Alicia The Awakening

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Alica: The Awakening

ISBN: 1-55410-734-2

Cover art and design by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

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Prologue

When I woke tied naked to an altar, I struggled against my bonds then stilled when six robed men walked into the room. Heat rushed through my body and I blushed, angry and self-conscious about my nakedness.

"What do you want from me?"

The leader, dressed in a black, gold trimmed robe, looked like the nightmarish vision of a Hollywood special effects artist. Long, lank, greasy brown hair hung from his head in disheveled clumps. I could easily see his yellow fingernails, more like talons really, were at least three inches long as he fondled the amulet suspended from a chain around his neck. The very air around him crackled with menace. He turned his dark gaze on me, an evil chuckle issuing from his bloodless lips as he elbowed the man at his side.

"It is time to call our dark lord forth." He looked around and pointed through the slats of the covered gazebo they'd put me in. "We will all take your virginity in the name of Satan. When your latent powers are released, a gate will be opened and he will be called forth into this realm."

I lifted my head, the only body part not strapped down to the altar. "Like Hell you are! You guys are insane!"

I looked past the slats to the group of men waiting in the yard outside the gazebo and shuddered. There were no illusions. These men were about to rape me.

"Help me!" I screamed. Not able to tell if there were homes nearby or not, I screamed as loud as I could anyway.

The leader laughed. "No one will help you. Anyone within hearing distance thinks we are rehearsing a play."

My heart slammed in my chest as I realized the next few minutes would be the last I would ever know. Tears ran down my face as I prayed that they would a least make it quick. Another glance at the line of men outside the gazebo told me it was most likely wishful thinking.

Suddenly, another man arrived. I felt his presence like a warm blanket surrounding me. He wasn't wearing a robe and a sliver of hope grew inside my breast. Tall, blonde and silver eyed, he was the most handsome man I had ever seen. Dressed in khaki slacks and a baby blue shirt, he could have just stepped from the cover of a fashion magazine. Broad shoulders nearly brushed each side of the doorframe as he strode through. He exuded masculinity and power clung to him like a cloak.

I felt his gaze rake across my naked body like a touch. I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to look at him. I fought my insane attraction to the newcomer. He was here to take my virginity. Tears of frustration slid down my cheeks. How could I think any of these monsters were handsome?

My eyes flew open when he rested his warm hand on my shoulder and I watched as he cast his cold, silver gaze around the inside of the gazebo and smiled. The white flash of his teeth looked detached, didn't reach his eyes. Instead, they warmed, glowing with a strange, orange iridescence.

I watched with growing horror as the newcomer turned into a real monster -- a werewolf. His teeth lengthened, his body contorted, became more compact. Thick fur grew over his once smooth flesh. He was no longer a man but a large, golden wolf. The wolf attacked and killed my captors before he turned back into the man and came back to stand by my side.

As the man, he had taken on a slightly different appearance. He was no longer detached and cold. Ruthless. Instead, his gaze warmed my blood. It slowed, flowing thick through my veins, like molten lava. My heart hammered against my ribs when he looked at me.

His heated gaze blazed a scorching trail over my bare body, devouring every inch of my exposed flesh. Blood pounded in my ears as he approached. When he stood beside the altar, he leaned down to release my bonds.

"I've been searching for you forever." He lightly pressed his mouth against my lips. The warm moist pressure was soft, gentle, the touch feather light.

Heat pooled in my middle, flared out to consume every inch of my body. The warmth of his touch suffused me, filled me, as the kiss overwhelmed my senses and took my breath away. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation of his kiss.

"Who are you and why have you been looking for me?" I asked as soon as his lips left mine. I didn't know this man from Adam, but I allowed his kiss because something about him screamed that he belonged to me.

The man released the bonds around my wrists, tangled his fingers with mine and pressed my hands against the cold, stone altar. He held me pressed against the cold stone but I'm not sure it was against my will. Something told me I would follow this man anywhere, do almost anything to be with him.

He raised his head to look into my eyes before his silver gaze moved over my face. He stared at my parted lips before he lowered his head once more.

"You are my mate," he breathed against my lips. "You are the woman I have waited lifetimes for." He moved his mouth to my jaw, then down to my neck, caressing the curve of my throat.

"Lifetimes?" I panted then turned my head, exposing my neck to give him better access.

That molten silver gaze burned a fiery trail over my flesh. My nipples hardened, gooseflesh rose on my body. I squirmed as unfamiliar warmth pooled between my legs.

"You are mine. You belong to me." He threaded his fingers through my hair, tipped my head back.

His hips surged forward, the evidence of his desire pressed against my nether lips and I gasped. My head thrashed, cushioned by the palm of his hand.

"I am not yours. I belong to no one but myself. I don't even know you."

"You know me. You have loved me before." His eyes darkened and filled with pain. "But you did not love me enough. You have never loved me enough. But it is my fault, I have failed you."

He stared down at my breasts. My nipples hardened and my breath hitched. My body tingled and burned for this man. How could just one heated look from this strange, powerful man have such an effect on me?

"What do you want?"

I squirmed beneath him, scared. Excited. Horny. God, I couldn't believe how much I wanted this man and I didn't even know him! How could I fight him when I had to fight myself as well? I wanted this man -- no -- I needed this man with an intensity I never dreamed possible.

My traitorous body thrust my hips up to meet his as he pressed the bulge beneath the zipper of his pants against my weeping sex. The cold metal caused a sweet abrasion that wasn't quite painful and my body shuddered, craving so much more of his fiery touch.

"This," he said before he bent his head to my breast. His mouth laved my nipple and I groaned. "And this." He moved from between my legs to lie beside me, his hand moved up my thigh and he slid his fingers through my nether lips.

"You're so wet." He brought his fingers to his face, sucked them into his mouth. "Mmm . . . You taste exquisite. Tell me you want me." He nuzzled my ear. The motion caused me to shiver.

He moved back to my cheek then kissed me again and thrust his tongue into my mouth. He drove me so close to the edge of ecstasy that I nearly tumbled over the precipice. Practiced fingers slid over my sensitive skin and nearly drove me wild.

"Yesss," I hissed against his lips.

His mouth left mine to suckle my breast again. First one, then the other he used his teeth gently, expertly, until I threw my head back ready to scream my climax to the world.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

* * * * *

The alarm woke me. It was another damned wet dream. In real life, I knew the man who played the hero in my dreams. In real life, Gabriel had not gotten there on time to stop those lunatics from raping me. Nor was I so free with my kisses or my body. Even in my dreams.

If the alarm hadn't awoken me, I would have refused him as I always did. As usual, I would have sent him from me with a painful erection because I am a coward.

My flesh tingled all over. The lingering sensation of my dream Gabriel's touch made me shiver with a confusing mixture of fear and desire. My body wanted him with a force that was difficult to deny. But, in my head, I was just plain scared.

My body hummed with desire. The dreams always left me frustrated and wanting. I'd hate to know what it would do to Gabriel. I felt bad for my dream man. Since I was a coward, I always left him wanting.

It was just a good damn thing they were only dreams.

I rolled over, glanced at the clock on my bedside table and groaned. It was time I got up and into the shower. It was my wedding day and I was already late.

Chapter One

I waltzed into the dimly lit chapel an hour and a half late and stared into icy, silver eyes. I glanced at Tasha and Micah, our only witnesses, and tried to smile through the almost paralyzing fear.

Tasha grinned and gave me a thumb's up sign. The action seemed strange coming from such an elegantly dressed woman in the rose-filled chapel. I didn't put too much more thought into it as I gazed around the interior of the church.

Whoever took the time to decorate the place, did a good job. A veritable rainbow of expensive, aromatic flowers rested on almost every flat surface.

Many long stems braided together created a rope of fragrant blossoms that draped over the ends of the pews. An excess of colorful rosebuds and blooms hung from the backs of the wooden seats. They should have signified a glorious occasion but only served to remind me of my impending loss of freedom.

The plethora of foliage lent the chapel a certain old-fashioned charm. Who was the lucky girl that got his kind of loving attention? I barely stopped myself from snorting. It certainly wasn't me. I was sure of that.

My marriage to the tall, albeit gorgeous, blonde man standing beside Tasha's tall, tuxedo-clad husband was nothing but a lie. A sham. A pretend marriage, a pale imitation of what it should be.

This was a marriage of convenience and I entered into it for my own selfish reasons. Gabriel's motives were his own. He never told me why he was willing to marry a woman who would most likely never agree to a physical relationship. On that, like most other things about him, he had kept his own counsel.

Slowly, I strode down the aisle, crushing fragrant rose petals beneath my feet. The action seemed symbolic, serving only to remind me that last spring saw the crushing of every hope and dream I had ever held dear.

I thought about being polite and almost apologized for my tardiness until I met Gabriel's icy gaze.

"You're late," he bit out between clenched teeth as he held his smile in place. "You were supposed to be here almost two hours ago. Where have you been?"

As usual, that deep baritone slid over me like warm honey. His voice, no matter the tone, never failed to touch me in places better left alone.

I deliberately ignored the flash of those white teeth. His smile always made him seem younger and more approachable. Too bad, he wasn't wearing a real smile now.

As I shuffled toward the dais, I tried to convince myself that, no matter how handsome the man was, he meant absolutely nothing to me. Nothing at all.

We are not married yet. Who does he think he is, reprimanding me like that? The big, overbearing, chauvinist jerk!

"You should be glad I'm here at all," I said with false sweetness.

Sure that this was not the brightest move I had ever made, I continued down the aisle. I agreed to it and I have never gone back on my word. So, I stood next to the man I promised to marry and tried to stop shaking.

If I had learned one thing about him in the last six months, it was that this man would not hurt me. Well, at least, he wouldn't hurt me on purpose. I'm sure he could hurt me if I suddenly became stupid and allowed it by falling in love with him. I would just have to remember to keep my emotions in check.

Just don't fall in love with the man, Alicia.

I glanced at the balding preacher and scowled uncharitably. "Can we get on with this, or not?" I snarled.

He cleared his throat, "If this is not what you wanted, Miss, now is the time to . . ." His gaze nervously darted around the room. He studiously avoided looking at my affianced, as if not seeing Gabriel standing there would give him the courage to refuse to marry us.

Somehow, I doubt it.

I shot my husband-to-be a dirty look through narrowed eyes. I wasn't happy about this. I made sure he knew how I felt and I refused to let him forget it.

"What I want has little to do with it, now."

The preacher's gaze bounced back and forth between the two of us. His gaze rested briefly on my stomach before his eyes bulged and he coughed.

"Oh, my . . . I think we'd better get on with it, then."

The wide-eyed look on his face told me he thought I was in a family way and I started to set him straight. I kept my mouth shut instead. He would most likely balk at marrying us for convenience. People just didn't do that sort of thing these days. It's not as if I had another choice.

Fanatical associates of the people who murdered my aunt and grandmother kept returning to my house, trying to find me. I knew I couldn't continue to live with Tasha and Micah for the rest of my life so I had a choice to make. Go home and wait for those crazy monsters to kidnap me again or marry the insanely handsome man who stood at my side staring at me with those glacial eyes.

My stomach churned. Because of circumstances beyond my control, I had to live with people I barely knew. In a place where I was also required to accept charity, where I couldn't work and pull my own weight. I had no way to support myself. I had to quit my job when some of the fanatics tried to abduct me from where I worked. The last thing I wanted to do was further endanger my friends.

So, I faced the continuous worry of being nabbed by Satanists who wanted to kill me or living with Tasha and Micah like some spinster aunt for the rest of my life. This marriage was my only other option.

Tasha cleared her throat beside me and gave me a warning glance when I turned. I knew that look. It screamed, Get on with it!

"You look nice," I whispered, shocked to realize that I wanted to squeeze her hand. I hadn't voluntarily made physical contact with anyone in months. "Thanks for being here for me."

Tasha smiled. "Of course I would be here, silly. That's what friends are for."

Her gaze flicked to her handsome, dark-haired husband and she smiled. I had the ridiculous notion that they had somehow learned to communicate without speaking.

"Don't be stupid," I mumbled.

"Did you say something?"

"No."

Admit to having such fanciful thoughts? Not in this lifetime. My hands trembled, my fingers fiddling with the dangling baby's breath in my bouquet.

I gritted my teeth in a parody of a smile and tried to look happy as the preacher droned on and on about marriage being a sacred institution.

Still smiling, I ignored the preacher's monotonous speech about love and marriage. I leaned toward Gabriel and whispered, "I certainly hope you weren't planning on a wedding night, mister." I shook my head with a scowl. "Because it's never happening."

Gabriel just looked at me with something . . . feral in his gaze. I don't know why, but I was relatively certain I knew what that look meant as well.

"Want to bet?" comes to mind.

I know my eyes bulged as he pulled a two-carat heart-shaped diamond ring from his pocket, followed by two plain gold wedding bands. I knew Gabriel had money. I just didn't realize he had money. That ring must have cost a fortune.

The minister -- who had stopped droning for the moment -- looked at me expectantly. He tugged on his collar, pulled a kerchief from his pocket with his other hand and dabbed at the perspiration that ran down the side of his face. That collar must be hot and horribly uncomfortable. I wondered absently how long he wore that on an average day.

Tasha nudged me in the side and gestured with a nod of her head. "This is where you repeat after him," she whispered, taking the bouquet from me before I shredded the beautiful flowers in my nervousness.

I realized then that she must have been behind the appearance of the bouquet in my bedroom and the flowers here in the chapel. I would have to thank her for that later.

"Oh!" I turned my attention back to the preacher, ignored the arched, flowered trellis that surrounded him and blushed. "I'm so sorry, sir, I was um . . . daydreaming."

He smiled kindly. "That is to be expected, my dear."

I put the thought of flowers and Gabriel's finances out of my head. Besides, I was not marrying the man for his money, just his protection. I would never feel safe anywhere else, even in my own house.

There was little choice in the matter. I looked up at my soon-to-be husband and quashed the little hum of desire that shot through me. I fervently prayed that one day I could overcome my hesitance. With the way he affected me, at least this way I had a shot at a family, if I could manage to conquer my fears.

The preacher reached out and patted my arm. My skin crawled and my stomach churned. It was all I could do not to shrink away from his touch.

I knew the old man meant well, on some level. But, part of me still hadn't gotten over the unspeakable violation I experienced six months ago. Perhaps I never would get over it.

I gave the man a shaky smile and repeated after him. "I Alicia Marie Chalmers take Gabriel Lucian LeBlanc for my lawful wedded husband . . ."

The words droned out of my mouth with the same lack of enthusiasm as the middle-aged minister. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, I was finally finished.

I don't remember Gabriel saying his vows. Although I'm sure he did. Because soon, too soon, the preacher smiled down at us and informed him that he could kiss the bride.

Oh, God.

It was all I had time to think before my husband's head lowered to mine and he placed a feather soft kiss on my lips. I knew he had to do it. It would have looked odd for me not to want him to kiss me. Especially after I allowed the minister to believe I was pregnant with his child.

I licked my lips. He tasted a little of cinnamon, with the hint of something else I couldn't identify and I wondered what kind of toothpaste he used. Whatever it was, I liked it.

He stared at me for a moment, his eyes shuttered. I tried to read him again but, as usual, failed miserably. Reading him was the one thing I had continually failed at since I learned how to use most of my powers. The very same powers my Aunt and Grandmother never wanted me to learn to use.

I'm sure they never wanted me to be gang raped either, but that is another story.

Still, the kiss wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I pulled away from my new husband and shuddered at my mental use of the word. I was comforted that, at least, in this day and age, he couldn't demand any conjugal rights. It still didn't make me any less nervous.

If there was one thing I had learned over the last few months, it was that men like Micah and Gabriel were somewhat above the law. Either that or they just kept finding ways around it.

I looked up into his eyes again and saw . . . pain? Whatever it was, he masked it before I could really get a good look. Why did I get the feeling he'd read my mind? I shook it off. It was an absurd notion anyway.

"That's just ridiculous," I told myself in a near whisper.

Gabriel leaned closer to me. His warm breath fanned my cheek and I fought the urge to pull back.

"Not if you believe."

His gaze raked my face and, for a moment, settled on my lips. They tingled a bit in remembrance of the soft kiss he had just placed upon them. I lowered my gaze to stare at my feet as a small, traitorous part of me wondered what it was like for a man to physically love me. Not just screwed, fucked or whatever other crude word can be used. But, to be actually made love to.

I shook off the curiosity and forced myself to remember the pain of the horrifying night I had lost my innocence to a group of Satan worshippers. I certainly didn't want to experience that ever again.

First, the group of men murdered my aunt and grandmother. Then they tried to use me as a sacrifice to release their Dark Lord -- whom they believed to be Satan -- from his imprisonment in another dimension. This was all so fantastic, for a while I thought I had gone mad. I refused to go through that again. I would rather die first.

No. I would die first.

Tears filled my eyes and I wished them away. I'm not sure why, but they came so easily these days. Lost in thought, I jumped when Gabriel lightly touched my hand.

I ignored the man I now called husband as the preacher shook our hands and congratulated us. My obstinate mind refused to release the memory of that gentle kiss he had pressed against my lips.

"Would you care to pay your respects to your aunt and grandmother? I have roses in the car."

His fingers tangled with mine for an instant. He lifted my hand to his lips, pressed a kiss to the back of my hand, and then dropped it before I could pull away. I don't know what it is about the man, but he has the uncanny ability to know exactly when I have reached my limit.

I nodded my assent and marveled that he remembered I visited their graves once a week on this day. With everything that happened today, even I had forgotten. Yet he hadn't.

"I remember everything about you," he breathed into my ear. "As I promised, I will care for you till death do us part."

Warm breath fanned my cheek. Little shivers of delight dancing up my spine, caused goose bumps to follow in their wake. I frowned at the strange sensations he made me feel in the pit of my stomach without even trying. I didn't want to feel anything where any man was concerned. Especially desire. Now there's a scary thought.

A soothing balm moved within my mind, helping me to relax. I wondered, however briefly, if he had anything to do with it. I shook my head again and brought myself back to my senses. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm not usually one for fanciful thoughts like those.

Gabriel still stood silently, his arm out, waiting patiently for me to take it or not. He had to know the likelihood that I wouldn't but he still waited. I admired him for that.

I took it. Sort of. I placed my still trembling hand on his solid forearm. I felt his smile all the way to my toes as he led me back up the aisle. Warmth spread up my arm from where my hand rested on his sleeve. Gooseflesh rose on my arms as he led me back up the aisle. My face heated and my body burned. Heat pooled in my middle as I tried to ignore how close he was to me. How could such an innocent touch and a smile affect me this way?

Chapter Two

We emerged from the church and strolled slowly into the afternoon sunlight. All the while, I told myself that we were doing nothing more than keeping up the pretence of being a loving couple for the aged minister.

"Wait a minute," I said, pausing just outside the chapel. "Aren't we supposed to sign papers or something?"

I have never been to a wedding before, but I do watch TV. I stopped and looked up into his liquid silver gaze.

Gabriel smiled and I closed my eyes out of self-defense. I had to admit that I loved that smile. The man was so handsome he was nearly a God. I may not want to have anything to do with men, but I still know a prime example of manhood when I see it.

Let's face it -- I'm scared, not dead.

"We have already signed them. I'm sure you don't remember because you have been so distraught over our marriage." He gave me a sympathetic look and covered my hand with his own. "I would have taken away your fears if it had been within my power to do so."

He removed his hand when I started to pull free of the contact. The warmth of his touch lingered on my fingers even after he let me go.

Baby steps. I reminded myself and left my hand resting lightly on his arm.

"I'm sure you would have, these are my demons. I'm the one who is going to have to exorcise them from my life. No one can do it for me."

He lowered his head in a slow nod. "As you wish."

I blinked slowly. I finally understood what it was that Tasha found so irritating about that particular phrase. I could wish for so many things. Wonderful things. Impossible things. However, it didn't make them any more likely to be mine.

I could wish that Aunt Mag and Grandma were still alive or that I never allowed them to sacrifice themselves for me in the first place.

Hindsight is twenty-twenty and I know now that the price they paid for my life had been too high. I would never be as strong as they were and I feared I wasn't worth it.

Tears burned in my eyes as Gabriel ensconced me into his sleek, black limousine, and I waited for Tasha and her husband, Micah, to join me.

I gasped at the huge bouquet of my favorite roses that sat on the seat. I ignored the other two bouquets -- one white, the other red. Instead, I picked up the large bundle of peace roses and buried my face in the fragrant blooms.

The other couple sat across from me, and then Gabriel slid in next to me, facing the front. I chose to ignore him by keeping my face buried in the fragrant blossoms.

Tasha leaned forward, rested her hand on mine and said, "I know you didn't want to do this. But we have to go to Europe and settle a few things with Micah's estates." She cast a glance at her husband, before she turned back to me. "We couldn't leave you alone."

I laughed. It sounded hollow even to my ears. "Of course you couldn't. I'm still not stable and could end it all at any time." It was an attempt to sound flip but the ever-present resentment that she thwarted my suicide attempt six months ago, was still a bit raw.

"It's not that," Tasha denied, then blushed. "Well, it's mostly not that. We were afraid that someone would try and kidnap you again while we were gone."

She looked at me with tears in her eyes then lowered her gaze to stare at her hands in her lap. "I couldn't bear for you to go through that again."

She felt responsible for what happened to me and, selfish bitch that I am, even after six months, I still hadn't disabused her of the notion. A part of me blamed the world for what happened that night.

"I should have gotten there sooner," Tasha mumbled. "If I had only been ten minutes faster, you wouldn't have gone through any of that."

Her tears were familiar and real. Suddenly I was tired of making the poor woman feel bad. It wasn't her fault. Torturing her about it wasn't going to change the fact that it happened and I would remain forever changed. Forever soiled.

Gabriel shifted next to me as if he wanted to say something, but refrained.

Sighing, I finally forgave her for not getting to me before those monsters stole my innocence. I also forgave myself for not being strong enough to prevent the events that transpired that night. Not that any of it was really either of our faults.

For a while, we had both blamed her inexperience and lack of speed in identifying the open portal in time. I figured it was finally time to let her off the hook.

"You couldn't have found me any sooner, Tasha." I gave her a wry smile and shrugged my shoulders. "There was no way for you to know what was happening to me."

"I should have found the tear faster." She said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She relaxed against her husband, rested her head on his shoulder and entwined their fingers together.

"You must listen to her. I have told you the same as well, my love," Micah chimed in.

He gazed at her with so much love in his dark eyes, I felt . . . jealous. I had never been attracted to Micah, even with his tall, dark good looks but a part of me wanted the kind of relationship they had.

Suddenly, I realized that I wanted that rare intimacy that two people who really care for one another share. The only problem was that no matter how much I wanted that kind of life, I feared it more.

Gabriel, on the other hand, was another matter entirely. The man was always as cool as January in a crisis and as hot as any raging inferno when he looked at me.

Quite often, the man had me both shivering and simmering at the same time. How he managed it, I will never know.

Tasha lifted their clasped hands, pressed a kiss to her husband's knuckles then smiled up into his eyes. I looked on with some measure of envy as I wondered if I would ever be comfortable enough with my husband to be able to do that. I fought the urge to steal a peek at him as he sat beside me.

Gabriel shifted and rested his hand next to mine. Our fingers almost touched and the warmth of his hand seeped into my fingers. I resisted the wild urge to cover his hand with my own. I wanted to be closer to him. I even wanted to feel the safety of his embrace, but I feared the implications of that action more.

I gazed at my friend, my thoughts returned to our previous conversation, and shook my head. There was no way she could have found the dimensional tear any faster than she did. I knew it, even if she didn't.

I waved my hand in front of her face. "Hello! I was the one who caused the tear in the first place. Remember? I attempted to open a portal to draw the other-dimensional creatures forth. I knew enough, even then, that if I opened a portal, the entities who exited through it would be bound to me and would have to do my bidding." I inhaled deeply and sighed.

"I did it hoping to order them to my aid. I didn't realize my inexperience could open it just anywhere," I shrugged. "Although, I should have known anything could happen. Every time my aunt and grandmother opened a portal, it usually came with the disclaimer, 'Do not do this at home', or something as equally annoying."

I had to try it. My life depended on getting help from somewhere, anywhere, fast. In fact, I would most likely be dead right now, if not for that novice attempt to open the portal. Otherwise, Tasha, as a neophyte Guide, would never have found us in time and those monsters would have killed me soon after they had opened their own portal.

Sometimes I wondered if I would have been better off. However, those times were constantly becoming fewer and farther between and I did not miss them a bit.

For the most part, I like my life. I even liked the part about having to marry an overbearing jerk with delusions of numerous sexual encounters with me.

Yeah, in his dreams.

Gabriel leaned over and I suppressed the ridiculous urge to scurry across the vehicle and join Tasha and Micah on the other seat.

"Perhaps, if it is necessary," he breathed into my ear. His voice, as always, was deep, husky. It touched a chord deep inside me that only he had been able to stir to life.

Little flames of desire crawled through my belly, licking at my flesh. I fought the surprising impulse to climb into his lap and kiss his socks off.

Instead, I made a face, glared at him and swatted him on the leg. "Cut it out."

I rubbed my ear to remove the tingling sensation of his warm breath against my skin. If I didn't know better, I would think he knew exactly what that did to me. I scowled. It irritated me, that's what it did. And, if I keep telling myself that, I just might start to believe it.

Making a face, I ignored the knowing smirks from the two on the other side of the limousine. I refused to give them the satisfaction of knowing that he had aroused me in the slightest. I rubbed at the goose bumps on my arms and glowered at them both instead.

"No comments from the peanut gallery either."

Tasha sniggered and leaned farther into Micah's side. He leaned down with a smile and placed a chaste kiss on the top of her head.

"I hope you two will be able to work out your differences by the time we get back."

Her gaze darted between us and she released Micah's hand. Unlatching her seatbelt, she moved across the floor to sit beside me and look deep into my eyes. She took my hand in hers and squeezed.

"Gabriel is quite possibly the only man who will ever truly understand who you are and where you're coming from." She glanced over at her husband before she continued. "He was there that night, too, remember. He has his own monsters to deal with."

Her gaze flicked to Gabriel for a moment.

"Like me, he has to deal with the guilt of not getting there sooner himself. Give him a chance." She smiled sadly. "You don't have to sleep with him to get to know him better." She shot a glance across my lap to Gabriel. "And God knows he's certainly old enough to have patience with you."

She squinted and made a little moue in his direction. Then she leaned closer to me and said, sotto voce, "He's older than he looks, you know, but that's his story to tell."

"Now why doesn't it surprise me to find out he has secrets?" I made a face then looked at him. "And you didn't deem it necessary for me to know these things before we were married?"

"I don't think he wanted you to know until you were married," Tasha said with a grin. "There are a few other things he's going to tell you about Micah and me as well."

She sat up with a grin and neatly changed the subject. "Oh, look! We're back at our house." She checked her watch. "I'd love to invite you in, but we have just enough time to pick up our bags and head to the airport."

She squeezed my hand again and smiled. "This is your wedding day. Go, have some fun. I'll instruct our driver to take the rest of your things to Gabriel's . . ." She cut herself off. "Your house, first thing in the morning."

Quickly kissing my cheek, she waved gaily as she stepped from the vehicle. "Have fun getting to know each other."

"Yeah, right," I grumbled, as she pushed the door shut in my face. I looked over at my new husband and tried not to scream out my frustration.

Gabriel just smiled at me, "Where would you like to go for dinner?" he asked, reaching across the seat in front of us to knock on the glass that separated us from the driver.

The partition slid down. "Yes, sir?"

"Take us over to the cemetery, Carlisle, you know which one," he said, then settled back into the seat next to me.

Of course, he knew which one. It was the same cemetery he had followed me to every week for the last six months. His excuse was that he feared for my safety.

I feared for my sanity, the man was driving me nuts.

The glass silently slid back into place. Gabriel had released my hand while he talked with the driver and I took the opportunity to scramble across to the other seat.

I needed to keep a safe distance from him. His presence did strange things to my insides when he was that close to me.

I raided the small refrigerator and poured myself a glass of champagne.

Gabriel frowned, "You are too young for spirits."

