Chapter 20:
Noon. Twelve thirty, tops, Ivy thought as she blinked slowly. Her head was still muzzy, having roused with a start, hearing the dead bolt slide open on the front door. Feeling disoriented, it took her a moment to realize she wasn't in her own bed in her own room. Lying on her stomach, she carefully turned her head and studied Dani's face as she lie next to her, still sound asleep.
Dani's hair was pushed back from the two small puncture wounds on her neck, rimmed in pink but already barely noticeable. Knowing that she hadn't taken much blood, Ivy still wanted to reassure the dancer that the wound would be fine. So last night, she had made the nursing student go into her bathroom and use some gauze to apply pressure to the spot. They both had watched in the mirror as Dani pulled it away from her neck, oblivious to the naked vampire smiling behind her as she watched in awe as the wound seemed to heal before her eyes.
Who knew being someone's first could be so much fun? Ivy thought, her eyes lingering on her mark.
The dim afternoon light slipped into the bedroom through the seam in the curtains. If the overcast skies foreshadowed the day, Ivy didn't want to wake Danielle. She was more than content to lie next to the dancer, watching Dani breathe deeply, feeling the weight and warmth of her leg draped across the back of her thigh.
More footsteps sounded coming up the stairs to the studio, indicating a class was gathering below. The brick and concrete walls muffled the voices, and it wasn't until the music started that Dani stirred. Lids fluttering, sleepy green eyes regarded Ivy for a moment before closing again.
"Mmm, hello," Dani purred as a smile slowly spread across her lips. "You're still here."
Ivy's eyes crinkled as she smiled back at the blonde. "Good morning to you too."
Dani laughed softly, shifting over to be closer to Ivy. "How long have you been awake?"
Ivy shrugged her shoulder. "Not long. I heard the people coming in for the class."
"I told you, that's the only downfall to living above the studio. Waking up to classical music is a job hazard of mine. We're lucky it isn't a modern dance class. That's harsh."
Ivy arched her brow. "I guess that makes my apartment not so bad. If you don't mind smelling pizza and tomato sauce every day, that is."
Dani wrinkled her nose. "Keep the tomato sauce, I'll stick with the noise."
Turning on her side, Ivy carefully pushed a stray piece of hair back out of Dani's face. "So?" she asked as a glimmer of concern flickered in her gaze. "How do you feel?"
Dani smiled as she reached out, capturing Ivy's hand in her own. "Amazing," she said, as she entwined her fingers with the vampire's.
"Really? No pain or soreness?" Ivy asked cautiously.
"I'm a little sore," Dani admitted. Seeing the look in Ivy's face, she hurriedly added, "but in a good way. Almost like you feel after a really good workout or…" Dani shyly looked down, a blush rising to color her cheeks.
"Or what?" Ivy prodded, a grin playing at the corners of her mouth as if she knew what Dani was about to say.
Dani laughed and looked back into Ivy's eyes. "Or after a night of really incredible sex."
Ivy laughed and placed a small kiss against the back of Dani's fingers. "And here I was worried about you."
"I wasn't worried," Dani said softly, the shy smile still on her face. "I knew you wouldn't hurt me."
Ivy carefully pulled her hand from Dani's and rested it between them. "There is a slight side effect I need to tell you about," Ivy began tentatively.
"Oh?" Dani asked, her brow slightly furrowing. "What would that be, Detective?"
"It's nothing to be worried about," Ivy answered, her voice soft and low as she reached out and pushed Dani's hair back behind her ear, exposing the two small puncture wounds. "Would you like me to tell you about it or demonstrate?"
Dani arched an eyebrow as she studied Ivy, trying to determine if she was serious. "Both," Dani said not breaking her gaze. "I'm a fan of show and tell."
Ivy grinned as she cupped the side of Dani's face, her thumb lightly caressing her cheek. "It has to do with our bite."
"Your bite." Dani repeated flatly.
"Well, it's the combination of our saliva and our bite." Ivy looked into Dani's puzzled face and hesitated. Closing her eyes and with a slight shake of her head, she acquiesced. "I know, I know, it sounds weird. Just let me finish." She took a deep breath and continued. "Not only can it make you heal faster and prevent infection, it also has some residual effects."
"Such as?" Dani asked.
Ivy's fingers trailed lower, tracing Dani's jawline, grazing her nails down the smooth skin of her throat.
"This," Ivy whispered. As her thumb carefully traced Dani's scar, the dancer's eyes flew open. Back arching, Dani gasped as she grabbed onto Ivy's arm.
Ivy smiled as she moved her hand away from the sensitive spot. "The marks will fade Dani, but the scar will be very responsive to touch." Ivy propped herself up on her elbow, leaning forward to place a kiss on Dani's bare shoulder.
