BOOK THREE in THE GUARDIAN'S SERIES
Book One: A Guardian's Touch, Book Two: A Guardian's Love
Disclaimer See Part 1
Feedback: This is my first try and not being a native English speaker, it's so much more challenging. Constructive criticism if greatly appreciated, so feel free to drop a line or two at steinwillard80@gmail.com .
PART THREE
Chapter 5
“This is not your fight, Slayer.” One of the renegades snapped as he and his friends spread out, approaching her from all directions. Trinity slowly opened her jacket, her green eyes looking like shards of polished emeralds.
“When you kill humans, you make it my fight.” She shot into action, diving sideways into the dark. The three renegades looked around, startled by the sudden move.
For a few seconds the alley was quiet with no sound or sight from the Slayer. A bit rattled the vampires slowly moved closer to each other, hoping to boost their confidence for the pending attack from their yet unseen enemy.
“I'm right here, boys.” Trinity said from behind them and not wanting to draw attention by using her guns, she had decided on two short daggers. They were more than enough to get the job done. Once she was sure their attention was on her, she launched her attack.
There was glint of steel and one of the renegades closest to her gasped as the blade sunk deep into his abdomen. With a feral look in her eyes, Trinity jerked the blade upward, feeling a warm gush of liquid spill over her hand.
The sight of their friend being butchered proved too much for the other two and with sharp hissing sounds, they turned and disappeared into the shadows. Trinity set off after them; instead she picked up the dying vampire and sunk her teeth into his neck.
A sudden gasp sounded and Trinity quickly shoved the renegade away from her. She was surprised to find Gabriella staring at her with an expression of horror on her face. What the hell was she still doing here? She knew she must look frightening with her eyes glowing a deep red and her bloodstained fangs showing. With droll humor she thought that at that moment she must resemble the exaggerated fictional movie characters Gabriella used to tease her about.
“Go home, I said.” she growled. When Gabriella still stood there, unmoving, she bared her fangs at her and hissed ominously. This time she watched in mute satisfaction as Gabriella turned on her heels and ran. She turned back to the vampire and cursed under her breath. He was dead. There goes her chance at find out what he knew about the recent killings. Damn Gabriella! She wanted to kick the corpse in frustration but instead pointed at it and watched it burst into flames.
The wind changed suddenly, bringing a foreign scent with it. Trinity quickly dived into the shadows, shrouding herself in an invisible cloak. Someone was close by. A vampire. A very powerful one. The shadows shifted and a tall silhouette stepped forward to stand at the smoldering remains of the renegade. With a deep, guttural growl it scanned the area, but the sound of an approaching police siren, made it turn and dissolve.
She stayed there for a few more seconds, wanting to make sure the renegade had left before she moved with the shadows towards the end of the alleyway. Gabriella's car was gone. Good, she thought, at least she'd listened to her the second time around.
“I knew it was you.”
Trinity spun around at the sound of the voice and looked into the mocking dark eyes of Tristan Vermont , the Marquis of Cleaver. Her mortal enemy. He was dressed in all black and anyone seeing him now would have easily mistaken him for a handsome movie star, instead of the cruel killer that he was. His slightly lopsided smile he was sporting made him look even more handsome, but his eyes gave him away. They were dead. Twin windows into a very dank and dark soul.
“I have been looking all over for you, you know. Mercredi notified me to your presence after his spies found you skulking around.” His smiled widened, showing bright even teeth. “It's great to see you again.” His dark eyes traveled over her body. “As a human you were beautiful, but as a vampire you are simply magnificent. I was devastated when Mercredi ordered me to get rid of you. I still had so many adventures planned for us.” He took a step in her direction and Gabriella forced herself not to take a step back. Tristan was a vicious predator and backing away from him now would only trigger his chase reflex. She saw that her bravado had shocked him slightly, making him falter in his ploy to intimidate her.
Trinity just stared at him as she erected up a powerful mental block. He had bitten her before and thus could access her thoughts even after such a long time. She had expected to run into him one way or another, but not tonight. Tonight she was distracted by images of Gabriella, her smell, her eyes…
There was flutter of movement and Trinity gasped when she felt a cold hand curl around her neck and she was hoisted off her feet. She stared down into Tristan's cold eyes, his lips pulled back in a snarl. Detached, she realized that his fangs were still in perfect condition. Sharp and white. Unlike Mercredi and Jonah he seemed to have taken good care of himself and didn't overindulge like the other two.
