Page 15 of I Dated a Golden Vampire (Blind Date Corporation #21)

R iro looked at his half-brother and said, “So, basically, everything has gone wrong, and she’s giving me no point to get any romantic traction.”

Juro laughed. “Have you tried?”

“What?”

“Have you tried to make a move on her?”

“Not since she was stabbed.”

Juro nodded. “Probably wise. Well, thank you for bringing our lost citizens home. And I am not going to thank you for making me see what she did to them.”

“Your mate would just rip them down the centre.”

Juro grinned. “Yeah. Well, where can I send the bounty for them?”

Riro gave him Pria’s information. “She’s applying to be an escort for the BDC.”

Juro shrugged. “So?”

“Isn’t that weird?”

“Not really. She wants someone who will pay attention to her the entire time they are together, from first touch to aftercare. After that, she doesn’t care.

Sex is sex, and the rest of the world is on its own.

Ledia was like that. Hot as hell in bed, but prim and proper everywhere else.

She couldn’t catch a flirting comment if you asked her to.

She just shut it out. I am guessing your Pria is similar.

Raised to labour too young, so it’s all she knows, and all of the things you take for granted, the giggles, the sly looks, and light touches.

She doesn’t even know they exist. She wants an encounter that’s direct. Apply to be her patron.”

“I can’t. She has a block against Hyreno or Sethir.”

“Why?”

“She’s a water-manipulating air breather.”

“Oh. Father. Right. Well, I have changed those regulations. Sabine is a perfect example. She and Shavore are perfectly happy, here or there.”

Riro nodded. “I will see what I can do. Denog is waiting for me, so thanks for taking your people home.”

“I will always take my people back. Tell your lady that.” Juro smiled.

“She doesn’t consider herself Hyreno or Sethir or of the capitol. Every time she’s turned to her people to keep her safe, they have failed her.” He sighed as they walked to the wet exit. “I failed her.”

“What?”

“She was Waterdance.”

“Holy hells. Go and get me a sister-in-law. Salat used to make her as an action figure.”

Riro looked at him in shock. “You are joking. You have one?”

“No, but Salat does. He enjoyed the way she was constructed.”

Riro shook his head, left through the wet exit, and headed back to the yacht. Why was he not surprised that Salat was a fan of Waterdance? He would have to talk to him.

The moment he was back on board, Denog turned and headed back to the islands.

They got the hurricane warning when they were still a day out, and they were forced to shelter. Riro summoned a whale and got in the water. It was time to travel fast.

* * * *

S he watched the storm get closer, and when the storm surge pulled away from the shore, she walked toward the shoreline.

The first wave to strike the shield let her see it.

It was compression-activated. She had already taken the second vial and was staring at the water slamming into the shield.

She kept the third vial in her hand, and she waited.

The roar of the water was familiar, but this time, she wasn’t waiting for anyone.

The locals were all in heavily fortified shelters, and it was just her and the ocean.

When the alarm sounded on the shield, she took the third vial and lifted her arms, starting the up-and-over roll of the waves to keep it back and slow down the incoming force.

The wind pushed against her, and she smiled.

Her gills ached, and she finally understood what she was supposed to do.

She walked toward the water, and when it covered her, she danced, and the storm above her lost power.

She was holding her breath for now, but as the wildlife returned to the area.

She smiled, and the last of her air trickled away.

In the distance, she saw an orca, but she ignored it as she looked at the battered coastline from her view under the sea. The pressure on her lungs was building, and the whale got closer until a bubbling column of someone obscured it. She laughed. He was going to be there for this first.

She kept her mouth shut, and her gills flexed, and there was a heavy wave of energy that ran through the water.

Whoa. Pria let herself sink to the ocean floor and let her gills breathe for her.

Riro stilled and dropped to the sand next to her.

She gave him a thumbs-up and sat for ten minutes.

He tapped the corner of his head and reached out to her. She smiled and shook her head.

Pria stood and slowly swam toward the shoreline. Riro moved behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist as they got to the shallows and stood up. He hugged her. She paused and looked up at him.

“That couldn’t have been easy, Pria.”

She didn’t reply.

“I know I messed up, but I am eager to prove that I am not a complete self-involved ass.”

She looked at him and didn’t say anything.”

He continued apologizing and then paused. “You don’t know how to purge your gills.”

She shook her head but smiled.

“Take a deep breath and force pressure through your lungs. That should blow the water out.” He smiled and kissed her forehead.

