LGBT Vampire Fantasy Book Series
The Warrior Series by Brooke Campbell
Series Excerpt
“Ugh!” I look at my glass in disgust. I was chugging it down when I realized something is wrong with my tea. It has a strong metallic taste, yet it looks and even smells fine. I’m wracking my brain, but I can’t think what’s causing it to taste off. After another tentative sip, I decide to just dump it and make a fresh batch before Jo gets here.
On the way to dump my glass, I’m happy to note that sitting on the couch has already improved my back. It had become painful during brunch, and I’m grateful it won’t be as bad when Jo gets here. I wonder if the intimacy between us will still be there when she comes, or if my imagination has embellished it. She seemed so bothered by whoever was out there.
I grab a cardigan for the theater and drape it over the couch while the water comes to a boil. Before I finish the tea, there’s a knock at the door and Darcy streaks by me as I walk to answer it.
The sight of Jo plants a huge smile on my face. She takes one long look at me, heat coming into her eyes. She stalks me inside and closes the door decisively behind her as I steadily backing away. Without taking her eyes off of me, she turns the deadbolt, and before I register her move, she’s holding me tight and kissing me with all of the passion we had yesterday. After a surprised squeak, I meet her passion with my own. She drags her lips from mine, across my cheek and down my neck, lingering there. Jo’s teeth graze across my skin as she nuzzles my neck. Then she stills, taking several long breaths before setting me away from her and stepping back.
It takes me more than a minute to calm down. I clear my throat. “Well, hi, Jo. Come on in, why don’t you? I missed you, too.”
Jo manages to look contrite. “Dearest Libby, I have been driven to distraction ensuring your safety. When I saw you looking so…delectable…smiling up at me so innocently, well, I seem to have lost my senses.”
“Whatever the reason, that beats a handshake any day.”
Jo tips her head back and laughs. “Oh, ma petite amie, you delight me.” She looks down, surprised, and we both watch Darcy wind around her jean-clad legs.
I beam at Jo. She bends down and strokes his fur. From her crouched position she asks about my brunch with Emma, and I tell her about Emma’s suggestion to set up a double date soon.
“I would be honored to meet your Emma.”
“Great!” Smiling, I head for the kitchen. “I was just making another pitcher of tea. There was something off about the one I made yesterday. I’ll just be a minute.”
While I remove the steeped bags, she retrieves the mostly full pitcher from the refrigerator. “What do you think is wrong with it? It appears fine to me.”
“Yeah, that’s just it. I don’t know. It smells fine and looks fine, but there’s a funny taste to it. I just don’t want to drink it.”
“I am very sorry to hear that. How much of this did you drink today, and when?”
Her voice is decidedly casual, but for some reason, it makes me nervous. And suspicious. “Why?”
“How much, Libby?”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Libby, nothing is wrong. Just answer me, please. How much did you drink?” Jo’s face is a frightening blank. Hairs raise on the back of my neck and across my arms.
“Oh, gods, Jo, is it poisoned? Did someone poison my tea? I had like half a glass.” I start backing away, clutching my neck.
Jo tugs my hands away and cups my face. “Chérie, forgive me for scaring you. No, you have not been poisoned. Relax.”
I can’t shake the feeling that she isn’t telling me something. Still, when she smiles at me and doesn’t say anything else, I begin to relax. “Okay. Okay. Um, give me a minute and we can pick a movie.”
Jo leaves the kitchen. I blow out a breath and finish making the tea, dumping the tainted tea down the drain and washing it out thoroughly. After stowing a freshly made pitcher in the refrigerator, I walk back into the living room.
“How is your pain today, Libby?”
So we aren’t going to talk about it. Fine. She is studying her hands and I can’t read her expression. I decide to take her lead and see where she goes. The tension between us makes my stomach ache. “It was starting to get bad by the time I got home, but I guess resting until you got here helped because it feels fine now.” I pause. “Thank you for asking, Jo.”
“Did you sleep better?” She still isn’t looking at me and her body is tense.
I turn to stare out the window. What have I done to upset her? Was it the kiss? Did I say something wrong? I twist my hands in my lap and answer with forced cheer. “I slept great, actually, Jo. I’m sorry you’ve been worrying about me.”
At last, Jo scoots over until our knees touch. Her soothing scent reaches out to me, and I turn to her. When I unclasp my hands, she takes one of them, further relaxing me. “Libby, belle, forgive me.” She reaches out and traces between my eyebrows, smoothing the crease that had formed. “I have upset you and I regret it deeply. Please, allow me to make it up to you.”
She really looks guilty and my concern melts. “I think I can manage to let you make it up to me.” A faint smile lifts my mouth.
Humor lights Jo’s eyes. “You think so?”
“I might be persuaded.”
“Would letting you choose the movie be part of that plan?”
“I’d say that is a big step in the right direction.” I grin. “Along with popcorn, of course.”
“Naturalement, of course, whatever my chérie wants she shall have.”
I look at her. “Really?”
“Oui.”
“Then tell me what’s wrong. What happened in there?” I point to the kitchen. “What was wrong with the tea?”
I almost miss her jaw clench, but that’s the only clue her face offers. “Chérie, I will do whatever I feel is necessary to ensure your comfort and safety. I will tell you everything, I promise this. However for now, I need you to trust me.”
I hold her gaze, though her words don’t do anything to mollify me. After a second, I come to a decision. I committed to communication, so it’s honesty, or why bother. “Jo, I will allow you your secrets. I respect them, and they are none of my business unless you choose to share them. But I need you to understand that I am less forgiving when they affect me.”