"Some people say merely being in the same room with a vampire will play on the scars." Ivy looked down at Dani who had finally caught her breath. "But I find that to be true only if the person has been bitten many, many times."
Dani rolled over on her back, a playful smile on her lips and a bewildered look in her eyes. "That sounds like a proposition to me."
"You don't want to be that person, Dani. Trust me." Ivy's finger traced a path across Dani's collarbone as her smile faded.
"I'm telling you all this because I need you to be careful if you are ever in the same room as Adam Sirio again. He will be able to tell that you have been bitten and he can use it to his advantage."
"How?" Dani asked, all joking aside as her look changed to one of concern.
"I don't quite know how we know. It's more of a sense that we get. Being around someone who has been bitten but remains unbound. It makes the person all that more appealing to some of us. Like a forbidden fruit." Ivy looked down at the bed, away from Dani's stare.
"He'll know it was me who marked you, and for most, that would be enough to make them stay away. It tells them you are mine. In a way."
"Like marking your territory?" Dani asked quietly.
"Almost." Ivy paused, thinking of her next words carefully. "To assure no other vampire would try to lay claim to you, I would have to bind you to me. Make you my shadow." Ivy slowly met eyes with Dani. "I would never do that to you," she said softly.
Dani's eyes were serious as she looked up at Ivy. "Let me put your mind at ease then, Ivy. I don't plan on seeing Adam, let alone be anywhere near him again after what you told me last night."
Dani rolled back onto her side and curled her knees to her middle. The music from the studio paused and the muffled words of the instructor could be heard through the walls. Dani laid there as if trying to listen in, and as the music started up, she glanced up at Ivy.
"I don't know what we'll find locked away in my brother's bank, but I'm not really the vengeful kind."
Ivy laid her head back down on her pillow beside Dani and looked into her face. Keeping her eyes averted, Dani gave a soft sigh.
"I guess I knew this was coming for some time, but I always had a glimmer of hope that Jack would just…I don't know, show up at my door with a stupid, selfish explanation and all would return to normal. I would have my brother back."
Ivy reached out and covered Dani's hand with her own, trying to offer some comfort.
"After thinking about what you told me last night," Dani said softly, still looking down at the sheets, "I realize nothing I do will bring Jack back to me."
Dani's green eyes finally looked up, searching Ivy's face. "Would you think I was a coward if I told you I think I am out of my league pursuing this?"
Ivy squeezed Dani's hand gently. "You don't have to do anything, Dani. That's what I'm here for."
Dani moved closer to Ivy, their foreheads nearly touching as she clutched Ivy's hand in hers. "I don't want the same thing to happen to you," Dani whispered. "What if Adam makes you disappear or worse. I don't want to lose you."
Ivy reached up and smoothed her hand down Dani's cheek. Smiling she placed a soft kiss on Dani's lips.
"Sirio's the one out of his league, Dani. He can't do anything to me." Ivy's thumb stroked Dani's warm skin. "Don't worry so much. I'm not going anywhere."
Dani's brow furrowed as she silently studied Ivy, scanning her expression. "When the case is over and done with, you'll still be here? With me?" Dani whispered, as if the mere mention of her fears would cause them to come true.
"I like you, Dani." Ivy said, her lips curving up into a shy smile. "A lot. You make me feel different. Special. And all you ask for in return is this." Ivy gazed into Dani's eyes for a few seconds before leaning in and pressing her lips tenderly against the blonde's.
Dani's body melted against Ivy's as her fear and tension slowly subsided. "Do we have to go?" Dani breathed as they finally broke the kiss. "Can't we just stay here," she asked with a teasing smile as her hands trailed down Ivy's side and over the curve of her ass. "In bed?" she finished, pulling the vampire more firmly against her own body.
Ivy softly ran her finger over Dani's scar, creating a shiver of pleasure to course through the dancer's body. "Now who's propositioning?" Ivy teased as she watched Dani's reaction to her touch. Ivy smiled and then leaned in, capturing Dani's lips in a hungry kiss.
"As much as I would like to continue this," Ivy said when their kiss finally broke, "we really should go."
Dani groaned her displeasure as her lips trailed down the side of Ivy's neck. "I thought the banks in the Hollows were open later," Dani murmured, her lips tickling against Ivy's skin.
"They are," Ivy sighed as her body began responding to Dani''s touches. Dani pushed Ivy onto her back and began kissing her way between her breasts. "So we have time," Dani whispered as she grazed her teeth lightly against Ivy's nipple before trailing her mouth lower.
Ivy groaned as the blonde's tongue traced her hipbone. "Dani…" Ivy murmured softly.
Dani looked up and met Ivy's heated gaze. "You started this with your show and tell." Dani smiled slyly as her hand slipped between Ivy's thighs. "Besides," she muttered, her lips back against the smooth, flat surface of Ivy's stomach, "I think your body has other ideas." The feel of Ivy, warm and wet against her fingers prompted Dani to continue.
