As I reached the door, there was a tug on the back of my shirt. I pivoted sharply, ready to reprimand the tugger. I hadn’t expected to see the vision that was then in front of me.
Sam.
My initial reaction was to hitch in a breath and insert warmth into my expression. But then reality quickly kicked in. I sighed, irritated. “Joy, what’re you doing?”
“This is what you want, isn’t it,” she said bitterly.
“Joy, that’s -”
“I can give you that. You don’t need to make her your consort, you don’t need to do all this, I can give you that.”
“You have a week to get out,” I repeated.
Before I could open the door she threw herself in front of me, still physically a perfect imitation of Sam, leaning back against the door. Her hands grabbed my t-shirt. “Jared, listen to me. I can give you what you want. If this is what you want to see, who you want to see, then this is what I’ll do. And I’ll be better than she is. You’ll be able to see her in front of you like this but you won’t have to deal with all the shit she pulls. I won’t insist on being you’re only consort. I won’t talk down to you. I won’t disrespect you. I won’t fight you.”
I sighed. “I know. That’s why you’ll never be her.”
“So, what, you’re saying it’s not enough because you care about her?”
For a second my mind went blank, but then I deduced that of course I didn’t. I couldn’t. The only people I cared about were Evan and Antonio. I didn’t do feelings when it came to women. I’d already been over all this once in my head before; just because I wanted her as much as I did, it didn’t mean anything. It was just lust on a very grand scale. A very, very grand scale. That was all it could be.
I removed Joy’s hands from my shirt. “Have a bit of pride.” And then I left.
Chapter Twelve
(Sam)
At eight-thirty in the evening exactly there was a knock on my apartment door. Wow, Jared had actually used the door rather than just teleporting in. He was obviously on his best behaviour. Imagine that. Full points for his punctuality.
Our eyes raked over each other as I opened the door. God there was no denying how gorgeous he looked in his designer pale blue shirt and designer black trousers – such a simple combination and yet he looked edible. I suddenly felt underdressed even though I was wearing a blood-red cocktail dress that was so thin and clingy it was more like an extra layer of skin. Somehow, though, it didn’t look tarty or cheap. Fletcher had sorted my entire outfit. Three hours he had spent rallying around me asking me to try things on. Eventually he had settled on this dress, a pair of high-heeled strap-up red shoes, and a matching purse.
Jared did exactly what Fletcher said he would do. He flashed me the sexiest, hungriest smile and sucked in a breath. “I’m so torn right now.”
“Torn?”
“As much as I know how important it is to go to this gathering at Connelly’s, all I really want to do is push you back inside and ravish you. What to do...”
“What makes you think I’d let you ravish me?”
He settled his hands softly on my hips. “I held up to my side of the bargain, now it’s your turn to deliver.”
“You really got rid of them?” I hadn’t actually been convinced that he would. Not just for me, just like that.
“I told you I would, didn’t I?”
I pursed my lips. “Then maybe I’ll let you ravish me after Connelly’s gathering.”
“You’re a tease.”
“You like that. Now let’s go.”
“Yes, let’s. The sooner it’s over the sooner I can get you back here.”
“How we getting there?”
He smiled. “How do you think?”
There was then that familiar queasy feeling in my stomach and suddenly we were outside a security, double-glazed box that was attached to a large set of black iron gates. One of the two guards stood within it was startled by our abrupt presence but seemed to recognise Jared and dropped his reproachful twist of the lips.
“Evening,” he greeted Jared, carefully taking the invitation in Jared’s hand that had been addressed to him from Connelly. He hadn’t acknowledged my presence at all. Wow, they really were stuck-up round these parts. Stepping aside, he gestured for us to pass through. “Have a good night, Sir.”
Jared nodded and then, with a hand at my back, guided me through. Now, I’m not one to get much impressed by big fancy houses, but this one came second to Antonio’s mansion. The grey limestone building looked as smooth as a baby’s bum. It was three stories high and had varying stained-glass windows of varying styles and sizes, something I wouldn’t have thought would have added to its character. It had a very welcoming, extravagant portico which, right now, was the only part of this angle of the mansion through which light was shining through.
The winding path toward it was a bit annoying, I felt like I was off to see the Wizard of bloody Oz. If I hadn’t been wearing my heels I would have suggested to Jared that we take a small de-tour and just cross straight over the lawn. He’d have probably said no. Tonight I had to do as I was told. How wonderful.
Having entered through the solid pine porch doors, we came to the Grand Entry Hall. It was crowded with vampires. Obviously the gathering began here. It seemed to then branch out further ahead underneath where the chandelier was situated on what was to be something like an eight foot high ceiling, with vampires coming and going from rooms on both the left and right. I guessed them to be the living room and the dining room. Far ahead was a curved solid pine staircase that was carpeted golden and had intricate carvings. Connelly was obviously a flashy sod.
Remember not to leave my side, said Jared.
Sir, yes, Sir.
One hand still on my back, Jared guided me through the crowd. His touch burnt in the most pleasurable way. The vampires had all congregated into circles, some big and some small. Plenty of those heads turned as we squished through and I saw lots of pairs of eyes focus on who was behind me and then nod respectfully. Jared, of course. I got a second look due to being the Heir’s consort. Suddenly I felt like I was in school walking down the corridor with the most popular boy, everyone wondering what it was about me that made him pick me.
The blokes seemed to approve of me. I suppose the blood-red dress helped with that. As for the females...well they seemed to be looking for something about me that might make me worth gossiping about. Once they realised I was a Sventé, they’d be in their element. If it wasn’t for the warmth coming from his hand, I’d be feeling mightily uncomfortable and a little agitated already.