“You think to disrespect me by putting up a mental block. I will simply bite you again if I want to know what you are thinking.”
Trinity felt his warm breath on her neck and stiffened. She was not going to let it happen again. Four hundred years ago she was weak and scared and had allowed him to violate her body and drain her soul, but not this time. She reached for her gun, knowing that he would feel the movement and try to stop her. The moment her hand curled around the butt of her gun, Tristan hissed. His one hand slipped down to catch her hand, squeezing it painfully. He got even angrier when no pain registered on her face. Just the reaction she'd hope to get. Anger dulled the mind. Trinity slammed her heels together and two silver blades slid out at the front-end of her black boots. She kicked out and aiming for his groin.
A look of pure shock washed over Tristan's face as his grip slipped and she landed on her feet. Tristan's eyes were bright red and he was shaking with rage. Silver was poisonous to vampires and Trinity knew that even though the wound won't kill him, he will surely be out of action for a few days. Such wounds were very painful and took quite a long time to heal. Tristan's legs started to buckle and with a satisfied grin, she turned and started to walk away.
“You bitch. I will get you for this. I promise to make you suffer long and hard before I rip your heart out.”
Without turning around, she replied. “I'll hold you to that, Tristan.”
**************
Gabriella was shaking so hard, that she had to use both hands to bring the glass to her mouth. The water spilled over her rim and soaked her blouse, but she didn't care.
The events of the night had rattled her. First it was the three renegades stalking the girl and then the appearance of Trinity and the way she'd looked when she'd bitten the vampire. She looked so fearsome. The only time she'd seen her like that was that fateful night when her family was slaughtered and Trinity had crashed through the window to safe her. She had effortlessly killed all the vampires, using a long sword as she'd hacked them to pieces. It was only when all the vampires laid scattered around her that she had turned to face her. She was just seven at the time and was scared stiff of the blood splattered creature who'd came to her rescue. It had taken Trinity a few minutes to bring herself under control before she'd approached Gabriella, where she was curled up in a corner, her hands covering her eyes.
“I will not hurt you, my angel. I promise.” She had whispered in a soft, gentle voice, enticing her to open her eyes. Gone was the monster and in its place was a very beautiful woman with sad green eyes and a tender smile. She was intrigued and comforted by the sadness which had found an echo in her own heart and had held out her arms and sighing deeply when Trinity had held her in a tight embrace. “I will not allow anyone to hurt you ever again.”
She felt the tears burning behind her eyes and placed the glass on the kitchen counter. Trinity had kept her promise. She knew that now, that although she hadn't seen her in over eighteen years, she had been there keeping a watchful eye over her. Why else did she appear at her side so quickly tonight?
A memory of Trinity's face flashed before her as she'd looked eighteen years ago when she'd told her to stay away from her. The sorrow in the green eyes had haunted her for years afterwards. Tonight however her face had looked different, like it was carved from stone. It was hard and cold. Her normally smiling green eyes looked like cold pieces of emeralds. Trinity had changed and definitely not for the better. It was as obvious that Trinity hadn't forgiven her, maybe even hated her.
She jumped when there was a knock on the door. Jessica had kept her key, so it couldn't be her. She slowly walked to the door. She moved to look through the peeping hole, but stopped herself just in time. People had been shot and killed like that, Jessica used to tease her.
“Who's there?”
“What do you mean? We were supposed to meet for drinks tonight and you stood me up,” came Valery's irate voice from the other side of the door.
Unhooking the safety chain, she opened the door and found a fuming Val on her doorstep. Oh hell, yes, she was supposed to meet Val at that new up-market lesbian lounge downtown. Her late appointment had distracted her so that she'd completely forgotten about their date.
“I hope you have a very good reason for having stood me up.” Val walked right through to kitchen, to the fridge and took out an opened bottle of white wine. A stale reminder of the wonderful night she and Jessica had together before she'd left for Los Angeles . Pouring a liberal amount in a glass, the she took a sip and scowled at her.
“I'm listening,” she snapped. Gabriella shrugged and went to pour herself a glass of wine, taking the bottle with her to the lounge.
“I am really sorry, Val. I had an after-hour appointment that went on longer than I thought it would and our date completely slipped my mind.” She lifted the glass and drained it in one long sip. When she filled up the glass again, Valery reached for the bottle.
