Ким Харрисон - For a Few Demons More стр 14.

Three! I adjusted my grip on my spell pot. Good Lord. Matalina must be tickled.

Jenks dropped to my shoulder. I suppose, he grumbled. Jih is beside herself. She likes them all. I just stole Matalina and didnt bother with the traditional, season-long supervised courtship. Jih wants to make a dragonfly hut. Poor guy who wins is going to need it.

I wanted to look at him, but he was too close. You stole Matalina?

Yup. If we had jumped through all the hoops, we never would have gotten the front entryway gardens or the flower boxes.

My eyes went to my feet, and I picked my path so I wouldnt jar him. He had dropped tradition to gain a six-by-eight swath of garden and some flower boxes. Now he had a walled garden of four city lots. Jenks was doing well. Well enough that his children could take time from their life for the rituals that marked it. Its nice that Jih has you to help her, I said.

I suppose, he muttered, but I could tell he was eager for the chance to guide his daughter in making a good decision in whom to spend her life with. Maybe thats why I keep making such stellar decisions in my own love life, I thought, smirking at the idea of Jenks coming out on a first date with me and grilling the poor guy. Then I blinked. He had warned Kisten to behave himself when I went out with him that first time. Damn, had Kisten gotten Jenkss stamp of approval?

The gust from Jenkss wings cooled the sweat on my neck. Hey, I gotta go. Shes waiting. Ill see you tonight.

Sure, I said, and he rose up. Tell her I said congrats!

He gave me a salute and darted off. I watched him for a moment, then continued to the back door, imaging the grief he was going to put the three young pixy bucks through. The heavenly scent of baking muffins was slipping out the kitchen window, and, breathing deeply, I climbed up the few stairs. I checked the bottoms of my sneakers, stomped my feet, and entered the torn-apart living room. Three Guys and a Toolbox had yet to show up, and the smell of splintered wood mixed with the scent of baking. My stomach rumbled, so I headed into the kitchen. It was empty but for the muffins cooling on the stove, and after dropping my cuttings by the sink, I washed my hands and eyed the cooling bread. Apparently Ivy was up and in the mood to bake. Unusual, but I was going to take advantage of it.

Juggling a muffin and the fish food, I fed myself and Mr. Fish both, then pulled a dark green T-shirt on over my chemise and collapsed into my chair, happy with the world. I startled at the sudden skittering of claws, and an orange ball of feline terror streaked into the kitchen and under my chair. Pixies spilled in, a swirling storm of high-pitched screeching and whistles that made my skull hurt.

Out! I shouted, standing. Get out! The church is her safe place, so get out!

Pixy dust thickened to make my eyes water, but after the loud complaints and muttered disappointment, the Disney nightmare subsided as quickly as it had come. Smirking, I peered under my char. Rex was huddled, her eyes black and her tail fluffed, the picture of fear incarnate. Jenks must already be at Jihs, since his kids knew hed bend their wings backward till they slipped dust if he caught them teasing his cat.

Whats the matter, sweet pea? I crooned, knowing better than to try to pet her. Did those nasty pixies bother you?

Eyes averted, she hunched down, content to stay where she was. Snorting, I carefully settled back, feeling like the great protector. Rex never sought me out for attention, but when danger threatened, I was where she ended up. Ivy said it was a cat thing. Whatever.

I reached for my nail polish, taking careful bites of breakfast between touch-up swipes. A soft scuffing in the hallway brought my attention up as Ivy came in, and I smiled. She was dressed in her exercise tights and had a light sheen of sweat on her. What was all that about? she asked, going to the stove and wedging a muffin out of the tin.

Mouth full, I pointed under my chair.

Oh, poor kitty, she said, sitting in her spot and dropping her hand to the floor.

Disgust puckered my brow when the stupid cat padded to her, head up and tail smoothed. My annoyance deepened when Rex jumped into her lap, settling down to stare at me. The cat suddenly turned to the hallway, and a sharp rapping of heels grew loud. Eyes wide, I looked at Ivy, but my question was answered when Skimmer breezed in, brushed, tidied, and looking as perfect as an uncut wedding cake in her stark white shirt and black slacks.

