Underworld Lover (A Guardian Angel Romance #2) (17 page)

“A lot of things have changed. Are changing. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

“Yes,” he said. “What’s this twenty-four hour thing? Thought there was urgency to get him back up top to begin work.”

“I made a deal.” Audray’s black eyes were steely, completely cold to him.

“Audray, what have you done?”

“Nothing you want to know about.”

“You have to be careful, very careful around him.” Josh said this with the tenderness he genuinely felt in his heart for the beautiful creature in front of him. He brushed a few errant hairs from her cheeks. “Promise me you will be careful, my dear.”

At first she did nothing. Then a crooked smile formed at the edges of her lips as she tilted her head to the side. Her gaze swept from Josh’s mouth to his eyes, where he felt the heat and emotion stirring within her body. “How very sweet of you, Josh.” She planted a gentle kiss on his lips that made his ears buzz.

“You always have been remarkable,” he said.

Audray nodded her head. “I know what I’m doing. Honest.”

Chapter 22

Beau waved goodbye to his well-wishers, who would no doubt stay until all the food and booze was gone. Such was always the case at Beau’s parties. Josh thought Audray should know. She had arranged enough of them when she was human.

Daria was giving Beau her life story. He hung on every word; each especially difficult detail from her childhood earned her a sensual kiss and embrace. On more than one occasion, Josh and Audray had to restrain him from peeling her clothes and taking her on a bench, sidewalk, or stairway. It was clear Beau was feeling the effects of his new conversion.

“Wonder what she’ll do when she realizes he won’t remember any of this,” Josh commented to Audray.

“Oh, he’ll remember enough to get him laid plenty, trust me. Every woman’s sad story is the same.”

“And here I thought you considered yourself special.”

“I am. It made me stronger. I’ll thank that sonofabitch Burt before I slice his unit off. Can’t wait to see his face.”

Josh knew he was going to have to make good on the promise he’d made when he turned Audray. He’d promised her she could have Burt, her mother’s ex-boyfriend and the man who’d raped Audray as a plaything. He hadn’t imagined Audray would lobby for his conversion. No, it would be just a murder, allowed because it was a sponsor-created condition of her turning. These deals were always honored.

He wondered whatever made him think he could control Audray. Even as a human woman she had been much more effective than he had, a fact he made sure to hide.

Josh wondered what Audray had promised Peter in exchange for expediting the rocker. Part of him wondered as well if Peter had any idea who he was dealing with. Audray had a way of sneaking up on people, revealing herself after it was too late for her prey to get away.

It certainly would be an interesting show.

“Beau,” Josh said, running to catch up to Beau as the man described to Daria what it had been like to play with the greats from the sixties, like Jimi Hendrix and Grace Slick.

“And then she took out this bottle of whiskey and just hit the guy over the head. Before he passed out, he grabbed her hair and—”

“Beau, I have to show you something.” Josh was breathless from his jog. “Over here is the transport station. This is where you will take the limo to the human world.”

Beau stopped to survey the station, adorned with twenty-foot tall sleek statues in heavy shrouds. A double row of shiny tile in blues and greens outlined the grand entrance, accentuated by the bisque colored plaster walls and brushed stainless steel doors in an art deco style. In the plaster were reliefs of mythic symbols and creatures.

“Wow. Nice place, dude.” After an obligatory nod to Josh, Beau went right back to Daria.

Josh shrugged, turned, and looked at Audray, who was laughing.

 “Don’t worry about it. I will make sure he has his bearings, believe me,” she said.

Nothing seemed to dampen her spirits. Josh wondered if she knew something he did not.

They went down the steps to Undertown. The odor from the place definitely got Beau’s attention. Josh saw him stop mid-sentence to raise his nose and give a sniff to the air. He curled up his lip and furrowed his bushy eyebrows, bringing his eyes to a squint.

“What the hell is that smell?” he asked.

“It gets better. And trust me, you will get used to it.” Josh tossed him a wink.

“Whoa.” Beau stopped, both palms held out front of his body. “I’ve been in some jails in Mexico that smelled better than this. I’m not gonna get locked up, right?”

