Stakeout (Aurora Sky (8 page)

I elbowed Whitney. “Bet the east vamps don’t
have their own bartender.”

Whitney jabbed me back. “Nice try.”

Too bad she missed the topless waiter or she
might have sang a different tune.

“Oh, what the hell?” Hope said, stepping
ahead of us. “Surprise me—just so long as it’s something
strong.”

“Make that two,” Whitney said.

“Three,” I called out. “No sissy drinks.”

We chuckled as the bartender pulled out a
bottle of brandy, rum, and gin. He tossed a glass into the air,
caught it, and set it down on the counter followed by two more.
Once all three were lined up, he began pouring the liquor.

Whitney, Hope, and I took our drinks into the
living room, selecting a spot on a leather couch.

I took my first sip.

“That’s strong.”

Hope chugged down her Dying Bastard. “Who
says we can’t get fucked up tonight?”

“Cheers to that,” Whitney said, lifting her
glass. She shot me a sly smile. “Simple pleasures, right?”

“Right,” I said, sipping my drink.

Whitney lowered her glass. “Don’t look now.
Bitch alert.”

I followed Whitney’s gaze across the room,
where Valerie stood perched against the spiral staircase’s iron
banister with a crystal champagne flute in her hand. One of
Marcus’s regulars stood close enough to have a bird’s eye view down
her plunging tank top.

While I’d been drinking and talking, I’d
missed the redheaded banshee’s arrival. Because of Valerie Ward I
no longer went to school with my friends. Melcher had suddenly
decided he didn’t want two informants in one school. Naturally,
Valerie refused to transfer.

“What’s she doing here?” Whitney asked.

“Probably looking for her next conquest,” I
said.

“I still don’t see how Fane went out with
her... twice.” Whitney’s lips formed a pout.

“Probably some Freudian connection to red
hair and blood,” I said. “That or she sucked him off as good as he
sucked her.”

Hope sniggered.

“Eww! How dare you assault my mind,” Whitney
cried out.

I shrugged. “I call it like I see.”

“And that’s why we love you,” Whitney said.
“Even if you’re a sick bitch.”

I raised my eyebrows before taking a swig
from my glass. I didn’t realize I’d closed my eyes as I tilted my
head back, not until Gavin appeared as if from thin air, standing
at the lip of the living room the moment I swallowed. And his eyes
were on mine.

Panic seized me and I nearly dropped my
glass. I sucked in a breath, steadying my hand. Hope was finishing
the last of her drink, but Whitney didn’t miss a beat. “Uh, oh,”
she said. “Here comes trouble.”

Hope looked up and grinned when she saw who
we were talking about. “I hope you brought concealer.” She and
Whitney sniggered.

I silently beseeched them to shut up.

“I see you’re having a good time,” Gavin
said. He made it over before I could say something I’d later regret
like, “He’s taken.”

“Hi, Gavin,” Whitney said sweetly.

“Hello, Whitney. Hello, Hope.” Gavin inched
his way over to me and pressed his leg into the fabric of the couch
just beside my bare knee. “Hey, Noel,” he said softer.

My throat went dry. I didn’t want him to see
me swallow so I said a simple, somewhat breathless, “Hey,”
back.

“Whitney and Hope,” I heard Henry call out
behind Gavin. “How are you?”

He plopped onto the couch beside Hope,
managing not to spill one drop of his drink.

“Doing great now that you’re here,” Whitney
said back.

“Ah, I’ve missed that mouth of yours.”

Whitney cocked her head to the side, showing
off her neck. “And I’ve missed yours.”

Whitney and Hope tittered. I might have
joined them at another time, but I’d taken that opportunity to
swallow down the Sahara Desert lodged inside my throat.

“Join me upstairs and I’ll show you just how
much you’ve been missing,” Henry returned.

Whitney stood up. “Well, if you insist.”

Henry rose to his feet after her.

Hope looked at Gavin expectantly, which made
me leap to my own feet and nearly stumble on the three inch heels
of my pumps. Gavin’s hands shot out to steady me. His grip on my
bare skin made me hum to life like a telephone wire.

I looked at Hope.

“Go,” she said, waving a hand in the air. “I
want to see what else this bartender can come up with.”

