Fangs But No Fangs

CHAPTER 27

"Jolee's hot," Sebastian observed. Then he took a sip of his beer, watching her over the wide rim of the beer pitcher.

Possessiveness flashed through Christian, but then disappeared like a quick jolt of lightning. This was Sebastian, and he was just making a comment. He had always just said whatever came into his head. Christian smiled. It was good to know some things hadn't changed.

"So are you going to cross her over?" Sebastian asked.

Christian shook his head. Always saying whatever he thought. At least he waited for Jed to call it a night before he asked.

"Sebastian, I think his love life is his own business," Rhys said.

"Yeah, well, you'd do well to remember those words." Sebastian leaned closer to Christian. "Thanks to Rhys and Jane, there is just way too much PDA in our house."

Rhys frowned. "PDA?"

"Public displays of affection," Sebastian stated.

Rhys snorted, but Christian noticed he didn't deny their baby brother's accusation.

"So are you going to bite her?" Sebastian asked again.

Christian gave him a sharp look, then glanced over to Jolee. She was deep in a conversation with Jane and hadn't heard them. But instead of looking away to answer Sebastian, he studied her.

He hadn't allowed himself to really, truly imagine an eternity with her. He'd always intended to let her go. He didn't know how, but he knew he'd have to. But now, now that he knew he hadn't killed Jane, now that he saw Rhys had found happiness with a mortal, and that Jane had accepted vampirism with no hesitation or regret, maybe he could be with Jolee forever. He wanted that. God, he wanted that. But even if Jolee could accept the truth about his real nature, he had another problem.

"I can't bite her," he admitted lowly.

"Oh, please, don't tell me you are going to be as big a dolt about this as Rhys was about Jane." Sebastian sighed.

Rhys frowned at him.

"It's so obvious that you and Jolee are in love," Sebastian said. "If the air was any thicker with your emotions, we'd have to call the paramedics for oxygen. Between you and Rhys it's like being on Planet Love, and I need a space suit to protect me from the treacherous atmosphere."

Christian stared at his brother. "You are weirder than I remember."

"No, he's the same," Rhys said flatly. "You've just managed to forget."

Sebastian ignored them. "So are you going to bite her?"

"I can't bite," Christian repeated.

"What?" Sebastian asked as if he must have misheard.

"I can't bite."

"What?" Sebastian repeated, but this time Christian knew that he'd heard, he just couldn't wrap his mind around the information. He stared at Christian in appalled disbelief. Even Rhys looked a little stunned.

"After I bit Jane" — he glanced regretfully toward Rhys—"I stopped feeding from humans. Well, I did drink human blood, from the blood bank, but I rationed it, only drinking as much as absolutely necessary to survive." He hesitated to tell them about the twelve-step program. It seemed rather silly now.

"Great, another one turning to the bag," Sebastian muttered, shaking his head. Christian gave him a questioning look, but Rhys spoke before he could ask what he meant.

"That shouldn't affect your fangs."

"I also stopped using my preternatural abilities. And gradually they seem to have disappeared," Christian said.

"Wait," Sebastian said. "You can't do anything vampy? And absolutely no fangage, even when you're getting jiggy?" Sebastian asked.

Christian shook his head.

Sebastian looked as if he might expire at the very thought. But finally he managed to say, "Wow, that sucks. Or doesn't suck, as the case may be."

"But you haven't tried to bite her since you discovered that Jane is fine. Maybe you could now. Maybe it's guilt-induced or something," Rhys suggested.

Christian shrugged, but he had a feeling Jane's existence wouldn't help. Even now, as he longed to bring Jolee over to him, he didn't feel the hunger. It was as if the urge to feed had gone dormant inside him.

"I could bite her for you," Sebastian said, looking quite eager at the prospect.

Christian glared at him. He wouldn't share her, much less let another vampire, even his brother, cross her over.

"No," Rhys stated flatly for him however. "According to Dr. Fowler—»

"Oh, God," Sebastian groaned. "Here we go."

Christian looked confusedly between his brothers, but waited for Rhys to continue.

"According to Dr. Fowler, if a vampire truly intends to take a mortal to mate, then only he or she should perform the bite. It's the only way to create an unbreakable bond."

"Who the hell is Dr. Fowler?" The name sort of rang a bell with Christian, but he couldn't quite place where he'd seen or heard it.

"He's pretty much the Reverend Moon of the vampire world," Sebastian said, not hiding his disgust.

