The doorbell rang again and Esmé went to answer it this time. She came back with Gabriel.
Oh, I get it, Vivian thought. Bring your own babe.
But Esmé looked surprised. She swept her hair back with long fingers and managed to undulate while standing still. "Gabriel." Her voice was suddenly husky. "Come to take me somewhere good." She crooned the last word.
"I came to wish Vivian happy birthday," he said.
"How nice," Esmé said, dropping the purr.
Great Moon, he's politicking, Vivian thought, like he has to win votes for leadership instead of win a fight. "Kissing babies?" she asked.
"I'd hardly call you a baby," he replied, looking her over with a grin.
Jerk, she thought.
Esmé ran to the kitchen and came back with a six-pack of Coke and two bags of chips, which she dumped on the coffee table. That was her idea of being a good hostess.
Rafe rolled his eyes when Vivian passed him a Coke. He took a big gulp; then, as soon as he thought Esmé and Gabriel weren't looking, he took a small flask from his back pocket and added an amber fluid to the can.
Gregory tipped the contents of the bag he carried onto the table beside the refreshments. "Presents," he declared unnecessarily, and settled his gangly frame upon the couch. Vivian noticed he was growing sideburns. He'd grow a small beard soon, she knew. He always copied Rafe.
While Esmé exclaimed over the tumbled pile of gifts, Ulf fidgeted and nudged till Rafe handed him the flask. Gabriel saw this time. He didn't say anything, but his lip rose in a snarl. Who died and made you God? Vivian thought. Rafe glowered back defiantly, but he put the flask away. Ulf pouted, his red locks falling around his face.
"Aren't you going to open your presents?" Finn asked.
Vivian gave in and picked up a parcel. Inside she found a scant, lacy slip. "Don't tell me," she said. "You went shoplifting at Victoria's Secret." The Five collapsed into hysterics, and Willem pushed another gift into her hands. Esmé and the boys howled with laughter as Vivian opened box after box of provocative gauzy underwear.
"Try them on," Willem urged as she held aloft another pair of frilly panties.
"Yeah, we wanna make sure they fit," said Finn, grabbing them from his twin.
"In your dreams, wolf-boy," said Vivian.
The smirk on Gabriel's face at her words made her seethe. She could put Finn down; he couldn't. What was he doing hanging out here anyway? He'd made his public appearance. Why didn't he leave?
She deliberately tried to make him feel he didn't belong by ignoring him and kissing all the Five thank you, despite their jeers and rude suggestions. Gregory put on some music - the hard pounding kind the Five loved - and she danced with them all except Gabriel. She was surprised to find she was having a good time.
Esmé glowed with contentment. She didn't even seem to be disappointed when Gabriel would only dance one dance with her. Instead she plied him hopefully with Jack Daniel's on the rocks.
Later, Vivian was rinsing some glasses in the sink when she felt someone behind her. Arms snaked around her. Hands came down over her breasts and squeezed rudely. She recognized the small spider tattoo on the right hand.
"Get off, Rafe," she said, continuing to swish hot water in the tumbler she held.
"Come on. You love it."
"Like hell."
"I don't see you running," he said, and she felt his hot breath on her neck and his teeth testing her flesh.
Vivian put the glass on the counter. She twisted slowly around into his accommodating arms, face to face with his arrogant leer.
His grin widened. "I knew it."
She smiled back at him. Her hand traveled up his thigh and his eyes grew vacant with lust, his lips parted, waiting for hers.
That was when she grabbed his crotch and squeezed.
"Ahwooooooo!" he yanked at her wrist with both hands.