Part 17 (1/2)
”You never could. I try to keep the two of you in different places in my heart. You are my mate, Bella.”
”But will I ever be as close to you as you were to her?”
”I hope so.”
She understood what he could not put into words. Bless her for that. And it gave him all the more reason to try his d.a.m.nedest never to allow Aby into that place in his heart that Bella now occupied.
”I suppose you should be going?”
She eyed the keys he held out. Please change your mind. Stay away from the vampires, and make love with me tonight.
She took the keys. ”Remember what I said about staying out of sight.”
”I bow to your command, sweet. But know, if all h.e.l.l breaks loose, I'm going to be there, loud and proud.”
”Deal.”
Scarlet was a local bar that catered to Goths and, now that Bella thought about it, probably paranormals, as well. She'd been here only once previously, with Seth. The entire place was lit in red: the booths were red vinyl, the dance floor was lit underneath by red bulbs, the windows had red stained gla.s.s and even the toilets were red.
An appropriate place to meet vampires, she supposed. If one wanted to meet a vampire. Which she did not.
”Please don't let him be a vampire.”
Thankful they were meeting in public, she parked the Mercedes in the lot and hopped out. Wearing red might be overkill, but she never failed to dress the part when clubbing.
Though consciously aware of her surroundings, she didn't spot a werewolf lurking in the shadows. Of course, Severo would be discreet. She smiled to think he was out there somewhere, keeping an eye on her. And it didn't feel like she was being stalked, only that she was loved.
Her black velvet stilettos clicked on the sidewalk, and she had merely to flash the bouncer a smile for admission.
It took a while to adjust to the atmosphere. The red tricked her eyes and painted the faces around her.
Dirgelike music surprised her. Seth liked the funky techno stuff. He'd call this stuff a snoozer.
”Where are you, Seth?” She sipped her drink and scanned the crowd and the upper level. Seth waved and lifted his drink.
With a glance to the door-would Severo make good on his promise to follow her?-Bella headed upstairs.
Seth rose and kissed both her cheeks and mouth. Lemon, cologne and beer-the scent worked on him. His hair seemed darker, the long fringy bangs hanging over his eyes. A couple of silver rings flashed on his fingers. Seth had never worn jewelry; bling, he said, was for posers.
Bella slid into the booth next to him. He held her hand, so she had no choice but to sit close. That was usual. He seemed to be the same old Seth, except for the rings. But a turtleneck in this weather?
”I've missed you,” he said close to her ear so she could hear over the music. ”You look great, Bellybean.”
”You don't look so bad yourself. You dump Elvira?”
”No b.i.t.c.hy stuff tonight, Bella. Please. She's my lover, and you're going to have to accept that.”
”I can, but does that mean you're a vampire?”
”Why do you ask?”
”Severo said you couldn't have survived this long without her turning you.”
”You still hanging around that b.a.s.t.a.r.d werewolf? Is that why you're never home?”
”I had to move out to his place after vampires tried to kill me. Did you hear that, Seth?” She leaned close to his ear. ”Vampires tried to kill me. She's doing this, you know. She's jealous.”
”I don't want to get into this argument again. You're being brainwashed by that dog.”
”Don't call him a dog. He's a wolf.”
”Yeah, and I'm Renfield.” He slugged back the beer. Bella stroked the stem of her cosmo goblet. She had no appet.i.te for alcohol right now. Or for snotty friends.
”Hey,” he said in a calmer voice, ”we started on the wrong foot. Let's just chill and catch up, okay?”
”Is that why you wanted to see me?”
”It's been so long, and I know I've been ignoring you. So you've moved? Permanently?”
”No, I still have the loft. I'm not sure about moving to town right now.”
”Fair enough. What about the audition? Wasn't that a few nights ago?”
He'd remembered. Good old Seth.
”I didn't get the apprentices.h.i.+p.” She shrugged. ”I'll give it another go next time.”
”Bella, I'm sorry.” He hugged her and kissed her jaw. Beyond his usual scent, he smelled like something darker. Blood? She didn't want to think about it. ”Want to come to a party next weekend?”
”At your woman's house?”
”My house. But she'll be there. I'd like to introduce you. Sans wolf, of course.”
Next weekend was the full moon. Bella didn't want to go anywhere. Nor did an invite to meet Elvira sound particularly intriguing.
”Can I take a rain check? Severo's got some things going on.”
Seth laughed and a jerk of his arm spilled the cosmo across the table. ”Ah, s.h.i.+t. Sorry. Just push it all to the other side. That's cool.” He pressed his nose against Bella's hair and kissed her hard on the neck, lingering too long. ”Let me guess. Full moon coming soon? He's going out on the prowl. Does the werewolf f.u.c.k you, Bella?”
She hauled off to slap him, but the small booth wouldn't allow her to get her arm around. Seth caught her fist and kissed it. His wicked smile disturbed her.
”You're crude, Seth.”
”Yeah, but you know what they say about werewolves, don't you?”
”What?”