Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans Read Online Free PDF Page A

then blew my hair dry.
    “Well now. I never expected you to act the lady’s maid, my love.” I grinned as I admired my reflection. Yes, I can see myself in a mirror, a gift from Lucifer that I expected him to take away at any time. He only gave it to me out of spite, so I could see my figure flaws. That’s why there are no full-length mirrors in my apartment.
    “Did I earn points for pampering you?” Jerry’s grin was wicked.
    “More than points.” I slid to my knees and gave him attention that soon had him calling my name. Oh, but I loved to make him lose his mind like that.
    By the time sunrise was close, we were both more than ready to crawl into my bed and rest in each other’s arms.
    “Wonder if that baby could possibly be Rafe’s,” I murmured against Jerry’s chest.
    “If it is, it’s because the two of them got together somewhere before or after she possessed you. Surely you don’t believe this nonsense she’s spouting, do you?” Jerry brushed my hair back from my face. “You aren’t having fantasies that somehow this child could be part of you, are you?”
    “No, don’t be silly. I know that ship sailed hundreds of years ago. I wish I could have given you a child, but, since I couldn’t, I decided a vampire’s life would be no life for a child anyway. Am I right?” I drew a heart on the smooth skin over his barely beating heart with my fingernail. I never had finished my manicure and had stopped with a basecoat.
    “There are born vampire females who bear children. They seem to make it work. With trusted shifters and such whowatch the babes during the day.” Jerry captured my hand and pulled it to his lips. “You would have been a wonderful mother. I don’t doubt that.”
    “Thanks, Jerry. But how sad. To never get to play with your child in the sun.” I sighed. “It’s better this way. I chose my life and I’m satisfied with that choice. Alesa is obviously pulling some sort of scam. For all we know another demon got her with child. For some reason she’s fixated on Rafe as the father she wants for the baby but we can’t let her get away with it.”
    “Stupid female. The man obviously has no interest in her. She should move on.” Jerry yawned. “I almost feel sorry for Valdez.”
    “Yes, you should. Rafe has told me how important family is to him. But his demon blood made him something of an outcast in the shape-shifter community. He’d never want to be responsible for bringing another child with mixed blood into that. If Alesa, by some weird trick, did manage to have his child…” I tightened my arms around Jerry, suddenly very glad he was the man I held. “Well, Rafe will never forgive her. Or let her keep the baby to raise.” I felt the day dragging at me.
    “You don’t want to be in the middle of a demon fight, Gloriana.” Jerry patted my shoulder. “Dawn’s coming. Sleep well.”
    I sighed. “No, everyone loses when demons fight.”

Three

     
    “S o , Gloriana, what’s this about a DNA test?” Ian MacDonald strolled into my shop the next night. He turned more than a few heads. He was a handsome man with a strong build and the bright blue eyes of a genius who missed nothing. He’d always reminded me more of a Viking than a Highlander with his long blond hair and hawklike features. As usual, he had two surfer types along as bodyguards.
    “I guess Rafe called you. How much did he tell you?” I gestured Ian toward my back room. I needed privacy for this meeting and sent a mental message to my clerk to take over the front. Bonnie was a new hire, a local vampire recommended by the owner of the muffin shop next door who was also a vamp.
    “I’ve got it, Glory. Take your time.” Bonnie zeroed in on the guards, clearly into blond guys with deep tans. Fortunately there were few customers in the shop at the moment. They’d have a hard time getting her attention away from these two guys who positioned themselves near the storeroom door.
    I closed that door when