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The following story, REINDEER ON RED SATIN, is for readers 18 and over.
Reindeer on Red Satin
An Ancient Blood Holiday Story
by
Kate Hill“Deck the halls it smells of holly, fa la la la la and all that crap,” Vincent Dilorenzo sang, scrubbing a hand over his beaded jaw. He sat back on his rump and stared, puzzled, at the tangle of Christmas lights on the floor in front of him.
“Vinnie!” His wife, Trixie, shouted from the kitchen. “Get your butt in here and take Junior for a while.”
“Didn’t you tell me to put these lights on the tree?” he bellowed back.
“Yeah, but I didn’t think it was going to take you two hours! We’ve got guests on the way and Dulcie and I need to cook the rest of this food. Can’t you hear Junior screaming his lungs out?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Vincent muttered. “The whole neighborhood hears him.”
It had been a great December until early that morning when Trixie had suddenly slammed into holiday overdrive. After mooching off friends and relatives for the past several holidays, they decided to host Christmas at their home. Late last night, their friends Matthew and Dulcie had arrived with their young daughter, Lucy. Matthew’s twin brother Adam and his wife Mara lived nearby and would be joining them tonight for Christmas Eve dinner along with Vincent’s cousin Cody and his new spouse, Joanna.
Two months ago when they’d started planning all this, it seemed great. Now that the actual event had arrived, Vincent wasn’t so sure he shouldn’t have packed up the wife and kid and taken a slow boat to Hawaii for the holidays.
He gave a snort of laughter and once again tried unraveling the knotted lights. Actually he didn’t mind the holiday season so much anymore. At one time he’d hated it, but that was until one very special Christmas Eve a couple of years ago when he’d met Trixie. Since then his entire life had turned in a direction he’d never imagined possible.
Born a vampire in Ancient Rome, Vincent had spent many years indulging his worst habits and earning a less than respectable reputation for himself. He’d been the black sheep of the family. Now he had a family of his own. Having children the traditional way was something relatively few vampires achieved, but sometimes he thought that with a woman like Trixie, anything was possible.
“Do you want some help?” Matthew Winter, Immaculate Vampire, medical doctor, and full-time geek, stepped into the living room. He lifted an eyebrow at the mess of wires and Christmas lights. He held his daughter in one arm and a stick of celery in the other. Figured even with his vampiric constitution the pain-in-the-ass wouldn’t touch the good snacks like chips and cheese with crackers. No way. Winter went right for the vegetables. Still, the doc was all right. In truth, Vincent considered him a close friend. Neither of them would ever admit to it publicly, but underneath they were pretty tight.
“Think you can do better?” Vincent asked.
“I don’t think. I know.”
Curling his lip, Vincent stood. “All right, smartass. Be my guest.”
“I asked you not to swear in front of my daughter.”
“I told him the same thing!” Trixie called from the kitchen. “Clean up your mouth, Vinnie!”
“Give me a break. I’ve done good. Haven’t cursed in something like a month, and it ain’t easy around here.”
Matthew placed his daughter on the floor where she began playing with some colored blocks. Sitting nearby, Matthew began sorting through the lights while Vincent stood and draped garland over the curtain rods.
“Deck the halls with bells of holly,” he sang.
“Boughs of holly,” Matthew corrected.
“Bowels? Holly has that?”
“Boughs of holly! Boughs!” Matthew growled.
Chuckling, Vincent went on adjusting the garland. Few things felt as good as irritating Matthew. After a moment, he paused and said, “I’m getting to really like this Christmas stuff.”
“Since when?” Trixie demanded, stepping into the kitchen carrying their four-month-old son who had quieted down momentarily. Just looking at them gave Vincent warm, fuzzy feelings and he couldn’t help smiling. He didn’t deserve a life this good.
“Vincent, you’re the biggest humbug I’ve ever met,” Matthew said, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Hey, these lights are tangled awfully.”
Vincent raised his eyes to the heavens and shook his head. “Thanks, genius. Glad you confirmed that.” He resumed singing Christmas carols just as the doorbell rang and Vincent Jr. started screeching again.
“Vinnie, if you don’t take this kid, I’m gonna deck your halls,” Trixie said through gritted teeth. She walked over and placed the baby in his arms. “Change him.”
