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

I leaned back and rested my head on his shoulder. “There must be a million stars. It’s such a clear night.”

“This is why I live out here. Those lights in the city, especially on the Strip, ruin it and make it impossible to see the night sky.”

I laughed and turned my head to look at him. “Those lights on the Strip are what the tourists love about Vegas.” I stopped laughing when I saw his eyes narrow and the way he stared at my lips.

He leaned in, taking command as he kissed me. I didn’t push him away, willing to see how I felt about it. When he suddenly jerked back and looked around, I almost grabbed his shoulders and pulled him close for more.

“What is it?” I licked my lips, savoring that Romanian on my tongue, both the synthetic and Dom.

“We’re being watched, I can feel it.”

21

“Good instincts, Dominic. Now if only you had as good a memory.” The voice came from the rooftop next to us. With a flutter of wings, a beautiful white owl took off, circling above us before it landed next to the spa. Then the owl became a woman with long platinum hair. She wore a white satin pants suit that matched her hair perfectly. Her high heels, tipped in gold metal, made sparks as she paced around the tub. A red satin blouse was the only spot of color in her outfit. She wore scarlet lipstick to match.

“Karla, what the hell are you doing here?” Dom didn’t move. If anything, he tightened his hold on my shoulders. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“Oh, forgive me.” She pointed a red fingernail at him. “Don’t you own a calendar, you asshole? Have you forgotten what day this is?”

“Oh, shit.” He was out of the tub in a flash. He grabbed a towel from a stack on a lounge chair and wrapped it around his waist. “I’m sorry. I completely forgot.”

The woman looked me over and inhaled, her patrician nostrils quivering. “I’m not surprised. Where did this new vampire come from? Have you imported more than blood from your beloved Romania? What the hell is she wearing?”

“No, no. Sorry. This is Glory, uh, Gloria Simpson. She works for me.” He reached to help me step out of the water. Then he handed me a towel. “Glory, let me introduce you to Karla Falk.”

I didn’t know what to say. This beautiful woman was clearly another vampire. What was so important about the day? What had Dom forgotten?

“Oh, he is truly a self-centered piece of shit, Glory.” Karla came closer. She stared into my eyes. Her own were a chilly pale blue that made me want to run. But I stood my ground.

“What do you mean?” I wrapped a second towel around my shoulders. I was sure she was still trying to figure out why I was dressed in a wool bathing costume that had stretched and now dripped on the concrete. I had to keep pulling at it so it wouldn’t expose my boobs.

“The first Monday of the month is when the local vampires meet. We picked Monday purely to accommodate this asswipe because that’s when his club is closed. In return, he promised to always bring the refreshments.” She glanced down at a fancy electronic watch. “Oh, look, first Monday, we gathered as close after sunset as we could manage, eagerly waiting for Dominic and his synthetics. What happens?” She whirled and pinned him in the middle of his bare chest with a sharp fingernail.

He winced because she drew blood. “I said I’m sorry. I can get Caroline there in thirty minutes with a case of my best synthetic.”

“Don’t bother. Everyone left in a huff. There were promises made of retribution. You’d better watch your back, you swine’s analӧppning.” She turned back to me. “I will call you, Gloria. You need to meet more of the local vampires, not just this one. He may have given you a job, but he is not lover material.”

“Shut up, Karla. I think you’ve said enough.” Dom had obviously taken the ranting as long as he intended. “My love life is none of your damned business. You want your discount as a member of the local council, I suggest you take off now. I will give Glory your number. If she wants to get involved with local vampire politics, she can. I’ll advise against it.”

Karla screeched, her owl suddenly taking flight. I had to admire the speed with which she’d shape-shifted. That must be some discount for her to be willing to give up her tirade so abruptly.

“Everything okay here?” Caro and Valdez had come on the run at the sound of that screech.

“We’re fine. Go finish your dinner.” I was the one to say this. Dom was apparently speechless, wiping the blood off his chest with a towel. “We may not be staying long, Valdez, so don’t linger over it.”

“Too bad. What I’ve had so far was delicious.” He followed Caro back inside. “Nice pool. I wouldn’t mind a swim sometime.”

I turned to Dom. “Let’s get back in the spa then you can tell me all about the local vampire council.”

“Those people are nothing but a pain in my ass.” He threw off his towel and helped me climb back in. He frowned when I took a seat across from him. “Don’t let Karla ruin this for us.”

“Remember, there is no us. We’re friends and maybe not even that after what I just heard. Why didn’t you introduce me to some of the other vampires? I could really use some vampire friends, especially female friends here in town. Since Fergus and Maggie left, I’ve had no one except the dancers around. You know what it’s like to watch what you say and do around mortals.”

“Yes, I do. But around the wrong vampires it can be even worse. The council here in Las Vegas is all about keeping us under the