Vampire Food 08: He Smelled Like Peach Pie (3 page)

She lowered her gaze in mental and physical submission, tears flowing from her eyes as she nodded. “I love you, Russell.”

“That was your first mistake. I told you long ago that I belong to Em and that has not changed. Good night, Becka. Find someone else to give your heart to who has a heart to return. I don’t.” He released her with a flick of his wrist and walked from her room. Becka had been reminded on many occasions that his heart was not for the taking. He felt bad for her, but she was not the mate he wanted. Becka couldn’t hold a candle to Em in personality, inner strength, or sexual attraction. Em might be a vampire and not of his kind, but he was hers in a way that was not restricted by breed.

* * * *

Russell found Salt sitting on the bench outside the door to their chamber. He had his eyes closed, but they flashed open when Russell sat down.

“Is there some reason that you are sitting out here?”

“I fucked Mia.”

“Yeah, so?”

“I shouldn’t have fucked Mia.”

“Why, what happened?”

“I knew that if I didn’t do it, she would find someone else. She enjoyed it. I mean, really enjoyed it. I was very sweet and made a point to hurt her as little as possible. If she felt any pain, it was momentary and then her body healed. After that, she loved it.”

“So what is the problem? Are you afraid that she will become emotionally attached to you?” He was asking from experience of course.

Salt shook his head. “No. She expressed her gratitude and thanked me, but nothing beyond that.”

“Are you now attached to her?”

“No. Not any more than I was before. I mean, it was okay, but nothing to write home about.”

Russell chuckled. They were both calling on old clichés. “Again, what’s the problem?”

“I think that I have created a nympho. I should have made it a little less enjoyable.”

“Ah. It will be yet one more way that Mia is like Em. Such is the curse of the talented lover.” He thumped Salt on the shoulder. “Should we go let them know that we have returned? I fear that Em has been missing us. I know that I missed her.”

“Yeah, me too. Do you think that she is mad at us? I wouldn’t blame her.”

“Time will tell.”

Rory rolled to his side, draping his arm over Em. It was troubling that he hadn’t been able to wake her and it was disturbing his dreams. It was even more disquieting to have the body under his arm covered with fur. “Russell?”

He turned his furred head to look at Rory and then slowly shifted back into a man. “Yeah.”

“Shit. What are you doing here?”

“Why, have I been exiled?”

“Of course not. I just thought you were with Becka.”

“I was. Her belly isn’t swelling with my child, but her brain is swelling with grand illusions that we have a relationship. I didn’t want to give those fantasies even a second longer to mature, so I got out. Hopefully I’m welcomed back.”

Rory groaned. “Why wouldn’t you be? I just didn’t expect to roll over and have my hand filled with fur.”

“Sorry. I know that Em enjoys sleeping under me when I’m furry. I was surprised that I didn’t wake her up when I crawled over her body.”

“I couldn’t wake her up either. I hope she isn’t suffering from that shit like after she was sun burned.”

Russell would never forget that. “I don’t think so. She doesn’t feel any colder than usual. Did you try to touch her in a dream?”

“Yeah, but it didn’t work. Whatever has consumed her mind is keeping me out.”

Salt leaned up on his elbow. “Hey, Rory. Do you think she could be with Gaelic? I mean the two of us were gone.”

Rory grimaced. “Actually all three of us were gone. I have been spending a lot of time down in the labs trying to help with that imitation blood shit.” And that was the answer to his earlier question. The three of them had deserted her. “Oh shit.”

Russell raised his eyebrows in response to the unaccustomed curse. “Oh shit, what?”

“Em. She hasn’t been eating and her eyes are black with sleeplessness. I was wondering why, and now I know why. Vampire imprint. Em has gotten so used to being with the three of us that it was emotionally draining her to have us gone. That explains the solemn mood she has been in lately. I was beginning to think that I had done something seriously wrong. I guess I did. I shouldn’t have been spending so much time down in the lab with the two of you gone. It made things worse even though I was coming up to bed each day. She made it worse by becoming ever more reclusive, but that wasn’t actually her fault.”

“So it’s like a human who is suffering from depression, who then becomes more depressed because they withdraw from life,” said Salt.