“Beau, shut up. How smart would it be to set up this big party for you, invite all these people, and then put you in a pen somewhere? Remember, we are in the soul possession business. Locking people up is bad for business,” Audrey snapped out, irritated.

Josh realized he couldn’t have said it better himself.

“Everyone knows and loves you, man. We aren’t about that,” Josh offered.

Daria added her two cents. “Don’t be such a pussy, Beau. It’s hella nice down there. Lots of things to do. It will blow your mind.”

Beau searched all three faces for evidence of treachery but didn’t appear to find any.. He relaxed. Holding his nose, he continued down the steps as Josh howled with laughter.

Beau forgot his nose as he was overtaken by the din of activity. A barker in a pink suit shouted out for passersby to partake of the Pussycat Go-Go, which immediately attracted Beau. It took all three dark angels to pry him loose and get him back on the cobblestone walkway. Josh watched as they passed the Blue Raven. The bartender wasn’t a regular, but he waved to Josh just the same, and Josh returned the favor.

Pairs of practically nude working girls and their customers did the eternal sashay in and around the bars and open outside restaurants, or hung out singly near lampposts. Beau was in the constant state of pointing and laughing. He turned several times to indicate his approval to Josh and Audray, who took turns nodding back in return.

“Almost worth it to follow him around for a day just to see what he gets himself into,” Josh said to Audray.

“Too rich for my blood. But it would be interesting, wouldn’t it?” After a moment of silence, she added, “So this is your first big time score since the new director took over?”

“You mean yours, don’t you?” Josh reminded her.

“Yeah, that’s not my doing. But I can see it would be something Pet—I mean, the director would do.”

“First name basis with a dangerous alien, Audray. You’re playing with fire.”

“I told you I knew what I was doing, and I do.” She stopped and allowed Josh walk ahead. She called out to him. “Josh, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“I have a rogue in my new recruit class. Felix.”

“Felix? A rogue? Are you sure you are not losing your mind? Perhaps someone slipped you some RedEcstasy?”

“I’ve got to find him before he does something stupid. Before he gets himself into trouble, of the permanent kind.”

“What do you think he’ll do?” she asked.

“I think he’s going to Peter. Probably to complain about me and how I’ve treated him.”

“Why would he think that?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I can’t help you unless I know what’s going on.”

“Audray, I’m not looking for your help. I’m trying to save him from vaporization. And there’s another person involved, a human woman Felix is infatuated with. I forbade him to contact her.”

“That sounds perfectly okay to me. I don’t see why that should cause a problem for the Director. It’s not like a huge offense, not taking orders from your sponsor, right?”

“The virgin human woman he loves is the same one Peter wants.” Josh felt a little uneasy revealing the rest of the story.

“So?” Audray asked.

“Well, she’s no longer a virgin.” Josh tried to look stoic.

Chapter
23

Audray chuckled. “Talk about playing with fire, Josh. What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t. I couldn’t help it. It’s my nature.”

Audray examined his face. “I think you should just wait on all this, see if the dynamics change in the next day or so.”

“Well, dear, I can’t do that. I followed Felix here, to the Underworld. I think he is seeking audience with Peter as we speak.”

Beau and Daria had gone up ahead, stopping at a crossroads in the path, looking for direction. Josh motioned to the left. The street was practically deserted and the smell had lifted the farther they were away from the commercial district.

“So, I think I might be able to help. Do you want Felix eliminated? Would that make things easier?” she asked.

“God, no. Besides, I caved and told Melanie she could talk to Felix.”

“Good. You want to keep them together. Perhaps he can turn her, right?”

“Something like that.” Josh felt like a complete cad.

“Does this…Melanie…does she know about Felix’s conversion?”

“Yes. They were going to do it together, and he talked her out of it.”

“Wow, I’m surprised the Readers let him in. That’s a Guardianship type of thing, sacrificing for someone else.”

Josh shrugged. He’d thought the very same thing.

“Well, I don’t see why this should be a problem. I tell you what, why don’t you get Beau situated in Helena’s house, with Daria, of course. You can stay too, if you want.” Her eyes sparkled with supernatural brightness.

“No thanks.”

“Suit yourself. I’ll go see the director and try to head off anything with Felix.”

Josh nodded.