Rhys frowned at Sebastian. "No, he isn't. He's a scientist who has researched preternatural creatures and has learned a great deal about them. About us, in particular. For example, did you know that more and more research proves vampirism is actually a virus?"

"A virus," Sebastian scoffed. "That's so appealing. Give me the good old curse explanation anytime. Thanks."

Christian ignored him and turned to Rhys. "So you really believe in this guy's work?"

"I do."

"Maybe there is a scientific reason for what's happening with my hunger," Christian pondered, half to himself.

"I wouldn't doubt it," Rhys said.

"You two are whacked. I'm taking my pitcher and drinking with the ladies." Sebastian headed over to the bar, slipping onto a bar stool beside Jane.

"Why is Sebastian so opposed to this guy?" Christian asked.

"Because Dr. Fowler is on a campaign to stop vampires from using mortals as a food source. He believes that is the primary reason why vampires have never been accepted into society."

Christian nodded, but he still didn't follow.

"Sebastian is the most promiscuous biter I know. And he has no intentions of stopping. He doesn't even want to consider the idea. Hell, he's created a nightclub that caters just to vampires' obsession with feeding, and mortals' fascination with being bitten. He doesn't want that to end."

"Well, if this Fowler doesn't promote biting then he wouldn't help me. He'd probably be quite pleased that I cant."

Rhys shook his head. "No. He's actually a big advocate of integrated mating. He believes that if vampires and mortals are soul mates they should bond. He believes this shows the human population that vampires are actually capable of love and true commitment."

"No wonder Sebastian hates the guy."

"Yes, Sebastian is only committed to his own pleasure," Rhys said, but smiled fondly toward their hedonistic little brother.

"I was the same way," Christian pointed out regretfully.

Rhys shook his head. "No, you had great commitment skills. You just picked the wrong female." Rhys looked over at Jolee talking happily to his wife and their brother. "I think you might just do better with this woman."

But Christian didn't return his brother's smile. "I'm so sorry. About Lilah. About what I did to our family. About Elizabeth."

"Lilah destroyed our family, and she killed Elizabeth."

"But I brought her into your lives."

"Christian, I can't feel anger about the past anymore. I still miss Elizabeth and love her. But if things hadn't happened the way they did, I never would have found Jane. So I can't stay bitter."

Christian could see the sincerity in Rhys's eyes. Rhys had found his soul mate in Jane.

"How did you know Jane was your mate?" he asked.

"My body knew long before my mind, seeing as I was a little messed up when I met her."

Christian gave him a pained look. "Sorry."

"Not your fault either." Then he added with a wry grin, "Well, maybe a little, but it doesn't matter now. But to answer your question, I just knew— and so did Jane."

"But I thought I knew once before." He'd followed Lilah blindly through two centuries.

Rhys nodded. "How do you feel about Jolee?"

Christian watched her as she talked with his family. The family she'd returned to him.

"I love her," he answered simply.

"How did you feel about Lilah?"

Christian considered that. "Wanted her. I would have done anything to have her."

Rhys nodded.

But Christian's own words sank in, defining in his mind. "But with Jolee, if she didn't want me, if she couldn't accept me, I'd let her go. I'd love her forever, but I couldn't force her to be with me. I love her too much to ever hurt her."

"Well, there you go," Rhys said.

And Christian knew his brother's blandly stated words said it all. He looked back to Jolee. There you go— there's your true mate. He was humbled by the emotion coursing through him. Love. Family love. True love. It was all so overwhelming and something he hoped he got the chance to never take for granted again.

"Thanks for coming," he said, knowing the words were too inadequate for the feelings inside him. But he couldn't seem to manage more.

"I'm glad you are back to being the Christian I remember."

Christian was, too. And he had Jolee to thank for that. He looked over to her. He only hoped she could accept the truth. That she would still want him.

Jolee waved to Christian's family as they disappeared into his trailer. Christian remained with her.

"Are you sure you don't want to go with them?" she asked, not wanting him to feel obligated to stay with her. He'd spent years separated from his brothers; he must want to spend as much time with them as he could.

"Trying to get rid of me?" he teased, pulling her into his arms.

She smiled. "Not a chance."

He kissed her possessively.

She sighed as he broke the kiss. "How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Make me totally desperate for you with just a kiss."

He caught her hand and started toward her trailer. "Believe me, love, you do the same thing to me."

He barely had her inside the trailer before she was back in his arms, and he was kissing her senseless.

