Point of No Return (25 page)

* * * *

On Thursday, Danial and I went through
several possible vacation destinations, finally settling on
Letchworth State Park.

“There are several rental properties inside
the park, Sar. Which do you like best?” Danial asked.

“Whichever you prefer,” I said. “It depends
when you want to go.”

“This month,” he said at once.
“February.”

I’d envisioned summer flowers and warm
nights, not snowdrifts and wool coats. “These places are heated,
right?”

“Yes,” Danial laughed. “There is also a four
star restaurant inside the park that delivers, and the houses
themselves all have a full kitchen, if you don’t feel like going
out.”

God, that sounded great.
“I’m in,” I
said, nodding. “Just tell me the week you make reservations
for.”

“I’ll call tomorrow,” Danial said,
pleased.

* * * *

Friday dawned clear, but warm. As I dressed,
I thought resentfully that Lash had no reason now not to meet me.
There had been a thawing of the winter chill this past week, and
some bare patches were beginning to appear in the yard. Darkness
and Ghost particularly enjoyed the thaw, spending a good portion of
our walks seeking out and tearing up old mouse nests, shaking the
dry grass everywhere. Yet while I’d loved the warm weather, it
meant that there would be no reprieve from Lash’s abrasive
company.

Hurrying fast, I teleported to Hayden just in
time to be in the kitchen at eight a.m. sharp. Lash was waiting for
me. At once, he nodded to me, then making a gesture with his head
to follow, he went into the attached garage and got into one of the
Hummers.

I got into the passenger side. “Where are we
going first?” I murmured.

“Bakeware, then hardware. I need to arrange
for more supplies to fix the ballroom.” He turned to me suddenly,
fixing me with his flat eyes. “Is there someplace special you need
to go to get what you need?”

He sounded less irritated than he had
before. Maybe it had been the volume of my voice he’d been annoyed
over, not the words I’d spoken
.
I could try lowering it and
see.
“Any department store or super-store should have what I
need,” I answered softly. “I need basic things, nothing fancy.”

Lash nodded, then raised the garage door, and
backed out slowly.

* * * *

Despite Lash’s silence, our excursion went
well.

He had worn a long wool coat, so his weapons
at his waist were covered. Though he was again all in black,
because of the time of year and the wool, he looked more like a
yuppie than an assassin. With lightly tinted sunglasses to hide his
snake eyes, he drew no attention in the stores save for a few
stares over his scar. Yet I knew what he was, and it was still
unnerving being close to him, even if he looked normal to those
around me.

We stopped for lunch near noon. Another
surprise was Lash’s refusal to join me in eating, electing only for
a glass of water. I had never seen a wereanimal of any type refuse
food of any kind. More curious, the water was the only drink he
consumed. For the length of my meal, he just sat there in his seat
and stared at me unrelentingly with his flat eyes, not uttering a
word.

If I had been a woman with a nervous stomach,
or high strung, I probably wouldn’t have been able to eat with him
doing nothing but watching me. But I had never had a problem
eating. Further, I didn’t care if he liked me much, especially as
he’d repeatedly made it a point for me to know he didn’t.

“Do you want dessert?” he hissed, when I was
done with my entree. “You might as well use the excuse to indulge,
even if you haven’t caught yet.”

My hackles went up. “No,” I said coolly,
checking my watch. “We should get moving. I’ll use the restroom
while you sit here and think of more intelligent retorts.”

When I returned, Lash was paying the bill at
the register. As we walked to the car, he took a flask from his
pocket, and swallowed a long pull. As soon as we got in the Hummer,
I said pointedly “Should I drive?”

Lash laughed bitterly. “It’s blood, Sar, not
alcohol.”

Ew
. I could understand a vampire
drinking blood for nourishment, but a wereanimal? Now I understood
why he had wanted to taste me. I nodded, and didn’t comment.

The rest of the afternoon was spent at the
hardware store, most of that at the paint station. I gathered many
paint strips to show to Dev, as well as several good brushes, a few
rollers, some tarps, and an extending pole. Not wanting to return
with no actual paint, I finally chose a deep green, dark, almost
like moss when it first emerges in the spring.

Lash came walking up as I placed it in the
cart, and nodded in approval.

“Are you set?” I asked.

