Gypsy: Sons of Sangue Read online

  Ryder took the box. “How about we head to the ocean instead? I wouldn’t mind riding a few waves at midnight.”

  “You haven’t fed in three days.”

  He shrugged. “Not in the mood.”

  “You do know you have to feed?”

  He nodded his head once. “And I will.”

  Grayson followed him to the truck. “You still find it distasteful?”

  “Very. But I assume I’ll eventually get used to it. I’ll have no choice.” Ryder set down the boxes among the others, before turning to look at Grayson, taking his box from him and adding it to the pile. His smile split his face. “Besides, now that I’ll have my own room at the clubhouse, I’ll have someplace to take the ladies following my feeding.”

  “You can do that at the Rave, right after you feed.”

  “Not in the mood. You repeating it isn’t going to change my mind.”

  Grayson found it odd the prospect didn’t want to feed. He was newly turned and normally they needed blood more often than a seasoned vampire. He chalked the oddity up there with his quick change, not quite sure what to make of it. On his, or any of his brothers’ third day without communion, their skin had a near transparent quality to it, ashen looking. Ryder looked as healthy as the day he took his first taste of human blood. Rubbing his whiskered chin, he was just about to question Ryder more when Kane headed through the door with the last of the boxes.

  Setting them in the back of the truck, he pulled the roll-down door to the bed, slipped the hook through the latch and padlocked it closed. “Anyone following us to the house?”

  Suddenly the Rave seemed the more appealing. Grayson slapped Ryder on the shoulder. “No can do, Viper. Ryder needs to feed again.”

  Before Ryder could grumble up an excuse, Grayson continued, “You two get settled. I think you and Cara could use a night alone and away from our asses.”

  “Just wanting to get out of physical labor, Gabor. But you’re probably correct.”

  “Probably?” Cara balked as she walked out of the clubhouse. She reached up on her tiptoes and lightly kissed Kane’s lips. “I plan to keep you busy until your meeting in the morning. Don’t plan on getting any sleep. Our house needs breaking in … in every room,” she added with a grin.

  “Get in the truck, woman.” Kane looked at Grayson. “See you at the church meeting.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it. Those two ass wipes are going down.”

  He looked at Ryder. “Bring the prospect. I’m sure we’ll have some questions for him about the two that tried to kill his sorry ass.”

  Kane turned, climbed up into the truck and started the engine. The truck rumbled to life. Grayson continued to stare off into the night, long after the red taillights faded in the distance. Then he turned to Ryder and said, “Let’s go get some ass. You may not want to feed, but you sure in the hell won’t turn down getting laid.”

  Ryder smiled. “Now you’re talking. And if I happen to bite one while in the act, then maybe you’ll get off my ass about feeding.”

  Grayson laughed, clapped him on the shoulder then followed him back inside. “I have dibs on Draven’s room upstairs. Until we get P and his family out of here, the clubhouse is off limits for bringing the bitches home.”

  Chapter 12

  A curvy dark blonde stood by the bar, tossing back shots with Draven. A pair of black glasses were perched on the edge of her nose. Grayson couldn’t say he had ever seen the woman before. She wore a donor necklace about her throat, the vial resting in her jugular notch. It seemed he had spied several new donors as of late, that or he hadn’t been paying much attention to the women around the club over the past few months.

  The blonde turned, pointing her nicely rounded ass in his direction, swaying slightly from side to side to the music as she openly flirted with the barkeep. Grayson strode over to the bar, slid out one of the backless stools and took a seat beside her. Without asking, Draven pulled down the Single Barrel bottle of Jack Daniels. Grayson held up three fingers. Draven tossed a few ice cubes into a rocks glass, and poured the whiskey before coasting it across the smooth surface.

  Picking up the glass, he took a healthy swig, then placed it back on the bar, swishing the ice cubes about the amber liquid. Ryder had hit the floor moments ago, trolling for his next meal and possible fuck the minute they cleared the velvet rope at the door. Grayson figured he’d have little trouble attracting a bevy of beauties. He certainly wouldn’t need Grayson’s guidance. Not only had the change happened quickly with him, he had been a fast learner.

