Read Peaches Monroe: The Return of Ursula (Short Story) for Free Online

incredible. I’m completely in awe of you, and I am at your service, for anything you need.”
    Her immaculate red lips curled into a sly smile. “Careful what you wish for.” She refused my handshake and gave me a quick hug instead. Then she hugged Mitchell as well. “You’re family now,” she explained, and then she walked away.
    Mitchell stared after her. “I think I’m straight again, and I’m into older women with red lipstick.”

9
    Mitchell and I watched the filming for hours. Thanks to my recent experience shooting a TV spot for a plus-size underwear line, I wasn’t surprised by how slowly things progress on set.
    Connor, Dalton’s cousin who plays his vampire brother on the series, came over when he wasn’t needed.
    “When’s Shayla coming to visit?” Connor asked. “I barely got to say hi to her at the wedding.”
    Mitchell raised his eyebrows and cheekily said, “That’s not what I heard.”
    I kicked Mitchell under the table. Connor quickly excused himself, which was for the best.
    Around eight o’clock, Mitchell got a phone call from his roommate, with a drag queen emergency.
    “Good grief, now what?” I asked Mitchell.
    “Luscious Hilda Mae Sparkles needs her wigs. Don’t worry, you can keep that one for the night.” He winked. “She needs the red one, though, so I’m off.” He gave me a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
    I stuck around, watching the actors and crew shoot the same scene, over and over. They finally finished at ten o’clock, and Dalton came over to me.
    “Things don’t usually run so late, but one of the principal actors took a week off to get married.” He grinned, revealing pointy vampire fangs.
    I let out a scream of alarm, because I hadn’t been expecting to see him with the vampire teeth, and we were alone in a dark corner, and… vampires are kind of scary.
    “I totally got you,” he said with a serious face. He leaned in closer and flashed his eyes at me. “Now I’ll take you back to my vampire lair and make you my vampire bride.”
    Fear and anticipation rushed through me, energizing every bit of my body, including Miss Kitty.

10
    Vern brought the car and picked us up from the set.
    The whole ride home, Dalton and I flirted with each other in the back seat, with him pretending to be a lusty vampire, and me pretending to be a lusty personal assistant named Ursula.
    We got to the house, up to the front door, and he swept me off my feet again.
    In his arms, I asked, “Are we going to do this every day?”
    He carried me over the threshold. “Every day until we get it perfect, and then maybe a few more times.”
    I kissed him. “Ursula will go make bedroom ready.”
    “No more stalling.” He carried me down the hall, into the master bedroom, and set me on the big bed. “You stay there. Don’t move.”
    He went into the adjoining washroom and ran the water in the sink for a moment. He came out with his face scrubbed free of the vampire makeup and the fangs removed.
    He carried a hairbrush, plus wash cloths and dry towels, which he set on the bed beside me.
    Gently, he lifted off my black wig, removed the bobby pins holding my blond locks up, then lovingly brushed through my hair. He used the wet wash cloths to remove my dark-penciled eyebrows and other makeup.
    He unzipped and peeled off my black dress, and then my underwear.
    “I need a shower,” I whispered. “This stalker girl got sweaty when the security guards were interrogating her.”
    His voice low and husky, he murmured, “Save your shower for later, when you’ll need it.” He used the other wet wash cloths to refresh every inch of my skin.
    He dragged each damp cloth over me slowly. I melted under his touch, and then shivered when he blew air on my damp skin.
    “When did you know it was me?” I asked.
    “Not until I saw Mitchell. He snuck back onto the set and got my attention without alerting the guards.”
    Dalton dropped the towels on the floor, removed his clothes, and kneeled