I snorted. "If I'm old enough to be married, I'm old enough to get plastered on my wedding night. Besides, I'm of legal age and I have been for a long time." He's lucky I didn't go for the several bottles of liquor I saw stored in there.

I watched as his expression changed. I still couldn't read him, but I was at the point where I didn't care what he thought. It was a lot more fun to contemplate not remembering what happened tonight.

So what if I get falling down drunk? Maybe he won't want a drunken wife and will leave me alone tonight. I knew forever was out of the question. He didn't strike me as the kind of man who would break his wedding vows. He also didn't strike me as a man who would take those vows lightly.

"Why do you still fear me?"

He tilted his head to the side. He looked confused and maybe a little hurt. Like he couldn't understand how I could possibly resist his charm, or something equally narcissistic.

I stared at him with disbelief. "I can't believe you felt the need to ask me that question."

I shook my head, looked out the window and watched the passing scenery with disinterest. I waited a few minutes before I turned back to him. Tears filled my eyes as memories of that fateful night flooded my mind.

"You were there. How do you think you would feel if someone did that to you?" I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "They took something precious from me, something that was mine alone to give." I glared at him. "Tell me! How would you feel?"

He pinned me with his silver-eyed gaze. "I would not know. A man tends to deal with these things differently. Although I do think I know how you feel."

"You can't know how I feel," I snarled before taking a big gulp of my drink.

I reached back into the refrigerator for the bottle of champagne and poured more into the plastic soft-drink tumbler I used as a flute.

"Like you said, you're a man. Men did this to me. So don't presume to know how I feel." I refilled my glass again and set it, quite forcefully, in the cup holder built into the armrest.

His effort to understand was pissing me off more than anything else. I crossed my arms and stared out the window to avoid his probing look.

He straightened himself in the seat. The black leather creaked and squeaked beneath him. I tried not to think about how he moved to make those noises. What he would look like. How his well-defined muscles would ripple beneath his clothing. I also tried not to think about what he expected of me tonight.

My skin crawled at the memory of the robed men who killed my family. They were fanatical Satan worshippers, dressed all in black. I tried not to remember their rough, pawing hands, their stinking breath, how they climbed on top of me and took turns to ram their disgusting cocks in my virgin's body.

I squeezed my eyes shut, wished for the hideous vision to go away. Would there ever be a time when I would be free of this waking nightmare?

Wrapping my arms around my middle, I swallowed repeatedly to keep myself from being sick. The unspeakable memory of that dreadful night always made me sick to my stomach.

I glared at him. I hated him for a moment. He was a man and I grouped him in with all other males.

"You don't know! How could you ever understand the--the humiliation, the outrage I feel at being such a victim?" I forced myself to look into his eyes. "They raped me, Gabriel! Don't you see? They made me choose. They put me in the position of having to choose between my safety and the life of another."

Those monsters had killed my family anyway. That's what hurt the most. No matter what I did to save their lives, it hadn't been enough. It would never have been enough.

The vehicle came to a halt and I looked out over the headstones, my gaze unerringly drawn to those of my grandmother and aunt. I picked up my drink, downed the contents then set my empty glass aside. I stumbled from the car and ran to the gravesites of my dearest friends.

I stood and stared at their graves for a long time. I barely blinked as I read and reread the inscription on the headstones. I vaguely remember telling Tasha what they would have wanted them to say. If it wasn't for her, I'm sure they would be in unmarked graves.

I don't know how long it was before I finally sank to my knees then broke down and cried. They were my family and I loved them. Why did they have to die and leave me alone to mourn?

Gabriel joined me after a while. With him, he carried the white and red roses I always took to the graves, but had forgotten this time. He sank to his knees next to me, no thought for his tuxedo and handed me the flowers. I put them in the brass vases on the graves and swallowed around the lump in my throat.

"Thank you," I mumbled, disgraced that I treated him so badly and he was still there for me, doing things for me.

Why did he always care for me when I made no effort to care for him in return? I didn't deserve him.

At least I felt bad for using him. He was convenient. It was the only reason I had married him. What really hurt though was he knew it.

Chapter Three

The sun sat high in the sky when I woke up the next morning. It beat through the curtains, making the room warm. I frowned and wondered why no one thought to close the blinds last night.

I raised a trembling hand to my pounding head and moaned. I recalled bits and pieces of my arrival at Gabriel's home the night before and groaned with mortification.

The staff stood quietly in the foyer, lined up to meet their employer's new wife. They looked on with barely controlled curiosity, mixed with a healthy dose of contempt.

I can't say I blame them. I was so drunk by the time we arrived Gabriel probably could have poured me into a glass if he would have tried.

"I shouldn't have drunk all that champagne on an empty stomach," I said to myself as I threw the covers back and sat up gingerly.

You should not have consumed the whole bottle of champagne then chased it down with a half-pint of bourbon on an empty stomach.

The thought, which had come unbidden and unwanted, sounded suspiciously like my husband.

"Oh shut up, smarty-pants," I told my imagination.

Standing up slowly, I curled my toes in the thick rug next to the bed, carefully attempting to acclimatize my still pounding head to the change in altitude. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, but today was definitely a day to err on the side of caution.

I looked down at myself for the first time and paused. My wedding dress was gone. Instead of the dress I had been married in, I wore my favorite nightshirt, yet I had no memory of putting it on.

"What the hell?"

I stared at my attire with the certain knowledge that Gabriel had undressed me. The same man, who had promised not to touch me in a sexual manner, unless I specifically asked him to do so. My skin crawled as the memory of that horrible night six months ago came back to me unbidden.

Remembering the hard grip of the cruel men as they pawed at my sensitive flesh made my skin crawl. My breasts ached in remembrance of the painful pinches and bites.

I heard the lewd remarks as if it were happening all over again. Sobbing, I begged the sweating, fat middle-aged men to leave me alone as they waited their turn to violate me.

Stumbling blindly to the bathroom, I stripped my clothes off with each step as I headed for the shower. I turned on the water and climbed into the stall even though the water was still ice cold.

The cold spray beat down on me and cleared my head. Bathing always seemed to help remove the memory of their rough, grasping hands. I sat on the floor of the shower as the water beat down on me. I brought my knees to my chest and tried to exorcise my demons.

* * * * *

The water had long since gone cold again when Gabriel found me still huddled on the floor of the shower. I sobbed out my fears and frustration as I tried to hold on to what little was left of my sanity.

I was too exhausted to fight when he picked me up with no thought for his designer suit. He cradled me in his arms and carried me into the bedroom.

He sat down on the chair next to the window with me in his lap and whispered to me, comforted me. His big hands gently stroked my wet hair and back, neither of them traveling any lower than my waist or further forward than my shoulders.

I crossed my arms modestly over my bare breasts and wished for my clothing. After my sobs subsided, he stood, carried me into the bathroom, and lowered my feet to the floor. My toes curled in the plush mint-green rug next to the tub. I stood cowed, waiting for my husband to demand his conjugal rights.

"You have no faith in me at all, do you?" he asked, pulling a thick towel from a cabinet.

I stood silently while he wiped me down, his touch no more personal than my doctor's touch had ever been. After he toweled my hair and torso, I watched as he bent, picked up my foot and ran the towel down my leg and around my foot to my toes. I almost flinched when I noticed a muscle tick in his jaw. He was angry.

After I was sufficiently dry, he led me back into the bedroom, walked to the dresser and retrieved some of my under things. He stopped a few feet away and held out his arm.

"Put these on," he said gruffly, and then shoved his hands in his pockets. "I am many things, Alicia. Some of them you may even deem monster, but none of them include the title of rapist."

I turned away from him and donned the underwear he brought me. "I--I'm sorry, Gabriel, I just can't . . ." I cast a glance over my shoulder and pointedly glanced toward his groin.

His silver-eyed gaze bored into mine he never once tried to look at my body, even though I knew he wanted sex from me. He looked so angry, his eyes nearly glowed with intensity.

"And I have not asked you to, not yet. Be assured, that when I do, you will be ready."

He arched a perfectly shaped brow and the corner of his mouth turned up in a wry grin.

"I want more than sex from you, Alicia. I want your acceptance, your trust and your love. And the one thing I can afford to do is wait."

I nervously licked my lips and watched his eyes darken as they followed the trail of my tongue.

"I--I need to get dressed," I stated the obvious.

He bowed his head in the affirmative. "Yes, you do." He gave me a lopsided grin and handed me some clothes. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of getting you a wedding gift. I'd like to show it to you later."

He held up his hand when I would have said something. "I know you do not think of this as a true marriage, but when you have lived as long as I have, you will understand how I know we were meant to be together."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right, like another ten, or fifteen years is really going to make that much of a difference."

I was fishing and he knew it. He'd never told me his age and the one chance I had to find out for sure, I had been so out of it I forgot to check.

I wish I could remember signing that damned marriage certificate. It would have had is birth date on it, I'm sure of it.

He bared his teeth in a shark-like grin. "Get dressed first then we shall talk." He left the room, leaving me to dress in private.

* * * *

I met Gabriel in the hall just outside the door to my room. It was a good thing he was there too. I wouldn't have been able to find my way around the house without a guide. It was huge, and to think, I had thought Micah's house was big.

The antiques on the hall tables made me nervous. Having been clumsy all my life, I knew it was only a matter of time before I tripped and broke something expensive.

He led me down the stairs and into the library. I stopped when we entered and stared in awe at the hundreds of books that lined the fifteen-foot tall shelves.

"Holy sh--cow," I barely stopped myself from swearing. I picked up that bad habit from Tasha. She has a potty mouth from hell.

I glanced at Gabriel from the corner of my eye. He was grinning again and I decided I liked it when he smiled and vowed to try to get him to do it more often. I waited for him to seat himself on the long sofa in front of the fireplace then took the empty chair opposite him. I frowned.

He looked nervous. I couldn't help the thought that a man as powerful and as good-looking as he, had no reason to be nervous about anything. His grin got broader and I had the distinct impression that he had been reading my mind.

"I have been," he said and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

The wrinkled, water-stained condition of his beautiful suit did not escape my attention and I felt guilty. It had probably cost several hundred dollars.

"Do you feel better?"

"What?" since I had been thinking about his suit, I was sure I had missed something.

"Do you feel better?" he leaned further forward in his seat. "When I came to you earlier, did it comfort you, in some small way?"

"I . . . well, yes," I stammered, not sure where he was going with this.

"Then that is all that matters." He looked down at himself. "Do not worry about my suit."

"But -- but it must have cost you hundreds of dollars. How can I just forget about it?"

He smiled softly. "I have already forgotten about it. Don't you know that you mean more to me than a sixteen-hundred dollar suit?" He looked up, winked at me. "You will always mean more to me."

My mouth dropped open and I snapped it shut with an audible clack. "But--but sixteen-hundred dollars?" I almost choked on the words.

He ruined an expensive designer suit and thinks it was worth it because he made me feel better?

He nodded. "Yes, and I would do it again and again if necessary." He tilted his head. "Have you not realized how I feel about you?"

I shook my head, my eyes widened, still dumbfounded by his revelation. I don't know if it was the knowledge that he had ruined such an expensive suit just to comfort me or if it was it cost that stunned me to silence.

He leaned further forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "You are more important to me than a thousand of these suits."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just sat there staring at him in stunned silence. Besides, there was just nothing left to say.

Gabriel leaned back in his seat looking nervous. "There is something between us that must be said. You must understand what I am and what I do."

I shrugged. "I already know what you do, Gabriel, you're a Cartuotey, like Micah."

I have found, through my limited experience that a Cartuotey is a paranormal cop, for lack of a better word. They keep everyone from realizing that the evil entities from other dimensions exist.

He nodded then cleared his throat. "Yes, I am."

I watched fascinated as he removed his tie and unbuttoned the collar of his shirt. Somehow, the fact that he was exposing all of that tanned flesh didn't alarm me.

"A Cartuotey is destined to have one mate. Without that mate, he or she is fated to live life never knowing the joy of unconditional love. I can love, but will never be truly loved in return by anyone other than my true mate." He fidgeted for a minute before he continued.

"There are very few ways to tell one's mate. The most common is physical contact." He stopped for a moment, most likely searching for the right word.

"You mean sex," I finished for him.

He gave me a curt nod, clearly uncomfortable bringing that subject up with me.

"Another less common way is for the Cartuotey and the Guide to spend enough time together that the Guide falls in love with their mate, thus negating the need for physical contact to make the identification.

"When a Guide falls in love with a Cartuotey, a connection is made. It is a mental connection that identifies them as the one." He gave me a crooked grin. "At that time, the Guide does not fear a physical union. Besides I would not have a mental bond with you if you were not my mate."

"In other words, they fall tail over teakettle in love with their mate whether they really like him or not?" I asked incredulous. "Pardon my language, but who thinks up this shit, anyway?" Then I thought of something that I needed clarified. "What do you mean by mental bond? Is a Cartuotey mate always a Guide? "

I almost swooned at his nod. If I'm not his mate, there could be another Cartuotey waiting out there who might not be as patient with me.

"Yes, a Guide is always a mate. As to the bond, our mental bond allows us to communicate through our minds."

Immediately beginning to shake, I waved my hand in his face. "I can't handle anymore, right now. Can we take a break from reality for a bit? Let's concentrate on fantasy, just for a little while." I wanted nothing more at the moment than to go home, throw myself on my bed and cry.

Gabriel stirred in his seat, but remained seated. "You are home."

I jerked my head up. "How do you do that?" I demanded.

He grinned. "How do I do what, read your mind?" He winked at me. "I know everything you're thinking. I know the inside of your grandmother's house almost as well as you do. How you love the rolling hills behind the farm, the rough country between the trails. How you always adored the smell of her kitchen."

"How . . . how can you know all that?"

I searched my mind, tried to remember if I had told any of that to anyone. I hadn't, I knew I hadn't.

Gabriel sighed. "I do not wish to frighten you but you must know this. Regardless of my feelings, you have a right to know."

I felt a degree of trepidation at that remark and was almost afraid to ask, "I have a right to know what?"

He rubbed his hands over his face. I wasn't sure if he was tired or scared. "I am a vampire." He took a deep breath, looking resigned. "All Cartuotey are vampires."

My mouth dropped open and I had the ridiculous thought that it was becoming a regular occurrence lately. I shook my head with disbelief.

"I've married a madman."

He sat there, looking at me with his eyebrow still raised, as if I was the person who needed their head examined.

"I can prove it," he said, looking at me rather desperately. "Would you like me to?"

What was I supposed to say to that? I didn't know, so I didn't answer him. Mostly because I didn't know which was worse, being married to a man who is delusional, or actually being married to a vampire?

I stood up and ran from the room. I found my way back to the bedroom he'd given me, threw myself on the bed and hugged the pillow, thinking.

Sometime during my pondering, I fell asleep and began to dream. I like dreaming. Well, to be more specific, I like lucid dreaming. In a lucid dream, I can be things and do things I cannot or will not do in real life, like fly. It's really kind of freeing. I would suggest everyone try it at least once.

Anyway, I digress. The dream had my husband in it. Surprise, surprise. Only he wasn't the tough, overbearing, macho, rarely smiling Gabriel who was a major pain in my ass. But one who was free with both his conversation and his smiles.

He gave me a look that could melt stone and my dream body responded enthusiastically. Heat pooled low in my stomach and I actually enjoyed it, instead of fearing it. Why, I couldn't, begin to fathom.

I watched entranced as he moved slowly, approaching me as if he were afraid I would bolt like a scared doe. In real life, I'm sure I would have but this was a dream after all.

He moved closer, his every move fluid and full of male grace. His muscles rippled temptingly under the transparent white silk shirt he wore and I swallowed thickly. He stopped in front of me, gazing down.

"Are you just going to stand there?" I asked, placing my right hand on his chest and gazing up into his eyes.

He looked surprised. I would have understood that, had this not been a dream. I decided not to worry about it. It wasn't real, so why bother?

He lowered his head toward mine. "I'm going to kiss you," he said, then paused. "Do you wish to stop me?"

He looked down at me, one eyebrow raised. I had the ridiculous urge to tell him that if he continued to do that, his face would freeze that way.

He grinned then and I had the distinct impression my dream Gabriel could read my mind as well. His head began its slow descent again and my lips tingled in anticipation of his kiss.

I can't say why I felt so free in this dream. There were no fears, no shudders of distaste when he touched me, only pleasure as his lips caressed mine. He lifted his hands, feathered his fingers through my hair and tilted my head to the side, for better access. His tongue touched my lips, begging for entrance to my mouth.

This tender seduction was nothing like the violation I had experienced six months before. He was so caring, so gentle. He pulled his lips from mine, allowed them to hover just above my mouth.

"There is only you and I here, Alicia. Bury those horrible memories. That time is long gone. Come away with me on a sensual journey where I will show you how real love should be," he breathed against my lips.

I moaned in response as one of his hands lowered to my back. He stroked my sensitive flesh, his hand circled down to the rise of my rear. He was so gentle it brought tears to my eyes. This is the way my first time should have been.

"As far as I am concerned, when we do finally make love, it will be your first time. You are as pure as a newborn babe, my heart. Never doubt that." His hand gave my butt a squeeze before he lifted me and pressed me against the hard evidence of his desire.

"Do you feel how much I want you?" he asked, his lips trailed against my neck. The semi-rough abrasion of his cheek against mine made me shiver. Little flames flew through my blood stream winging their way lower, to my womb and it clenched with suppressed need.

I nodded, "Yes, I feel it." Panting with desire, I reached down, pausing for a moment before I tentatively grasped his growing penis and he groaned.

Gabriel pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. "You don't know what you do to me." He took a deep breath, moved his hands up to rest them on my shoulders. "I have to stop."

"Stop? Why?"

The first time I had ever really wanted him to touch me, and he backed off. Did I do something wrong? Tears of frustration burned my eyes. He didn't really want me. He was just teasing me.

"Of course I want you. I just do not want to rush you. You need to understand there is such a thing as control. A man who has honor can assert that control." He stood, reached over to lift my chin with his fingers and looked into my eyes. "He does this even when he wants nothing more than to do what he knows is wrong at the time."

"It's not wrong." I shook my head. "How can it be when I want you too?" Was I whining? God, I hope not!

He shook his head. "You are not truly ready. When you are truly ready, we will consummate our marriage and you will no longer fear me." He stepped back, studied my face, still staring into my eyes. "I will come to your dreams again, Sweetheart, never doubt it. And one day, you will welcome me."

The fantasy faded and I blinked my eyes and realized I was awake. My body still hummed with desire and my panties were wet with the evidence of my need.

I never, ever expected to feel this way about any man. This all-consuming hunger, this yearning, was so very new to me. I wondered, however briefly, if the real Gabriel was as good as the one in my dream.

Chapter Four

A soft knock on the door brought me from my sleep. I sat up in the bed, stretched then pushed the hair out of my eyes.

"Yes?"

The door opened a crack and a young woman peered into the room. "Hello, I'm Cassie. I'm your personal companion."

"Excuse me, personal companion?" I asked, frowning. "Do you mean like a maid or something?"

The woman's face reddened a bit. "Yes, I suppose, if that's what you want to call me."

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that she found that particular title demeaning.

"I don't need a maid." I looked around the room, trying to screw up the courage to extend an olive branch, so to speak. "I do need a friend, though."

She smiled, looking relieved. "I can certainly be that."

I stood up, walked over to one of the chairs in the sitting area and sat down. I waved my hand to the chair opposite me.

"Have a seat."

"Thank you." She sat on the edge of the chair across from me, her spine stiff.

"Relax, why don't you? I don't bite."

She grinned. "I'm sure you don't. If you don't mind my asking . . . How did you meet Mr. LeBlanc?" She stared at the wall, a dreamy expression on her face. "Was it romantic?"

"Hardly," I said, immediately uncomfortable. Did this young woman have the hots for my husband?

I hope not.

I shook my head and pushed the jealous thought aside. I didn't give a crap about him so what did I care if she was attracted to him? I realized when I asked myself that question that I did care. Very much. I would hate to have to kick her ass, seeing as we were just becoming friends and all.

"Let's just say he saved my life the night we met and leave it at that. I--I . . ." I looked down at my feet. "I really don't like talking about it."

I was not about to tell a complete stranger about my sordid past. I didn't want, nor need, her sympathy.

Cassie reached across the empty space that separated us to pat my knee. "If you ever feel like you want to talk, I'm here for you. I'd like to be your friend." She stood and smoothed down her slacks. "I've forgotten my organizer in my room. If you don't mind, I'd like to go get it then schedule some activities to keep us busy."

I pressed my lips together and narrowed my eyes. "You mean that Gabriel would like you to keep me busy."

The thought had me gritting my teeth. If that--that man even dreamed of being like Micah was with Tasha he certainly had another think coming. I was not about to let the man tell me what to do on a daily basis. Just because Tasha decided she liked it, it certainly didn't mean I would.

A blush dusted Cassie's cheeks. It might have made her look a bit attractive, or pixie-like, if she wasn't so busy attempting to look innocent.

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

"He thought you might get bored during the day and suggested we work out a schedule of routine activities." She tried to make excuses for his high-handed tactics.

I scowled, stood up and stalked from the room. "Where the hell is he?"

Cassie hurried to catch up with me. I had a distinct advantage since I was about four inches taller than she is even though I'm not tall by any means. My longer legs ate up the distance quickly.

The muffled sound of her hurried footsteps following behind irritated me. It was if they didn't trust me enough to leave me to my own devices.

Is he afraid I'm going to make off with the silverware or something? The thought gave me pause. Maybe he didn't trust me to be alone. Not because he thought I would steal anything, but because I did try to kill myself, after all.

"He's not here. He had a business meeting. He wanted to be sure . . ." Cassie let her voice trail off as if she realized she was about to say too much.

"He wanted to be sure of what? That I would still be here or that I wouldn't suddenly decide to try to kill myself again?" I asked with a snarl then turned to confront her. "Where is the bastard?" I stopped my tirade at the expression on her face. "What?"

"He didn't tell me that you'd tried to . . ." she put her hand over her mouth as if to say something so horrible would somehow make it true.

"He didn't tell you that I tried to kill myself with an overdose of sleeping pills six months ago?"

She shook her head. "Why would you want to do such a thing?"

"I did it because I've been having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I'm still alive and my grandmother and aunt are dead, because of me."

"Did you kill them?"

I looked at her, startled. "Of course not!"

"Then they aren't dead because of you."

"They sacrificed themselves for me."

Cassie nodded as if she suddenly understood. "They gave their lives to protect yours and you repay that debt by making an attempt on your own life? That definitely makes sense." She shook her head. "It sure sounds like a poor way to thank them if you ask me."

"I--I never thought about it that way."

I hadn't thought about it that way. My attempt to kill myself was a poor way to thank them for giving their lives for mine. They had wanted me to live. Maybe it was time I attempted to make something of my life.

Cassie smiled sadly. "When we're hurt, we seldom think of the things that others, who care about us, do." She reached out and grasped my elbow as we approached a door.

"This is my room. I would like to go in and get my organizer, if you don't mind. I'm rather lost without it."

I nodded. "Sure, go ahead."

As soon as she was out of sight, I walked down the hall at an accelerated rate.

I don't need a babysitter, dammit! I refuse to let either of them force me to have a constant companion.

"Who gives a shit if Mr. High and Mighty isn't home?" I mumbled to myself. The two of us would have a nice little chat later. I picked up my pace even more when I heard a door shut on the second floor and my companion call my name.

I told her I didn't need a keeper and I damn well meant it. There was a lot of thinking I wanted to do and I certainly couldn't do it here. I ran out through the back door and into the garden behind the house.

A stream bubbled merrily in the woods behind the back garden. A small, wooden footbridge spanned the narrow ribbon of water. I hurried across the bridge, ignoring the handrail and the siren's call of the cool musty scented water.

The water called to me, begged me to take off my shoes and sink my feet into its cool depths. I ignored it and kept walking deeper into the forest.

The air was so clean here and the woods seemed friendly, not frightening in the least. Still, I kept to the path. The last thing I needed was to get lost. I didn't want anyone to think I'd made another attempt on my life. They just might decide to have me institutionalized.

I needed to think and I wanted to be alone to do it. I couldn't do that back at the house with Cassie's constant presence. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.

"How dare that jerk hire someone to keep tabs on me?" I mumbled to myself and stomped over to a large flat rock that hung over a small glassy pond.

The large flat stone looked inviting, so I sat down. The water was cool and the day unseasonably warm for mid-September. I gave in to temptation. I took off my shoes, dangled my feet in the cool water and settled down to do some serious soul searching.

I laid back, put my hands behind my head and relaxed. A cool breeze blew over me and I inhaled deeply. The scent of pine and moss tickled my nose. The calming sound of the forest relaxed me and at some point, I started to doze.

* * * *

"Cassie is worried sick about you." Gabriel's voice woke me from my light slumber.

My heart nearly jumped into my throat at the thought that anyone could have snuck up on me. Trying to act nonchalant, I looked up at him and gave him a one-shoulder shrug.

"She'll get over it."

He sat down next to me, obviously careful not to get too close lest he scare me away.

"I was worried about you."

"I won't make another attempt on my life, Gabriel."

He held my gaze for a moment. "I apologize for my attempt to keep you busy. I don't want to lose you."

"Your attempt to keep tabs on me, you mean," I argued, angry that he thought I was dumb enough to believe that. "I don't know why you even bothered. You don't even know me."

He turned to look out over the smooth water of the pond. He brought his foot up onto the rock, wrapped his arms around his knee and watched as a fish -- a trout I think -- jumped out of the water after a bug. It did a graceful somersault in midair then fell back into the glistening water.

"I know I love you. That is all that matters." He stood, gathered my shoes to slip them on my feet. "I cannot bear the thought of losing you." He put my left shoe on then stopped what he was doing to look into my eyes. "I ask that you accept that weakness in me."

I reached down to grab my right shoe. "I'm not a child and you needn't dress me like one."

Meeting my gaze, his eyes stared into mine. They burned with a light I wasn't sure I wanted to understand. I think it was desire. If it was, it was nothing like anything I had ever experienced before.

"No, you are most definitely not a child. You are a woman," he said, leveling his gaze. "You are my woman and I would cherish you."

When he offered me his hand, I sat and stared at it for the longest time. Did I want to take it? Accepting his hand was a lot more than it seemed. Letting him take my hand in his was akin to saying I trusted him. Did I really want to give that impression?

"I offer you my hand in friendship. It is all I ask, for now. It will be enough to know that you will at least try to trust me."

I looked back up, met his silver-eyed gaze for a moment and knew he meant what he said. He wanted to hold my hand, nothing more. I slowly raised my hand, placing it in his much larger and warmer one.

"Come. Let's go back to the house. It will be dark soon.

Nodding my assent, I fell in step beside him.

"May I request one thing of you?" he asked, as he continued to lead me back to the house.

I watched him from the corner of my eye and wondered if I should pull my hand free.

"It depends on what it is."

He grinned. "Smart girl. Never agree to anything until you know the terms."

He stopped, pressed a quick kiss to the back of my hand and released it before I could pull free of his grip.

"Please do not travel so far out of sight of the house while you are alone again."

"I thought you weren't going to infringe on my freedom?"

He shook his head. "I'm not, my heart. There are bears and other wild animals in these woods. It is too dangerous for you to wander about unprotected."

Unprotected.

The word shimmered between us, making me shiver as I thought about all of the things that could have happened to me while I was being childish. The people who killed my family could have found me while I slept. What if I had awoken tied to another altar, stripped of my clothing while they did unspeakable things to my body?

"Oh." I bit my lip. "I wouldn't have wandered so far from the house had I thought about it."

Something dark flickered in his eyes and I got the impression that he didn't believe me.

"Don't you dare give me that look, dammit! I know I've been thoughtless and just plain stupid in the past. But that doesn't mean I still have a death wish." I had the ridiculous urge to give him a good smack somewhere tender.

"Cassandra made a very valid point with me this afternoon and I'm inclined to agree with her."

Gabriel cocked his head to the side and studied me for a minute.

"What point was that?"

"That Grandmother and Aunt Margaret wanted me to live. I would not be thanking them for their sacrifice if I committed suicide." I shrugged. "They obviously wanted me to live and I've decided that I don't want to squander the gift they paid for with their lives."

He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"You're glad?"