“Hey, save some for me too.” Valery studied her friend for a long time as she once again drained the second glass. “Out with it. What happened?”
Gabriella came to her feet.
“How ‘bout we crack open another one. I said we'd meet for a drink and I'd like to make it up to you.” She didn't wait for Valery's reply; instead she walked over to her wine rack and picked out another bottle. It was a Monday evening, but who cares anyway.
“You are trying to get me drunk, aren't you?” Valery frowned and looked around. “Where's that hot girlfriend of yours? Is she on another assignment somewhere?”
“We broke up?”
Shocked, Valery slowly put her glass down on the table.
“I'm sorry, Gaby. I…I don't know what to say.”
Gabriella pulled out the cork and reached for her glass.
“Then don't say anything, amiga .”
Valery nodded. When Gabriella slipped in a few Spanish words, it was a sign that she was getting tipsy. She never was one to hold her liquor. She carefully took the bottle from her friend's shaking hand. She had a vague idea as to what could've led to the break-up. Jess and she moved in the same circles and she'd heard rumors about Jessica's exploits, but never had the guts to tell Gabriella about them. She loved Jessica and was very happy with her. No matter what Jessica did on her traveling assignments, she was very attentive to Gabriella and despite her affairs it was obvious that she loved her too.
Gabriella was calmly sipping from her glass again, looking over the rim at Valery.
“You knew, didn't you?” The statement was uttered calmly, the strange tawny eyes looking at her so intently that she felt as if they were looking right through her. She nodded and the pain flash which crossed over Gabriella's fine features, made her heart ache.
“You were so happy, I didn't want to be the one to tell you and see you hurt.”
A short nod; followed by a choked sob.
“It hurts knowing that everybody else knew but me.” When Valery reached out for her, she waved her away impatiently. “I'm done crying over Jessica and I want you to know that I'm not angry at you for not telling me.” She lifted her glass and drained it again, when she reached for the bottle again, Valery frowned.
“Maybe you should take it easy now. I'll get some coffee going.” She got to her feet and walked into the kitchen only to stop dead in her tracks, her mouth falling open.
Standing in the middle of the kitchen, her hands pushed into the back pockets of tight black jeans, was a stunning woman with long copper hair and bright green eyes. The image she made, standing there looking so incredibly beautiful and sexy, took Valery's breath away. But she quickly snapped out of the spell. Something screamed ‘creepy' at her.
“What…How did you get in here?” She threw a glance over her shoulder. “Gabriella, get in here now.”
The woman was just standing there looking at her, as motionless as a statue. With an escalating sense of apprehension, Valery studied her. She was gorgeous, but there was a dangerous air to her too. The apartment only had one entrance; except for the balcony which was almost six stories high. The longer it took Gabriella to arrive the more apprehensive Valery became. Was she a stalker? Gabriella was well-known and previously had an incident where a stalker had broken into her apartment. This woman however didn't look like a stalker. Not that she knew what a stalker actually looked like either. But there was something different about her. Maybe she was…
Gabriella entered the kitchen. Her face immediately registered shock when she saw Trinity standing in her kitchen. What was she doing here? She turned to look at Valery who was slowly edging towards the stove and the heavy pans hanging above it. Trinity's green eyes followed Valery calmly.
“I wanted to come and see if you were okay. You didn't look so well earlier.” Trinity said coolly, her green eyes fixed on Valery. “Please tell your friend that I mean you no harm and that I will leave as soon as I'm assured that you are fine.”
Gabriella turned to look at Valery and saw from the set of her friend's jaw, that she wasn't going to budge. Valery reached out and pulled a heavy pan from its hook, holding it tightly with both hands, her eyes resting on Trinity.
“She won't hurt me, Val.” She said quickly. She looked at Trinity to see her reaction and was relieved to find a small amused smile on the vampire's lips.
“How did she get in then? The door was locked and that only leaves the balcony.”
“I've learned how to get into locked spaces during my special ops training.”
Valery still shook her head. “Why should I believe you?”
“She's a patient of mine and because of the nature of her job, she always to come see me at home to avoid being detected.”
Valery lowered the pan slightly, but still eyed the tall stranger warily.
“Is she working undercover?”
Gabriella nodded. If only Valery would just shut up and go to lounge, leaving them alone.
“I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but I'm working on a top secret case with the FBI. Now will you please give us privacy?”
