chapter Four
Alexis knew her ass was bigger than Buffy's, but she had to go with what she had. If Ethan Carrick wanted to play vampire games, she'd give him his little thrill for the night. If he wanted to be a vampire, then she would be a vampire slayer.
Now wearing jeans and a silky camisole top that attempted to make the most out of her breasts, she did a slot machine here and there on the main casino floor, moving closer to the elevator banks. After letting Carrick think he had persuaded her to give it all up, go home, and leave her sister to him, Alexis had, in fact, gone home.But only to change her clothes and formulate a plan.
Five minutes alone with Brittany . That's all she needed to convince her sister to return to her normally scheduled life, sans Ethan Carrick and his creepy Goth crew.
Alone was the key. With Ethan hovering all the time, making her lips tingle, Alexis knew she was going to have problems convincing
Brittany to leave, so she had to get to her sister when no one else was around.
Winning two dollars on a slot, Alexis printed her ticket and tried to look nonchalant. Casually, very casually?she was so good at this subterfuge thing?she inserted herself into a crowd of drunk, laughing women getting on the elevator. At least she thought they were drunk, but maybe the giggles were just from having a good time. Since Alexis didn't really know how to have a good time, she wasn't really sure.
She pushed the button for the twenty-second floor.
"Dang, I shouldn't have worn a bra," one woman said, reaching into her dress with both hands and tugging.
Alexis guessed her accent was from Texas , her dress from New York .
"So take it off," one of her companions suggested. "Since you had your lift, you should be fine without it."
"There are other people on this elevator," the woman said with great dignity, before dissolving into giggles.
Other people must mean Alexis, because they all seemed to know each other.
"I don't care if you do," Alexis told her. "But there's probably a camera somewhere in here."
"Really?I never thought about that." And the woman proceeded to peel down the front of her bodice, rip off her bra, and shake her ta-tas in a slow three-sixty. "Got to catch every angle-I'm not sure whichis my best breast side ."
Her three girlfriends screamed and laughed. Alexis watched with horror, and oh, my God, envy. When in her thirty years of lifehad she ever done anything impulsive, goofy,shocking ?
Never, because it always seemed like frivolity belonged to her mother, and not since she was five years old had Alexis wanted to be anything like her mother. But there was a difference between her irresponsible mother and these women, who were just having fun. In their forties and looking fabulous, they were clearly enjoying life.
Did Alexis enjoy her life?Sort of.
She liked her job, felt satisfaction when she won a case and a person who had committed a crime was forced to serve time for that.
She was proud of Brittany , that she had become a dentist, and was happy and well-adjusted, and normally didn't do anything to give Alexis worry.Normally.
But did Alexis enjoy her life?
She wasn't sure.
The elevator opened on the nineteenth floor and the women got off, the brazen one having pulled her dress back up. But she left her bra lying in the middle of the floor with a "that should get peopletalking ."
Alexis moved gingerly around the black lace bra, hoping no one would get on the elevator and think it was hers. She couldn't imagine ditching a bra?that was like throwing thirty bucks on the floor of the elevator.
Brittany was right. She was wound too tight.
Feeling a little melancholy and edgy, she got off at the twenty-second floor, looked around, gave a startled, "Oh! This isn't right." in case anyone was witnessing her, and turned to the private elevator.
Hitting the up button, she hoped James, the ham-fisted security guard, wasn't hanging around. He would recognize her. She didn't think he was swift enough to figure out what she was doing, but nonetheless, he'd probably call Carrick.
But no one yelled or grabbed her shoulder, so she figured she was safe. The door slid open, she rushed on, and saw this elevator only went to floors twenty-three to twenty-six. Bingo.
She wasn't sure what she would do if Brittany refused to come with her. Probably have a cow. The whole situation was disturbing on many levels, not the least of which was that in the past, Brittany had always looked to her for advice. Alexis had been able to influence Brittany , guide her,help her make the right decisions. It was really scary that suddenly her baby sister seemed to be thinking on her own. And not very well, given that she was hooking up with a Gothic cult.
"Twenty-three twenty " She scanned the hall, heading left when she saw which way the room numbers went.
The carpeting was thick, with black-and-white Art Deco squares, but it still felt like her footsteps were echoing loudly in the hushed hallway. Since this floor was private, the space between doors was farther, and each suite was tucked into a little alcove, with a gunmetal gray placard affixed to the wall next to it with the number on it. Alexis had to admit, as far as tacky casinos went, Carrick's wasn't so bad. She kind of liked the Old Hollywood theme, with its sleek furniture and plush glamour.
Just for one day, it might be nice to trade in her short, big-in-the-booty body, and her tough-talking prosecutor lingo for long legs, a slinky dress, some wicked red lipstick, and a sultry voice that made men drool.