While she hurried off to answer the door, Vincent tickled beneath his son’s chin and said, “What’s the matter, Jr.? Got some poopies? Daddy will take care of that.”
Matthew looked disgusted. “Keep talking to him like that and he’s liable to grow up like an idiot.”
“What the hell am I supposed to say to a four-month-old? Should I be like you? Your kid was two days old and you’d say ‘today, Miss Lucy, we’ll go over Newton’s theory of relativity’ or some crap like that.”
“Einstein, Vincent.” Matthew closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. “That’s Einstein’s theory of relativity.”
“They were both brilliant right? So it’s all relative,” Vincent said, taking Junior’s baby bag from the corner of the room. He spread a towel on the floor, placed his son on top of it and began changing his diaper. Whoever would have thought Vincent Dilorenzo would be changing dirty diapers? It just proved nothing was set in stone.
Except this kid’s bowel movement. Damn this is nasty.
Voices in the foyer told him Adam and Mara had arrived. They were laughing about something with Trixie. Just what I need, Vincent thought with a wicked smile. Now that Matthew and his twin were together, Vincent could do his best to drive them both crazy at the same time.
Once Trixie cooled down, it would probably turn out to be an all-around good night. They’d eat, talk, maybe dance a little. Vincent could really cut a step, especially when Trix was wearing nothing but a thong and her red high heels. That reminded him. The real festivities would come after the party. Christmas Eve was the anniversary of their meeting and Vincent had something special planned for her once they were alone.
A short time later, Cody and Joanna arrived from the hotel where they’d been staying. Vincent was actually glad about that. Those two screwed around more than he and Trixie. The last time they’d stayed at the house, the mating calls coming from the guest room had kept them awake all day.
Once the kids were fed and put in their playpens, the adults sat down to dinner.
“Hey, Adam, want a slab?” Vincent held up a thick slice of turkey. “Or maybe I shouldn’t say that to a guy in your profession. Might make you think of another kind of slab.”
Adam raised his eyes to the heavens and held out his plate for the turkey. In addition to being the leader of the Vampire Network, Adam was also a pathologist. He used his skills to help detect and stop crimes committed by vampires.
Like Matthew, Adam was tall with curly brown hair and dark blue eyes. The bookends, Vincent called them. At least now that Adam wore a beard and Matthew had let his hair grow long they no longer looked like a couple of chess pieces.
“That’s a tacky thing to say at the table, Vinnie,” Trixie scolded.
“Sorry, doll,” Vincent said, not sounding the least bit sorry. Teasing the twins was probably his favorite pastime, other than teasing his gorgeous wife in the bedroom, of course. Even now he nearly had to reach down and adjust himself just from looking at her. The way her full, sexy, red-painted lips took enthusiastic bites of meat. Damn. All he could think about was his meat passing through her lips.
Her beautiful, thickly-lashed eyes fixed on him and she smiled coquettishly. Later, Vinnie. Rein it in until we’re alone.
Damn, he loved the sound of her telepathic voice in his head.
“The decorations on the house look lovely,” Joanna said in her soft English accent. “I tried to get Cody to put up more lights this year, but he was off on so many missions that we scarcely had time for anything.”
“The pressures of being leader of the Network’s Special Forces, sweetheart,” Cody said and winked at his wife. “But you sure made homecomings worthwhile.”
Joanna smiled and licked her lips. Vincent prayed they wouldn’t start making out right at the table. Sometimes those two just didn’t know when to quit.
“I’m surprised by all the decorations, Vincent,” Adam said, taking another helping of squash. “If I remember correctly, you’ve never been much for the holidays.”
“I know, “Vincent admitted. “I never was like Matthew. A regular Rudolph the brown-nosed reindeer.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Matthew demanded.
“Just riding you,” Vincent chuckled.
“You wish,” Matthew said, causing several people, Adam included, to groan.
“Let’s not go there, pal.” Vincent held up his hands defensively. “It’s just, lately I’ve been getting into the holiday thing.”
“Religiously or festively?” Matthew asked before taking a sip from his wine glass. It was the good stuff from Vincent’s private stock. Mixed with Type O Negative. Potent yet sweet.
