NINE

Next Thursday, after lunch, I was in the kitchen checking the grocery list in case I needed to add something else: our guests would arrive on Friday evening and I wanted to get things ready in order to make a dinner that would leave them speechless. The cleaning company had made a significant effort and the house was spotless, the garden looked beautiful and bedrooms were ready with new sheets and towels. And yet, I wouldn't be happy till I checked everything at least twice: being a perfectionist is exhausting sometimes.

"Lamb, potatoes, onions, thyme, white wine..."

A sweet and fruity perfume, like a mix of apples and strawberries, grabbed my attention... I identified it immediately without taking a look: Ruby was standing behind me. I tried to keep doing my task but it's pretty difficult to focus on when someone is looking at your hands over your shoulder, above all if that someone is so close that you can feel the heat of her body through your clothes, her breath is fanning your cheek and, what is worse, all that turns you on. I heaved a sigh and tilted my head raising an eyebrow inquisitively. She smiled in response and my stomach did some somersaults while I stared at her plump lips, she looked right into my eyes mesmerizing me till the notification of a text in my phone took me out of the trance. I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts and asked:

"What do you want, Ruby?"

"Nothing in particular."

She sat next to me slowly, on the counter of the kitchen island where I was working, monitoring my movements nonstop while swinging her bare legs: she was wearing some denim shorts and a tank top that day. One of her bare feet grazed my own pants from time to time while it swung back and forth... I just fixed my eyes on the soft skin of her thighs, mesmerized again, till her fingers brushing a lock of my hair away from my forehead snapped me back to reality. I couldn't help blushing, I didn't know what was wrong with me but I was staring at Ruby like she was a piece of chocolate and I was starving. Suspicion made its way through my mind.

"Are you messing with my brain again?" I whispered looking at her with squinty eyes.

"No, of course not. Why do you think I'm messing with your head?" I stared at her suspiciously for a while before going back to my grocery list.

"Thyme, white wine, garlic, olive oil..."

Ruby leaned back with her hands on the counter in a way that her breasts were almost poking out of her tank top neckline. I stopped thinking about dinner and stared at her entranced, my eyes traveling all over her perfect body till I fixed them on a portion of skin visible between her shorts waistband and the hem of her top. I didn't know why but that area of soft and flawless skin was absolutely fascinating. Again, it was a text notification the thing that brought me back to reality.

"Ruby, stop doing that!" I scolded her grabbing my phone.

"I'm not doing anything!" She complained looking at me innocently.

I didn't know why but her outraged pout wasn't convincing at all. She must be doing something because I didn't behave like that usually, like a bitch in heat. I looked down at the screen to check my texts trying to avert my eyes because I didn't want to get trapped by her naughty smirk again: my friend Vera was asking me about my new job and complaining because she hadn't seen me in weeks. It was true... almost 4 weeks since the last time we had coffee together and she seemed to be my lifesaver at that moment: a couple of hours with Vera would leave me relaxed and ready to look at the face of my two vampires without drooling like a lovesick fool. But before, I needed to go back to my bedroom in order to change my clothes. I turned around ignoring Ruby, telling her over my shoulder:

"I have to go." Terra was walking in the kitchen but I didn't look at her while rushing out and grumbling: "Oh no, don't you dare, you too..." I was walking down the corridor towards the staircase when I heard the vampire, utterly confused, asking her sister:

"What the hell did you do to her?"

It took me more than I expected to arrive finally because, in addition to change my clothes and get my bag ready, I had to explain Aren how to collect the order at the supermarket, a task he didn't like. Everything was listed, payed and packed: he only had to take the boxes, put them in the trunk and would hardly talk to humans. Later, he'd come to pick me up and drive me back home. It wasn't that difficult.

Vera was one of the most beautiful women in a city packed with beautiful women, no doubt: a tall Brazilian girl with gorgeous tanned skin, dark hair and eyes, lovely smile and toned body... there was not an ounce of extra fat on her. She also was one of the best personal trainers of the city and her gym was a very successful business. Pilates, Zumba, Yoga, Crossfit or ballroom dancing... Vera was an expert on them all and even more but most of people didn't go to her gym because of the wide range of activities she offered but because they wanted to see the trainer wearing tight clothes. I was in shock and delighted the first time I laid my eyes on her and the possibility of meeting her three times per week was an important factor in my decision to choose that gym. Vera was aware of the situation and, even if it was good for her when lot of people paid the admission fee, the truth is that she hated when the same people didn't take her seriously because they were unable to see through her beautiful face. That's why most of her clients didn't make it to the second month of training.