When did she get here? I thought, then flushed. She never left last night. I glanced at Ivy, deciding I was right when my roommate dumped Rex out of her lap and found great interest in her e-mails, opening them up and throwing out the spamavoiding me. Hell, I didnt care what they did together. But apparently Ivy did.

Hi, Rachel, the slight vampire said. Then, before I could answer, she bent to give Ivy a kiss. Ivy stiffened in surprise, and I blinked when Ivy pulled away before it could turn passionatewhich was clearly where Skimmer had intended it to go. Recovering smoothly, Skimmer headed for the muffins. Ill be done with work about ten tonight, she said, putting one on a plate and sitting carefully between us. Do you want to meet for an early dinner?

Ivys face was creased in annoyance at the attempted kiss. Skimmer was doing it to bother me, maybe scare me off, and Ivy knew it. No, she said, not looking from her monitor. Ive got something planned.

Like what? I thought, deciding that Skimmers and my relationship was probably going to nosedive like a brick with wings. This was really, really not anything I was prepared for.

Skimmer carefully broke her muffin in two, then got to her feet to find a knife and the butter. Leaving them by her plate, she moseyed to the coffeemaker, her steps carrying the presence and power of the courtroom. Damn. Im in trouble.

Coffee, Ivy? she asked, the sun blinding on her shirt, crisp and pressed for the office.

Sure. Thanks.

Feeling the tension, Rex slunk out. Wish I could.

Here you go, sweets, the vamp said, bringing Ivy a cup. It wasnt the oversize mug with our Vampiric Charms logo on it that Ivy liked, but maybe she used them because I did.

Ivy jerked back when Skimmer tried to steal another kiss. Instead of being upset, the woman confidently sat down again to meticulously butter her muffin. She was pulling both Ivys and my strings, fully in charge though Ivy was the more dominant of the two.

I wasnt going to leave because she was trying to make me uncomfortable. Feeling my blood pressure rise, I settled myself firmly in my chair. It was my kitchen, damn it.

Youre up early, the blond, blue-eyed vamp said to me as if it meant something.

I fought to keep my eyes from narrowing. Did you make these? I asked, raising what was left of my muffin.

Skimmer smiled to show her sharp canine teeth. Yes, I did.

Theyre good.

Youre welcome.

I didnt say thank you, I shot back, and Ivys hand on her mouse paused.

Skimmer ate her muffin, watching me with unblinking eyes and slowly widening pupils. My scar started tingling, and I stood. Im going to shower, I said, irate that she was giving me the creeps, but I did need to get cleaned up.

Ill alert the media, Skimmer said, licking the butter suggestively from her finger.

I went to tell her to shove it up her ass and lay an egg with it, but the front doorbell rang, and my manners stayed intact. Thats Kisten, I said, then grabbed my shoulder bag. I was clean enough, and the last thing I wanted was three vampires in my kitchen and me naked in the shower. Im outta here.

Ivy broke from her computer, clearly surprised. Where are you going?

I glanced at Skimmer, feeling a blush rise. Drivers ed. Kistens taking me.

Oh, how sweet! Skimmer said, and I gritted my teeth. Refusing to respond, I headed for the hallway and the door, dirty knees or not. A sharp snap jerked me to a stop, and I turned, catching a blur of motion. Skimmer was red, clearly shocked and chagrined, but Ivy was smug. Something had happened, and Ivy arched an eyebrow at me in a dry amusement.

The front doorbell clanked again, but I wasnt a good enough person to walk out of here now without saying something. You going to be around tonight for dinner, Ivy? I asked, cocking my hip. Maybe it was mean, but I was mean.

Ivy took a bite of her muffin, crossing her legs and leaning forward. Ill be in and out, she said, wiping the corner of her mouth with a pinkie. But Ill be here about midnight.