"I'm ecstatic," he said with a smile.

The action transformed his face, made him look younger, almost boyish. I started to walk again and he fell in step beside me before he took my arm and stopped abruptly.

I turned, pulled my arm from his grip. "What's wrong?"

I ignored the beautiful ferns and flowers that grew wild in the forest to look up into his eyes.

He took my hands in his. "You are the greatest gift I have ever been given. I treasure every moment I am fortunate enough to spend in your company. I do not expect you to believe how precious you are to me." He looked away, but not before I saw what I'm sure was pain flash in his beautiful eyes.

"Do you think . . .?"

When he paused, I wondered what he wanted to say that would make him that nervous. I had never seen him like this before. Usually, the man exuded self-confidence.

I tore myself free from his searching gaze and stared at his tanned throat just above his collar. I had a good idea of what he was about to say and I wasn't sure I could tell him the truth, no matter how much I may want to.

He swallowed and I watched his throat work. "Do you think you could ever trust me?" He hurried to add, "I can wait, forever if necessary. I only ask for hope."

What could I say? I could only tell him the truth. He deserved at least that much.

"I -- I don't know."

His eyes darkened to a steel gray as he watched my tongue moisten my lower lip. It was the same reaction my dream Gabriel had when I had done the same in my dreams. Suddenly, the brave part of me, the part that wanted to go on living, decided to trust him, just a little.

"Will you . . ." I swallowed around the lump that had formed in my throat. "Will you kiss me?"

What are you saying? My mind raged. You are out here in the middle of nowhere with him. He could do anything and you wouldn't be able to stop him.

Nothing but trees and forest surrounded us. Small animals rustled in the underbrush. Small animals, squirrels or chipmunks raced through the tall, dry grass.

A soft breeze blew through the trees, carrying the scent of pine and wet moss. I ignored the remote area we were in, tilted my had back and stared up into eyes which had widened at my unexpected request.

"Are you sure?"

With that selfless thought, with those three simple words, he gave me something I never thought I would have since the night those men brutally raped me.

It was a gift we could both cherish, trust in him and a hope for the future.

Chapter Five

"Yes," I said, smiling softly. "I do believe I am."

My stomach clenched, felt as though a hundred butterflies took flight inside me when he slowly lowered his head. The press of his lips against mine was soft, feather-light. Like warm wet silk sliding over my mouth.

His lips caressed mine softly and I wondered at the gentleness. My first and only experience with men had been violent, brutal. Horrible memories of that fateful night invaded my mind intruding on my dream and I placed my hands on his chest to push him away.

He lifted his head and looked around us. He waved his arm, indicating the tall swaying trees covered in a canopy of green and full of life. He shuffled his feet, stirring the brown leaves and pine needles on the ground.

"There is only the two of us in this place, Alicia. There is no one else. No monsters hiding in the bushes, no fanatics to try to take you from me. Do not let the dreadful memories of that terrifying night ruin our time together."

He raised his hand and tenderly brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. I trembled beneath his compassionate touch. God, how I wanted to be able to consummate our marriage but I was just too damn scared.

What he said was so similar to what my gentle dream Gabriel had said, that my mouth dropped open with shock. I did little more than stand there, gaping at him.

He quickly took advantage of my surprise and kissed me again. His tongue swept inside my mouth, examining my teeth quite thoroughly. I fought the slight panicked sensation and tilted my head back. I wanted this, it was an experiment.

Even though it was a rather pleasant event, I would have pulled away if he had wrapped his arms around me. The action would have been too much like a forced plunder. He knew what he was doing. He kept his hands at his sides and left the choice to continue or end the kiss with me.

I think I could have loved him for that and his seemingly endless understanding. My mind wandered and I wondered if I would be able to love anyone ever again. Would I be afraid to? Everyone I have ever loved has ended up dead in one way or another. I felt cursed.

I backed away, ending our mutual exploration and cleared my throat. "I'm sorry. I don't . . ."

He put a gentle finger against my still moist lips and I paused.

"Don't say it. Never say you're sorry. You have nothing to apologize for, my heart."

I flicked my gaze down to his crotch and quickly avoided his gaze by looking over his shoulder. I asked, "What about that?" My hand waved in the general direction of his hardened penis.

He gave me a lopsided grin and chuckled. "That," he said, "is my problem. Do not let it worry you."

Gabriel offered me his hand. I hesitated for a minute then took it. We walked slowly back to the house in companionable silence.

* * * *

There was a knock on my bedroom door and it woke me. Yet I knew I was still asleep. The sensation was strange. I was dreaming again.

My stomach clenched as I thought about my dream Gabriel's heated kisses. I sat up, brushed the hair out of my face and the sleep from my eyes.

"Who is it?"

"It's Gabriel. May I come in?"

My stomach knotted with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety as I remembered our kiss in the woods. That was only an example of what awaited me if I could manage to overcome my fears.

That kiss had been real, not contrived to be everything I wanted like the one in my dream. I ignored the answering heat that pooled in my middle and made my nether parts twitch.

"Yes. Come in."

He opened the door and strode into the room. The man was pure unadulterated sex. His form fitting black jeans left almost nothing to the imagination and his t-shirt looked like it was two sizes too small. It showed every ripple of muscle, every indentation. His darker nipples showed through the stretched thin material, making my stomach clench.

The man looked good enough to eat. I watched him nervously. Would he kiss me again? I swallowed thickly. Would my dream Gabriel show me what it was like? Could he show me the way love should be between a man and a woman? Most importantly, would I be too afraid to couple with him, even in my dreams?

"Such thoughts you have, Alicia," he admonished. "Do you think the only thing on my mind is burying my cock in your tight little pussy?"

I flinched at his use of profanity. "Isn't that what all men constantly think about?" I walked to the other side of the bed. I needed some space and having the bed between us gave me some semblance of security.

"No, Alicia," he shook his head and stepped around to the foot of the big four-poster bed. "Most men, honorable men, think of how to pleasure their lady. They strive to bring her to her pleasure, have her scream out her ecstasy to the heavens. They do not merely think of gratifying themselves."

He moved closer and I fought the urge to take a step back but that would have put me against the wall and I didn't want to feel trapped.

"I would show you how an honorable man behaves, if you would only allow it."

I shook my head. "This is a dream. It's not real. And you're not really my husband."

He held his arms out to his sides. "But I am. I am the Gabriel of your dreams, come to fulfill your every desire. Your every fantasy."

I didn't have any fantasies. I wasn't sure I dared to. What if things got out of control and I couldn't stop him?

Tears burned my eyes when I thought of all I had lost. I would never have a real family again. How would I ever be able to have children if I couldn't bear a man's touch, let alone be intimate with one?

He reached out and took me in his arms. "Of course we can have a family." He pressed a chaste kiss to my forehead, splaying his large hand across my back. His hand moved in soothing circles as he held me close. I relaxed a bit, resting my head against his chest. His heart beat steadily beneath my ear. Strangely, the sound of his even pulse soothed me, comforted me.

"I will not say your fears are groundless. We both know that is not the case. I know why you fear a physical relationship with me." His hand skimmed over my hair. "I can wait until you are ready to share your body."

I fought the nearly overwhelming urge to sob onto his shoulder. Instead, I pressed my ear tighter against his chest and stared down at the thick comforter that covered my bed and allowed him to hold me. Just for a moment.

"I wish you could have gotten there sooner, Gabriel." Tears ran down my cheeks, soaked his t-shirt.

He took a deep breath and sighed, his hands still moving over me in slow soothing caresses.

"I wish I could have spared you the horror and degradation of that night, as well. It is over, regardless. And no matter how much we may wish it to be different, no one can change that night."

He stood straighter, put me at arms length and looked into my eyes. "You must be strong and continue your life. You must know that your grandmother and your aunt would want you to learn to live and love again."

I reached up and brushed a stray wheat-colored lock of hair from his forehead, wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and brought his head down to mine.

Gabriel's kiss was everything I hoped it would be. His firm lips pressed against mine and I shivered with unexpected delight.

Gooseflesh raised on my arms and heat pooled in my middle, a reaction I had come to expect while kissing him. His arms slowly wrapped around me, caressing my back and hips. His tongue caressed the seam of my lips. I took the hint and opened for him. His slow exploration of my mouth was heady. It made me feel giddy. My knees buckled and I felt half-drunk with the sensations he introduced in me.

The fire within me burned brighter, flames licked at my flesh until he pulled me up against him and pressed his growing cock against my stomach.

I panicked.

Tearing my mouth from his, I pushed against his chest. "Let me go!"

He released me immediately. "I'm sorry, Alicia. I certainly didn't mean to frighten you." He watched me warily, his breathing uneven.

"I -- I . . ." My hand covered my mouth as tears filled my eyes.

My horrified gaze slid down to the evidence of his desire. His cock jumped behind his zipper in response to my gaze and I felt my face heat with embarrassment.

"I didn't want . . . I didn't mean to . . ."

How could I tell him I never meant to be a tease? How could I ever explain that a part of me wanted him with everything in me? Yet, I was still scared. Sex hurts too much. I have never been able to understand why any woman would enjoy it.

"It is not always painful, Alicia."

I jerked my head up and wished he would stop reading my mind. It was still hard to believe he could do that. I didn't put any credence to what he'd said about being a vampire. They certainly did not exist. Even if it was true, and he was a vampire, he would still be the man he had always been. The man I was foolishly beginning to care for.

"Forgive my crude language, my dear, but you were raped, fucked, screwed or whatever crude word you would use to describe it. But you were not made love to."

He brought his hand up and gently stroked my cheek.

"Whatever we should choose to call it, when we finally do merge our bodies, we will be making love. It will never be anything but that."

The butterflies in my stomach took flight again as he leaned over to gently kiss my lips. I was still terrified of him, but his gentle and understanding attitude made me want to try. I didn't know a man could be this tender. Even Micah wasn't this gentle with Natasha.

"Since this is my dream, you'll do what I want?" I asked, circling around him.

He nodded.

"Whatever you wish."

The soft glow of the lamp on the other side of the bed softened his features but still left enough light to look deeply into his eyes.

I believed him.

"Take off your shirt."

He reached up, slowly tore his shirt down the front, then pushed it off his shoulders and dropped the garment onto the floor. It fell in a pile of white cotton at his feet.

I stared in rapt fascination as he tore the shirt and exposed every inch of his tanned chest. Golden hair lightly dusted the exposed flesh, tapering down to disappear beneath the waistband of his slacks.

"May I?" I asked as I lifted my hand toward his chest.

Gabriel nodded, swallowing convulsively when I stroked his torso. The fine hairs sifted through my fingers as I explored his hard, well-defined pectoral muscles. He drew a sharp breath when my fingers circled his flat brown nipples. He groaned and his breath quickened when I drew my fingernails across the small male nubs.

Muscles bunched and quivered as I let my hands make their slow exploration across the expanse of his washboard abs. His stomach clenched and his member moved beneath his slacks. The movement intrigued me. Was it involuntary?

He nodded. "I have little control over my cock when you touch me like that."

I stepped back, alarmed. I put my hands behind my back and stared at him, opening my eyes wide. "You promised!"

He sighed. "I said that I have little control over my cock. Not my actions, Alicia. There is a difference."

His breathing was uneven and I marveled that I could do that to him. He was older than me and I could only assume, more experienced. The man had a ton of control and it only made me want to trust him more.

He looked me in the eyes. "Yes, I do have a lot of control. You needn't fear me."

His mouth turned up at the corners and he raised his brow as if daring me to make a move.

"This is your dream."

I watched him standing in front of me for a minute as he patiently awaited my next move.

His eyes darkened to a stormy gray when I slowly ran my tongue over my lower lip, nervous. The lids lowered and he stared at me with those half-closed eyes. I wish he would stop that. He makes me feel . . . I don't know . . . Sexy or something.

"I can't stop looking at you. You are sexy." His voice flowed through me. Touched me in places I never knew existed before that moment.

I jumped when my clit twitched at the way he looked at me. It surprised me. How could I ignore that look when his heated gaze warmed me to my toes?

"Kiss me," I demanded. "But don't touch me."

Gabriel devoured me with his eyes. I felt each of his heated looks like a physical caress. He bent slightly at the waist, lowered his head and gently pressed his mouth to mine. The warm touch of his lips sent the butterflies in my stomach reeling. Warmth seeped between my legs and I wondered if this was what it was like to truly desire someone.

He sucked my tongue into his mouth and caressed mine. I trembled with the need to have him wrap his arms around me. He didn't. He merely stood close to me and held his arms to his sides, keeping his hands to himself as I instructed. Soon, too soon, he lifted his lips from mine and feathered tiny kisses across my cheek and jaw. The raspy brush of his five-o'clock shadow against my flesh only heightened the sensation.

"If you want me to touch you, you only need to ask."

He moved to kiss my eyes, then moved back to my mouth, jaw and finally to my neck. My legs almost gave out and I threw my arms around his shoulders before I fell.

"Hold me, don't let me fall," I panted in his ear, my breath coming in short gasps.

Gabriel brought his hands up and grasped my waist. He held me up, kept me from melting into a puddle on the floor at his feet. His touch felt impersonal compared to the sensational press of his lips against my fevered skin.

"Please, Gabriel, hold me."

His fingers tightened on my waist. "I am," he murmured against my neck as he feathered more soft kisses around my ear. "If you wish for something else, you need only ask. Your wish is my command." The last he whispered in my ear and my legs gave out. His hands tightened on my waist, but he still held me so impersonally.

"I -- I want you to . . ." I paused and swallowed my fear. This was just a dream. I only hoped it didn't become a nightmare. "Hold me. Caress me like a lover would." I pulled back to look in his eyes. "Caress me the way you would if you didn't have to worry about my fears."

He closed his eyes for a moment. "A lover would hold you like this." He wrapped his arms around me and drew me up against his hard frame. His fingers splayed across my back, his hands gliding down over my rear.

"This is how I would touch you." He breathed against my neck and moved his hand up to cup my breast as his lips moved lower to my collarbone.

His hard shaft pressed into my bellybutton and, for the first time since I lost my family, I wasn't scared of that part of the male anatomy.

"Touch me," he whispered.

I let my hands slide over his shoulders to his chest and down the flat plane of his well-defined stomach. The muscles jumped beneath my fingers as they skimmed above the waistband of his slacks. I smiled to myself when I realized he was ticklish.

My hands shook as I contemplated reaching down to unzip his fly and release his large organ from its fabric prison. Did I really want to go that far?

It's just a dream.

"It is just a dream," Gabriel echoed my thoughts.

I moved my hands back up to his chest to play with his hard nipples.

"Touch me . . . there."

"Touch you where?" he asked.

I frowned. "I don't believe this. You're going to make me spell it out for you, aren't you?"

Gabriel rested his forehead against mine and looked into my eyes.

"I am yours to command, my love. But command me you must."

He kissed me again, plunging his tongue in and out of my mouth until I pulled away.

"I want you to . . ." My face burned, showed my mortification. "I want you to play with my nipples. Suck on them." My own words drove me wild with a desire I never thought myself capable of experiencing.

Chapter Six

Gabriel pushed his hands up. His fingers brushed my stomach under my shirt and my muscles clenched. The heat of his hand warmed the underside of my breast, through my bra, and I almost begged him to touch me there.

My nether parts twitched with anticipation and I brought my hands to the front of my blouse. I stared into his eyes as I slowly unbuttoned my top. His breathing became erratic when I uncovered my lacy bra and he buried his face in my cleavage with a low groan.

"Yes," I sobbed, when his mouth closed over my left nipple.

His tongue laved the little bud through the white lace of my bra while his teeth gently abraded the hardened bud. His fingers squeezed my other nipple, pulling it gently to copy the suckling sensation of his mouth. My hips undulated against his.

"Gabriel, please!"

I wasn't sure what it was I asked for. I didn't know. I only wanted him to show me how love should feel.

"What do you want, my love?"

"Love me."

"I do love you, Alicia, more than life itself."

I nearly groaned with frustration. He had to know what he was doing to me. He had to know I was burning up inside and I didn't know what to do to stop it.

"Touch me. Show me what it's supposed to be like." I sobbed into his shoulder. "Show me how to . . ." be a real woman. I couldn't force myself to say it. "Please."

My dream man took pity on me. He slid his warm hand under my nightshirt, over the quivering flesh of my thigh. His long fingers found their way beneath the elastic of my panties and he expertly stroked my throbbing sex. He thrust his fingers deeper within my slit, circled the aching nub with his fingers and I screamed.

"Gabriel!"

Tears ran down my face as a pleasure unlike anything I had ever felt in my life washed over me, through me like a tidal wave. It was a pleasure so intense I thought I would die.

Is this really what it feels like to make love? My mind whirled as the sensations he introduced me to, almost took priority over my common sense.

"What's happening to me?" I keened, as the intense pleasure swept me away I couldn't think anymore. My emotions ran so high, it was a wonder I could breathe.

Gabriel lifted his lips from my breast and blew on the hardened nub. "You are coming, Alicia. You are having your first orgasm. Relax. Allow yourself to accept it." He kissed me again. His tongue slid into my mouth, his teeth softly nibbling on my lips.

I came down from that euphoric place crying his name in ecstasy.

Does the rest of the act feel as wonderful? I asked myself as I stared deep into his eyes.

He smiled softly, pressed my still trembling hand against his straining organ.

"It's better."

I woke up with my body screaming for release. My nipples were hard, straining against my nightshirt and my clit twitched out a rhythm that matched that of my dream Gabriel's fingers on my flesh.

Damn it!

I lay in my lonely bed, my heart slamming against my ribs. My breasts were full and aching. The nipples pebbled against the thin cotton of my nightshirt, the brush of the soft material against my sensitive flesh drove me wild.

Curious, I reached up and felt them. A shaft of desire tore through me as I rubbed the hardened peaks. It didn't feel the same as when he did it. The feeling wasn't nearly as intense as before and my clit still twitched at the memory of my dream Gabriel's touch.

Alicia.

The sound of his voice was almost ethereal. I heard it within my mind, not with my ears. Maybe I was still asleep after all.

On the other hand, I could be a fantasy. Do you want me to be your fantasy, my love?

I latched onto that thought and imagined the sound of his voice as I reached up to caress my nipples through my shirt. Experimenting, I rolled them between my thumbs and index fingers.

The warmth of my desire rushed between my legs and my fantasy man whispered into my mind once more.

Reach down between your legs and feel how wet you are. How your body dreams of mine. How it creams for my touch. Know that the wonderful sensations you felt in your dream are real.

It seemed so real. The whiskey smooth timbre of his voice was compelling. It set my blood on fire. It moved through my veins slowly, like lava, before it finally settled between my thighs.

I reached down, slid my fingers through the wet folds of my nether lips and caressed my clit, mimicking the movements my husband's fingers made in my dream.

My eyes flew open when I felt his lips close over my breast. It felt so real, yet I was still alone. The pleasure pain of his imagined teeth on my nipple sent me careening over the edge.

"Gabriel!" I sobbed out his name. A delicious feeling of warmth swept through me and the little nubbin began to spasm beneath my fingers.

"I -- I . . ."

You are coming, my heart, and you are awake. This is no dream.

My breathing came in heavy, erratic pants as I pulled my wet fingers from my slick pussy and lay gasping on the bed. My legs were spread wide like the sacrifice I had been about to become six months ago but I was too tired to care. I drifted to sleep while I enjoyed the illusory sensation of my husband's strong, safe arms wrapped around me.

The rude, incessant buzzing of my alarm permeated my sleep. I rolled over and groaned. My body still felt heavy with desire and I wondered if making love with Gabriel would be at least as good as my dream.

Better.

The echo of my dream Gabriel whispered in my mind. My face heated when I thought of what I had done to myself the night before. I was going to be horribly embarrassed if he could really read my mind. The thoughts in my head were anything but tame.

The dream I had the night before awakened something within me I never knew existed. Something I never thought myself capable of doing. It awakened a woman who wanted to be sexually aware, even at the expense of her own sanity.

When I dressed and went downstairs for breakfast, my thoughts drifted back to the wonderfully talented fingers of my dream
Gabriel and I wondered how I would keep my husband from reading my mind.

My body creamed at the thought of what transpired in my dream and I realized, at that moment, there was hope for me after all.

I walked through the large house. There never seemed to be anyone about. He had a staff. I remember meeting them. Yet they never seemed to be here.

I shrugged, walked through the large parlor, past a huge grand piano that my fingers itched to play and headed to the sunroom. Someone, perhaps Cassie, had told me that was where I would find my husband in the mornings.

Bright sunlight greeted me when I entered the solarium. My husband sat at the table a newspaper in front of his face, with a glass of juice at his elbow.

"All right, Dracula, I'll bite. Why are you drinking orange juice instead of blood if you're a vampire?"

He lifted his glass, took a sip and grinned. "I like it."

Well, that was as good an answer as any, I suppose. It was going to take a whole lot more convincing on his part before I bought in on this vampire crap though.

Soft strains of Bach reverberated throughout the room. I looked but I couldn't see the speakers anywhere.

I grimaced.

Figures. I should have known. I knew he always seemed like the staid, boring classical music sort. Great, life is going to be very lively with this one.

Gabriel looked over his paper, picked up the remote for the CD player and pushed a button. A hard rock song from the late seventies started to play. I listened to the well-known band singing about a fire station while the sound of sirens echoed throughout the room.

Now that's more like it. I frowned. Had he just read my mind again? I turned my thoughts away from last night's enlightening activities and concentrated on the weather instead.

He glanced up at me again. "You look . . . rested. Did you sleep well?"

Boy did I.

I blushed and nodded, noticing the fine lines of strain around his mouth for the first time. Was he not feeling well?

"You don't look rested. You look tired," I said gazing out the window into the back garden. "Should you even be up? I mean, if you're a vamp and all, shouldn't you avoid the sunlight?"

Ha! He is about as much a vampire as you are. Stop encouraging him.

He just shrugged and kept his eyes still on his paper.

"Are you feeling okay?"

He nodded. "I feel wonderful. Thank you for asking." He gestured to the antique walnut sideboard against the wall. "There are donuts on the server. Have some."

I glanced over to the plate of donuts and my eyes widened.

"I love éclairs."

I know.

Though the words remained unspoken, they still hung thick in the air between us. He knew everything about me and I still knew next to nothing about him.

When did I become such a selfish bitch? I frowned, stared down at the delicate china plate and played with my pastry, my appetite suddenly gone. I wondered and worried about the lines around his eyes and mouth. They hadn't been there a few days ago had they, or was it me?

I thought about how high strung I felt after my dream. How I needed the physical release after I woke and I wondered if the tension I saw on his face was from having to wait so long for me to grow up.

* * * *

"Care to go shopping?" Cassie asked from the doorway to the parlor about two weeks after my wedding. "I have some things I need to get at the mall."

I nodded, shifted on the sofa and indicated she should join me.

"Me too."

I needed some personal items and I didn't have a way to get them. I did finally find out what Gabriel's wedding gift to me had been.

It was a sleek, black Corvette, the car of my dreams. He had obviously read my mind again. Why I still found that so hard to believe after all of the proof he has given me, I don't know.

Even though it almost killed me, I didn't accept the car of course. I refused to keep taking from him while I still refused to give anything of myself. He deserved a partner, not a freeloader. I pressed my lips together, determined to change that.

I had a couple of weeks to think about it and came to the decision that I wanted to give him a chance. If I tried it and found that sex still hurts, at least I would know there was no hope for me. At least this infernal wondering would be over.

Cassie reached over to the end table, picked up the phone and pressed a few buttons.

"Carlisle, can you take me to the mall?" she paused for a minute, obviously listening.

"Yes, Mrs. LeBlanc will be joining me so you'll want to bring the Lincoln." She nodded. "Of course, five minutes will be fine."

I almost asked her who was going with us, until I remembered that I am Mrs. LeBlanc now.

"Are you ready or do you need to change?" she asked, turning her open gaze on me.

"I think I can go like this," I said, looking down at myself. "Could you . . . Do you think you could help me pick out a few . . . personal items?"
I wanted to get some lingerie and I had no idea where to go or what to buy to drive my husband wild. Something told me that my request was right up Cassie's alley.

The mall was crowded. So many people were shopping for school clothes and Christmas gifts. I looked around at the bizarre mixture of Halloween items and Christmas trees and shook my head. It was hard to believe the stores had their holiday decorations up already. You would think they would wait until after Halloween at least.

"There's the lingerie shop. I think we'll find everything we need there." Cassie pointed to a store a few doors down and we headed in that direction.

Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind.

"Ow!"

Tasha and Micah insisted I take self-defense courses in case something like this ever happened. I put those lessons to use. Turning quickly, I gave the person a good taste of my right fist. Only it didn't seem to faze him. My actions were so ineffectual he didn't even flinch.

I looked closer. It wasn't a man that held me at all. It was some humanoid type creature. It resembled a man but there was something hideously wrong with it, him . . . whatever.

The creature wore dark glasses over its eyes and its gray skin screamed undead. It grabbed my arm, spun me around and dragged me backward one arm around my neck, the other around my middle. I stomped on its foot but still got no reaction.

Cassie vigorously fought the one that had captured her. However, the struggle was futile. They were both too strong for us.

I reached out with my mind and hoped my husband would hear me. Otherwise, I was sure we were both dead.

Gabriel! Help me. Help us!

Warmth flooded me as his mind touched mine. What is it, my love? You are frightened.

I sent him a mental image of the men attacking us and he swore. His mental use of profanity shocked me. He didn't normally use that type of language.

Fight them. I will be there as fast as I can.

Don't leave me.

I will not, my love. If I become too quiet, just reach out with your mind and follow the path back to mine. I will be here. I am coming to you now.

I turned my attention back to what was happening and watched horrified as the one who held Cassie lowered his head to her neck. His teeth elongated and I nearly fainted from fright.

Vampire!

No, he is a revenant. A vampire turned him by giving him blood. He now lives on the blood of rodents and small animals. He follows the orders of the Rogue who turned him. The Rogue has ordered him to bite Cassie in an attempt to frighten you into submission. You must not give in.

I will not let them hurt her.

No, you cannot, but you also cannot let them hurt you.

He paused and I got the impression that he was thinking. He apparently knew how to compartmentalize his thoughts. I couldn't gather a thing from his silence other than the calming sensation of his presence.

The revenant's teeth slowly lowered to Cassie's neck and she screamed.

"Help us! Somebody, please help us."

Something flew past my head. The object moved so fast I felt the air it displaced as it whistled passed me. It was a knife. The force of the throw imbedded it to the hilt into the back of the neck of the revenant holding Cassie.

He growled, dropped her like a hot branding iron and reached for the plain wooden handle that protruded from his neck.

By this time, the mall patrons all ran for their lives. None of them wanted anything to do with the bloody battle in front of the cell phone kiosk.

I heard a loud thunk and a grunt. Another knife buried itself into the revenant that held me. He let me go and grabbed at the knife buried deep in his neck.

Cassie and I didn't wait around for them to grab us again. We ran.

"Who do you think that was?" she asked, breathless, as we ran for the nearest exit.

"I think what that was would be a better question." I shook my head. "I don't know and I don't care. I just want to get the hell out of here."

I grabbed my side. I've never been a runner. I'm one of the lucky ones who stay thin no matter how little exercise I get. And, since I am inherently lazy, I had always strived to get as little of that as possible.

I wasn't sure how much Cassie knew and I wasn't about to tell her what I now knew to be true. What if she went to the authorities? They would take Gabriel away and experiment on him. I certainly didn't want that.

The sense of warm arms surrounding me filled my mind. The feeling was strange since we still ran at top speed through the mall.

We continued to run toward the exit where we knew Carlisle waited with the limo. We were about forty feet from the doors when they all opened simultaneously and six tall, gorgeous men walked in.

Cassie stopped, dragging me to a stop beside her. Her eyes rounded when she saw the men closing the distance between us.

My mind froze.

All of the men had hard, implacable faces. Their long legged strides carried them to us faster than I ever thought possible for someone who appeared to be moving in slow motion.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "Not again."

Chapter Seven

Strong arms grabbed me from behind and I fought.

"Do not fear, little one."

Relieved, I relaxed with a sigh. It was Gabriel. He pushed me behind him and faced the other men.

