Kissing with Fangs (19 page)

“I didn't, and I can't.”

Gaye muttered something under her breath. “Are you sober?”

Claudia gritted her teeth. It was a
miracle
she was sober right now. Part of her really wished she could escape into the bottle, but all the craziness would still be there when she sobered up—plus she'd have a hangover.

“Yes, I'm sober. I'm just tired, but I wanted to call so you wouldn't worry. And I need to ask you something too.”

“Well, it's too late to avoid the worry thing, but what's your question?”

Claudia took a deep breath and hoped she wouldn't set off Gaye's alarm bells. “I need a place to go to think. Just for a night. Someplace where no one will disturb me.”

“What you need is a meeting.”

“Gaye, I can't. Not tonight. I'm exhausted.”

Gaye didn't say anything for several seconds. Finally her voice gentled. “What's going on, Claudia? You don't sound like yourself at all.”

“I know.” She felt herself choking up and took a deep breath, hoping to keep the tears at bay. “But I can't tell you. At least not yet. I really need to get away and be by myself for a night or two.”

“That's the last thing you need. Trust me.”

“I do trust you, but—”

“No buts. Either you trust me to know what's best for you or you don't.”

Oh
God.
Now what could she say? She trusted Gaye, but she really couldn't divulge what was bothering her. Ever. She was nearly lying when she said she couldn't tell her “yet.”

“Claudia, there's a saying that you're only as sick as your secrets.”

Oh, great. Another saying. Another tidbit of wisdom.
“I'm sorry. I
swore
I'd never tell another human being.”
Truth.

Another long silence followed. “Is it legal trouble?”

“No. I'm not covering for anyone so they won't get arrested. It's not that kind of thing at all. Can you please stop guessing?”

“Why? Are you afraid I might guess right?”

Claudia almost burst out laughing. Who would ever guess she'd been dropped onto a fishing boat by a vampire and set adrift.

“I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have called. I'll go to a hotel or something.”

“Please don't. I'll respect your privacy, but you really shouldn't be alone. My sister is in the program. She has a guest room and her home is alcohol free. Let me give her a call, and I'll see if she can give you a safe place to stay.”

“Thank you. I'd really appreciate it.”

“I'll call her right now and get back to you in a few minutes. You'll answer when I call back, right?”

Claudia let out a sigh. “Yes. Of course.”

“Okay. Talk to you in a few.”

Claudia went straight to her bedroom and packed an overnight bag. She had to get going before the tea room opened and Anthony came looking for her. She'd call him as soon as she was on her way. Worrying people who cared about her never seemed to work out well. On the other hand, she realized, people
did
care about her. A mixed blessing, at best.

***

No sooner had Anthony entered his office and closed the door, than he found himself on top of a frozen mountain surrounded by many more snowy peaks.

“Oh, fuck.”

Mother Nature appeared in front of him with her arms crossed. “Well, you really screwed the goat this time.”

“Goddess, please understand—”

She pointed at him and roared, “No.
You
understand. Humans are
not
supposed to know about paranormals. Now, thanks to you and your rogue ex, your current girlfriend knows about vampires and muses. Magic and powers. What's next? Are you going to introduce her to the whole Supernatural Council?”

“Of course not.”

“I might.”

“What?”

“I might take her to headquarters and explain the whole thing to her…then transport her to a loony bin and watch her tell them how she got there. They'll keep her forever.”

Anthony had never felt so powerless and panicked. “Gaia, please. I need your help. I believe you can do anything. You can reset the world to right before I met Ruxandra—”

The goddess reared back and laughed. The eerie echo mocked him.

“Of course I
could
do that, but why would I? Just to accommodate you? How important do you think you are?”

“I…” Anthony sighed. There was nothing he could say to that. He supposed that even one minor change like letting Ruxandra die would affect hundreds or thousands of other incidents, like a ripple in a pond.

Gaia must have taken pity on him, because the next thing he knew, they were sitting in his office.

“I will help you, but not the way you want me to. That would be too easy and you'd never learn. Now, go to your girlfriend and make sure she tells
no
one
what she knows. I want your personal guarantee.”