Okay, I said lightly. Ill see you later. I beamed at Skimmer, now sitting primly but obviously torn between seething and sulking. Bye, Skimmer. Thanks for breakfast.

Youre welcome.

Translation: Choke on it, bitch.

The doorbell rang a third time, and I hustled down the hallway, my good mood restored. Coming! I shouted, fussing with my hair. I looked okay. It was only a bunch of teenagers.

I plucked Jenkss aviator jacket from the post in the foyer and shrugged into it just for looks. The coat was a remnant from his stint at being people-size. Id gotten his jacket, Ivy had gotten his silk robe, and wed thrown out his two dozen toothbrushes. Shoving the door open, I found Kisten waiting, his Corvette at the curb. He didnt work much until after sunset, and his usual trendy suit had been replaced with jeans and a black T-shirt, tucked in to show off his waist. Smiling with his mouth closed to hide his sharp canines, he rocked from heel to toe in his boots with his fingers jammed in his front pockets, tossing his dyed-blond hair out of his blue eyes with a practiced motion that said he was most assuredly all that. What made it work was that he was.

You look good, I said, my free hand slipping between his trim waist and his arm, using him for balance as I leaned up and in for an early-afternoon kiss hello right there at the threshold.

Eyes closing, I breathed deeply as his lips met mine, intentionally bringing in the scent of leather and the incense that clung to vampires as if it were a second skin. He was like a drug, throwing off pheromones to relax and soothe potential blood sources. We werent sharing blood, but who was I to not take advantage of a thousand years of evolution?

You look dirty, he said when our lips parted. I fell back to my heels, my smile growing to meet his when he added, I like dirty. Youve been in the garden. Eyebrows rising, he tugged me back into him, angling us into the darker foyer. Am I early? he said, the richness of his voice under my ear sending a shiver through me.

Yes, thank God, I replied, enjoying the mild rush. I liked kissing vampires in the dark. The only thing better was being in an elevator descending to certain death.

I was blocking his way into the sanctuary, and when he realized I wasnt going to invite him in, his grip on my upper arms hesitated. Your class isnt until one-thirty. You have time to take a shower, he said, clearly wanting to know why I was rushing out the door.

Maybe if you help me, I thought wickedly, unable to stop my grin. He caught my look, and as a spark of titillation zinged through me, his nostrils widened to take in my mood. He couldnt hear my thought, but he could read my pulse, my temperature, and considering the randy look I knew I had, it wasnt hard to figure out what was on my mind.

His fingers tightened, and from the hallway came Ivys voice, Hi, Kist.

Not dropping his gaze, Kisten answered, Morning, love, not bothering to take out the heat rebounding between us.

She snorted, the soft sound of her bathroom door closing a clear indication that she was all right with the relationship Kisten and I had, despite their old boyfriend/girlfriend status. If he touched my blood, things would get nasty, which was why Kisten wore caps on his teeth when we slept together. But if I was going to be sharing my body with someone other than Ivy, shed rather it be with Kisten. And thatswhere we were.

Ivy and Kistens relationship was more platonic these days, with a little blood thrown in to keep things close. Our situation had become a balancing act since she had tasted my blood and swore never to touch it again, but she didnt want Kisten touching it either, unable to give up the hope we could find a way to make it work, even as she denied it was possible. Defying his usual submissive role, Kisten had told Ivy hed risk it if I succumbed to temptation and let him break my skin. But until then we could all pretend that everything was normal. Or whatever passed for normal these days.

Lets just go? I said, my ardor cooling at the reminder that this screwed-up situation would hold steady as long as the status quo didnt change.

Chuckling, he let me push him to the door, but Skimmers obvious throat clearing turned him from pliable vampire to immovable rock, and I slumped in defeat when her sultry voice echoed in the sanctuary. Good morning, Kisten.

Kistens smile widened as his gaze flicked between the two of us, clearly sensing my exasperation. Can we go? I whispered.