"There are revenants here?" one of the new men asked. He was dressed all in black. He kept his shoulder-length dark hair swept back from his face. His chest was wide and I wondered how much he worked out. No one got muscles like these guys had by being lazy.

Cassie -- who had obviously recovered faster than I did -- lifted a shaking hand and nodded.

"Yes, they're back that way. Someone, I'm not sure who, saved us from them and may need help."

The man in black inclined his head to one of his companions. The other man nodded and left, walking in the direction we had just come from.

I watched, somewhat bemused, as Cassie stared up at one of the other men. He seemed a bit shorter than the rest. He was perhaps six-foot-two instead of the more typical six-foot-seven amongst the Cartuotey.

He watched her intently, raised his brow and said, "Want a picture?"

She gasped and looked away. A blush dusted her cheeks and she stared at the floor, embarrassed.

I scowled at his rudeness. "Are all of you men lacking in common courtesy and tact?"

I don't know what gave me the courage to stand up to these men. They were all about the same size as my husband and we were outnumbered. I guess a part of me knew they were Cartuotey and would never hurt us without cause.

A few of them threw a disgusted look my way and broke off from the rest.

"We'll go see what we can do to help Sterling."

Another turned to stare at me. "Was it a Guide who took the revenants on?"

"How the hell should I know?" I said with a shrug. "I couldn't tell a Guide from a taxi driver. The only reason I can identify a Cartuotey is because you guys stand out like sore thumbs." I gave them all a thorough once over. "Face it, guys, there's no way you can hide what you are."

The word vampire shimmered in my mind as I looked at them all. I'd never been around so many of them before. The fact that they were all tall, compelling and so good looking they could make a Nun drool, did not escape my notice.

Vampire. The ridiculous word would not leave me alone. I scowled.

"Don't be stupid."

I heard someone murmur, "Too late."

"Hey! That's not nice." I fisted my hands on my hips and resisted the urge to kick one of them.

The man who said that stared at me with an intensity that made me squirm. "You see us for what we are because you know of our existence."

Cassie leaned over to whisper, "People who don't know of their existence mistake them for Chippendale Dancers. I know I would." She gave the shorter one another once over.

His eyelids drooped and his gaze slowly raked her body from head to toe. "You're not so bad yourself, sweetheart," he said then turned toward his friends. "We'd better get over there and help the others and that Guide, if that's who it was. We need to get this situation under control."

The tallest of the group stepped forward and my mouth gaped open. He looked like a carbon copy of Micah, only taller.

He bowed in my direction.

"It is my distinct pleasure to meet you. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am called Maximillian." He lifted my limp arm and lightly pressed his lips to the back of my hand.

Isn't that Micah's middle name?

It was a measure of my shock that I didn't pull my hand free and he slowly released it instead. His gaze darted to Gabriel.

"Your wife is lovely. I wish you happiness and many children to fill your empty home."

Something told me there was some sort of formality passing between the two men, but I wasn't privy to their customs. So, I decided to ignore them both.

I have learned that Cartuotey appear human, for the most part, but they were something different altogether.

Vampire, immortal.

The two words danced through my head and I dismissed them as fancy. There were definitely monsters in this world, but there were certainly no vampires.

Maximillian grinned and slapped my husband on the back.

"You are going to have a time with this one. She thinks you to be delusional. She cannot come to terms with the fact that a species like ours exists."

I waved my hand in his face. "Excuse me, but I'm right here." I scowled. "Can you at least put off certain remarks that make it seem like I'm not here until I'm really not here?"

The tall man lowered his gaze to meet mine. "Call me Max, please. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable."

Uncomfortable? He didn't make me feel uncomfortable. He pissed me off, that's what he did.

He grinned and shook Gabriel's hand. "We should go find the humans who have seen this and reprogram them so they will not remember the things they have seen today."

Gabriel nodded and held out his hand. "I don't like having to do that. There are too many mistakes that can be made tampering with people's minds."

"You are correct but sometimes, such as now, we have little choice in the matter." He shook my husband's hand. "I will visit you soon, my friend." His gaze flicked to me for a split second. "It will give your mate time to adjust before I make my appearance."

White, white teeth flashed in his dark face. His smile was a complete contrast to his dark skin, hair and eyes. It was amazing how almost every one of these men resembled someone of Latin descent, yet they denied any relation and claimed to be vampires.

He turned and addressed the other Cartuotey who awaited his order.

"Come. We must find the humans who have seen the revenants and instruct them in what to remember of this day. They must not recall what they have witnessed here."

My gaze followed the small group as they went in search of the people hidden throughout the mall. I thought it strange how they seemed to know where each one of them hid.

They stood outside the entrance to the stores and beckoned the people out. They all shuffled out of their hiding places resembling zombies.

The ridiculous word, vampire, shimmered in my mind again and I shook it off.

Man, if I start believing that, someone lock me in a loony bin, please!

"You are not crazy, my love," Gabriel said, drawing me under his arm.

I didn't protest. I wanted nothing more in my life than to feel safe right now and being under Gabriel's physical protection did just that.

He looked surprised when I wrapped my arm around his waist and rested my head against his shoulder. I can't say I blame him. This was only the third time since we met that I had touched him voluntarily.

"Would you care to finish your shopping? I shall stay so you can continue without another incident."

His gaze roamed over my face, rested on my lips for a second then moved back up to my eyes. I tried to read him again but as usual, there was just nothing there.

I looked over at Cassie and she grinned. "I think this is the perfect opportunity for you to get those items you were talking about. How convenient that he should be here to give his opinion on your choice."

He looked between the two of us, his expression suddenly wary. "This isn't going to require me to hold purses or feminine hygiene products, is it?"

I glanced over at my friend and we both giggled. "No. I think you're safe there."

* * * *

We returned home about two hours later with several bulging bags and one very edgy man. More pronounced lines of stress marked his face than before. His face seemed almost haggard and gray. I worried about that and wondered if he was ill.

"I think you need some rest."

I rested my hand on his forehead, expecting him to be hot. He was cool to the touch and apparently not coming down with anything.

He backed away and gave me a half smile.

"I'm fine."

He raised hands that were loaded down with bags filled with clothing he had insisted on paying for. "Shall I put these in your room?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, please."

What was I saying? I wanted them in his room. Didn't I? All day I had been trying to convince myself to go through with my plans. Now, faced with the real possibility that he would touch me in places I would rather keep hidden from the world . . . I chickened out.

"As you wish." He let his breath out on a sigh. "I shall see to it immediately."

He was disappointed. I know he had hoped that I would move my things into his room. Perhaps I just wasn't ready.

Cassie stepped up behind me. "I thought . . ."

I turned to her. "I know what you thought." I paced away. "What can I say? I thought I was ready too. Then suddenly, I just . . . wasn't."

She wrapped her arm around me. "I'm sorry, hon. I'm sure you'll be able to overcome that fear sooner or later." She gave me a thin smile and a light squeeze before she stepped away. "I can't tell you sex doesn't always hurt. I don't know that for sure. I only know that as soon as my Mr. Right comes along, I'm going to be ready to try." She looked into my eyes. "That's the question you're going to have to ask yourself. Are you ready to try?"

That was a very good question.

"I . . . I need to think. Will you tell Gabriel I went for a walk out back when he comes down?" I did need to be by myself for a while. I also wanted to be with him. What was I going to do? "Tell him . . ." I paused. "Tell him that I'm not running from him. I want him to come to me."

She followed me into the kitchen. Before she closed the door behind me, she said, "Good luck. I hope you find what you're looking for."

I turned to look at her.

"Yeah, me too."

The garden was beautiful, as usual. I slowly made my way through the fragrant rows of roses and night blooming jasmine. I strolled slowly through the garden, my mind in a whirl. I needed this short time alone to think.

My footsteps were nearly silent as I wandered over the grassy trail through the backyard and toward the woods beyond.

It was so beautiful I didn't realize that I had wandered so far from the house. I felt relaxed, serene. The farther I wandered away from the main house, the more peaceful I felt.

It was almost as if something pulled me farther and farther away. I paused, listening intently, when I thought I heard someone call my name.

"Yes? Is someone there?" Was it my imagination or did I really hear someone calling me? "Gabriel?"

The pull became stronger and I started out again. It was as though invisible strings had attached themselves to my middle and they steadily pulled me into the woods beyond the back garden. Soon, I didn't care that I had heard someone call my name.

There were too many other things on my mind. The way the wind lifted my hair from the nape of my neck. The scent of wet earth and loam beneath my feet and the pine trees swaying gently over my head tickled my nose.

I stopped, held my arms straight out to my sides and closed my eyes. The life of the forest seeped into my pores. I breathed it in and something about these woods drew me deeper and deeper within them.

Come to me.

"Gabriel?"

It didn't sound like my husband's deep baritone. But, who else could it be? He was the only person who had ever talked to me mind to mind.

Come to me.

I bit my lip. "How strange . . ."

The voice was in my head, yet I got the impression that it came from somewhere in front of me. It couldn't possibly be Gabriel, could it?

The hair on the back of my neck prickled and my skin began to crawl. Suddenly, whatever it was that called me seemed malevolent.

Evil.

The voice became more urgent. You must come to me or all is lost!

I snorted. "Like I really give a good damn about all being lost." I started to turn around but something seized my will.

Abruptly, I began to shuffle toward the voice. The horrible, compelling strains coerced me into padding closer and closer.

I ignored the direction in which I headed as my feet padded unerringly toward the disembodied voice. All I could think was that something forced me to approach a creature I knew was evil.

"Oh, God," I whimpered.

My gaze darted around the woods. I saw nothing but the forest and lush ferns carpeting the ground.

You will find me. You are close.

The voice was male. I was certain of that. My limbs shook as I realized that I knew nothing about the man who drew me. Yet, my feet still shuffled toward the horrible place.

Come to me.

I opened my mouth to scream for my husband but nothing came out. My mouth flapped open and shut like a fish out of water.

You will not call to him, my dear. Come to me!

The voice demanded obedience, the owner imperious. It was as though he expected me to obey him as if it was his due. I screamed out my fear in my mind.

Gabriel, help me!

Do you really think I would allow him to hear you? You will come to me now!

I dragged my feet, grabbed tree branches. Still, my feet plodded toward that horrible voice. It was if my will was still my own, but my legs and feet wouldn't obey. I did anything and everything I could think of to keep from going to the creature who called to me but my struggles were useless.

Soon, I stood on the bank of the little pond where I had rested not so many days ago and stared into the red-rimmed eyes of a real vampire.

Blood ran from his mouth. It dripped from his stained, elongated incisors. He smiled at me. The slight curve of his lips was little more than a mockery of what it was supposed to be.

"Come to me and give me your power, Guide."

I shook my head, even as my feet took me ever closer.

Two revenants appeared from behind the bushes to my left and shuffled toward me to grab me by my arms.

The vampire stood. His tall, once elegant frame covered by a perfectly designed tuxedo.

I almost rolled my eyes.

How cliché.

He snarled at me. "I may be cliché, darling, but I'm still your worst nightmare."

Actually, he wasn't but I was afraid if I told him what it was he would make that happen as well.

An evil grin spread across his face. "Ah, your worst nightmare is one of my fondest dreams. In fact it's one of my fondest memories." He licked his lips. "I can't wait to taste you." He breathed in my ear and made my skin crawl. "I intend to sample all of your body's fluids."

Oh, God.

"Your God can't help you now. He does not wish to help you. If he did, I would not exist." He turned toward his revenants. "Take her to the warehouse and ready her for the ceremony."

"Not again. Not again." I chanted, struggling, just before I lost consciousness.

I woke strapped to an altar. I knew the people who murdered my Aunt and Grandmother found me again and it was only a matter of time before my life would come to a horrific end.

At least I had the odd comfort that I was still clothed. Still, it was merely an inconvenience for my captors that I knew, from experience, could be omitted by the careless slide of a sharp blade.

My body shook with the fear of knowing I would soon face the same kind of fanatics who took my innocence last spring and I cried for every missed opportunity that I had to find out what real love is.

Chapter Eight

I'm so sorry, Gabriel. If I could do things differently, I would.

I put everything I had into reaching him. He had to get my last message. I wanted him to know that I did not leave him voluntarily.

Let me in, my heart.

Gabriel? I hardly dared to hope that I had gotten through to him. Is it really you?

Yes, my heart. It is really me. I cannot find you. I need to see through your eyes.

I can only see the inside of this room. I heard the vampire tell his revenants to take me to a warehouse but other than that, I have no idea where I am.

I giggled at the thought that I had finally gone irrevocably insane. I closed my eyes, filled with the shame of my weakness.

I lost consciousness when I knew what they planned. I paused, showing him my failing. I won't survive another assault, Gabriel. I know I won't. It will drive me mad.

You will be fine, my heart.

His mind touched mine again, filled me with warmth. I felt his arms wrap around my trembling body even though he was not in the room with me. It was a strange comfort.

"No." I struggled against the bonds that held me. "I feel it. I'll go mad and I will open a gate to some horrible, horrible place. If they have already violated me when you arrive, kill me.

I felt him pause. I cannot do that for you, my love. I am not strong enough.

I snorted. You're a vampire. Of course you're strong enough.

I will never be strong enough to kill the woman I love, Alicia. Do not ask me for something I cannot give.

Then tell someone else to do it! I snarled at him mentally. I can't live through another violation. If you will not kill me, then I will leave my body to float around aimlessly for eternity while they use it for whatever nefarious purpose they have. If I do, my body will die leaving my soul trapped in limbo, I will never incarnate again. Is that what you want?

I stopped, shocked that I had even thought of that. Something within me told me that it was possible though.

I felt his indecision. He didn't want to lose me. I knew that. I certainly couldn't just lie here and let them do unspeakable things to my body.

I refused to let those monsters steal what little confidence I had regained over these last few months. That hard-earned confidence was long in coming.

Gabriel?

Yes, my love?

Can you do things with your mind?

I had been wondering about that. He read my mind so easily, what would stop him from doing other amazing things?

Things? What things?

Yes. Can you open doors, things like that? You know, telekinesis.

Yes, I can. Why?

I raised my head and looked at my bound wrist. Then help me out of this. I would rather go down fighting than just lie here and wait for them to come back.

I felt his pride in my willingness to fight as the leather strap that bound my wrist loosened then opened for me. I turned my head and looked at my other arm and that strap fell to the floor almost immediately.

Nice trick. Care to teach me how to do that?

He chuckled. I could, but you would have to agree to become like me first.

I paused at that. Become like him? I didn't know if that was possible. Did I really want to become like him? I thought about his strength and the things he could do with his mind.

"Oh, yeah. I want that." When can we do it?

His shock reverberated through our bond. You want to become one of The Chosen?

Should I not want to? He seemed almost scared. What wasn't he telling me?

Others may change you if you pay them to, but I will not agree to change you until you are ready.

What makes you think I'm not ready? I asked as I sat up to release my feet from the straps that held them bound to the altar.

It's just a good thing they didn't think Gabriel would be able to reach me. Otherwise, they may have used something more difficult to release.

You must handfast with me. I will not change anyone but my true mate. If you choose to remain separate from me, you will do it as a human.

Now that pissed me off. He wouldn't change me until I had sex with him. That thought really jerked my chain.

That is not it. I will only change my true mate. You must bond with me in a handfasting. When we handfast, our bodies will call to each other and bring us together.

We will have sex whether you want it or not. Therefore, you must be sure you want it or I will not change you. I will not have you looking at me the following day with those haunted eyes and call me the monster I am afraid I would become if you refuse me.

What if I choose to have sex with you? I had to know what he was trying to say.

The handfasting ritual is a true mating. It ties our life forces together and we will live and die together.

I bit my lip as I thought about that. A true relationship with him would be wonderful. I knew now that my life, any life, was too short to succumb to such unreasoning fear. Because of that fear, if I died today, I would never know the intimate touch of my gentle husband.

The bond he wanted to share with me wasn't half as frightening as the idea of sharing our bodies. The fear of a physical union was one I was determined to overcome.

Get me out of this mess and we'll talk about it.

As you wish.

That had better not have been a smart assed remark, mister. I'm not up for it.

I looked around the room where they had held me prisoner.

My captors left me strapped to a large cement slab with brownish stains on it. I shuddered and tried not to think about what those stains were.

A large pentagram covered the floor in the center of the room. Someone drew it in -- what looked like -- dried blood. Candleholders, large and small, set around the outer edges of the circle. Melted wax of various colors stained the cement floor.

A large challis and mean looking double-edged knife sat between two of the points. I turned and noticed the door ajar and peeked through the crack.

Apparently, my captors didn't think I was capable of escaping my bonds because there were no guards standing about. It was as if they had left to gather the rest of their group, leaving me here to wait in fear.

Ha! I would laugh in the face of death. It's being raped again that scares me shitless.

They were right. I wasn't capable of escaping my bonds -- at least not by myself. I'm sure they weren't counting on Gabriel helping me either. Like me, they probably didn't know what he was capable of doing. I was determined to find out though.

I slipped through the door into the main area of the building. The outer area was large. It must be a warehouse. The rafters stood a good twenty feet over my head. The sides of the structure -- that I could see anyway -- were made of metal.

Hundreds of large crates filled the area. If they hadn't held me prisoner in that other room, I would have believed that this was a legitimate warehouse.

Climbing on top of a few crates, I looked out through the nearest window and tried to figure out where I was. I sent what I saw to Gabriel through our mental bond.

I hoped he knew where I was because I certainly had no idea. I saw nothing but rolling hills. A tall radio or cellular tower rose over the forest in the distance, but besides that, there was nothing to see but grass and trees.

Do you know where I am?

I felt him connect his mind with me as he attempted to 'see' through my eyes.

Yes, I think so. Hang tight. I should be there soon. I am already close. That is why we are able to communicate. I would not have picked up your call if I had not already been near. He paused for a second. I would know exactly where you are at all times if we were truly bonded.

Another reason doing that handfasting ritual thing was a good idea. If anyone tried to take me from him again, he would be able to find me no matter where I was.

That is definitely something we need to talk about when you get me back home.

We are not going back to the house.

His tone brooked no argument. Not that I would have argued. The fanatics knew I was staying there, obviously.

Figures.

They have found a way to get to you there. I must take you to where they will not think to look for you, at least for a while.

And where's that, Goliath? I raised my brow and sent the image of my action to him.

He paused at my use of that name and I had to grin. I knew he didn't like it. But, that's what made it so darned fun.

Besides, the man is huge. All over.

We are going to go visit some friends of ours in Europe.

Tasha and Micah? I asked, excited at the prospect of seeing my best friend. They were the only people I knew overseas. Woo hoo!

I could ask her for so much advice. I know she won't tell me to just go ahead and sleep with Gabriel but I'm sure she would tell me the truth about sex. I don't think she would lie to me about something like that.

At least I hoped she wouldn't.

A noise came from just outside the window to my left and I ducked, pushing myself up against the wall. Apparently, they had left a few guards after all. Several gunshots startled me and someone squealed before I heard something hit the side of the metal building.

I tried to link with Gabriel and found nothing but a huge void. Either he blocked me, was unconscious or he was dead.

"He's unconscious," I told myself as I looked around the large enclosure for a weapon.

I couldn't overcome the ghastly feeling that he was injured. What if one of those monsters had shot him and he was out there, lying in the dirt, helpless or dying? The thought of my husband lying on the ground unconscious, bleeding out, spurred me to action. I had to help him.

I ran back into the room where they had kept me tied up and skirted the blood stained altar. I picked up one of the large, brass candlesticks with one hand and the double-edged dagger with the other.

I ran back out into the main room, headed for the door. It crashed open and a body flew into the building. The man's head lolled to the side at a peculiar angle. I tilted my head and stared at him in horror for a minute when I realized he was dead, his neck broken.

Swallowing the bile that rose to the back of my throat, I backed up a few steps when the silhouette of a large man blocked the doorway. He held a body over his shoulder. With the sun behind him, I wasn't sure who it was but I had an idea.

"Gabriel?"

I whispered his name then choked out a horrified gasp when the second man's body hit the cement floor with a sickening thud.

I retched when his head turned and empty eyes stared my way. Blood covered the man's neck and chest. It looked like someone ripped his throat out. Yet, even dead, the man looked evil.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and tightened my grip on my weapons.

Gabriel sighed, wiped his bloody hands on his slacks and pushed his fingers through his hair.

"You would fear me now?"

I swallowed and looked away from his pain-filled eyes.

"You -- you killed them."

"Of course I killed them," he said, his voice a bit harsh. "Do you think they would have hesitated to kill either of us?"

He reached up to press his hand over his chest near his left shoulder, close to his heart.

"Oh, my God! You've been shot!" I fought the overwhelming urge to go to him. I bit my lip. "You need to put direct pressure on that so it will stop bleeding."

"They managed to hit me once when they shot wildly as I took them."

He pointed to the first man he had thrown into the building. "That idiot shot me through himself while I broke his neck."

"I guess he figured he was dead anyway . . ."

He nodded. "That was my thought exactly."

My grip on the weapons in my hands tightened and loosened as I stood there wanting to go to him. I was torn. My experience with him told me he was a gentle man but I had never thought him capable of such violence. What else was he capable of doing?

"I am capable of many things, Alicia. You must know there is nothing I wouldn't do to ensure your safety."

He looked down at the man covered in blood and nudged him with the toe of his boot.

"Had I not been shot, I would have broken this one's neck as well." He looked back up to meet my gaze. "But I had to have the blood. I need my strength if I'm to get you to safety." His lips quirked at the corners and he raised a perfect brow. "Would you have wanted to be the donor?"

I bit my lip. Wasn't that how it was supposed to be? He saved my life. It was my turn to save his, then. I swallowed around the lump in my throat.

"Yes. I would have," I said, lifting my chin to meet his gaze. I don't know who was more surprised with my statement, him or me.

Gabriel held out his hand, looked down at it and shook his head. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, he was clean. His clothes had changed and the hand he still held out to me was clean and free of blood.

I gaped at him as a red stain bloomed on his left shoulder through the white shirt he just changed into and I gasped.

He grunted when I ripped the shirt off one of the dead men and pressed it to his shoulder. He looked down at me, raising his hand to cover mine.

He gave me a half smile. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but no matter what we may wish, the wounds are not so easily taken care of."

He half turned and tilted his head toward the door. "We must leave. Now. The others are returning."

I looked around the warehouse and bit my lip, frowning. "I know I saw something flammable in here. We should burn the place to the ground."

He strode up to me, lifted me into his arms and grinned.

"We don't need flammable liquids."

I opened my eyes wide and raised my brow.

"Why not?"

He looked out through the door at the approaching darkness. "Promise me you won't be frightened."

"Too late, Einstein, I'm already there." I wrapped my arms around his neck, rested my head on his shoulder.

He shook his head, kissed me on the forehead and sighed. "Please remember it is me you are with."

"What do you mean? Don't forget what is you?" I asked as he set me back onto the floor.

He stepped away from me for a minute and winked.

My eyes widened as I watched my husband do something that I had previously thought impossible.

"Oh, my God!"

Chapter Nine

I squeezed my eyes shut for a minute and scrubbed my face with my hands.

"I know I didn't see what I think I just saw." I pushed the hair back from my face and vehemently shook my head. "I've gone mad. I've gone completely mad."

You have not gone mad, Alicia, Gabriel chuckled into my mind. Climb up onto my back.

"What?" I held my hands out in front of me and backed away from him. "No. I don't think so. Horses I can do. But . . . but . . ." I waved my hand toward him. "You're a dragon, for goodness sake!"

I paced back and forth in front of him. I don't know how he expected to get out of here. He was bigger than the doorways. Even the large roll-up door on the end of the building for loading trucks was too small for the new body he had acquired.

He ducked. Even at the peak, the twenty-foot-high ceiling was too low for him to stand completely up. His triangular shaped head turned and he looked at me with glowing yellow eyes. He bowed low and bumped my shoulder with his nose.

Climb onto my back, you little chicken. He looked down at the weapons I still held in my hands. Keep the knife and ditch the club.

"It's not a club, it's a candlestick."

You could have fooled me. The thing looks like a baseball bat.

I dropped the candlestick on the floor at his direction and held up the knife.

"So, do I cut off a piece of your heart for myself and that's how we live and die together?"

He shook his large head, bumped me and nearly knocked me down.

You have watched entirely too much television. Now, climb up onto my back. I do not want to have to carry you. I cannot guarantee that I will not cause you injury.

He lifted his large, clawed foot.

I took a deep breath. When did my life start looking like an episode of Special Unit?

I put the thought of one of my favorite TV shows -- that the network cancelled without warning -- out of my mind and shook my head.

Gabriel lifted one of his larger back legs a little and made a step for me to climb onto his back.

"Lord, have mercy! You're going to tell me everything you can do when we get ourselves out of this mess," I grumbled as I settled myself between his two large wings.

My mind is an open book to my bonded mate.

"Oh, I get it. I don't get to know unless I let you change me." I grinned and gave his back a smack.

"Hey, your scales feel weird. And while we're on the subject, can you be any color you want or are you always this peculiar shade of green?"

He snorted.

I can be any shade of any color I choose. I just figured this was a good shade. Since this is the color you will be soon after we take flight.

"Flight?" I squeaked. "Okay. You got me there. I probably will turn that exact shade of green right before I throw up on your back."

I'm not sure, but I think he cringed at that.

Hold on, he said just before he took a deep breath and blasted one side of the building out. He half walked, half crawled through the large hole.

He moved slower than normal because I was on his back. I had pulled something out of his mind from when he had done an amazing thing like this before.

He had just jumped up and crashed out through the roof of the building. He couldn't do that this time. This time he had to worry about me sitting on his back.

I felt his love for me through our bond and wondered if it was something he had projected to me or if it just slipped out through his protective barrier.

Gabriel stretched to his full height as soon as we cleared the building. He turned, lowered his head and took another deep breath. Flames shot from his mouth and nostrils, into the warehouse. The crates caught fire and the metal squealed as it heated.

A stiff breeze carried the stench of burning flesh to me and I wrinkled my nose. The muscles in his back tensed and he pushed off from the ground. As quick as a snap, we were in the air, flying over the burning building.

I spied the headlights of a slow moving vehicle about a quarter of a mile away and wondered at the fact that he'd heard them coming several minutes ago.

Gabriel made a sharp turn and my body shifted on his back. Afraid I would fall, I leaned down and wrapped my arms around his neck.

Since my arms wouldn't go all the way around the thick column, I held on the best that I could as we flew over the darkened city.

"Aren't you afraid someone will look up and see you?"

I didn't worry about anyone seeing me on his back. There was no way anyone would see me from the ground.

Most people never look up. They go through life with blinders on. They are in too much of a hurry to stop and look up at the beauty of the night stars.

He gave a mental shrug.

If they do see me, they will most likely think they are seeing things anyway. Besides, who would believe they actually saw a dragon?

"Me?"

You would not have believed it before, either. You are just now coming to terms with what I am.

Well I had to agree with that. A few months ago, I never would have believed vampires existed either. Hell, I didn't really believe they existed until one kidnapped me and Gabriel further proved it by having some lunatic shoot him before turning into a dragon. I suppressed a hysterical giggle at the thought.

I tried not to think of the man he had killed and the blood Gabriel had on his mouth when he carried the body into the warehouse.

I tilted my head back and inhaled deeply. The smell of freedom was a wonderful scent. The night breeze ruffled my hair and cooled my cheeks.

He continued to fly south, away from the building toward the city and I marveled at what it looked like at night from the air. I had never had the opportunity to get a glimpse of Grand Rapids from this height. I steadfastly refused to climb onto an airplane.

I know the statistics are that automobiles are technically more dangerous than planes. Plus, more people die each year in cars and all that yadda. However, I wouldn't be in control of an airplane. In a car I was usually in control and in a car, if the engine failed, it was a rather short fall to the ground.

He landed on the roof of a tall building and I climbed down off him before he changed back to his human form. I reached up, opened his shirt and took a good look at his chest.

"Wow. That's something," I said, my hand rubbing over his shoulder and chest as I stared at the bullet that had partially worked its way out of his skin. "How long before that's completely healed?"

He shrugged. "About six or seven more hours would be my guess. I would be healed now, if I had more blood."

