The Beast 4: Soul Tripping Read online

  “Are you certain?”

  “Yes. What’s going on, Gui? Did I do something?”

  “No, and yes. Tyr has decided not to see Nadine any more. And she says it is because of you.”

  “Does she know about…”

  “He did not tell her, and neither did I, but I cannot understand why he would not want to share her bed if he did not have expectations of sharing yours.”

  Is everyone hormonal? “You are the only one I plan to share my bed with. I swear I don’t know anything about this.”

  “Lo siento. I am being foolish.” Gui’s hand slid to Nathan’s jaw line as he placed a kiss on the younger vampire’s lips. He turned his head to the side and bared his neck. “Feed. Then we must prepare. According to my sources, the Brotherhood is going to attack in the next week, and while I do not believe they will catch us unaware, I’m not arrogant enough to believe the security system for this place is enough to stop their magic.”

  Nathan’s lips brushed over Guillermo’s jugular vein. “I still find it hard to believe these guys live without blood.”

  “They do not live, amante. Merely survive. They use their sorcery to dampen the hunger, but they have lost their minds in the process due to their single purpose.”

  Fangs protracting, Nathan made two neat punctures into Gui’s neck, then retracted the razor sharp teeth to drink from the small round holes. The blood rushed into his mouth, and Nathan could taste that it had been Leo Gui fed from last.

  Nathan’s cock stirred as Guillermo’s power, the power of a master vampire, rushed into him in a euphoric wave. His internal organs relaxed as the feeding brought fresh life to his body. He put his hand on Guillermo’s Speedo, stretched with the fullness of the vampire’s engorged shaft. Nathan slid his fingers under the spandex material and Guillermo melted into him with a moan.

  A throat cleared behind them and Nathan froze. “Uh, boss.” It was Tyr.

  Pulling away from Gui’s neck, Nathan removed his hand from Gui’s pants. “Did you need something?”

  The corner of the Viking’s mouth quirked up into a half grin. “You’ve got company.”

  * * *

  Nathan clenched his fists as they walked in through the back door. “I can’t believe you told my mother about this place. I really am the last person to know anything!” He turned on Guillermo. “This is really bad timing, especially with these Brotherhood idiots trying to kill me and the baby.” Then something else dawned on him. “Damn it. The baby! Mom doesn’t know Anna’s pregnant. How in the hell am I supposed to explain that? I’m doomed, I tell you. Doomed. I should just go out and find the BOT and let them hack out my heart. How could you do this to me?”

  “Nathaniel, calm down. We will just tell Nan that now is not a good time.” And the way things were going, Gui thought, there never would be a good time. “The house is not yet furnished and we’d hate for her and her friends to be uncomfortable. I will put them up at the Plaza Hotel for the evening.”

  “Can we do that?” He shook his head. “Mom will never go for it. You know how she is.”

  “Nan can be determined.” Like when she’d called Guillermo three nights prior.

  “Determined, hell. She’s stubborn. When the woman wants something, she gets it. I don’t think we’re going to get her to leave tonight or any time soon. Not until she’s ready to go.”

  Guillermo suddenly wished he had a coffin to hide in like all the movie vamps. He had invited Nan to visit, but with everything going on, he’d forgotten. “Take a deep breath. You don’t want Nan to think you are not happy to see her.”

  “You’re right. You’re right.” Nathan inhaled sharply, then exhaled. “I’m going to keep it together.”

  They walked into the living room. Nan stood by the fireplace, rubbing her fingers over the detailed carving in the mantle. Her cheeks were rosier than Guillermo remembered, and she’d dyed the gray streaks from her hair. She wore an emerald blouse that brought the green out in her eyes, and for the first time, Guillermo could see Nathan in his mother.

  “Nan.” He held out his arms and walked grandly to her, taking her hand in his and placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. “You look lovely as always. Don’t you agree, Nathaniel?”

  Nan giggled and blushed, then rushed to Nathan. “Baby!” She threw her arms around him and it was his turn to blush.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  She thumped his chest. “Hi Mom? That’s all I get?”

  Chapter 7

  Nathan smiled. He couldn’t help it. And suddenly he felt better. He wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up in a bear hug. “It’s good to see you. And Gui’s right, you really do look great.”

