A Guardian's Love Read online

  Inger found herself entertaining that thought for a few seconds, and then rudely pushed it from her mind. Giving herself a mental shake, she focused on the cute woman rubbing herself up and down her body.

  “You are way too sexy to be here alone, you know,” said the blonde, looking up at her. “Where’s your missus?”

  Inger grinned. The blonde was feisty! This was going to be a very, very pleasant evening, indeed.

  “Believe it or not, I’m here all by myself.” she said softly and pulled the blonde even closer to her. “Enough talking for now, beautiful, let’s go dance.”

  †

  Glittering silver eyes followed the couple as they danced close. A low feral growl started from deep within her, but she managed to suppress it before it spilled over her lips. The blonde had slipped her hands under Inger’s shirt and was stroking the slayer’s stomach.

  From where she sat, in a shadowy part of the bar, Paloma could see the ill-disguised lust in Inger’s eyes as the girl touched her. She had followed Inger to the nightclub until the young woman was safely inside. Instead of entering herself, Paloma had melted into the shadows of a dark alley nearby where she had sensed six renegades lying in wait for the vampire slayer. She'd already picked up their scent a few blocks away, and, from the halting way, Inger had entered the nightclub, she knew that Inger was aware of their presence, too. After she had destroyed the renegades, Paloma had entered the nightclub. The slayer had tensed when she entered the club, so Paloma knew that her entrance wasn’t missed, either.

  Paloma had tried, but when the sun went down it was difficult for her to keep her distance from the beautiful raven-haired, blue-eyed siren. She was on her mind every second of every waking hour. Paloma found her breathing slightly labored and her nipples hardening at the thought of taking the twenty-year old hothead to her bed. It had taken all her patience and control to keep herself from going crazy every time Inger left a bar or nightclub with a woman heading to the nearest hotel. She knew what happened on the starched white sheets of the hotel room while she waited in the shadows. When Inger left the hotel room after a few hours, satiated and tired, Paloma followed her back home or to her dorm room, seething with anger and jealousy. She’d lost track of how many women Inger had slept with over the past few years but it would have to end—tonight.

  The song ended and Inger and her partner walked back to the bar. Paloma’s anger boiled to the surface when the blonde snuggled into Inger’s arms and placed a soft kiss on her neck. The slayer obviously liked it because she gave the girl a hungry kiss in return. Paloma felt her body begin to shake—it took great effort not to walk over and drag the girl away from Inger.

  “If you are trying to get her attention, you are going about it the wrong way.”

  Shocked that anyone could have crept up on her without her sensing their approach, Paloma turned sharply to find calm black eyes resting on her. No wonder, she thought. She was looking at a master at tracking and stalking.

  For a few seconds they merely stared at one other, and the centuries they’d spent apart fell away as they relived their past. The last time they’d seen each other was in 1530, after which Paloma had gone to ground, only to resurface twenty years ago.

  “Tahlia.”

  “We thought you were destroyed in battle.”

  Paloma gestured to the bartender and ordered a glass of red wine for Tahlia.

  “I intended to rest a short while, but I guessed I overslept.”

  Her eyes moved slowly over Tahlia’s face. Over the past twenty years, she had caught glimpses of Tahlia here and there. The Vampire Queen was even more beautiful than she remembered. She had also grown stronger over the past five hundred years if the faint crackling sound in the air surrounding Tahlia was anything to go by.

  Tahlia took a sip from her wine and nodded her thanks. “What is your interest in my daughter, old friend?” she asked. Paloma was aware of Tahlia calmly observing her over the rim of her wine glass.

  She turned her head in the direction where she had last seen the young couple. “I am just looking out for her. The renegades in town are not very fond of her.”

  Tahlia looked at her in silence for a few seconds and only centuries of self-control stopped Paloma from squirming in her chair. She held Tahlia’s gaze until the dark woman nodded.

  “Thank you for looking out for her.” Tahlia said after a while. “I will call her over so that I can introduce you. Do you mind?”

