“Good God, Gloriana. Where's this coming from?” Not that Richard flew across the room to get away from me. Hell, no. He had one hand in my hair, holding me close. The other circled my waist.
I leaned back and smiled, feeling relaxed, yet antsy too. A weird combo. “It's coming from here.” I grabbed his hand and pressed it between my legs. “I want you, Richard.” I was wearing way too much. I undid my stretch belt and it popped loose, hit my chest of drawers on the other side of the room and knocked over a picture of me in one of my Vegas costumes. “Oops.”
I grinned and picked up the picture. “Look, Richard. I was one of the Indian maidens. Just a few strategically placed feathers. Cute, huh?” I set the picture back on the chest, then wrapped my arms around Richard's waist. “You want to play Columbus? I'll welcome you to the New World.” I slid my fingers inside his waistband. “It'll be a warm welcome. And not a feather in sight.”
Richard grabbed my hand. “Glory, are you sure you're all right?”
“I will be. Unzip me.” I slipped away from him, turned my back and lifted my hair.
“I thought you'd want to go dancing . . . first.” But, yeah, the zipper came down and the cool air on my back said any dancing tonight was going to be of the horizontal variety. His hands slid inside my dress, pushing it forward and off my shoulders. I turned and looked at him, then wiggled until the dress pooled at my feet. I kicked it away, not even sparing a thought for the delicate vintage fabric.
“What do you think?” I held out my hands. My bra was a wonder of engineering that pushed my breasts up and out like gifts waiting to be unwrapped. My matching panties were scraps of lace that only reached halfway to my navel. I shivered, then moved in to press against him.
“Richard? Answer me. Am I getting to you?” I rubbed my cheek against his chest. I waited for him to move things along. You know, grab my ass, open my bra,
something
. Instead Richard just stood there. Quiet. Too quiet. I looked up and saw his nostrils flare.
“What? Don't you like what you see?”
“God, Gloriana, of course I do.” He put his hands on my shoulders. “What have you gotten into?”
“Into? The mood, baby. Let's play.” I stepped back then reached for the front clasp of my bra. My breasts are a man pleaser. Guaranteed. Richard was thinking. That had to stop. I wanted him crazed with lust. I let my breasts loose, slung the bra over my head and into a corner of the room. Another crash, this time a vase I'd never really liked anyway.
“You smell likeâ”
“Lavender. Don't you like it?” I trailed my fingers down his chest to his belt buckle. One of my vamp moves and the belt and the button beneath it opened. Another move and his shirt hit the wall next to the bedroom door.
“No, it's not lavender I smell.” He sniffed again, trapping my hand against his zipper.
“I don't use perfume. Defense. Perfume messes up my sense of smell. The lavender doesn't.” His hand on top of mine. Was he saying stop or harder? I curled my fingers around the bulge underneath the cloth and his hand tightened. I took that as a “go.” I squeezed, he gasped, then pushed me away to stare into my eyes.
“By God, you've been in the Vampire Viagra.”
Nineteen
"Don't be silly, where would I get that?” I tried another grab, but he eluded me.
“Maybe Simon sent you a sample.”
“I don't need Viagra, Richard. I'm naturally this hot.” I ran a fingertip across my nipples and shivered. “And all Simon sent me was a case of Fangtastic. Want some?” I traced the long length pressing against his zipper. “Or do you want some of this?” I wiggled out of my panties and tossed them aside. His eyes darkened to a midnight blue. I dropped to my knees, took the tab of his zipper in my teeth and pulled.
“Jesus Christ, Gloriana.”
I swear, if he crossed himself, I was going to hit him. If he had any priestly hang-ups, Flo sure hadn't mentioned them. Saint or sinner? Aha. His hands were in my hair again. Sinner was obviously winning. Would I be struck by lightning if I prayed for Richard to take me sooner rather than later? I started going south with his zipper until his cock sprang free into my hands.
“You would never need the VV, would you, Richard?” I stroked his erection and kissed its pretty head. “I know you'll fill me. And when you comeâ”
Richard jerked me to my feet and stared into my eyes. “Damn it, Glory, that's not you talking, that's the Vamp Viagra. Simon must have drugged your Fangtastic.”
