Free Real Vampires Have More to Love by Gerry Bartlett Page B

hadn’t exactly been a love bump. Molasses. No, maple syrup. Mmm. Too bad I couldn’t do more than lick my wing. Mortals would have enjoyed a stack of pancakes with this stuff. I’d heard the coffee shop made killer muffins with maple syrup and brown sugar. I wallowed in self-pity, dreaming of a muffin and wondering if I should try to shift back to my vampire self. I dreaded it. I’d ruin my outfit if I went to Glory form while lying here.
    “Glory, what were you thinking?” Rafe stared down at me.
    I figured that didn’t deserve an answer so I closed my eyes and stayed put, silent and mortified. A cockroach covered in maple syrup. Could I be more wretched? Sure. I could lie here and be reamed out by Rafe. And I had it coming. I’d pulled a stupid, impulsive stunt and had no defense.
    “Is she all right?” Nadia.
    Well, if that didn’t put the icing on my shit cake. I opened my eyes and saw Rafe reaching for me.
    “Don’t move, Glory, I’m going to be very careful. You don’t want to lose a foot or, uh, wing.” Damn it, he was trying not to laugh.
    “Not funny, Rafe.” If my thoughts seemed a little defensive, blame it on the fact that my mouth was sealed closed except where I darted out my tongue for a last lick of that delicious syrup. Rafe didn’t say another word, just eased me out of my sticky prison.
    Between Rafe’s gentle handling and Nadia’s excellent self-control—not a smile on her gorgeous face—I would have cried if I thought roaches had tear ducts.
    “That woman was the enemy after you?” Nadia glanced down the alley. “We should have left Glory here a little longer and taken care of her when we had the chance, Rafael.”
    “No, Glory asked us to wait and try to solve the problem another way, so that’s what we’ll do.” Rafe had me out of the mess. Now he nodded toward Nadia. “I’ve got shop keys in my left front pocket. Would you pull them out? We need the red one.”
    “Of course.” Nadia grinned and took her time probing Rafe’s pocket. At one point he grunted and gave her a look that should have warned her off, but she just laughed and finally held up the set of keys. “Got them.”
    In moments, we were inside. Rafe stuck his head inside the shop and let the clerk on duty know that we were in the back and not to be disturbed.
    “You ready to try shifting back, Glory?”
    “I’m covered with syrup. I’m afraid I’ll end up with that gunk all over the clothes I’m wearing.” I saw Nadia nod.
    “She’s right. Give her to me. I’ll take her in the bathroom I see here and carefully clean off the mess. She may end up a little damp, but better than sticky, eh, Glory?” Nadia smiled and held out her hand.
    “Yes, thanks.”
    “Hey, woman to woman, I understand.” Nadia carried me into the bathroom and was meticulous, using paper towels and even cotton swabs to get the sticky mess off me. Finally, she sighed. “That’s the best I can do. Shift and let’s see what we’ve got.”
    I concentrated and ended up hobbling into the back room. Sean’s kick had done a number on my backside. I had a feeling I had a boot print on my butt. My own boots stuck a little when I walked across the floor and I needed to wash my hands, but other than that, my clothes and everything else were in great shape. I impulsively hugged Nadia, careful not to touch her with my hands.
    “Thanks so much. I know you guys have an appointment and I’m making you late. You went above and beyond here.” I smiled, then rushed over to rinse the sticky off my hands.
    “No worries.” Nadia shook her head at Rafe. “This man wasn’t leaving your side until he was sure you were okay.”
    “And still won’t until I’ve ripped you a new one. Are you friggin’ nuts?” Rafe put his hands on my shoulders. “Sean could have stomped you, and no amount of vamp healing could have brought you back. I was seconds away from shifting and ripping his damned head off.”
    “But you let me do it my way.