“Exactly. It’s a vicious circle. She doesn’t necessarily need all three of us to be here twenty-four-seven, but to have none of us around sent her spiraling into nothingness.”

Russell nodded in agreement. “So do you think she will snap out of it because we are back?”

“Hopefully. We need to get her something to eat come the darkness. Her unwillingness to go out means that she hasn’t fed on anyone and that is only adding to the problem.”

“I thought she felt a bit bony. I thought it took a long time for a vampire to starve.”

“Normally it does, but I think that Em goes running every day and strenuous activity causes our life fluid to become more active. That movement of fluid ups the dehydration rate from what we normally lose on a daily basis. That causes a fluctuation in the amount of fluid in our cells and makes us crave food. In Em’s case, she is so used to controlling those cravings she has been ignoring her hunger. If left unfed, we don’t actually deteriorate like a human. What happens is that our life fluid dries out and that removes the moisture from our cells and skin, leaving us in a mummified state that can be reanimated for a period of time. Eventually, given enough time, we turn to dust.”

“No shit. I didn’t know that. That’s interesting.”

Rory turned his attention to Salt. “So other than the nympho part, how did things go with Mia?”

Mia lay in bed with a grin on her face. She had made the right choice to ask Salt to be her first lover. He had been spectacular beyond any of her dreams. She had to wonder though what Salt had meant by his peculiar riddle. Did Em and her men enjoy things that most humans would define as torture?

Mia wondered what that would feel like to be whipped. One of her suitors had given her a braided leather belt as a gift and she removed it thoughtfully from the door. Twisting the buckle end around her hand, she flipped it in the air. The leather made an odd snapping sound that was filled with dangerous undertones. Her heart was racing with fear and excitement as she flipped the belt in an arch around her body, and let it hit her ass softly. It created a light, buzzing sting that was neither painful nor threatening. Mia swung the belt again, whipping it faster and with far more power. It cracked into the skin of her ass and Mia cried out, dropping the belt on the floor. She rubbed the skin gingerly and it hurt, really hurt as if she had just been burned.

She walked over to the mirror and turned to look into it. There was a blazing red mark with a slowly forming welt across the side of her hip and her ass cheek. It was still blazing with heat as she sat down on the bed and then realized that it was a bad idea. Mia lay down instead, but even when she wasn’t sitting on it, it continued to pound as a vibrant reminder. How could Em enjoy such a thing? There had to be far more to it than what she had just done to herself.

Mia closed her eyes with more questions about Salt’s riddle than she had before. She now understood the allure of sex, but was that charm really connected with leather and wood? Could she get Em to talk to her about it? From what Salt had said, probably not. Maybe Rory would tell her, but Mia doubted it. Of course Rory and Salt’s side of it would be much different than Em’s. It wasn’t the hand that was holding the belt that hurt.

* * * *

Em opened her eyes, expecting to see Gaelic lying beside her. Instead, she saw Russell’s furry body lying on her chest. Russell was back? That was nice to know. Of course, he would be leaving again for the other two women who had not yet conceived. Had Becka finally become with child as she had craved? Em had considered this on far too many occasions lately. She wanted a child and that had been denied to her when Oscar had taken her life and Joel had turned her to give it back. Or maybe she didn’t want a child and being a vampire was a blessing. She didn’t have to worry about sexual protection because she couldn’t get pregnant or catch any of the human diseases. Rubbers had often irritated her human pussy and she was prone to yeast infections when she was having sex. Em certainly didn’t miss that human problem.

She felt Salt against her side and turned her head to look at him. He was also back which left her with the question of whether he had sex with Mia or not. The month-long time period was certainly not up.

Her mind turned again to Gaelic. Was he actually in the caves or had it simply been a dream? If he had actually touched her in a dream, then he had lied to her about having his own helicopter. Gaelic was another question which was two sided. She wanted to see him and be with him, but had no idea how she would manage four men in her bed. It was better for Gaelic to remain in New York and make a life without her. It would be stressful and confusing to add another man to her life. Of course, she could have used Gaelic’s company while the rest of her men were off doing other things.

