Blood and Mint Chocolates by Adrianne Brennan (summer books .TXT) 📗

Once the spell cast from the sigils set in, Kalia nicked his chest with her fangs. Leisurely but greedily, she licked the blood that pooled to the surface of his skin. Transfixed, Merideth gazed at Kalia's lips and tongue, which worked their own magick on the dark drops of blood that clung tantalizingly to Steve's body.

Her mouth still crimson with Steve's blood, Kalia pulled away and yanked Merideth's face towards hers for an open-mouthed kiss. The sweet tang of his blood mingled amidst Kalia's enticing perfume almost caused Merideth to swoon with delight.

DRINK, MY GREEN FAIRY.

Kalia disengaged herself from Merideth's eager lips, her movements soft and sensual, and pulled Steve closer to her and the other vampire. She glanced at his face, flush with excitement, his pupils dilated. The sight of his handsome features displaying such blatant ecstasy invited Merideth to sample what he had to offer. She tasted the salty sweat of his skin underneath the blood, smelled his hormones emanating from his pores. The overall package proved to be delicious and intoxicating.

I THINK WE SHOULD PUT HIM TO BED SOON AND PREPARE FOR ERIN'S ARRIVAL.

Merideth managed to nod, lightheaded from the bliss of feeding from Steve. She had forgotten the experience of drinking fresh blood from a human--the intimate sensation of their flesh beneath her lips, the way they sighed as she drank from them....

BESIDES, I BET THAT ERIN'S BLOOD WILL BE EVEN SWEETER.

The idea of drinking from Erin made something deep in Merideth's lower stomach twinge with excitement. She thought of the way she kissed earlier, and the moisture between her legs grew.

Kalia pulled her close for a kiss, her gentle fingers sliding down her stomach to rub at her clit through the dress. The kiss deepening, she slid her hand up Merideth's dress, her fingernails grazing the inside of her thigh with a light touch. Gradually, Kalia parted Merideth's inner lips with her fingertips and with even greater caution placed her finger on her clit. Kalia then pierced Merideth's lower lip and at the same time, lightly scraped her clit with her fingernail. Merideth moaned against her lips, her hips grinding into the magistra's skillful hand.

Having a nice night out with me, my little green fairy?

Fuck, yes.

Chapter Nine

"A night to remember"

An apologetic Erin arrived much later carrying not only a bag filled with Kalia's Camel Lites but also two bottles of champagne for the three women and a six-pack for Steve. Kalia, never doubting her own resourcefulness, had already managed to procure enough plastic glasses from the supplies left in the room by the hotel staff.

"I grabbed a few extra earlier," she explained with a smile. "You never know when you may bring over some company for a drink or two."

Merideth tried but couldn't keep the smirk off of her face. She turned to see Steve's reaction, but he didn't appear conscious enough to notice Erin's arrival--if he was awake at all. He lay motionless on the bed, sated but exhausted.

Erin shook her head at the sight. "Figures. I knew he had a lot to drink tonight, but ... damn. Oh well. When he wakes up he can have more beer." She gave an apathetic shrug and put the bag on the desk next to the entertainment unit.

"That's okay," stated Kalia, her tone light but conspiratorial, "that means it's just more fun for us girls." With a naughty look in her eyes, she winked at Erin, who grinned back.

"Well then, I can't complain about that, now can I?" She grabbed a bottle of champagne out of the bag and opened it with a loud pop. Merideth glanced at Steve to see if it woke him up, but his eyes remained closed, his body unmoving.

HE'S SLEEPING NOW, MERI. GIVES US SOME PRIVACY WITH THE LOVELY GAL.

While Erin's back was turned, Merideth raised an eyebrow at Kalia. She must've accelerated--and perhaps also strengthened--the spell on him just after Erin arrived. The sigils shouldn't knock out a human until a few hours had passed, leaving them either drunk or high.

Erin passed the champagne bottle to the two vampires, and the three of them drank as they talked. Merideth noted that Kalia's skill at making people feel at ease worked well on Erin--alcohol notwithstanding. The more they talked, the less tense she looked. With a huge grin, she leaned back in her chair and swung her legs back and forth, chatting with the two women intimately even though they had just met.

"I'm glad Steve's out like a light," she remarked. "I wouldn't be saying this without a few drinks in me, but he really wore me thin today. I really thank you both for stepping in like you did."

Kalia gave a nonchalant wave of her hand. "Aw, hon, it really wasn't--"

"No, I mean it. Thank you. I don't know what would've happened otherwise." She bit her lip, and a distressed expression crept over her face.

A surge of sympathy rose up in Merideth. "Um, if you don't mind my asking--and if it's not too personal--what were you two fighting about? I mean," she added, "if you don't mind talking about it, that is."

"Oh, that." Erin laughed, but the sound was hollow. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Kalia's eyes narrowed with great interest. "Try us."

"Well.... "Erin chugged the rest of her champagne and licked her lips. "He uh, wanted me to turn in a few friends of mine to this, um, magickal order. An order that probably would've persecuted and killed them, but would've paid us both a lot of cash. I refused to do it."

Kalia and Merideth gave each another measured glances. This sounded familiar, a past echo haunting them.

NO, IT COULDN'T BE--

HUMANS HAVE PREJUDICE JUST AS WE DO. IT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE THAT, MERI. BESIDES, WHO WOULD POSSIBLY KNOW--

"You see, um, my friends have this special ... medical condition. And this crazy group thinks that makes them evil."

Kalia's eyes bugged.

Mistaking her reaction for revulsion, Erin's hands flew up in protest. "Oh