I was in bed with Kingsley.

Not a bad place to be. Ever. It was the day after his "change" and he was feeling particularly, ah, ravenous. And not just for food. Yes, he had prepared a delicious meal for himself, and supplied me with a particularly fresh goblet of hemoglobin.

We had spent the evening in his kitchen, drinking and eating over his counter, while he looked at me with yellowish eyes that suggested that he was not only going to tear my clothing off my back, but he was going to do so in a particularly inspired way.

He didn't tear off my clothes. But they did come off quick enough, and we spent the next few hours putting our immortal bodies to good use. Very good use.

Now, we were both lying on our sides, naked and talking quietly. The lights were off but I could see every square inch of Kingsley's epic body, which I never really got used to. It was like lying next to a small land mass, a living peninsula. Hard, corrugated, with peaks and valleys and forests and plains. Epic, immovable, sexy as hell.

I knew he could see every curve of mine, too, being a fellow creature of the night. That he could see every curve of mine gave me some degree of anxiety. I might be immortal, but I was insecure as hell about my naked body.

Kingsley, not so much. He liked to be naked. Lucky for him, I liked when he was naked, too. Presently, his shaggy hair hung down to the bed sheet, a bed sheet that was still soaked with our sweat. His relaxed bicep still looked bigger than my waist. His chest hair was thicker than normal thanks to his beastly visitor from the night before.

Yes, the big oaf was shedding all over the place. Additionally, his eyes were glowing more yellow than normal, also a residue of his recent transformation.

"Kingsley," I said.

He was presently running a thick finger over my hip. "Yeah, babe?"

"Are there really...things living inside us?"

His finger stopped on my waist. "That's not exactly bedroom talk, Sam."

"Sorry, but it's been bugging me."

"Since you met your guardian angel?"

I nodded, which looked more like a shake since my head was propped up on my hand. The lights were out in the room, and only the silver glow from the still-mostly full moon bathed our naked bodies. "He kind of freaked me out."

"He was trying to freak you out, Sam. And he's certainly not a guardian angel. Not anymore."

"A fallen angel," I said.

"Right," said Kingsley. "Something like that."

"I spoke to whatever's in you," I said. "He said you were his vehicle to gain entrance into the mortal world again."

"So you said before. Remind me to kick his ass if I ever meet him."

I tried to smile. Mostly, I was successful. I said, "Do you feel him inside you?"

"Not really, Sam. Then again, I don't necessarily feel much when I change."

"Do you feel anything?"

"I feel anger and hate and blind rage."

"But you didn't attack me in my room last year."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I knew it was you."

"But did you want to attack me?"

"A part of me did. Very badly."

"But you resisted," I said.

"With all my strength and will."

"What would have happened if you attacked me?" I asked.

"We wouldn't be here now."

"Because I would be dead."

"No...you would have survived. And I would have survived, too. Vampires are as strong or stronger than even a full-blown werewolf. I'm not sure our relationship would have survived."

I shrugged. I hadn't thought of that. I said, "So, I'm as strong as you?"

"Don't sound so pleased, but yes. Although my size factors into things, I would say you are particularly strong, even for a vampire."

"Why is that?"

"I don't know. There's something going on with you that I haven't quite put a finger on."

"Oh, you put a finger on it."

He laughed. A sharp bark that startled me. "Anyway, even your everyday vampire at full power is nearly unstoppable."

"But you stopped Dominique," I said, referring to the events of seven months ago, when my son had been dying and I had faced down a particularly old and desperate vampire.

"I said nearly," said Kingsley. "That night could have quickly gone south for me."

I patted his hearty chest. I could have been slapping a side of beef. "Then it's a good thing you're such a big boy."

"Big has its benefits."

I rolled my eyes. "Please not another penis reference."

"Fine. I won't refer to my big penis."

"Oh, God. Annnnyway, I still can't imagine anyone - vampires or otherwise - being able to stop you."

He chuckled lightly, then studied me for a few seconds. "Actually, you could, Sam."

I snorted. "I doubt it."

"You are stronger than you realize. In fact, rumor has it that a Mr. Captain Jack was perhaps the strongest vampire of them all. That is, until you came around."

Kingsley was referring to a missing-child case that had led me to an Indian casino in Simi Valley, where a young girl's blood was being siphoned by a particularly sick son of a bitch.

Kingsley went on, "From what I understand, most others in the vampire world steered clear of Captain Jack. And look what you did to him."

"I was lucky. I had help."

"But who's alive, Sam? You vanquished a powerful vampire. You are not one to mess with."

The talk was getting a little serious, especially since we were both naked in bed. I ran a finger through his tangle of chest hair. "Then what were you doing just a few moments ago?"

He reached over and pulled me close to his superheated body. "Oh, I wasn't messing with you, Sam." And now he flipped me over onto my back and climbed on top of me. "I was making love to you."

I blinked. Hard. This was news to me. "Love?"

"Oh, yeah, Sam." He lowered his face to my skin. "Love."

At least, that's what I think he said. His words might have been a little muffled.