  The woman beside him laughed again, drawing back his attention. Her smile lit her face, the kind that could warm a cold soul. She also had an infectious laugh. Grayson liked that about her.

  “What’s your name, doll?”

  Her gaze boldly roamed over him before landing back on his face. Grayson contained his chuckle. Not shy this one. The exact type of woman he didn’t mind mixing company with. She stuck out her hand, which caught him off guard. But instead of shaking it, he brought it to his lips and kissed the backside.

  “I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said.

  “I’m Cathy.”

  “Nice to meet you, Cathy.” Grayson arched a brow. “Why haven’t I seen you around?”

  She shrugged. “You were probably too busy with your throng of groupies to notice.”

  “Anyone ever tell you that you have a great laugh?”

  She tucked one side of her bobbed hair behind her ear. A slight blush colored her cheeks. When she glanced at Draven, he raised his glass and offered a wink.

  Cathy returned her attention back to Grayson. “Once or twice.”

  “So why are you entertaining this loser?” Grayson indicated Draven with his thumb. “Surely, there are better finds.”

  “Fuck off, Gypsy.” Draven laughed. “Keep it up, asshole, and I’ll cut off your endless supply of whiskey.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.” And as if proving his point, Grayson slid his empty glass across the bar.

  “Sure of yourself as always, I see.” Draven poured him another glass full. “My darling Cathy, since this ass won’t introduce himself, I’ll make the introductions. This is Gypsy Gabor. The infamous vice president of the Sons of Sangue. Womanizer, man whore, philanderer, whatever you want to call him, but mostly shameless is what he is.”

  Her laughter brought forth Grayson’s chuckle. Comfortable with his present company, he could listen to her all night. Too bad other than feeding, he found himself once again not in the mood to get laid. If he didn’t get Tamera off his brain soon, his penis might shrivel up from non-use. When the hell had he become so fucking pathetic? At least his one-time best bud was getting some action out of his cock. Should he ever decide to speak to the bastard again, Anton owed him his gratitude.

  “So what brings you to the Rave tonight, Gypsy?”

  Grayson shook off his sobering thoughts and smiled at Cathy. “I’m famished. How about taking pity on a down-on-his-luck vampire and offer up one of your arteries? That is if you haven’t fed one of my brothers lately.”

  She shook her head. “I feed Wolf on occasion, and sometimes Kinky, but neither has been around.”

  “Their loss, I assure you. So how do you know my man Draven?”

  Her smile grew at the mention of the bar owner. Grayson got the impression Cathy might just have a bit of a crush on the man. Draven picked up her empty glass, set it below the counter and replaced it with a fresh mojito. Cathy took a sip through the slim straw, before stirring the contents and watching the barkeep over the top of her glass.

  Draven replied for her. “I believe it was last fall. She came here looking to rent one of my apartments, on the suggestion from a friend. We hung out. She makes me laugh. Long short of it, she heard rumors about the donor society. I had lost a few donors thanks to the fuck Hawk beheaded, not to mention you boys taking a couple off the market. Cathy was willing to help out.”

  “Well, then—”

  Grayson cu
t off in mid-sentence as a familiar scent and redhead captured his focus, weaving her way through the crush of dancers and heading in his direction. Very much alone. Nowhere did he spy the big blond’s head above the crowd. Anton was a hard man to miss.

  “Gypsy?” He barely heard Cathy ask over the buzzing in his ears. “Did you want communion?”

  “Sure, doll.” His gaze stayed on Tamera as she easily cut through the mob. She caught the attention of many men as she weaved her way, but none of them dared to touch knowing she belonged to one of the Sons. “But it’s going to have to wait.”

  Once she cleared the dance floor and made her way up the three steps and past the pillars, her gaze fell upon Grayson. She quickly masked her expression. He had no idea if she was surprised to find him or had come specifically looking for him. One thing was clear, though, she had no doubt left without telling Anton. With Kaleb’s order to stick like glue to Anton, he wouldn’t have allowed her to come here alone. Not without chancing repercussions from club P.