  Paloma felt her heartbeat go into overdrive. Meet Inger face-to-face? The last time she had been in close proximity with Inger was when the young woman was a baby in the park twenty years ago. She looked up and found the black eyes resting on her. Tahlia was not a fool, and Paloma was aware that Tahlia could hear her heartbeat thudding erratically.

  “It would be an honor to meet your daughter.”

  “Good.”

  Tahlia picked up her glass and took a sip.

  †

 

  Inger groaned inwardly. Just when she thought her entertainment for the night was sorted out and they would leave for a hotel room soon, her mother had to come and hang out at the same nightclub. She didn’t have to look around to locate her mother. The air in the nightclub was practically crackling—a clear sign that a potent being was in the vicinity—even more powerful than her stalker. Only people with strong psychic abilities would pick up on the power surge in the air. She looked down into the smoldering blue eyes of the blonde and sighed.

  “Duty calls. I need to meet with a friend. Will you wait for me?”

  “Just make it quick,” the blonde said with a sexy pout.

  With a lingering look at the sulky lips, Inger walked over to where her mother leaned against the bar. She was a few steps away from her mother, when the person sitting next to Tahlia looked up and their eyes met. Inger blinked in confusion as she looked at the woman. A tremor shot through her body, its potency almost brought her heart to a stop.

  What a woman!

  Her long blond hair was loose and rested on wide, leather-encased shoulders. She was still too far away to make out the color of her eyes, but she was sure that it would be something spectacular. The woman was tall, almost as tall as her mother—maybe just a couple of inches shorter. She also exuded the same dangerous aura as her mother—carrying it with the same composed magnificence as Tahlia. How come I’ve never seen her before?

 

  Thoroughly reprimanded, Inger tore her gaze away from the enigmatic woman and looked at her mother. The black eyes looked back sternly.

  “What was that all about?” Tahlia asked coolly when Inger came to stand in front of her, she flicked a glance at the blonde girl waiting at the bar for Inger. “Your mom ordered me to find you, because you have not been answering your phone for the past two days.”

  Inger rolled her eyes. To avoid confusion between her two mothers as a child, Inger started to call Tahlia mother because she was the strong quiet one. Jemima was mom because she was the one who nagged her about everything—her dress code, her studies, everything. She was sure that Jemima would have a fit when she found out that she was dating women.

  “Please don’t tell mom. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  Tahlia pushed away from the bar, her face set in an even sterner scowl.

  “You will tell your mom. I think I have put myself in the firing line way too often of late.”

  Tahlia turned and Inger felt her mouth go dry at the sight of the other woman looking at them. Her eyes were such a colorless grey: they shone like two deep pools of quicksilver under the flashing lights of the nearby dance floor. She was even more breathtaking up close. Sexy. Alluring.

  “Let me introduce you to a friend of mine,” Tahlia continued. “This is Paloma Soleil.”

  The beautiful vampire extended her hand and Inger folded it gently in hers. The unexpected jolt made her loosen her grip quickly as
a riot of goose bumps broke out on her skin. She stole a quick look at Tahlia and found her looking calmly at them with her bottomless black eyes.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Paloma.” Knowing that she would stare again if she turned to look at Paloma, Inger turned to Tahlia. “How do you know each other?” Not able to refrain from looking at the blonde vampire, her blue eyes slowly turned back toward the tall woman. The silver eyes seemed as if they were staring right through her, gleaning her mind for deep, unspoken thoughts. Luckily, Inger had been taught at a very young age to block any mind probing to protect her family.

  Tahlia took a sip from her wine and smiled faintly. “We are childhood friends.”

  Inger’s eyes widened. Impossible. She could never understand how her mother could be over 2000 years old and still look so good, but now this woman is living—no existing—proof that her mother is indeed as old as she said she is. To find someone who knew Tahlia when she was still human was incredible.

