Forever Viper (35 page)

Should I even care that I am involved in a murder? Yes, I guess so, and if it was anyone else but Jacob, I would. In my eyes, Jacob deserved to die. He was an evil man who wanted it all, including me, but we can’t always have what we want, especially if it’s by force.

My eyes rest on Juan and I smile as I watch him sleep, he is so beautiful to me. I could have lost him and that makes my heart ache. I forgive him and that is what we both needed to move on from, but we do have bridges to build between us and deep in my heart I know we can get through them.

It is then I heard the beep beep of my phone and noticed it is resting on the bedside table. I climb over Noah, giving him a quick kiss on the lips, and pick up my phone. I find messages from Monica asking,

where the hell are you?

And another saying,

Lara has been ringing asking if you feel better, you have so much explaining to do lady.

I then see a message from Lara saying,

I received your note, don’t worry, I can cope for a day, feel better soon. And it is great that Noah is back!

Standing there holding my phone in my hands, I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.
They really did sort everything out last night. Oh well back to reality it is then and to face Monica.
I need to use the bathroom before I leave, but first I phone for a taxi to take me home. I find some paper and leave a message, asking if they can both visit me tonight as I need to talk to them. I lean across the bed and give them both a kiss, then I arrange their arms and legs so when they awake, they will be in each other’s arms. I say goodbye, even though I know they can’t hear me and I make my way home, knowing I will see them later.

When I stroll into the lounge, a voice from the kitchen shouts out, “Finally, the dirty stop out returns home.”

I walk over to the sofa and throw myself down on it and shout back at Hans, “This dirty stop out would love a cup of tea.”

I hear him laugh and a couple of minutes later Hans is sitting across from me and I’m sipping on my drink. “Just so you know, I have texted Monica to let her know you are back, so expect her to come charging through that door like a bull.”

I laugh as an image of Monica with a ring through her nose and snorts of air projecting from her flared nostrils, scorning me for staying out all night, enters my head. “Oh crap, is she really that mad at me?”

His face turns serious, “She is worried about you Peppa, we both are. You haven’t exactly been yourself lately.”

My brows draw together and I bite my lip with worry. Just then the front door opens and slams shut.
Help! How do I tame a bull?
Monica storms in and flings herself at me, “Thank god you are ok.”

She pulls back from me scrunching her nose up in disgust, “Bloody hell Peppa! Where have you been, a grave yard? You stink.”

My heart speeds up a bit as I think to myself,
if you only knew
. I decide then and there that it is best not to mention Jacob’s death. “I’m sorry I made you worry. What started off as a crap night turned out better in the end with Noah, Juan and I being together again.”

Monica hugs me and asks me to explain, so I end up telling them both about what happened on the top of the hill. Monica isn’t happy with Juan, because of the way he lied to me, but by the time I finish my story, I can tell she feels some sympathy for him. That makes me happy, because I want my best friend and boyfriend to get along.

Han’s makes a joke about me smelling so bad, even his wolf has buried his nose into his fur and I make my excuses to go and clean myself up. Taking a bath felt amazing, I not only cleansed myself of the filth that covered my body, but also the filth I am hanging onto. I want to look towards the future and leave the past where it belonged and tonight’s conversation with my men is going to be the start of moving on.

When I walk back into the bedroom Monica is sitting on my bed looking really worried, she is sitting there biting her nails. I plop myself down on the bed next to her and nudge her shoulder, “Monica, what’s up? I hope you’re not still worried about me?”

She tries to smile, but I can tell it is for my appearance, “Now that things are settled with you and the vampires, I guess they will be coming back here to live? Staying here with you, and meeting Hans, has blown my world apart for the better. It has given me independence and I’m not at my sister’s beck and call. As it turns out, she is coping great without me. Then there is Hans, he has no job, nowhere to live and I’m not sure where we go from here.”

My arm sneaks around her shoulder and I laugh, “You can stay here until you sort something out with Hans. I’m not going to kick you out because my vampires will be coming home. You were here for me Monica and I will be there for you. But, may I suggest talking to that wolf of yours about what he wants to do and maybe I can have a little word in Noah’s ear about a job for Hans.”