He walked her backward down the hallway, his lips pressed to hers, his hands busily working their clothing off. By the time they reached her bedroom, they were both nude and he'd only broken his kiss twice, once to remove her shirt and once because he tripped on his pantleg.

"You're pretty darn good at this," she said, collapsing onto the bed, pulling him with her.

"You, too."

She grinned, and then she moaned as he began to touch her.

His lovemaking was slow and leisurely. He worshipped her with his mouth. With his hands. With his whole body. And once he was buried deep inside her, he just remained still, looking down at her, caressing her face and her hair.

"Jolee?"

She nodded, gazing into his pale eyes, reveling in the feeling of his weight on top of her, his thick length inside her.

"Thank you."

She smiled and stroked his cheek. "I want you to be happy."

"I am."

His words made her heart flip. "I know how you feel." When she was with Christian, she simply knew everything would be all right. She'd never known that feeling. Never really felt safe until him.

"Jolee, I want to give you forever."

Jolee's heart stopped mid-flip. Was he saying what she thought he was?

"Do you want that? Me? Forever?"

She nodded immediately. "Yes." She threw her arms around him. "God, yes!"

He began to move inside her until they came together, and Jolee had never believed that such ecstasy could be hers.

"Can you contact Dr. Fowler?" Christian asked Rhys as he poured a beer.

Rhys stopped watching Sebastian and Jolee as they fiddled with the new karaoke system that Christian had insisted on buying for Jolee. He knew she still didn't feel comfortable when he spent money on her, but he'd brought up the fact that they were going to be together forever, and she needed to get used to his help. She'd relented.

Now, he just hoped they had forever.

"Sure," Rhys nodded. He got out his cell phone. "I can make some calls and try to find him." He gave Jane a quick kiss, then headed outside to make some calls.

Christian watched him leave, hoping Dr. Fowler would have an answer. Christian hadn't partaken of a blood bank repast in two days, and while he could feel the hunger building within him, he knew he couldn't feed from Jolee. His fangs hadn't appeared— not once.

He glanced at where Jolee watched Sebastian connect some of the wires. She asked questions, and Christian knew that was because she wanted to know every detail. If anything happened to this sound system, Jolee would know how to handle it. She was determined. And she was strong.

But was she strong enough to accept the truth about him? Even if Dr. Fowler could help, his aid might be a moot point. If she couldn't accept him, then he would let her go. It would kill him, but he would. Given her family and background, she craved to be normal. No black clouds hanging over her.

Vampirism was a big black cloud; it certainly didn't make a person normal. And it didn't lend itself to an average life.

Then he looked at Jane, sitting talking to Jed. The old man glowed under her attention. For all practical purposes, Jane looked like a normal human. She was kind and sweet. Vampirism hadn't seemed to change her. Maybe if he used Jane as an example…

He looked back to Jolee. She and Sebastian now beamed at each other. He assumed the karaoke installation was going well. Then Sebastian strode across the room, smiling at a number of the female customers.

"You know," he said in a quiet voice once he reached the bar, "you went from being one of the evilest vampires in the world to a sideshow for horny women. I admire that."

Christian shook his head. Sebastian would admire that.

He gestured to the box on the floor behind Christian. "I need that cable."

Christian handed the black cord to him.

"Oh," he added before he headed back to Jolee. "I was looking for a towel in your bathroom, and I found something called a Popiel Pocket Fisherman and a Thigh Master. Should I be worried?"

Christian shook his head again. Sebastian should have been worried, but now Christian was fine. Or he would be.

"And I'm not even going to ask about the Being Human list on your fridge." Sebastian raised an eyebrow at that. "Bro, you are one odd dude."

Christian smiled as Sebastian left to return to Jolee. Imagine if he knew about the blog.

A few moments later, Jolee announced, "Karaoke is now open."

The patrons cheered, but Christian suspected many of the women at the tables nearest the stage were really cheering for Sebastian rather than the karaoke. Several ladies had been watching him quite avidly all night.

The bar was crowded, and none of the patrons seemed to mind that all they could serve was draft beer. The new liquor supplies would be delivered tomorrow. If Vance had intended to bring Leo's to a screeching halt— although it had almost seemed that way— his burglary had only created a minor delay.

Sebastian, ever the ham, picked up the mic and announced he'd be the first singer of the evening. The women cheered. Then he started singing "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard, and the women started waving their arms and hooting, and looked ready to pounce.

"He's crazy," Jane stated, watching him with amused amazement. Christian laughed, thoroughly amused, too.

