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

“No, we’re almost there.” One last jerk and she stepped back. “Aha! You are now in the Mbrace of my miracle shapewear. Look down at yourself, Glory. What a shame you cannot see your reflection in a mirror.” She paced around me while I swayed and wiped my cheeks.

Valdez was in the room now, his growl raising the hair on my arms.

“Picture!” I finally remembered my phone in my purse. I’d put the chain over my shoulder and never let it go. I passed my phone to Karla with a shaky hand.

“Take my picture. I…I need to see how I look. Quick, before I fall. Record…results of torture.” My voice was breathy. I could barely talk.

Karla grabbed the phone and arranged my skirt so we could see the outline of my hips.

“Oh, you look fabulous. As model skinny as that Connie Washington. You know she had her picture in Vogue? Such cheekbones! We must check her feet. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen her without closed toe shoes.” Karla checked the photos then handed the phone back to me. “Look at that. You will be amazed.”

I couldn’t focus. The torture panty came all the way up to my rib cage. When I swallowed, I swear I could taste my kidneys. Nasty. Vile. I tried to fall back on the chaise but realized I couldn’t bend at the waist.

I peered at the pictures. Was that skinny woman me? No hips, no thighs. Too bad my mouth was wide open as I gasped for air. I was blinking rapidly when the room suddenly disappeared.

I woke up on the floor, the carpet rough under my cheek. Valdez had pieces of the panty in his mouth while Karla screeched at him. She called for her shape-shifters but they didn’t appear.

“What happened?” I moved my head, staring up at the ceiling then around the room. Gods, but my head ached. At least a quick check assured me that I had escaped from the Lycra hell that had tried to squeeze the life out of me. If I’d had a life, that is.

“Your damned hund ruined my beautiful panty. Tore it right off of you!” Karla’s fangs were down and she aimed her nails at Valdez’s throat. He dropped the scraps of panty and snarled.

“She fainted, you crazy bitch. You can’t put ten pounds of flour in a five-pound sack!” He walked up to me and peered down at my face. “Are you all right?”

“I’m better now except that your breath could drop a horse.” I pushed him away then sat up. “Karla, I’m sorry but I think Valdez is right. That panty was the wrong size. I needed a bigger one.”

“That defeats the purpose!” She picked up the pieces and examined them. “Don’t think I won’t send you a bill for this. You know how much this model costs?” She named a price and I swallowed. No wonder she was a millionaire.

“Like I said, I’m sorry. The thing is, after four hundred years in this body, I’m used to it. I told you, my sire loves my curves. I think I’ll let you sell those torture panties to mortals, okay?”

“Fine. You want business advice? Here it is. Come up with a bright idea, Glory. Make friends.” Karla glared at Valdez. “Use your network to your advantage. I certainly do. I have a shop in one of the casinos. I get a discount rent because one of the vampires here owns the casino. Too bad she hasn’t figured out how to let the house win so her casino is in trouble. But that’s how networking can help you.”

“Thanks. That’s the kind of advice I need.” I staggered to my feet and checked to make sure my dress hadn’t taken any damage. The effects of the alcohol were wearing off and I felt a little better but not great. “Will you introduce me to more of the vampires here?”

“I will.” She sniffed. “We must find a breath mint for your shifter or he will have to wait for you elsewhere. What are you feeding him?”

I told her about his dinner as we walked down the stairs.

The movie on the big screen was now “Dirty Dancing!” Connie crowed, getting up and spinning in front of the TV.

“We’ve only seen it a hundred times.” Dennis watched her spin. “A little faster, dumpling, I want to see if you’re wearing your red panties.”

“Swine.” She collapsed next to him and grabbed his hand. “Feel. No panties at all.”

“Ignore them. They are always at it.” Karla led me to a new group of men who stood talking and drinking. The man who’d complained about the smoker had joined them and turned to greet us.

“What happened upstairs? Did you find Glory to your liking, Karla? I heard screams. Were they of pleasure? Or is she into pain?” He grinned at me. “Perhaps she’ll play with me next.”

“Larry, let the woman get used to us first.” Karla kept her hand on my arm. “We were talking business upstairs. The matter of exchanging blood or whether she was interested in bed partners didn’t come up.”

“Karla, you are unusually slow tonight.” One of the men held out his hand. “Come upstairs with me. I will show you a good time.”

“Promises, promises.” But she did take his hand. “Larry, introduce Glory to the rest of this crowd. She wants to start her own business. Perhaps one of you can help her.” She slid her arm around the man’s waist. “Good night, all. This one had better keep me entertained until dawn or I will be back looking for a replacement.”

There were a lot of catcalls and raucous laughter. Then Larry turned to me. “We can find our own room or I can introduce you to these losers.”

I smiled. “Introduce me. I’m not ready for a room with a stranger.”

“Too bad.” Then Larry quickly went around the group. “I wish I could say the secret to starting a successful business was here but