Page 49 of Just Dare Me
“This makes so much sense now. You’ve goneFatal Attractionfor Jay because youconnectedwith him. He shared part of himself with you in a way you’ve probably never had. You see what happens when youtalkto a guy instead of biting his neck?”
“I don’t bite their necks. I bite their engorged manhoods.”
I slap Jay on the chest. “And you won’t get it up for her? Are you crazy?”
Jay tries to say something, but Dominique talks over him. “I am the problem? Is that it?”
When Jay starts to say no, I stick the back of my hand in his face. “I’m saying you’ve been exposed to the wrong kinds of guys, because you’re a big scary Queen of the Damned, who’s used to being worshipped and given everything you want when and where and how you want it. Do you hear what I just described?”
“Respect,” she answers.
“No, I just described alittle girl.” Her lips compress with a scowl. Jay lays a hand on my shoulder, but I shrug him off. “No, listen to me.”
Through a tightened jaw, she says, “I am listening. Note how much more frequently your mouth is moving compared to mine.”
“The reason why you like Jay is because he’s arealman, maybe the first you’ve ever met. And he treats you like awoman, which means telling you things others won’t dare say because they know you don’t like to hear it.”
“You’re referring to the wordno.”
“Yes!”
“Let me understand you clearly. Jay saysnoto me, and that ismorerespectful than sayingyes?”
I prop myself up on an elbow. “Because he respects you too much to bullshit you.”
Dominique’s mouth smooths into a placid grin, as though she’s just caught me in a trap. “But, if by sayingnohe is actually respecting memore, and thereby demonstrating how superior he is to other men, would I not be justified in redoubling my efforts to secure his affections for myself?”
Grunting through the discomfort, I push myself up and swing my legs around to sit on the edge of the bed. “Okay, I see what you’re saying. If he’s so great, you should fight for him, yeah, I hear you, I really do. And you aresogiving me flashbacks to my fourteen-year-old self right now—it’s insane. But it also gives me a brilliant idea. You need to get out there more, to learn that there are so many more guys like Jay. Well, notsomany. Actually, notmany, that’s generous, but real mendoexist out there in the wild. You’ve just been so sheltered for so long with all the same guys that when the first new one came along, you’re all like”—I claw both my hands and raise them like a pouncing cat—“But I can help you with that. We’re having a very personal, very exclusive family gathering later tonight—probably more like early morning—and I’ll have something to give you then. A gift that’s one-of-a-kind, and money can’t buy. I want you to have it. If you’ll stay.”
“A gift?” She eyes me with skepticism, then disappointment. “You mean apartinggift.”
I pause, allowing her time to digest the hard truth. “In a way, yes. I’m not trying to dismiss you. I’m trying to saythank youfor everything you’ve done for us. For bringing Jay back home to me. And…for lettingmetake it from here.”
“She’s right,” Jay says. “I can’t offer you my love, Dominique, but you’ll forever command my respect and gratitude, which…is something I never thought I’d say to a vampire. But that’s because no other vampire would’ve done what you did.”
Her face darkens, like a petulant child on the verge of exploding into a tantrum. “You mean, what Ididn’tdo, which I now regret.”
To my horror, Jay says, “It’s not too late,” and rolls off the bed. Pulling his pants on, he steps directly in front of Dominique. “You’re Lady Dominique, Monarch of the Night, master of the Windsor clan. Nobody stops you from taking what you want.”
When she shoots to her feet with a hungry groan, my heart spasms with fear. Dominique places her trembling hands on his bare chest. Looking into his eyes with savage desire, she runs her hands up to his shoulders, then down the backs of his arms. Her eyes begin to glow red, and her eye teeth descend with glistening points. I sink my fingers into the mattress, my claws poking holes in the memory foam.
Jay doubles down, pulling Dominique into a tight embrace, her mouth pressed to his neck. “It’s your choice, Dominique. You’re the one with all the power. We can’t stop you.”
I could absolutely try, I think to myself with a growl building in my stomach.
Dominique’s shoulders heave with deep breaths, her mouth hanging open at his neck. Trembling from head to toe, she slides her hands up to his shoulders, savoring the touch of his skin. Then, slowly, painfully, she pushes him back. She steps away, shuddering with emotion. I know that look. If vampires were capable of tears, her eyes would be shiny with them. “I’m too weak,” she rasps. “If my council could see me now, they’d pounce to remove me. I won’t last the week.”
Jay shakes his head. I get the feeling this isn’t the first time they’ve had this argument. “It’s not weakness. It’sdecency.”
“Bleh!” She curls her lip and shrinks back, as if he’d thrown holy water at her.
“It’s proof!” Jay continues, raising his voice. He snaps his fingers. “Wake up!”
“Youcan’tand youwon’ttalk to me like that!”
“I can and I will, if that’s what it takes for you to see that you’re stronger than any of them—than your whole council. They couldn’t have done what you just did. They have control over others, but you have control overyourself. Don’t you see? That makes you more rare and more original than any of your one-of-a-kind designer outfits.”
“Thenwearme!” she screeches. “Wantme!” Dropping into the chair, she buries her face in her hands. It’s that image that changes my attitude from mocking and disliking her to pitying her.
