"You need out! How long have you been cooped up in this place!" Rory insisted.
"Yeah, but there's the press, and my face is all over the news again, and it's just easier if I stay here." I rejected the idea.
"Carys!" Rory gripped me by the arms. "you have not stepped foot off this property in the months I have known you, and I would say you spent most of your pregnancy here too-didn't you?" I flinched. "This is NOT healthy. You're going with me. Now go put on something decent that's not gonna blow away on a bike."
"I'm fine here!" I protested. Rory grabbed my chin.
"No, you're not. Even Dracula got out once in a while. Let's go, or I'll throw you over my shoulder and force you." Rory snarled. I paled.
"No. You drive way too fast and.." I slammed my mouth shut. Rory laughed.
"You're a vampire Carys. Live a little." He sauntered out of the room. "You have fifteen minutes or I'll make Cornelius dress you and come with us too." I grimaced. Trapped alone with those two reckless idiots..
"Somebody needs to tell Alexandre!" I called after Rory.
"Whose idea do you think this was?" Rory yelled back. I growled. I checked in on Mina once more before going to the main bedroom for clothes. My cellphone was still on the nightstand where I had left it who knows how many weeks ago. I looked at it and rolled my eyes. Looks like Alexandre was keeping it charged for me, the jerk.
'I really hate you for this.'
I typed out the quick message to him and sent it. I heard him laugh from his study.
'Have a good time! Take the phone.'
He sent back. I growled and stalked out of the room.
"Oh and Carys." He stopped me as I passed his study, tugging me around to face him so he could place a long, deep kiss on my lips. "I love you." He murmured, eyes shining. I gasped and he'd already disappeared back into the study.
"That's cheating you know!" I called back towards the study door and heard him laugh once more. I stalked off towards the main foyer.
"What's the goofy grin for?" Rory asked, leaning against the main doorway, swinging his keys around his finger absentmindedly. I let the expression drop from my face. I hadn't realized my face was betraying me.
"Aw, does that mean you're NOT happy to be going with me" Rory pouted.
"You drive like you have a death wish. So no." I responded. Rory laughed.
"On that note-" He handed me a helmet and heavy jacket. "Alexandre insisted." He shrugged. The helmet had a tinted visor and would actually go a long way towards concealing my identity. I donned it gratefully. Rory settled the jacket around my shoulders.
"Aww-you look so cute!" Rory commented. "Like a little kid wearing her daddy's gear!" He grinned. I swung a fist and hit the wall next to him.
"This little kid has a really bad temper-so don't test me." I snarled.
"Alright, alright, geez. What's with the temper?" Rory rolled his eyes. "Let's go, kiddo." I swatted him.
"Call me that again. You look like a teenager. I look old enough to be your mom!" I scolded.
"Well, not quite-but close! I'd still date you." Rory remarked, holding the door open for me.
"Boy, I'm going to pull your hair." I threatened.
"Would you? I really like that. Will you let me do yours in return? It's most fun when we're doing doggy style. We can do that if you want." Rory offered. I swatted him again, putting force behind the blow. He skittered away.
"I swear, male vampires!" I roared in frustration.
"Keep your voice down!" Rory scolded. He retrieved his bike and pulled me onto it behind him, tucking my hands around his waist and growling "Hold on!" at me before starting the bike up and speeding off down the drive. Either the guards were used to this by now, or Alexandre or Rory had informed them he was headed out. They snatched open the gates and ushered media and gawkers aside before we even neared it. Some photographers refused to move and Rory played a daring game of chicken with them. It was very clear he would not be going around. I squeaked and tucked my head into Rory's shoulder blade. He laughed maniacally as people dove out of the way.
"You're a vampire, you're a vampire, you're a vampire-you can't die unless you lose your head or your heart." I whispered to myself urgently. The problem was, I could see that happening so easily. Rory was still roaring with laughter as the media personnel scattered before him, some still taking pictures. He spun onto the road and zoomed towards the city with a loud whoop.
"That's so tomorrow's headline." I griped, clinging to him as he finally slowed down a little.
"Naw, no good shots of anything but me. It's you they want, and Alexandre picked that helmet out especially for you." He tapped the top of it over his shoulder. I squeaked when he let go of the handlebars. "They might suspect it's you, but there's no way any of them got any good photos to prove it." He cackled.
"I thought you said we were going into town!" I yelled over the sound of the bike.
"Changed my mind. We're going to the city-let's go have some fun!" Rory revved the motorcycle and I clenched all my muscles again as he sped off down the road. I screeched. Hard to kill a vampire or not-he truly did drive like a maniac.
Rory tugged me happily from store to store. Seems he knew of or had worked with someone at almost every place. He was like a ridiculously excited puppy dog, excitable and begging for my and everyone else's undivided attention. I felt a pang as I wondered what his life had been like to leave him like this. He tugged me into a bar next.
"You know we're supposed to be shopping. And I am NOT riding on that bike with you if you drink!" I pulled him to a stop stubbornly.
"Relax." He laughed. "I'm just here to introduce you to some friends." He started forward again, pulling me through the doors.
"Rory!" A woman's voice squealed and a smallish girl grabbed him around the ribs. "Where have you been you asshole? I've had to cover all your shifts!" She frowned up at him, and I realized that despite her small size, she was much older than she appeared.
"Mmm, you still smell as good as ever-but now there's a new smell on you too. Did you get yourself a boyfriend? Or girlfriend?" The girl gasped excitedly, then peeked around him to see me standing there.
"Oh my gosh, is this her?" She flung herself at me.
"Um, hi?" I responded, trying to loosen her grip. Her head barely passed my ribs, but she had enough strength to where I was afraid to break her if I applied my vampire strength to pry her loose. Rory laughed
"Naw, she's not my girlfriend, though I've asked her a few times. But she's already got an S.O. She's more like..a very good friend.. with occasional benefits." Rory's eyes twinkled. I wanted to throw a table at him, but the girl laughed.
"Almost everyone you know is that Rory. Well, come in, come in! Sit down, have a drink!" She cheered.
"Ah no-Carys here would kill me if I did." Rory said, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm driving." The girl snatched the drink she was offering away in a flash.
"Not that blasted motorcycle still? When are you going to get a real car?" She complained.
"Yes." I answered. "And he still drives like a bat out of hell." I griped. The girl leaned across the bar and grabbed his chin.
"I've told you once, I'll tell you a thousand times-you die, I'll kill you!" She growled.
"That's really impossible." Rory grumbled. She squeezed his chin harder as I muffled a laugh.
"Rest of the crew's in the back. I presume he brought you down to introduce you to us. Come on, follow me. He must really like you." The girl motioned me behind the bar while Rory leapt over it eagerly.
"Show off." I muttered.
"You've no idea." Said the girl. "I'm Rose by the way."