“Was she your after-hour appointment?” Valery still looked suspicious.
“Yes, but our meeting was compromised and we had to leave the office.”
Valery stared at them long and hard. “You're sure you're not having an affair?”
This time Trinity answered. “No. Now please leave us,” she snapped.
Gabriella turned to Trinity and held up a finger. “Don't speak to my friend in that tone,” she said sharply.
Trinity sighed, her green eyes seeking out Valery's. “I apologize for my rudeness.”
Valery's face lit up with a bright smile.
“A sexy, dangerous woman who can actually apologize? Wow… I'll be waiting in the lounge.” She left the kitchen, but within a second her dark head popped back in. “On second thought, I think I'll leave you alone. No matter what bull the two of you were trying to feed me, the sexual tension between the two of you is stifling, to say the least.”
She left them standing there looking at each other. After a few seconds they heard the front door open and close.
Chapter 6
Trinity cocked her head slightly as she scanned the apartment. They were alone. When she turned back to face Gabriella, she found the amber eyes slowly running over her body. The bold way Gabriella was studying her made stomach flip, but she managed to keep her expression neutral. Why the hell didn't she just go back to the safe house instead of coming here?
After Clarissa she'd been with four other women. All of them vampires. It had nothing to do with love. Just raw lust. The last time she'd been with someone was just before she'd met Gabriella.
After having met Gabriella her priorities had changed. For one, she had someone who relied on her for her safety and secondly, with vampire women being notoriously jealous, she didn't want a jealous vampire lover snooping around Gabriella. Her protective instincts were always in overdrive when it came to Gabriella and she had thought of her as the baby sister she'd never had. It all changed when Gabriella was at college. Her cute ward had turned into a knock-out and she'd found herself starting to look at her with the eyes of a hungry, lusty woman. She'd started to notice the full breasts and how the rest of her body filled out until it became so delectably curvaceous. But she had kept her distance, sitting in the park at night fantasizing about making love to her. Then Jessica happened and she became bitter and angry at this other woman who possessed the only woman she'd craved for since Clarissa. Against her will and better judgment she allowed herself to become distant and bitter where Gabriella was concerned, but it seems she had been kidding herself. She still wanted her. She yearned for her.
Gabriella took a sudden step closer and Trinity was jerked back to the present.
“Why are you really here?”
Keeping her green eyes cool, Trinity responded.
“I wanted to make sure you made it home safely. When you left you were in a bad state.” Her tone was calm, devoid of any other emotion. Gabriella looked at her intently.
“What if my partner had been here?”
I would've wringed her neck , Trinity thought jealously, but when she spoke her voice had the same infuriating calmness to it.
“We've handled Valery well, don't you think? I think we would've been able to diffuse the situation expertly had your mate been here.”
^^^^^^^^
Disappointed with the vague answer, Gabriella turned and went to put on the kettle as a ruse to hide her expression on her face. There were times when she was still with Jessica that she'd wondered about Trinity. She was totally committed to her relationship with Jessica and had never cheated or considered cheating on her, but Trinity had crossed her mind a few times over the years. She wondered how it would've been had Trinity still been in her life. Was Trinity thinking about her? But she'd pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind as quickly as they'd come up.
“We've broken up a few days ago.” She didn't hear Trinity move, but she felt the quiet presence behind her. When she turned around, she stiffened. Trinity was standing impossibly close to her
“Was that why you were crying and drinking?”
Embarrassed, by Trinity's sharp observation, she lowered her gaze. She felt the emotion well up in her when Trinity put a finger under her chin and lifted her face so she could look into her eyes. As if remembering herself suddenly, Trinity took a step back and Gabriella quickly reached out and grabbed her by the arm.
“I've been thinking about you a lot lately, Trinity. I've missed talking to you,” she admitted softly and looked deep into the cool green eyes. They soften slightly, but that was all. “Didn't you miss me too?”
Trinity gently loosened her grip on her arm and put distance between them.
“You asked me to leave. Said you never wanted me to come near you again. I did what you asked me to. Let's leave it at that, shall we.” She turned away and was just about to leave when Gabriella called out.
“You still didn't answer my question, Trinity.” The kettle came to a boil, but she blocked the sound, her eyes on the back of the tall vampire.
“I made you promise when you were seven years old that I will make sure that nobody ever hurt you again. I did that for the past eighteen years and I will do it until you die. About me missing you…” Trinity turned to look at her and Gabriella saw the anger and hurt in the green eyes. “…I was too busy keeping you safe to think or feel anything else.”
