Real Vampires: Glory Does Vegas by Bartlett, Gerry (white hot kiss TXT) 📕

to wipe Cheeto dust off Valdez’s nose. “I’m sorry, okay? That contract wasn’t my idea, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. Steak? Don’t bother. I’d have to ask the other shifter to cut it up for me. More humiliation.” He gave the valet one more warning growl before he trotted next to me through the ornate lobby.

This was a five-star hotel. Jerry stayed in the best while I was in a shabby apartment in a sad part of town. It was more proof that he’d done well throughout his life. He came from money while I had been nothing but the widow of a poor actor. Clan Campbell owned a castle in Scotland. His father, the Laird, had always done well, making investments and being smart about it. He’d also managed to stay on the right side of various political upheavals when they’d happened. He’d encouraged his son to make his own way and Jerry had certainly done that. We’d come to America in the 1700s in a Campbell ship and never looked back. Both of us liked the freedom here.

Valdez and I got a few looks as we took the elevator up to one of the penthouse suites. My canine companion wasn’t the reason. I wore my butt-exposing shorts and a tee tied under my breasts, no bra. I was itching to do that dance for Jerry. I had missed him and wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

We had about an hour before sunrise and I planned to make the most of it. I’d even taken back my CD of the song. Manny would be having a fit when he couldn’t find it, but I’d left him a note. He needed to buy his own copy anyway. He could go out during the day and do that. I couldn’t.

I knocked on the door of Penthouse 1A and it was opened immediately. The shape-shifter who answered was a tall woman with red hair, striped blonde.

“You must be Gloriana.” She waved us in. “Valdez.” She couldn’t keep a straight face. “Seriously? Must you stay that way or shall I bring out my tiger and we’ll see whose animal has the sharper claws?”

“Sherie.” Valdez sniffed. “Call her Glory or Gloria. I’m honoring my contract. Blade doesn’t trust her around my devastatingly handsome mortal male figure.”

She laughed then closed and locked the door behind us. “Blade is on a call. He’ll be with you shortly. Would you like a drink, Glory? I have a selection of synthetics for you in the fridge.” She led the way into a spacious living room with a fabulous view of the city spread out in front of us.

“Thanks, but I’ll pass.” I unclipped the leash and walked around the room. I could see another bedroom off the living area. A two-bedroom suite. I couldn’t imagine how much it cost.

“Nice digs. Are you the only shifter with Jerry this trip?” A woman. Was this to get back at me for having a male guard? I’d always had a man guard me, since the days when it was unthinkable to have a woman take the position. Maybe I should give Jerry credit for being enlightened enough to trust a woman with such an important job. I blocked that thought when I saw her grin.

“No. I handle the days. Blade has a second shifter with us he can call on when he feels he needs backup during the nights.” She held out her hand. “Sherie Mehta. If I shift suddenly, don’t be alarmed. I’m a Bengal tiger. Very effective against ordinary mortals.”

“She is. Comes from a family of shifters for hire. Like I do.” Valdez had found a tray of cheese and crackers and was making a selection, one piece at a time, with his tongue. “Very limited shift, though. Not like me. I can be anything you want. A fly on the wall, a bat, a cute and cuddly dog.” He grinned, then gobbled up a chunk of cheddar. The shape-shifter did love his cheese.

“But not a man this time.” Sherie stretched out on the sofa, all six feet of her. “Too bad, Valdez.”

I could see it would be a long day for these two if they continued to snipe at each other. When the bedroom door opened, I lost interest in their bickering. Jerry stood there, his phone in his hand.

“I heard you come in so I cut the phone call short. Pleasure before business.” He held out his hand then glanced at the two shape-shifters. “I have an hour with my lady. I will not be disturbed. Get lost. Sherie, take Valdez for a walk, outside. Then I expect Glory might like to spend her death sleep here. Gloriana?”

I nodded.

“You two can watch over us from the living room. We don’t see each other often these days so our privacy is important to us. If you are concerned about our security now, wait in the hallway until sunrise. We will not be disturbed. You can come in as soon as you are sure the sun has come up and we are in our death sleep. Understood?”

Valdez and Sherie just looked at each other. She silently put on the leash and led him to the door. I got one more glance from Valdez over his shoulder.

“Go. I’ll be fine.” I looked up at Jerry. His eyes burned with what I recognized as the same kind of need for me that I felt for him. I couldn’t wait to have him. “More than fine.” I dragged Jerry into the bedroom and shut the door.

I pulled the CD from my purse and thrust it at Jerry. “I hope you have a CD player.”

He nodded. “You’re going to do it? Dance for me?” He walked over to a setup on a bureau and turned it on. “What do you want me to do?”

I looked him over. He must have showered when he got back to the hotel. He had on another silk shirt, this one white, with loose black pants, no socks, and loafers.

“Kick