We called Vera "drill sergeant" behind her back and I think she knew it and loved it. Her training sessions were very hard and left your muscles feeling like jelly when you finished: I swear I've seen grown men crawling out of her classes of Zumba. Most of those who were there to take a look at her pretty face gave up the first weeks, unable to stand the pain of their stiff muscles. That trick used to leave Vera with the clients who really want to train and she slowed down the crazy rhythm of her classes a little during winter. I admit I was about giving up when the pain in my muscles forced me to wander around the supermarket where I was working like I was a 80 year-old lady but I tried to keep up because it was good for me: my friend's gym was located between my apartment and my job and, because I worked long hours in the supermarket, I didn't have time to spend my evenings running on a treadmill or lifting weights. Vera's sessions, short but very intense, allowed me to stay fit but didn't take all my spare time. Thanks to my persistence I became a regular in her gym and later, a friend to share some fruit smoothies with from time to time. Vera was a fanatic of the healthy lifestyle.

"Well, look who's here... my missing in action friend." My personal trainer hugged me and her aloe vera perfume filled my mind, she loved to use that plant for her massages after her hard sessions.

"I'm sorry Vera, I've been very busy." To be honest, I'd missed my training above all for that feeling of relaxation I got later.

"No problem, I understand it: it's always difficult to adjust the first few days in a new job. But you're here now and we're going to have fun..." Vera's idea of having fun was yelling instructions at you while you wanted to die.

"Great, I need to release a lot of tension but Vera... have mercy, I'm terribly out of practice." I pouted but she didn't fall for it.

"We'll see," she answered showing an evil grin.

Two hours and a half later I walked out of the main room with my muscles that seemed made of jelly, my whole body was sore and stank of sweat but I felt very satisfied with my training. Vera herself was shocked with my performance and she talked about it while we drank one of her special fruit juices:

"It doesn't look like you've stopped training for weeks."

"Well, I've been working a lot, moving up and down..." I suspected my girls' blood had something to do with my superb physical condition but that was something I couldn't explain to Vera.

Talking about vampires... Aren walked through the door looking around curiously, I bet it was the first time he set foot in a gym: I wondered what he was thinking of the sport wear in flashy colours we all were wearing, he was so sober and loved his black T-shirts so much that was probably at risk of going blind with the shine of all those fluor shades. He walked towards me the moment he spotted me at the back of the entrance hall: the six foot tower of muscles and charm was getting admiring glances from the ladies and envious glares from some guys, so he kept his head low all the time; humans' attention made him nervous and was erasing the memory of his presence in the gym from all their minds, most likely.

"Wow! Who's that coisa linda?" *pretty thing. Vera whispered next to me not knowing that he was able to hear her perfectly, of course.

"He's my boss," I answered calmly while he reached our position. "Vera, this is Aren. Aren, she's my friend, Vera. She's the owner of this place."

"I'm pleased to meet you, your gym is really nice."

My boss offered his hand to my friend kindly and she shook it while blushing and smiling. That shocked me, it was the first time I'd seen Vera acting shyly around a boy not matter how handsome he was. In fact, I was so surprised with her behaviour that didn't notice at first how they were shaking hands for a long time, longer than it should've been polite, and they both were looking right into each other's eyes. 'What the hell?' I thought confused. 'Aren stop it.' The vampire ignored me and kept staring at my personal trainer like she was something edible and he was starving... I was a bit worried, of course, he was a bloodsucker and I didn't want my friend to become his morning snack. 'Aren, I've told you to stop it,' I yelled my thought at the top of my lungs but he didn't bat an eye. The situation was getting weird and people around us were starting to look at us so I kicked my boss' ankle, as discreetly as I could, in order to bring him back to reality. It worked and Aren released Vera's hand, she stared at her fingertips, frowning puzzled, before rubbing one hand against the other.

'Oh, my God,' I thought dismayed. I'd realized what was happening all of a sudden and shot a shocked and scared look at Aren. My boss confirmed my assumption nodding slightly, he swallowed hard and looked at me with panic in his eyes, asking for help quietly: Vera was his partner, his soulmate, the love of his existence... and he had no idea of how to act or what to say and, in addition to that, we were in a public place packed with humans. That wasn't the best moment to explain my lovely personal trainer that her new boyfriend was a vampire and there was no way for her to escape from the situation, not only because I was afraid of her calling me crazy, but because she was extraordinarily stubborn and, when she got scared, used to enter in denial mode: Aren would struggle a lot to earn her trust.

"Vera, do you know that Aren is looking for a place to train? His former gym is closed and I thought you could show him around while I take a shower and gather my stuff. Maybe we can persuade him to come here often if he likes this place." The vampire shot me a look of panic again.

"Of course, I'd love to. Follow me, please." Vera seemed happy to have the opportunity of talking a bit more with the coisa linda.

'Calm down,' I told Aren in my mind. 'Smile, be kind and say yes to everything she'll ask you. Don't try to start a technical argument, I'm aware of the fact that you don't know how these machines and equipment work or what HIIT means, but you can answer that you'll talk about it later and now you're just taking a look around, okay? I'll be back in five minutes.'

