Kiss Me When the Sun Goes Down (19 page)

Her returning smile was brilliant.  “It’s what we can do for each other.”

“A
nja!”  Hanna chose that exact moment to slide up in her heels, her face lit with joy as she caught onto my arm for balance.  “This place is freaking amazing!  You really own it?”

“You’re the amazing one, you look fantastic,” I smiled over her enthusiasm.  And she did.  The periwinkle, sleeveless dress had a plunging neckline and a dark violet waistband.  Mason caught up seconds later in a gray vest over darker gray pants with a blue shirt, not matching, but complementing her dress perfectly. 

“Sorry, she’s a wily one,” Mason said with an apologetic shrug, as Hanna picked up a flute of champagne from a passing tray and downed half of it in a single gulp. 

Jennike didn’t appear all that keen on the interruption, but she held her tongue, that familiar look of disdain arching her brows. 

“How have you not moved in here yet?  This place is like a palace,” Hanna gushed, her head tipping up to study the gilt ceiling. 

“I like my place, it’s homier,” I replied, patting her arm to get her attention.  “Hanna, this is Jennike Vendal, the Elder of the East.”

“Oh, the bitchy one, right?”

Wode tìan.
  Just when I’d almost come to an understanding with the other Elder.  “Maybe a little less champagne for you tonight?” I suggested, taking the glass out of her hand and setting it aside.

“I’m not drunk, I tell it like it is.  I’m not the politician and I’m not one of her subjects, or yours, for that matter.”

I opened my mouth to remind her that manners were universal, but Jennike surprised me with a smile.  “It’s okay, I like a girl who’s not afraid to speak her mind.  And you are?”

“She’s my sister,” I answered, making it clear that Hanna and her big mouth were under my direct protection.  “And politician or not, you should address any Elder as Your Grace,” I added, specifically for Hanna.

“Except for you.”

“Except for me.” 

“Your sister?”  Jennike actually looked surprised for once in her life, and I tried to figure out if that was a good thing, or a bad thing.  “My, I have underestimated you, haven’t I?” she replied, understanding in that instant how new to all of this I was.  Maybe that was a tactical error on my part, but I was through lying about where I came from.

“It’s been a crazy year,” I said with a shrug. 

“I salute you then.  You’re far craftier than I gave you credit for.  I’ll leave you to your family for now then.  It was lovely to have met you, Hanna,” Jennike smiled with a healthy dose of civility.  “Mason,” she added, her smile turning predatory.

“Jennike,” Mason nodded, and I remembered that he used to be from Boston, right in the middle of her territory.  It made sense that they knew each other. 

“Thank you for the walk, it was very illuminating,” I offered politely, and she agreed.

“Most definitely.  We’ll talk soon, yes?”

“Can’t wait.”  I kept the smile fixed in place until she was at least halfway across the ballroom before I turned to Mason and smacked him on the shoulder.  “What the heck, you let her get drunk and she’s only been here for ten minutes?”

“She’s not drunk,” he protested, flinching from the hit.  “She had a couple of shots on the way over to steady her nerves.  She was nervous about meeting all the people.”

“She was,” Hanna nodded, her eyes looming large. 

“A couple of drinks?  Mason, she’s five foot one and a hundred pounds soaking wet.  How much do you think it takes to get her drunk?”

“I don’t know, we don’t end up drinking all that much together.”

“Well, not alcohol anyway,” Hanna snorted, and I turned to snap at her.

“Stop talking please.”  That was a picture I didn’t need intruding into my thoughts.  “Ugh, I knew this was a bad idea in the making.  Hanna, you can’t be drunk around these people, it’s too dangerous.”

“Would you relax?  Mason won’t let anything happen to me.  Will you, babydoll?” she asked, looking up at him adoringly.

“Not a chance, kitten.  But, ah... maybe you should go grab a cup of coffee.”

“As long as I don’t end up with one of those by mistake.”  She wrinkled her nose with distaste at a passing tray of blood in elegant sherry glasses.  “Ooh, can I get a mocha?” Hanna’s face lit up with hope, and I nodded. 

“I’m sure they’ll be able to rustle something up in the kitchen.  Tell them I sent you,” I nodded, encouraging anything that led to a more sober Hanna and her out of the main party area in general. 