She squeals and wraps her arms around me, “Thank you, thank you, I love you.”

With a mouthful of her curly hair lodged in my mouth I mumble, “I love you too.”

After Monica leaves me to it, I lie back on the bed and before I know it I drift off to sleep. I’m brought back awake by the constant beep of my phone and I fumble around in the dark searching for it. Through blurred eyes I can see the time is 6.30 pm and after rubbing the sleep from them I find a message from Noah,

Just read your message sweetheart, Juan has a gig tonight, but we will be over after that. Juan says he needs to talk something through with you too. I can’t wait to see you, I love you. xxx

My stomach twists with butterflies, not only at the thought of seeing them again, but at what Juan wants to talk to me about. I text back,

I’m looking forward to seeing you both, tell Juan I love him and Noah I love you too. xxx

I move off the bed and get dressed into some PJ’s, then my phone rings. I pick it up thinking it might be Noah, but it’s Lara’s number I read. I detect a gnawing guilt and almost don’t answer it, but Lara deserves better than that so I press the button and speak before she can, “I’m so sorry about today Lara. I haven’t been a great help this week but I promise to make it up to you next week.”

She screams down the phone, “Don’t worry about that! Tell me have you seen Noah? I’m so happy he is back, you must be over the moon.”

I laugh at her enthusiasm, but the guilt at knowing beforehand where Noah was all along, still plays on my mind but I push it aside. “Yes, I saw him last night with Juan and we are all together again and I couldn’t be happier.”

I hear her clapping, “Oh that is so good to hear Peppa! I’m so happy for you all.”

“Thank you, Lara. Are you busy this weekend? Do you fancy coming over for a drink? We haven’t had any girlie time for such a long time.”

She claps again, “Yes, please! I would love that, let me text you when I know I’m free and thanks Peppa, it will be good to spend some time with you outside of work.”

We say our goodbyes and I head to the kitchen to make something to eat. Monica and Hans are cuddled up on the sofa talking away and I don’t want to interrupt so I wave at them and leave them to it. I hoped they still had their clothes on by the time I made my sandwich and headed back to the room. I find the room empty when I walk back in and I end up turning the TV on while I ate my sandwich. I settle on watching an old Elvis film and then another, but the anticipation is rising inside of me waiting for my visitors.

As the film ends my whole body heats from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.
My men are here
. I jump off the sofa and run into the open arms of Noah, “Bloody hell, Juan warned me about the smell of wolf but that is fucking disgusting.”

I slap him on the chest and hold on to him tighter, “Sorry, I guess someone is pleased to see me. You feel so good sweetheart.”

I let him know how good I can feel by rubbing myself against him and finding his lips with mine. It didn’t take long before Juan joins us and he presses himself up against my back and places kisses to my neck. I force my mouth away from Noah’s and twist in his arm’s to face Juan. He gazes at me with unease and a lonely tear rolls down his cheek. My lips quiver but I mouth to him, ‘I love you.’ Then I throw my arms around his neck and place kisses all over his face until our lips connect and I become a pool of flames as our mouths ignite each other’s.

Juan has to carry me over to the sofa as my body fights for oxygen and my legs buckle from the intensity of our kiss. I’m sandwiched between them both and they each hold one of my hands. Noah kisses the one he holds and says, “I really want to take you to bed and make you see stars again, but idiot over there has other ideas.”

My head snaps to Juan and I actually pout at him because I want to get my freak on with my men.

He shakes his head, “Please don’t look at me like that, you have no idea how hard it is to control myself right now. Don’t you think I want to throw you over my shoulder, take you both to bed and fuck you both senseless? Because believe me my dick is telling me to do just that.”

Noah leans over me and points at a door, “Your dick is pointing in the right direction, let it lead the way.”

My eyes travel to Juan’s lap and I lick my lips at the sight of his hard dick, it clearly shows through his jeans. Juan’s hand comes under my chin and lifts my head up so we are eye to eye. “I want nothing more to be inside of you Peppa, but that’s going to have to wait.”

