Hungry is the Night - Page Eleven
|
|
"Hello, Wahaya."
"Catlin," he all but growled. "What the hell were you playing at? I could have killed you."
Catlin's temper flared and she knocked his hand away.
"Me? What the hell were you playing at, creeping through the garden like that?"
They glared at each other from inches away and then suddenly she was back against the tree with his hand around her throat and he was kissing her. Catlin was startled at the sudden change in direction of their argument, but adapted quickly and pushed her fingers into his hair, loosening his plait and wrapped her legs around his waist. Wahaya growled his approval into her mouth, pressing her harder against the tree as her fingers undid his hair. He pulled back long enough to pull her jumper and shirt over her head in one go, then pushed her bra to her waist and nuzzled at her breasts. Catlin freed her arms from the straps of her bra, undid it and tossed it after her shirt, then wound her fingers through his hair again. She pulled his head up from her breasts and kissed him as she stood on her own feet again. His own shirt followed hers and she stroked his stomach. His skin was hot, like he was burning with fever and she could feel the fast thump of his blood rushing through his veins. He kissed her hard as he undid her jeans, bruising her lips as he undressed her. Catlin wasted no time divesting him of his own jeans and her lips caressed his neck as he lifted her back against the tree again.
"Say yes," he demanded, holding her still.
Her teeth brushed the side of his neck and she felt him tremble.
"I'll bite you," she whispered.
"I know."
"Yes."
Wahaya pressed forward and she bit him, blood and sex intermingling in the darkness.
Catlin stirred.
"I have a twig digging into my hip."
"A twig?!"
Wahaya sounded outraged and Catlin smiled in the darkness.
"I have a tree trunk poking into my other hip."
"That's better."
Wahaya shifted back, moving Catlin with him and yelped. Catlin laughed at the sound and he pulled a stick from beneath his backside.
"We didn't pick the best location."
"Well, next time do your skulking in the darkness somewhere more comfortable."
"I'll try and remember that. Did I hurt you?"
"No. A couple of bruises, maybe. Nothing serious. Did I hurt you?"
"Only in a good way."
"Mmm. So what were you doing here anyway?"
"I was meeting Damien."
"And the reason behind the skulking?"
"If I get in without him noticing, he buys the beer for the week."
"And if you don't?"
"I do."
"And because I caught you?"
"I guess I buy you beer. Or you can claim a forfeit."
Catlin laughed, then almost purred as Wahaya fastened his mouth over her nipple and his fingers wandered further down.
"Forfeit sounds good to me."
"Can you see my underwear?"
"No."
"What about smell?"
Wahaya chuckled.
"Sweetheart, trust me. All I can smell right now is you."
"Are you saying I stink?"
"I'm saying I'm attracted to you, and right now all I can smell is you on me, and me on you and it's driving me crazy. If you bend over to pick up that jumper I won't be responsible for the consequences."
Catlin smiled and pulled on her jeans, sans underwear.
"That's a very nice thing to say."
"You didn't know that?"
"Know what?"
"That the mingling of scents is one of the main turn-ons for a werewolf? And for a vampire too, if I remember correctly."
"No, I didn't know that. Damien hasn't gotten to that lesson yet, I guess."
"I wonder how he's planning to teach you that," Wahaya chuckled in a tone that suggested he had a fair idea exactly how Damien intended to teach her about vampiric turn-ons.
"So if I wore your shirt..." Catlin smiled, holding it to her chest.
"I think you'll want to save that for somewhere more comfortable than our bed of branches."
Catlin smiled again and instead put on her own bra, shirt and jumper, before tossing Wahaya's shirt to him. He dressed himself as Catlin watched. When he was dressed, she fanned herself with one hand, laughing.
"Whew! Is it hot out here?"
Wahaya grinned, offering her his arm.
"Shall we?"
They made their way into the house and up to Catlin's bedroom, where she took her comb and untangled the mess she'd made of Wahaya's hair. Once his hair was neatly plaited once more, she offered him the shower.
"If I got into that shower with you, I wouldn't meet Damien tonight."
"So?" Catlin grinned and Wahaya stroked the side of her face.
"I'd stay if it wasn't important."
"Well, that's the main thing."
"I'll come back if we're done before dawn."
"You do that."