I studied him for a moment. "If I gave you blood, would it hurt?" I bit my lip, nervous. I wanted to help him, but I'm a big baby when it comes to pain.

He stared into my eyes. His silver eyes glittered with something I'm not sure I wanted to understand. My comment must have been some sort of weird ritual consent or something. I shivered with a mixture of anticipation and dread.

Cool air lifted my hair, felt like a soft breath against my skin. I felt my nipples pebble as the thought of his mouth on my neck made my womb clench.

"Are you sure you want to do that? If you give me blood, it will tie us irrevocably for the rest of your life. Even if you decided to leave me, we would always be connected through our blood bond."

I shrugged, trying to make the action look nonchalant.

"Won't the same thing happen if we handfast?"

Turning, I slowly walked to the edge of the building, put my arms on the protective rail and looked out into the night. He followed me to the edge and I turned to look at him.

"Yes."

He reached up to brush a lock of hair from my face. He slowly fingered the slight curl before tucking it behind my ear.

"The handfasting ritual is a loving, passionate connection between mates. It will make you a vampire, much like me. You will need to consume blood to survive."

I swallowed and tried not to cringe. "Well, I assume that if I was like you the action wouldn't seem so repugnant."

He stepped up beside me. "It would not be abhorrent. Feeding with a . . . loving partner is a very pleasurable act."

My heart slammed in my chest. My hands clenched at my sides and I paced away then turned to look at him.

"It's sexual?"

He nodded. "It is more than that. The bond is a connection between mates that we cannot deny. You would want to join with me, often." He leveled his gaze. "And I would want to join with you, always."

That was something to think about now wasn't it? Not once did I think that being like him would make me want sex. Even crave it. How could a person like me survive if the act itself turned out to be repulsive?

He turned his back to the rail, leaned up against it. His shirt fell open and I saw the bullet still lodged in his chest. That hole wouldn't be there if not for me. He had gotten that little piece of lead when he came to my rescue.

He just stood there, leaning against the wall. He waited for my decision, giving me no pressure.

I took a deep breath and let it out on a rush. He suffered because of me. Could I do no less than make sure he was at least as comfortable as I could make him?

"It won't hurt and you won't take too much?"

He pushed away from the rail. "I will never hurt you. I give you my word."

I stepped closer to him, released a few of the buttons on my shirt and tilted my head.

"Well, there you go, Vlad, have at it." I made a face. "Or should I call you Drac? You did turn into a dragon."

He chuckled. "Close your eyes."

When I did as he asked, his hands cupped my face. His soft lips feathered over my eyelids, down over my cheeks then pressed against my lips. He bit my lip gently and I gasped. When my mouth opened, he took advantage, sliding his tongue between my lips.

I groaned as the wet velvet sweep took me by surprise. Heat pooled in my middle and moisture seeped between my legs. Too soon, his lips left mine and he nibbled and kissed his way to my neck then up to my ear.

"You are so beautiful, Alicia. You taste exquisite," he breathed against the outer shell.

My legs almost gave out at the sensation of his tongue caressing my ear, the gentle suction on the lobe. My head dropped back, leaving the curve of my neck exposed.

His mouth trailed back down to my throat and he suckled there for a moment. His hands moved over my back, making soothing circles, relaxing me.

Before I knew what was happening, one split second of pain gave away to a pleasure so intense, I think I had an orgasm standing in his arms. I'm not sure though, I felt half-drunk, as though I was in some sort of weird trance.

He lifted me and in my trancelike state, I forgot this was real and not another of my erotic dreams. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my legs around his waist and rode him.

Gabriel held me tight, one hand held me by the back of the head. The other rested under my rear and his hard shaft pressed against my nether parts. Joy swept through me as I realized that I wasn't scared of him, of what he wanted to do.

We ignored the sounds of the city below us. Traffic moved through the city and horns honked. Tires screeched below just before a dull thud sounded in an accident.

Soon, he pulled his head back and licked at the skin of my neck. He raised his head and kissed me again. It was a long, drugging kiss. I'm sure it touched both of our souls. I knew it touched mine. I would never be the same again.

I feathered my fingers through his hair and opened my mouth to deepen the kiss. Did it matter that he was a vampire? Did I care that he had turned himself into a dragon?

No.

He was still the same man I had fallen head over heels in love with. I pulled my head back and stared into his passion glazed eyes, speechless.

"What's wrong? You look surprised."

He didn't reach into my mind and take the information he wanted and I kissed him for that. It was another long, drugging kiss that left us both breathless.

"I just realized something," I said, after I reluctantly pulled my lips from his.

"And?"

The tension built within him as he fought against his desire to peer into my mind even as he kept his thoughts open to me. He respected my privacy and waited for me to tell him.

"I--I think I love you."

My heart filled with wonder as I gazed deep into his beautiful eyes. They turned molten silver at my declaration.

He lowered his gaze and stared at my lips in rapt fascination. "Say that again, please."

"I love you."

It was easier to say the second time around.

He threw his head back and laughed happily. "That's what I thought you said." He twirled us around, making me dizzy.

I have never seen a man so happy in my life. Delight shone on his face. The positive energy pulsating around him could have lit up a Christmas tree. I was shocked that I even saw it.

Chapter Ten

I moved my hand through the glowing colorful waves around his body. The bright colors rippled and swayed with the fluttering of my hand. The night breeze filtered through it, and it danced with the small gusts.

"No one ever told me I would begin to see auras. Is that natural for a Guide?" I asked, still watching him, awed that I could see the amazing light show his aura provided.

Small starbursts exploded around him and I wondered what my own aura looked like.

He shrugged. "Every Guide has their gifts. Yours may be seeing the aura. You will know when people are sick, lying, nervous, or any other emotion once you learn to identify what it does to the energy field around the body."

"That's cool, I suppose. As gifts go, it isn't a particularly great one though. I would have preferred telekinesis." I sighed. "Oh well, you can't have everything."

Since I didn't know how to read auras, but I knew my husband's personality, I figured the bright colors and starbursts were a good thing. I am thinking darker colors are going to mean illness or evil.

Suddenly, I realized the position I was in and felt my face heat.

"Um . . ."

"Yes?" he said with a smile. "Is there something wrong?"

I unwrapped my legs from around his waist and let him lower me to the floor, roof, whatever.

"We seem to have gotten a little carried away. I'm sorry." My cheeks burned with my embarrassment.

"I'm not."

Gabriel wouldn't let me apologize. He placed his fingers over my lips and smiled.

"After the declaration you just made, you could do just about anything right now and I wouldn't be upset." He gave me a squeeze.

The light reflected from his eyes filled me with happiness. I think we have a shot at a life together. It was like Tasha said to me on my wedding day. He is probably the only man in the world who would be this understanding and this gentle.

I blinked back the tears threatening to embarrass me.

"Shh, Alicia, do not do this," he said, wiping the tears away with his thumb. "I cannot bear to see you cry."

"I'm happy, Gabriel. I'm crying because I'm happy."

I leaned into him, wrapped my arms around his waist and inhaled his unique scent.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I don't deserve you."

And, I didn't. I couldn't think of one thing I have ever done in my life that would have made God give me such a wonderful man to love.

He gently probed my mind then smiled.

"I am the one who does not deserve you, Alicia." He pushed the hair from my face and cupped my cheek. "I will cherish you like the treasure you are until my dying breath."

He kissed me gently then. So gently, tears pooled in my eyes and made my vision go blurry. I pulled back, gave him my best wobbly smile and he kissed me again, so tenderly I thought my heart would break.

I don't know what alerted him to the fact that we were no longer alone on the rooftop. He suddenly raised his head, turned and pushed me behind him so fast I almost tripped over my big feet.

You have lovely feet.

How do you know? You have never seen my feet.

I beg to differ, wife.

I stuck my tongue out at his back.

I saw that.

You did not! You have your back turned to me.

Okay then, I felt it. Now behave. We are no longer alone. He moved restlessly in front of me and I wondered what put him on edge.

I changed the subject. Do not remind me about my first night in your home, husband. You just might make me mad.

I felt his eyebrow rise in my mind more than I saw it.

I shudder at the thought.

Oh, shut up! The man drove me nuts half the time. Nevertheless, I loved him and I took this opportunity to tell him so again.

"I do love you, Gabriel. I don't care that you're a . . ."

"Blood sucking fiend?" He turned slightly to look into my eyes.

"I didn't say that."

Did I even imply that I thought him to be a monster? I frowned. Perhaps I did the first night we met. That night was little more than a blur.

I do remember being frightened of him. But, I was frightened of everything for a while. I looked up into his eyes, rested my hand against his clean-shaven cheek and smiled.

"You forget. I have met real monsters. No matter what nature has made you and no matter what the thoughtless may have called you in the past, you are the gentlest man I have ever met." I leveled my gaze so he would know that I meant what I said. "I have never thought of you as a monster."

The unmistakable sound of clapping came from the corner of the roof over his left shoulder. Gabriel shoved me more squarely behind him, placing himself between the unknown person mocking us and me.

His soothing presence in my mind kept me calm. Now that I knew what he was, I also knew there was no way anyone would ever be able to take me away from him. Not for long, anyway.

"How touching."

The strange female voice was sarcastic.

Gabriel relaxed a bit but still stood in front of me, pressing me into the wall behind me. I rested my hand against the firm muscles of his back needing the comfort of his solid form beneath my hand.

"What do you want, Micella?"

I peered around him. I wanted to see the woman who had enough courage to mock a being as powerful as my husband.

Long dark hair hung over her shoulders in glossy waves that framed her stunning face. She was easily one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.

She was also one of the most malicious looking women I have ever seen as well. Her eyes were dark and hard, as though she had seen and done things that would change a person's view on life forever. Perhaps she had.

Her aura was cloudy. Murky. A bit like muddy water. It reminded me of a trip to Lake Erie when I was younger. The landscape and shore was beautiful but the water looked polluted. Perhaps her mind was just as polluted as that lake had appeared to be.

She licked her lips rather noisily. "A bit of your . . . dinner would be nice."

Gabriel's anger and distrust were tangible. His aura had grown in size, instead of rising three feet above his body. It appeared to surround us both in a protective shell, a circle twelve feet in circumference.

I looked up at it in awe. The hair on the back of my neck rose and I felt the power stirring in his aura as my skin began to tingle as if I had just stepped into a pool of carbonated water.

Do not move. The mood she is in is volatile and I do not want to hurt her if I can avoid it.

"How sweet, Gabriel."

Her gaze flicked over me briefly then she dismissed my presence as though I was beneath her. Almost as if I were nothing more than an insect that she would like to squash.

"Are you really afraid I'll attack your little snack?" She made a face. "Getting a little selfish in your old age, aren't you?"

She sauntered toward us and chuckled. She stopped just before Gabriel and rested a hand on his chest. I got a glimpse of her sultry look from my husband's mind before he blocked me.

"Why don't you get rid of your little friend so we can reminisce?"

I narrowed my eyes and thinned my lips.

Reminisce?

She meant nothing to me, Alicia. Surely, you didn't think I have remained innocent throughout my many years on Earth.

You know I am Cartuotey. You know what it is we are required to do.

Well, you've got me there, I grumbled into his mind. It doesn't mean I have to like it, you know.

Is that jealousy?

Oh, shut up!

She leaned forward and whispered something in Gabriel's ear. He stood straighter then moved back a bit before drawing me up beside him and under his arm. The gesture struck me as possessive and protective.

"I'm sorry, Micella. I should have introduced you to my wife sooner."

Her eyes widened and her gaze left his face and she trained it on me.

I fought the urge to squirm under her scrutiny. Instead, I stood taller. I squared my shoulders and wrapped my arm around my husband's waist.

I gave her the most sickening sweet smile I could muster and introduced myself.

"I'm Alicia. It's so nice to meet you, Micella. Gabriel has told me so much about you."

Little liar.

I ruthlessly pinched his side until I felt his mental wince then I turned up the wattage of my smile.

I may be a liar, but you are a dog, Gabriel. A real dog. How many women have you been with anyway?

He chuckled. Do you really want to know?

I bit my lip.

Wait a minute. Let me think . . . uh no.

"You dare to laugh at me? You think this is funny?" Micella snarled at Gabriel.

She turned her gaze on me and I fought the urge to run screaming for my life. Something told me if I ran, she would be on me in a heartbeat, her teeth buried in the soft tissue of my neck as she ripped my throat out.

Her eyes began to glow an iridescent red in the darkness. Her beautiful face turned ugly. Already long canines grew longer, giving her a freakish look, like something out of a science fiction movie.

Gabriel shoved me behind him again.

"I laughed at something my mate said. It had nothing to do with you, Micella. Do not force me to hurt you."

I rested my forehead against his back and breathed in the spicy scent that was uniquely his. He backed up again, his body crowded mine against the cold, hard brick wall at my back.

I bit my lip in an effort to keep my mouth shut. The last thing I wanted to do was to incite her more.

She will not harm you, my heart. Never fear.

I don't fear for myself. My hand lifted, almost of its own volition and rested on his hip. I'm afraid that you will never forgive yourself if you have to hurt her.

No, Alicia. I would never forgive myself if I allowed her to harm you. Your safety is all that matters to me.

I made a face.

Is she like you? I have assumed so, given her earlier comment about you sharing your snack. Namely me. Well, that and her glowing eyes kind of gave her away.

He chuckled into my mind and it relaxed me. The sound of his laughter soothed my frazzled nerves.

He must have done something to me. He had to have. Suddenly, I was as calm as I would be if we were at home, sitting in the living room, sipping iced tea or playing a trivia game. No. Scratch that. I don't ever want to play a trivia game with a vampire.

How old are you anyway? I asked with a frown.

I felt his amusement at my sudden curiosity. Why do you want to know?"

Because I want to know how many college courses I'm going to have to make you pay for before I can play a trivia game with you, you goon.

He made a strange noise and I frowned.

Did you just snort?

I do not snort.

I felt more than heard his laughter and I grinned, glad that I could make him feel such happiness. When the feeling was gone, my consciousness dragged me back to our present situation, kicking and screaming.

"Don't you dare ignore me, Gabriel!"

Our attention was back on Micella. The woman was a real threat. I don't know why I had been able to forget that. Was it because I was with Gabriel? Did he really have some sort of mental power that allowed him to take away my fears?

I had reached a point where I didn't really care. Whatever the reason, I was not safe and I wouldn't be until this was all over.

Gabriel reached down and laced his fingers with mine. Never fear, my love. No harm will come to you as long as I live.

I whimpered at the thought of losing him. Something horrible could happen to him and I would be alone. I didn't want that.

The sensation of his arms wrapping around my shoulders startled me, because his back was to me and one of his hands still held mine with our fingers interlaced. I pressed my cheek against his shoulder blades and tried to have faith in my husband.

I am a very hard man to kill, Alicia.

That does not make me feel any better you know.

"Damn it, you two, I will not be ignored! Do you hear me?"

Micella was in a rage. She knew we communicated with each other using our minds and she definitely didn't like it.

"Listen to me, you little slut. He can speak like that with any woman he takes blood from." She sneered. "Wife or not. If you were his true mate he would have changed you."

I think you'd better do something about her, honey. We don't have all night.

Her tirade, meant to make me uncomfortable, only served to make me feel better. He wanted to change me, he had already said as much.

Hmmm . . . Honey, I like the sound of that.

I wanted to revel in my newfound love for him. For once, I wanted to show him how much I cared. I couldn't with an audience. My feelings and old hurts were still too new and too raw to put them on display.

Gabriel sighed then spoke as if he were speaking to an incorrigible child.

"I am centuries older than you, Micella. Please do not force me to show you the things I have learned in my considerable existence."

Micella sneered then stepped back. "She will be unprotected one day, Gabriel." Her voice distorted as she changed shape into that of a large raptor. "And that day will be her last."

Chapter Eleven

I heaved a sigh when she finally left and disturbing thoughts raced through my mind.

"You're centuries older than her?"

No wonder Tasha said he was old enough to have learned patience. My thoughts centered on my best friend's words. She knew about him. That meant . . .

"Tasha is . . .?" My gaze darted around the rooftop before I managed to gather my courage to look into his eyes. "Are Tasha and Micah . . .?" I couldn't force myself to voice the question even though, deep inside, I knew the answer.

He nodded. "Yes, Alicia. They are both like me. Though Tasha was a Guide, like you, before they handfasted and linked their lives together last winter."

"Tasha really is around my age, then?"

I didn't know why the thought of her being so much older than I am bothered me, but it did.

"She is your age," he said with a nod.

"That's good," I mumbled.

Now that the danger was gone, shock set in. The world began to spin and my head felt muzzy. I watched, stunned, as the ground moved slowly up to greet me.

* * * *

When I woke, it was to the sound of a news anchor's voice droning softly in the background. I heard something vague about vampire murders. However, I was too out of it to pay attention.

My head ached and I wondered if I hit my head when I fell. I reached up to feel for a lump. There was none. I smiled. Of course there wasn't.

Gabriel must have caught me. He would never let me hit the floor as I first imagined. My stomach growled, reminding me that it had been way too long since my last meal.

The sterility of my surroundings lent to the idea that I must be in a hotel room. There was a small desk with a ladder-backed chair in the corner and a large, curtained window let in way too much light for my pained head.

Rolling over, I noticed an occupied easy chair on the other side. My husband sat in it, his eyes closed, his long legs outstretched. I frowned. He couldn't possibly be comfortable.

Standing, I stretched and headed toward the bathroom. A shower was in order and I needed to use the facilities. Not necessarily in that order.

The shower did a lot to clear my head. I stayed beneath the hot spray long enough to wash my demons down the drain for a few more hours.

After my shower, I dressed in the clean nightshirt I found waiting for me on the bathroom counter then decided to take a nap. I figured being unconscious doesn't have quite the same recuperative powers as actual sleep, since I was still exhausted.

By the time I exited the bathroom, the sun was high in the sky. It warmed the room to an almost uncomfortable level and made it too bright to sleep. I closed the blinds and drapes, turned the thermostat down a few more degrees then approached Gabriel slowly.

He looked so peaceful and strangely, innocent, sitting in that chair with his eyes closed. I stepped between his legs and tapped him on the shoulder. His eyes opened slowly and he looked up at me curious, at first.

"Is there something wrong?"

It was almost as if his words galvanized him to action. He stood abruptly and pushed me behind him and I almost fell onto the chair.

"No. There's nothing wrong. I just thought . . ."

Unable to finish my sentence, I swallowed around the lump in my throat. I was about to pass a point of no return. What I had been about to say would lead me to an invisible line I still wasn't sure I was ready to cross.

Even though I wasn't sure I was ready, he was exhausted. It showed in the fine lines around his mouth and eyes. He had aged in the last few days and it showed. Besides, it wasn't fair for me to get the comfortable bed, while he slept on the chair.

"I thought maybe you might like to -- to join me on the bed."

He stood up straighter and looked at me. I spied a sliver of hope in his eyes and I hated to dash it.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes . . . no . . ." I paced in front of him. "Hell, Gabriel, I don't know."

Swallowing my fear, I led him to the bed, pushed him down into a sitting position and sat on his knee. "I -- I want to make this a real marriage someday and we have to start somewhere." I motioned to the bed.

"This seems as good a place to start as any. I'm not sure I'm ready for the physical part yet so I'm asking you to wait on that." My gaze darted from him to the bed and back again. "Do you think you can sleep next to me and not do anything I don't want you to do?"

His Adam's apple bobbed in his throat and he nodded. "Yes. I can sleep here with you without ravishing you, if that is what you're asking."

My face heated at his words. Ravish seemed like a more antiquated and civilized word than rape but it still meant the same thing.

"Good."

I cleared my throat and started to stand but he pulled me back down to his lap. I stiffened when he wrapped his arms around me but relaxed after he gave me a quick peck on the cheek and released me.

He settled back with his head on the pillow and was asleep before I rounded the foot of the bed to climb into the other side. I stayed awake for a while and marveled that this perfect, handsome man was mine before I slipped back into my dreams.

* * * *

The blankets were in a pile on the floor when I woke on my side of the king-sized bed. Gabriel still lay next to me, sleeping. I looked toward the window. It was dark out and the hotel was quiet.

It must be late.

I climbed out of the bed, made my way to the chair I had found my husband sleeping in earlier and sat down. Everything had this surreal quality to it and I wondered if I was dreaming again.

My answer came when I suddenly felt invisible lips on my skin. My nipples hardened and my breath hitched.

"Oh, God," I moaned. "Not now."

Not while I was sleeping in the same room with Gabriel. If I wasn't able to wake up and I did finally awaken still beside him in the throes of an orgasm. I would be mortified.

Long fingers gently slid up my thigh, pushed around the elastic of my panties, through the folds of my nether lips and circled my clit.

My hips undulated above the chair, my heels digging into the thick carpet. In my other dreams, I had some semblance of control. Not this time. I couldn't turn it off.

Before, I had been able to end the dream and wake myself up. Then I would either work myself to an orgasm or suffer through the frustration of not getting a release.

It was different this time. I couldn't force myself to wake up. Soon I would need more. More stimulation, more heated kisses. My invisible dream man wouldn't be enough for me anymore.

Only the real, tactile sensation of touch would make this burning need go away. My hand trailed down over my stomach, my fingers delving into my wet slit.

I stole a quick glance at Gabriel. He lay there, his eyes opened, watching me. His shuttered expression told me nothing. How long had he been awake? Did he see what I had been doing? Had my moans awakened him?

My face burned. He had to know. How could I convince him that I wasn't the shameless hussy I apparently appeared to be? More importantly, did I really want to convince him of that?

The mental picture of our naked bodies entwined on the bed was nearly my undoing. I whimpered softly as the need to orgasm took control of my reason.

I searched his gaze. Those usually expressive eyes told me nothing as I stared deeply into their depths.

Am I awake? God, I hope not.

I looked down at myself, at my hand buried between my legs. The fingers of my other hand rested on my nipple where I had stroked the hardened peaks of my breasts.

Somehow, I had fallen asleep in this chair and fondled myself until I woke us both up. I thought about how I must look with my fingers buried in my pussy and tears burned my eyes.

"Oh, God."

My cheeks warmed as his gaze held mine. I sat immobilized. There was no mistaking what I had been doing to myself. No way to deny it.

A sexual awareness had awakened within me and the tension of my unfulfilled dreams kept building. Would I wake up one morning and find that I had lost control of myself? Would I give my body to the first man available because my husband wasn't present? Or, would I have the courage to cross this room and finally put both of us out of our misery? Could I crawl back into that bed and let my husband teach me about the ways of love?

He read my mind again. He must have. Without saying a word, he sat up and held out his hand. I stared at it, knew the decision he asked me to make would not be an easy one.

My body kept me rooted to the spot. He dropped his hand, grabbed the hem of his shirt and ripped it over his head.

"Come to me, Alicia. Please do not continue to torture us both this way."

I shook my head. "I -- I can't."

Other than allowing me to get to my feet, my body still refused to cooperate. I stood in front of the chair and stared at his perfect, tanned torso held prisoner by my own traitorous body.

He raised a brow. "You can't or you won't?" He leaned back on the bed, his elbows supporting him. The muscles in his arms bulged, his pecs rippled and I felt my gaze drawn to his enticing, bare, washboard stomach.

Short golden hairs covered his abdomen. A light dusting of hair covered his chest, circled around his flat brown nipples. The fine blonde down tapered to a vee that disappeared beneath the waistband of his slacks.

I closed my eyes. Just for a moment. The aesthetically beautiful expanse of his chest was almost too much for me to take. He had given his word not to touch me unless I wanted it and that was probably why he didn't undress when he climbed into bed earlier.

"Why can't you come to me, Alicia?"

Concern showed in his eyes. He was so thoughtful, worried so much about my feelings. It surprised me that he could seem so unconcerned about the large bulge beneath his waistband.

"That is my problem not yours, sweetheart. Do not let it concern you," he said with a soft smile.

The words, so similar to those uttered by my dream Gabriel, reminded me that this man had promised he would not take more than I was willing to give. Only one question remained. Could I trust him to keep that promise?

"Give me a chance, Alicia," he said as he held out his hand again. "Allow me to show you what love is."

Tears of fear and frustration ran down my face and I wiped them away with the backs of my hands.

Gabriel took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I cannot make that decision for you. This is one you must make on your own."

He sat up then stood. I looked away, trying not to stare at his exposed chest. I refused to think about the sensations fluttering around the inside of my stomach. Biting my bottom lip, I squeezed my eyes shut.

"At least let me comfort you." He walked over to where I stood, lowered himself back to the chair, where he knew I would feel safe.

I moved to stand between his legs, my head bowed with shame.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." I gestured toward the lower half of my body with my hand. "I was sleeping." The last came out on a sob. "God, Gabriel, why do I do that in my sleep?"

He drew me down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me. "You need release. You need a real orgasm."

He pushed my head back down to his shoulder when I raised my head to tell him that I'd made myself come.

"Masturbation is only a pale imitation of what we could achieve together."

"This is only going to get worse, isn't it?"

I rested my head on his shoulder. Why didn't he get angry with me? Any other man would have lost his temper by now. Another man would have ranted about how I am a prick tease.

"Sh . . ." He breathed into my ear. "Do you trust me?"

Chapter Twelve

Did I?

That was a good question. I thought for a minute, then nodded.

"Yes." I think my answer surprised us both. His hands stilled on my back for a moment.

He swallowed and nodded.

"Good." He leaned me back over his arm. "Now relax." His hands started to move in slow circles over my back and hips and I allowed myself to relax into him.

He shifted and moved me on his lap so my head rested more comfortably against his shoulder then buried his face in my neck.

"You always smell so good."

The term good-enough-to-eat popped into my head and I remembered our activities from the night before. A rush of heat pooled in my stomach and blossomed out to my pelvic region.

Moisture rushed between my legs and my nether parts twitched out the same rhythm his tongue made as it danced across my sensitive flesh.

He kissed my collarbone and jaw, working his way up to my lips. I moaned as he pressed his mouth against mine. Taking advantage of my opened mouth, he plunged his tongue inside.

My flesh heated, goose bumps rose on my skin and my womb clenched with need. I wanted to lose myself in the kiss. Desperately, my arms snaked around his neck, my fingers tangled in his hair and I moved to straddle his hips.

"This feels so wonderful. You make me feel so cherished. I wish the whole act felt this good."

I forced the words out when his lips left mine to travel to my ear. Following his lead, I sucked the lobe of his ear into my mouth and bit down gently.

My neck tingled and burned every time his lips trailed over the spot where he had fed last night. I felt strange inside, kind of nervous and sick, yet not. The muscles in my stomach clenched and I realized this was true desire on a level I had never reached before.

It surprised me to discover that I really wanted Gabriel. I wanted to find out what was about having sex that everyone loved so much.

I would give him this one chance. To satisfy my curiosity and to help him with the release I knew he hungered for, I decided to go through with it, to trust him, just this once.

With that monumental decision made, I settled deeper within his embrace and gave my all to the kiss he slanted across my lips.

He pulled me closer. His fingers slid past the elastic of my plain white panties and caressed my rear. I whimpered and ground my pussy against the bulge beneath me.

Do you want me?

The question shimmered in my mind. I wasn't sure if he had really asked the question or if it was my subconscious mind asking if I was able to continue.

"Yesss," I keened as his mouth closed over my nipple, through the soft material of my new silk nightshirt.

The sensation was similar to what I had felt in my dreams but this . . . this was so much more.

This is real.

My body grew wet with need as his mouth drew on the sensitive peaks. His fingers slid past the slick folds of my nether lips and I cried out.

I thrust my fingers through his hair and held his head to me. I never wanted him to stop. My dream Gabriel hadn't been lying when he said a real coupling was better than my dreams.

I nearly jumped from my skin when his expert fingers circled my clit. The sensation, akin to a small electric shock, surprised me.

"Yesss," I hissed, driving my hips down onto his hand. "I didn't think --"

He pressed his lips firmly against mine. Thrust his tongue into my mouth before he moved back to my neck and ear.

"I never knew --" I gasped when his mouth closed over my nipple again. He lavished attention on first one, then the other.

A familiar pressure began in my pelvic region while a strange heat filled my lower extremities. Flames continued to lick at my flesh as I rode his experienced fingers.

