Night Critters (Collection) (6 page)

Corbin gave her a squeeze. “Don't be. I have work to do, anyway. I'll see you Sunday?” Corbin looked hopeful.

Roni's heart beat just a little faster. “Of course.” Males were such contradictory creatures. One minute they wanted in your pants, but only if you ran away. However, if you screamed, “Take me! I'm yours!” then they ran in the opposite direction. Weirdos. Corbin cuddled and talked. For hours. Amazing.

He kissed her quickly and jogged down the hall. His cell phone's ring tones reverberated through the house moments before the front door slammed.

Roni turned back to Ana, who seemed about to hyperventilate. Rather impossible since vampires didn't breathe. If Ana weren't already dead, Roni would swear she was about to die of fright. “Ana, calm down and tell me what happened."

"Weren't you listening, or was I not yelling loud enough?” Ana stalked to the sofa. Roni smiled when her drama queen best friend plopped onto the couch and sighed heavily. “Don't you get it? Jon proposed! What am I supposed to do?” Ana shook so hard that it reminded Roni of her father when he got excited.

Roni sat on the couch next to Ana. “I heard you loud and clear, but I barely understood you. I don't understand what the issue is. Tell me from the beginning.” Roni placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"After you so unceremoniously shoved me out the door last night, Jon took me to the finest restaurant in town. He had roses delivered to the table.” Ana pointed to the huge bouquet of flowers that rested precariously on the edge of the computer desk. “He had a violinist come to the table and play a song by Beethoven. We went back to his place and he had bought new furniture, the kind of stuff that I would have decorated my own place with. All old-fashioned wood decor and none of your kitsch.” Ana jabbed Roni in the ribs.

Roni smiled. “What? You don't like the glass pelican with the fish in its belly?” She pointed to the pelican that sat on the coffee table next to them.

The age-old argument between them made Ana smile slightly. “I hate that thing.” Ana pushed the pelican closer to Roni.

"Yeah, well, the constant creak of your wood bed frame doesn't leave much to the imagination when Jon is over.” Roni poked Ana in the arm.

Ana's features fell back into worry. “After he showed me the living room, Jon took me into the bedroom and there was a new wardrobe in the closet. Not for him. For me. In the bathroom was a new toothbrush, hair brush—everything I would need if I was moving in."

Roni frowned, totally confused. “You have toiletries. Why did he buy you new stuff?"

"I asked him the same thing ‘cause I thought at first he was just asking me to move in.” Ana fiddled with her nails. “He said that a new beginning requires new stuff. I just rolled my eyes. It's not like I can't afford whatever I want."

Roni made a rolling gesture with her hands and urged her on. “What happened next?"

Ana sighed deeply. “I turned back into the bedroom, and on the bed was a black velvet box. My heart froze. Hell, my whole body froze. Jon picked up the box and got down on one knee.” Tears clouded her blue eyes. The way they shimmered and sparkled reminded Roni of the ocean. “He opened the box. There was this beautiful diamond ring in it. The size of the diamond alone would probably drown me if I were to swim while wearing it.” Ana deliberately drew in a breath and whooshed it out almost as if her lungs still functioned. “Then he proposed."

Roni sat quietly for a minute to see if Ana was done talking. Roni took a deep breath. “What did you say?"

"What was I supposed to say? Yes?” Ana's mood went from panic to anger as if someone had flipped a switch. “I'm immortal and he's not. What if he realizes that I'm going to outlive him and all of his relatives? What if he wants children? I can't give him children.” The switch flipped again. Ana's expression went from anger to fear. “What if he leaves me because I can't die, can't have children, and can't give him the things I know he wants most in life? So I asked him for time to think.” Ana stood and paced the living room.

Roni knew that Jon was aware of Ana's fears, being the half angel that he was. Jon would give her a lifetime to think if she needed it. “Ana, honey, are you sure those are the things he wants in life? What if he just wants you, and that will make him happy?"

"Are you fucking senile? Every man wants children to continue his bloodline. I can't live without him, but what kind of a life would he have with me?” Ana plopped back down on the sofa and sobbed into the pillows.

Roni finally realized what Ana had said. She'd voiced exactly what Roni felt about Corbin. Ana was in the same situation. Corbin was human. Roni was a long-lived werewolf. What if he realized that he would die before her? Would he want children? How about a whole litter?