She walked him to her bedroom door and watched him cross the landing and enter Damien's rooms. Then she closed her door, set the bath to fill, dropped her clothes into a messy pile on the floor and stepped into the shower. She rinsed off quickly in the shower, then lit some candles, added some oils and bubble bath to the hot water in her bathtub, and gingerly lowered herself into the steaming water. Despite what she'd said to Wahaya, her back ached where he'd pressed her against the tree. She soaked the abused muscles for a while, then leisurely began to wash. She looked up as the bathroom door opened and saw Gabriel framed in the bathroom mirror.
"Don't you knock?"
"I did. You didn't answer."
"And you didn't think that might mean, "Piss off"?"
He stepped into the bathroom and his nostrils flared as he breathed in, taking in the scents in the room and Catlin's grazed back.
"Wahaya," Gabriel growled, turning sharply back towards the bedroom.
"Stop right there!" Catlin commanded, swiftly standing in the bath and turning to face him. "Where the hell do you think you're going?"
Gabriel turned at her command and looked at her, eyes dark.
"He hurt you. I will kill him."
Catlin made an exasperated sound and planted her hands on her hips.
"He didn't hurt me, you moron. I was a full and willing participant. Besides which, even if he had hurt me, surely it would be up to me to decide if it warranted you going off after him like an avenging angel?"
"I am your sire. I will take care of you."
"Just get the hell out of my bathroom, Gabriel. And leave Wahaya alone."
Gabriel looked at her for one long minute, then strode out of the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Catlin let out a long breath, then realised she'd been stark naked while she was yelling at Gabriel. After a moment of mortal embarrassment, she burst out laughing and settled back into her bathtub for some more soaking.
Damien breathed in and smiled.
"Catlin," he said, turning, then stopped as he saw Wahaya. "Wahaya."
Whatever Damien thought, it didn't show on his face, but Wahaya had known him a long time.
"Want me to shower?"
"Please."
In the bathroom, Wahaya held out his shirt towards Damien, who shook his head. Wahaya dropped it down the laundry chute.
"Jeans?"
"They're fine."
Damien said nothing about the scratches on Wahaya's back, simply perched on the vanity while Wahaya showered.
"So, what's the story?" Damien asked over the noise of the shower.
"She caught me sneaking in and claimed a forfeit."
"I meant with Michael."
"Oh. Michael is making a bid for power. He hasn't challenged Stephen yet, but it's only a matter of time. He's being sneaky, going around to members of the pack individually, trying to gain their support."
"Surprisingly well thought out."
"You're telling me. He'd never have thought of that himself. Angelito is biding his time. With Anna still out of commission he has full run of the clubs, and he's gathering supporters from other packs, too."
"That's unprecedented."
"Anthony is worried. Marie is scornful. It's almost like she's trying to goad him into action, though what action she thinks he'll take is beyond me."
"You think she wants him to challenge Michael?"
"Maybe, but that would seriously weaken his position. Perhaps she wants him to chastise him, but he hasn't actually done anything wrong."
"It's a tough one."
"Yeah. I can't work out his motives. Usually it's the usual drive to be alpha, but with Michael there seems to be something else. I don't like the drugs he's doing either, but as that isn't against pack law, I can't do anything about that either."
"What will you do if he challenges Anthony?"
"I'll have to fight him."
"Will you win?"
"I don't know."
Gabriel stormed into Jade's room and slammed the door behind him. She lowered the book she was reading and looked at him for a long minute. Then she placed the book on her bedside table and swung her long legs over the edge of the bed and crossed them elegantly.
"What's up, Gabe?"
He was clearly furious, pacing back and forward in front of her wardrobe.
"It's Catlin. She... He... I-"
"She and Damian slept together?" guessed Jade.
"No!" Gabriel exploded. "Wahaya!"
Jade pondered this for about three seconds, then said, "Ah."
"What does that mean?"
"Is it a problem that she's interested in a werewolf?"
"You know I have nothing against the wolves."
"So the problem is that she is yours?"
"I'm her sire!"
"A little territorial, Gabriel?"
He glared at her.
"Would you like me to talk to her?"
Instantly, Gabriel calmed down.
"Would you?"
"If it make you feel better."
"It would."
"Wait here then."
Jade tapped lightly on Catlin's bathroom door.
"It's Jade."
"Come in."
Jade entered and perched herself on Catlin's vanity.
"Now you've done it," Jade greeted.
"Done what?"
"Got Gabe all territorial."
Catlin snorted and examined her toes.
"He has no claim on me."
"No, but he is both attracted to you and your sire, so you'll have to put up with him acting like a jealous lover for a few weeks. So, Wahaya."
"Mmm hmm," Catlin smiled and stretched.
Jade grinned in reply.
