The amusement fled from her face. “Yes.” She shuddered. “It was awful, though. God, I felt her suck his thoughts dry. It felt like she was sucking mine..."

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, comforting her even though he knew they had to get going. Elizabeth wouldn't hesitate to attack a second time—not if she found them still in this room.

"We only have one choice, Nikki. We can't leave him like this. They'll only continue to use him, and when they've finished, they'll kill him anyway."

"I know.” She hesitated, then pulled out of his arms. “Make it quick." Hands clenched and back rigid, she walked to the door, her back to the room. He turned to the teenager and gently closed the kid's unseeing eyes.

I hope you find peace in death, Matthew.

The words echoed through the emptiness that was the teenager's mind. Anger tore through him. Elizabeth had no right to do this. Not to a mere boy like Matthew. Not to anyone. He wrapped an arm around the teenager's neck, grabbed his head with the other, and twisted sharply, just the once. Human life was all too fragile, so easily taken. He laid Matthew gently on the bed and joined Nikki by the door.

She glanced up at him. There were tears in her eyes and her thoughts. “How could you love someone capable of doing something like that?"

"I don't love her.” It was the truth. He hadn't loved Elizabeth for a very long time—if he'd ever truly loved her. It had just taken him a long time to realize it.

"But you did love her once."

"Perhaps.” He touched her back, feeling the chill in her skin through the dampness of her clothes. She needed warmth, not darkness and death. He guided her past the traps. “Let's move, before she gets back."

She shivered, but he wasn't sure if it was the cold or the thought of Elizabeth returning.

"Will she come after us in revenge for Matthew?"

He doubted very much whether Elizabeth would really even care about the boy. She'd had her fun, and it was Cordell who'd wanted the teenager's help, not her. Besides, if she had really wanted them dead, she would have attacked right away, when she'd had the upper hand.

"I think it's Cordell we have to worry about, not Elizabeth." Doubt ran through the link, as bright as fire. “Don't trust her, Michael. The darkness in her heart is stronger than you think."

Seline had said much the same thing, and he wasn't about to take either warning lightly. “It's Cordell who's pulling everyone's strings, Elizabeth's included.” And it was about time he did something about it. But not before he got Nikki out of this resort and back home to safety.

Chapter Eighteen

Nikki flopped on the bed and closed her eyes. Images ran past her eyelids—visions of fear intermixed with pleasure. Elizabeth had sucked Matthew's mind dry even as she made love to him. And it had all happened in that office, with Cordell watching avidly.

Sick. They were all sick. She swallowed heavily. They might be sick, but they were also very dangerous. Michael had locked all the doors to their room, but she couldn't escape the notion that if Cordell wanted to get in here, he could do so without using the doors. Easily. From the bathroom came the sound of running water. Michael preparing the hot tub for a bath she didn't want. She didn't care about the need to get warm. She just wanted Michael to take her in his arms and hold her. She had a very strong suspicion time was running out for them. She knew, too, that he intended to ask her to go home. But he had a snowball's chance in hell of making that happen. He was going to need her help to survive the battle that loomed, and she had no intention of going anywhere.

"You're not getting undressed."

She opened her eyes. He leaned against the bathroom door frame, dark hair tousled and a warm light in his eyes. “I don't have the energy."

"If you don't get up and undressed, I'll throw you in, clothes and all."

"If I go in, you're going in, buddy."

His sudden grin was almost boyish, and he looked so damn sexy she just wanted to grab him and kiss him and make love to him. How could he treat her with such warmth and tenderness and expect to keep her at arm's length?

She couldn't. Wouldn't. Not this time.

"Up, woman. You need to get clean, and you need to get warm. I will not take no for an answer." She smiled slightly. Neither would she. She kicked off her shoes then stopped. “Sorry. Too much effort involved."

"You're going to make me pick you up, aren't you?"

"Uh huh.” She closed her eyes and waited.

His hands slipped under her, trailing heat through her body. He lifted her, holding her close, his grip gentle and his body warm against hers.

"Now, this I can handle.” Grinning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and lightly kissed his chin.

“I'll warm up in no time if you just keep your arms around me like this."

"But it won't wash the dirt from your skin,” he said dryly as he carried her into the bathroom and stopped beside the hot tub. “And I may have a vampire's strength, but even my arms would protest after the first hour or so of holding you."

She raised an eyebrow. “Are you calling me a dead weight?" He glanced down at her, dark eyes suddenly intense. “Never that,” he said softly. Then the boyish grin hit her again, warming her senses to overload. “In you go."

"Don't,” she yelped, only to have the words snatched away as she went under the water. She came up spluttering. The bubbling water was frothy and hot. The mild perfume, a mix of jasmine and rose, caught her nose and made her sneeze. Foam flew, covering her face and hair. Michael watched, a silly grin on his face.

"Think it's funny, do you?” she muttered, and hit him with kinetic energy. A second later, he was spluttering in the hot tub beside her. “Told you,” she continued, voice all innocence. “I go in, you go in."

"Witch.” He grabbed her shirt and tugged her toward him. “Whatever am I going to do with you?" She kissed his wet lips. “Washing me would be a good start." He raised an eyebrow. “Too weak, are we?"

"No.” She smiled sweetly. “I just want your hands on me."

"Well,” he said, sounding as put out as all hell—an image somewhat destroyed by the amused anticipation in his eyes, “for the sake of sleeping in clean sheets, I guess I shall have to help." He undid her shirt and slid it from her shoulders, his hands skimming her skin and caressing heat through her body. Her jeans and undergarments quickly followed and were tossed wetly on the tiles beside her shirt.

"Hair first.” He grabbed the shampoo, then tucked her between his legs and began washing her hair. She closed her eyes and simply enjoyed.

