“I’d have to hire a bunch of tiny little gunsmiths to have them make weapons for her, so I’m not sure how that would work.” We both laughed, and I pushed my chair back, standing, and walking over to the sink where I rinsed our coffee cups and the cereal bowl. Vincent followed me, slipping his arms around my middle and resting his chin on my shoulder. When he yawned loudly, I laughed, taking the dishtowel to dry my hands before wrapping him up in my arms.
“I’m so tired. I couldn’t sleep last night,” Vincent admitted.
“You’ve been sleeping on my schedule. Don’t you think I’ve noticed that you should be sleeping all day and up at night, not the reverse?”
“I do require a few hours sleep, definitely not a whole day’s worth. I need to go into the store this morning before the sun is too high and then be home by nine to sleep,” Vincent said.
I leaned in and kissed him. “Well, I need to go to the office, so let’s both get going. It’s only seven, so you’ll have at least an hour at the store before the sun is too hot or bright for you.”
“Okay, love.”
Vincent kissed me once more, using the endearment again. I wondered if he even noticed how many times he’d called me my love or sweetheart or mate or lover, in the last twenty-four hours. It sounded wonderful every time he did it, and I wondered whether that was intentional too. I suppose I was a suspicious type, but the truth was, that being thought of as Vincent’s mate was incredibly exciting. Besides, being suspicious came with the whole detective-sheriff occupation as well as my time spent in the Marine Corps when on patrol.
I needed to learn more about vampire laws. I almost wish I’d met another vampire who I could question about this stuff. Maybe Vincent could tutor me, but I felt weird asking questions, possibly making him think I was questioning him and not vampire culture. Then there was also the very real assurance that he was putting a spin on things—making them appear or sound the way he wanted me to interpret them, and I didn’t want that either. I wanted the unvarnished truth about him and everything there was to know about vampires in general.
I needed to know more about the three hostile vampires also.
I suddenly realized how alone I was in Prosper Woods. I’d been cut off from everyone and everything since Vincent had claimed me under some ancient vampire law. When he’d first said it, it didn’t really sink in but now, cut off from the outside world, it seemed like more of a thing than it probably should have. I honestly didn’t know what to do about that problem. There was no one out there I could trust and no one I could ask…
That wasn’t entirely true. There was one person, my best buddy from the Marine Corps. I’d known him since we were kids. We’d joined up right after high school, and after we were discharged, I’d gone into law enforcement and he’d gone into private security. Maybe I should call Mel and tell him everything. That confession would go one of two ways. He’d either think I was drunk and laugh his ass off or he’d beat the crap out of me for being a complete idiot. He’d done both to me before.
Still, it wasn’t a bad thought. I could always use a human ally. I just had no idea how he’d take all this. How on earth was I going to make Mel believe that I was a unicorn and always had been? I suppose, I could shift and show him but that might cause the man to go into cardiac arrest. Not only that…how was I going to tell him that my boyfriend was a vampire? It was probably a really bad idea.
I put all thoughts of such stupidity out of my mind as we dressed and shaved in Vincent’s basement master suite. We stood side by side brushing our teeth and it felt so normal, just two boyfriends standing companionably side by side. When he dropped his fangs to brush them too, I gaped at him in the mirror, shock written all over my face. He grinned back at my stunned expression, toothpaste foam dribbling down his chin and dripping off his fangs.
I started my day with a hearty laugh.
Chapter Six
Prosper Woods Chronicle. Letters to the editor:
“There’s a shack in the woods where I buy moonshine. Last week, I swear, there were two pigs rocking on the porch, lifting their jugs. That’s gotta be unhealthy…just sayin’.” Signed, “Someone call the vet.”
Romeo
When I parked my old truck in front of the sheriff’s station shortly after Vincent and I parted that morning, I noticed a VW convertible pulling into a space in front of the post office just down the block. It was easy to recognize Precious as she sat in the passenger side of the car. When she leaned over to kiss Mary, the young hostess from Todd’s Hash House, I couldn’t stop my wide grin.
I’d been right then. Precious and Mary were girlfriends. I decided they made a good couple, both young, Precious ferocious when she got her teeth into something, and Mary, shy and sweet.
I had no doubt with Precious around, Mary wouldn’t have problems with Catalina Broadmoor, the bigoted hag from CAT-PEE. I chuckled, remembering the name Precious had come up with for the woman’s organization. I still didn’t know what they stood for but if they started making problems for the town residents, I’d no doubt get familiar with the trouble soon. With a few exceptions, I was finding myself both filled with warm feelings for and equally amused by the townsfolk.
I