  “Ah, thanks, sweetheart.” She primped at her hair. “I figure if I’m going to be the mother of a… well… what I mean to say is… a sharp dresser…” Nan raised her eyebrows and grinned, “…I’d best be looking the part.”

  Inwardly Nathan groaned. They hadn’t really talked much since the night of the dinner, when he came out to her, but every time they did, she’d be like a walking talking PFLAG dictionary on how parents and friends of gays and lesbians should act. He’d only told her he was gay because he knew how much she wanted grandchildren, and at the time Nathan had thought it completely impossible because of his “vampire” status. It had crushed Nan, who had been a completely upright Christian for as long as Nathan could remember. But he’d felt it better for her to think he was gay, and only a sinner, than for her to find out that he’d lost his human soul and that he couldn’t be saved.

  “Well, you look very nice. But I liked the way you looked before also.” He bent down so she could kiss his cheek and noticed a man and woman about his mother’s age staring at him expectantly. “Uh, who are your friends?”

  “Of course!” She gestured toward the woman, who had bright blonde hair, obviously a rinse, pulled into a beehive do. “That’s Shirley. And this guy, well…” Nan walked over to the man, who was Guillermo’s height, but with short salt and pepper hair, and in good shape for his late fifties. She looped her arm into his. “This is Alfred. My friend. Well, they’re both my friends, but Alfred is my friend-friend.” Winking, she added, “My special friend.”

  Alfred didn’t even pretend to be embarrassed by the attention as he beamed a white smile at Nan.

  “I get it, Mom.” Nathan didn’t want to, but he did. His mother never dated, never had “special” friends, and Nathan wondered where in the hell she met him.

  Fairly skipping back to Nathan, Nan clasped his hands. “Isn’t it wonderful, dear? We both have someone in our lives. And the best part is, Alfred, and Shirley too, both have children who are snappy dressers! We are all in the new Ozarks branch of PFLAG together.” She craned in close and pulled on Nathan’s hand to lean him toward her, then whispered quietly in his ear, “Although Shirley’s kid is a lesbian, and to tell you the truth, she’s not all that much of a snappy dresser.”

  “So, Mom,” Nathan changed the subject. “What brings you to Kansas City?”

  Snapping her fingers, Nan reached into her purse and pulled out a little box with a bow. “I wanted to surprise you for your birthday, of course.”

  Nathan glared at Guillermo, who shrugged. “Surprise.”

  Tyr walked in from the foyer. “Did I hear something about a birthday?”

  “Tyr!” Nan shrieked, placed the box in Nathan’s hand, and fairly threw herself at the large Viking. “It’s so good to see you. Are you coming over tomorrow for the party?”

  “Party?” Nathan’s voice grew faint. “What party?” Again he glared at Gui, who shrugged, again.

  “Surprise.”

  One more surprise and the BOT wouldn’t have to kill him. Nathan was going to stake himself.

  “Nan.” Tyr moved his sword to one side and hugged her back, gently but firmly. “It’s great to see you, also. I love what you’ve done with your hair, and that blouse. It really brings out the color in your eyes. And of course, I’ll be here for the part
y.”

  “You know how to say all the right things.” Nan turned to Alfred and Shirley, who were eyeing Tyr’s sword with a little apprehension. “Tyr here’s an actor. One of them Shakespeare in the Park fellows.”

  Nathan shook his head. His mother liked Guillermo, but she adored Tyr. And the way she was eyeing his butt made Nathan just plain uncomfortable. “I have to work tomorrow. Sorry, we can’t have a party.”

  “No you don’t. I had Tyr call the hospital last week and they said you weren’t scheduled.”

  Tyr quickly looked away, but Nathan heard his thoughts as he projected them across the room. She’s a hard woman to say no to.

  “You’re telling me,” Nathan grumbled.

  “Well, it’s late, baby. And your momma needs her beauty sleep. So, point me in the direction of my bedroom.”

  “I’m a little tired myself,” Alfred chimed in.

  “Yes, nearly ten o’clock,” Shirley agreed. “I’m starting to feel stones weighing my eyelids. Besides, it was a long drive up.”