All business and armed with a plan, Audray immediately called out to Beau. “Hey big guy.”

Beau Bradley twirled on his heel, flashing her a grin from ear to ear. “Yes, my sweet?”

She ran up to him, whispering something in his ear as they both nodded, and briefly kissed. “He’s all yours.” She leaned into Josh and kissed his cheek with more tenderness than Josh thought she possessed. “I’d better go now.”

He watched as she sprinted down the cobblestone street in her red suit and matching red spiked heels, the sway of her smooth ass and long locks of luscious blond hair swaying to the ministrations of her body. He sighed. It would have been so much easier to fall in love with someone like her, he thought.

He should be bedding women made of iron, or maybe one Teflon coated. Not one made of soft peach flesh.

The threesome made it to Helena’s without further incident. The sight of her house always created a safe feeling in the pit of Josh’s soul. Today was not an exception.

Beau bounded up the front steps like he’d been here before. No doubt he was getting Helena’s place confused with some of the whorehouses he had frequented in his heyday. Instead of knocking, Beau opened the door and stepped into the lavish red parlor at the base of the grand curved stairway.

Helena descended the staircase with her usual grace and beauty, looking like one of her alabaster statues. She was wearing Josh’s favorite pink peignoir, the petals of the delicate see-through fabric flowing behind her as she wafted down towards them. She greeted Josh warmly with a smile, but was silent.

“Well, hello there,” Beau blurted out. He stepped toward her, then took her hand. He bowed, as if reaching from somewhere deep in his soul to find a semblance of chivalry, bent his frame over her pink fingertips, and placed a gentle kiss there. “You are absolutely lovely,” he gushed.

“Why, thank you. That’s very nice.” Helena turned to Daria. “Hello dear. Nice to see you again.”

“Well, all right then. I need—” Beau began.

“Would you like some refreshment?” Helena asked. Daria nodded her head before Beau could protest. He gave Josh a drowning look.

“Helena, I am not sure if you know this, but Beau’s just been converted,” Josh said helpfully.

“Yes, I can see that.” Helena reached to Beau’s groin and cupped his testicles through his jeans. “I can feel it too.” She smiled. “A little RedEcstasy will enhance your pleasure, trust me.”

She melted to him, almost touching his mouth with her pink lips, and then pulled away just before he could get a lock on her.

“Argh. Why are you doing this to me?” he asked as he followed her down the hall.

Daria was nonplussed. Josh came over to her, wrapping her shoulders with his long arm, inhaling the intoxicating smell of young dark angel flesh. “He’s crazed, you know. But Helena is a wonder. You won’t be having leftovers.”

She nodded. “Yes, I know.”

Josh tensed a bit, working not to show it.

So be it. Another change.

Beau and Helena returned with four flutes of red liquid Josh recognized as RedEcstasy. Helena gave one to Josh. Beau gave his extra to Daria, along with a long, languid kiss.

“To us,” Helena said and she raised her glass. Everyone followed the motion, but unlike the others, Josh did not sip. Helena looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

“I knew he would need a quick refill,” Josh said as he pointed to Beau’s empty glass.

“Thanks, man,” Beau said as he took the glass from Josh. “This stuff is wonderful. Very smooth, but boy, does it pack a punch!” As he smiled, his teeth were stained red. The girls tittered. It was obvious Beau thought he was clever.

“Well, my lovely,” Josh addressed Helena. “He is yours for the next twenty-four hours. He’s ready, he was a legendary lover as a human, and I see no reason to doubt his abilities now. He’s newly turned and been exposed to RedEcstasy. I think the three of you are going to have some fun, am I right?”

“Fuckin’ A,” Beau shouted, then finished his drink.

“I was hoping you’d stay, Josh.” Helena’s eyes did look especially appealing. Her dark watery orbs called to him, expressing need. He could almost hear the whispers to his ears, telling him of her deep dark desires. But he couldn’t stop thinking about a little blonde waif in a flower shop, arranging red roses, or clipping the heads off them.

“Not today.”

Helena didn’t look affected in the slightest. She directed her gaze to Beau and Daria, taking each of their hands. “Let’s be on our way,” she said as they began to ascend the stairway.