“But how can I promise that when it depends on
her
choices and behavior? I can't mesmerize her, or I'd have done it already.

Mother Nature smirked. “I'm sure you'll think of something.”

***

Claudia opened her apartment door and walked straight into a solid wall…named Anthony Cross.

“Going somewhere?” he asked.

“Please, Anthony, let me go. I won't divulge your precious secret.”

“I didn't say you would.”

They stood toe to toe, staring at each other. Finally, Claudia said, “I was going to call you from the road. I really can't work today. I need a day to get my head on straight.”

“I was here to tell you the same thing. Don't worry about the tea shop. Sadie and Morgaine said they'd help Chris and Angie handle it.”

“Who's Morgaine?”

“A friend of Nick's. You may have met her husband a while ago. His name is Sly Flores.”

Claudia didn't recall either name, but who these people were wasn't important right now. “I need to go, Anthony.”

“We need to talk.”

Claudia sighed. “What about?”

“About us.”

From the severe expression on his face, she wondered if he'd decided this whole relationship was more trouble than it was worth. Having that on her mind for the next two days wouldn't help matters. Maybe it was best to talk to Anthony first and then catch the commuter train to Gaye's sister's house out in the suburbs.

“May I come in?” he asked.

Claudia stepped aside and Anthony entered. He didn't go much beyond the threshold, as if he might need to snatch her arm if she tried to run off. He took the overnight bag from her hand and placed it beside the sofa.

“If you still want to leave after we talk, I won't stop you.”

She nodded and closed the door.

He wrapped her in a tight embrace. “I'm so relieved to know you're all right.” When she didn't respond, he took a step back and studied her. “You are all right, aren't you?”

“Basically. No harm was done physically, but I don't know how much more I can take psychologically.”

“I understand.” He took her hand and led her to the sofa. “Sit. Let me get you a cup of tea or coffee.”

“Don't. I should just hear you out and get going before I fall asleep on my feet.”

Anthony sat and pulled her down onto his lap. “Claudia, I don't know what I would have done if anything happened to you. I was half out of my mind while you were gone.”

He stroked her hair, which was now nearly dry, but she probably looked like she'd been in a windstorm. It didn't seem to matter to him. He gazed at her with love in his chocolate eyes. Part of her resolve melted.

She really did love him, and yet things had to change. She couldn't keep looking over her shoulder and wondering what Ruxandra was going to do next.

As if he'd heard her, he said, “I'll make sure Ruxandra never bothers you again.”

“How? She seems really determined to get me out of the picture.” Suddenly a horrible thought struck her.
He
wouldn't, would he?
“Are you going to k-kill her?”

Anthony fell eerily silent. Finally, he said, “I'm responsible for this. All of this. I'll take care of it. I promise.”

“You didn't answer my question.”

“Because I don't know the answer.”

His jaw was set and his expression hardened.

“I can't condone that. I certainly don't want you to go to prison, and I'm against murder in any case…”

Anthony snorted. “My kind don't go to prison.”

“But you do murder.”

He hung his head. “I won't pretend it doesn't happen. However, in order to live among humans, we try to be very careful. There are cameras everywhere now.”

“So, are you saying it's an option as long as humans don't find out about it?”

He cupped her cheek. “I'm not saying anything right now. You're not the only one who needs to think. I just want us to face this together…as we've always done.”

As much as she appreciated being included in determining a more permanent solution to the Ruxandra problem, it implied a conspiracy. Having a hand in another's demise—no matter how minor—would in all likelihood affect her sobriety.

She had to make Anthony understand. “I can't do this.”

He grasped her hands and held them tight. “Please don't give up on us. I'll fix this. Just promise you won't do anything rash.”

She sighed. It looked as if she didn't have to add “mend a broken heart” to her to-do list, unless it was the only way to save her own life. “I'll give it one more night. If she's not…restrained in some lasting way, I'll have to leave. How stupid would I feel if I just hung around and let her kill me next time?”

