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

them spent in the arms of two of the sexiest, most vibrant women she had ever met. How could she ever return to her work as a librarian after that?

She slumped into her office chair. Then she stared at her desk drawer. Oh, those chocolate mints.... They couldn't replace the hot, steaming encounters with Kalia--and oh, Erin--but they might take the edge off a bit. Merideth reached for the drawer.

A knock came at her door.

Gritting her teeth with impatience, she called out, "Come in."

No surprise--it was Janius.

"Hello, Merideth! Glad to see you back." His hands in his pockets, he appeared a bit more fidgety than usual. "How was your trip?"

Must not giggle, must not giggle.... "Oh, it was fantastic! Thanks again for sending me there." She beamed at him.

"Good, good. Any good clubs or parties while you were there?"

She nodded. "Yes, a masquerade ball. I ... had a great time."

"Good, good."

She did her best to keep her amusement hidden. He seemed somewhat nervous about something.

"Is there something wrong, James?"

"Oh, no ... no, not at all. It's just that.... "He grinned. "I have a bit of a welcome back present for you."

Merideth blinked at him. "Oh?"

Withdrawing his hand from his pocket, James presented her with a small, gold box. The librarian peered at it, not knowing what to make of it. Right on the top was a familiar label: "Godiva."

"Got you the small sampler. Remember, you're a Fifth Degree. Gotta set standards for the rest of the Order. But ... it wouldn't hurt to have a little bit on occasion." He winked at her.

Her eyes widened. "Um ... I don't ... I mean, I really...."

His response was to laugh, loud and long. "Just enjoy." James turned to head towards the door of her office, but paused. "Oh, Merideth, one other thing."

"Yes?"

"The magistra of Clan Corvus called. She is planning an inter-order gathering between the Clans and specifically asked for your help in arranging everything. I'd like to send you down there to help her. Would you mind?"

Merideth struggled to keep the shit-eating grin off of her face. "Oh, no. Of course not, James. Anything I can do to help out the Order and Clan Corvus, and a gathering sounds wonderful." And getting my brains fucked out every night sounds wonderful too, yes.

"Excellent! I'll notify her as soon as possible. Unless, of course, you'd like to do so."

Mmm, phone sex with Kalia.... "Oh, that'll be fine, James. I um, I'll contact her myself to arrange things. I know that you have a lot of work to do."

"Great, great! And once again, glad to have you back." He quickly smiled at her and left her office.

It was only after he left that she turned to the little gold box on her desk, grinned, and ripped it apart to eat the chocolate.

Ooh, chocolate truffles.... Usually she had mints, but these would do just fine. Just as decadent, if not more so.

And now she had a new trip to plan.

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