I open my mouth to speak, but he stops me by placing his finger on my lips over my mouth. “Please let me speak what is on my mind.”

I nod my head and he removes his finger from my lips. He sighs while Noah rests his head on my shoulder, “This next week is going to be busy for Viper. It’s leading up to the big O2 gig and after last night, I still have concerns about Noah, I don’t think he is ready to be out and about and mixing with people.”

Noah shakes his head muttering to himself, “Bollocks, I’m more than ready.”

Juan ignores him, “I’m asking for one more week Peppa. After the O2 show, I’m free and Noah and I will come home then.”

My face scrunches up in a frown as I’m not happy and he knows it. “Nothing will please me more than to come home to you and Noah. To lie in our bed and just be together. I’m thinking of the bigger picture here: Noah wants to go back to work and he needs to learn to control his blood lust more so he can be around humans.”

Noah shakes his head again, “You’re just being paranoid.”

Juan sighs, “Yes, maybe I am, but I would rather be safe than sorry.”

I notice the sadness and worry creep into Juan’s eyes and I know last night still plays a part in his concern. I place a kiss to Juan’s lips, “I understand, but I don’t like that I have to wait another week until you come home.”

I then turn and place a kiss on top of Noah’s head and say, “Juan’s right Noah, take this week and show us both that you have control over the blood lust.”

My head snaps back to Juan when something occurs to me, “Does that mean I won’t have any contact with you both all week?”

Noah leans over me again and flutters his eyes at Juan, which makes me giggle, and he says, “If I agree to stay away for another week at least let us have some time together.”

Juan leans forward and grabs Noah and kisses him hard and I let out a moan and say, “Oh come on! You know that turns me on. No sex for a week is going to kill me. You know that right?!”

Juan laughs and sits back in his seat, “It’s going to kill us too, but it’s going to be worth the wait I promise you that. We don’t have a gig on Tuesday night so I thought we can spend some time together then.”

Noah groans and adjusts his dick, “It better be. I will cook for you Peppa on Tuesday so make sure you are at least hungry for one thing.”

I laugh and slap his arm. We suddenly all go quiet and I know it’s time I addressed why I asked them to come tonight. I clear my throat and sit up straight. “Ok, I guess you’re wondering why I asked you to come tonight.”

I shift my body in my seat and stare at Juan, “I have to believe in second chances, but this is the last chance Juan. I can’t go through that again.”

Juan nods his head and squeezes my hand. “I don’t want there to be any secrets or lies between us and that means talking to each other.”

I bite my lip nervously as I’m not sure how they will take the next sentence to come out of my mouth. “Here’s the thing, we are two vampires and a human and I’m happy with that.” I laugh, “We could have our own TV show.” They both look at me blankly.
Ok I guess they didn’t get that.
“Bloody hell! What I’m trying to say is I want to remain human.”

Noah jerks forward and brings his hand to my face and I stare into his upset face and he says, “It would be so much easier if you become one of us. I can’t protect you through the day and I hate that.”

I take his hand away from my face and hold it in mine, “I’m not saying it will never happen, but right now, I like my life. I have my work and friends. I know this might sound selfish, but I’m not ready to give up on all that yet.” I turn to peer back at Juan, “I will take some of your blood so I can live longer, I don’t have a problem with that. Please try and understand.”

Juan leans forward and kisses my forehead, “I understand completely, we all have a lot to adjust to and that’s going to take time. It’s hard enough to watch the ones you love grow old and die, so live your life Peppa, only you will know when you are ready to be changed over.”

Noah suddenly stands up and starts pacing. “You do realize that by taking our blood, you are going to remain youthful. How are you going to explain that? What about marriage and starting a family?” He falls to his knees in front of me and puts his head in my lap, “I can’t protect you.”

I run a hand through his short hair, “Noah, please listen to me. I know in my heart that someday I will join you both. I want to be married and have children, that’s the normal steps in any relationship, but we are different. I would marry you tomorrow if I could.”
Where the hell did that come from?
“Like Juan said, there is a lot we need to adjust to. I’m just asking for a little more time and these concerns can be talked about between us. Let me live my life for a while.”