“Not as stupid as I'd feel devastated.” He flipped her onto her back and kissed her hard. Her head spun. She wanted to open herself and beg him to fill her.

When he lifted his head, he whispered, “I love you. So much. I won't risk losing you again. I don't care what I have to do.”

Claudia wished he'd stop insinuating that murder was still on the table. But what other permanent solution could there be?

She held his face in her hands. “I love you too, but the idea of being an accessory to murder isn't sitting well. I mean, I blamed myself for my sister's death, and I had no advance warning whatsoever. I feel like I have to protest, but even so, it's hard to do.” She mimicked how she felt by speaking deadpan. “Oh, stop. Please don't.”

A hint of a smile crossed his face. “I'm not talking about murder—yet, but don't worry. I'll think of something. I just want to be with you now. I want to hold you and make love to you.”

There was something he wasn't telling her. It sounded as if he'd come to some kind of decision even though he hadn't said anything. She was too tired to let this debate go round and round in her head, so when Anthony said he wanted to make love again, she pushed all other thoughts away and let him carry her to her bedroom.

Anthony had hoped she'd let him in the front door. He never imagined she'd forgive him so soon and let him into her bedroom. There was more to talk about, but he was grateful for the chance to cement their emotional bond. Words could wait until later.

He gently laid her in the middle of the bed and removed her shoes. She had changed into jeans and sneakers, but he pulled them off like loafers and tossed them aside.

“Hurry,” she whispered.

Oh, what the hell. She knows what I can do.
He moved so fast that they were naked and lying beside each other in less than three seconds.

She giggled. “I didn't mean
that
fast, but it's good to know I don't have to wait when I'm horny.”

He grinned. “I'll never make you wait for anything if I can help it. I want to give you the world, Claudia.”

“I don't want the world.” She draped her arms around his neck. “Just you.”

He dove for her lips and kissed her for all he was worth. Their tongues met and tangled. Before long, she was breathing heavily and stroking his backside. He had never felt so hard, but he needed to ready her first.

He broke the kiss and crawled down until he was eye level with her breasts. “You're beautiful, Claudia.”

He suckled one breast and massaged the other. Increasing the pressure with his mouth, he pinched her other nipple and rubbed it with his thumb.

She moaned and murmured, “…so good.”

When he switched to the other breast, giving it the same attention, she arched and moaned louder. His hand traveled downward and rubbed her mons. As soon as he'd finished with the other breast, he scooted down farther.

“So pretty,” he said, stroking the trimmed hair as if she were a kitten. Then he parted her folds and let his tongue explore. She writhed and moaned, especially when he came close to her sweet spot and dodged it at the last minute.

“Don't tease, Anthony. I need you.”

He wouldn't make her wait, just as he'd promised. He laved her clit and then licked it with the speed of a hummingbird's wings.

Claudia arched and stiffened, then emitted moans and cries that rose to a crescendo. She grasped the sheets in two white-knuckled hands, as if trying not to fly off the bed. When she shook and screamed out his name, he was elated.

“You're so responsive,” he said.

She simply dragged in huge lungs full of air and panted. When at last she could speak, she said. “I'm boneless.”

“I have enough bone for both of us.” Anthony glanced down at his steely rod and hoped she had the energy to finish.

She grinned. “Let's do something about that.” Rolling up onto her elbow, she grasped his cock, and the warm squeeze of her hand hardened him even more. She began to bend as if to take him in her mouth, but he stopped her.

“I won't be able to hold back if you do that.”

“But I want to give you the joy you just gave me.”

“You do, my love. Believe me, you do.” He gently pushed her onto her back and said, “I want to make love to you.” He almost said “forever” but caught himself just in time. She'd seemed upset when immortality was mentioned before. If anyone should be upset, it should be the one who had to carry on long after losing his true love.

He couldn't think about that. Claudia was here with him now. He'd make love to her as if tomorrow would never be.

She spread her legs wide and welcomed him into her embrace. He positioned himself at her opening and entered slowly.

“Are you all right?” he asked, concerned for her because of his size.

“I'm fantastic,” she said.

