Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six(40)

"This job for Lucifer isn't endangering your immortal soul, is it, Glory?" Penny put her hand on my arm.
"I hope not." I shook my head. "No, of course not. I won't let it. I'm just helping Rafe pay off a debt. Nothing more." I looked out the tinted window and watched the houses get farther apart as we headed toward Ray's rented home in the hills. I hit speed dial for Jerry and told him where we were going, listened to yet another lecture about Ian, and managed to leave out any mention of Penny's run-in with the demons. I ended the call, then made a quick one to Rafe, ending it just as the limo stopped in the curved driveway in front of a large home built of native limestone. Bodyguards kept the paparazzi outside an iron gate.
The driver opened the car door and helped us out. Ray must have heard the car arrive because he was smiling as he stood in the doorway. I noticed two more bodyguards, these Ian's, patrolling the grounds and pointed them out to Penny. They were blond surfer types, vampires of course, and Ian's trademark.
"There you are. I was beginning to worry." Ray kissed me on my cheek and did a fist bump with Penny. "Thought maybe you'd talked the kid here into chickening out."
"No, she's not a kid, as she frequently reminds me. And she deserves to meet Ian if she wants." I walked inside and gasped. The wall of windows exposed a panoramic view of a lake. No telling which one, Austin has several. Didn't matter. The moonlight on the water and the sprinkling of stars above and the few lights from houses rimming the lake below made for a beautiful setting.
"You like?" Ray kept his arm around me.
"Love it. This is even nicer than the last house you rented." I moved toward the terrace, a stone one easily accessed from doors off the living area. "Great for parties. The steps go down to a boat dock?"
"Of course. I've got a new boat on order. You know me. I like loud and fast." He squeezed my waist. "In my women too. Though once I've got 'em, I like to slow it way down."
"Ray!" I glanced at Penny.
"Hey, don't mind me. I can read his mind, remember?" She laughed. "Oops, I promised I'd quit doing that."
"It's not advisable to intrude uninvited." The deep voice sounded amused and we all turned to see Ian MacDonald stroll into the room. Ian was yet another handsome vampire. He looked more Viking than Scot, as if a Norse raider might have made a pit stop at the MacDonald castle back in the day. His light blond hair, piercing blue eyes and sharp nose, along with his deep tan were enough to make any woman sigh. Penny actually did, then she laughed in embarrassment.
"Sorry, I'm still learning. Only been a vampire for two weeks." She held out her hand.
"Uh, Penny, don't do that." I stepped between Penny and Ian with a smile. "I keep forgetting to tell you things. Some powerful vampires, like Ian here, can use touching your hand to take command of your will."
"Now, Gloriana, is that any way to introduce me to your fledgling?" Ian smiled and bowed in Penny's direction. "I never have to take command of a lovely woman. Women are usually quite happy to give me what I wish."
Penny laughed again, this time with genuine amusement. "Are you kidding? You've got to be kidding. Does that line work? Seriously?" She glanced at me. "Uh, maybe I'll shut up now."
"No, you've just made me proud." I grinned at Ian. "Modern women and even us ancient ones who've figured out how to get with the program are way over that command thing, Ian. You really do need a new line."
Ian exchanged looks with Ray. "Say what you will, Gloriana. I think most women do like a man who takes charge. At least when there's trouble. Your Campbell seems to hold your interest and he certainly is that type."
"Yes, well, that tendency of his has caused us some problems over the years." I really wanted to change the subject. "But Penny's here to talk to you about your research. And I know Ray's interested in it too. What do you think of Austin?"
"I like it. Property's certainly cheaper than it is on the West Coast." Ian looked out at the lake. "And I like settings like this one. Isolated. Yet close enough to an airport and technology to support my needs."
"Exactly. That's what I've been telling you." Ray stepped closer. "And, Glory, you'll like this. Ian says I've got to be off the sauce if I want to be part of his daylight experiments. That's why he was on board to do the rehab thing with me."
"That's great, Ray. At least the rehab part of it. I can tell you're off the sauce. You look good." I turned to Ian. "Daylight experiments. How experimental?" I hooked my arm through Ray's. "I really don't want to lose this man to a sunburn."
