightened up. “Oh, fine. Yeah, gonna be fine,” he said then he quickly popped into my head to finish what he was saying, ‘
Are you kidding, Sarah? A threesome with two incredibly hot chicks? This is my forte, Sarah. I own these.’

I gave him a stern look, ‘
Carlos. This is NOT a threesome. It’s not a twosome. It’s not an anything –some. Do I make myself clear? Now, are you going to be okay?’

He gave me an exaggerated pout as he nodded his head.

“
Sure you are,” I said out loud as I pointed to the bed, “You’re in the middle darlin’.”

“
Really?” he said. “Ssswwweeettt.” He was already in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. He kicked off his shoes and started to pull off his shirt. I inhaled sharply when I saw those abs and gently touched his arm. He stopped as he caught my eye and saw me shake my head. He would probably be just as irresistible to her with his shirt off that Matt was to me when I first saw him, and THAT was not happening. Not while I was in here. He smiled at me, mouthed
‘chicken’
and then jumped onto the bed. He took his spot, and turned, patting either side of him and smiling. “Climb aboard, ladies.”

I smiled at Stacy. “Don’t worry,” I said, “He’s harmless.”

“
Most of them are,” she said as she climbed under the covers on his right side. I ducked into the bathroom, and since it was warmer tonight, put on a tank top and a pair of shorts. When I emerged, Carlos looked at me and said, “Better than last night, but I like hers better.” I smiled and climbed in next to him.

It felt like I had only been asleep a few minutes when my tingling scar gently woke me. I didn’t open my eyes, I just wanted to enjoy the feeling as I fell back to sleep. I smiled and traced my scar a few times, then felt mine come alive again. I frowned, this was much more… urgent than usual. I opened my eyes to peak at my hand, and saw that Matt was kneeling on the floor next to me.

“
Shhhhh,” he whispered when my eyes flew open. He scooped me up in his arms, looked back at Carlos and Stacy in the bed, “This looks… interesting,” he whispered as he smiled. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my head into his chest, breathing him in. He grabbed the extra blanket at the foot of the bed, quietly went out the side door, and flew us towards the deepest part of the forest in the park. He spread the blanket out and gently set me down. “God, I’ve missed you,” he groaned as he leaned down and his mouth found mine. I could only respond by wrapping my arms around him and pulling him tight, because my lips weren’t going anywhere. Uh-uh, no way. They were staying firmly locked with Matt’s, our tongues dancing together, for as long as possible. I happily spent the next few hours welcoming him home.

Much later, we lay with our arms and legs entwined together, listening to the forest bring in a new day. “So, what was with the slumber party?” he said.

“
Oh, that,” I smiled. “Well, Stacy doesn’t like to sleep alone in a strange place, and Carlos helps me with my nightmares when you’re not here. So, we all stayed together.”

“
Were they bad?” he whispered.

I just nodded my head, thinking to myself how the nightmare was bad and I don’t want to have to tell him about the dream and its effects so I tried to change the subject. “How was the trip?” I asked, afraid of what the answer might be.

“
Once I found them, it was fine. The chief gave me the name of his cousin who can do the linking ceremony for us. He lives on Paradise Island. We can pick him up on the way to the island.” he said and he started to tell me more but I interrupted.

“
What do you mean once you found them?” I said.

He stared at me for a second then smiled and shook his head, “He didn’t tell you, did he?”

“
He didn’t tell me? What do you mean he…” I understood then and the fury filled my eyes. “No he did not,” I said as I sat up and clenched my teeth. “That lying little weasel,” I hissed. “I’m going to kill him,” then I turned my attention back to Matt. “What didn’t he tell me?”

He reached up and pulled me back down to him. “Honey, calm down,” he said as he began kissing my face and caressing my body. “It was nothing. The village had just been relocated and I didn’t know why or where. But I found them and they told me they move the village periodically because of crops, so it turned out fine. He didn’t tell you because he was probably afraid you’d be too worried and would want me to come back. Please try not to be too mad at him.”

“
Mad, who’s mad,” I groaned as I forgot my anger and responded to what he was doing. I arched my back to him and my mouth found his. There was definitely no anger in my body right now.

We returned home just after dawn and had just finished a meal at the table when Carlos came stumbling down the hall, nodded to Matt and mumbled, “Welcome back, dude.” He grabbed a pint out of the fridge and tossed it into the microwave. My eyes flashed to him and then to Matt. As I stood, I saw the worried look in Matt’s eyes and I smiled at him and shook my head.