Tempting The Gorgon: A Gorgon / Vampire Romance

Chapter 8

“And then what?” Rory asked the next morning at The Witch’s Brew. I might still be learning how to woo or focus on one female, but I knew coffee was the key to many hearts. And I knew she stopped by here every morning because of the aforementioned stalking I was trying to stop.

“What do you mean, ‘and then what?’ I took her ass home so she wouldn’t change her mind,” I answered.

Rory nodded and got to work making the peppermint mocha I ordered for Vinni. He wasn’t a permanent employee of Lennox’s, but I had noticed him spending more and more time at the shop. I hadn’t mentioned it to him yet but would soon if it kept up. I turned away and took in the shop with all the cutesy witch décor, admiring the space I frequented almost every day, but never took the time to fully appreciate.

The entire front of the shop had floor-to-ceiling windows that allowed the natural light of the day to filter in. With the fresh snow blanketing the town, not a lot of folks were out and about this morning. So while the shop was open, it wasn’t bustling with the usual chaos of residents looking for their caffeine drip. I took in the scene, savoring the moment of normalcy that distracted me from the anxiety flooding me at the prospect of spending the day with Vinni.

A round of laughter erupted from the other side of the shop. I turned to see a few of the more established residents huddled in oversized chairs near the fireplace with a book in their laps. I smiled at one of my favorite community groups.

“Looks like not even a snowstorm could stop the Haven Pass Romance Readers, is that right?” I walked toward the smaller circle of chairs turned inward so they were all facing one another. A few years ago, I’d had to approve their permit for a club, so I was familiar with the premise and had even been tempted to join.

“Good morning, Arch,” Lennox said, surveying my body up and down. She was probably remembering our karaoke performance the night before. I didn’t mind her looking one bit, since I knew she was all talk and no bite.

This body was Vinni’s now to do with whatever she commanded.

No one else’s.

“Little pixie.” I nodded in her direction before stepping up to take a seat on the arm of her chair. “And what are we reading this month, my friends?”

The cover had multiple shirtless men on the front, so I had a good idea.

“It’s called Trapped Wrapped: A Snowed-In Reverse Harem Romance,” Tonya, one of the human residents, shared from the opposite side of the circle.

“We fought over which snowed-in one to choose since there are so many,” Gioia said.

“Perfect day for it, then?” I motioned toward the snow-covered town square.

“It’s definitely on theme,” Bert agreed.

“I want to get back to talking about how the hockey player didn’t grovel enough. Shoo, away with you, vampire.” Patrick shooed me away with his hands.

“I didn’t know you were in this club, Patrick. Where’s Cliona?”

“She isn’t a fan of early mornings.” Patrick shrugged.

“He said he needed some fresh ideas to keep Cliona satisfied, so I suggested it,” Lennox said. I saw the hint of pride on her face at Patrick’s enthusiasm. It was important that her friend be taken care of. Hell, it was important to all of us. And Patrick had definitely been doing the work to make sure Cliona wanted for nothing.

“I think it’s cute,” Tonya said. “One day I am going to get my own personal tall, muscly MMC to read romance books for me.”

A murmur of agreement went around the group.

“It’s been working too. The other night, I had my sweet mate tied up?—”

“Okay, that’s enough, son.” Bert slapped Patrick on the back of his shoulder. “She’s like a daughter to me, and I don’t need to hear about that.”

“Like we don’t want to hear about what you have planned for Anya later?” Lennox asked while shaking her head at the barber’s words.

Bert’s cheeks turned slightly red. “That’s different.”

“Okay, old man.” Gioia laughed. “I agree with Tonya. I know we’ll get them one day.”

Tonya scoffed. “You already have one girl, and you know it.”

It was Gioia’s turn to turn red, and I heard a chuffing sound from the opposite end of the café. I didn’t need to turn to know Dom was there keeping an eye on things for Gioia’s sake.

“Get out of here, Arch. We are on a time limit so I can relieve Rory.” Lennox shooed me away, and the others nodded in agreement.

“Ye don’t have to worry about that.” Rory approached, holding the coffee mug for Vinni. “Ye know I can stay as long as ye need me to, sweetheart.” Rory winked at her with his cocky Scottish smirk that had my own dick twitch a bit. Rory was hot as fuck, and he knew it. You couldn’t fake that kind of confidence. I would know since I carried myself the same way.

Most of us alphas did.

I knew if Vinni had gotten here after Rory, I would have made my move on him as soon as he showed up in town.

“Alright, alright.” I lifted my palms in surrender. “I have to go pick up my date anyway.”

A collective sound of ooh, ooh, oohs went up around the group.

The bewitched jingle sounded, but I would have known the moment she walked in without it. Raspberry and vanilla swirled around the air, and I couldn’t stifle the groan her scent made me do. I felt my cock twitch in my pants and heard Rory huff a laugh at my expense. Vinni intoxicated me instantly, and I hadn’t even seen her yet.