I rushed to the showers wondering how I got in such a mess for umpteenth time: after more than a thousand years of existence in this world, the bloodsucker needed to find his mate in front of me and she was one of my best friends. On one hand, having Vera with me in this trip to the eternity was great because I liked her a lot but, on the other hand, all those tensed situations that I was facing since Aren came to my supermarket weeks ago were starting to take its toll on my nerves. I said goodbye to the relaxing effect of my training. I took a shower, got dressed and shoved my things in the backpack at record speed and ran to the entrance lobby again. I spotted my boss leaned on the reception desk immediately, smiling while Vera was talking fast gesturing the way she usually did when she was anxious. Aren's vampire charm was overloading her senses, most likely, and she'd pass out soon if I didn't do anything first.

"Did you like it?" I asked trying to diver my boss' attention from my friend to me.

"I loved it," he answered with a smile that made Vera blink entranced, she was asking herself if the guy mas made of real flesh and blood, most likely. I could relate to the feeling.

"What do you think about coming three times per week in the evenings for a month to try it? I could come with you and share the car..." 'And I'll be here to stop you from messing things up,' I thought.

Aren pretended to be happy with my arrangements and I gave Vera the fake information she needed to open his account, we paid a month in advance and said goodbye to the trainer. Well, I had to drag him out of the building, basically, and shoved him in the car abruptly: suddenly, I missed my vampires terribly and couldn't wait to go back home to explain them what had happened and get their help to fix this new problem we were into. I was getting tired of all the vampire drama, honestly.

I walked in the house through the kitchen door, let my bag drop on the floor and heaved a sigh closing my eyes, I was exhausted. I found Terra in front of me when I opened them again, staring at me worried, I was so happy to see her that leaned forward without a second thought and grazed her lips with mines. She hugged me tight, deepening the kiss and making my concerns vanish from my mind while focusing on the movements of her tongue swirling around mine. When I pulled back to breathe, I realized that Ruby was standing next to us looking at Aren confused while he was leaning his back on the wall and staring into space. I put my hand on her nape to grab her attention and looked for her lips with mines, her kiss was equal intense and her taste intoxicating... she managed to relax my muscles after a very crazy morning.

"What took you so long?" Terra asked, her arms where still around my waist.

"I was talking to your sister in law," I answered sighing.

"Who?" They both replied, baffled for a second till the meaning of my words got clear in their heads and the looked at their brother with a smile on their faces. The both rushed to hug him, releasing me.

"We're so happy for you, we know you'd lost hope of finding her after all these past years." Ruby patted his shoulder while her sister nodded.

"Thank you, and what are we doing now?" The three of them turned to look at me waiting for my advice. Apparently, I was the new muggles studies professor for three vampires who had no idea about how to deal with humans.

"I'm going to show you some videos about how the gym machines work, you're going with me to train a few days and you'll try to hold back your vampire strength in order to stop people from freaking out when they see you lifting heavy weights like they're feathers. And above all you're going to talk to Vera, earning her trust and flirting with her, but don't go too far with your charm and ruin her brain turning her dumb, please. You have to keep it as real as possible, this way... maybe... after telling her the truth, you won't need to hold her mind in order to prevent a nervous breakdown. Well, she'll freak out anyway, probably, but at least you'll make some progress concerning the trust matter. Oh and you better get used to eat veggies, my friend, you're going to swallow detox smoothies like there's no tomorrow."

"All right," Aren nodded rolling his eyes. "If you think that's necessary and will make things easier for her, I'll do it. But now I need you to tell me where she lives, I need to check if she's okay."

"You want me to give you the address of my friend so you can stalk her?" I stared at him scandalized.

"I want you to give me the address of your friend so I can protect her. It's hard to be away from our mate, it hurts... She won't see me, I'll just watch her from afar. I promise."

I gave him what he wanted after sighing in exasperation since I knew arguing with him would be useless and he'd probably find a way to follow her from the gym to her apartment anyway. 'These vampires are crazy,' I thought earning an offended glance from Ruby. I took my bag from the floor and walked to the bedroom feeling my legs sore, my stiff muscles were killing me.

"Do you want a massage?" Terra asked with an innocent smile.

"No!" I answered with my eyes wide open. Dozens of erotic images of Terra and her hands on my body crossed my mind in just one second.

"I was talking seriously, a real massage for your muscles, not one of those with a happy ending. You have a really dirty mind, you know... I like that." Her lips showed a hint of a sultry smile.

"Here, Iselen." I turned to look at Ruby, she had her index raised and a single drop of blood stood out against her pale skin. "Come on, you'll feel better, I promise." I licked her finger slowly after hesitating for a second. It wasn't what I expected, it tasted sweet and not disgusting, there was no trace of that metallic flavour blood is supposed to have. The stabbing pain of my muscles stopped immediately and I sighed in relief.

"Thank you, Ruby."

"No, thank you for trusting me." She hugged me tight while Terra smiled happily. Apparently, drinking blood from your mate willingly meant something important and I just crossed a new boundary of our relationship without knowing it.