"Maybe the guy chickened out when it came to meeting a real semi-live vampire face-to-face."

"Semi-live?" Jerry stopped in front of me and pulled me up against him. "Does this feel semi-live to you?" As an ego boost, Jerry's bulging jeans were proof I still did it for him. You think it's freaky that we could even think about sex at a time like this? Hey, vamps are sensual creatures. All the vamps I've ever met have an unusually active libido. And Jerry and I are no exception.

Now about those bulging jeans… I looked at Valdez, but he'd turned to stare out the window at the street, obviously ordered to give us privacy.

I leaned against Jerry for a moment. "You're obviously way more than semi- live, Jerry, but it's close to dawn. I'm ready to curl up in my own bed."

Blade ran his hands down my back to pull me flush against him. "I could curl up with you." I wrapped my arms around him and breathed in eau de Blade. Tempting. He was still palling around with Mara but I doubted he saw her as any more than his best friend's widow. And I sure couldn't blame Jerry if Mara had her eye on Scottish vamp husband number two. I was really drained from the whole hellacious night, but when his arms tightened around me, I knew I wanted him in my bed.

I tugged him toward my bedroom. "Valdez, you set for the night?"

Valdez turned around. " Sure, Blondie."

Jerry gave the dog a look before he followed me. I shut the bedroom door and leaned against it. Jerry glanced at the double bed, unmade of course.

"Pillow-top mattress."

"Excellent."

"I should change the sheets." I pushed away from the door.

"Don't bother." He pulled me into his arms and laid his cheek on my hair. "We've slept on far worse." I reached up and traced his firm lips. "I remember a cave once. With furs on the hard stone floor and neither of us complaining." We'd been new to each other then. Never sated. We'd ridden his father's lands to where Jerry had arranged to give us privacy. God knows there was none in Castle Campbell.

I unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off his broad shoulders. I don't think I'll ever tire of exploring his solid strength.

"And our first. Against the door in your dressing room at the Globe." He pulled my T-shirt up and off, then dropped a kiss on the swell of my breast. "Not my finest moment."

I blinked back sudden tears. He remembered our first time. I'd sure never forget it. God, I'd been so wild for him. He'd shown me pleasure I'd never dreamed existed. And then he'd used his fangs… I shivered, remembering.

"They took the cost of that ripped bodice out of my pay, you know." I smiled and circled his nipple with my fingertip.

"I was in a bit of a hurry. In all things." Jerry stared down at me, suddenly solemn. "I know you've regretted becoming vampire for me, Gloriana."

I laid my hand over his lips. "No regrets. You gave me eternity, Jerry. In case you haven't noticed, I'm pretty fond of modern conveniences."

"Such as?" He ran his thumbs up my neck.

"Mercedes convertibles." I kissed his smooth chest.

"I knew you wanted that car." He grinned, ripping open the Kevlar bra. It hit the carpet.

"It's a sexmobile, who wouldn't want it?" I dragged my fangs across his shoulder and up to the vein pulsing in his neck. Forget the car. I wanted to taste him. He moved his head just a bit, enough to tell me not yet.

"What else do you like?" He trotted out an evil grin I recognized.

He was a mind reader, he knew damned well what I liked—him, inside me, taking me hard against the bedroom door. I shook my head. Now who was moving too fast? He rubbed a leisurely spiral around my aching nipples. Okay, slow could work too.

"Cell phones." Thunk. His belt hit the floor.

"You can call me in your mind and I will always answer you, Gloriana." My jeans pooled around my ankles and I kicked them away.

"Zippers." I pushed down his and stroked the erection straining his white cotton briefs. Yeah, ancient Scottish vampire wears Jockey shorts. Progress.

"I'll not argue with that one."

"Hot showers."

"I've always liked you"—he slid his hand inside my black lace panties—"wet." I flushed from my head to my toes, then shoved his jeans and briefs down until they were around his ankles. I dropped to my knees in front of him.

"There's much to be said for ancient pleasures." He groaned, his fingers in my hair.

"And primitive males." I traced the length of him with my tongue. He lifted me and held me against him for a moment before he set me on my feet. I wobbled, then grabbed his hair as he kissed a path down my stomach to the curls between my legs.

"But you're a modern woman." He pushed me back onto the bed and spread my legs. "You love those television shows."

"H.B.Oooh." One of his clever fingers had found my hot button.

"I've never understood why you would be content to watch actors pretending to have sex when you can be"—he lifted my hips and pushed into me—"participating."