He chuckled and pushed on until he was fully seated. “Yes, you are.”

He began his rhythm, and the glorious push and pull created strong physical sensations. Perhaps because his emotions were involved, he experienced a greater depth of feeling with Claudia than he had with any woman. You'd think in almost four hundred years he'd have found something close, but no. Nothing came close to his love for Claudia. His elation while joining with her was beyond compare.

He sped up and she matched him thrust for thrust. Tingles at the base of his spine signaled he was close. In only a few more seconds his climax seized him. He knew what it was like to fly, and this release was like flying without leaving the room. He rode it to the very last aftershock. Finally, completely sated, he rolled onto his side and stared into her eyes. There was no danger of mesmerizing her. She had already mesmerized him.

***

Making sure no one saw him, Kurt waited for Ruxandra a few doors down from her lair. Now that things were going so well between them, he didn't want to jeopardize what they had. A little niggling doubt needed to be taken care of, but he knew how to do it—if she'd cooperate. If not, that would tell him what he wanted to know too.

She emerged looking fabulous as always. She relinquished her trademark red clothing in favor of night-blending black.
Smart
girl. Er…woman. What do you call someone who turned vampire over two hundred years ago at age nineteen?

She smiled when she saw him and they ran to each other, embracing when they met. All they needed was a meadow of wildflowers and a slow-motion camera.

His lips captured hers in a long, romantic kiss. She used tongue, but that was no surprise.
She's French, after all.

“Are you ready for the raid?” he asked.

“You bet. I haven't participated in a good raid since the Civil War.”

Kurt couldn't help the little shock wave of surprise that rippled through him. “I keep forgetting you were around during that time. Which side did you fight for?”

“No side. I just had fun running into a good skirmish, knowing I was immortal.”

“But you're a female. Didn't the soldiers stop you?”

“Not when I was beating the crap out of the enemy.” She chuckled.

Kurt suddenly realized she was teasing. “You're funny. Who knew?”

“I did. I guess I haven't had a chance to express it for a while. Anthony certainly didn't appreciate my jokes.”

“Well, I do.” He kissed her again, and then tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and began walking toward the subway.

She was smiling.

This
is
as
good
a
time
as
any
to
ask
her
if
she'll let me do a truth spell.
He was nervous about her reaction, but if she flipped out and refused to help him in the raid, he still had Sly and Morgaine to mesmerize the lab geeks.

“Honey, can I ask you something personal?”

“Of course. You may not get a pretty answer, but my history is my history and I can't change it.”

He admired her attitude, even though he'd already decided not to judge her for things she'd done in the past. What mattered was what she was doing now and what she hoped to do in the future.

“I wasn't going to ask about your history. I'm more interested in the here and now.”

“Oh. Well, that's okay too. What do you want to know?”

“Are your feelings for me real? I don't mean to insult you, but it seems that you've been stuck on Anthony for so long, and this sudden willingness to be with me might be a ploy to make him jealous.”

She stopped walking and her eyes shadowed for a second. Then she sighed. “I can see why you might think that. I've done it before, but not this time. I really like you, Kurt. And you seem to like me.”

“I
do
like you. More and more as I get to know you better.”

She smiled.

“You're so pretty when you smile.”

She grinned and said, “Oh, pish posh.”

He chuckled. “No, really. When it comes from the inside, you can tell. You seem happy.”

“I am. No one has said anything nice to me in a long time.”

“Seriously?”

“Well, no one I didn't compel to do it. Sometimes I was so desperate for a compliment that I'd make a thrall say something like that. But as you said, when it comes from the heart, you can tell.”

He took a deep breath.
Okay, this is it.
“You might be better at recognizing the truth when you hear it than I am. Here's the thing. I really, really want to believe we're both in this equally. Could you…I mean… Would you be willing to let me put a truth spell on you? On us?

She stiffened and her mouth opened as if to fire off an angry retort, but the words never came. After a few quiet moments, her posture and expression relaxed. “I guess I can understand where you're coming from. I haven't been exactly trustworthy in the past.”