“Sorry, sis.”  At least Mason looked sincere, but now wasn’t the time for it.

“Don’t apologize to me, just... go stay with her!”  Hanna had already started weaving through the crowd.  I’d wanted to ask him about Bishop’s whereabouts, but sticking close to Hanna was way more important in her current state. 

Felix dragged me back to a group of people I needed to mingle with, and I lost myself for a while, chatting about all the social nonsense that plagued those kinds of parties. 

And then I spotted him. 

Bishop completely stole my ability to continue the conversation around me.  Moving with stealthy grace, he cut through the swath of partygoers milling and dancing around, and I left Felix’s side without a word, drawn to him.  Every so often, my vision of him was obscured, but my feet carried me forward, finding him without fail as though we were magnets seeking a mate. 

Dressed in a formal tuxedo, Bishop looked every inch at home in the grand ballroom, except for the pinch of worry around his eyes.  Was something wrong?  Was that why he’d come so late? 

Before I could ask him about it, his apologies came tumbling out.  “I’m so sorry I’m late.  I got a call from Rome I couldn’t put off with the other district heads.  And then because so many are here tonight, there was no one else to handle an incident, and...”

“It’s fine,” I cut him off, glad to hear it was nothing more than routine duties keeping him from my side.  “It’s still early yet.  The important thing is you’re here.”

Bishop didn’t let himself off as easily as I did, still visibly upset.  “No, see I had on a navy suit to match you, but I had to change out of it.”

Because of the blood.  I could smell it on him.  “That’s sweet, but you look fantastic.”

“I just... I wanted to prove that I could be there for you, and...”

This time I cut him off with a kiss.  A simple press of the lips, but the effect was electric.  His entire body relaxed as the worry slid away, replaced by a different kind of tension as his arms wrapped around me.

“I
am
sorry,” he whispered against my lips, as we broke the kiss.

“You’re here now.”  Neither one of us had moved away, my body still pressed up against him. 

“Yes, I am.” 

“That’s good enough for me.”

The last lines of stress faded from his face as he smiled down at me.  “In that case, may I have the pleasure of this dance?”  Just as quickly, doubt returned, as his eyes flicked to the side of the room.  “Or Felix is looking like he wants to bust a nut over there.  Do I have to share you a while longer?”

I didn’t even bother to look in Felix’s direction.  “It’s my party, and I’ll dance if I want to.”  Bishop’s answering smile told me I’d made the right decision, and the way I felt in his arms as he squired me around the dance floor, I couldn’t care less whatever political duties I’d blown off.  There were some things that were more important, and I had time for one dance.

“You’re... the dress is...”  Bishop’s first attempt at conversation while we danced was awkward, and I loved him all the more for it.  Knowing I made him nervous made me more confident, and I decided to rescue him from his struggle with the elusive adjective.

“Do you like it?”

“You’re an absolute vision.”

“A good one, I hope.  Not the kind that spells death and destruction.”

“Huh?”  He didn’t follow, so I lit upon the first example that came to mind. 

“You know, like Cordy gets on
Angel
or...  You haven’t gotten around to watching
Angel
yet, have you?” I asked, when he stared at me blankly.

“No.  That’s with Angel from
Buffy
, right?”

“Right.  You get bonus points for that, at least,” I smiled, and he gave me a sheepish grin. 

“I’m still working my way through
Buffy
, but maybe we can get together and watch them sometime?  Unless you’d be bored watching them again.”

“Absolutely I would.  Want to watch them again, not be bored with them,” I added hastily.  Spending the evening curled up on the couch with him and classic Joss Whedon?  Maybe some popcorn?  I couldn’t think of a more enjoyable evening. 

“Great, it’s a date then.”  He sounded relieved, as if there was a question whether or not I’d want to.  Didn’t he know how much I enjoyed spending time with him?

“How far are you into the show?”

“I’m about halfway through season two, but I wouldn’t mind starting it over again, it’s been a while since I’ve had time to watch it.”

“That sounds good to me, I love season two.”  That’d give us plenty of nights to spend together.  The idea of doing something so normal as watching a beloved show was vastly appealing, something I hadn’t had much time for lately either. 

“And Cordelia’s on that
Angel
show too?”