"He's pretty good then," she surmised.
"He's very good," Catlin replied. "Thorough."
"Excellent. That should help to dispel a bit of the sexual tension around here."
"I might have to take him for a couple more test drives, first," Catlin laughed.
Jade laughed with her and hopped off the vanity.
"I'll go calm Gabe down."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Gabriel threw open Damien's door.
"She told her it was a good idea!"
Wahaya and Damien both turned, startled.
"What?" Damien asked, mildly.
Gabriel focused on Wahaya.
"You."
"Damned territorial vampires," Wahaya muttered to Damien.
"Like werewolves are any different," Damien replied, standing. "Did you want to speak with me, Gabriel?"
Gabriel was still focused on Wahaya and ignored Damien.
"You and me, outside," he suggested, quietly.
Wahaya stood and flexed his muscles, making Catlin's scratch marks dance across his back before turning to face Gabriel. Before he could reply to Gabriel's challenge, Damien stepped between them.
"Are you coming into my territory and challenging my guest, Gabriel?"
Gabriel controlled himself with visible effort.
"Damien. I request your permission to greet your guest."
"On what grounds?"
"He has violated my ward."
"There is grounds here for disagreement. My guest claims it was consensual. Do you wish to consult your ward?"
Gabriel stood for a long moment, fists clenched. Then he lashed out at the lamp beside him. It crashed against the far wall and Gabriel turned on his heel and strode out of the room again.
"Damned territorial vampires," Damien cursed, retrieving his lamp.
"Coming from you," Wahaya smiled.
"Don't remind me."
Catlin woke as night fell, disappointed that Wahaya hadn't managed to come to her before dawn. She dressed, intending to visit Damien and see if Wahaya was still there, but when she opened the bedroom door, Gabriel was standing there.
"Good, you're awake. Come."
Catlin bristled, but sighed and followed him to his room.
"We're not going to the library?"
"No."
Catlin looked around his bedroom. It was exactly how she remembered it, with nowhere to sit aside from the bed. Accordingly, she hopped onto the bed and sat demurely on the edge.
"Please don't sit on my bed, Catlin."
"There isn't anywhere else to sit," she pointed out.
"I'm finding it hard enough to battle my instincts as it is. Don't make it harder for me, please."
"I don't understand."
"Your scent is mingling with mine."
"You're the second person who has mentioned that."
"I suppose it's too much to ask that the first was Damien, teaching you what you shouldn't be doing."
"No, it was Wahaya, suggesting that I wear his shirt in the bedroom."
"That would work," Gabriel replied with a surprising lack of rancor. "Please keep in mind that you're doing to me right now exactly what wearing Wahaya's shirt would be doing to him."
Catlin thought for a moment, then stood up.
"Ok, so what are we doing in here?"
"We're learning."
"What are we learning?"
"The relationship between us."
"We don't have a relationship, Gabriel."
"We do. Like it or not, I am your sire."
"You barely know me."
"And that is true for you also, mon chaton."
Catlin nodded.
"That's true, but you're not going to get to know me by giving me a lesson in Gabriel 101."
"Also true, but you have been avoiding me."
"You lied to me, Gabriel."
"I did not lie, I simply withheld some information."
"That's as bad as lying."
"Tell me honestly. If I had said to you, "I turned you into a vampire and your ex-boyfriend is a werewolf" would you have believed me?"
"Of course not."
"Then at what point would you have had me tell you?"
"When I met the werewolves?"
"You forget, I did not know you were meeting the werewolves."
"Before they visited us, then."
"Would you have been composed when meeting them if I had?"
"Probably not," Catlin allowed.
"That is why I didn't tell you."
Catlin frowned, but had to allow that he had a point.
"Ok, Gabriel. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you."
He smiled then, a genuine, full-fanged smile.
"And I am sorry that I didn't tell you about Michael and the little angel."
"Forgiven."
"Wonderful. Now, let's go."
Gabriel shrugged into a leather jacket and opened the bedroom door.
"Where are we going?"
"Clubbing."
"I don't do clubbing."
"You do now."
Jade threw open Damien's door and stood there, framed by the doorway. He looked over and whistled.
"Looking hot, Jade."
"Thanks. But forgetting that. You're never going to believe what I just overheard."
"What's that?"
"Gabe is going clubbing!"
"Seriously?"
"Absolutely."
"This I have to see."
They got to the front windows in time to watch Gabriel's car leave the property.
"Where do you think he's going?"
"Well, he's taking Catlin, so it won't be a werewolf club."