  His free hand rested on Cathy’s thigh. Grayson had placed it there just before he was ready to take her up on her offer to feed. Tamera hadn’t missed the gesture. Her darkened gaze and flared nostrils told him she wasn’t thrilled.

  Grayson gave Cathy’s thigh a squeeze, then leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Give me a moment, doll. I need to take care of something.”

  To her credit, she barely gave Tamera the time of day. Grayson almost laughed. “I’ll just be sitting here with Draven, playing bodyguard.”

  Draven raised a brow. “Bodyguard?”

  “Yeah.” Cathy laughed easily. “A body as fine as yours needs guarding.”

  “Oh, that is so lame.” Draven chuckled.

  Grayson dismissed whatever else was said as he rose from his stool and approached Tamera. “Speaking of bodyguards, where’s yours?”

  “If you are speaking of my mate—”

  “You know damn well that’s who I am talking about.”

  “Out. I was bored.”

  “Out with …?”

  “Like it’s any of your business.”

  “It is, when the last thing I heard from Hawk was his specific orders for you to stick by Blondy’s side if you weren’t going to stay locked down in the clubhouse.” Grayson’s ire skyrocketed. Tamera put herself in jeopardy. Someone needed to answer for that. “It appears Blondy’s not following direct orders from the P.”

  “It’s not his fault.” She hissed, clearly angry he would suggest as much. “Blondy’s phone rang. He walked outside to finish the conversation. When he returned, he told me he had someone he needed to see and that I was to lock all the doors and stay put. I sneaked out. This is on me.”

  Grayson couldn’t help wonder who Anton felt it necessary to disobey Hawk for and leave his mate unattended. “I would think instead of risking penance for him violating a direct order, he’d have you naked, beneath him in his bed. If you were mine…”

  “Seriously? Are you for real?” Tamera dismissed him with a wave of her hand, clearly pissed. Walking up to the bar, she said, “I need a tall, very stiff drink, Draven. What do you suggest?”

  “How about a Zombie? It’s got quite the kick with a bit of absinthe. Guaranteed to knock you… Well, maybe not a vampire, but a normal person on their ass.”

  “Give me one of those. Maybe I’ll feel a buzz for a second and it will give me the patience to tolerate this ass.” She glanced at Grayson and smiled sarcastically. “You might want to keep them coming, Draven. I seriously doubt one is going to do the trick.”

  Tamera tried to disregard him, act as though he wasn’t standing within touching distance. She wasn’t fooling anyone, leastwise him. The scent of her desire gave her away and he wasn’t about to let a good opportunity to slip.

  Not this time.

  If Anton was foolish enough to leave her on her own, giving her the opportunity to slip out, then he was insolent enough to take advantage. He should feel bad, but he didn’t. Not in the slightest. Even if a Son never touched another’s mate.

  She belonged to him first.

  The thought ran through his head a second time. Maybe it was time to pay Anton back for crawling into his bed and holding her all those months ago when she was his mate. He’d keep his dick to himself and not violate the code, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t make her wish otherwise.

  “So why sneak out?”

  Her brow crinkled. “I needed to feed.”

  “I call bullshit. You don’t look desperate for an artery. Besides, Blondy wouldn’t allow you to come here unescorted.” Draven slid another whiskey in front of Grayson. He took a sip of the amber liquid. The burn followed his esophagus. “I think you had other reasons for sneaking out.”

  Red blossomed in her cheeks as she sipped her Zombie through a straw and feigned disinterest. “I suppose you think that reason is you?”

  He placed his hand in the small of her back, unable to keep from touching her. She didn’t bother to remove it, or even berate him for taking the liberty. A shiver passed up her spine. Deny it all she wanted, she still desired him.

  “Who the hell cares, il mio dolce rossa. The fact of the matter is you’re standing here with me and not Blondy. I call that a choice.”

  When she didn’t respond, he said, “I think it would be highly irresponsible of me to leave you unprotected. Like I said, Hawk’s directive was for you to stay with Blondy. He’s not here, so I think it’s my duty to take his place.”

  “How honorable of you.”

  He slid his fingers across her butt cheek. Her tiny intake of air didn’t go unnoticed. And yet, she still didn’t move his hand. “You think Blondy would be happy about who elected himself to protect me?”