“Yes. I ordered lumber, wallboard, and joint
compound to be delivered.”

“Are you going to replace the mirrors?” I
asked, curious.

“Dev’s thinking about it,” Lash said finally.
“He never uses the ballroom. Well, he used it once, or so he says.
He has not used it in decades, because of security. But he wants it
looking nice, just in case, I guess.”

In case of what, an impromptu visit by
fifty guests?
“Ah,” I said, not wanting to antagonize him.

“Is this all you need?” Lash hissed tiredly.
“If it is, let’s go.”

* * * *

As soon as we arrived back at Hayden, I
parted ways with Lash and got started painting. Serena met up with
me in the kitchen an hour later, as I was washing paint off my
hands. With her help, I unpacked and washed all of the baking
equipment.

“We’re ready to go,” I said, pleased. “Can
you meet me here at noon tomorrow?”

“What will you be making?” Devlin said,
coming into the kitchen and hugging me.

At once, I was struck that there was
something off about him. With sadness, I realized it was his
mellowness; his movements and tone were telltale signs of recent
sexual release. I fought up my rising jealousy and anger,
rationalizing that I hadn’t liked what little I’d seen of his
sadism. It was better this way for both of us.

“Sar?” he prompted.

“Pie first,” I said, managing a smile. “Then
other desserts, breads, then meatloaf and soups. If you have any
particular dishes, now’s the time to tell me.”

“Whatever you wish to make is fine,” Devlin
said to me. He looked to Serena. “Vince is waiting for you,
upstairs.”

She nodded once, and left.

“How did it go?” Dev whispered in my ear.
“Lash said you were meeting him at eight to get supplies.”

“Come and see,” I said, beaming. I led him to
the wall I’d painted. “Do you like it?”

“Very much,” Devlin said, pleased. “Will you
choose other colors, or just this one?”

“Many.” I showed him some of the other color
samples. “Choose a few.”

After some discussion and deliberation with
me, Devlin picked out the ones he liked best, handing them to me,
then tossing the others in a nearby garbage can.

I took them out, incensed. “You should
recycle. The earth is finite—”

He gave me an amused look, then took my hand
and led me into the garage, where he introduced me to his stacks of
recycling bins. “I do. I just forgot, in my excitement.”

I put the strips inside the nearest one
marked paper. “Oh,” I said, chagrined. “Sorry.”

“Most vampires are eco-friendly,” Devlin
said, his eyebrows raised. “I’m going to live a long time. I want
the earth to be as it is now; not desert, one huge city, or covered
with water.”

“It would be hard to find blood that wasn’t
marine life,” I quipped.

“It would be hard to find women, and dry
surfaces to have them on,” Devlin retorted, laughing. “Especially
one particular woman, in a planet-sized ocean—”

Lash entered the garage, his countenance
looking rested and awake. “Are you ready to go to Davy’s?” he
hissed. “Cin’s expecting me tonight.”

“Titus gave it to you,” Devlin stated.

“Yes,” Lash hissed, and grinned. “Now let’s
go.”

Lash had taken another dose of whatever it
was that kept him going. That was why he looked so spry.

Devlin grinned. “Sar, get your coat.”

* * * *

When we got to Davy’s there wasn’t much of a
crowd yet. In fact, it was so early there was barely anyone else
there. At once, Cin came over to take our order, but before she
said anything, Lash picked her up and took her straight to the
back. Without another handy option, I decided to ignore the reason
and just be glad he was gone.

Gary came over and took our order. As I gave
mine, I pondered why he didn’t mind Cin and Lash doing what they
were doing in the back.
Perhaps Devlin really owned this bar, or
maybe Lash did?

Devlin and I bantered back and forth, our
conversation teasing and easy. We’d just finished our first glass
of wine, and I, my chicken fingers, when Lash came sauntering
back.

“Stay with her,” Devlin said, standing. “I’ll
be a little while.”

Lash nodded, but I gave Devlin a blank look.
“What?”

Devlin gestured. “Look at the bar. Blond,
second to last.”

I looked out of the corner of my eye. Yes,
there was a blonde there. She was eyeing Dev like he was the last
burger on the plate in a roomful of empty buns.

Lash nodded. “Sure.”