"Dance Macabre?"
"That would be my guess."
"Let's go then."
"They won't let you in dressed like that."
Damien looked down at his black trousers and t-shirt.
"Probably not. Start the car, I'll be down in five."
Jade and Damien entered the club and headed for the bar.
"Drink?" offered Damien.
"Vodka and Soda."
He pushed his way to the bar while Jade moved to the railing and looked down at the dance floor. By the time Damien had returned with their drinks, she'd spotted Catlin and Gabriel. In fairness, it hadn't been hard to spot them - they were dancing on a podium together.
"Found them?"
Jade raised an eyebrow at a particularly raunchy move, then nodded her head towards them.
"Gabe's a podium pimp."
Damien whistled.
"I'd never have suspected that! All those nights we wasted just drinking in bars when we could have been getting down and dirty in a club."
"He does modern dancing quite well."
"He does. I think he's been holding out on us. Shall we join them?"
"Let's."
Damien and Jade made their way down onto the dance floor and over to the podium. Damien leaped up onto the podium and slapped Gabriel's arse.
"Gabe! Been holding out on us, mate?"
"Piss off, Damo."
"Are you drunk?"
"I better be! I've had 17 scotches."
"Shit, mate, you'll have alcohol poisoning if you're not careful. Hello, darling."
Damien leaned over and kissed Catlin hello. Gabriel put his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him.
"This is my dance, wait your turn."
At that moment, Jade stepped up onto the podium - she'd gone around to the stairs.
"Gabriel, you've been holding out on us!" she accused with a smile.
"You're the second person in the last 2 minutes to accuse me of that."
"You never come clubbing with us," she added, kissing his cheek, then Catlin's.
"If you don't start dancing we'll get kicked off the podium."
"Then why don't you boys get down on the dance floor and let us girls show you how it's done?"
"We'll get drinks," Damien announced. "C'mon, Gabe."
The boys hopped off the podium and headed for the bar.
"It's damned expensive to have a good night out when you're a vampire," Gabriel complained, leaning against the bar after they'd ordered. "I've had more scotch tonight than I've had in the last 10 years."
"Yeah, that'll happen. Still, I think you've exaggerated a little there. I'm pretty sure I've seen you in the past sipping a pint of scotch."
Gabriel snorted.
"It's less obvious than downing 20 shots. Besides, you can talk! I'm fairly sure I've seen you with a glass of vodka in each hand, claiming it was water to the bouncer, then downing it to prove it."
"I was young then!"
"Excellent defence. It's much cheaper to sulk in dingy bars, pick out the local drunk and have a pint or so of his blood. They pay for the drinks and you still get the buzz."
"Not nearly as much fun as watching you dance though," Damien replied. "So you're pretty serious about Catlin then?"
"This is about friendship, but I'll admit that I find her attractive."
They took their drinks and moved away from the bar, watching Jade and Catlin dancing on the podium. They had several single men and one or two couples surrounding them, watching the girls dance together.
"So you're not staking a claim here?"
"No. I'm not going to press the issue too soon. She's only just forgiven me for not telling her about Michael and Angelito."
"Well, that's good, Gabe, 'cause I don't like lunch-cutting."
Damien winked and headed for the girls. Behind him, Gabriel swore and followed swiftly behind. Damien reached the podium first.
"There's not room for the four of us to dance here," Damien called up to them. "Shall we take the stage?"
"Why the hell not?" Catlin laughed, jumping off the podium into his arms.
Damien led Catlin towards the stage as Gabriel helped Jade down.
"I'm going to kill him one day," Gabriel commented.
"He just knows how to talk to women," Jade replied with a smile. "You weren't doing too badly before we arrived. I think your "dancing" with Catlin got him a bit jealous."
"Well, that's an unexpected bonus," Gabriel laughed. "I don't like my chances for the rest of the night though."
"No, you're stuck with us now," Jade agreed cheerfully. "But look at it this way - Damien's chances are therefore equally slim."
"That is a point," Gabriel allowed with a smile as he lifted himself up onto the stage, then hauled Jade up behind him. "Joint ownership can be a good thing."
Jade laughed and glanced over at where Catlin and Damien were busily taking over the stage.
"Showtime. Why don't you go and join them and I'll find a couple of friendly humans to dance with?"
"Good idea."
Jade smiled as she watched Gabriel go over and start dancing with Catlin and Damien, then winked at a young couple who had followed them from the podium to the stage. The night promised to be very interesting.
|
|
|