Yeah, like that was going to happen.
And she sure in the hell wouldn't want to live like that for more than one day. Smoldering looks would get exhausting after a while.
But a date here and there would be nice. Only the men she came into contact with were either smooth-talking defense attorneys or criminals. She wasn't willing to take a chance on a repeat offender, no matter how attractive he might be in a beige jumpsuit. And defense attorneys made her gums itch.
A man stepped out of the alcove directly next to her. "This is a surprise."
After swallowing a scream, Alexis glared at Ethan Carrick. Damn it, she was one freaking door away from Brittany 's room. Which meant Carrick's room was next to Brittany 's, which kind of made her want to throw up. How could her sister be having sex with this man?
And why couldn't she be having sex with anybody?
"Hello." Even though her heart was beating just a wee bit faster than normal, she gave him a casual smile and started on past him. Not doing anything here
"I thought that you went home." He stepped in front of her.
"I did." She moved left to get around him.
He shifted, blocking her way. "Then why are you back?"
She moved right. Again he blocked her.
"Look at us, we're dancing," she said in exasperation. "Will you just move?"
Ethan had changed into jeans and a black T-shirt, which showed every one of the well-defined muscles in his long and lean chest and arms. An expensive watch, with a diamond here and there, flashed on his wrist. There wasa darkness in his eyes that she didn't understand, and didn't like.
"Tell me why you're here and I'll move."
Might as well be honest.They were going to get into it whether she told the truth or made up some bullshit story. "Okay, here's the thing. You like to pretend you're a vampire. So I'm pretending to be a vampire slayer. And I'm going to get my sister and take her back to her apartment, where she belongs, away from this freaking fun house."
She expected a little more of a reaction. He didn't move, except for his left eyebrow, whichrose half an inch. "You don't look like you have a stake tucked in that slinky shirt you're wearing."
Jerk. "Maybe I have holy water and I'm going to throw it in your face."
"If you'd like, go ahead. I'm sure it would be refreshing."
"I really think that I hate you," she said, his flippant attitude getting the best of her.
"And here I thought we were getting along so well."
And she didn't understand why being around him reduced ner to a frustrated eight-year-old.
Yet it did, and she faked to the left,then ran to the right, in a move any football player would be proud of.
Only Ethan didn't fall for the fake. He quickly stuck his hand up to block her passage. It was a block, all right, but he also succeeded in grabbing her breast. Just a perfect lineup?his hand, her breast, like a ball and a glove, and she made some kind of startled yelp like a tortured yeti.
For the first time all evening, Alexis actually saw Ethan Car rick lose his cool. While she felt her face flame, and her entire body went stiff, he dropped both his hand and his lower jaw.
"I apologize that was not intentional " He frowned.
obviouslyat a loss for words, and man, oh man, did that make her happy-
So what that she'd had to get accidentally felt up to reduce him to this? It was worthit, and so amusing to see him struggling and embarrassed. She suddenly felt a whole lot better about old Ethan. It said a lot to her that he could have the decency to turn a little craven after grabbing her boob.
She couldn't stop herself from grinning. "Well, that was good for me.How about you?"
Astonishment crossed his face, but quickly turned to laughter. "You have an interesting sense of humor.Wittier than your sister." The mention of her sister should have restored her anger, but it didn't. Not really. Alexis felt she had regained the upper hand, or at least stood on even footing with Ethan, and that made her less inclined to violence. " Brittany is very naive. Her mind doesn't go in the same lowly directions mine does.Which is why she's completely wrong for you. Once you get tired of sleeping with her, you'll be done with her, and I don't want to see her hurt."
"You do know that she wants to stay." Those pale blue eyes of his darkened to denim. "And I think, despite your denials, you can understand the attraction."
Alexis worked a heavy eye roll. "So you've said Brittany wants stay. But I'm not convinced of that. And I was being sarcastic when I said I enjoyed your touch. It was a joke, Bite Boy."
The smile that played around his lips was smug. "You liked it."
"No, I didn't. I don't find you even remotely attractive. You're like driver's license. I can't avoid you, you cost me time and money and no matter what I do, you make me look bad. You're a necessary evil.For the moment."
"There's nothing evil at all about me."
She was so ready to move on. "I would have thought that was the attraction to the whole vampire club?'Look at us, we're evil, we're so bad, don't mess with us.'" Alexis ducked under his arm to get to Brittany 's room. "Give me a break."
Ethan let her take two steps,then found himself speaking. "I'll cut Brittany loose if you'd like. Tell her to go home."
He leaned against the wall, knowing he was taking a risk, but intrigued by Alexis Baldizzi . He saw shades of himself in her?the determination, the righteousness, the absolute indignation. As a more experienced vampire now, he had suppressed the wildness, the fiery crusading of his youth, and had vowed to use diplomacy to seek the changes he sought.