Gabriella followed her as she walked to the front door.
“Will you stay if I asked you to?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Trinity turned around so fast that Gabriella walked straight into her arms. The moment she felt the solid and familiar body, she threw her arms around Trinity's waist and held on. Feeling safe again after such a traumatic few days, all the emotions of the past four days welled up and she started to cry. Hesitantly, she felt Trinity's arms curling around her, holding her tightly and she was taken back many years ago when she would sit up late, waiting for Trinity to appear in her room to give her a goodnight hug and tuck her in.
She felt her feet leaving the floor as Trinity lifted her in her strong arms and carried her to the couch. There she stretched her tall body out on the couch and Gabriella was folded snugly against her.
She lay there, crying over Jessica, her stupidity for hurt Trinity and her relief in being held like this again. Long after the tears had dried up, Trinity still held her, her chin resting comfortably on her head. Just like old times, Gabriella mused.
“Promise me you will never put yourself in danger the way you did tonight. There is a very dangerous and powerful renegade master in town. If you have seen the news lately, you must have heard of the rising body count.”
Gabriella nodded meekly.
“I promise I'll never do it again,” she murmured softly and Trinity felt her body heat mounting at the soft warm flutter of her breath in her neck. “Why is he here? Is he taking over from Mercredi?”
“He is looking for me.”
Trinity felt Gabriella stiffen and she loosed her grip slightly when Gabriella lifted her head. Her golden eyes were troubled.
“He's looking for you? Why?” she asked in a strangled voice.
Trinity lifted her hand and pushed a strand of black hair from Gabriella's face.
“I guess he'll try to kill me. He failed to do so centuries ago.”
This time Gabriella sat up straight and Trinity saw her hands shaking slightly when they brushed over her hair. “Is he stronger than you? Will he be able to defeat you?”
“I don't know. I've been converted by a Royal Clan vampire, the purest and strongest clan. Maybe that might serve as an advantage for me when I fight him.”
Gabriella was terrified now. She hadn't seen Trinity for over eighteen years, but somehow she'd known she wasn't far away, looking over her. But having a dangerous renegade out there stalking her, wanting to kill her was too much for her to absorb. She turned to look at Trinity and found the green eyes looking back at her.
“You shouldn't have told me about the renegade. Now I will constantly worry about you.”
Trinity smiled and Gabriella stared at the transformation it brought about. Smiling like that she looked like the old Trinity, funny and playful.
“You needn't be worried about me. Tonight, just after you have left, he arrived and before he could bite me, I wounded him. He'll be suffering from severe silver poisoning for a few days, giving me a few days to devise a plan on how to lure him into a trap.”
Gabriella leaned closer and looked into the green eyes.
“That's still not enough. I need something concrete. A promise… or …or a dangerous army that will come to your rescue.”
Trinity reached out and gently stroked Gabriella's cheek.
“You can have both.” Her green eyes were tender. “I promise to be more vigilant and not to let Tristan catch me by surprise again. I also want you to know that I have an army of five Royal Clan master vampires at my disposal. Just one master vampire is powerful enough to defeat five Tristan's and I'm training with them.”
Gabriella came to her feet and swayed dangerously before Trinity reached out a hand to steady her.
“Had I known you'd be surprising me in my kitchen, I would've taken it easy on the wine. There are so many things we need to talk about.” Standing there, she looked down at Trinity sitting on the sofa in front of her. “Things like an apology I owe you for having said all those nasty things to you after Luisa's death.” She sunk to her knees and took Trinity's face in both her hands. “I apologize for what I've said to you. Will you ever be able to forgive me?”
Trinity nodded.
“You are forgiven,” she said sincerely.
Gabriella's eyes were moist as they studied the beautiful vampire before her. “Just like that? Then…then why were you so cold and distant towards me earlier tonight?”
Trinity came to her feet.
“That I will tell you one day when we are snowed in, but I need to go now before the others become worried.” She walked to the door. “I have placed strong safeguards at your windows and doors to keep vampires out. Do not go out alone after dark and also do not open your door for strangers.”
Gabriella was looking at her with acute disappointment in her eyes.
“I wish you could stay with me tonight.”
Trinity shook her head. There was a strange burning light in her eyes when she answered.
