“Whatever.” I stretched, the velvet moving with me. I loved this dress. To hell with shoes. I’d just lie here and let Richard come to me. “Send Richard in here.”

“Uh, you sure?” Valdez moved closer. “What’s the matter with you?”

“Nothing. I can invite Richard into my bedroom if I want to.” Like I had to explain myself to a dog. I tried to work up a mad, but I felt entirely too relaxed to work up much of anything. “Go out to the hall and close the apartment door. Take Will with you. I’ll let you know when you can come back in.”

“I thought you were going out.” Valdez nudged my foot again and I stroked him with my toes. He had the softest fur.

“Dancing? Remember?”

Dancing. I sat up. Of course. But first . . . “Send him in, V, now.” My answer was a snort. Yeah, Valdez is Blade’s minion and his first loyalty is to his boss. Not that Blade expected me to be exclusive. We ’d settled that issue centuries ago. And all the Valdezes had learned to ignore the parade of lovers through my bedroom.

Okay, honesty here, it was more like a trickle than a parade. This Valdez would just have to ignore the yummy vamp with electric blue eyes and platinum hair who’d planned to take me dancing.

I smiled when Richard appeared in the doorway. He definitely deserved a reward.

“Valdez is worried about you.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet.

“I’m fine.” I put his hand on my breast. “Don’t you love this velvet? Isn’t it soft?”

“Very.” Richard kept his hand there and the slight pressure suddenly seemed like the most erotic touch ever.

“What about this?” I moved his hand to the curve of my breast exposed by the deep vee.

“Even softer.” He rubbed his thumb between my breasts and I moaned. “The dogs are out in the hall. Did you tell them to leave?”

“Yes.” I popped open the buttons on Richard’s dark green silky shirt. Wow. Had I ever seen a better, wider, more beautiful chest? I couldn’t remember. This one was sculpted by some strenuous exercise, rowing a galley I guess. And his chest had the most precious brown nipples. I leaned in and licked one before pulling it into my mouth.

“Good God, Gloriana. Where’s this coming from?” Not that Richard flew across the room to get away from me. Hell, no. He had one hand in my hair, holding me close. The other circled my waist.

I leaned back and smiled, feeling relaxed, yet antsy too. A weird combo. “It’s coming from here.” I grabbed his hand and pressed it between my legs. “I want you, Richard.” I was wearing way too much. I undid my stretch belt and it popped loose, hit my chest of drawers on the other side of the room and knocked over a picture of me in one of my Vegas costumes. “Oops.”

I grinned and picked up the picture. “Look, Richard. I was one of the Indian maidens. Just a few strategically placed feathers. Cute, huh?” I set the picture back on the chest, then wrapped my arms around Richard’s waist. “You want to play Columbus? I’ll welcome you to the New World.” I slid my fingers inside his waistband. “It’ll be a warm welcome. And not a feather in sight.”

Richard grabbed my hand. “Glory, are you sure you’re all right?”

“I will be. Unzip me.” I slipped away from him, turned my back and lifted my hair.

“I thought you’d want to go dancing . . . first.” But, yeah, the zipper came down and the cool air on my back said any dancing tonight was going to be of the horizontal variety. His hands slid inside my dress, pushing it forward and off my shoulders. I turned and looked at him, then wiggled until the dress pooled at my feet. I kicked it away, not even sparing a thought for the delicate vintage fabric.

“What do you think?” I held out my hands. My bra was a wonder of engineering that pushed my breasts up and out like gifts waiting to be unwrapped. My matching panties were scraps of lace that only reached halfway to my navel. I shivered, then moved in to press against him.

“Richard? Answer me. Am I getting to you?” I rubbed my cheek against his chest. I waited for him to move things along. You know, grab my ass, open my bra, something. Instead Richard just stood there. Quiet. Too quiet. I looked up and saw his nostrils flare.

“What? Don’t you like what you see?”

“God, Gloriana, of course I do.” He put his hands on my shoulders. “What have you gotten into?”

“Into? The mood, baby. Let’s play.” I stepped back then reached for the front clasp of my bra. My breasts are a man pleaser. Guaranteed. Richard was thinking. That had to stop. I wanted him crazed with lust. I let my breasts loose, slung the bra over my head and into a corner of the room. Another crash, this time a vase I’d never really liked anyway.

“You smell like—”

“Lavender. Don’t you like it?” I trailed my fingers down his chest to his belt buckle. One of my vamp moves and the belt and the button beneath it opened. Another move and his shirt hit the wall next to the bedroom door.

“No, it’s not lavender I smell.” He sniffed again, trapping my hand against his zipper.