"Yes." I grabbed his buttocks, holding him close. He was right. To hell with modern anything. This, this was what I wanted, had always wanted. To be his, to feel the pressure of him touching me so deeply, I could hardly breathe. Orgasm number one thundered through me and I knew the best was yet to come. It always happened like this between us. I dug my nails into his shoulders when he stroked me and, oh God, tasted me with his fangs. I think I blacked out and probably screamed. By the time he thrust into me, shouting my name, I was definitely participating. I woke up alone unless you counted Valdez curled up on the foot of the bed. There was a note. Jerry had obviously left before dawn.

If you need me, call me. Jeremiah.

I indulged in a few tears. Okay, so I'd earned them. His note, while brief, meant he trusted me to handle Ryan on my own. This felt like a breakthrough. We'd been so close, and not just physically connected. For the first time in almost forever I couldn't work up a hate for being Jerry's "woman."

" I got my orders, Blondie. Tonight, that Ryan gives you grief and he's dog chow." Well, hell. So much for Jerry's trust. As long as his right-hand dog stuck to me like glue, I'd never be truly independent. I sat up and wiped my eyes.

"And if I tell you to back off and let me handle Ryan?"

Valdez jumped off the bed and stretched, then trotted up to nudge my hand with his cold nose. " Handle him, Blondie. Rip him a new one. Whatever. But he tries to hurt you and all bets are off."

I sighed and stroked Valdez's head. "This is going to break Lacy's heart."

Valdez snorted. " Tough. Cat lady is the one who got you to hire the creep."

"Ryan had us all fooled, Valdez." I tugged on his ear. "Even you, my friend. Even you." I heard the key in the lock and took a deep breath. I'd given Lacy a new key before I'd come down to the shop. I didn't think Ryan was dangerous, but I had on my Kevlar, under my sweatshirt, just in case. If he worked for Westwood, he had to know I was vampire. He'd be stupid not to carry a stake around in case of emergencies. Like if I was suddenly overcome by blood lust and drank him dry.

Not a bad thought. I was furious that he'd used Lacy to get to me. She didn't deserve that kind of betrayal and, damn it, neither did I. At least I knew we'd found the only two bugs in the shop thanks to Jerry's security expert.

"See? She's here waiting for us." Lacy's smile looked like a death mask. Ryan didn't notice. He glanced around the store and again I noticed that he was uneasy being around me. A little part of me had hoped I had this all wrong, for Lacy's sake. Oh, well, she'd had centuries of love experience. This was surely not the first time she'd been deceived. Her eyes met mine. If she'd been betrayed this time, she was making damn sure it wouldn't happen again.

"Hi, you two. I've got the checks in the storeroom. Come on back." I'd set up the area carefully. I didn't want us to be visible from the street, so I'd put a couple of chairs in the storeroom. Valdez was lying across the back door and I gave him a thumb's up as I led the way.

"I thought you paid on the first. That's not until Wednesday." Ryan smiled. "Of course I can always use the cash."

"Can you?" Lacy slammed the storeroom door and locked it. "You seem pretty flush to me."

"What's going on?" Ryan backed away from her until he bumped into a chair. He held on to it. I didn't blame him. Lacy mad was a sight to see. She wasn't in cat form, but I swear her eyes glowed and her hair almost stood on end. Even her nails seemed to grow longer.

"Glory and I have a little problem, Ryan. You." Lacy pushed him into the chair, but he popped right back up.

"Hey, watch it. This is a new suit." The jerk actually stroked the front of his black jacket. "New to me, anyway. Brooks Brothers. Can you believe it? Nine dollars and ninety nine cents at the Salvation Army store."

"Pay attention, Ryan." I put my hands on his shoulders and shoved him down in the chair again. I kept them there and felt him go rigid. Click. He was finally getting that he was in deep shit here.

"What did I do?" He looked at me, then Lacy. "Come on, baby. I told you I didn't mean to be late. My dad caught me on the phone just as I was leaving. The usual lecture on keeping up my grades."

"Your dad on the phone or Brent Westwood?" Lacy's smile had all the charm of a lion contemplating a late night supper.

"Westwood?" Ryan tried to jump up, but I held him in place. He was no match for vamp power, especially when I was steaming. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"Sure, you do. Played with any bugs lately?"

"I still don't know what you're talking about. Let me go, Glory." Ryan struggled against my hands, his face red. "Lacy, sweetie. You know me better than this."