"Come for me, Alicia." He moved his mouth back up my neck and breathed the words in my ear. "Show me the fiery passion I feel buried deep within you."

My head thrashed back and forth. What was it that he wanted from me? I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. I could only . . . feel.

"I want you to come for me, my love. Then I want to bury my cock deep inside you and make you scream with ecstasy."

He pulled his mouth away from my ear to look deep into my eyes. He stared into my eyes, searching my gaze, looking for something. Perhaps it was fear.

"Does that frighten you?"

His hips thrust against me as I ground my pussy into his hard cock and shook my head, my actions belied my words.

"Yes. It scares me to death but I've never wanted anything more in my life."

I keened softly when his fingers found an especially sensitive spot. I ground my hips against him again. I bent my head, suckled his neck.

"God, that feels good, Gabriel."

"Will you come for me, love?"

"Yes! I'm coming!" I screamed the words against his shoulder and rode his hand.

He thrust a finger deep into my pussy to heighten the sensation and I groaned against his throat. My hips jerked involuntarily and I shuddered as his fingers brushed over my clit once more.

Gabriel stood easily with me in his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist, giving little thought to the fact that I had just opened myself to him.

If he decided to drop his pants and thrust his hard shaft inside me. I wouldn't be able to stop him. Truthfully, I didn't know if I would want to.

The thought struck quickly and without warning that, with his massive strength, he could have done that at any time since I moved in with him. Yet, he hadn't.

Tears burned my eyes as I realized my trust in him was not misplaced. I wrapped my arms more securely around his neck, buried my fingers in his thick hair and whispered into his mind.

I want you to show me what it's like.

He laid me down onto the big bed, his hands reached for the waistband of his slacks and he paused.

"Are you sure?"

I looked up into his swirling silver eyes and nodded.

"You could have taken what you wanted from me at any time, regardless of my feelings. Yet, you didn't." I sat up then reached up to smooth a stray lock of hair from his face. "I've come to the realization that if I can't trust you, I can't trust anyone."

His hands shook as he unfastened his pants.

"You will not regret it. I swear."

My eyes widened when his pants slid over his narrow hips and revealed the size of his hardened member. I swallowed and blinked slowly.

Six months ago, I would have found that part of the male anatomy disgusting. Yet, Gabriel's massive shaft didn't generate that type of response.

He rested his forehead against mine and smiled.

For that, I will be forever grateful.

My gaze darted back up to his face as my cheeks warmed. I nervously licked my lips and gave him a wobbly smile.

He lowered himself over me, settling his hips between my spread thighs. I fought the urge to close my legs and tell him I had changed my mind. I couldn't do that to him. I gave him my word and intended to keep it.

He stared into my eyes. His eyes glowed red and I knew he struggled with his inner beast. Still, I wasn't frightened. No matter what he looked like, nothing could make me believe he would ever hurt me.

"It will most likely kill me, but I will find a way to stop if you tell me to."

He bent his head to lap at my nipples, first one then the other. My arms wrapped around his neck and I thrust my fingers though his hair. My head thrashed on the pillow and my hips bucked of their own volition.

Wasn't that silly? Even I knew there was no turning back, now.

"Show me what love is, husband," I said as I cupped his cheek and gently kissed his lips. "Love me."

"I do," he breathed against my neck.

"Make love to me, Gabriel." I amended my instructions.

He tilted his head into my hand then kissed my wrist.

"Your wish is my command, wife."

The next kiss was long. He thrust his tongue deep into my mouth. I suddenly felt strange, drugged, as if all of my inhibitions had been swept away by that one meeting of our lips.

His mouth left mine to trail kisses over my cheek and neck. He worked his way slowly down my body to my hips and I wondered why he still hadn't thrust inside me yet.

Because you aren't ready, he whispered into my mind. Aloud, he said, "Do you trust me?"

"Yes, amazingly enough, I do," I answered with a nod.

My womb clenched when I realized what he had in mind. I opened my mouth to tell him not to bother, that I was ready for his possession but he spoke first.

"Good. Hold that thought."

He lowered his head to my already creaming sex. His warm breath stirred the short curls just before his tongue stroked the tiny pulsing nub.

I mewled incoherently as he sucked the swollen bud into his mouth. My hips bucked up, my fingers thrust though his thick hair and I held his head to me as I screamed through another orgasm.

Gabriel crawled back up my body and kissed me again. The head of his cock pressed against my vaginal channel.

"Let me know if I hurt you." He pushed forward slowly, easing his shaft into my painfully empty pussy.

Sweat beaded on his brow. A testament to the tight rein he had on himself. The muscles in his neck bulged and his face was tight with a near grimace. If I didn't know that men found this so enjoyable, I would have thought he was in pain.

He pulled out then surged forward again, moving his thick shaft deeper. Each time he reentered my clasping channel, he sank his huge organ deeper inside me.

It felt good. Too good. And I was no longer frightened. Not of him. I would never be frightened of him again. Finally, I raised my hips on his downward thrust and seated his shaft all of the way inside me.

His hands grabbed my hips and held me still for his slow invasion. He set a slow pace that quickly drove me over the edge. Still, I knew there was something more. Something he held back because he was afraid he would hurt me.

"Please, Gabriel," I gasped. My head thrashed on the pillow. "Show me everything."

"Wrap your legs around my waist," he growled against my breast.

I did as he asked and gasped when he thrust deeper and sucked my nipple into his mouth. The sharp abrasion of his teeth, felt so good. I never thought something that could hurt, no matter how little, could still feel so good.

"I need . . ." I let my words trail off. I wasn't sure what it was that I needed.

More.

My heels dug into his back and I brought my hips up to meet his. He thrust deeper, harder. His sac slapped against my rear every time he rammed his member inside me.

The delicious pressure built again and I was on the urge of another orgasm. My heart slammed in my chest and I screamed my pleasure when he rammed his cock into my slick channel and sank his teeth into my neck.

The mixture of pleasure pain sent me over the edge. My vaginal walls clasped around him. Strangely, I felt my inner walls clasping his hard member. He somehow shared the sensation with me as his cock erupted. Warmth filled me as he spilled his seed deep within my body.

Gabriel's mouth still worked gently at my neck. The euphoric sensation rushed through my blood and increased both our pleasure.

Somehow, our minds linked together. His thoughts and memories raced through my mind. Every virgin he had ever deflowered. Every kill he had ever made was open to me. I could see his life before.

Most of all I felt his loneliness. My heart broke for the incredibly lonely man he had become. It surprised me to realize how much I wanted to erase his memories of such a lonely existence.

I called a mental retreat. He'd been around a long time. There was a chance that he hadn't always been good. My trust was still too new and too fragile to risk by exposing myself to his violent past. I didn't want to see him do anything that may require an explanation.

Soon, his teeth withdrew from my neck and his tongue swirled around the puncture wounds, soothing the slight sting. I lay limp beneath him like a worn rag doll. I fought to catch my breath and our labored breathing filled the room.

"Wow. That was . . ." My voice cracked. "That was incredible." I swallowed. My throat was sore and I wondered why.

Gabriel raised himself up on his elbows, looked down at me and smiled.

"Yes it was." He leaned down to kiss the tip of my nose.

"I need a drink. My throat is sore."

"I don't doubt it," he chuckled. He shifted to move off me then stood and walked over to the small table by the door. "With the way you were screaming, your throat may be sore for a while."

My stomach picked that time to grumble out its protest that I didn't have anything to eat since the day before. Choosing to ignore his last remark, I glanced toward the dark window and frowned.

"How long have we been here?"

The wide expanse of his well-muscled shoulders held me nearly spellbound. I stared at his back and licked my lips. My eyes traveled over his tanned body, following the long line of his spine to his perfectly rounded ass. I smiled, thankful that the man obviously didn't have a shred of modesty.

Shifting myself into a sitting position, I watched as he grabbed a bottle of carbonated water from the table and brought it to me.

"Thanks." I tipped the small bottle back and nearly drained it of its contents. "I'm glad there's more. I think I could drink a gallon of this stuff."

Gabriel smiled, reached out and pushed a stray lock of hair from my face.

"The loss of blood will make you thirsty. I'm sorry I have fed from you twice in such a short time. I shall attempt to refrain to do so in the future."

I shook my head, my cheeks burning. "Does it always feel so --" wonderfully erotic "-- so . . . nice with everyone?"

He nodded. "It does. Some of us think it is to ensure compliance from our prey. If it is pleasurable, a person is less likely to protest. Also, we mostly take from opposite sex prey. For example, I only take blood from a man in an emergency."

"Why?"

"Feeding makes both sexes feel . . . desire. It makes a male question his manhood." His face went blank for a moment. "It is difficult and dangerous to totally remove someone's memory. When we try, we take the risk of causing permanent brain damage. That is why most of us avoid feeding from the same sex." He shrugged then added, "Except Rogues and those of us who enjoy same sex partners."

"Oh."

My stomach grumbled again and he grinned.

"I apologize. I should have ordered you something to eat this morning."

"This morning? How long have we been here?

"About thirty-six hours. I apologize. I'm still not used to --"

"Hanging out with someone who needs to eat?" I asked with a grin.

"Something like that."

He reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the phone. Picking up the receiver, he placed it against his ear and punched the zero.

"Yes, this is Gabriel Leblanc in room twenty-three ten." He looked over at me as though asking what he thought I would like to eat then winked. "Would you have room service send up an assortment of breakfast items please?"

He paused, listening.

"Just have them leave it inside the sitting room if I don't answer." He glanced over at me. "Just charge it to the room. Thank you."

"Sitting room?"

I looked around and spotted a set of double doors that had escaped my notice before. A lot escaped my notice, before. The large, bureau against the wall between the bathroom and sitting room doors and the large armoire that held the TV and VCR had both been missed.

"How big is this room, anyway?"

He grinned at me and shrugged. "I wanted to pamper you." He walked to the bathroom and donned a white, terrycloth bathrobe.

He carried another, smaller one back to wrap me in its warm soft folds.

The robes must have been on a warmer, something else I had apparently missed. Heat seeped into me and I realized I had been a bit chilly.

When I would have walked to the door to see the rest of the room, he scooped me up in his arms and carried me through the set of double doors and I gasped.

"Put me down before you hurt yourself."

My face burned with mortification when he laughed.

"Hurt myself? Honey, I can bench press a truck."

"Oh."

I turned my head, determined to see the room as he carried me down a short hallway to an upper, inside balcony.

A long row of large picture windows stretched out before us. Our room was obviously on the East side of the hotel. The sun peeked over the horizon, kissed the edge of the city below with its golden light. Night purple with morning orange and yellow streaks lit the sky and my mouth dropped open in awe.

"It's beautiful," I whispered like a child in church. "I've never seen anything so lovely in my life."

"I haven't either," Gabriel agreed.

I turned to watch him, but he was looking at me and my face warmed as he stared at my rapt expression.

He kissed me gently. "You are so beautiful, Alicia. I'm already looking at the most beautiful thing in this world. I'm the luckiest man alive."

The heat of my blush grew stronger and I buried my face in the crook of his neck.

Chuckling, he carried me along the inside upper balcony to a set of winding stairs.

Disappointed in leaving the splendor of the sunrise, I sighed. I didn't complain, though, because I wanted to see the rest of this veritable palace, he called a hotel room.

Once we were downstairs, he sat on the plush, leather sofa still holding me in his arms. I marveled at the strength it took for him to be able to do that.

"What next?" I asked with my head still on his shoulder.

"We make our way to England."

I sat up to look him in the eyes. "Are we going to stay with Tasha and Micah?"

He shook is head. "No. I have a home there. We will be joined by a few of my . . . associates who will stay with us to assist in keeping you safe."

He stroked my hair. The sensation was soothing and I relaxed against him.

"We can visit Tasha and Micah, of course." I felt him smile. "If you wish to visit them. But first, I shall call my associates and ask them to secure the castle first."

"Associates and not friends?" I wondered at that. Didn't he trust them? "They won't be living with us, will they?" My body stiffened of its own accord and my breathing suddenly became labored and erratic. Then my mind latched on to an irrelevant fact. "You own a castle?"

He chuckled, pulled me to him and rubbed my back.

"Yes, I own a castle. As for my friends, I hesitate to call them that because we have not seen each other for such a long time. They will stay in the gatehouse and the rooms over the stables, my love." He held me to him until my trembling subsided.

Tears ran down my cheeks and I bowed my head. I didn't deserve him and I knew it. At present, my biggest fear didn't come from the men who would be staying with us when we arrived in England. My greatest fear was that Gabriel would realize the same thing. I didn't deserve his love and probably never would.

"Sh . . . stop having such upsetting thoughts, Alicia." He cupped the back of my head and brought it to his shoulder. "I love you more than life itself. Nothing, not one thing will ever change that."

Someone knocked on the door and he glanced at me. "That would be our breakfast."

Thumbing the tears from my cheeks, he smiled and gently kissed my forehead before he set me on the couch.

"Don't move. I'll be right back."

He strode around the corner and I settled into the comfortable warm, buttery leather sofa to wait for my breakfast.

The murmur of voices reached me before Gabriel's thoughts burst into my mind.

Run! Go up the stairs and out through the other door. I will catch up with you in a few minutes. I can take care of myself, he said when I hesitated. Just run!

A spitting noise came from the hall. I leapt from the couch and ran up the stairs, ignoring the long line of windows that had so captivated me before. I knew that sound. It was a horrible sound. I heard it several times the night my aunt and grandmother were murdered. It was gunshots through a silencer.

My mind reached for Gabriel. Instead of his calm, soothing presence, I felt an emptiness I couldn't bear to contemplate.

Tears blinded me as I quietly crept into the bedroom to gather my clothes and shoes. They were dirty, but they were all I had now. I didn't even have my husband any longer.

His constant soothing presence that had been in my mind over the last few weeks was gone. I'd never even realized he had been there, dulling my fears and pain until his calming thoughts were no longer there.

My mind was nothing but a sea of fear and uncertainty without his calming presence. His absence was like a big gaping hole in my psyche. I berated myself for allowing him to put himself in danger by marrying me. I should have known those fanatics would never give up.

Slipping out of the suite through the bedroom upstairs, I ran to the nearest public restroom to get dressed. After changing and wasting a few precious moments on useless tears, I washed my face with shaking hands.

I searched the bathroom for something, anything, I could use as a weapon. There was nothing. When I realized my search was fruitless, I did the only thing I could think of to disguise myself. I wet my hair to give it the appearance of a darker color.

Looking in the mirror, I squared my shoulders then strengthened my resolve and slipped out through employee's entrance of the hotel.

Those fanatical bastards just killed my husband. I should have been more careful. I should have known my happiness was too good to last. My jaw clenched and I ground my teeth together.

Gone was the frightened rape victim who was afraid of her own shadow. In her place was born one pissed bitch with her mind bent on revenge.

Chapter Thirteen

"You can't do this," Cassie argued as I snatched up my purse from the table, ready to go out and use the credit cards Gabriel had given me.

I needed some weapons. Since I couldn't go back to my childhood home, where Aunt Mags had a veritable arsenal, I would have to purchase them. The credit cards would come in handy. I turned and glared at her.

"Don't tell me what I can or can't do. Those assholes shot my husband. I can feel his absence. If he isn't dead, he soon will be. They have him. They will kill him," I snarled. "I refuse to stand by twiddling my thumbs while those fanatics kill the man I love then try to kidnap me again."

As if in slow motion, she picked up the remote and turned off the T.V., the silence was deafening. I never realized how much I'd come to rely on Gabriel's presence to sooth my mind until now. My thoughts raced. Was he alive or dead, was he being tortured, mutilated?

A hysterical scream bubbled up from my chest and I clamped my lips together to hold it at bay. Losing control was not an option. I needed to stay focused.

What if he was still alive and held in the same compound those creeps held me in the other day? He would need blood . . . lots of blood. He would need transportation quickly before they killed him.

Cassie stood and paced away from the sofa. I gritted my teeth and ignored her calm in the eye of the storm attitude. I just wanted to find a gun, any gun and run out of here, chasing after the men who shot and held my husband.

There had been nothing on the news. No reports of a body found at the hotel. That told me those damned devil-worshipping fanatics had him.

There was a very good chance he was still alive. Maybe he was too weak to link with me through our bond. Maybe he was unconscious or, maybe, too large of a distance separated us. I refused to believe he could be dead.

"You should at least ask for help," she said, picking up the cordless phone on the table next to her. She held her hand out, as if to hand it to me.

I ignored it. "Who would I call? I don't know anyone to call."

I thought briefly of my friends in Europe. I have no way to contact them though.

Tasha gave me a number where I could reach them but I threw it away in a fit of anger not too long after my wedding. What can I say? I was stupid.

"I do," she said softly. "I'm a Guide, too. I was raised a Guide." She pressed her lips together in a thin smile. "I'll call my brothers. They'll know what to do."

"You do that," I said with a nod. "Have them come and protect you. I'm going after those bastards before it's too late."

I took a deep breath. I hated so many things about this house when I first came here, but it had never included the way it smelled. Somehow, it always smelled faintly of Gabriel's after-shave. The scent comforted me in a strange way. Almost as if it told me, he was still alive, just waiting for someone to help him.

Tears threatened to fall when that familiar scent hit me. Why had it taken so long for me to realize we had a chance of a life together? Why did I always have to lose everyone I love?

I went upstairs to shower and change. I needed to see if I could find him. I would have to search for open portals and I couldn't do it when I was so distraught and dirty that I could smell my self. I wrinkled my nose and clomped dejectedly up the stairs.

* * * *

Later, after my shower, I sat at one of the small tables in Gabriel's bedroom. Somehow, I felt closer to him here. His scent permeated everything in this room. If I closed my eyes, I could almost pretend he was here on the bed with me, sleeping, just out of reach.

Through wallowing in my own pity, I settled down to find an open portal. Usually, where there were evil fanatics, an open portal was not far away.

I couldn't find an open gate close enough to the city to believe he was kept at any of them and I frowned.

Let the other Guides handle those. I'm going to find my husband first.

I felt a bit guilty for ignoring those other gates. I knew my job. I knew what I was born to do. This time, this one time, I came first and my love for my husband came first. I refused to let him down.

If, after I found Gabriel in one piece, and still breathing, I just might trot on down to close the portals if they were still open. God help those communities if they were.

My hands shook as I packed a small bag of things I thought we might need. I grabbed a cooler and a few twenty-ounce bottles of what I suspected to be blood from a refrigerator in his room.

I still wasn't sure I could find him. I determined to give it my best shot. Having been able to watch where we were going when Gabriel flew us out of there, I had a direction for a place to start, at least.

I ran down the stairs, my wet hair flying out behind me and started for the foyer.

Cassie grabbed me by the arm as I opened the front door.

"Just hear them out. If you don't like what they have to say, then go ahead and go off by yourself." Her hands squeezed my upper arms as she held me in place.

"I can't say I wouldn't do the same if the man I love was in the hands of lunatics. But you have to know that going off by yourself is a suicide mission."

I winced at the tightness of her grip and she let me go.

"Sorry." She dropped her hands and wrung them together in front of her. "At least try to get some help. What if Gabriel is still alive? Getting yourself killed won't help either of you, will it?"

She was right and I hated to admit it. There was a possibility, no matter how small, that my husband still lived. It was that possibility that kept me going. It kept me from lying down on the ground and screaming until my throat was raw.

It also kept me from running into the kitchen to grab a large knife to slit my wrists. Somehow, loving Gabriel had made me stronger.

Something kept telling me he was alive and in pain. I needed to try to go to him, to find him, as soon as possible. Something also told me I would know if he were truly dead. It was what kept me going. It is what kept me functioning instead of cowering in a corner like some abused puppy. This hesitance I felt, made me believe he was alive but unconscious.

"Okay," I said on a sigh. "Call your damned friends. Get the friggin' National Guard if you want." I looked her in the eyes. "But if they can't be here by nightfall, I'm going it alone."

Smiling, Cassie gave me a quick hug, grabbed the cordless phone and ran into the living room. When she returned fifteen minutes later, she set the phone down on the polished table and smiled.

"They're coming." She walked into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of cola then returned to the dining room to sit in the chair across from me.

"My two brothers, Mark and Matt are on their way. They're bringing a few friends along."

I nodded, suppressing a shudder. "How many men?" I asked pressing my lips together. I steeled my resolve.

These men are coming to help me, not hurt me. I have to keep reminding my self of that.

It's time I became stronger. There is only so much fear and self-loathing I can take and I finally reached my limit. It was about time I shook off that paralyzing fear.

Circumstances last spring made me a victim. My fear kept me a victim. I refused to be one any longer. The thought of no longer living in dread of another attack was a freeing thought and a weight lifted from my shoulders.

Two hours after making her call, Cassie's brothers arrived on the doorstep. They were eight men, all together. Eight strange, armed men standing in my foyer. Men I had to learn to trust.

Every one of the Guides were loaded down with their favorite types of ordinance. Looking them all over, I found the tallest one had the biggest selection. He looked familiar and I recognized him from the mall. Along with the other, shorter Cartuotey that seemed to take such an interest in Cassie that day.

Finally pushing the frightened little girl into a small closet in my mind, I looked up at him and grinned at the closest one.

"You can't play if you don't share."

He just looked at me and raised a glossy black brow but stood silent.

Another male stepped forward. He was blonde, not as tall as the brunette was, but had a commanding presence just the same. The man exuded confidence.

He wore his rather long, sandy-blonde hair pulled back behind his shoulders and secured with a tie. Before, I had always thought long hair looked feminine on a man, but not with this one.

"Nathaniel Longstreet, Ma'am. Your husband is a friend of mine. I'd be honored to fight in your stead." He held out a big, beefy hand. I flinched back before I bit my lip and slowly took it.

My face pulled into some hideous form of smile as I tried to overcome my fear of these men. They won't hurt you. They won't hurt you, the chant played like some sick litany in my mind.

"I don't think so, Mr. Longstreet," I said, shaking my head. "You're not leaving me here to twiddle my thumbs and wait to see if you can find him. I have a good idea where they have taken him and I can't tell you where it is. I can only show you."

I took the time to glare every one of them in the eyes. "I'm going with you or I'm going by myself. Either way, those bastards have to see that I'm through cowering. I am through being a victim. If they can't see that I'm going to put up a fight the next time they try to take me, they'll never leave me alone." I stared every one of them down. "I'm through with being their victim. I'd rather be their nightmare instead."

Rubbing my hands together, I grinned at the tall guy with the black hair again. He had wonderful taste in weapons.

"Hey, stretch. I think I'd like the Uzi. It's short, compact, full of punch and doesn't tend to jam as much as the M-16."

My eyes lit on something even more to my liking.

"Scratch that," I said, pointing behind him. "I'll take the AK-47 you have strapped to your back instead."

One of the other men stepped up. His hair was plain, dishwater blonde, nothing exceptional. His eyes caught my attention. If eyes really were the window to the soul, then this guy was really a glacier. I have never seen such cold, ruthless eyes on anyone.

"Look, lady, you can't go with us."

"Mattie." Cassie stepped up beside me, a warning in her voice.

He turned his head to look at her. "Stay out of this."

She gave him a determined look. "Kiss my ass, Matt. She has a right to go. We're talking about her mate, here." She glared up at the man who I assumed was her brother.

"We'll work this out. There are still a couple of hours till dusk." She turned to me. "How far do you think this place is?"

I shrugged. "Not far from the downtown Marriott as the crow flies." I closed my eyes, thinking. How fast had he been flying? Pretty fast. "Maybe it was forty or fifty miles, now that I think about it." He had flown pretty darn fast because he wasn't afraid of people getting a good look at him.

"Crow flies?" One of the other five men stepped forward and asked.

I waved my hand. "Don't ask." Good grief! I certainly don't want to have to go into that.

A thought occurred to me and I wondered if maybe the woman from the other night had anything to do with all of this.

"Do any of you know a woman by the name of Micella?"

The men shook their heads and I sighed. Well it was worth a shot.

"This woman . . . bumped into us the other night. She wasn't very pleasant. She is a vampire and not a very nice woman at all. She -- she acted as if she wanted to kill me. She even suggested that Gabriel share me with her." I felt my face heat. "And I don't think she meant for sex."

Another man stepped forward. Of an average height for a man and a Guide, about six feet tall, his broad shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist and flat stomach.

His shock of red hair fell over his face in an adorable but annoying way. Some woman was going to love to hate that hair. Sky blue eyes gazed into mine as he held out his hand.

"Dalton Hunter, Ma'am." He turned and indicated the taller redhead next to him. "This is my brother, Jake. I . . ." He paused and gestured to his brother "We may have an idea who you are speaking of. We don't know what she calls herself, but we do know where vamps like her tend to hang out."

Jake gave me a thin smile. "They like to hang downtown at a club called Demon World."

"I've heard of that club," Cassie cut in. "Isn't it supposed to be for weirdoes and freaks?"

"I better never catch you there," Matt said, stepping forward with a fierce look on his face.

"Like I'm that stupid." She rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed that her brother would think she would go to a place like that.

Jake stepped forward and pinned me with a stare. "What better place is there for a vampire to hang out?"

"Yeah, with all the Goth people there and the weirdoes who believe themselves to be real vampires, the place is a smorgasbord for the true vamps," Matt piped in.

Backing up, I slumped down onto the couch. I looked around, surprised. I didn't realize that I had slowly backed myself into the living room.

It made sense though. These men kept getting closer to me. It isn't any wonder I inexorably found myself backing into the next room.

I shook my head. "Let me guess." I rested my head in my hands. "Rogues like to hang out there too?"

"Of course," They all said in unison.

How did I know?

Another hour later, we had introduced ourselves and started to formulate a plan. Of all the men gathered here, four struck me as capable enough to go in and take those bastards down.

They were Cartuotey. How I know that is beyond me. They all looked like any other of the men, except . . . their auras were different. The other's auras were a glowing rainbow of purples, blues, greens reds and yellow.

Diego Cartucco's, Myles Haversham's, Nathaniel Longstreet's and Joshua Holcomb's auras shouted Cartuotey. Laced with a bright white and silver they shone brightly around them. They resembled Gabriel's. They weren't the same, but similar.

I am really going to have to get a book on auras so I know what I'm seeing. I have already figured that a dark aura is an indication that you aren't speaking to a nice person. My meeting with Micella taught me that.

It wasn't hard to pick Cassie's other brother out of the

group. He was Matt's twin. The short Cartuotey, the one who seemed to have the hots for Cassie was Joshua Holcomb.

He was a shy looking boy next-door type who struck me as the kind of guy who would stand here wondering how the hell he ended up mixed up in this crap in the first place. However, he was a vampire, so I knew better.

"I can't thank you enough," I said, looking at them all in turn. "For coming to my and my husband's aid." I looked at my watch. "Well, gentlemen, we need to have a plan. Our time is running out.

* * * *

Three hours later, we had our plan worked out and our weapons loaded. The large man with the AK-47, who I learned was Myles Haversham, was kind enough to loan one of his weapons and a few extra clips to me.

"I figured you'd give me a hard time about borrowing this," I said as I took the heavy semi-automatic rifle from him. "Most men don't want to be around a woman with a gun."

He lifted his right shoulder in a casual shrug, looked down at me and grinned. "I figured you knew your way around weapons when you said that bit about the M-16 jamming. Besides, anyone could make one lucky guess on the types of guns I carried, but getting them all right was an indication that you knew your way around them."

"Why do you even carry guns? You're a Cartuotey. You don't really need them. I've seen what your kind can do."

"You've seen what your husband can do. The full Cartuotey and their mates are a bit more . . . talented than the rest of us. They can shift into any thing they want."

"Full Cartuotey?" I'd never heard the term before. "I thought either you were a vampire or you weren't."

"A full Cartuotey is bred, not turned. I was turned but I didn't become rogue. I'm basically immortal and I heal quickly but that is the extent of my powers. Diego and Nathaniel are full Cartuotey. I'm sure you noticed that they aren't carrying weapons."

I had, but I attributed it to their being of the undead.

Myles laughed. "Undead, I like that."

"Stop reading my mind, you creep! That's rude!"

"I don't read minds. You project."

"Well, ignore it, then."

"You know a lot about guns," he said, changing the subject.