She doesn’t look away, but she nods. “You are a woman of integrity and I hold that in the highest regard.”
“And no one broke in here? I wasn’t poisoned?”
“No.”
“Are you drugging me?” I don’t know what made me ask, but now the answer seems very important.
There’s that flash of a jaw clench again, and a slight hesitation. “No.”
Gah! What does that mean? I want to believe her. She seems to be telling the truth, but then, I hardly know her. Maybe I’m just making a big deal about nothing. At least we seem to be on solid footing again. “Then let’s pick out a movie.”
Jo buys a giant buttered popcorn and gets me the soda I ask for, too. The rom-com is predictably predictable, but it’s still good. I like the actress, and it sure helps to have Jo’s arm around me—and our hands meeting in the popcorn tub from time to time. I look over at her once to find her gazing at me and I return her smile. She tweaks my nose, and I giggle before I turn back to the movie.
When it’s over, she captures my hand, and we talk about the movie on the way to the car. It all feels so nice and normal, and I’m contented. No spine or joint pain, no worrying about anything, really. Then it occurs to me that we may not be alone, and I ask Jo about it.
“So do we have protection when you and I go out? I mean, is anyone following us?” We’ve just made it to the level of the parking deck we parked on, and I look around as if I might see one of them.
Jo seems to weigh her words carefully. “When I am with you, it is not as important to have your guards. They leave when I come, and I call them back when I depart. As someone is always with me, the two of us suffice.”
Yeah, I can believe that. It’s not the first time I’ve imagined her as a soldier rather than a CEO. Absentmindedly, I massage the muscles of her arm. My stomach quivers. “Do you have a regular person who always has your back, or do they rotate?”
I get the feeling from her hesitation that she isn’t used to talking about this. “I have a personal bodyguard who is nearly always with me.” Jo takes both of my hands. “I may have enemies, Libby, but I have a lot more whom I call friends. People I would gladly die for, and they for me. Because I care about you, they care about protecting you.”
I voice the crazy thought before I can stop myself. “Um, are you, like, mafia or something?”
Laughing, Jo drops my hands. “No, belle Libby, I am not in any kind of organized crime.” But abruptly, her laugh cuts off, and she lifts her head as if smelling something. She’s on her phone a second later. “Did you catch that?” Phone still to her ear, she bends, and before I can even process it, she’s lifted me into her arms and carries me as she sprints to the car. Effortlessly, she gets the door open and lowers me into the seat. “Libby, do not leave the car for any reason. Tell me you understand.” I manage to nod. She kisses my forehead, closes the door, and the doors click locked.
I stare at her back, frightened, confused, my heartbeat pounding. She carried me like I weighed nothing. And how did she move so fast? I can hear her giving orders, but not her words and the car is so low to the ground, I can’t see around her rigid body. Suddenly, she yanks open the driver door and leaps into the seat. I glance back at my window, thinking stupidly that she’s still standing there. How did she do that? Wordlessly, she grabs my hand as the car lurches out of the parking spot, tires squealing. I grit my teeth as she navigates the levels at breakneck speed, barely slowing down to jettison through the gate and speed down the street.
Once we get to the main road, her speed returns to normal. My jaw relaxes when she kisses my hand before releasing it, then she starts barking into her phone. “Get two to her place immediately. Make sure Aella’s backup arrives fast. I am flying solo from Blacksburg.” She pauses a moment, listening. “Oui, good…that is fine…no, no visual, but I know it was him…bien sur! Find out anything you can.” Jo glances over at me and gives me a brief smile. “Oui, she is shaken, but Libby is fine…non. Not now. We will discuss this upon my return. Au revoir.” Jo drops the phone into a cup holder and reaches for my hand again.
“Talk to me, Libby. You are pale and your hand shakes.”
My thoughts won’t stay in one place and I’m seriously regretting all that greasy popcorn. “What…what just happened? I mean, I know what happened, but why? What’s going on? I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Can it wait until I have you safely in your home?” Jo glances at me. “I swear I will tell you all I know.”
“Okay. Sure. Home. Good. Yes. Good.” My whole body starts to shake so hard, my teeth chatter and I clench them hard to control it.
Jo turns off the AC. “Breathe, Libby. Deep breaths with me now. Good. Now that the shock has worn off, the adrenaline is leaving you, that’s all. We are almost there. Hold on for me.” I focus on Jo’s strong, soothing voice.
I seem to zone out on the remainder of the drive and am surprised when she parks in my complex. Jo comes around to open my door, but I feel wooden and she scoops me up. It’s a relief to lean my head against her chest as she kicks the car door closed and carries me to my door. She sets me down briefly and I stand there trembling, feeling as if my limbs have turned to lead. A moment later, she’s gently laying me down on the couch. I hear water running, and wincing, I sit up when Jo brings me the glass. The shaking has stopped, and my muscles feel like I was hit by a bus.
Jo braces me as I sip the water, studying her. Worry lines crease her forehead. I reach up and smooth them out, one by one. “Adrenaline’s a bitch.”
She chuckles. “Oui, it is. How do you feel? What do you need, chérie?”
Nothing. Everything. “Just the truth.”
Jo gazes at me unblinkingly. “My father is in town.”
“Okay. What does he want?” With me.
Jo stands, starts to pace my tiny living room. Darcy jumps up onto the couch and slinks over. He climbs on my lap and pushes his head in my hand. Automatically, I stroke him, and it helps both of us.
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