“Yep, she and Angel are...  Well, I don’t want to spoil it for you.”

Bishop’s feet came to a halt, the dance forgotten as he stared at me.  “Wait... Angel and Buffy don’t end up together?”  He looked like I’d told him that there was no Santa. 

“I didn’t say that.  But Angel does go off to L.A. on his own for a while.”

“So they
do
end up together?”

“Let’s say it’s open for interpretation.”  His frown didn’t go away, and I searched for a way to explain it without giving too much away.  “Look at it this way, their story isn’t over yet.  The future could bring anything.”

“Yes, it can.”

We’d stopped dancing, but hadn’t budged from our spot on the dance floor. 

“Looking good tonight, boss.” 

At first I thought the comment was directed at me, but as I turned to see Corazon, dressed to the nines in a killer red dress, I saw it was Bishop she’d been talking to.

Bishop stiffened, caught off guard by the mixing of our worlds, but he managed a nod in her direction.  “Thanks.”  His expression making it clear that he wasn’t open to more chit chat. 

I could understand it was hard for him to get chummy with his subordinates, especially when his reputation as a badass was legendary.  Apart from Mason, I didn’t think I’d ever seen him relax around the other Order members.  But that didn’t mean I couldn’t be friendly. 

“Hey, Corazon,” I smiled. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”

“Your Grace,” she said with a formal incline of the head, much more sober after seeing Bishop’s reaction. 

“I think you can call me Anja after what we’ve been through,” I reminded her, keeping my smile even to show I wasn’t such a stickler for formality as he was. 

“True.”  A half smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, but she didn’t say more.

“I love the dress.”  Fire engine red and one of the most glamorous dresses in the room, the usually no-nonsense woman looked all female, and off duty for once.  Then again, I didn’t put it past Bishop to require all Order members to attend the party in a more official capacity to keep the peace.  “Are you armed?”

“What do you think?” Her trademark smirk was back, leaving me to wonder where she’d have room to strap anything on in the form fitting gown.

“I think you’re a dangerous lady.”

“Takes one to know one.”  She raised her glass at me and sauntered away, leaving me to smile over the rare compliment.

“What have you been through?” Bishop asked, overcoming his brief descent into grumpiness almost as soon as she was gone. 

“Oh, during that whole town against the Order thing. Corazon got shot up pretty badly, and I had to give her some of my blood.  Didn’t Mason tell you?”

“It must’ve slipped his mind,” he replied, a pucker of worry appearing on his brow.  “Did you give your blood to Mason too?”

“No, why?”

His jaw tightened, but all he said was, “No reason.”

“Are you jealous?” 

Bishop cleared his throat, tugging at the tie around his neck.  “Maybe a little.”

“It was a long time ago.”

“I know.  And I know it was for a good reason. I just don’t like to think about you sharing your blood with anyone.”

“Anyone but you?”

“I know I lost the right to make any claim on you, but a guy can’t help the way he feels.”

It’d been a while since I’d dealt with jealous Bishop, but I remembered clearly how he felt about sharing blood.  What I wasn’t sure of, was whether our old rules for feeding were still in effect, or if that was reserved for if and when I decided to claim him formally.  “And how do you feel?”

“I feel... like I’d love to hold you in my arms again,” he said, brushing aside the heavy topic with a smile.  “Another dance?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”  There was time enough to sort through those things when we came to them.

One dance became two, and I never wanted to leave his arms again.  We danced without speaking, barely aware of anything more than the music surrounding us, and the feel of his body moving with mine.  Where he led, I followed, absolutely trusting him not to lead us astray. 

When we ended up at the edge of the room, I felt his hesitation, and I took the lead, knowing without words what he wanted.  What we both wanted. 

“Maybe it’s time for that taste?” I suggested, pulling him away from the bright lights and music of the ballroom.

“What about the party?  Your guests?”  Bishop let me bring him into a darkened room nearby.  It was barren of furniture, like half of the house, but there was a low sofa by the fireplace. I could work with that. 

“They can have the stuff Vaughn provided, I’m not the sharing type.”

“Good, neither am I.”  His lips closed over mine, no more words needed as he pulled the door shut behind us, fumbling for the lock, but there was no key in place.  I didn’t care, I was tired of waiting for forever, I wanted my piece of it now.