"Some of those women are going to attack him if he isn't careful," Jolee said as she joined Christian behind the bar.

"If anyone can handle himself with the ladies, it's Sebastian," Jane said.

"I have no doubt." Jolee laughed. She left to call up the next singer. Sebastian was immediately surrounded by admirers as he stepped away from the stage.

Jolee returned to the bar once Hitch was at the microphone screaming "Carrie Ann" by the Hollies. Rhys also returned from outside, although Jolee's presence didn't allow him to do more than give Christian a nod, which he assumed meant that Rhys had located Dr. Fowler.

"Poor Hitch," Jolee said, watching the women circling Sebastian.

"Why? Because he's obviously in such pain?" Rhys asked as he slid onto his bar stool.

"Be nice," Jane warned, elbowing him. He slipped his arm around her under the guise of avoiding being nudged again.

"No," Jolee said with a smile. "Even his screaming can't get any attention tonight."

"Sebastian has that effect," Christian said as he filled another mug of beer.

"Not just Sebastian," Jolee said, jerking her head to a group of ladies watching him.

As if on cue, the she-clown, who'd pinched his ass that first night, approached the bar. She openly admired him— and Rhys— as she ordered her drink.

As she walked away, she stopped to say to Jolee, "I like the new renovations. They are very, very nice." She gave another significant look to both brothers.

Jolee and Jane both began to laugh after the woman returned to her table.

"Easy for you to laugh," Christian said, "she's never grabbed your ass."

Jolee and Jane laughed harder. Even Jed chuckled around his cigarette. Sebastian joined them at the bar.

He sighed contently. "I like it here. I even like that guy singing." He sighed again. "I think I might stay here forever."

"Well, you would be great for business," Jolee said, laughing again as more women wandered past the bar to admire the view.

As Hitch's song neared its screeching finish, Jolee excused herself to go change the music, but Sebastian shot up.

"Can I do it?" he asked eagerly.

Jolee laughed. "Sure. As long as you can keep your fan club at bay."

"Oh, I can handle it." He walked toward the stage, a swagger in his step until the she-clown got him, pinching him right on the left cheek.

"I think you've lost your admirer to another," Jolee laughed, nudging Christian.

"As long as I don't lose you." He pulled her against his side, kissing her.

Christian was still worrying about just that as they lay in bed later that night. Jolee snuggled against his side, her leg flung over his, her hand on his chest. He'd made love to her twice since they got back from the bar, and after the second time she'd fallen right to sleep, exhausted.

She'd had a busy night at the bar, and he knew he shouldn't have been so demanding, but he couldn't seem to help himself. Where his hunger might be dormant, his libido wasn't. Even now, just stroking the smooth skin of her back, feeling the warm stir of her breath on his skin, he wanted her. His cock pulsed greedily, but he ignored its demand.

He had to tell her the truth. He had to tell her even before he talked to Dr. Fowler. Jolee needed to make the choice whether she could handle what he had to tell her. Tomorrow, he'd have Rhys contact Dr. Fowler again and tell him to wait. Then if Jolee wanted to be with him forever, they'd talk to the doctor together.

Jolee stirred, stretching, then opening her eyes to smile sleepily at him. "Hey, you're still awake?"

He nodded.

"Sorry to fall asleep on you."

"You're tired." He kissed her forehead, intense love filling him.

"Mmm," she agreed, letting her eyes drift shut again.

He thought she slept, but then she said lazily, "I love your family. Your brothers are wonderful, and Jane is the nicest person I've ever met."

He considered mentioning that Jane wasn't quite a person but couldn't do it. He couldn't see revulsion in Jolee's eyes. He couldn't bear for her to pull away, frightened of him. Or nearly as bad, think that he was insane.

She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "I'm so glad I will finally have a real family. A family who loves and cares about each other."

He nodded. A real family. A real undead family. Did the fact that they were nice trump the death factor?

She reached up and touched his cheek. "What is it? You look worried."

He hesitated, then asked, "Remember we talked about all families having skeletons?"

She nodded, her eyes becoming less sleepy.

"Jolee…»

She levered herself up on her elbow to look at him more closely.

He couldn't do it. He couldn't tell her.

"It's nothing," he said, picking up her hand, which gently brushed his chest. He pressed a kiss to the palm, then simply held her fingers.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "I'm just being… silly."

She frowned but accepted his explanation. He knew she realized there was more that needed to be said, but she didn't pressure him. Maybe she didn't want to hear the truth any more than he wanted to say it.