  Nathan narrowed his gaze at Alfred. “You all will need separate bedrooms, right?”

  “Of course, son,” Nan chirped. “You don’t think your mother has gone all floozy, do you?”

  A sense of relief fell over Nathan, until his vampire hearing heard her whisper to Alfred, “You can sneak in later, sweet cheeks.”

  Nathan made a fist, but Guillermo must have heard her as well, because he announced, “I’ve had rooms prepared for you. Follow me, ladies and gentleman.”

  Nan and Shirley fell in step behind Gui, but Nathan stopped Alfred before he could pass by. “What my mother does when I’m not around is one thing, but you take one step out of your room tonight, sweet cheeks, and we are going to have a problem.” He growled, low and feral. “Get me?”

  “Yes,” Alfred replied, a little shaken. “I wouldn’t dream of abusing your hospitality.”

  “Good. I’m glad we understand each other.” Nathan let him go and Alfred skipped upstairs to catch up with Gui and the women.

  Sighing, Nathan sagged against the wall. “Someone kill me now.”

  “Over my dead body,” Tyr snorted. “Get it, hehe. Over my dead…” He glanced at Nathan, who was not amused. “Never mind.”

  “Tyr.”

  “Yeah, boss.”

  “Why did you break it off with Nadine?” Like Nathan didn’t have enough to worry about. But hell had no fury like a lunatic bitch scorned.

  Scratching his fingers over his scalp, Tyr shifted uncomfortably. “Because I want more.”

  “More how?”

  “I want what you have with Guillermo.”

  “You know we can’t…”

  “I’m not talking about having it with you, Nathan.”

  “Oh.” Nathan didn’t know whether to be relieved or offended. “Then what are you talking about?”

  “I’d like to have a relationship. A real one. I spent too many years being someone’s puppet, and now that I have a little choice, I’d like to exercise it by finding someone who will love me for me.”

  “I see.” Nathan worried at his lower lip. “And you don’t think you can have that with Nadine?”

  “I don’t know. I like her. A lot. Hell, I think I could even love her, but she is a bit cold and controlling.”

  “You think?”

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I.” Nathan could feel Tyr growing defensive. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just agreeing with you.”

  “Well, stop it.” Tyr shook his hands out. “If she’d even once just give up some of that control, show a real emotion, other than anger, I might think it’s a possibility. But as it stands, I don’t think she cares. Other than using me to get at you.”

  “Surely you don’t think Nadine has a thing for me.”

  “Other than hatred? No.” Tyr chuckled. “I think she thinks that by being with me, she’s irritating you. And if you haven’t noticed, she lives for shit like that.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  “Well, if that’s the case, then she’s using me. And I don’t want to be used anymore. The sex is good…”

  Nathan could have foregone that little tidbit. He’d had sex with her and she was vicious in bed.

  “But sex isn’t everything. I was celibate for nearly one hundred years. A little while longer won’t kill me.” Tyr turned his back and looked out the living room window. “Not until I find the right person.”

  On impulse, Nathan walked up behind him and wrapped his arms around his gentle giant. Tyr was hurting, and lonely, and Nathan could feel it all too well. “You’ll find that person, Tyr. I know you will.”

  Tyr patted Nathan’s hands. “Thanks, boss. I think I’ll go walk the perimeter. I’ll be back in a while.” He disengaged himself from Nathan and left the room.

  Guillermo stepped in as Tyr walked out. He’d been in the foyer long enough to have heard the tail end of the conversation, and he couldn’t help but feel reassured that Tyr wasn’t trying to make himself a permanent fixture in Nathan’s bed. Until he met Nathan Greer, he’d never known what it was to really love somebody, to be willing to give up everything for them. And now, he knew, the only important thing in his life was this man.

  “That was kind of you, amante.”

  “I don’t know what to do, Gui. I feel like everything is falling apart. I feel desperate. I’m nauseous. And to top it all off, I’m an emotional wreck.” His eyes looked like that of a cornered man. “Oh my God! I’m freaking pregnant!”

  “Calm yourself, Nathaniel. It is impossible for you to be embarazado.” Guillermo was really starting to worry that Nathan was losing his mind.