“It would not be a good idea.” She opened the door and was gone.
***********************************************
Jemima was sitting on a bench with Tahlia, enjoying Pierre and Jonas' swordplay. Soon after Trinity had joined the group and moved into the safe house, Genevieve had requested permission to convert one of the large dinning areas into a temporary training room for Trinity. The idea was welcomed unanimously and the training room had quickly become the most popular room in the safe house after the boardroom and the library.
Pierre and Jonas were each armed with heavy broadswords and for Jemima watching them in action was a thrilling experience. She recalled the first time she'd seen them fight, but then her attention had been focused mostly on Tahlia, robbing herself of the opportunity to see the two men fighting. Except for the sharp chipping sounds of the clashing swords, the room was quiet. Neither Tahlia nor Jemima wanted to break the concentration of the two fighters. But that didn't last long. The doors burst open and Inger and Paloma stepped in.
“I could see you were flattered by the attention she was giving you,” Inger snapped and walked over to where her parents were seated, their eyebrows raised in alarm.
Paloma stared at Inger for a few seconds before she turned, walked across the room to the wall and lifted another broadsword from the wall. She turned her silver gaze on Tahlia and with an acquiescent sigh; Tahlia placed a soft kiss on Jemima's lips.
“Pray I return in one piece, my love,” she murmured, before unsheathing her sword and walking over to answer to Paloma's challenge.
“What happened, baby?” Jemima asked softly, but her eyes were keenly following the slow catlike tread of her mate as she crossed the room to where an obviously incensed Paloma was warming up, furiously stabbing empty air. Tahlia had scarcely joined her when Paloma launched an attack.
Jemima flinched when the sharp blade narrowly missed Tahlia's face.
Blushing, Inger turned to look at her mother.
“I never thought I had a jealous bone in my body until I met Paloma.”
“Why do you say that?”
Inger inhaled deeply. “I get so irritated when others… women …flirt with Paloma and she doesn't do anything about it. Like tonight she just stood there while another woman was practically drooling over her. To add insult to injury the person we went to see almost completely ignored me, directing almost all the questions to Paloma.”
Jemima nodded; a pensive look on her face.
“What do you want her to do in such situations, my dear? She's a beautiful woman and on top of that a vampire. The allure they exude is near impossible for humans to resist and even some of our kind struggle to fight the attraction. She can't do anything about it. She'll always have that mysterious magnetism. That is who she is.” She waved her hand in Tahlia's direction. “Your mother and I had the same problem in the beginning, but once I realized that she wanted me and only me, I managed to work on my insecurity. She still turns heads wherever we go, but I always tell myself that she's going home with me.” Jemima's blue eyes burned as they seek out the tall dark figure of Tahlia. “She is mine.”
^^^^^^^^^
Inger's small white teeth bit into her lower lip while she studied her mother under long flowing lashes. Has her job made her paranoid? As a divorce lawyer she'd heard all the possible reasons why people came to a point in their lives where they can't live together anymore. And amongst the items on the long list she'd so often noted jealousy and insecurity. So many times she'd tried to talk some sense into her clients, citing petty jealousy and unfounded insecurity as the least of all reasons to break up.
Her mother played that role today. What did it matter that Jessica had been staring at Paloma with open lust? Paloma did come home with her. She recalled the angry words they have exchanged in the car. Oh, why was she acting like this? Paloma didn't deserve what she'd said to her. Paloma loved her and would never look at another woman, ever.
She will make an effort to curb her insecurities. She loved Paloma too much.
Jemima came to her feet and Inger saw her mother coming over toward them, her black eyes glowing with amusement.
Her gaze went to where Paloma was wildly swinging her sword, killing air.
“I don't know what you did or said to Paloma, but I must say that in all the time I've known her, I've never seen her in this state.” She turned to Jemima. “She fought like an amateur.”
“A little lover's tiff, my love. Let's give them privacy to sort it out.” She hooked her arm around Tahlia's waist and together they left the room.
Also sensing the heavy emotional undercurrent, Jonas and Pierre quickly wrapped up their training match and escaped, leaving only the two of them in the quietness of the room.
Paloma turned slowly and their eyes met. Using preternatural speed, Paloma appeared in front of her.
<I was reading your thoughts earlier.> The silver eyes were burning into hers.
<Then you know that I am very sorry for behaving the way I did. Please forgive me?>
Paloma reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.