"Thanks," I mouthed.

Gavin and I followed Henry and Whitney to the
spiral staircase wordlessly. I’d nearly forgotten about Valerie’s
unwelcome appearance the moment Gavin arrived. Luckily she wasn’t
hanging over the banister any longer.

Whitney disappeared into the first available
room with Henry—a silver bat dangling from their doorknob within
seconds. Gavin headed straight for the October room. With every
step, I felt my hormones and emotions raging into a fever pitch. I
felt as though I’d never known hunger until now. Never known
desire. Never known the anguish of wanting a boy to like me and
only me.

Gavin’s steps didn’t slow until we were three
feet from the doorframe. When he turned around, I didn’t allow
myself time to think. Eyes half-closed, I went straight for the
kiss. Gavin responded instantly, crushing his own lips against
mine.

He spun me around, pressing me against the
wall beside the open door, his hand gripping my waist then
traveling down my thighs. I kissed him harder.

Gavin pulled me away from the wall and
maneuvered me inside the October room, fumbling for the bat around
the knob without breaking off the kiss. The silver bat knocked
against the door as he looped it around the outer knob. Once
secured, Gavin smacked the door shut.

“Noel,” he whispered like a breath between
kisses.

My name sounded like music coming off his
lips.

I pressed my body against his, finding the
proof protruding in his pants that he wanted me. Not my blood. Me.
To be connected. To join in the most intimate act two beings could
ever perform together.

Gavin’s breath became ragged. His grip on me
tightened, but I still wanted him to hold me tighter.

I ran my hand over the bulge in his pants. I
felt him strain beneath my slim fingers.

Gavin caught my wrist and leaned forward
until his eyes were inches from my own. “Someone’s in a hurry,” he
said.

“We can’t all live forever,” I returned,
pushing my hair behind my shoulder with my free hand.

Gavin’s hand relaxed on my wrist. “I’d turn
you if I could,” he said.

I stopped messing with my hair and looked him
in the eyes. “That’s the nicest thing any vamp’s ever said to me.”
And I thought Henry was the sweet talker. Gavin was full of
surprises.

Gavin’s expression changed, sending a shiver
through me. He stepped closer, causing me to take an instinctive
step back. Something akin to excitement flashed across Gavin’s
eyes. “Appearances can be deceiving. I’ve done things you can’t
begin to imagine, Noel. You should leave while you have the chance.
I’m not sweet. Not at all.”

Why were his words exciting, rather than
scaring me?

“Good,” I said. “Neither am I.”

I didn’t care that Gavin was a blood
thirsting vampire. That was nothing compared to my current state of
lust cravings. I didn’t even have to worry about protection. Not
only were vampires sterile, they couldn’t pass on their disease; it
festered within them. Forever. That reason alone made vampires
perfect one night stands. Not that that’s what I wanted this to be.
Not even close.

Gavin stared straight into my eyes. I
couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

He smiled slowly and steered me over to the
bed. With one small push he had my butt planted on the edge of the
mattress. Gavin placed a hand on either side of me and leaned
forward.

My entire body quivered. Gavin slid his hands
down my dress, fists tightening around the hemline. He began
sliding the fabric up. It didn’t have far to go before it was
around my waist, exposing my black lace panties.

I could feel the pressure of his knuckles on
my thighs. I wanted them gripping me, guiding the first thrusts of
his dick.

A sharp knock at the door interrupted the
direction of my thoughts. For several seconds, I stared slack-jawed
at the door. We’d hung the bat. No one knocked when the bat was in
place. Who was knocking? Why were they knocking?

Gavin let go of me and straightened up. Lines
formed at the corner of his lips. He looked as annoyed as I felt.
As he turned around, I pulled my dress down and stood up.

Gavin stormed across the room with me
following close behind. He yanked open the door. Suddenly, his
shoulders relaxed. At first I couldn’t see over him, so I craned my
head around his body, instantly scowling when I caught sight of
Valerie. What the hell was she doing knocking on a closed door with
a bat in place? She’d accompanied Fane to the palace before. She
knew how things worked.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” Valerie said
sweetly. “You’re one of Fane’s friends, right?”

“Yeah. Gavin. We met at Marcus’s Halloween
party last year.”

