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the only one who saw this witch? Did she have an agenda of her own?
This is all most curious. What s so important about this place?
It s not only magical but it s our heritage. He sized up the
woman before him. Richard must need to kiss you in order to get it.
I don t kiss people unless I want to.
Do you want to?
Yes. Why lie? Memphis had a feeling Alaric could see straight
through her defenses. But I m not doing it for him to win a prize and
then he dumps me.
That s fair enough, Alaric responded. How do you feel about
Richard?
I barely know him.
The vampire sighed. We re a weird family. Maybe you should
leave before we mess you up.
Good idea. She needed time to think. I will. I am. I m going to.
Memphis marched to the front door and pulled at the handle. It didn t
budge. She pulled again. It held fast.
46 Amarinda Jones
Oh, yeah, you re the one for Richard. The house knows what s
right.
It was then a woman came along. My name is Polly, and I m the
housekeeper here. Let s find you some clothes, my dear.
I want to go home. Yet Memphis allowed herself to be led away
by the peroxide blonde.
That s impossible, Polly told her as they walked up the staircase
to the next floor that housed the bedrooms.
But
No buts. We all have to do what the house commands.
The tightness in Polly s voice made Memphis looked into the
other woman s eyes. You, too?
Yes, but this isn t about me. I must admit I m enjoying this
between you and Richard. He needs to be taken down a peg or two.
He needs you, Memphis.
Really? I think you re wrong. He s with someone called
Josephine at the moment. Memphis felt a stab of jealousy. How can I
be jealous when I barely know the man? I have no claims on him. We
had sex twice.
Polly waved her hand in dismissal. They re just playing. It means
nothing. They both have a wild, dark side that only the other can
fulfill.
You all take sex so casually here.
No, we have a different understanding of it than others, Polly
explained to her. And you re the one for Richard. Josephine doesn t
want him as a partner for life. He s like a big sex toy for her. Alaric is
the one she loves.
This was all so confusing. Vampires, sex toys and magical houses.
Whatever next? Richard said he was falling in love with me.
Excellent.
It s too soon to say stuff like that.
Rubbish.
The Vampire s Kiss 47
Memphis was silent for a moment. Well, I m not going to kiss
him.
Polly smiled. You will when you re ready.
The woman had an answer for everything. Who are you?
Just a simple housekeeper.
Memphis shook her head. I don t think so. I believe there s a lot
of stuff going on inside of you and that blonde hair is just a mask to
cover it all. Memphis knew peroxide when she saw it.
The blonde woman stopped and looked at her. You re smart.
As are you.
I do what I must to survive, Polly shrugged her shoulders.
So this witch that only you saw
Was a means to an end and as soon as these boys are settled I can
leave.
Why couldn t she leave now? Are you trapped?
I m biding my time.
Memphis looked at her surroundings. The house that held them,
literally, was ornate, grand, and imposing. It was unlike her own
suburban, humble abode. What is it about this house? She stopped
and touched one of the stone walls. Surprising warmth, unusual for
stone, suffused her hand.
That s a very long story, Polly responded quietly, not hesitating
in her step.
A wild thought occurred to Memphis. This house is alive.
That stopped Polly. She turned and looked at Memphis. Yes.
Who? How?
One day I ll tell you but not today.
Why not? The need to know burned within Memphis. She
wanted to understand Richard and the house was a part of him.
Because the truth does not always set you free.
48 Amarinda Jones
Chapter Six
Dressed in oversized jeans and a long t-shirt, Memphis sat on the
bed in the bedroom she had occupied with Richard and thought about
everything that had happened to her. He said he loved her. The
thought of that made her hot all over. No one had ever loved
Memphis.
Yeah, but then there s this Josephine chick. How could you
profess love then go fuck another woman? And darker sides and
passions that needed to be answered?
Well, damn it, he can do all that with me or no one. Memphis
stopped and thought about what she had just said and the truth
smacked her in the face. I want Richard in my life. But how can that
be? I barely know this man. She ran her hands over her face. This is
so confusing.
As if on cue, Richard appeared out of nowhere. Hello.
Memphis sprang off the bed. You can t just pop in and out like
that. What if I needed privacy?
Did you?
That s not the point. She put her hands on her hips and fronted
him. Memphis was gripped by two distinct emotions pleasure at
seeing him and jealousy at knowing where he had been. Anyway,
what do you want?
He smiled softly at her. You.
Really? After another woman you come to me? I don t think so.
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