<Yes, I do. But you will have to make up for it later.>
Their eyes never left each other's as they silently communicated with each other.
<I'll do anything you want, sweetie. Anything.> Inger smiled when she felt a tiny shiver course through the vampire. Yes, she would do anything and more just to replace that lingering sadness she could still sense in her partner.
<Anything?>
She leant forward and took Paloma's lips in deep, heart stopping kiss.
<Yes, anything. I'll even wear that nurse's uniform you like so much.>
She saw a light go on in the silver gaze, making them almost appear transparent.
<I thought I tore that thing. Or am I mistaken?>
<No, my lusty beast, you're not mistaken. I ordered a new one the next day.>
Inger grinned when the silver eyes went even a shade lighter. Oh, she was going to have her hands full with Paloma tonight, she thought as excitement tingled down her spine. She slowly lifted her hand to the vampire's lips and smiled tenderly.
“I love you with all my heart, Paloma, and I promise you that you never will have to worry about me acting like a fool again. You never gave me any reason to doubt you and it was very hurtful of me to have insinuated as much.”
“There is not a woman alive who can compare to you, my love. I live only for you.” Paloma planted a soft kiss on Inger's lips. “I don't know how to react when things like that happen.”
Inger gently licked the soft lips. “You don't have to do anything, Paloma. You are who you are and I accept that you will always attract attention wherever you go. I love you and trust you, because you are mine and mine alone.”
She saw the slow smile lighting up Paloma's beautiful face and she pulled her lover into her arms and held her tightly against her thudding heart.
They held onto each other, each soaking up the warm waves of love washing over them. They only moved apart when the door opened and Trinity stepped in.
“I've followed your scent from Dr. Talos' office earlier tonight.” Her green eyes rested coolly on them. “You two are the last people I'd expect to find at a sex therapist's office.”
Paloma held up her hands quickly and took a step away from Inger.
“I'll leave this one to you, baby. I'll be waiting for you in the bedroom.” The silver eyes were hot. “Don't take too long.”
<Big, bad Assassin, my foot.>
She heard the soft chuckle echoing down her corridors of her mind as Paloma rushed out of the room.
***********************************
A week days later, Trinity was still fuming. How could they? Going behind her back to go see Gabriella was inexcusable. She hated it when her privacy was invaded. Inger was very contrite about what she'd done and promised to stop her meddling. She really hoped that she'd meant it, because she would hate to confront her again and have Paloma getting involved.
She scanned the house. Tahlia and Jemima's presence were cloaked, but she knew they were somewhere in the house. Genevieve was in the lounge with Pierre and Jonas, Paloma and Juan were in the training room. Not feeling like company, she decided to go for a walk.
Her brisk walk took her downtown and on impulse she decided to drop in on Inger. After their talk the other night they haven't seen much of each other again since Inger and Paloma had spent the last few nights at Paloma's house.
The lights in the building were still on and a slightly bald security guard was sitting at the reception desk in the foyer. She walked up to him.
“Good evening, could you please call Ms Marsden and tell her that Trinity would like to see her please?”
The man's sharp eyes looked her over quickly before he nodded. He picked up the phone, punched in a few numbers and had a short conversation with someone on the other side of the line. He came to his feet.
“Ms. Marsden is on her way down to the parking lot and will stop over here to see you, ma'am.”
Trinity nodded her thanks and took a seat. A few minutes later a soft ping announced the arrival of the elevator and Inger stepped out of the lift. She looked very professional in a black pinstriped pantsuit – every inch the tough divorce lawyer. The blue eyes smiled at her as she came to stand next to her.
“Hi there. Is it a social call or do you want to scold me further?”
Trinity stared at the beautiful woman and couldn't help smiling at her. It was impossible to stay angry at Inger, not when she batted those long black eyelashes and her blue eyes gleamed with merriment.
“As a matter of fact, I did wake up still angry at you tonight, but seeing you standing here in front of me, made me realize how difficult it was to stay angry at you.”
“Good, because I'm on my way to a fundraiser and with Paloma refusing to attend these functions with me, I am dragging you along.”
^^^^^^^^
The function was at a five-star hotel nearby and the moment they entered the conference hall, Inger was pulled aside by someone, leaving Trinity to wander aimlessly through the throng of women. No wonder Paloma hated these events, she thought. It was too crowded. She went to the bar and ordered a glass of red wine. This was definitely going to be a long, boring night.