Ivy groaned as she gave into the dancer's skilled fingers. It was true, they had plenty of time to get to the bank and the contents of the safety deposit box. Why not enjoy this moment a little longer?
XXX
The gray sky didn't dampen Ivy's mood as she sat in her car, idling outside of the studio. Quickly checking her reflection in the rear view mirror, Ivy ran her fingers through her tousled hair in an attempt to tame her bed-head. Dani was kind enough to loan her a t-shirt so she wouldn't have to struggle with her blasted corset straps, and it also prevented her from doing the walk of shame: coming home the next day in the same outfit as the night before. Who could ask for a better start to the day?
Readjusting her mirror, Ivy picked up her phone that she had left on the passenger seat. 0 new text messages and 1 new voice mail, the screen reported. Ivy selected the voice mail and pressed PLAY. Using the speaker option, Ivy set the phone on her lap and got ready to pull away from the curb.
"Ivy girl," Piscary's voice came from her lap, making her breath catch and her foot press down on the brake. Looking down at the phone, she listened nervously as the Master vampire continued.
"Where have you been these past few days? I've had one update on the case, and no messages from you. And now I am forced to leave you a message. As if your time was more important than mine."
He paused for a moment, making her heart beat faster. She could tell by his tone that he was displeased.
"What's worse is Kisten is nowhere to be found. The staff said that he called in to say that he needed some time off. I went upstairs only to find no Kisten and no Ivy. This does not bode well with me."
"Shit," Ivy swore softly. Her absence could be excused, but Kisten was needed at the restaurant. With him not around, PIscary would be doubly pissed. Undead vamps are not huge fans of sudden changes in their routines. It tends to make them jumpy.
"I am tired of trying to track you down. Come see me when you get this, Ivy. I am curious to hear what has captured your attention so much that you have left Kisten and I by the wayside."
There was a soft click and then no more. Ivy sat staring at her phone as the screen politely asked her if she wished to save this message or delete?
Clicking DELETE, Ivy tossed the phone back on the passenger seat. She still had plenty of time to get back to her apartment and change before sundown. If she waited to speak with Piscary, God only knows when he would let her leave. If he would let her leave.
Pulling away from the curb, Ivy knew she was only making things harder on herself avoiding the Master vampire. She could justify her actions provided they find the damning evidence today in the safety deposit box. Then she could bring it all to him, explaining she was wrapped up in the case. Not in Dani's arms. No, that would be bad if he knew about Danielle. Very bad in deed. Hopefully Kisten could keep his mouth shut when he returned to the restaurant. She knew how persuasive Piscary could be when he wanted something, and Kisten was always eager to please him.
I'll just have to deal with him when the time comes, she thought, hitting the afternoon traffic. She made her way onto the ramp that would take her home, skillfully weaving through the other commuters. We've almost got Sirio. I just need those ledgers to make it all stick. Then I can turn it into Pendleton and she and Piscary can fight it out over who gets to dole out his punishment.
XXX
After a quick shower and change of clothes, Ivy was out the door. The skies had opened up and the rain was finally coming down. What was that expression? she thought, April showers bring May flowers? Ivy ducked into her vehicle, shaking off her jacket that she used as an umbrella.
Turning on the defroster to rid the windows of the steam, she grabbed her phone. She sat listening as Dani's line rang, watching the edge of the clearing fog slowly creep up the windshield.
"Hello?"
"Dani, quick change of plans," Ivy said. "Can you meet me at the bank in one hour?"
"Oh, sure," Dani said. "Is everything OK?"
Ivy could hear the faint stirrings of worry in her voice. "Everything's fine," she said, trying to sound cheerful. "Just some last minute thing I have to do at the office. You know me, I just can't stay away from the place."
Dani laughed softly and Ivy relaxed her grip on the wheel.
"OK, I'll meet you outside of the bank."
"Wait for me in the ramp, Dani. I'll feel better walking you in and out of the place."
Ivy's thoughts flashed back to Evelyn's warning. If there was a Were tailing Dani, the last thing she wanted to do was leave her standing alone in front of the bank with the safety deposit key.
"Alright, if you say so," Dani agreed.
"See you soon, OK?"
"Bye, Ivy," Dani said, and hung up.
Windshield clear, Ivy headed into the office to do a quick face to face with Sgt. Pendleton. As the wipers ticked back and forth, she tried hard to remain optimistic. With any luck, she would be able to get in and get out, avoiding any unpleasantries with her partner Art, who had to be counting the minutes until she was done with this case and back under his command.
Wow, she thought sourly, two undead vampires just waiting to get me alone with them. Who's luckier than me?