After nine hundred years he well understood the world was not black and white, the way Alexis saw it.
Yet despite that difference,Alexis stirred passion in him, roused an urge to do something asinine and showy, like leaping off the top of his hotel just because he could, or flying toParis without the use of a plane just to feel the wind rushing past him. He wanted to tear her clothes off, roll around in a sweaty mass of sheets, and bite her all over her body.
Fortunately, she didn't look willing.
Or unfortunately, because he couldn't stop himself from want ing to convince her she wanted him. Or to admit she wanted him, if she already did want him. It was absurd. But then again, no woman had ever looked him straight in the eye and told him was unattractive before, and it felt a little like he'd sat on a burr. Not a pleasant feeling.
Pride could get him into trouble with this one.
"Why would you tell Brittany to leave?" she asked cynically."Because you want me to beg you to do it? Forget it. I'll kick your ass before I beg."
It would be interesting to let her try to kick his ass, as she so eloquently put it, but unnecessary. "No, no begging required. Just that you play the game in Brittany 's place." If she thought it was some kind of rich man's hobby, playing vampire, he'd let her believe that.For now.
"What?" Her hands went on her hips. "What the hell have you been smoking? I have a life, a career,court cases. I can't play Barbie. Besides, I don't have the legs for it."
"I don't expect you to forsake your career." He still had a bit of an old-fashioned fascination with a woman doing man's work, but he could certainly see how Alexis would be successful. Lawyers were argumentative, tenacious, and convinced they were right. That was an accurate assessment of Alexis.
"What I'm suggesting is you return here at the end of every day. You have dinner with me, stroll the casino with me,entertain guests. Sleep in the room next to mine."
"You want me to have sex with my sister's lover after she gets dumped by him?By you. That's sick.Twisted."
He supposed he should have clarified that earlier. "I have never taken your sister to my bed. We have a platonic friendship, and I apologize for misleading you earlier."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
"Can we discuss this in my room? Brittany could step out into the hall at any moment, and I don't imagine she would appreciate this discussion." He opened the door to his suite and smiled. "Don't close the door behind us."
Obviously not trusting him to follow that order, she actually picked up a ceramic hound statue he had standing sentry to his living room, and plunked it down in front of the door. It held the door wide open, and she surveyed her work.
"Nice dog."
"Thanks."
She pointed. "Go first."
To humor her, he did, but he hovered in front of the sofa. He would-not sit down until she did. There were childhood lessons, inherentmanners, taht just couldn't be erased, no matter how long he lived.
"It looks likea Irish hunting lodge in here." That was rather the point. "I tried to emulate my home inEngland ."
"From what?The nineteenth century?"She flopped on an easy chair and turned sideways in it, so her legs hooked over one arm, and the other acting like a backrest.
Inviting her in had been a stupid idea. Now his suite was going to smell like her-like her smooth, human flesh, and her pulsing, hot blood. That was his favorite chair aad he was probably going to have to burn it now. Otherwise every time he sat in it, he was going to be hungry.For Alexis.
He never had mortals in his room. Even his maid was a vampire, because she would clean at night vhen he was out and about, and she wouldn't balk at the blood stored in his refrigerator.
"So if you don't believe me, you can ask Brittany . We haven't " He searched for a delicate phrasing."Been intimate."
"You're trying to tell me Brittany has been living right next to you for three weeks and haven't once banged her?"
So much for delicate."That's what I'm telling you. Not even a kiss. As I said, I apologize for misleading you about our relation-ship earlier." Ethan knew when to be honest, and if he had any chane of coaxing the delicious Alexis into his bed, he had to re-assure her that Brittany had not been there first. "What the hell was he saying? He was not supposed to be sleep- ingwith anyone. He was wooing. He wasmature , responsible, a post-randy vampire president ready to settle down into marriage. Right after he banged Alexis.
"Then why the hell is she here if you're not 'intimate'?"
She used Seamus's habit of quote marks in the air, which irritated him since Seamus was yet another reminder of all his respon-sibilities , all that was expected of him.
"Because I'm a Master Vampire, over two hundred years old and therefore eligible to run for the presidency. Brittany is a half-vampire, the daughter of a mortal mother and a vampire father." That was more than he'd intended to tell her, but he wanted to see her reaction.Wanted to fish around for information since he still didn't have any access to her thoughts.
But Alexis just snorted. " Brittany 's father was a prick, but he wasn't a vampire."
"You would say that about your father?"
"Not my father. Brittany 's father. We have the same mother, but different sperm donors. Neither father is worth dwelling on. My mom had appalling taste in men."
That explained quite a bit. It also meant that Alexis probably had no vampire blood in her. He couldn't know for sure, since he couldn't get inside her head, couldn't sense anything about her, but itseemed likely she was pure mortal.