Ana's voice cut through Roni's thoughts. “When he dies, I will have someone stake me. I can't live without him. I love him so much.” Tears streaked her face as she cried.

Roni pulled Ana into a hug and held her while she sobbed. Roni envisioned herself alone and heartbroken after Corbin died and found herself feeling the same way. “I know the feeling, honey. I couldn't live without Corbin either.” Roni stroked Ana's blonde hair, and decided to inject some humor into their situation. What was love but a comedy of errors? “How about this? Since our men will probably die about the same time, I'll stake you as you shoot me with a silver bullet."

Ana lifted her head from Roni's shoulder, looked at her and smiled. “That's probably the craziest double homicide plan ever, but you have a deal.” Ana and Roni shook hands and sealed the pact. They stared at one another in silence.

Roni snickered first. “How many times have we sworn we'd kill each other knowing you can't shoot a gun and I can't hammer without breaking a thumb?"

The toothy flash of Ana's smile brightened the room. “More times than I care to count. No man is worth death, honey. Thanks for the reminder."

"Men. Can't live with ‘em and can't shoot ‘em. If we could give birth without them, I say we kill them all off.” Roni shrugged and laughed. “I love Corbin and you love Jon. So, we're stuck with the venereal testosterone injections."

Ana sniggered. “I died once because of a man. It won't happen again."

Roni nodded and hugged Ana. “Let's get a drink. You look pale, anyway. When are you going to answer Jon?"

"I'll give him his answer when he comes over Sunday.” Ana stopped on her way to the kitchen and looked puzzled. “Didn't you say you were going to see Corbin Sunday, too?"

He'd called her a sweet little Chuskie. Roni grinned and felt giddy. She didn't even try to stop the stupid, besotted grin that spread across her lips. “Yeah. Let's double. Everybody needs to meet, anyway."

Ana snickered. “Oh, that could be fun. A human, a Nephylum surgeon, a werewolf and a vampire. What a fun meal that's going to be. We should hold a buffet. The omnivore human can clean up what the carnivore and vegetarian don't eat. At least I get all the blood for myself."

Roni walked to her bedroom to retrieve the coffee she'd left on the nightstand. “I'll call the local blood bank to see if they cater."

Ana squealed in laughter.

Roni emerged from the room, cold coffee in hand. “However, honey, if you want to live long enough to answer Jon, you should probably go to bed."

"You just had to go and bring that up, didn't you? As if I didn't have enough to worry about, you had to bring up the fact that he can only have a life with me after dark!” Ana stomped off to her room. The door slammed behind her.

Roni followed, wishing desperately for the manic vampire to go to her daytime rest. The need for coffee began to outweigh friendship. Roni's brain and heart craved a morning to sort through everything going on. “Ana, he's a surgeon. He hasn't slept all night since before he was in med school."

"So not the point!” Ana screamed through the wood. The thump-thump of two shoes hitting the bottom of the closet followed.

"Talk about a case of nerves. I'll let her sleep it off today, and I'll bring it back up tonight.” Roni spoke to the potted fern that sat in a niche in the wall between the two bedrooms. Coffee would come soon.

"I heard that.” Rustling announced Ana was undressing for bed.

"Jump in your coffin and shut up, or I'll open the curtains.” Roni's empty threat was another old game of theirs. Eventually they'd get around to silver jewelry and stakes for dinner jokes. What would good friendship be without threatening your best friend's life at least once a day?

"I painted the windows,” Ana sang from behind the closed door. “And besides, my bed is much more comfy than a coffin."

Roni snickered. “Beds are a coffin with no lid."

"Don't make me call your father!” Ana threatened. She always brought out that old warning when she was losing the verbal war and her battle with sleep.

Roni frowned at the thought of how mad her father was. She recovered quickly with a rebuttal. “How are you going to do that if you're a big pile of dust?"

"Don't confuse the issue with facts. I'm in crisis here.” A yawn interrupted her words. Soon Ana would crash into the coma-like state of a vampire's rest.

"You're blonde. You're always in crisis.” All Roni wanted to do was draw a target on the wall and bash her head against it in an excess of emotion. “Where the hell is the red Sharpie?"

"I have it in here. I'm drawing the target first!” Ana yelled around her laughter.