  “I’m just trying to do the noble thing and see you remain unharmed.”

  Tamera chuckled. “Sure you are, Gypsy. I caught the prospect on my way in. Ryder could do as much. He could see that I arrive home without incident.”

  “But you don’t want to go.”

  It was a statement she didn’t deny. “If I wanted to stay at the farmhouse, I’d still be there. I wanted to be in the company of others. As I said, I was bored.”

  She took another sip of her drink, then played with the straw as if to keep herself from looking at him. Grayson wanted to know why. Hell, he needed to hear he was the reason she stood at the Rave.

  “Why are you here?”

  “Truth?”

  He smoothed his hand over her ass’s fullness. It was all he could do to keep from sliding farther south, testing the scent of her desire. He would bet his motorcycle cut if he did, he’d find her wet.

  “Truth.”

  She turned and locked gazes with him. Her green gaze edged with black. “I knew you would be here.”

  Too much truth. Not that he hadn’t guessed as much, but hearing the confession come from her lips shot an arrow straight to his groin. Damn if his cock didn’t stand up and take notice. “You wanted to see me? Why?”

  She looked down at her drink, her finger trailing the water droplets running down the side of the tall glass. “It’s not what you think.”

  “Enlighten me.” Grayson leaned dangerously close to the shell of her ear, resisting the urge to follow the delicate skin with his tongue. Instead he whispered, “From what I scent, I don’t think I’m far off.”

  “I won’t deny it. There’s no hiding the truth anyway. I’ll probably always desire you, Gypsy. That doesn’t make it right.”

  “We can go upstairs. Talk about this.”

  Not a muscle moved on her face as she stared at him. Part of him hoped she would take him up on his offer, the other part thought she should slap him for even suggesting it. She belonged to Anton. Grayson had made his choice. He had no right to ask her to follow him up those stairs, to go somewhere private with him, even if his intentions didn’t include releasing the hard-on pressing against his leathers. Regardless of what his cock wanted, she was off limits. Plain and simple.

  Tame
ra stood, pushed back her drink and turned toward him. He slipped his hand to her waist. Even though she should refuse him outright, go look up Ryder and request an escort back to the farmhouse, he hoped she wouldn’t. Damn himself, but he wanted her to follow him, to spend some time alone, test the limits.

  “You know I should tell you to go to hell.”

  “You should.”

  He wouldn’t disagree with her on that point. Anton was his friend, even if Grayson was irate, Anton had taken it upon himself to help his mate through her change. He should’ve asked Grayson for permission. Bottom line. Vlad Tepes had as much agreed with him.

  Draven placed a new drink on the bar for her. She grabbed it and headed for the curtained doorway. Parting the drapes, she disappeared from sight, not bothering to look and see if he followed. Grayson looked at Draven, shrugged, grabbed the whiskey bottle and headed for the stairs. Dread sat in the pit of his stomach. Grayson walked a thin line, but damn if he couldn’t talk himself out of being alone with her.

  He could use the excuse she had come here, looking for him. But Grayson knew that to be bullshit. Regardless of her reasoning, he should have enough respect for his fellow brother to not go within a hundred feet of her. Grayson sucked in a deep breath, parted the curtains and took the stairs two at a time.

  Keep your damn hands to yourself, Gypsy.

  Walking into the room, he found her lounging on the leather couch, looking quite comfortable. Grayson left the door open, grabbed a clean rocks glass and poured the whiskey to the rim. He downed it. Liquid courage. What a joke. He knew damn well he wouldn’t feel anything other than the burn.

  Grayson poured himself another, then walked over to the sofa and took a seat beside her. He placed his arm along the back, dangling his fingers to her shoulder. He took a sip from the whiskey before resting his hand holding the glass on the arm of the couch. Tamera placed her tall glass on the end table, then turned in the seat and tucked one leg beneath her. Her gaze had gone obsidian, which probably meant he should run for the hills. No good could come of this. Not with his cock pressing against his leathers and desire making him numb with hunger. Sweet mother of Jesus, he ached to be inside of her, to sink his gums into her artery and taste the sweetness of her blood.