Real Vampires Have Curves Read Free Page B

scratch his ears. Don’t get me wrong. I love dogs. They’re great company. Normal dogs anyway. But no way was I letting him eat fries in my car again. Talk about torture. And the delicious smell lingered for days .
    â€œI am in a hurry.” And I was seriously creeped out and seeing a wild-eyed hunter behind every scraggly bush. I put the car in gear.
    â€œThen get the lead out, Blondie. You got three hours till daylight. And we’re not stayin’ in no cheap motel with a hard mattress. I’ve checked it out. Next big town’s got several nice places that take dogs.”
    Like I’d let my dog pick a motel. Though he probably had checked it out. I’ve given up trying to figure out what this Valdez can do. He’s part canine, part computer and all weird. And he reports to Blade so he’s a damned spy. How? Some kind of mind-meld, I guess. But this Valdez and I have bonded enough that I know he won’t rat me out about certain things. Like the gambling problem or the night I stayed out too late and almost got fried in the morning sun. That one cost me a case of Cocoa Puffs.
    Pain in the butt or not though, I feel safe when I have Valdez sacked out on the foot of my bed. I heard a snort and glanced over at him. Did I mention he can read my mind? How irritating is that?
    â€œWhat?”
    He gave me a look and, yeah, I did feel that circle of safety wrap around me like a warm blanket.
    â€œI’ve got your back, kid. Isn’t that worth a Twinkie stop?”
    I had to laugh. That voice in my head, big brown eyes and a wagging tail. “Whatever, fur face.” We passed a sign. “Twenty-two miles to Twinkieville.”
    Safe or not, I kept checking my rearview mirror. Hunters are like rabid beasts. There’s no reasoning with them. They’re convinced vampires are all demons from hell who play Jack the Ripper all night and sleep in coffins all day. How wrong can they be? I prefer a pillow top mattress, Egyptian cotton sheets and Valdez curled up on the foot of the bed.
    I sighed and glanced at my faithful companion who kept staring alertly out the window. Blade had never liked a dog in the bedroom. Valdez or Blade? Unfortunately, right now Valdez was the only contender in the sleep-with-Glory contest.

Two
    " Incoming . Pull over.”
    "You’re kidding. Now?” I’d hung up on Blade. Of course he wouldn’t just calmly accept that. Oh, no. He’d want a face to face. And it had taken him only, what, one hour and a Twinkie stop to fly to my side. Yep, fly. Did I mention he can shape-shift?
    The black bird swooped in front of the car just as I was slowing down. I knew better than to ignore him and keep driving. Blade was relentless when he was on a quest. And his current quest was to make me do his bidding. My stomach knotted. I was not wimping out. I had plans.
    I stopped the car and turned off the engine as bird became man. Okay, it’s always kind of cool to watch. I could shape-shift, but I can’t, if you know what I mean. A personality defect. Something about the whole now you’re a bird or bat or, God forbid, even a dog, now you’re a person thing freaks me out. Loss of control maybe. Or just plain fear. What if I forget how to do it and get stuck?
    I glanced at Valdez. The idiot was grinning and wagging his tail as Blade popped open the driver’s side door even though, of course, I’d locked it.
    No one can do the vamp whammy like Blade. Before I could get a grip, I was out of the car and wrapping my arms around him. No. No. No. I shoved him away and pressed my hands over my eyes.
    â€œLook at me, Gloriana.” Blade’s deep voice rumbled into my mind.
    â€œNo. Go away.” Hah. How was that for willpower? If only I couldn’t smell him, his totally male vampire come-and-get -me smell. I opened my eyes.
    He was on his knees, rubbing Valdez’s head and talking to him in a low voice. I didn’t bother