All That I Am

Chapter 3

“I don’t like that I had to call you at the Circus Anita” Edward said icily. I felt myself stiffen and asked chillingly, “What do you want Edward?” I was not about to have this conversation about my involvement with the “monsters” with him again. That’s just tough shit if he doesn’t like it. I am tired of having to justify my life to everyone.

I heard him sigh as if he knew what I was thinking. “I need a favor”. Oh great….guess I will make that reservation after all. Closing my eyes I snuggled deeper in Jean-Claude’s arms and braced myself. “What is it?”


“I need you to go get Bernardo. Not as back up, but he needs a safe place to stay to recover.” This made me frown, “You want me to baby-sit him?” I asked in amazement.

“Something like that. He’s been cut up pretty bad by a were and doesn’t want anyone to know about it. I am not too sure he is infected but most likely he is. I figured with your “expertise” you have with your wolves, leopards, or any other menagerie of animals you seem to pick up, you could help him make whatever decisions that are necessary.”

I closed my eyes taking deep breaths so I would not loose my temper at Edward’s biting tone when he spoke. Hey, I have been working on the anger issues. Sometimes those issues get worked out better with my Browning than my breathing exercises. However, the important thing is I am trying. I felt Jean-Claude smiling into my hair trying not to laugh at my attempts not to loose my temper. I elbowed him in the stomach and heard him grunt. Twisting to grabbing something to write with from the nightstand I sighed and turned my attention back to Edward. “Where is he?”

Edward gave me an address and phone number for Bernardo. He was just out of St. Louis about 1 hour outside of town. Those goes my nice quiet evening alone with Jean-Claude. Fate seems to have it in for me. I wonder if I pissed Fate off some time ago. I could never seem to catch a break sometimes.

I hung up the phone and turned to Jean-Claude. “I am sorry about this evening. I really wanted to spend some alone time with you, but I need to go pick up Bernardo.” I placed a kiss on his soft lips. I felt him smile against my lips. “We have all eternity ma petite. Go, I will be here when you return.”

He kissed me again with a kiss that promised hot seduction on cool silk sheets. I pulled away gently. “If you don’t stop kissing me like that I will never get out of here.” Jean-Claude just gave me a heated look as I slipped out of his arms and off the bed.

“Could you call Cherry and Micah for me? Give them an update on what’s going on and that I need Cherry to get her first aid kit together and be ready when I pick her up. I want to grab a quick shower before I go.” I asked Jean-Claude while stretching my sore muscles heading towards the bathroom.

Showering and dressing quickly I walked back into the bedroom in time to see Jean-Claude put down the phone. Just looking at him made me want to crawl back into bed and lick and kiss him all over until he begged for mercy. I felt my face heating up with those thoughts. Jean-Claude’s eyes darkened “Your thoughts betray you ma petite.” My face seemed to turn into a living flame. I had forgotten that we were so intimately bound that he knew my every thought. I have to remind myself to work on some privacy measures. This could get extremely embarrassing. Sighing I turned and started arming myself before I did just what I was fantasizing about doing.

I leaned over and kissed him goodbye. “I will see you later tonight ok? I love you.” With that parting I headed back to my Jeep. I ran by my house and Cherry was waiting for me out front. Of course she was dragging a medical kit the size of a suitcase. I just smiled and waited for her to load up her supplies.

During the drive, I talked to Cherry about taking the fourth mark. She seemed so happy about it. All she did was smile and tell me that it was about time. Guess I am just slow, everyone else figured out how deeply I loved Jean-Claude before I did.

After making some wrong turns here and there, I finally found the address Edward had given me. We pulled into the drive and parked. I had a feeling life was going to get real interesting from now on.