“I won't ask you to do anything I'm not willing to do myself.”

She smiled and cupped his cheek. “That's why you're still standing here. If you'd insinuated I was the only one capable of deceit, you'd be fifty feet down the sidewalk, spread eagle, wherever you landed.”

“You say the sweetest things.”

She chuckled. “I'm sorry. Threats are sort of a reflex, but I'll work on it.”

“Good. And you'll let me try the truth spell?”

“I'll consider it.”

“If that's the case, I think we might work as a couple.”

***

Anthony woke up with a start.
Where
am
I? This isn't my lair.
He glanced over at the empty spot beside him.

It all came flooding back. He had been in Claudia's bed. Actually, he had been in
her
several times. Had she worn him out? Or had the Vampire Vintage wine's effects worn off and he went into his death sleep?

That thought upset him. Had Claudia witnessed it? Had she tried to rouse him, only to realize he was as close to dead as a person can get without decomposing?

He jumped out of bed and dressed quickly.
Maybe
she's in the kitchen or living room.
When he rounded the corner, he spotted the note on her door. Without even rushing over to it, he was able to read the comforting and alarming news. She'd gone to a meeting and would be back.

He mulled it over and realized the meeting would be good for her. She probably needed a sobriety pep talk, even if she couldn't tell anyone what she'd been through. At least he
hoped
she wasn't telling anyone. The more he thought about it, the more worried he became.

Mother Nature wouldn't bring him back from that mountaintop again.

It was night time. That much he was sure of, even without looking outside. He didn't need the Vampire Vintage unless he wanted to stay up during the day, so he didn't need to get a bottle out of the desk drawer in his and Claudia's office.

Suddenly another worry entered his mind. Had he explained to Claudia what was in those bottles? What if she'd found them? Was she out on a bender somewhere?

Oh, gods.

If only he knew where the meetings were. He could check and see if she was there.
Wait. There must be a way to look them up. Otherwise, how would anyone find them?

He jogged down the stairs to the tea room. The place was closed. He used his key and went straight to his office. First he checked the bottom desk drawer. All bottles were there, and with the exception of the one he had opened himself, they were still full.
Whew!

He fired up the computer and searched for local AA meetings. The site he tried first seemed like the right one. He called the service office, and to his surprise, someone answered. Apparently they had staff at night as well as during the day. Probably a good idea.

He was told there was a meeting going on nearby and jogged to the church where, in all likelihood, he'd find Claudia. A couple of guys were smoking cigarettes outside the ground-floor entrance.

“Is this where the AA meeting is?” he asked.

“It sure is. Welcome, brother.”

“Oh. I'm not here for myself. I was hoping to find my girlfriend inside. Do either of you know Claudia?”

The guys looked at each other, then back to him. “I guess you don't realize what the second A in AA stands for.”

The other one said, “It's an anonymous program. Who we see and what we hear stay in these halls.”

Anthony slapped his forehead. “Of course. Well, I'll just go inside and check for myself.”

The guys frowned but didn't attempt to stop him. One called after him, “If you want help with your drinking, stay after the meeting wraps up and we can talk.”

Did he look that disheveled? He finger-combed his hair as he entered. People were just milling around, drinking coffee. He spotted Claudia among the crowd and strode to her.

“I was hoping I'd find you.”

“Anthony! What are you doing here?”

A short woman with red hair put her hand on Claudia's arm. “If you need me, I'll be right over there.” She pointed to another crowd of people and joined their circle.”

“Is this what you do here? Stand around and talk?”

She chuckled. “No. This is the break. The meeting will restart in a few minutes.”

“Are you okay? I mean…did you need to talk to me about anything?”

Her forehead creased. “I'm fine. Why did you think I'd need to—Oh…” She leaned in and whispered, “That death-sleep thing?”

“So you
did
witness it.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I woke up after a very restful nap,” she said and winked. “You were lying there with your hands crossed over your chest, looking paler than usual. I didn't bother trying to wake you.”

She
woke
up
next
to
a
dead
body
and
was
okay
with
it?