“What? Don't you think I can get hot without some help? Look at you. Strong, virile, all yummy male and ready to go.” I smiled down at his cock and gave it a friendly pat, then pulled Richard toward the bed. “Come on, Richard. Ricky. Maybe I'll call you that. Flo calls you Ricardo. Doesn't suit you. You're not Italian. English, like me. Hey, we're homies.” I pulled harder when he wouldn't fall on the bed with me.
I rubbed his cock. “Big boy. Come on, big boy. Take me.” I pulled his hand to my mouth and sucked his thumb, then bit with just a hint of fang. Oh, yum, his blood was rich, dark and delicious. I sighed and fell back on the bed. Open for him.
“Please, Richard.” I wiggled my hips. “Make me scream.”
“Gloriana, I can't take advantageâ” He tucked in and zipped up.
“Advantage? Like I don't know what I'm doing?” I got up in his face, fighting him off when he tried to wrap me in a robe I'd had slung over a chair. “I thought I knew what I was doing. And don't lie and say you're not a little interested. Your cock says you are.” I ran my hands up his bare chest and tweaked his nipples. “And cocks don't lie.” I kissed his chin. “Loosen up, Richard. Don't play so . . .” I rubbed his zipper again. “Hard to get. Let Glory ease your pain.”
“Stop it.” He backed up a step. I stayed right with him.
“Flo says you're not a good lover. But she didn't
always
say that.” One of my vamp moves should get his pants off of him. I gave it a shot, really concentrating on sending fabric to the floor. No go. He blocked me somehow.
“Why are you fighting me, Richard? Is it because I'm not a size six like Florence?” I dropped back on the bed. Sure. Why would he go for me after having cute little Flo? I wiped away a stray tear. How stupid to cry over stuff like that though. I mean, what did I want? A pity screw?
“Don't be ridiculous.”
“I can't help my size, damn it.” A sob. Hello? Is Gloriana even home? I pulled the sheet up to my chin. Yeah, she was home and pulling out every little trick she had. Glory St. Clair can manipulate with the best of them. Most men couldn't handle women's tears. He'd cave, we'd get it on and I'd finally lose this antsy “got to have it” feeling that made me about to crawl out of my skin.
“It's a curse.” Sniffle. Sniffle. “I've tried everything to get skinny. Even thought about liposuction. But you know the vamp sleep would just undo it. All pain, no gain.” I jumped up again, but wrapped the sheet around me. No use giving him an eyeful if he wasn't going to do something about it. Was he weakening? I swear my skin was on fire.
“You're a perfect size. You have a great body.” He reached for me, but I scooted to the light switch by the door.
“Here. I'll turn off the light and you can close your eyes. Okay? Just think. Glory's got all the necessary equipment, just more of it. Wait. Not more actual equipment. I mean what is there, tits, ass, the, um, gate to Heaven, has more padding.” I flipped the switch. Of course we both had vamp vision, so it really didn't make much of a difference. I got in front of him again.
“Close your eyes, Richard. Maybe if you pretend I'm Flo on steroids . . .” I brushed against him and dropped the sheet.
“Stop it. You're beautiful, Gloriana. Perfect. But you're not yourself.” Richard gave me a good long look, like he was thinking about the gate to HeavenâI knew the religious angle would get to himâthen he inhaled again. “No, this isn't going to happen.” He stalked into the living room. “Get dressed.”
I slipped on a nylon robe, but didn't tie it. “When I was a dancer in Vegas I learned some pretty good moves. Check it out.” I picked up the remote and turned on the CD player. I knew just the track I wanted. The slow sultry music filled the apartment, Alicia Keys singing “Fallin.” I danced around Richard, ignoring the scratching at the door from the hallway. If those dogs thought I was letting them in now . . . How icky would that be? I stretched, undulated, even tried a high kick. Oops. Something wrong with my balance. Richard grabbed me before I fell and I decided this was a good thing.
“Sorry.” I smiled, clung to him and kind of rubbed myself on him. Then I pushed him away. Obviously he liked the chase. So I took another turn around the room. Seven veils would have been nice, but at least I could play with the robe. I knocked over a pile of DVDs and kicked them out of the way.
