Page 47 (1/2)
"Especially wrapped in a bed sheet, you bad boy" Flo pulled his hand to her lips and nipped at his knuckles "Pardon us, Gloriana We are full of passion for each other Like two teenagers, yes?"
I stood and smiled at them Wasn’t this a treat? I not only was a third wheel here, but I was being reraphic way possible that my own love life was a suck-fest Sure, I could sleep with Blade again, but that would only cos Or I could bed Dah I hated the way I felt Jealous, out of sorts and, watching Richard stare at Flo’s lips, horny enough to actually consider calling Blade
Richard looked up at h my block Just how old was this vampire?
"Florence, would you excuse me a moment? I think I’ll walk Gloriana to her door ToOf course" Flo gave me a serious look "Have an open mind, Glory Ricardo’s in my life noould hate to have to find a new rooht now, Flo And you won’t have to find a new rooot , Richard I can make it upstairs just fine"
"Please Hu to tell you"
If it was a passionate declaration of his love for Flo, he could spare ripped ot outside, he gave Valdez a look that had s I shivered Okay What the hell was going on here? Richard punched in the code that Flo had obviously given him and held the door open so I could enter the apart out, us in I couldn’t believe Valdez had allowed it And he wasn’t even barking Freaky
"Stop right here I can get upstairs on s" I looked around No one was above us on the stairwell or in front of the mailboxes that took up one side of the small lobby "What is it you want to tell me, Richard?"
"I know you still think Ivampires with a cross"
Well, that laid it all out "Have you? For buddies Even Flo says you think we’re demons from hell" Well, if I wanted to earna whale of a job Sorry, I get a little pun happy when I’m nervous Have I led hat I a tiainst the wall "And I won’t hurt you, Gloriana"
I released the breath I hadn’t knoas holding This was one scary dude Powers off the charts or ht, St Clair
"We are e are, Richard I’ve struggled with it too And wasted a lot of ti my oer" I saw myself at the top of the stairs And I was there In front of my own apartht behind ood friend That you love her as she deserves to be loved" Richard put his hand on my shoulder and I couldn’t have moved an inch if my life depended on it
"Yes, I do love Flo She’s a wonderful friend I’ve been worried about her Because of your… secrets" Dalass that Richard really did love my roomie His eyes met mine and he let me see the truth of that
"My secrets are my own I promise I’ll not har soain, he let me see that he meant it As solemn as a vow Of course, he’d taken the vows to be a priest once too Obviously he’d discarded the celibacy vow in a big way
"I’m a man, Gloriana I love God I’ve never stopped But I was not meant to serve Him inside the Church So I chose immortality And to serve Hihtened on my shoulder for a
"You sound like some kind of holy crusader"
"I have been" Richard finally let ood now?"
"Good? If youother vamps…" I lifted hts, but you’re stronger than Blade, stronger than any vamp I’ve ever known I could be under a whammy here and I wouldn’t have a clue"
"You’re very clever, Gloriana I’ood friend and champion" He smiled "You are her champion, are you not?"
"Yes, I a Or you’ll have to answer to h his ass off at ether until she decides to o back to her? And send up " I pulled my keys out of my pocket "I don’t appreciate all this show of power Valdez will sulk for a month that he let me down"
"I’ll erase hisup those stairs and think he’s been with you everyat me