I turned to watch my mate walk into the café. I made no effort to hide my perusal of her body as she walked toward us. The maroon and black puffy jacket swallowed her up, and despite it hiding her delicious curves, which should have been a crime, it managed to make her look devastatingly cute all bundled up for the cold. Her thick thighs were wrapped in tight black wool leggings that let everyone see the generous shape of them before they tucked into her Doc Martin boots. I drew my gaze back up, savoring every inch, until I met her unimpressed gaze staring back at me. Her tan cheeks were pink from the chill of the snow, and her eyes were a bright greenish blue, indicating she was in a good mood, which boded well for me today. Her snakes were in their normal sleepy fashion curled around her face and neck until they seemed to slowly stir awake.

At once, they all woke and started bouncing excitedly around her head, jolting Vinni toward the circle where I sat with the book club. I knew if I won her snakes over, Vinni would soon follow, so I couldn’t stop my enthusiasm as I smiled and got to my feet.

“Aw, they’re excited to see me!” I scrambled to meet them, probably too thirsty for attention, but Vinni had to know I’d do anything for her praise at this point. That was until they collectively hissed in my direction.

Vinni sighed in a resigned way. “Not you, vlákas,” Vinni said, even though it lacked the usual bite of any insult she threw my way. I loved her insults, and I was generally an idiot when she was around.

“There are my sweet babies!” Lennox cooed and shoved me out of the way. She wrapped Vinni in a hug that had my mate straightening in shock before she wrapped her own arms around Lennox. “Better reaction time, Vin. Still need some work on the whole hug thing, but we’ll get there.” Lennox pulled away, but not before putting her face in each of the snake faces.

“Good morning, Snake Daddy. Mama Titi.” She nodded at each of them, reciting their names like old friends.

I stared in awe at the way Vinni’s snakes wrapped around Lennox’s hands as she gave each of them individual attention.

“I didn’t realize they all had names,” Tonya said as she got up to approach as well.

“Oh shit.” Lennox pulled her hand back abruptly, which the snakes were not a fan of. “Was I not supposed to say anything?” She seemed genuinely concerned, and I loved that she was talking to my mate like a person and not with fear like a lot of residents had when she first arrived. Gorgons were rare, and with their obvious turning-people-to-stone-with-one-look powers, it was reasonable as to why, but I saw how it kept her apart.

Vinni shrugged. “They haven’t really been around many people that weren’t a threat.” The rest of the book club approached and nodded. No one was here in Haven Pass if they hadn’t seen some shit along the way. “I think it’s clear they like the attention.”

“Yes, they do because they’re so pretty and perfect. Yes, they are.” Lennox’s voice hit a decibel I hadn’t heard the tiny female make before.

“Can I?” Tonya asked as she held out a tentative hand. That was all the snakes apparently needed as one of them wrapped their body around her wrist and seemed to vibrate with contentment.

“Why aren’t they like that with me?” I couldn’t help the question. “They just bite me whenever I get too close.”

Vinni glared at me, silently telling me I should know why.

Rory smacked me upside the head before passing me the to-go mug back to me with Vinni’s drink already warming the outside.

“I take it since you aren’t at your apartment waiting for me to pick you up like we discussed, you’re ready to go?” I asked, trying not to sound sad that she might have forgotten she agreed to let me spend the day with her.

She blushed. “I actually thought I had time to pick up some caffeine before our day started.”

I shot my hand out with the mug and gave it to her. I had bought it last month on a whim when I thought of her. The mug was a deep blood-red color and had Blood Of My Enemies written on it in fancy black and silver glitter font. It reminded me of my venomous viper and knew she would love it.

“Is this for me?” Vinni’s sultry voice did something to me every time she was near, but when she spoke directly to me, combined with eye contact? Fuck.

“Of course, I wouldn’t have told you I’d pick you up in the morning without your peppermint mocha at the ready.”

She stared at me, then back at the mug.

“The mug is yours as well. You can bring it with you or leave it here with the other regulars if you like it. If you don’t like it, that’s okay too. You know, whatever you want. It’s fine.”

The group around us had gone silent, watching what I was sure to be the most horrific exchange I’d had in front of others.

“He’s so awkward.” Lennox whisper-shouted.

“He really is a poor bastard,” Rory agreed in another obnoxiously loud whisper.

“He’s doing his best,” Bert said. “But yeah, I’m taking notes on how not to act with Anya.”

“Oh shove off, the lot of you,” I sneered back at them and bared my teeth in a mock snarl. I didn’t need them pointing out my shit-talking abilities around her.

I looked back at Vinni staring at the mug and saw her lips tilt in a smile at the words.

“I love it,” she admitted. And my entire body relaxed at the sight of her wrapping her big, puffy lips around the edge of the mug.

“Me too,” I said, probably drooling at the sight of her lips on something I bought her.

Someone cleared their throat, and I felt someone push me toward her.

“So you two have a date today?” Patrick asked.

“It’s not a—” Vinni started.

“Yes, we do,” I interrupted and walked toward the door. “And we’re running late, so let’s get to it!”