I nodded. "You could say that."

Aunt Mags had an arsenal in a secret room beneath the basement. Oh, how I wanted to go home, get some of the C-4 she had acquired, and blow that place to kingdom come. Plus, I'd really love to get my hands on one of her P-ninety clones and her extra clips, right about now.

Gabriel burned what had appeared to be the main building they had held me in, but the compound had three more large buildings. God only knew how many fanatics frequented that place or what they kept hidden in the other buildings that he didn't have the time to destroy.

Myles rode with me when we left. It was the first time I had driven my new car. He squeezed his tall frame into the passenger seat and gave me a smile.

"Nice car."

I smiled, a bit wistful. "Yeah, isn't it? It was my wedding gift."

He nodded. "I know. He told me. He worried you'd never drive it."

Maybe he had worried more that I would never accept him. I wondered if it was his way of saying that without airing our dirty laundry.

Chapter Fourteen

"I had . . . issues." I shrugged as I backed out of the garage. "I hope everyone is ready."

Shifting the car into drive, I mashed my foot on the gas pedal and the car screamed down the long driveway, we were out to the road in no time.

The others were keeping up nicely as I looked into the rearview mirror and smiled. Good. I certainly didn't want to waste any more time by losing someone.

We sped North on Highway one-thirty-one. The stereo blasted out one of my favorite Halloween songs. Today, I just couldn't get the same feel good feeling from it.

I frowned.

Halloween? Was it so close already? What would Gabriel say about my habit of dressing up and joining the children on the streets as they went from house to house begging for bits of candy?

I certainly didn't ask for candy anymore but I still liked to dress up and join the children. At least I did last year. I don't know if I will ever be able to recapture that sense of innocence again. After knowing Gabriel, I wasn't sure I wanted to.

He'd get a kick out of my costume, though, I'm sure of it. My slinky, blood red dress and matching cape would probably make him drool. It was the long, pointed teeth that would make him laugh.

I shot Myles a glance and my face burned. I had forgotten what he was. I'm sure he read my mind.

He grinned unrepentantly. "I can't help it. Like I said, you project." He pressed his lips together, obviously trying not to laugh.

"Oh, shut up, Myles." I scowled at him. "And don't you dare say a thing. If I want Gabriel to know I'll tell him."

You'll tell me what? Who is there with you?

Slamming my foot on the brake pedal, I pulled off the pavement onto the shoulder of the highway.

Tears filled my eyes and I started to scream and jump up and down in my seat. "He's alive, he's alive! Thank God." I looked over at Myles. "Gabriel is alive."

He tensed and looked out the window into the darkness.

"He must be close. Where is he? We must be headed in the right direction if we're close enough for you to communicate with him."

Closing my eyes, I reached out to him. Myles is with me. He wants to know if you know where you are. He says we must be close.

I got the impression of weakness and pain. Locked in a dark room, with no windows, he had no idea where they held him. He was injured and needed to feed so he could heal more quickly.

His vampire hunger wrapped itself around me. The incredible burning pain nearly made me cry out before he suddenly took control and blocked me from feeling most of it.

Still, his hunger was there, lurking in the background. He needed to feed, badly. My neck throbbed where he had fed from me and my stomach clenched. Liquid heat pooled low in my middle and I berated myself for the sexual nature of my reaction at a time like this.

He chuckled softly into my mind. It is good to know I can stir such a response from you, even in my condition.

Shut up and tell me if we're on the right track.

He smiled into my mind. Myles was right. You are close or we could not communicate. I am too . . . weak for my senses to reach very far.

It took a lot for him to admit that to me. He knew how much I'd counted on his protection before.

Good. I'm glad I'm close. That just means I'm driving in the right direction.

What? I felt his agitation. He stirred, attempting to use his powers to free himself.

Save your strength. You'll need it when we get there.

We? Who besides Myles is with you? There had better be more than just the two of you.

A few Guide friends of Cassie's brothers and few more friends of yours are coming with me.

Friends of mine? His agitation subsided a bit now that he knew I wasn't coming to him alone. Who?

Diego Cartucco, Nathaniel Longstreet and Joshua Holcomb.

Waves of relief came from him and he relaxed. I don't know this Joshua, but the other two can be trusted, as well as Myles.

That's it, darling, save your strength. I have a feeling you're going to need it.

I pulled back out onto the highway and the others followed.

Myles had been kind enough to use his cell phone to call the others and tell them why we had stopped so abruptly.

"How is he?" he asked after I pulled onto the road and got back up to speed.

"He's in pain." I bit my lip, worried. "He tried to keep me from knowing, of course, but I felt it, though. Not to mention, he's weak -- very weak. He needs to feed so I don't know how much help he'll be when we get there."

Myles cast a glance my way. "He'll be of help. You'll be there. He won't allow any harm to come to you as long as he lives."

He turned to gaze out his window at the passing scenery. I assume vampires can see better in the dark than humans but I don't really know for sure.

"I kind of get the impression that he was upset that I'm coming with you."

"Of course he would be upset. He sees it as you're handing yourself over to them on a platter. As vampires, we are nearly invincible. There are only a few things that will totally incapacitate us."

"Just a few?" I asked, sarcastic. "Apparently bullets are one. What are the rest?" Stakes, beheading? I suppressed the urge to laugh hysterically.

My fingers tightened on the wheel. Why does everyone think they get to tell me what to do? First, it was my relatives, even after I reached the age of majority, then Tasha and Micah, closely followed by Gabriel.

I thinned my lips. Who did he think he was, anyway? I don't know him from Adam and he presumes to reprimand me for attempting to save my husband?

"Gabriel is the oldest friend I have. He helped me when I was first turned. He taught me how to feed, how to not become one of the monsters of legend. Of course I would take it upon myself to protect his mate in his stead."

His tone did little to lower my hackles. I was pissed. What was it about me that made everyone want to put me in a padded box for fear I would break?

I paused. Because you would have. The thought surprised me. I had been strong, if rather naïve, before the attack. Still, after . . . after I had been a big baby. I can see that now.

Taking a deep breath, I blew the bangs out of my face and glanced over at him.

"I'm a grown woman, Myles, Mr. Haversham."

I blushed at the use of his given name it was one thing to think of him as Myles, but something totally different when speaking to him. He was my elder -- by how many years? I was afraid to ask.

"I do have some experience with defending myself, as long as I'm allowed to do so."

Gram and Aunt Mags knew that I was a crack shot. I could have picked off every one of the men who had kidnapped me and killed them. However, they still wouldn't let me have a gun. They were too worried about my feeling guilt over killing one of those assholes.

I don't think they put in a bit of thought about the guilt I would feel over their deaths. Or, the utter despair, humiliation and sense of violation I felt at being gang raped.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel again until I was sure it would bend from the sheer force of my anger and hatred of the fanatics who repeatedly insisted on trying to sacrifice me to the devil.

I slanted a glance his way. He still sat stiffly in his seat, his manner brooked no argument but . . . I have said that I was never one to take a hint.

I'm a great shot, Mr. Haversham."

"Call me Myles."

I nodded. "Okay, Myles. I'm not kidding. I really am a great shot. Given the right weapon and sight, I can hit a ping-pong ball at two hundred yards. So, you see, you don't even have to let me get close."

"You still don't understand, do you?"

He turned to look at me, acting as though I was some slow child. The weight of his gaze bore down on me and I almost gave in, almost relented.

"They never wanted death to touch you. Your family sacrificed themselves to keep it from touching you. Gabriel would sacrifice himself to keep it from touching you. Because they love you. I know how they think. Your husband, as a full Cartuotey, doesn't want death touching his mate."

"It's already too late for that," I said turning off onto exit one-twenty. I turned right, heading East on highway forty-six toward Lakeview, made a left onto Federal Road, then a few minutes later, I made another right.

I don't know how I knew where I was going. I just did. It was almost as if Gabriel were leading me. I felt a . . . pull toward something. I just hope that something was my husband.

The rough dirt road nearly bounced us off our seats. I slowed down. I didn't want to damage my car. We needed it for a getaway.

"Didn't you know?" I finally asked him. My face burned with mortification as I contemplated airing my dirty laundry. "We met six months ago. Gabriel swooped in out of nowhere to save me from --"

Do not!

The sheer magnitude of Gabriel's anger stopped me from finishing what I was about to say.

Why not? It's not like it's some sort of secret. I scowled and turned down another, rougher dirt road. After driving several hundred feet, I pulled off into some bushes and motioned the others around me.

I wasn't aware that you were so ashamed of me.

Gabriel tried to calm my mind. But, being without his soothing presence over the last few days, had taught me how to eject him. I did.

It hurt that he was so ashamed of me, of what happened to me that he would stop me from telling his friend. I fought the tears that threatened at his betrayal.

It didn't stop me from wanting to save him. I still loved him and I did not want him to die. But, I couldn't live with him again. I wanted his love, not his pity. It's just too damned bad I didn't notice the difference between the two before.

Chapter Fifteen

"What now?" I asked Myles when we got out of the car and collected our weapons from the small trunk.

"We walk the rest of the way to the compound," Jake said, shuffling up behind us with a big pack slung over his shoulder. Somewhere along the line, he had donned a bulletproof vest.

Dalton walked up behind him, slapped him on the back. "Just about ready to roll, brother?"

Jake nodded and turned to walk back to the car.

Diego strode up behind me and started to take my weapons.

"Oh, no you don't!" I jerked them back and glared at him. "No one is going to stop me from going in there. Besides," I said, smiling sweetly. "You guys still don't know where it is."

If I had to, I would keep that information close to my chest until it was too late for them to stop me from accompanying them.

Diego held up another bulletproof jacket. "I was trying to help you with this."

My smart-alecky smile abandoned me as I realized he was giving up his own safety to protect me and I was being bitchy with him.

"Oh! Uh, thanks, Mr. Cartucco."

He offered to take my weapons again and I handed them over to put the jacket on.

"Call me Diego. You will see much more of me over the years, no doubt. After you've chosen."

"Chosen? Chosen what?"

He didn't answer. I'm not even sure he heard my question. He immediately turned and called to the others.

"I can find him now. We're close enough." He flicked his gaze over me then handed the gun and the clips back after I fastened the jacket.

"Make sure she stays in the rear. The last thing I want to do is explain to her mate why we allowed her to get in harms way."

"Allowed?" I snarled. "Allowed? You don't have the right to allow or disallow me anything, mister."

I drew the forty-five Myles had given me to strap to my hip and everyone backed away. It would have been comical if I hadn't been so damned pissed.

"No one tells me what to do."

Alicia.

Leave me alone, damn it!

Do not do this, Gabriel whispered into my mind.

His pain was intense. So intense, I felt it. My left hand strayed to the center of my chest, above my heart.

They had shot him very close to the heart. He couldn't heal properly without blood and his captors weren't forthcoming with sustenance for him. I can't say I blamed them. I certainly wouldn't have trusted a vampire.

I do not blame you for feeling betrayed, my heart.

Don't call me that! Have you forgotten? You don't get to call me nice names like that anymore.

I looked up to see everyone leaving. Gabriel had done what he had intended. He'd distracted me enough so the others could go.

Joshua was the only one left with me, watching me warily as if he thought I might shoot him to go gallivanting off on my own.

Shooting one of them had never been my intention. I had fully intended to shoot myself. I'm so tired of being afraid, of hiding my past and always, always left out of the loop because someone else wanted to protect me.

Trust me.

I did and look where it got me. You're -- you're ashamed of me. I swiped at the tears that ran down my face with my free hand. Bitter tears caused by his betrayal.

Never that, dear heart. I didn't want you to tell him because I know you are so ashamed of it yourself. You feel that what happened to you colors you in some way. That it makes you unworthy of friendship or love. Just like you want me to love you for who you are, I want my friends to come to like and respect you for who you are in your heart. Not because they pity you.

I lowered the gun and tucked it back into the holster. Shooting a disgusted look over at Joshua, I said, "Come on, or we're going to miss all of the action."

Turning my attention back to Gabriel I frowned and blew the bangs from my face.

Just because I'm taking your word for it, it doesn't mean you're out of the doghouse, buddy.

I wanted answers for a good many things.

I want you to tell me all about your world as soon as you heal.

His relief was so great when he realized I finally had my emotions back under control that I nearly slumped to the ground.

The first thing I want you to tell me, is how you link to me the way you do. I complained. You're damned lucky I like it. Otherwise, I would have done this a long time ago. Now stop spying on me and get some sleep.

You would have done what a long time ago?

I cut him off again. He had been about to demand an explanation. Well, he got his answer. But, I'm sure he didn't like it.

The two of us ran through the woods, dodging the thorny vines of the wild blackberries and raspberries. We had fallen way behind the others since Gabriel took it upon himself to distract me. I wasted many precious moments arguing with him.

We had just caught up with the others when they dropped down, crouching behind some bushes at the edge of a large clearing.

"How many do you see?" Matt asked Mark who had a pair of night vision binoculars against his eyes.

I frowned, alternatively glancing between the two brothers. Was it Mark who held the binoculars? I shook my head. It didn't really matter.

Nathaniel, who also had a pair, lowered his to let them drop and hang by the cord around his neck.

"I see seventeen. There's no way to go in there without someone raising the alarm."

Jake sighed. "We certainly can't take them all out at once."

The others nodded their agreement. I sidled between Myles and Diego to see what they were talking about that had them whispering.

I'm nosy like that.

I jerked Nathaniel's NV binoculars to my eyes and watched the guards make their rounds, below us. The compound, about a half mile North of us and down the hill, was lit up like daylight.

Spotlights, hanging from tall lampposts, attached to the roof of every structure, shone brightly down into the center of the buildings to give the appearance of daytime.

We would never be able to sneak in there with all of those guards walking about to raise the alarm over any movement out of the ordinary.

Several armed guards patrolled the perimeter. The interval at which each man made his pass was so tight they barely missed each other.

A sniper would only be able to hit one or two of them before another guard stumbled upon the bodies and raised an alarm.

"Damn it! Why couldn't we catch a break here?" Nathaniel grumbled.

I looked between the men, eyed Matt's sniper rifle, an M40A1 a rifle usually used by the Marine Corps and grinned. He had it set up on a bipod and ready to go.

It looked strange with the weird muzzle attached to its barrel. I tilted my head, trying to figure out what it was. A silencer, maybe?

"Diego, Myles, Nathaniel?"

They turned. "Yes?" Myles asked raising his brow.

"What?" Diego and Nathaniel asked, warily.

"If someone were able to pick off those men one by one, would you three be able to step in and remove the body before the next guard happened upon it?

They nodded. "Of course we would." Myles said then looked at Diego. "What do you think, old man, are you up to it?"

Diego said something to Myles in Spanish that I'm sure wasn't very nice.

"Right back at you," Myles said then looked at me and winked. "How was the inquisition, anyway, Diego? Did you burn many heretics?"

Diego snarled at him and went off on another barrage of Spanish.

"Come on you two. Try to show some restraint," Mark said to the two men. He turned to Diego. "I know you're most likely used to people not understanding what you say when you swear in Spanish, but . . ." He glanced at me and quirked his lips in a half grin then mouthed the words play along.

I hate to be the one to break it to you but--"

"I understood every word you said." I clucked my tongue. "Really, Diego, such language."

He reddened and I couldn't resist rubbing a little salt in the wound. I had recognized a few words, but not many.

"What was it you said about Myles, his mother and a barnyard animal?"

Diego choked and Mark shook his head.

"There you see? You have totally shocked Gabriel's mate. What do you think he's going to say about that?"

Diego shot me an apologetic glance. "I'm -- I'm sorry, Mrs. LeBlanc."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Don't apologize to me, Diego. Apologize to Myles. It's his mother you've maligned."

When Diego turned to give Myles his apology, the man punched him in the stomach hard enough to make him grunt.

Then he smiled. "Apology accepted. Now let's get down there so our marksman can start picking them off."

The three of them made their way silently through the bushes, down the slope and to the edge of the compound in no time. The shadows in the woods covered their movements quite nicely.

"Okay, Mark. Can I have a go at your rifle? Please tell me that weird looking thing attached to the end is a silencer for it. Otherwise we're only going to get one shot off before they raise the alarm."

Mark shook his head. "Uh, uh. No way. I'm the sharpshooter here."

"We can't afford for you to miss, damn it! Can you hit those men from this distance? Do you know beyond a doubt that you can hit them? I know I can," I argued. "If you miss and hit something else, we could be discovered. We can't afford that."

"I can do it," he snarled, already checking his load, setting up for the shot.

"You'd better be able to, mister. That's my husband they're holding down there. I won't have you risking his life."

He rested on the ground, waiting for the all clear to go after his first target.

Diego radioed up, "We're in position, Mark. You have a go for your first target."

Mark took aim and pulled the trigger.

Chapter Sixteen

The radio crackled.

"What the hell are you trying to do, kill us? That shot almost hit Diego. Give the damned gun back to Mark, Alicia. I thought you said you were a crack shot?" Myles snarled over the radio.

I grabbed Jake's radio and pushed the talk button.

"That was Mark's handy work, you chauvinistic pig. If I had the gun the man would be down. I allow for distance and drift."

I let my thumb up off the button, then immediately pushed it again.

"Are those guys wearing armor?"

"Yes, ma'am, they are. So you're going to have to aim high."

I threw Jake's radio back at him and kicked Mark's foot.

"Move it. You're not going to endanger my husband or the others again."

Mark made a face and got up. "Alright, I'll give you a shot. But if you miss--"

"I won't," I interrupted. "Like I said, I allow for distance and drift. Anyone can shoot a stationary target at one-hundred yards. It takes skill and practice to do this, and -- not to sound self-important -- those are two things I have plenty of."

I settled down on the ground behind the rifle and waited to acquire my target.

"Tell Diego to get ready." I paused, thinking. "Tell him that in deference to my husband's wishes, I'm not going to kill them. Since Gabriel doesn't want me to kill, I'm just going to take them down. Those three can do the rest." I shrugged at the telling silence. "Ask Gabriel, not me. I'll only kill these guys if I have to."

"They'll cry out if you don't kill them."

I shook my head. "No they won't. The chamber pressure on this rifle is fifty-thousand PSI. Those men will either be unconscious or too busy trying to catch their breath. They may be wearing vests, but the impact from this high powered rifle, even at this distance," I patted the stock of the weapon and smiled. "Will certainly take their breath away."

I settled back into position and took my shots. Two to the chest in quick succession and the man dropped like a rock.

Diego moved in, grabbed the man, threw him over his shoulder in a fireman's carry and ran for the cover of the woods.

His quick response made the way clear for my next target. Myles lay in wait as I set up for my next shot. The man rounded the corner of the building, walking the same fateful path as his fanatical buddy before him. The next guy was a bit bigger, burly. After three successive shots, I had him writhing on the ground, no doubt, trying to breathe.

"You should have killed that one," Jake hissed, watching through his binoculars. "He's warning the others. I can see his hand on the radio."

"He's talking into a useless radio, then," I said with a snort. "I knew he wouldn't go down easy. So, I took the radio out first. I told you, I've made a promise to my husband. I won't kill unless I have to. So far, I haven't had to."

"Damn! She is good," Matt muttered to Mark who just nodded and gave his brother a noncommittal grunt.

I sat up, looked at Mark and raised my brow. "Do you have any more clips? If not, I've just wasted my time." I pulled the empty clip and tossed it at a very surprised looking Matt.

"Did you think I didn't know the clips only hold five shots? I'm a woman, not a moron, you know." That was something I couldn't say about my companions on either count.

Nathaniel was trying to communicate with my husband and find out which building he was in. We sat and waited for Diego's signal that he was in position and ready to extract the body.

The woods were too quiet. I knew it was because we were there, humans in an animal world. Still, the night noises seemed muffled and I wondered whether the Cartuotey had anything to do with it. I shrugged. Probably not, but it was something to think about.

Gabriel's presence shimmered in my mind with a sense of humility and pride. He had been watching us, monitoring me through our mind link, no doubt.

I apologize, Alicia. I shall never underestimate your abilities again.

My face heated at his compliment as three clicks came over the radio, indicating that one of our men was ready for another extraction.

It was a good thing I delayed the shot. Two men had been able to pass while we waited for their signal and I wondered how long it would take someone to try to communicate with the missing men.

I took the rest of them down, much the same way as the first few. They all rounded the corner of that building to meet their fate and I didn't have to kill any of them.

Thank you, Gabriel whispered into my mind.

For what?

For not killing them.

I frowned. I swear I will never understand men. I had the impression you wanted them all dead. If you didn't, I think it's too late now. I'm almost certain that Myles, Diego and Nathaniel have dispatched them to meet the object of their devotion.

He was silent for a moment, as if he was trying to find the right words to say what was on his mind. Hell, he probably was. What do I know?

I did want them dead, if, for no other reason than endangering your life by bringing you out here again. I did not want you to be the one to do it. I never want you to have to face the guilt of ending another person's life. Believe me, there is much guilt associated with making a kill.

His arms wrapped around me and I marveled that he could embrace me from a distance like that, especially since he was injured.

Try as I might, I couldn't manage to return the favor.

You could if you would consent to become one of The Chosen.

Gooseflesh rose on my skin as I contemplated his offer. Become like him? Did I really want to? I don't know why I kept flip-flopping in my decision. First, I did then I didn't. I was beginning to irritate myself.

You do not need to make the decision now, my love. I can wait.

I felt his smile and the sensation of his hand caressing my cheek. You have several years to age before you will become too old for me.

Too old for you? I asked indignant. Look who's talking, Mr. I've been around since . . . since the civil war.

It pissed me off that I couldn't think of anything better to say. Not to mention that I still didn't know how old he really was.

Mark looked at me funny. "Are you talking to him? Is he all right? We can go in if he thinks it's needed."

Gabriel chuckled into my mind. I have been around since before the crusades, sweetheart.

Just shut up and stop bragging. Believe me, your age is certainly nothing to be bragging about, mister.

I changed the subject.

Cassie's brothers want to know if they should go in or if the three of you can handle what is left of these guys.

Tell them to stay with you, for now.

How are they going to know which building you're in? Has Nathaniel found you yet? I asked, biting my lip.

Not yet, but they will know.

He cut himself off from me then and I resisted the urge to scream.

Every time he left my mind, I felt alone, abandoned. I steeled my resolve not to cry like the baby everyone apparently thought me to be.

He's probably doing something incredibly stupid that's causing him pain. That is why he cut himself off from you. He is not dead.

I turned to look at Matt. "He said he's sure the four of them can handle whoever is left. Just stay here in case he's wrong."

Matt nodded. "That sounds like a plan."

The bushes rustled behind us and Joshua went to investigate.

Stupid? Me? I am never stupid, Gabriel chuckled.

No. You're just overbearing, macho chauvinistic . . . Need I go on?

He didn't answer.

"I didn't think so," I muttered.

My head jerked back a bit when someone gently tugged my hair.

"Hey!" I turned around and scowled at Matt and Mark. "What did you do that for?"

They both raised their hands palms out. "We didn't do anything."

Dalton chuckled. Then they all looked at each other with big stupid looking grins on their faces.

Joshua joined us from the bushes. He jerked his thumb back in the direction from which he came. "It was just a raccoon." Then he looked at me, his expression somber. "He must be healing if he can tease you like that from a distance."

My eyes narrowed and I squinted at them.

"You'd better not be talking about who I think you're talking about."

They burst out laughing, shook their heads and walked away to give me some privacy with my husband. Not that they could hear our conversation anyway.

Stop pulling my hair.

Who, me?

Don't play that innocent act with me, you goon. I know you're the one who pulled my hair. The others ratted you out.

He pressed an imaginary kiss to my lips and I went all tingly inside. Warmth spread through my middle and my womb clenched.

I don't know how you do that but I hope you never forget how, I sighed into his mind.

Am I forgiven?

Forgiven for what? I asked dreamily then blinked my eyes open.

For pulling your hair.

Ha! I knew I would get you to admit it, I said with a smile, smug.

When are your companions going to break me out of here, you lazy woman? I'm languishing away in this place while you sit up on that hill teasing me.

I clamored to my feet, grabbing the rifle and bipod.

Who are you calling me lazy? I'm the one gallivanting around the Michigan woods shooting people so your friends can make dinner out of them. You're the one lying about on your backside, too weak to break free of whatever restraints that are holding you. Don't you dare call me lazy, you -- you vampire.

He chuckled into my mind and I grinned. I loved the way he did that. I would never be alone again.

That's my girl. I always knew you were stronger than you gave yourself credit for being. You only needed to remember you had such strength within you.

What are you doing? I got the impression he was distracting me so I wouldn't know what he was doing. Suddenly several gunshots sounded and I felt every round from those shots hit Gabriel's already weakened body. The bullets, too numerous to count, sank deep into his flesh.

Run, little one. They allowed us to speak to draw you in. Warn the others. You must not come for me. It is what they want. This is a trap.

I shook my head. Don't you dare give up on me now, you son-of-a-bitch.

"Come on," I shouted over my shoulder. Gabriel said this was some sort of trap. "We can't let him be right."

I motioned to the others to follow me. They caught up then passed me.

"We can't allow you to take point, Alicia. Your husband would have our heads." Matt said, pushing me behind his brother and him to walk between the remaining Guides and looked between Jake and Joshua, the remaining Cartuoteys.

I looked over at Jake. "Why don't you go down there and help? You're a lot faster than the rest of us, certainly you could help do some damage."

He grinned. "I thought you'd never ask." Then he grabbed me, threw me over his shoulder like a twenty-pound sack of dog food and ran down the hill.

Gabriel's mind touched mine. They are the strength of this unit. I should have been able to detect the presence of a rogue sooner. I am sorry I failed you. Myles and Diego are still trying to get to me. I think Nathaniel is down. I am afraid they too, will die. Please forgive me for allowing this.

I felt his resignation, his sense of failure. He thought they were taking me to the compound to sacrifice me. There was one thing they didn't know. I was not centuries old and bred on honor and keeping my word. Being the self-centered bitch that I am, I was willing to break a promise.

Joshua, if that was even his real name, followed behind us. He kept looking over his shoulder to see if Matt and Mark had been able to recover from the hard shove he had given them down the hill. I was just glad that's all he did. I would have hated to have to tell Cassie her brothers were dead.

Carefully, I reached up to feel my right hip. Thank God, I could still reach it. I pulled the forty-five free from its holster and shot Joshua between the eyes.

I don't know if a bullet to the brain will kill a vampire, but it's certainly going to slow him down a bit. Not to mention hurt like hell. I watched as Joshua fell to his knees then slumped to the ground onto his face.

One down two to go.

I couldn't see Dalton anywhere. I don't know where he disappeared to.

"Don't even try that with me," Jake snarled. "Give me the gun."

In your dreams, buddy.

I tried to censor my thoughts then realized I didn't have to. Gabriel was there, preventing the Rogue from knowing what was in my mind. In fact, he projected thoughts that weren't even mine to the creep.

Oh, no! I dropped the gun. What will I do? I'll never get away from this monster now.

I almost laughed aloud at the helpless-sounding thoughts Gabriel sent into the sucker's head. I was glad to know that when it came right down to it, my husband was willing to help me kill someone, regardless of the promise I had made.

Jake laughed aloud, the sound full of malice.

"Hell, why wait? Everyone knows you won't allow him to touch you. Your powers now will be almost as strong as they were when you were still a virgin. Didn't anyone tell you? You have to remain sexually active or use your powers daily to release them. Otherwise, you're still a target."

He shook his head as he dropped me on the ground and grinned evilly at me as he contemplated what he was about to do.

I purposefully fell on the right side of my body so he couldn't see the gun.

He reached for the button on his jeans.

"You know, it's amazing how easy it is to make people believe you're something you're not. All we had to do was play nice and not carry any weapons. Suddenly, we were above reproach."

He tugged his zipper down and dropped his pants around his ankles. I tried not to look at his crotch. The way his prick danced in the moonlight as he readied himself to rape me.

"This is going to be fun for both of us, baby." He grabbed his dick and shook it at me. "You're going to open a gate for me because I'm going to fuck your brains out then shoot my load."

"Me first!" I snarled, sat up and quickly drew the gun while he still stood several feet from me, his pants bunched around his ankles.