“Huh?” Vincent wrinkled his nose.
“Have you embraced religion?” Adam translated. “Are you celebrating the true meaning of the holiday?”
These guys were too much. Couldn’t they just enjoy the night without getting all deep and intellectual?
“For instance, do you believe in creation, Vincent, or the big bang?” Matthew continued.
“Oh.” Vincent reached for his napkin, wiped his mouth and sat back in his chair, thoughtful. “I guess I’ll have to go with the big bang. It’s always worked for me and Trix.”
“Vinnie!” Trixie snapped through clenched teeth.
He chuckled. “Sorry, Cupcake."
“Why don’t we forget the religious discussion,” Dulcie suggested softly.
“Good idea,” Mara said. “Dulcie, how did your holiday art exhibition go at the museum?”
The conversation turned toward Dulcie’s paintings and the rest of the meal went smoothly.
Afterward they opened gifts while listening to Christmas carols. Though Vincent enjoyed the company, he could hardly wait to get Trixie alone.
Finally their guests left and after putting Vinnie Jr. to bed, they retired to their room. While Trixie showered, Vincent hurried to set everything up.
He put new red satin sheets on the bed and placed Trixie’s gift, wrapped in silver paper, on her pillow. Then he undressed and put on the special red satin briefs he had bought just for the occasion. They even had a reindeer head sewn right over the front flap. Then he put on a red and green elf’s hat with a big white ball at the pointed tip.
On the little breakfast table, he set up fruit slices with chocolate fondue and placed a bottle of champagne to chill in a bucket of ice.
Standing aside, he folded his arms cross his chest and thought everything looked pretty good.
The water in the shower turned off and he glanced toward the bathroom, his heartbeat quickening with anticipation.
Trixie stepped out wearing nothing but a towel around her middle, her long black hair hanging damply down her shoulders and back. The aroma of her vanilla-scented soap teased his nostrils and the sight of her excited him so much that the reindeer on the front of his briefs stood at attention.
“Vinnie!” She laughed. “What are you doing?”
“Merry Christmas, Cupcake.” He grinned and turned on the CD player, softly so as not to wake Junior. Jingle bells started playing and he danced toward her, gyrating his hips and making the reindeer bounce.
She laughed, her gorgeous eyes glistening with humor. Dropping her towel, she joined him in the dance, her full, creamy breasts and rounded hips enticing him so much he wondered if he could wait much longer before taking her.
Shoot, he was a weak man. Taking her in his arms, he covered her mouth in a possessive kiss. Their tongues mingled and her luscious breasts pressed against his chest. One of her hands cupped the back of his head while the other drifted over his buttocks. She slid her hand around to the front of his briefs and gave the reindeer a squeeze while sinking her fangs into Vincent's lower lip.
He groaned with pleasure, his pulse racing. She was the hottest woman on the planet and she belonged to him.
Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her to the bed and placed her on it.
“What’s this?” She took the present off her pillow and gazed at him with wide eyes. “Vinnie, I thought we already exchanged gifts?”
“This is something extra. From me to you, baby.”
She untied the silver string and tore off the paper. Inside the box was a heart-shaped locket. She opened it and read the inscription.
To T from V. My life began with you.
Her eyes gleamed and she gazed at him. “Oh, Vinnie. I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
She slipped her arms around his neck and held him tightly, then Vincent gently guided her onto her back. Stroking her breasts, he nibbled her ear then kissed her tenderly.
“I didn’t get you anything else,” she said, stroking his hair.
“You gave me everything I’ve ever wanted,” he said, holding her gaze. “No jokes. No wiseass remarks. Just the truth from Vinnie D to his Trixie.”
“That rhymes,” she said, smiling.
“Good. Then it makes it harder for you to forget.”
“I’ll never forget,” she whispered. Taking his face in her hands, she kissed him and Vincent covered her body with his.
The weather outside was cold, but inside the Dilorenzo’s room, things were hot enough to melt a glacier.
That’s how it’s always been between me and Trixie, Vincent thought. From the first second we met.
You’ve got that right, her telepathic voice said to him. Now, Vinnie D, let me see what’s underneath that reindeer.
The End
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