  “I know I’m not literally pregnant. What I mean is, since yesterday when Anna arrived, I’ve been a basket case, sick to my stomach, and hungry as hell. I think I’m having one of those sympathetic pregnancies.”

  Guillermo stifled a chuckle.

  “It’s NOT funny!”

  “No, no. I was just thinking that I hope you don’t lose your figure.”

  “My figure?” Nathan’s green eyes went wide and mischievous. “Oh, you are going to get your ass kicked now, Spaniard.”

  “I’d rather have you do something else with it, but if you think you can, how is it you Americans say, ‘bring it on,’ gringo.”

  Anna walked in. “Did someone say Pringles? Because I could sure go for some. All that crispy, salty deliciousness.”

  Nathan and Guillermo stared at her for a moment, then burst into laughter.

  “What?” She raised her hands. “What did I say? Oh!” She grabbed her stomach and doubled over. “Hold on, little one.” Then, “Oof!”

  “Anna?” Nathan said, as both men rushed to her. They lifted her up and sat her on the floor.

  “Nathan,” she panted, still gripping her mid-section. “Something’s not right. I think I’m having contractions.”

  “It’s too early. At five months along, the baby won’t survive.”

  “I know that!” Anna snapped. “I went to medical school, too, Nathan. Oooh!” Her face contorted in pain.

  “That’s it.” Nathan took charge, and Guillermo was glad somebody was. “Gui, get behind her and support her back and head.” He put his hands on the elastic waistband of Anna’s pants.

  “What are you doing?” she asked in alarm.

  “I’m going to check you, Anna. I need you to relax and cooperate.”

  “Ahh!” She began huffing air. “Okay, okay. Check me.”

  He pulled the pants down her hips and off her legs. “Now relax.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  Anna’s hair, wet with sweat, clung to Guillermo’s shirt and he rubbed her shoulders and watched Nathan place two fingers into her.

  “Shit, there’s some dilation. I’d say two centimeters.”

  “That’s not good, Nathan. Not good.” Anna began to cry.

  “You’ve lost your mucus plug, but the membrane is intact. If we can get the contractions to stop, the
re’s a good chance the baby will survive,” Nathan said calmly, reassuringly to Anna. His eyes met Gui’s, and deep worry darkened his green eyes. “We need to get her to the hospital.”

  Guillermo nodded. Nathan had been complaining about feeling helpless just a few minutes ago, and now Gui felt much the same.

  Tyr came running in, keys in hand. “I heard you call out to me, Nathan. I’m heading to the garage. I’ll bring the car around and meet you at the front.”

  Guillermo grabbed one leg and Nathan the other as Anna put her arms around their shoulders to carry her. “I need pants, I can’t go in half naked.” Another contraction hit and she screamed. “Naked’s fine. Go, go!”

  The front door slammed, then Tyr came running into the living room just as Nadine burst through the French doors.

  “We’ve got company,” they both said in unison, then looked at each other in surprise.

  Tyr started first. “The car’s out front, but the Brotherhood and about a half dozen other vampires are out in the driveway.”

  “How’d they get past the gate?” Gui asked. “Caray! Madre Dios! What next?” The last two days had been nothing but bad timing all around, and Guillermo’s frustration level was hitting an all-new high.

  “Uh, they flew,” Nadine interjected. “That’s what I came in to tell you. The bastards levitated right over the top.” She looked away from Tyr and glanced at Gui, Nathan, and Anna, her eyes growing wide. “What the hell?”

  Anna screamed again and dug her nails into Gui’s shoulder. “She is in labor, chica. She needs to go to the hospital.”

  “Can’t Nathan do something?”

  A rock crashed through the living room window, sprinkling glass all over the floor. “Give us the Unrein and the woman, and we will let the rest of you live!” a voice cried out from the darkness.

  “We have to get Anna somewhere safe.”

  “The security office,” Nadine suggested. “It’s the safest room in the house.”

  “Good. Tyr…” Nathan directed, “…go get my mother and her friends and take them to the office as well.”

  “Chica, once everyone is in, you stay with Anna and the others, protect them with your life.”