"Rinse time.” He reached back, grabbing the flexible hand shower, stretching it to capacity as he turned on the taps. He rinsed her hair clean, then turned off the water and grabbed the conditioner. He massaged it through her scalp, sending ripples of pleasure reverberating down to her toes.

"You're awfully good at this,” she murmured. “Don't tell me—you were a hairdresser at one time, too."

"Three hundred years is a long time to stay in one job, you know. And people tend to get a little suspicious when you show no sign of aging."

"A problem,” she agreed. She leaned against his chest, listening to the thunder of his heart.

"I can't massage the back of your head like that."

She smiled. “I don't really care. I'm comfortable."

"Oh really?” He cupped his hands around her breasts, then gently tugged at her nipples, teasing them to full bloom. A shudder ran through her, and deep inside the ache began. “How comfortable is that?"

"Probably as comfortable as you are in those wet jeans.” She shifted position and closed her eyes. Energy shimmered, and his clothes joined hers on the floor. She moved back between his legs. Michael grabbed the bar of soap and began washing her arms and chest. He took his time, working his way down her stomach, every now and again reaching back up to cup her breasts and tease her nipples. Eventually, he slipped his hand between her legs, stroking her gently at first, then faster when the tremors began. Her hips surged, thrusting against his hand for several seconds before she went lax and still against him. But ripples of pleasure ran heat through the link, and her sigh was a sound that reverberated though his soul.

"I hope you didn't treat all your customers this well,” she murmured.

"Baths weren't really big enough to share with any comfort way back then,” he said, reaching for the soap again. “And they were generally only taken on a weekly basis anyway." She sighed. “This is so much more civilized."

Amusement mixed with love ran through the link, shimmering around him, through him. He knew he should leave the spa, knew that he was risking his resolve to keep her out of his life—but right then, he didn't care. He needed her—emotionally as much as physically—and just this once, he was giving in to that need.

He began washing her again. The last time they'd made love it had been too quick, too rushed—too full of uncertainty and desperation. This time, while they still had time left to them, he would pleasure her more fully.

"Turn around and face me,” he said, dropping the soap.

She did. He took her left foot in his hands, gently massaging her toes. Gradually, he worked his way up her leg, watching her amber eyes dilate with anticipation. When he touched her again, she sucked in her breath, squirming against his hand. He slid his fingers inside her, caressing her, feeling her heat, bringing her close to the brink again before pulling away.

Her need filled his mind, his body, and almost shot his control to hell. He slammed the link closed, not ready yet for this to end.

"Tease,” she muttered, her breathing hot and hard.

He smiled and made his way down her right leg, then raised her foot and gently sucked on each of her toes. Her moan of pleasure ran like fire across his senses. He lowered her foot and tugged her closer. She ran a hand down his chest and stomach, and every inch of him trembled in response. He stopped her, raising her fingers to his lips and kissing them. “This night is for you and about you,” he said softly.

“Just let me love you as you deserve to be loved."

Tears glimmered in her eyes. She blinked them away, but her smile remained tremulous. “I only want to give you the same."

"I take pleasure in your pleasure. I could stay here forever and just watch you, Nikki. Let me do this." She sighed. “I'm enjoying this way too much to say no right now."

"Good."

He began his gentle exploration again. Ran his hands down the full length of her lean body, caressed her small breasts, sucking her nipples until she was panting with need, then claimed her mouth, greedy for the taste of her.

Their minds entwined, wildfire ready to explode.

He cupped her again, slid his fingers inside her, bringing her to her climax hot and fast, until the shudders racked her body and left her limp in the water.

"Again,” he said, pulling her closer. “This time with me."

"I can't,” she moaned. “It's impossible."

"It's not.” Nothing was impossible between them. He savaged her mouth, drowning in the heat and urgency of her kiss. Got lost in the wonder of her body, until the ache in his was a fire that burned through the link, wrapping them in heat and passion and love . I could make love to this woman every day for eternity and never tire of her. And he knew with certainty that that's exactly what he had to do. Somehow, he had to find a way to hold her away from the danger of his work and yet keep her a part of his life. He couldn't walk away. Didn't want to walk away. He'd been a fool to even think he could. He caught her hair, pulling her head back, kissing the long line of her neck, working his way back up to her mouth. Her breath was hot and quick against his lips. “Say it, Nikki."

"I love you.” She moaned and wrapped her arms tight around his neck. “Oh God, I love you." He plunged himself inside her, then thrust her back against the spa, plunging deep again. “Say it again."

"I love you, I love you.” Her softness encased him, muscles contracting against him. He had to grit his teeth to keep from exploding.

"Again,” he demanded, thrusting hard, wanting, needing, every ounce from her. Her litany ran over him, through him, exploding glorious heat through their minds. “And I,” he vowed,

“will love you for eternity and never leave you."

Her climax sent him spiralling beyond control and into bliss.

* * * *

"I,” she said, sometime later, “have no energy to move. I think I'll sleep right here in these bubbles."

"Your skin will wrinkle like a prune. Not a good look, let me assure you.” He climbed out of the spa and quickly dried himself. “Up, woman. Bed is where you belong right now."

"My legs have no bones."

He grinned. “Good loving can do that to you."

"That wasn't good. That was amazing . I've never...” she hesitated and licked her lips. For an instant, she looked like a teenager just discovering the wonders of sex. “Let's just say that it has never been that good for me."

"Then it was a first for us both.” He wrapped the towel around his waist, then leaned over the side of the hot tub and grabbed her lax arm, tugging her toward the edge.

She raised her eyebrows and made no move to get out. “I find that hard to believe. In three hundred and eighty years you must have had some good sex."