“Oh. And I had sex with Alex,” Rachel added. Again, Vincent was utterly shocked. So, for that matter, were his assistants, and even Lydia. Vincent tried to say something. “Fucked me like he’d just gotten out of prison,” Rachel said gravely. Vincent stammered. “I’m still having aftershocks. Can’t believe I can even walk straight.” Vincent held up a finger to jab at her. “Ate me out so good I-“
“Enough!”
“Ssssoooo,” Rachel said, once again folding her hands behind her back and twisting left to right, “what have you accomplished tonight, Vincent? Anything at all?”
* * *
Farewells in the street between Alex and Drew’s homes were reluctant despite fatigue and the late hour. No one wanted to be the first to leave.
“Wow. Well, um,” Alex said, coming back out of his apartment building to meet the others, “Mom’s not home, but I guess she’s okay.” He stared awkwardly at his cell phone. Drew walked beside him with a highly amused grin on his face.
“You guess?” Wade asked. He, Jason and Taylor sat on the hood of the car that Wade had appropriated from the mansion for the ride back. Onyx and Molly stood nearby.
“She got a hot date,” Drew answered before Alex could say anything. “Stayin’ over at ‘uncle Eddie’s’ tonight.”
Alex looked at him through narrowed eyes as Wade and Jason both snickered. “I hate it when you stand so close to the phone.”
Drew just chuckled as he walked past. He paused to give Taylor a hug, then waved and headed over to his end of the street.
“We all good, then?” Jason asked.
“Yeah,” Wade nodded, “think we’re all good.”
“Goin’ home, Jase?” Alex asked.
“No way. I’m already gonna catch hell from my parents again as it is. I might as well go over to Britney’s. Or Brittany’s. Y’know, I can’t remember,” he confessed with a cocky grin.
Alex just smiled. “You saved my life twice now, y’know. You could’ve died. I’d be dead without you.”
“Yeah,” Jason shrugged. “Is this what leveling up feels like?”
“No. That’s when you go see Britney or Brittany or whoever.”
“Right. Well, I’m gonna go do that, then.”
“Okay. ‘gratz in advance.” Alex waved as Jason went to his car.
Taylor hopped off the hood to go lean into the window of the Towncar that had brought the others back. The succubus rested in the front passenger seat with the window rolled down. Taylor whispered something to her before kissing her softly on the lips, then stood to hug Alex.
“I think I probably need to sleep in my own bed. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”
“Still friends?” he asked.
“Yup. Always.”
As she walked to her car, Wade caught his eye. “Ah’m gonna follow Taylor home, make sure she gets in alright,” he said.
Alex just nodded gratefully. “I don’t have the words, man,” he sighed.
“Yeah. That’s pretty much how it goes. Y’all take care,” Wade nodded at Molly and Onyx before he got into his temporary SUV. “Wuz good meetin’ ya.”
“Night,” Onyx smiled. She and Molly waited until Taylor and Wade drove off. Then they calmly walked up close to Alex. Onyx slipped a hand up his dirty, bloodied leather jacket. “So.”
Molly touched the other side of the jacket. “So,” she echoed.
Alex felt his heart race. He wasn’t sure what to say.
Onyx could tell. “You look like you’re about to explode,” she observed with no small amount of satisfaction in her smile.
“Yeah,” Alex swallowed. “I’ve, um, got to take care of Lorelei, though.”
“You should. She seems pretty awesome. Anyway, we’re gonna go home, tear each other’s clothes off and make love until we pass out,” Onyx nodded.
“Probably take the morning off to stay in bed together, too,” Molly added.
“That’s…um,” Alex blinked.
“Any idea when you’ll be able to see us?” Onyx asked him.
“Um. I don’t know. Soon. I want it to be soon.”
“I want it to be sooner,” Molly winked. “You’ve got to make up for Onyx cheating me on that coin toss.” The pair kissed him on either cheek before they walked to their car.
Alex watched them go before he got back into the Towncar. Finally, it was just he and Lorelei again. She waited curled up against the passenger’s seat on her left side.
“How are you?” he asked gently.
Her eyes fluttered open. “I am very much in love.”
“You’re still in a lot of pain?”
Lorelei nodded, closing her eyes. “Yes.”
“We can go inside. We’ll be alone. But I think we might be more comfortable back in the hotel. I didn’t stop to check out. Seems like I could probably take better care of you there with the extra space and privacy.”
“That would be wonderful, Alex.”
He reached out to touch her face, smiling a bit as she kissed his palm. Then he turned to the task at hand, starting the car and heading off. In the silence that followed, Lorelei remained curled up onto the passenger’s seat to watch Alex drive. Street lamps and the headlights of passing cars floated by, bringing him from shadow to light and back to shadow again. There was little traffic, nor much in the way of other delays.
“How are your hands?” Lorelei asked.
“Tender,” he sighed, “but getting better, I guess.”
For most of the ride, Alex was unsure if he should spoil the silence. Once they came into downtown, Alex observed, “You’re quiet.”
“I am thoughtful,” Lorelei said. She was also clearly exhausted, but her tone held nothing but soft affection.
“About what?”
“In all my life, I have only occasionally been in genuine danger,” she explained softly. “Yet only with you have I learned what it is like to feel safe.”
Alex opened his mouth, but then closed it. Lorelei understood. There was much to say, but not while he was trapped behind the wheel of a car. Comfort and privacy were not far away now. She watched him as he drove, studying his movements and his demeanor with weary but interested eyes. Her soft smile remained.
They didn’t park in the hotel’s garage, opting instead to abandon the car on the street. Lorelei was pleasantly surprised when he wordlessly picked her up in his arms and carried her the entire way to the door, then to the elevator, and even to the door to the honeymoon suite. She kept them concealed from the eyes of others, holding close to enjoy the shelter and support of his arms.
Not for the first time since his escape, Alex felt grateful that none of the vampires nor the sorcerers had bothered to steal the wallet out of his (now tattered) leather jacket. He let her fish out the key card to the door while he held her. Lorelei opened the door for them both and he carried her inside. The lights were still on.
“We need our own place,” Alex said.
“I will see to it soon, love,” Lorelei assured him.
“Don’t…no,” Alex shook his head. “Lorelei. I’m not worried about that right now. I’m only worried about you.”
Lorelei touched the side of his face with one hand. “There was too much to say in the car,” she said simply. “For both of us. You can put me down if you like.”
He looked around the room. “We both need to get cleaned up, but I don’t know if…will a bath be okay for you? I don’t know how hurt you are or if…?”
“A bath would be wonderful,” Lorelei nodded, “if you would share it?”
“That’s what I was planning, yeah.” He brought her to the spacious tub and sat her down on the soft bath mat beside it. “My turn to take care of you tonight.” She watched him get the water running. Then he threw off his jacket, kicked off his shoes, and knelt next to her. “You need sex to heal, don’t you?”
“Yes. Your desires will make me feel better, but your pleasure and satisfaction provide much more.” She offered a faint smile. “The farewell from the witches offered some small relief.”