CHAPTER 6

Jaden was frowning when they left the club, practically walking into John and Mark.

"What's wrong?" Mark demanded instantly.

Isis tiredly recounted her visit with Amaranta.

"Maybe she's the one who…" John said thoughtfully.

"Who what?" Jaden asked curiously, linking her arm with his.

"Someone ripped the throat out of a guy back a couple alleyways." Mark said slowly. "Think it could be this Amaranta?"

"I don't think so," Isis said slowly, her voice musing as they started walking down the street. "She seems more the type to hide her kills… I could be wrong though."

"You were about Glen." Jaden said coldly.

Isis studied Jaden thoughtfully then smiled suddenly. "Aww darlin', don't worry, you're still mah favorite wench." She smiled, hugging her friend, sensing the motivating factor behind Jaden's words.

Jaden started laughing.

Once back at the ranch, they all settled around the fireplace. John and Jaden sat on the floor, Jaden reclining in his arms while he rested his head on top of hers. She was thinking that she might be falling in love again, not sure how she felt about that.

She didn't want to be hurt like she had been with Jeff, she wasn't sure if she could take the heartbreak again. So far they hadn't even made love though they were sharing a bed, that was almost driving her crazy. John was too damn attractive for his own good! Just laying next to him every night, listening to him breathe was a turn on for her.

As if sensing what she was thinking, John gently kissed her throat.

Jaden shivered.

Isis and Mark were sitting on the couch together, Isis on his lap with his arms around her waist. They were speaking to each other about the night's events, just not aloud.

[Think this has anything to do with Glen and Shannon?] Mark asked.

[No, she mentioned that she knew Gabriel and Grams.] Isis sighed, resting her head against his chest. [If only it were that simple eh?]

Mark started chuckling.

"What's so funny?" Jaden looked over at them.

"I was thinking about Glen and Shannon."

"Who are they?" John asked, looking back and forth between them all, smiling curiously as they all began laughing.

"Old friends." Isis chuckled, her eyes darkening.

"Where are they now?"

"Dead."

"What happened?"

"Let's just say they didn't care too much for us." Jaden laughed, remembering the look on Shannon's face when she had killed her.

"Come on, tell me." John urged, his breath hot on her neck.

Jaden shivered.

Amaranta stared at the ranch, knowing they were all inside. She smiled as she called up a mental image of Isis, then of Jaden. She knew the tall man was Isis' mate while Jaden her blood sister and the newest, youngest of them all was a friend.

She pulled the hood of her black cape up, glancing one more time at the ranch before slipping into the darkness.

"Oh god, if you could have seen her!" Jaden gasped, blood tears coming to her eyes. "All red, like she was Glen's personal cheerleader… red hair, nails, make-up, her clothes… This woman had no sense of fashion at all."

"Remember when you punched her?" Isis asked, laughing so hard now she was also crying. "The look on her face!"

Mark was smiling, listening to them patiently. "Shannon was perfect for Glen, just as crazy as he was."

John smiled, chuckling softly. "I'm glad I wasn't around for that, sounds like they were a bunch of trouble."

"That they were," Isis agreed, nodding. "More trouble then we would have guessed at the time. Glen was crazier than a loon and Shannon was jus' as bad, if not worse because she was crazy to start with from the sounds of it."

"So you killed this psycho woman?" John asked Jaden.

Jaden nodded, recalling the incident. "She was trying to kill me and would've succeeded I think, if not for the fact that she royally pissed me off."

"Remind me to never piss you off." John looked over at Mark. "So what happened to Glen?"

Isis' face went completely blank, all the lines in her face smoothing out until she looked like polished marble.

Mark cleared his throat. "Isis killed him."

John didn't pursue that.

"You all right?"

Isis looked up from the vanity she had been sitting at, brushing her hair out. "Yeah darlin', I'm fine, why?"

He gave her a pointed look.

"Glen? You really think I'm gonna let that bastard torment me from beyond the grave?"

"Of course not." Mark nuzzled her neck. "Ready for bed?"

"Mmm…" Isis smiled when he scooped her up into his arms. "Always."

Mark sounded like a cat purring as he laid her down on the bed, covering her body with his own.

Jaden sighed, listening as the shower ran, just envisioning John. Finally she couldn't take it any longer and stood up, pulled on her silk robe and walked over to the open bathroom door, peering in. Her mouth dropped.

The shower was a locker room style which meant no curtains, no door… no nothing.

John was standing with his back to her, his hands pressed against the wall, his head bent underneath the hot water beating down on him.

Jaden had to literally wipe away the saliva from her mouth as her gaze slowly moved down his body, taking in every inch.

Her eyes moved up his muscular calves, while her mind was mentally running a hand over them, imagining how they must feel. Slowly her stare went higher, finally resting on his ass. God how she'd of loved to take a bite out of that! The water ran down his back, then down his… Jaden shivered again, knowing if she didn't do something about this serious sexual attraction she was going to explode.

The way the water ran down his back, and what a sexy back he had, was more erotic than seeing him naked. It brought to mind a roaring fire and a bowl of ice cubes.

Jaden looked up startled when she heard a throat clear, blushing as much as possible with her limited blood supply when she found John staring at her, his face completely devoid of any emotion.

After a full minute, John said: "You going to stare all night or join me?"

Isis stared up at Mark, running her hands down his shoulders and onto his chest, lightly pinching his nipples which caused him to hiss.

"Woman!" He growled, grabbing her hands in one of his, pinning them over her head.

"What's the matter darlin?" Isis asked playfully, arching against him.

His eyes narrowed until they were nothing but emerald slits.

Isis just smiled innocently, shrieking when he lunged, sinking his fangs into her throat while at the same time sliding into her.

Pure ecstasy.

Jaden didn't hesitate, practically tossing herself into John's arms, sighing when he leaned down to kiss her.

The kiss was everything she thought it would be and damn near melted her.

John chuckled, quickly ripping away her robe and nightgown before picking her up and turning, pressing her against the shower wall.

Jaden gasped as he kissed her throat, shutting her eyes against the water the beat down on them. Her gasps turned to moans when she felt him began her legs. "Don't tease me John!" She whispered harshly.

John smiled, not disappointing her.

Isis and Mark were up the next night before Jaden and John, both dressed and out on the streets.

They were hunting.

"What are you hungry for?" Mark asked, lacing his fingers with hers.

"Hmm…" Isis looked at the mortals passing them by. "I don't know… Italian maybe."

"Italian, maybe?" Mark arched a red eyebrow. "What's the maybe for?"

"Cause I'm not sure, I'm kinda cravin collar greens and fried chicken, with some corn bread and sweet taters."

"Woman, sometimes I forget how country you can be."

"You weren't complain' bout my country ways last night." She teased, running her hand lightly across his ass.

"You'll never hear me do so either." Mark laughed, catching her hand. "Quit it before you make me embarrass the both of us."

Isis started giggling, looking around. "There's an alleyway we could disappear in…" She whispered suggestively.

Mark actually thought about it.