"Well, fuck, now what am I supposed to do with my day?” Roni looked around the house and contemplated. “I think I'll extend my day filled with headaches. Going to the grocery store ought to round things out nicely. How exciting."

"Oh, the problems of a trust fund baby,” Ana sang. “The child of a pack leader. Poor pitiful were-bitch has to go to the grocery store."

"At least I'm not masochistic enough to marry a surgeon.” Roni walked away before she heard Ana's reply.

Roni slid her shoes on and walked down the hall. “What a buffet of personalities we're having over for dinner.” She picked her purse up off the hall table. “This is going to be the mixer of all mixers. Now watch some bastard louse it up."

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Corbin stepped up on the porch and rang the doorbell. It was a cool Sunday morning, and the sun had just peeked over the horizon when the door opened.

Ana, her eyes red and sleepy, peeked around the edge. She squinted in the light and hissed, moving quickly back into the shadows.

Corbin held the bakery box out in front of him. “I come bearing gifts of pastry for anybody I woke up or kept awake."

"I'm up way too late. Please come in, Corbin.” Ana grabbed the bakery box out of his hand and shut the door behind him. “Roni is in the shower—I'm going to bed. I'll see you tonight at dinner."

"Oh, to be able to sleep all day.” Corbin followed her down the hallway. “Sleep well, Ana."

Ana turned and looked at him, her eyes bleak. “It's a curse, not a blessing.” Ana smiled sadly. She turned, walked to her room and closed the door behind her.

Corbin was left in the dark paneled short hallway alone. He didn't know what to do. The Thornburn Construction inspector in him was tempted to take a look at the well-preserved architecture, including the huge open concept living room with dark ceiling beams and functioning track lights. He hadn't gotten much of a peek around while Roni and he were behaving like rabbits whenever they met.

Speaking of rabbits and other furry things, it was time he revealed his true nature to Roni. Corbin rubbed his thumb and forefinger together nervously. He didn't like lying, especially to Roni. He knew she'd react badly, but it was important to clear the air. Still, he was tempted to wait until after her shower and delay a few precious moments more.

He wanted to remain in this joyous state of new love and lust. Telling Roni could destroy everything, but he had to live with himself first and foremost. Besides, it was becoming increasingly difficult to remain in human form when they made love.

Ana's door creaked open across the living room. Ana had a powdered doughnut in her hand, her red lips covered in sugar. “As I said, Roni's in the shower.” Ana looked absolutely evil as she tilted her head toward Roni's room, only a few feet away from Ana's own door. Then her door creaked closed.

"I understand.” Corbin crossed to Roni's door. “Showtime, like it or not. The truth is more important."

The first thing to hit him was the smell of lavender. The second was the words to an old sports arena song about letting dogs out. Roni's off-key song, punctuated by barks at the appropriate points, was bad, so why did his heart flutter?

He took his clothes off and left them where they landed. The anticipation of Roni pressed up against him naked, wet, and soapy made his dick hard. Corbin opened the curtain and stepped in.

Roni spun around, loofah in hand. She looked like a deer in headlights, and she smelled heavenly. “Arf?"

Corbin smiled and let out a deep “Woof."

Roni looked at him with shock in her eyes. She realized that he was dusted with dark brown fur. “You son-of-a-bitch! You lied to me!” Her teeth were sharp and clenched. “After all you've told me, all I've told you, and you're a wolf!” Roni opened the shower curtain and attempted to step out.

Corbin reached around and cupped a luscious breast. He closed the shower curtain. “I didn't lie so much as I didn't tell the complete truth."

Roni turned toward him and roughly pushed his hand away. “A lie is still a lie no matter how you dress it up."

He slid his hands around her waist and pulled her to him. He rubbed his fingers up and down her spine. A thin layer of fur grew under his hands. He was getting to her. “I'm sorry."

Roni didn't move away, but she stood rigid. “Why would you lie to me?"

He continued to caress the soft fur of her back. The scent of wet hair, aroused female, and lavender mixed into a new perfume only a werewolf could appreciate fully. “I lied so that I could hide."

She pushed away from him. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Hide from what? From me?"

Corbin looked at his partially clawed feet. How could he put into words every humiliation involved with his past? “No. What can I do to show you how sorry I am?"