"Nothing dangerous. But, as I explained to Caine, I can't have extraneous chemicals in his system when I'm using my own formulas on him." Ian studied Penny. "You're blocking your thoughts, but I know you wanted to ask me about my work. Why don't you and I sit down and I'll show you some of my notes? Explain some of my projects." Ian glanced at me. "We'll be in Caine's study. Is that all right with you, Gloriana?"
"I don't need her permission, Mr. MacDonald." Penny shot me a look.
"Of course not," I said quickly.
"It's Dr. MacDonald, Penny. I have several PhDs and got my medical degree some decades ago as well. When you're immortal, you can indulge all your curiosities." Ian smiled. "But call me Ian, of course.
"Thanks, Ian. And it's Dr. Patterson since I got my own PhD," Penny said proudly. "But of course you can call me Penny. I'd been thinking about going to medical school myself before I got the big bite. I'd love to know how you managed it at night." They wandered off toward where I guess Ray had a study.
"Looks like a match made in heaven," Ray said quietly.
"Maybe. If I trusted Ian." I sighed. "This is a beautiful place. Much as I hate the water, I could even go for a boat ride on a night like this."
"How about skinny dipping?" Ray had that look in his eyes, that twinkle that always made me wish for a little more with him.
"That water's got to be frigid." I leaned against the wide stone wall. "Remember our run-in with Aggie during a midnight boat ride?" The Siren had had a crush on Ray, but that hadn't stopped her from forcing us to do her bidding or else suffer dire consequences. In hindsight, I understood. She'd been cursed, put into a hideous body by a jealous goddess. Kind of like how I'd been stuck with the demon Alesa. Things like that made you desperate, and you did stuff you normally wouldn't do. Though Aggie wasn't all sweetness and light even after her curse was lifted.
"Who could forget? She was one creepy sea monster. I'm glad she doesn't live in this lake." Ray chuckled. "I admit I keep expecting her to climb onto this terrace some night and try to seduce me."
"If she's in her hot human body, you'll probably let her." I gave him a hip bump.
"Maybe." He slid his arm around my waist again. "Thanks for helping me dry out this time. I'm still struggling with it, but Ian's given me the incentive I needed to stick with it. He's got some meds too that helped me with withdrawal. I'm doing better than I thought I would."
"That's wonderful, Ray." I leaned my head on his shoulder. "I was so worried about you."
"Good to know." He pulled me close and looked into my eyes. "I'm not going to tell you your business, Glory, but here's my take on your situation."
"Oh, great. Here it comes." I frowned. "Go ahead."
"Blade. He's a stick. Old-fashioned and not the best guy for a woman like you." Ray rubbed his thumb along my jaw to my chin. "You've moved along with the times, just like you told Ian. I don't see that happening with Blade. I'm just sayin'." He leaned forward and kissed me with a soft rub of his lips against mine, then trailed a path down my neck.
"Ray, you can't begin to understand how hard it is to have lived so long, to have seen as much of life as we have." I didn't move away, which is what I should have done as Ray nuzzled my neck, then kissed a sweet path along my cheek to my ear and down my throat to the pulse beating there.
"No, I don't understand. Don't need to. I just see the woman here in front of me. I see the woman who really gets me, who cares about me like no other woman has in a hell of a long time. Damn it, I don't have a lot of real friends. I'm closer to you and Nate than anyone else. And Nate doesn't really understand what I've been going through since I was turned. You know?" Ray was back at my mouth again and lingering a little longer, going a little deeper this time. Then he pulled back, his hand on my neck now, massaging, coaxing, while his lips danced along the other side of my face.
"Yes, I know. Of course I care. I care about my friends. It's, it's what I do." Oh, God, but he was sliding his fangs along that sensitive vein in my neck. And his other hand was easing along the silk of my blouse, almost touching but not quite the center of my breast. I couldn't breathe. Didn't need to. But if I did, would that push my nipple into his palm? I gasped.
"I'll always be your . . . friend, Glory. You need me? I'm there. Remember that."
"Ray, we can be friends without the sexual thing, you know." I kept my eyes on his, knowing it was important that I say this.
"With a woman?" He smiled. "Can't imagine it, babe. You're too soft, too delicious for me to just ignore what's right . . . here." He pressed his hand against my breast for only a moment, then let it trail away, down to my waist. "You didn't wear a bra tonight. Was that for me?"