Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran Page 0,73

fling her arms around him. “You’ve kept away so long, I ought to be annoyed with you, but I could never do that.”

Saint-Germain kissed her cheek affectionately. “I have missed seeing you too, Mirelle.”

As she disengaged herself from his embrace, she pointed dramatically at James. “Is this the baby? Comte, you are a bad, bad man: you did not tell me he was so beautiful.” To James’ embarrassment, Mirelle gave him a thorough and very appraising looking-over. “Oh, this is very promising,” she declared as she approached him. “I do like the white hair. It is distinguished, is it not?” As James tried not to squirm, she laughed aloud and reached for his hand. “You are shy? But how delightful.” Over her shoulder she added to Saint-Germain, “How good of you to offer him to me. I am going to enjoy myself tremendously.”

“But, Madame, we …” James said in confusion, trying to find some way to deal with her.

“Have not been introduced, is that what concerns you? I am Mirelle, and you, I have been told, are James. So. We are introduced now. It remains only for you to show me which room is yours.”

James had had experience with many women, but this one took him wholly aback. Yet even as he tried to separate himself from her, he felt the draw of her, and his much-denied hunger responded to her. “Madame …”

“No, no, no. Mirelle. You are James. I am Mirelle. It is more friendly that way, is it not?” She drew his arm through hers. “You will tell me how you come to be here as we walk to your room.”

“I am not sure that …” James began with a look of mute appeal to Saint-Germain which he studiously avoided.

“But I am. Let us go, James” She waved to le Comte and went quickly to the door, taking the ambivalent James with her. “Christ, I’m sorry,” James muttered some time later. They were in a glorious tangle on his bed with the covers in complete disarray. “If you give me a little time, Mirelle. I must be more worn out than I knew.”

Mirelle gave a sympathetic laugh. “It is not fatigue, James, it is what you are.” She trailed her fingers over his chest. “Weren’t you told?”

“I’ve been told all kinds of things the last couple days,” he sighed in disgust.

“But this, this is different,” Mirelle said generously. “For a man, this is more important, is it not?” She snuggled closer to him, pressing her body to his. “It is not the same when one changes. But there are compensations”

“For this? I’ve never been impotent before,” James said, a note of distress creeping into his voice.

“It is not impotent,” Mirelle assured him. “You are more than ready to make love to me, yes? And you are not repelled by me. So this is another matter.”

“You don’t know what it is that I … almost did.” He felt suddenly miserable; he wanted to shut out the drumming of her heart that was loud as heavy machinery in his ears.

Mirelle laughed deeply. “But of course I know what you almost did. You are the same as le Comte. You wanted to put your lips to my neck and taste …”

“For God’s sake!” James interrupted her, trying to move away from her but not succeeding.

“Well,” Mirelle said reasonably, “it is what I expected of you. But you have not entirely got the way of it. You are judging yourself by your earlier standards, and they do not apply, my cabbage.”

James rolled onto his side and rested his hand on the rise of Mirelle’s hip. “Look, you’re being very nice about this, and I appreciate it, but …” He wanted to shrug the incident off, to promise her another hour when he was feeling a bit better, but he could not find a gracious way to do so. He loved the feel of her skin under his hand and her nearness was oddly intoxicating, so that he could not bring himself to leave the bed or ask her to leave it.

“You are discouraged, but you need not be, James. You have not got used to your new ways. You don’t have to worry. Let me show you. I love showing.” Her hazel eyes took on a greenish shine of mischief. “You must learn how to satisfy me. It is not too difficult, ami, and when it is done, you will do well enough for yourself.” She wriggled expertly. “Now, your hand there,