Dirty Dancing
crunched under my feet. Okay, I could do dirty. A bump and grind. I checked my audience. Richard couldn't look away.
I let the robe slide down my shoulders and fall to the floor and picked up a throw pillow. I held it in front of me like a G-string while I shimmied my boobs. Closer to Richard. Oh, yeah, just brush that hard chest with my nipples. Ooo. My nipples
hurt
. I dropped the pillow to rub my hands over them.
“Help me, Richard. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I need your mouth on me. Right. Now.” I practically threw him onto the couch. I think I took him by surprise because he didn't resist. I straddled him and pressed a breast to his lips. “Please.”
I closed my eyes when he sucked my nipple into his mouth. Good. Now that I had him distracted, I knew where a male's working parts were by feel. I got him unzipped again then took his cock in my hands. Another inch or two and he'd be inside me. I wiggled my hips into position.
“No!” He grabbed my ass and shifted me off his lap.
“Damn it!” I tried to pry his hands off me. “Why aren't you cooperating?” I leaned over and bit his shoulder and not a love bite either. The blood welled up and I licked it clean. Oh, my. Nothing tastes better than an ancient vampire. More. I needed a lot more. Right after we . . .
“Gloriana.” He growled my name, but pushed me off of him.
I prowled the room, desperate to get things going. I was Gloriana Freakin' St. Clair, queen of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Didn't Richard get that? He was off the couch and watching me, eyes gleaming, damned zipper up again. But his shirt was still in the bedroom where I'd flung it. Hah!
I swept everything off the wooden coffee table, glad I'd sold the old one with its cold marble top. Magazines, re-motes and an empty Fangtastic bottle flew in every direction. I lay back, one leg on either side of the wood, feet on the floor. Could I
look
any more inviting?
“Come here, big boy. Give it to me.” I grinned at him and wiggled my hips. Oh, hell. “Ow.” I jumped up and looked back at my bum.
“What?” Richard turned me and examined my backside.
“Splinter.”
“I see it.” He gently pulled out the sliver of wood, then dropped to one knee and licked the tiny cut.
“Yes.” I sighed. “That's what I want. Lick every inch of me, Richard.” I swayed and reached back to thread my fingers through his soft hair. “Keep going, lower.” I held on and spread my legs.
“No. I shouldn't have done that. It was the smell of your blood.”
I looked back and saw him lick his lips. “Go for it, then. Bite my ass. Though there's a vein a little lower on my inner thigh that would be a whole lot better.” For both of us. I shivered thinking about his fangs taking me there. “Please.”
“No. This isn't right.” He pulled back.
I whirled and threw myself on him, knocking him back on the rug. “This
is
right. Quit teasing me, you son of a bitch.” I found his jugular and sank my fangs into his warm skin, sucking hard.
His fingers dug into my hair, holding me tightly against his neck. I swallowed, savored the taste for a moment, then decided I'd had enough. I tried to pull away but he kept his hand on my head, refusing to release me. He was too damned strong for me to muscle away from him. I fisted my hands and hit his chest, sign language for let me go.
“Keep feeding, Glory. Dilute that poison you've got in your system.”
Poison? Get real. I was flying high, more aroused than I'd ever been in my life. Wasn't he feeling this chemistry between us? But he
still
hadn't taken me. I couldn't freakin' believe it. He'd even managed to get his zipper back up for the thousandth time. I hit him again, then tried a little mind control, since my mouth was clamped to his neck.
“Let me go, Richard. Make love to me. Or if that's too much commitment for you, call it sex. Let's have hot, no holds barred, sex. We can feed from each other later. Afterward. I'll do anything you want if you'll just
take
me.”
I groaned and pushed, desperate to put some space between my fangs and his vein. I wasn't hungry for
this
. I'd just presented him with an offer that no self-respecting male vampire would ever refuse.
“No, Gloriana. No.”
Tears burned my eyes and I collapsed against him. Still he wouldn't let me stop feeding, his damned strong hands holding me firmly. I drank and swallowed and drank again. Until I felt sated, bloated, like I'd gag if I had to take in another drop. Finally, finally, he took his hands from my head. I gasped for air. My head, too heavy to support, fell to his shoulder. He cradled me against his chest.