  “That makes you over 2000 years old, Paloma.” Inger felt her palms began to sweat. What a gorgeous cougar!

  Paloma nodded. “Yes. I was born in 55 BC.” Paloma said with a slow smile.

  Her blue eyes widened. “No kidding. I’ve never met a vampire older than my mother.”

  Looking at Tahlia, Paloma smiled, a teasing smile, making her silver eyes twinkle. It made Inger’s mouth go even drier.

  “I can tell you a lot about your mother when we were growing up.”

  Inger laughed softly and walked into Tahlia’s arms.

  “I doubt she was a goofy girl growing up.” Inger felt the arms tighten around her and she purred softly. When Inger was a small girl, Tahlia would take her in her arms and hold her snugly until whatever was troubling her passed. When she looked up into Tahlia’s face, the black eyes were so tender that Inger rose onto her toes to plant a gentle kiss on Tahlia’s cheek. Whenever Tahlia was near, she felt loved and protected. “I love you.” The words spilled over her lips, and she felt the deep, calm heat that spread from Tahlia to her.

  “I love you too, my Angel.”

  For a long moment, they shared a deep loving look before Inger gently stepped out of the embrace. “Tell mom I will come by later tonight and that she doesn't have to worry about me. I’m taking good care of myself.”

  †

  As mother and daughter talked, Paloma couldn’t take her eyes off the girl. Inger’s blue eyes shone so much love for Tahlia. Paloma was suddenly aching for someone to look at her like that. If that someone happens to be Inger, even better. The possessive way Tahlia held the girl to her made it clear that if Paloma were to try to get to know the girl better, she’d have to get past Tahlia first.

 

  Tahlia was still staring at her daughter with infinite tenderness, but her voice echoed in Paloma’s mind with a steely undertone. Paloma knew that she meant it, too.

  Paloma took a sip from her wine and studied Inger over the rim of her glass. Being around her was quite distracting. Their first touch had been so intense that little light bulbs burst behind her eyes and her heart missed a few beats.

  “Jemima is having an exhibition. I am on my way there now, but feel free to drop in if you can. I would like to introduce you to her.” Tahlia’s eyes were even darker now as she looked at Paloma. “It is great to have you back.”

  Not waiting for a reply, Tahlia kissed Inger again, turned, and disappeared into the crowd.

  “It’s very stuffy in here, don’t you think.”

  The sound of Inger’s voice spiked her blood with desire, and she had to blink a few times before she could turn to look at Inger. She didn’t want to scare her off with unbridled lust in her eyes.

  “Yes. It is getting crowded.” Would she want to go somewhere quiet, perhaps? Maybe somewhere where they could explore this instant attraction between them?

  There was a commotion at the door and an entourage, headed by burly bodyguards, pushed a path through the dancing throng. In their wake, a beautiful brunette in a killer red dress followed, causing a number of the club patrons to reach for their mobile phones and push closer to take pictures of her.

  “Who is she?” Paloma asked with mild curiosity.

  “Verna Gregg. She’s a famous movie star.”

  Shaking her head, Paloma turned back to the bar to pick up her glass. The one thing about this century that baffled her was the hero-worship people had for so-called celebrities. Popular culture was something she would never fully understand

  “She’s coming over to us.” Inger’s awe-filled voice sounded close to her ear and Paloma stiffened when Inger’s breath brushed her neck. When she turned she found Inger standing very close to her, her blue eyes staring straight into hers. There was a strange expression in them, but before she could decipher the look in Inger’s eyes or react to her closeness, the tiny brunette pushed between them, her green eyes devouring Paloma.

  A head taller that the actress, Paloma had a clear view of the woman’s bosom spilling out of her low-cut dress. Her blood red lips opened, exposing brilliant white teeth. The tip of her tongue slowly ran over her teeth while her eyes moved dreamily over Paloma’s tall frame.

  “Would you like to join me at my table?”