A hobby. Em had considered finding one before she had fallen asleep. In reality, she was surprised by that fact also. She hadn’t been sleeping well and at least she had gotten some sleep. She knew that she felt immensely better and was hungry as hell. Em really needed to get something to eat.

Shaking Russell softly, she whispered his name. If she could get him to move than she didn’t have to wake Salt or Rory to get up. If she couldn’t, then she would try Rory next. Salt was often very difficult to rouse in the middle of the day. Russell became a man, but didn’t move. He lay atop her, staring into her eyes and stroked back her hair. “It’s early, why don’t you go back to sleep?”

“I’m hungry.”

Russell pushed back his hair, offering his throat. Em hadn’t fed from him since they first came to the caves, so it would probably be okay. Lifting her head slightly, she allowed her fangs to sink into his skin. His blood was kind of gamy and not as sweet as a human’s, but it served the purpose. Taking only what she needed to get by, she then pulled her fangs back.

His head turned, his gaze returning to her face. “Better?”

“Yes, thank you. How did things go? Please tell me that Becka is with child and you are done with her.”

“I’m done with her all right.”

The slight tinge of anger in his words surprised her. Em had always thought that Russell liked Becka. “Did she do something to piss you off?”

“Yes. She claims that she has fallen in love with me. She also says that I have lost respect because I live with vampires.”

“Have you?”

“Not that I have noticed. It doesn’t matter because I have no intention of changing things. I live with who I choose and if anyone doesn’t like it, they can bite my ass.”

“Isn’t that kiss my ass?”

“I would love to.”

She had been baited into that one and smiled. “I can’t very well roll over with you lying on my chest.”

He leaned forward rather than back and cupping her cheeks with his hands, kissed her ravenously. Obviously, Becka had done little to sate his desire for sex. She was glad because she was feeling so much better now that she had the three of them back in her bed.

Russell held her to his mouth, his tongue caressing hers in a demanding way. Em was happy to oblige him, returning the embrace with equal gusto as she drove her fingers in to his beautiful, thick hair. She massaged his scalp, working downward toward his neck to caress his muscular shoulders and arms.

She could feel Rory suddenly watching with interest, but didn’t open her eyes. Em was enjoying Russell’s attention far too much. His mouth slipped away from hers, over her chin, down the flesh of her throat, kissing and nipping her skin. Em rolled her head back to give him better access.

The moment Russell shifted his body downward to suck her nipple into his mouth, Rory was on her, holding her head by her chin as he nipped her nose. “I have been neglecting you, woman. I’m so sorry.”

Giving him a smile, she shrugged. “I understood.”

“I know, but…”

Russell looked up. “Will you shut the fuck up, Rory? I’m trying to arouse her and you are giving her bad vibes.”

Em thought it was a poorly worded comment, but Rory obviously got the point as he rolled his eyes.

“Sure thing, boss.”

Russell ignored the snipe and returned to her breast as she chuckled. Their camaraderie had been missing, and now that it was back, she really took notice of it. Em slid her fingers up Rory’s arm and into his hair. The difference between their locks was distinct if not completely opposite. They both had luxuriously thick and soft hair, but Rory’s was so black and Russell’s was so platinum blond. Their hair also had a slightly different texture, Rory’s was dense and silky, but Russell’s was light and almost wispy around her fingers.

Rory nipped her nose again. “What are you thinking?”

“I was analyzing your hair differences.”

Russell gave her a disgusted look. “Are you paying any attention to what I’m doing?”

“Of course I am. You just ran the tip of your tongue over the center of my nipple and it felt wonderful.” It had actually sent a flare of sensation ripping down into her cunt and that felt wonderful, but she didn’t clarify.

Rory leaned his head forward. “Shut the fuck up.” With a chuckle, he encased her lips with his own. Em started to compare their kisses and stopped herself. She needed to stop analyzing things and just enjoy. Trying to calm her mind, she let the feel of their tongues work their magic.

Russell was stealthily licking her nipple with long and enticing lashes of his tongue. Rory was consuming her mouth, his hand firmly holding her chin so she couldn’t move her head. He was completely in control of her face, moving his own to achieve deeper penetration with his tongue.