Cunningham, Pat - Legacy [Sequel to Belonging] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Pat Cunningham Page B

of relief, she went in. Having Jeremy at her back boosted her courage enormously.
    “I’ll only be a minute,” she said. “Make yourself at home.”
    “No problem. I want to call Gus anyway.” He drew his cell from his pocket. “That commune you grew up in. What was it called again?”
    “The Woods and the Waters.” Already halfway to her bedroom, she paused. “Why? Do you think it’s important?”
    “I’ve been thinking about it. I swear I’ve heard that name before.”
    “I don’t know where or why you would. We were just a bunch of hippies living in the woods.”
    “Somebody mentioned it. At home, I think. I wish there was someone to call.” A shadow passed across his face before he quelled it. “Well, it’ll come to me. Go ahead, and get your stuff.”
    “I won’t be long,” she promised again. He nodded, already on the phone.
    In her bedroom Colleen carefully hung up her club dress and pulled out more sensible attire. She deliberately picked out the least alluring items in her closet, what she dubbed her Sunday uniform—her brother Michael’s old UCLA sweatshirt and a pair of baggy jeans too worn for anything but sofa-surfing. She filled her tote bag with a change of undies, toiletries, and a fresh blouse and slacks for Monday morning. She didn’t bother with makeup. Even if she only stayed the night, she didn’t want to torment Jeremy, or herself, any more than necessary.
    At the bureau, she paused and studied her cell phone. Call the cops anyway? Jeremy was still in the living room. He’d never hear her.
    Yes, officer, I was attacked by a vampire. No, he’s dead. The other vampire rammed a stake through his chest. The body? You see that smear in the parking lot? The other one’s dead, too. Please don’t try to wake him, he gets really grouchy. Would you like to talk to his slave?
    Oh yeah, that’d go over real well.
    She picked up her cell and dialed, but not the police. “Hey, Norelle? It’s Col. Look, about tonight…”
    With tote bag in hand and still on the phone, Colleen returned to the living room. Jeremy stood by the window, watching the street. He raised his eyebrows slightly at her latest outfit, but didn’t comment.
    “No, everything’s fine,” she said into the phone. “I just had a sudden change of plans. Really unexpected. A what? A guy?”
    She looked over at Jeremy. He grinned. She grinned back. “As a matter of fact…”
    She aimed the cell’s camera. Jeremy adopted a slinky, male-model pose, complete with pouty look. Colleen giggled and hit “send.” Within seconds Norelle’s squeal shrilled out of the phone. “Is that worth postponing our night out for or what? That’s what I thought you’d say. I’ll tell you all about it Monday morning. Yes, I’ll be there. On time. What? Norelle! Talk about the pot calling the kettle skank. Say hi to Nathan for me. See you Monday.”
    Colleen dropped her phone into her purse, and Jeremy dropped his pose. “What was that about?”
    “Getting a rain check for my girls’ night out. Thanks for being such a great excuse. She’ll never question me now.”
    “Does anyone else need to know where you are?”
    “I don’t think so. My folks are in San Diego, and my brother’s in Vegas. If I check in once a week, we’re all good.”
    “Sounds like we’re set.” He walked over and bent to take her tote bag.
    One touch did it, an inadvertent brush of hands during the tote bag transfer. The pheromones must have hit their pressure point, like flint striking sparks. All of a sudden, she needed his cock in her pussy more than she needed air in her lungs. She didn’t need her psychic prickle to tell her Jeremy’s reaction. Her shapeless Sunday uniform hadn’t protected her after all. Gauging by the raw desire in his eyes, she might as well have been naked.
    That could be arranged.
    The last unspoken question hung in the bare inch of space between their lips. Colleen had time to murmur “yes” before his mouth took