  Before Paloma could form a reply, Inger took a step closer and wiggled herself in between the two of them. With a tight smile, she looked at the brunette as if to tell her to back off. Paloma felt her blood heat up even further at the feel of Inger’s body so close to hers. She turned smoldering eyes on Inger, but the slayer’s attention was on the actress.

  The movie star smiled as she looked from Paloma to Inger. The green eyes came to rest on Inger last. “You can both come. It’s my birthday, and I’m just looking for someone to share the evening with me.” The actress’ eyes once again roved slowly over her and this time, Paloma could smell the woman’s arousal. She turned to look at Inger and found her staring at the actress with flashing blue eyes.

  †

  Inger couldn’t fully comprehend the annoyance she felt her upon seeing the lustful look the brunette gave Paloma. It wasn’t as if the vampire was her—ach, what the hell. The actress also didn’t have any rights to Paloma, either. Without thoroughly thinking through her next action, she pulled Paloma against her and slanted her lips over the beautifully sculptured mouth of the vampire. What started as a stunt to repulse the star’s advances on Paloma, turned into the most sensual experience she ever had.

  Paloma’s arms snaked around her middle, and she felt the vampire open her mouth in search of her tongue. She found it easily and expertly sucked deep into her mouth. The kiss lasted but a few seconds, but those were the most devastatingly erotic few seconds of Inger’s life. When they pulled away, blue eyes clashed with wide silver ones. They stared at each other in mute shock.

  A soft cough broke the heated moment and they both turned quickly. The brunette was gone, replaced by a tall blonde glaring at them.

  Chapter 3

  “Mom!”

  This spelled trouble. Standing behind Jemima was Tahlia, her unflinching black eyes resting on Paloma, who Inger noticed was pushing a visibly shaking hand through her hair. Jemima stared coolly at her, and Inger sighed deeply.

  “Don’t Mom me, Inger Charlotte Marsden.” When Jemima used her daughter’s full name, she was really angry. “What do you think you’re doing?” She swung around to look at Tahlia with blazing blue eyes. “This is your fault. We should’ve been stricter with her, but you were always the one who said I was too tough on her. Now look what happened. Not only is she placing her life in danger everyday as a slayer, she also hangs out at rowdy nightclubs, kissing …” Jemima’s eyes shifted to Paloma, and they narrowed slightly, “… dangerous-looking women.”

  Paloma threw an amused smile at Tahlia and in return received a cold feral smile exposing her fangs. Looking around worriedly to see if anyone had seen Tahlia’s fangs, Inger quickly stepped closer.
/>   “Maybe we should have this conversation later at home.”

  “No, we will have it out here and now,” Jemima said through clenched teeth. Her eyes rested coldly on Paloma.

  “But people are staring, Mom.”

  “No they’re not. We are not visible to the human eye anymore.”

  There goes that excuse. Tahlia must have cloaked their presence with a spell. To the human eye, they weren’t there, but no one would dare come near to where they stood. Tahlia’s spell instilled an ominous and repulsive feeling of dread in any human who crossed into the spell barrier. Everyone walked long circles around the section of the bar where they stood. She saw the cute blonde she’d danced with earlier, escorted to the VIP section of the nightclub by one of Verna Gregg’s bodyguards. There goes my entertainment for the evening. She turned back to Jemima, but the angry look in the blue eyes made her quickly look toward Tahlia.

  “Can’t we go somewhere else to talk?”

  Tahlia placed her hand on Jemima’s shoulder.

  “Maybe she is right. Let us go to the art gallery.”

  †

  Once inside the gallery, Jemima bundled her family into the office.

  “What do you have to say for yourself, Inger?” she asked in a low threatening voice. When Tahlia stepped closer, Jemima held up an unsteady hand. “She will have to come clean tonight, my love. No more breaks for her. If she can take on renegades, I’m sure she’s capable of defending herself now—here—to us.”

  Inger grimaced and walked over to the big oak desk, then leaned against it. Jemima stood with her arms folded behind her back. It was actually a relief to get this off her chest.