“I don’t use perfume. Defense. Perfume messes up my sense of smell. The lavender doesn’t.” His hand on top of mine. Was he saying stop or harder? I curled my fingers around the bulge underneath the cloth and his hand tightened. I took that as a “go.” I squeezed, he gasped, then pushed me away to stare into my eyes.

“By God, you’ve been in the Vampire Viagra.”

Nineteen

"Don’t be silly, where would I get that?” I tried another grab, but he eluded me.

“Maybe Simon sent you a sample.”

“I don’t need Viagra, Richard. I’m naturally this hot.” I ran a fingertip across my nipples and shivered. “And all Simon sent me was a case of Fangtastic. Want some?” I traced the long length pressing against his zipper. “Or do you want some of this?” I wiggled out of my panties and tossed them aside. His eyes darkened to a midnight blue. I dropped to my knees, took the tab of his zipper in my teeth and pulled.

“Jesus Christ, Gloriana.”

I swear, if he crossed himself, I was going to hit him. If he had any priestly hang -ups, Flo sure hadn’t mentioned them. Saint or sinner? Aha. His hands were in my hair again. Sinner was obviously winning. Would I be struck by lightning if I prayed for Richard to take me sooner rather than later? I started going south with his zipper until his cock sprang free into my hands.

“You would never need the VV, would you, Richard?” I stroked his erection and kissed its pretty head. “I know you’ll fill me. And when you come—”

Richard jerked me to my feet and stared into my eyes. “Damn it, Glory, that’s not you talking, that’s the Vamp Viagra. Simon must have drugged your Fangtastic.”

“What? Don’t you think I can get hot without some help? Look at you. Strong, virile, all yummy male and ready to go.” I smiled down at his cock and gave it a friendly pat, then pulled Richard toward the bed. “Come on, Richard. Ricky. Maybe I’ll call you that. Flo calls you Ricardo. Doesn’t suit you. You’re not Italian. English, like me. Hey, we’re homies.” I pulled harder when he wouldn’t fall on the bed with me.

I rubbed his cock. “Big boy. Come on, big boy. Take me.” I pulled his hand to my mouth and sucked his thumb, then bit with just a hint of fang. Oh, yum, his blood was rich, dark and delicious. I sighed and fell back on the bed. Open for him.

“Please, Richard.” I wiggled my hips. “Make me scream.”

“Gloriana, I can’t take advantage—” He tucked in and zipped up.

“Advantage? Like I don’t know what I’m doing?” I got up in his face, fighting him off when he tried to wrap me in a robe I’d had slung over a chair. “I thought I knew what I was doing. And don’t lie and say you’re not a little interested. Your cock says you are.” I ran my hands up his bare chest and tweaked his nipples. “And cocks don’t lie.” I kissed his chin. “Loosen up, Richard. Don’t play so . . .” I rubbed his zipper again. “Hard to get. Let Glory ease your pain.”

“Stop it.” He backed up a step. I stayed right with him.

“Flo says you’re not a good lover. But she didn’t always say that.” One of my vamp moves should get his pants off of him. I gave it a shot, really concentrating on sending fabric to the floor. No go. He blocked me somehow.

“Why are you fighting me, Richard? Is it because I ’m not a size six like Florence?” I dropped back on the bed. Sure. Why would he go for me after having cute little Flo? I wiped away a stray tear. How stupid to cry over stuff like that though. I mean, what did I want? A pity screw?

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I can’t help my size, damn it.” A sob. Hello? Is Gloriana even home? I pulled the sheet up to my chin. Yeah, she was home and pulling out every little trick she had. Glory St. Clair can manipulate with the best of them. Most men couldn’t handle women’s tears. He’d cave, we’d get it on and I’d finally lose this antsy “got to have it” feeling that made me about to crawl out of my skin.

“It’s a curse.” Sniffle. Sniffle. “I’ve tried everything to get skinny. Even thought about liposuction. But you know the vamp sleep would just undo it. All pain, no gain. ” I jumped up again, but wrapped the sheet around me. No use giving him an eyeful if he wasn’t going to do something about it. Was he weakening? I swear my skin was on fire.

“You’re a perfect size. You have a great body.” He reached for me, but I scooted to the light switch by the door.

“Here. I’ll turn off the light and you can close your eyes. Okay? Just think. Glory’s got all the necessary equipment, just more of it. Wait. Not more actual equipment. I mean what is there, tits, ass, the, um, gate to Heaven, has more padding. ” I flipped the switch. Of course we both had vamp vision, so it really didn’t make much of a difference. I got in front of him again.