Valerie made a show of pursing her lips in
thought. I also remembered Valerie at that party dressed as a
slutty nurse. She’d waltzed into the palace and announced, “No
biting, gentlemen, I’m with Fane. Besides, it’s my job to take
blood, not give it.”

Fane had seemed pretty cool so go figure how
Valerie ensnared him. Like I said, the sex must have been
mind-blowing. Most likely Valerie had been assigned to Fane, but
that still didn’t explain why he went for her.

“Oh, right, Halloween,” Valerie said with a
sultry chuckle, tilting forward.

If I could see cleavage from where I stood,
that meant Gavin was definitely getting an eyeful.

I cleared my throat. “Was there something you
wanted?”

Valerie looked around the room until her eyes
settled on me. “Actually I need to talk to you.”

I placed a hand on my hip. “And it couldn’t
wait?”

Valerie stared at me in response. I lifted my
brows impatiently. She better explain herself or move along.

Gavin ran a hand through his hair and cleared
his throat.

“Well, um, I’ll let you two chat. See you
downstairs, Noel.”

My jaw clenched as Gavin retreated down the
hall.

“What the hell, Valerie!” I said the moment
Gavin was out of earshot.

She didn’t look at me right away; her eyes
were still following the path Gavin had taken. “You two
together?”

“No we’re not together.”

“Good.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why is that good?”

“Because it’s my job to monitor vampires...
closely.” Valerie shot me a sly smile. “I had an in with Fane until
Aurora stumbled along and ruined everything. I’m looking for a
replacement and that one’s tasty.”

My heart erupted into angry beats that kicked
at my gut.

“You can’t go after Gavin.” No way.

Valerie squared her shoulders. “Why not?”

“Has Melcher authorized this?” I
demanded.

“I don’t need Melcher’s approval. I’m doing
exactly what’s expected of me. You’re not exactly in a position to
argue, Noel.” Valerie lifted her nose and looked down at me. “What
would Melcher think about you fucking anything with fangs?”

I lifted my hand as though to slap her. I
wanted to see the bitch cringe, but instead, her eyes lit up. The
banshee probably liked S&M.

Voices from down the hall stopped me. A vamp
named Tom walked up to the door with his arm draped around a skinny
blonde. “You two coming or going?” he asked.

I looked at Valerie in disgust. Even if I
played for the same team, Valerie would so not be my type.

“Going,” I said, storming out of the room. At
least as much as one can storm in pumps.

Valerie smirked and followed me out. Tom
pulled the blonde into the October room and shut the door with a
firm click. The bat knocked against the wood in the process. I’d
never gotten a chance to move it to the other side of the door. I
gave it one last wistful stare. That should have been me and Gavin
inside the October room.

I looked up at Valerie and glared. “If you’re
looking for a pet project you shouldn’t do it on my turf.”

Valerie snorted. “Your turf? What is this?
Westside Story?”

“You’re the one who insisted on running with
the Denali crowd, so you should stick to that side of town.”

Valerie batted a loose curl hanging over her
face.

“It’s a free country,” she answered.

There was no reasoning with the vixen.

“Fine. Go wherever you want. Just stay away
from Gavin and don’t ever interrupt me again.”

I turned on my heel with a huff and stormed
down the hallway, slowing down at the spiral staircase to take each
step carefully. I wasn’t about to allow anger to cause a misstep
and wind up tumbling headfirst down the stairs. Valerie would love
that.

The din from the living room filled my ears
like white noise. The bodies below blurred together until one came
into focus at the base of the staircase. Gavin.

He held a hand out. I took it and stepped
down.

“What was that all about?” he asked, leaning
into me. His touch had the power to erase the animosity swimming
through my veins.

“Nothing,” I said. “Sorry about the
interruption.”

Gavin nodded toward the kitchen. “Want a
drink?”

“I’d love one.”

We walked into the kitchen where the
bartender from earlier was pouring two drinks for a vampire into
martini glasses. Once the vamp had taken the glasses and left, the
bartender looked at me and said, “You might want to check on your
friend.”

“Hope?” I asked immediately, even though that
name would mean nothing to him.

“She’s in the restroom.”

I turned to Gavin. “I’ll be right back.”