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Pulling my hand from his, even though I really didn’t want to, (Sue me, I liked the sparks skittering up and down my arm warming me up like a shot of bourbon on a cool night.) I jumped to my feet, holding my towel tightly to my chest, and screeched, “Now, hold on one minute, Bub. I know you got a sneak peek of the goodies, but these curves are not for sale. Maybe rent...short term at best. Not just no, but HELL NO! I just got my freedom. I’ve got wild oats to sow, tables to dance on, sailors to screw, and frat parties to crash.”
Nodding his head and sucking on his bottom lip, which made the butterflies start dancing in my stomach and had me licking my own lips with the desire to taste his, Vlad stood, took a step to the side, and with a bow of his head, commented, “Then I shall see you at dinner.” He held up his hand. “No, you are not on the menu.” He looked over the frames of his glasses in an oh-so-sexy way and winked. “I believe we are having prime rib.” He turned and walked toward the door, speaking over his shoulder, “You can meet the family and look around the rest of the estate. See if there’s anything you like.”
Stopping with his hand on the knob, Vlad looked over his shoulder and added, “I’m sure we can find something to occupy your time.” He took off his glasses and leveled his gaze right at me. “Who knows, you may find you never want to leave.” Then the dirty rotten scoundrel used his vamp super-speed and was gone before I could give him a witty comeback.
Not that I really had one. Satan knows the man had scrambled my brains, had my libido in overdrive, and made my girlie parts begging to be his slave for life. Vlad was sex on a stick and I was in need of a lick in the worst kinda way, but I had to resist. I had to hold on tight to all the plans I’d made. I had been stuck inside Heidi for a long, long, loooong time, and I had some catching up to do. I couldn’t let the first hot as hell vamp who crossed my path lock me up in some iron clad deal that had me knocked up and popping out little fangers like they were gumballs. Oh, hell to the no.
And, I needed to stop telling Vanessa anything. Seems the little weasel told all my secrets and then some. Vlad had come in well-briefed and prepared and that would just not do. I needed to keep that scrumptious bit of fangly goodness on his toes if I was gonna get the hell outta dodge and back to my people.
First on my list of to-dos was to get dressed and get downstairs for this all important dinner. I wasn’t really interested in meeting the family, but I was keen on finding a phone and calling my girls. Hopefully, Heidi figured out what had happened and got her phone replaced. The Devil knows the girl can’t be without the gadget to snap pictures of her brood every second of the day. And if luck was on my side, Zelda had gotten hold of my Hellhound bestie to let her know Vlad and company had succeeded in their plot to nab my shapely backside. One ring-a-ding-ding should bring the cavalry running to my rescue.
Opening the wardrobe, I nearly had a heart attack at all the gorgeous clothes. There was Prada, Dior, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, and even two Chanel originals. Bracing myself on the door, I took several deep breaths as my fingers glossed over the exquisite fabrics. After fifteen minutes of looking at every piece of glorious clothing while trying not to drool, I finally decided on an off the shoulder, black stain vintage Chanel evening gown.
Laying it on the bed, I let my fingers lovingly touch the sequins and crystals that had been so delicately sewn across the neckline. They perfectly matched the ones decorating the toes of the kitten heel slingbacks I had picked out from the other closet and the clutch that I knew I didn’t need but absolutely had to carry to complete the outfit. What fun was it to have a body and all these amazing clothes if I wasn’t going to wear them? I mean, come on people.
Sitting at the dressing table, I found every imaginable eye shadow, blush, bronzer, lipstick, and foundation. It seemed Katie had good taste and Vlad was willing to support her habits. Being the recipient of all the fun was yet another happy accident that had been my life since getting my new flesh bag.
Having Heidi as a teacher, I was pretty good in the makeup department, although, she did accuse me of going too heavy on the lipstick. since I wasn’t out to impress on this particular evening, I went with a more muted, but still red, shade and tried to be tasteful in its application. My hair was another matter altogether. Since getting my own body and being sent back to Hell, I hadn’t had to do anything but wash it and throw it up in a ponytail. Vlad had kidnapped my happy hiney before Heidi had gotten around to Hair Styling 101, so I was kinda lost. But never let it be said that Lola can’t figure her way out of any situation.
After finding some hair spray and a box of bobby pins, I went to town tucking and spraying my mighty mane until I had what I’d seen in a magazine called a messy updo. The little curly tendrils that framed my face had just fallen into place and the rest looked pretty damned good if I did say so myself. I knew it was silly and it wasn’t that I cared what he thought about how I looked, but for some reason the vision of Vlad’s smile and the appreciative twinkle in his eye kept coming to mind.
And I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that I’m falling for him, but you couldn’t be more wrong. I just appreciate a good-looking man, whether he be warm-blooded, cold-blooded, or blood-sucking. Good-looking is good-looking and there is nothing wrong with me wanting to look my best. I mean, let’s get real...when will I ever have the chance to wear vintage Chanel again in my whole entire witchy life? So there. Now hush.
Yeah, that should do it for my healthy dose of rationalization for the next year or so...
I had just slipped my freshly painted toes into my shoes when there was a knock at the door. Not sure what to expect but needing one more look in the mirror, I yelled, “Come on in, it’s open.”
I got about a half-second warning before I was being spun around, wrapped up in a pair of big strong arms, and kissed within an inch of my life. Of their own volition, my fingers wound into his thick dark hair and my body pushed even closer to his. The tip of his tongue teased the seam of my lips, making me gasp and open completely.
Fire spread through my veins as his tongue slid along mine and, for the first time since opening my new eyes, I felt truly alive. Every cell in my body wanted more. My body warmed and my girlie parts tingled. Until this moment, I had only experienced arousal vicariously through Heidi and let me tell you, it was like dropping a penny in a fountain compared to the tsunami of desire flooding my senses in this hunky vampire’s arms.
Pulling away as quickly as he’d attacked, Vlad took a step back but held my upper arms as I fought to stay upright. His eyes were hooded, his lips swollen, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a blush on his usually pale complexion.
The silence was getting awkward so true to form, I opened my mouth and tried to be funny. “Well, hello to you, too.”
Dropping his hands, Vlad looked everywhere but in my eyes and mumbled, “Oh, my God, Kat...I mean Lola, I am so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I saw you and...and well, I couldn’t stop. You look so beautiful and smell so...” Stopping short, he bowed his head, took a deep breath and another step back before once again looking up. This time, he met my eyes. I could see he’d slipped his mask of control into place and was once again playing Lord of the Manor as he said, “Please, forgive me. My actions were inappropriate and ill-mannered.”
Not liking this version of Vlad and with my body still aching for more of what had felt so right, I closed the distance between us, swatted his arm, and said, “I get it. It must be hard. I look like your fiancée. Hell, I am in her bod. It’s easy to fall into old habits.”
When he didn’t answer, I patted his hands where he held them tightly in front of his gorgeous body. “No harm, no foul, Dude, really.”
Clearing his throat, Vlad looked right into my eyes and, with a tone as serious as the grave, said, “I never kissed Katie. Never touched her except to kiss the back of her hand.” He swallowed hard. “I never had the desire to do anything other than marry her out of a sense of obligation.”
Turning before I could even process what he’d just said, Vlad strode across the room and said as he crossed the threshold, “I’ll be leaving the manor until you are gone. Please, have dinner with my family. Stay as long as you like. Vanessa will make your travel arrangements when you’re ready to go.” I was still trying to understand what he was saying as, for the third time, the butthead pulled his disappearing act and I was left standing with my mouth open wondering what the hell to do.
Satan, help me, but I miss Hell. At least I understand the freaks down there.