She followed directions, and the water blasted out sideways. She smoothed her hand over his cheek. “I accept your apology, but only because the gill thing made me insanely aroused.”

He blinked and then grinned. “So, that’s why you didn’t want the contact?”

She looked at him. “Try it.”

He staggered back at the roaring cloud of lust in her head.

She snorted and walked toward the town. “Told ya.”

“How are you just walking around so calmly?”

“This suit is very tight. The pressure is helping.”

He paused and started laughing. “Is that one of Thermot’s designs?”

“No idea. Cabree got it for me. There was some kind of negotiation involved. It leaves the gills open.”

They walked toward the shelter. The door opened, and people poured out, cheering and grinning. Cabree ran toward her, and Pria muttered, “Incoming.”

Cabree hugged her and said, “Oh, my goodness. We saw it all on the monitors. You were amazing. Your gills work. I’m pregnant!” She laughed the whole tirade out.

Pria hugged her back. “I am very happy for you.”

“Yeah, Zera is going to be pissed.” Cabree laughed. “Oh, where am I going to live?”

Riro smiled. “There are lovely villas here. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and a very thorough maternity team available here with a specialist a few islands over. She flies in.”

Cabree smiled. “Impressive pitch.”

“I was working on it for Pria, but you are practice.” Riro laughed.

Pria glanced at him. “Fixated, are you?”

“Yes.” His nod was frank.

“Don’t read into this, but where am I sleeping tonight? I am exhausted. That was a whole other thing.”

Cabree said, “So, you really let yourself drown?”

“No. I let the oxygen run out. When my body needed to, it pulled the water in and started breathing again. I have to get Khytten something nice for this. Maybe something for the kids as well.”

Riro stroked her back. “What were you thinking?”

“White pearls for Khytten, silver for the kids, and black pearls for Salat’s pointy, pointy ears.”

He chuckled. “Something can be arranged.”

“And maybe some kind of island wear for Khytten. My measurements, minus five inches in height, and add those measurements to the bustline.” Pria was getting a little dizzy.

Cabree laughed. “I will look for something bright and a little trampy. That is Dr. Torenne’s favourite style on her.”

Riro lifted Pria in his arms and said, “Hungry again?”

“Yeah, it’s been a few days and... nope. Not hungry, just tired. Cabree’s blood is really filling.” She looked at him. “You are carrying me? Why?”

Cabree grinned. “Thank you. Is the golden wonder still on the yacht?”

“Yes, he’s on his way around the headland right now. He should be here before midnight.” Riro looked at her. “I am carrying you because you were swaying and going to collapse.”

“Maybe, but then I could make sand angels.”

He snorted. “Cabree, come with me. My house is this way.”

“Fine, but you know that he’s gonna track me there.”

“I am aware. We had the discussion on his ship. As long as he doesn’t wake Pria, he can have at you.” Riro laughed.

Pria snorted. She would only wake if Cabree were in distress.

They walked through the relieved crowd, and Ysell came to them. “Riro, you are well?”

“I am fine.”

“Your lady is impressive.”

Riro chuckled. “I know. We are going home so she can get some rest.”

“She will rest?”

“She will. Can you have food sent at dawn?”

Ysell paused and said, “Of course. I will send a plate of fruit and dried meat tonight, just in case.”

Riro chuckled, and Pria smiled. He was warm and solid and moving without extra motion. She whispered, “Yay, gills.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Yay, gills.”

She smiled and dozed off. Tomorrow, she wanted to see the actual island.

Pria loved being warm and cool at the same time.

She breathed deep and paused. There were hands supporting her breasts.

Big hands. Pria glanced over her shoulder, and Riro was there.

His hair wrapped around her, and his thigh draped over hers.

She reached down and stroked his thigh. His eyes snapped open.

She smiled. “Morning. Were you afraid my breasts were going to get away?”

He chuckled. “It didn’t seem to be comfortable to have them mushed together like that, so I thought a little support wouldn’t be amiss.”

“You are good at offering support.”

“Thank you.” He kissed her shoulder. He released his grip on one of her breasts and stroked his way down her ribs and belly.

She closed her eyes and felt the heat of his fingers as he moved them. It felt nice, and then she felt a distinct tingle as his fingers rubbed her mound.

He chuckled, “Waxed?”

“No. That’s normal. There’s pigment but not hair.”

He lifted on his elbow and looked, smiling.

“You can laugh.”

“Do you want to call it a tattoo and have that be an end to it?”