"But this is a game, remember? And Brittany is a half-vampire. I intended to recruit her to the position of my wife, first lady of the Vampire Natfon ."
Alexis just stared at him. "You don't really believe in this stuff, do you? Because I'm going to call the cops and tell them you kidnapped my sister if you do. A weird hobby is one thing, but if you're delusional, I'm calling Metro Police."
"I know the difference between truth and fiction," he said in a soothing voice. He didn't want her bolting and taking Brittany with her. Nor did he want any close encounters with the police. While he could fool most humans, he didn't want to test his ability to hide his vampire traits long-term in a jail cell. Dining on the guards wouldn't earn him any early release points.
"But I'm up for reelection, and as I've been known in the past as a bad-tempered vampire, prone to certain playboy tendencies, my campaign manager and I agreed I needed a woman by my side.To soften my image."
"Well, Brittany would be good for that. I would suck at it." Her feet kicked up in the air as she lounged in the chair.
That little scrap of nothing shirt had slipped to the side, exposing the swell of her breast. He could sink his teeth in there, with a firm bite, and his fangs would puncture like into a soft apple. He wished that when he bit, there were sound, sort of a crisp, powerful crunch instead of soundless sliding into flesh.
Chomping on Alexis would be very satisfying.
He crossed his legs, uncomfortable now that he had a raging erection.
This was not the original plan, coaxing Alexis into Brittany 's place, but already he liked this one much better. The thrill of the chase, the satisfaction of finally catching her?he looked forward to both with an anticipation that wasn't befitting the staid middle-age vampire he was supposed to be. "Actually, you would be even better.Sister of an Impure and a career woman. Perfect. If I have a confident businesswoman by my side, they will see that I have really matured if I allow my partner to have equal say in our relationship."
Not that he was feeling very mature. He was acting more along the lines of a teenage boy looking to score than a responsible adult vampire. You'd think he'd been having Seamus's dry spell the way he was behaving.
"So, you've always been a dictatorial asshole and now you want people to think you're more willing to compromise?"
Not the words he would have chosen, but he was trying to be charming and agreeable. He wanted this woman. Despite the fact that Seamus would kill him, and his spontaneous plan was less than foolproof, he had to have her.Would have her."Exactly."
"So you play *-whipped and I play bossy girlfriend? That could be fun." She grinned, tucking her blond hair behind her ears.
He was having a midlife crisis. That's what this was. There was no other explanation for whythat statement suddenly made him feel like the horniest vampire inNorth America .Lusting after much younger women, good God. Next he'd be buying a sports car and getting a tattoo.
"I think a lot of things between us could be fun."
"One week. I'll stay for one week if you agree to let Brittany leave and never have any future contact with her, personal or professional. I get my own room, with a master key so no one else can enter at any time. If I have to work late, I have to work late and you'll just have to get over it, but I will be here from eight p.m. to eight a.m. every day for seven days. I'll depart at midnight on Friday, the seventeenth, because tonight counts as night one. You provide me access to dining in the casino restaurants for free and dry-cleaning services. I'll draw up a contract for you to sign and failure to comply with any of my terms will result in me identifying you as a cult, potentially holding people against their will. Do you understand and agree to all terms?"
And here he'd been worried he was taking advantage of her concern for Brittany . Alexis could take care of herself. He drummed his thumb on his knee'."Anything else?"
"Yeah.Just so we're clear, I'm not having sex with you. I am not interested in you as anything other than a means to an end. This escort service has no fringe benefits other than me smiling at your weirdo friends."
That's what she thought.
So she found him unattractive, did she?
Well, he would just show Alexis Baldizzi that Ethan Carrick was a man who knew how to treat a woman.
"I had no intention of using you in such a crude fashion. I confess myself shocked."
She rolled her eyes and sat up. "Somehow I don't think a whole lot would shock you. You're like me that way?I've seen everything and then some."
"You're a prosecutor, right?"
"Yes.Sex crimes. There are a lot of sickos in this world, Carrick, and I've met quite a few of them. So your vampire games don't surprise me. As long as you're not biting people or something whacked out like that, what you do is your business.But not with my sister around. That's the bottom line? Brittany goes home."
"I agree to all your terms." This was probably one of the worst ideas he'd gotten since that time he'd gone coffin sledding inFrance nine hundred years ago, but it was done.
And he found himself really looking forward to getting to know Alexis better.
Maybe then he could shake off the boredom and discontent that encircled him like a tight leash, growing tighter and tighter.
Maybe an affair with Alexis would satisfy his growing tactile urges and prevent him from doing something bizarre like dying his hair, dating his secretary, or getting his chest waxed.
He wasnot having a midlife crisis.