Devlin sauntered over to her and struck up a
conversation. A few moments later he whispered something in her
ear, then led her outside to the parking lot.

“Is he going to kill her?” I whispered as
soft as I could.

“Probably not,” Lash replied, then grinned.
“He got his rocks off earlier, plus he’s on good behavior here.” He
smiled wider. “Like usual, when you’re around.”

Flushing again, I finished my wine. Lash
downed his, too, then poured us both the rest of it, which was
about half a glass each. He looked at me. “Want me to toast?”

I grimaced. “If it’s something besides good
times with women.”

His smile widened, then he hissed, “To you
and Dev; that it be his child inside you, not that stupid
werecat’s.”

Motherfucker!
I was completely still
in my fury. Lash clinked my glass with his, then drank most of it
down. I drank a good deal of mine down, too, in my anger. I sat
there and trembled with frustration, furious with him.

“Something I said, Sar?” Lash hissed
slyly.

“Fuck you!” I hissed back at him. “I tried to
be nice to you all day, you jerk—!”

“Shut up,” Lash hissed easily. “I’m Dev’s
friend. I’d do anything for him, including watch your ass, as
stultifying as I find you. But Theo’s a thorn in his side and mine.
I’ve kicked his ass repeatedly over the years, yet he’s stupid
enough that he always comes back for more. A male has to know his
limits. He should accept when he’s just not good enough.”

There was a good deal of resentment in his
easy words. I sipped my wine and didn’t reply.

“For example,” Lash went on. “If it had been
me there with Dev that night he came for you, he’d have gotten you
without losing men, or getting shot.” He turned menacing. “Later
on, he’d have done whatever he wanted with you, because I would
have stopped anyone interfering.” He gave me an evil smile. “But
don’t think too much on it, Sar. It’d be such a shame if you
weren’t sitting here with me now.”

Chapter
Thirteen

I averted my eyes. I was going to hit him.
God, give me the strength to control myself until Devlin got
back.

Abruptly, the first strains of Bad Company’s
“Feel Like Making Love” came on the jukebox, as a scantily clad
woman in jeans strutted her way to her man at the bar.

“I can smell your anger,” Lash hissed,
pleased. “At least something’s going right tonight—”

My control snapped. I turned to Lash,
sprawled in his chair beside me. “Listen you—”

As my eyes met his flat ones, The Lust washed
through me.

“Listen to what?” Lash hissed tauntingly.
“Why don’t you try and threaten me? I haven’t had a good laugh in
ages.”

He was the nastiest SOB here for sure, the
most dangerous, the worst of the worst. He would hurt me if he
could. I shivered, because I wanted him to.

I wanted him.

I lunged at him, knocking over both chairs.
As we both fell, Lash moved supernaturally fast, getting out from
underneath me so we landed side by side, still entangled.

Devlin yelled, “Sar!”

If Dev got to us, I’d never have Lash, not
how I wanted him. Cin could be a problem, too. I closed my eyes,
teleporting us instantly. We arrived in Devlin’s bedroom, still
lying on the floor. I was immediately relieved to not be outside
the gates.

Lash shot to his feet immediately, yanking me
up as well. “Damn it! I told him to tell you that you had to go to
the kitchen first!” he hissed angrily. “Take us back to Devlin,
now!”

“No,” I snarled. “I want you here on this
bed. His bed.”

Lash narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.

“Come on,” I purred seductively, strutting
closer. “Don’t you wonder what it would be like with me? Why Devlin
would give up his other women, just to share me?”

A cell phone rang. Not taking his eyes from
me, Lash took out his phone, and held it to his ear. “Dev, we’re at
Hayden. Get here as soon as you can. Something is wrong with Sar.
I’ll hold her until you get here.”

“The hell you will!” I sneered, striding fast
to the door. “You won’t do it, I’ll find someone else to do the
job!”
There had to be at least one bear here
somewhere...

I threw open the door, heard a soft hiss,
then was yanked backwards, the end of Lash’s whip coiled about my
waist. He got between me and the door, then closed it.

“So this is the infamous lust Devlin’s been
talking about so eagerly,” Lash hissed, turning to face me. “I knew
it wasn’t going to be what he thought.” He gave me a grin, then
pulled me toward him. “But this is too good to be true.”