Chapter 63

Julia

Allie and Dylan were the first to arrive, giving me the opportunity to test my theory that the vampire swingers would shock Allie.

“Hey, Julia,” Dylan greeted me with a hug. He’d always been like a second brother to me. I was glad he’d ended up with Allie. They were a perfect match.

“I’m glad you could make it,” I told them as I hugged Allie.

“How are you doing out here at Gryph’s place?” Dylan asked.

“It must be really weird living near vampires,” Allie added.

“Gryph’s neighbors are all really friendly,” I began. “The ones I’ve met have been friendly, anyway. Very friendly. There was a strange incident.”

We’d just made it into the kitchen where Gryph was pulling out burgers to grill, so I decided now was the time to test my theory that Allie would be shocked about the swingers.

“What strange incident?” Dylan asked. “No one tried to bite you, did they? That sort of thing is against the law without written consent.”

“Nothing like that,” I assured him. “I guess Gryph’s neighbors are swingers, and they asked us to join them in bed. They also invited us to an orgy.”

“They never specified a bed, Sass,” Gryph corrected me. “My neighbors made the potato salad for us today. I’ve never had potato salad this good.”

“Wait a minute!” Allie interrupted.

I smiled and waited for her to continue. She was clearly shocked by what I’d said.

“Vampires make the best potato salad?” she asked doubtfully.

“You should try some,” Gryph told her. “It’s fantastic.”

“That’s really what you find so hard to believe?” I asked.

“Did you honestly expect me to be shocked by swingers?” Allie asked with a laugh. “On more than one occasion, my mother and grandmother invited me to attend an orgy with them. Actually, invited isn’t a strong enough word. They tried to pressure me into going to an orgy with both of them.”

“That is much stranger than my swinging vamp neighbors,” Gryph agreed. “No offense to your family, Allie.”

“None taken,” Allie assured him. “Most find the behavior of sex demons strange. You’re all lucky I spent so much time around witches growing up.”

“I’m especially grateful,” Dylan told her. “As I understand it, monogamy is frowned upon among most sex demons.”

“I’m going to run out to start these burgers,” Gryph stated on his way out the patio door.

I shook my head. “Who would have guessed the infamous Dylan Hunt would end up smitten with a succubus?”

“I prefer smitten with a sex kitten,” Dylan remarked.

Allie just snorted.

“That really was horrible,” I told Dylan.

“Yes, but she loves me, anyway,” he said with a smirk. “How about you, Julia?”

“Of course, I love you, but like a brother,” I replied, intentionally mistaking his meaning.

“You know what I mean,” Dylan pushed. “I heard all about what happened with you and Gryph at the council building. You’ve been avoiding me at Bliss, so I haven’t had a chance to ask you about it. What the hell happened? I’m sure the rumors can’t be true.”

“I haven’t heard them, but they’re probably true,” I admitted.

“How?” Dylan asked.

I still didn’t have an answer to that, so I was thankful when the doorbell rang, saving me from further questions. At least, that’s what I thought until Mel and Trevor walked in.

Trevor was grinning from ear to ear. “So, how have you been, Julia?” he asked.

“She’s been busy turning down orgy invitations,” Allie answered for me.

“I could have lived without picturing my sister at an orgy,” Trevor said with a shudder.

I smacked his arm. “I didn’t go, you pervert.”

“Why am I a pervert?” he asked. “I’m not the one going to orgies.”

“Don’t pretend you’ve never gone to one,” Allie told Trevor.

“You told her!” Trevor accused Dylan.

“It was an interesting story,” Dylan replied. “My wife is half-succubus. It’s hard to come up with many interesting stories from my past.”

“That one wasn’t terribly interesting,” Allie insisted. “Although, it was amusing.”

“Why have I never heard this story?” I asked.

“Because I’m your brother,” Trevor stated. “You don’t need to hear about me going to an orgy.”

Mel let out a dramatic sigh. “I’ve never even been invited to an orgy, yet you went to one. I’m not really sure why that surprises me, considering what a man-whore you were.”

Allie giggled. “It didn’t turn out quite the way they’d hoped.”

“Now, I really need to hear this story,” I insisted.

“What story?” Gryph asked as he walked back in with a plate of burgers that would likely moo when we bit into them.

“We were just about to hear about the orgy Trevor and Dylan went to,” I explained.

“I don’t want to picture either of them naked, so maybe I should go back outside,” Gryph suggested.

“We didn’t get naked,” Dylan assured him with a laugh. “Some college buddies thought this would be a great adventure. We were dumb enough to agree. Let’s just say that the ladies we knew weren’t interested in attending the orgy.”

Gryph laughed. “Did any women show up?”

“Nope,” Trevor replied. “It was just a room full of horny guys. Worst night of my college life.”

“That’s pathetic,” Mel told Trevor with a shake of her head.

“At least, I got invited to a real orgy,” I said with a laugh.

That set the tone for the rest of the evening. The conversation was light and fun. It was nice having one night where my life seemed almost normal again.