I pulled the trigger repeatedly. Shooting the man in the head until the clip was empty. I stood, grimaced then kicked his lifeless form.

"So, tell me. Was it good for you?"

Chapter Seventeen

I looked up to see my husband standing before me. His clothes were torn and filled with bullet holes. His face was drawn and white, gaunt. He needed to feed. Badly.

I already have. He turned to look at Myles and Diego. They provided for Nate and me. It seems a very beautiful woman gave them quite a feast tonight.

I ran into his arms and buried my face in his neck. "You still need more." I pulled back to look into his eyes so he would know my offer was sincere and without fear. "I'm offering if you need it."

Heat pooled in my middle at the thought and my face burned.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be tempting you at a time like this."

"Not to mention when you have an audience," Myles grumbled good-naturedly.

Diego sighed. "I guess I'm the only one in any shape to take care of this mess." He cast a glance to a blood covered Nathaniel looked over at Myles. "Come on, you can help me carry the bodies to the building at least, then I'll torch the place."

Myles nodded, picked up Joshua and followed Diego with Jake down the slope to the compound.

"You broke a promise."

I nodded. "Yes I did. It's not something I make a habit of doing though."

"Good." He swallowed thickly. "The ritual binding is nothing more than a promise between two people to always care for one another. I would hope you wouldn't enter into it lightly."

I sighed. "I killed those two because they had every intention of killing us both. Not for any other reason. Usually, when I make a promise, I keep it."

He rubbed my back, soothing me. It was so much better to have him in my arms for real, instead of just the illusory sensation of his arms holding me.

"We need to find Matt and Mark and make sure they are both okay. I'd hate to have to tell Cassie that something happened to them." I frowned.

"Me too," he said, kissed me then set me from him to search for the other men.

The hair on the back of my neck prickled. "Where's Dalton? If Jake was a rogue . . ."

Gabriel closed his eyes, his aura getting larger as he reached out with his powers. "He's gone. He probably ran when he realized that the others were overpowered."

"I thought they were Guides. Their auras weren't like yours. They weren't dark like Micella's were. I don't understand."

"The aura can be manipulated. Never rely solely on that for a character reference. You must always get to know someone before you pass any kind of judgment on them, good or bad."

I nodded. "I supposed you're right. A dark aura could mean illness not evil."

"Exactly."

We walked back up the hill keeping our eyes open for Matt and Mark. Thank God, they were what they appeared to be. Cassandra would have been devastated otherwise.

We found them lying in a heap in the brush along the hillside. They were shaken but relatively unhurt, thank goodness.

I bent down to pick up his equipment. "I'm just glad you two are all right." I handed Mark his rifle. "Thanks for letting me use this."

He took it and hung it over his shoulder by its strap. "You're welcome. I'm glad you're a better shot than I am."

"No you're not," I said with a grin, giving him a shrewd look. "My aunt gave me a cheat sheet on math and physics when I was younger. I still have it somewhere. If you like, I'll run you off a copy. Allowing for windage is nothing more than a math problem." I winked. "It works great for pool, too."

Mark elbowed his brother in the side.

"Did you hear that, dude? She's going to give me a cheat sheet on physics. I'll be able to beat you at pool, now."

"In your dreams, rat boy." Matt pushed him up the slope.

I stopped mid stride. "Who's going to take Jake and Dalton's SUV out of here?"

"I'll be surprised if it's still there with the others. Dalton has been gone a while. Definitely long enough to have retrieved their car," Mark said with a grunt as he stepped into a hole.

We topped the hill and saw that our vehicles were there waiting for us. As Mark predicted, Dalton's truck was already gone.

Strong energy fields surrounded all three of the remaining vehicles and I paused. My body shook as the energy fields grew larger.

"Don't go near the cars!" I screamed my warning to the twins as they raced toward their vehicle.

Their constant competitiveness would get them into trouble one of these days. But, not today.

"What's wrong?" Gabriel wrapped his arm around my shoulders and hugged me to his side.

"I -- I don't know. The cars look funny." I tilted my head to look up into his eyes. "They didn't have auras before. Now they . . ." I shrugged, looked back at the cars and sent him a mental image of what I saw.

He stepped forward, leaving me to stand just behind him. My legs gave out and, with Gabriel's help, I settled myself on the thick branch of a fallen tree.

"She's right. Something is wrong with the vehicles." He pressed his lips into a thin smile. "Dalton, no doubt."

Matt set his gear down with the exception of one small bag and continued toward the parked cars.

"Don't," I called after him.

He turned to address us all. "This is my day job. It's what I do. All of you stay at a safe distance until I'm done. I don't need any distractions."

"Day job?" I threw a questioning glance at Mark. "What does he do for a living?"

The corner of Mark's mouth lifted in a grin. "He's a cop. Bomb squad and S.W.A.T."

"C--cop?"

Suddenly, I found myself sitting with my head shoved between my legs.

"Breathe," Gabriel whispered in my ear.

"No wonder . . ." I gasped, trying to catch my breath. "No wonder he had a gun not available to the general public." I glanced over at the rifle I had used. "Some people get nice replicas that looks like the real thing but I knew that," I pointed to the weapon, "wasn't a replica."

I pressed my lips together in a tight smile, trying to keep from having a breakdown.

"Aunt Mags used to be a Marine. She had a lot of friends who stayed in the Corps. They taught me everything I know about weapons."

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. Okay, Alicia, get it together. This isn't just about you.

When I opened my eyes, I finally had my emotions in check. I stood up, leaving the bug infested log, strode over to my husband and watched.

Matt was on the ground next to my car, his arm up underneath it.

"I hope he knows what he's doing," I whispered to the others.

"He does." Mark walked over to join us then watched his brother with obvious pride. "He's the best."

After a minute or two, Matt scooted away from my car and sat up. He held something in his hand. From this distance, it looked like a small package.

He set it on the back of my car then strode over to the SUV parked in front of it. It didn't take him long to remove the devices from the other vehicles since they were larger than my car and sat higher off the ground.

He put the square objects into his vehicle and strode back to us.

"All set?" he asked, giving me a strange look. "How did you know someone had set explosive devices on the cars?"

I bristled at his accusatory tone.

"Hey, don't try to blame that on me!" I waved my hand toward the road. "I was with you, remember? Have you forgotten that the first bomb you pulled was from my car?"

I paced back and forth, taking great delight in crushing the dried pine needles beneath my feet. Why do men always target the obvious?

Gabriel straightened to his full height. The air of menace surrounding him was not something to ignore.

"You would do well to not accuse my mate again."

Matt looked between us, raised his hands palms out and immediately apologized. "I'm sorry. I guess it's the suspicious cop in me."

Mark stepped up, slapped his brother on the back and gave him a hug. "You had me worried there for a bit, bro. Try not to take years off of my life, next time, huh?"

I took a keep breath, shrugged out from under my husband's arm and went to Matt, my hands held out in front of me.

"I -- I killed two unarmed men out there tonight. You're going to want to take me in."

His gaze flicked over me, then to Gabriel and the others. He turned away and started to gather the gear he dropped earlier.

"In my opinion, a Rogue or a revenant is already dead." He jammed the extra clips that had dumped out onto the ground, back into his bag. "You just laid them to rest as far as I'm concerned."

He stood, strode toward his truck.

"Let's get the hell out of here before I have to explain this to some of my friends. They're going to pick up our trail from the compound in no time."

Chapter Eighteen

"Let me see your chest." I ripped open Gabriel's blood soaked shirt and pushed it off his shoulders.

Angry red welts marred his perfect chest. A few more peppered his hard washboard abdomen. His breath hitched as my fingers trailed over his golden skin, inspecting his injuries.

My lips curled in a small smile as his flat, brown nipples pebbled beneath my fingertips. A part of me wanted to lean forward and lick those small, pert nubs, but we had an audience.

His face was still gaunt. "You need to feed," I invited, my voice husky with desire. That thing I felt awakening in me must have been my sexual awareness of my husband. I craved his touch, hungered for it.

He leaned forward, kissed my forehead and pulled me to his side.

"You should be careful, Cassandra, they may set their sights on you after we've gone."

I wrapped my arm around his waist, resting my other hand on his flat stomach. I don't know came over me. Before, I couldn't bring myself to touch him. Now I couldn't keep my hands to myself.

Cassie nodded. "They may decide to come after me," she agreed. Her face split into a grin as she pulled out one of her brother's semi-automatic pistols. "But if they do, they're going to be in for one hell of a surprise."

I frowned. "I'd feel better if you would go stay with your family."

She gave a wry smile. "You, of all people, should understand why I don't want to do that."

"I do," I said, nodding. "But it doesn't mean I have to like it." I looked up at my husband. "After all, look what I've done to assure my own safety."

Tilting my head, I studied the woman who had fast become one of my closest friends. "Diego said he will stop by and check on you from time to time."

She wrinkled her nose. "I'd rather it was Nathaniel." She winked at me. "He's kinda cute."

I had to hand it to her. She was handling Joshua's betrayal quite well. She had a full-blown crush on him.

Gabriel raised his brow. "Why Nate?"

She blushed. "Oh, I don't know. I have never really been attracted to the tall, dark and handsome type. I really prefer blondes." She flicked her gaze to Gabriel and rolled her eyes. "I know you're taken, so get that nervous look off your face."

I'm not sure whose relief was more palpable, his or mine.

She shook her head. "You two should go get some rest. You have a long trip in front of you." She turned to grab a soda from the mini bar. "Are you taking a commercial flight or a charter?

Gabriel grinned and my heart stuttered in my chest. How the man could turn me on with a look was beyond me.

"We do need to get some rest," I cast my gaze over to my husband and winked. "We're burning darkness."

I certainly hope he got the hint. You would think, for a man who could read my mind, he certainly wasn't picking up on my needs, tonight.

Gabriel looked at me and grinned. He bent, picked me up and headed for the stairs. "You're right. We should go get some rest." Tonight, the night is ours.

He caressed the tip of each of my breasts with a look I felt all the way down to my toes. Still carrying me, he climbed the stairs to his room. We would spend our last few hours in this house making memories. Good memories if I had anything to say about it.

The door opened as we approached it and I shook my head. "You're going to teach me how to do that, aren't you?"

He chuckled. "Of course. After you have chosen to become one of us."

"I already have." Pouting, I crossed my arms over my chest.

The action pushed my breasts together and up, drawing his attention. My nipples pebbled against the abrasive white lace of my bra as his gaze fired my blood.

A slow grin spread across my face as I remembered all of the sexy nightwear in my closet that awaited a night like this.

He set me on my feet, cupped my head in his hands and kissed me softly. A slow burn began in my toes, working its way up through my extremities to settle in my middle.

"I, um . . . need to go to my room for a minute." My face heated as I thought about what I would wear to surprise my husband.

"You're not . . ." he cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. "You're not going to --"

"Run?" I finished for him with a smile. I shook my head. "Definitely not. I just want to shower first. I looked down at my grungy clothing. "You have to admit I could use one."

"You don't need to. I mean I could . . ." he paused and waved his hand in front of me, obviously uncomfortable with making the offer. He was probably afraid of scaring me off.

I shook my head. "No, thank you. I think I'd rather cleanse myself the old fashioned way."

He bowed his head slowly. "As you wish."

Turning, I gave him a soft smile and a wink. "Don't worry, I'll be back." I sauntered to the door connecting our two rooms, allowing my hips to sway gently with each step.

When I reached the door, I turned and gave him the sexiest look I could muster then left the room.

After my shower, I applied scented lotion to my body and donned the white corset we purchased at the mall. Over that, I wore a white lace negligee and matching robe. The garter-belt and silk stockings finished my ensemble. I never felt so sexy, so decadent, as I did when I slipped on the three inch stiletto pumps.

Before returning to Gabriel's room, I splashed cold water on my burning face and told myself that I did have the courage to go through with my plans.

I nervously approached the door that separated our rooms. Resting my forehead against the cool wood and my hand on the knob, I took a couple of deep breaths. My fingers tightened on the knob, I turned my hand and slowly opened the door.

He was facing away from me as I entered the room. I took the opportunity to admire the broad expanse of his muscular back. My gaze lowered to rest on his well-formed ass. I swallowed thickly and cleared my throat.

He turned as if in slow motion. The wine bottle he held in his right hand slid from his grip and shattered on the hardwood floor. A red puddle formed around his feet. His Adam's apple bobbed in his throat as he swallowed repeatedly, obviously speechless.

"You -- you look . . ." Ravishing. The word hung between us for a moment. It was almost as if he had said it. I heard his voice say the word in my mind. "Beautiful."

"Beautiful?"

That certainly wasn't the word I would have used. Slutty. Whorish. Like a five-dollar hooker. Now, those words fit. I don't know about beautiful.

He glanced down at the mess on the floor and waved his hand. The broken glass and puddle disappeared and my jaw dropped.

"Handy trick you have there. You're definitely going to teach me how to do that," I said, pointing.

He chuckled. "Everything, my love. I'll gladly teach you everything I know."

His eyes devoured me as he approached. His movements were slow, as if he was afraid he would frighten me and I would run screaming from the room. Perhaps he was.

Embarrassed, I lowered my gaze to his chest. His shirt was unbuttoned halfway down and revealed his extremely buff torso.

Blonde hairs lightly dusted his chest, his tanned skin, a dark contrast against the gleaming white of his shirt.

He'd changed. The blood and holes were gone but there was still evidence of his earlier battle. The angry red welts from before, were now pink and mostly healed.

My thoughts flashed back to the 'wine' he had been drinking when I entered the room and I wondered if it had really been wine after all.

Was there blood in that bottle?

"It was blood," he answered my unspoken question.

"I told you that you could . . ." I let the words trail off as I raised my hand to my neck and covered the tingling spot where he had fed before.

My face heated and I turned away, humiliated. He didn't have to feed from me if he didn't want to. Maybe I taste funny or something.

He walked up behind me, grasped my upper arm and turned me around. I refused to look up into his eyes. I fixed my gaze on the center of his chest and tried not to cry.

"Goodness, Alicia. The thoughts you have." He pulled me into his arms and held me close. "You definitely do not taste funny. I drank the bottled blood because I hungered greatly. I feared for you."

He drew in a deep breath then sighed. "I could kill you if I took too much. I do not want that. With my hunger and the fact that I already crave the sweetness of your blood, I feared I would harm you. Taste funny?" He rested his cheek against my head and laughed softly. "You taste exquisite."

I rubbed my face against his chest, delighting in his warm, sandalwood and citrus scent.

"I love you." My declaration was louder, stronger than it ever had been. "I want to be like you. Make me like you."

He sighed with relief. I felt the tension drain from him as if I had removed a great weight from his shoulders.

"I am delighted that you want to become one of The Chosen. I have waited so long to hear those very words come from your lips."

He set me from him and ran his fingers through my hair.

"I cannot change you tonight."

"Why?" I bit my lip, worried. Was he having second thoughts?

He chuckled. "Second thoughts? After waiting several lifetimes for you? After watching you die, time and time again because previous incarnations of you refused to accept the gift?" He shook his head. "Not hardly. There is a ritual involved. We need a third party, someone to help us say the vows, like a Christian minister. Only this is not a Christian ceremony at all. It has been this way since before your Christ was born."

"Oh." I looked down at myself and laughed. "I guess right now is out of the question, then."

His lips quirked and he raised his brow. "Indeed."

His scorching gaze burned a trail over my body, lingering over my breasts. My nipples hardened against the stiff material of the corset.

I shifted uncomfortably. I had tied the sides of the corset tight, to push my breasts over the top, giving myself the cleavage I otherwise lacked.

His glittering gaze rested on the rise of my breasts, where they spilled out over the top of the corset. My flesh tingled and burned as his intense stare seared my flesh, traveling lower before moving back up to look into my eyes.

He held his hand out.

"Come to me."

I licked my suddenly dry lips and rose to my feet. I slowly walked over to stand in front of him.

Reaching up, his hands skimmed over my arms, his fingers closed around my biceps, he pulled me down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me.

I leaned into him, buried my face into the crook of his neck.

"You smell so good," he said, inhaling deeply "I could sit here forever and be happy, just smelling your skin."

I squirmed on his lap as his cock grew hard and pressed against my hip.

My hand slid up his arm and over his shoulder to cup his cheek. Leaning into him, I brought my face closer to his and pressed our lips together.

"I didn't realize you were all talk and no action, husband," I teased.

Before I knew it, he stood with me in his arms and rushed over to the bed. Laying me down on the thick goose-down comforter, he covered my body with his.

His talented mouth slid sensuously over my skin.

"You wanted action," he breathed in my ear. "I shall show you action."

Butterflies took flight in my belly as he trailed kisses over my face, neck and shoulders. He lapped at my hardened nipples before drawing each turgid peak into his mouth, suckling lightly.

Tiny invisible threads of desire flared out from the firm tips, reaching deep into my belly. Every draw on my breast tugged those threads causing my desire to flare higher, hotter.

I felt strange. Almost sick, my stomach churned as my need climbed and he took me to a new level of desire I had never reached before.

My heart slammed in my chest as his hands skimmed over my burning flesh. He touched me everywhere in secret places I never even knew existed.

Long fingers separated the fold of my nether lips as his mouth drew on my right nipple. His teeth nibbled and teased, kneading the tender peak.

"Do you like this?" he asked then blew across the moistened nub.

"Yes," my head thrashed on the comforter, my cheeks burning with desire and embarrassment as I answered his question.

He drew my nipple back into his mouth and sank his fingers deep into my pussy.

"Tell me what you want me to do."

My face burned. I couldn't voice my needs. This wasn't my dream Gabriel, this was really happening. I found I couldn't be so vocal, so demanding in real life.

"Tell me."

Chapter Nineteen

"I -- I can't."

"Why can you not tell me what it is you like? How will I know, if you do not tell me?" He moved his finger a little, barely brushing the quivering nub. "Don't you like this?"

Like it? I loved it. I just couldn't bring myself to tell him with words. I tried to tell him with my body instead. My hips rose from the bed, trying to force the contact my flesh craved. It didn't work.

"Yes, I like it. Please, Gabriel," I sobbed.

"Then tell me." He nibbled the underside of my breast. "Tell me to rub your clit. It is that simple. Tell me you want me to bury my cock deep into your tight, little cunt. Tell me and your wish is my command."

Tears of frustration leaked from the corners of my eyes. Would he leave me in need if I couldn't say it? Could he really be that cruel?

I fisted my fingers in his hair, pulled ruthlessly on his head until is lips hovered over mine again.

"Please," I whimpered.

His gaze devoured my face. My body reacted instantly to his heated stare and my womb clenched. The tips of my breasts hardened to painful peaks and my clit twitched beneath his unmoving fingers.

"Tell me," he murmured against my lips.

"Stop teasing me, dammit!" I pushed him away, screaming out my frustration.

My chest heaved from my exertions, my breath coming in short gasps. He'd taken my desires to a new height. One that frightened me because I realized I would do almost anything to find relief.

"Tell me," he lapped at my nipple, drew the hard peak into his mouth and suckled it.

Suddenly, some previously barred door in my mind slammed open. A new awareness swept over me. A previously unexplored and untapped area of my mind awakened with an intensity that made me quiver and shake.

Gone was that frightened little girl. That shy timid victim existed no longer. In her place was a woman with wants and desires, a woman who was totally aware and finally unafraid of her own sexuality.

"Yesss," I hissed out between my clenched teeth.

His mouth felt wonderful on my flesh. I took a moment to enjoy it. No longer frustrated, I was about to give him what he wanted and was sure he would finally give me relief.

Covering his hand with mine, I pushed his fingers against me.

"Move your fingers, dammit. Stroke my clit and make me come before I scream."

I giggled softly at that. He would make me scream when I came, so either way my poor husband was in for an earful. I think I shocked him. He lifted his head, his mouth leaving my breast and I whimpered.

He didn't make me ask for it, his mouth quickly returned to my breast and I arched up into his embrace. Long fingers slid through my slick folds as he thrummed the little nub.

My hand slid from his when I realized he'd gotten what he wanted. My hands fisted in his hair, alternately caressing and pulling as I held his head to my breast.

A tingling heat began in my toes, worked its way up my legs and throughout my body until I burned all over. Insensate with desire, I craved the mind-blowing orgasm that I knew was just out of my reach.

"Gabriel!"

I screamed his name as he took me over the edge. He held my clit between his fingers. It pulled slightly as it pulsed with the force of my orgasm.

His mouth left my breast and he moved his head lower. Kissing my stomach, he sank his tongue into my navel. It seemed to dance over my flesh as he worked his way down my body.

I reached up and pushed the damp hair from my face. I knew what he had in mind. I didn't think I would survive it. Pausing, he gave me a reprieve.

"What next, my love?"

"Fuck me." I blurted it out. I was through being shy. Through with being embarrassed or scared of my sexuality.

"With what?"

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

I lifted my head off the mattress to look at him. He returned my gaze with one brow lifted. He brought his hand from between my legs, still wet from my juices.

"Should I fuck you with my fingers?" He licked the crease of my hip. "Should I use my tongue?"

"You're going to kill me," I panted. "I want you to fuck me. Slide your cock into me, please!"

He smiled softly and I scowled. He was enjoying this way too much and I vowed to myself to make him pay for this someday.

"Fuck you where?"

"Arrgh!" I screamed out my frustration, spread my legs and spelled it out for him, since it seemed that was what he wanted. "Fuck me, dammit! Slide your cock inside my pussy and fuck me!"

"That wasn't so bad, now, was it?" He grinned then and I wanted to hit him.

He leaned back, tore the white lace thong from me as if I had taped it on then slid into me slowly.

"I love the way your folds spread for me, hugging my cock as I push inside you."

He reached between us, fingering my slick pussy. His finger circled the small pulsing nub of my clit. It twitched, begging for his touch.

"Wrap your legs around me, love."

His voice had a slight accent. I rarely heard it when we talked under normal circumstances, but it seemed, he couldn't mask it when he was fully aroused.

I tossed my head on the bed and cried out when he finally buried himself all the way inside me. His sac slapped my rear as he drove into me.

He looked into my eyes and slid in and out, grinding his pelvis against me on each forward thrust.

"Is this what you wanted?"

"Yes." I tightened my legs around him lifting my hips to meet his downward plunge.

He slid into me again, groaning. "You're so wet, so tight, Alicia." He leaned forward, lapped at my nipple.

I reached up, brushed the hair from his face and wiped the thin layer of perspiration from his brow.

"Love me," I whispered against his ear when he leaned forward to kiss my neck.

He pulled back, brushed my wet bangs from my face and looked into my eyes.

"I do love you, Alicia. More than you know." He kissed me tenderly.

I looked up at him and smiled. "I love you, too." I gasped when he grasped me behind the knees and pushed my legs to my chest.

The change in position allowed him to sink his huge member even deeper inside me. Leaning forward, his lips covered the tip of my breast, the abrasive scrape of his teeth and the rough brush of the stubble on his cheeks added to the sensation.

I jerked against him, raised my hips higher during his downward thrust, needing a more forceful possession.

My head thrashed back and forth. "You're going to kill me, dammit," I panted. "What are you waiting for?"

How much more would he tease me before he allowed me a release? I didn't know how much more of this slow, gentle possession I could take.

"Tell me," he insisted again.

This time I didn't hesitate. I gave him what he wanted. If he wanted me to talk dirty to him to get what I wanted, what I needed, I damn well was going to do it.

"Ram it into me, you prick! Have mercy, Gabriel. Give it to me!"

"I'm afraid of losing--"

"Control?" I asked. "I want you out of control. Give it to me!"

My whole body shook with the need to come. My climax was so close, just out of reach. It was there waiting for . . . something.

His hard cock slid in and out of me, the slick cream from my grasping sex covered his huge member, dripping down onto his balls. I felt the wetness as they slapped against my rear where he pounded into me.

His breathing was harsh as his body labored over mine. He drove into me with a force that rocked the heavy four-poster bed. The headboard banged out an uneven rhythm against the wall.

Reaching up, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, digging my nails into his back.

Finally, his thoughts, his feelings flooded into my mind. Countless memories flew through my head. I saw his youth, his horrible, lonely and endless existence.

Two women whom I didn't recognize loved him, and then left him. Two women he loved. I didn't recognize either of them, but their souls and memories were one.

Mine.

Tears ran down my face as I finally learned who my husband really was.

"Enough," he said, then kissed me gently. His memories receded, replaced with pure sensation. I felt his pleasure. I felt the way my channel clasped his cock like a slick velvet fist. How my climax made my vaginal walls milk his shaft.

His sac ached with the tremendous need to climax, yet he held back, waiting to bring me pleasure first. He withdrew, then slowly sank himself into me again and started the wonderful cycle of sensation over again.

"God, you're good," I panted as he drove deeper within me. His balls slapped my rear. Impossibly, his cock grew larger, pulled at the extra bit of flesh around my clit. The base of his cock rubbed the little swollen nub every time he drove inside me.

"Gabriel," I screamed his name as another massive orgasm gripped me.

"Alicia, love," he groaned against my lips. His mouth moved over my jaw to my neck. He lapped at the sensitive skin just below my ear.

He lost control then, I think. He pounded into me as I'd begged him to do. I screamed out my pleasure as he sank his teeth deep into my flesh.

His body jerked over mine and he repeatedly pounded his erection into my body as he fed from me. I wrapped my arms around his head as a strange languor stole over me.

"I'm so tired," I whispered, then frowned when my hands fell from his head and my legs dropped from around his waist. I wanted desperately to hold him, but was just too tired.

My head fell back on my shoulders when he lifted me to sink his teeth deeper into my throat.

I had the fleeting thought that he had lost control and was draining me dry but was just too tired to care. I barely felt him swipe his tongue over the wound his teeth left in my neck and his frantic call came from so far away.

If I was about to die . . . well, what a way to go.

"Alicia!"

Chapter Twenty

I floated near a thin, thin line somewhere between life and death, wakefulness and sleep. It was a strange place where Gabriel both begged and threatened me. I shook off the ridiculous notion that he would do either.

My husband just wasn't the type of man who would beg for anything and he would never threaten any woman, let alone me.

"Thank God," Gabriel sighed, when I opened my eyes. He sank to his knees on the floor beside the bed, reached up and caressed my face with his thumb. His fingers feathered through my hair and he looked . . . old somehow.

"I'm thirsty." I licked my lips.

He brought a cup to my mouth. I tried to gulp down the cool water but he would only let me have a few sips.

"Easy now," he said softly. "Try not to take too much at once. We don't want you to be sick."

I looked up at him.

"What happened?" My voice cracked, my throat was so dry.

He looked away, a muscle ticked in his jaw. I cast my gaze around the darkened room and smiled softly.

"Wow! Now I know you're good. You fucked me so senseless, I passed out." I shifted, trying to sit up. "How long was I out?"

Judging by the level of darkness outside the window, I would guess at least a couple of hours.

He gazed into my eyes, his expression somber.

I frowned. For someone who just screwed his wife senseless -- not to mention a state of unconsciousness -- he certainly didn't look too proud of himself.

"Never again," he growled, shaking his head.

"What? Never what again," I asked warily. I shook my head, trying to clear it. "Boy, am I dizzy."

He shook his head and cursed under his breath.

"What is it?" I asked with a frown.

"I will never take your blood while I hunger, ever again."

A sense of resignation settled over me as I finally remembered the events from earlier. My hand flew up to cover the spot from where he had fed.

"You almost took too much, didn't you?"

"I almost killed you, that is what I did," he bit out between clenched teeth.

I couldn't bear his tortured expression any longer. I reached up to smooth the lines of strain and worry from his face.

He pulled away and stood up.

"Some protector I turned out to be." He turned his back to me, stuck his hands in his pockets. "I almost killed you."

I shivered and gooseflesh rose on my skin as I remembered our earlier activities.

"Yeah, but whooo boy! What a way to go."

"I'm not kidding, Alicia. I could have killed you."

Taking a deep breath, I found the strength to sit up.

"I know you're not joking. Neither was I."

Shifting, I tried to move the pillow behind me to make myself more comfortable.

He was there in an instant, helping me. He fluffed the pillow and placed it behind my back, seeing to my comfort as he always did.

"Your -- you made a mistake." I almost made the mistake of saying he was human.

"It was a deadly mistake, an unforgivable mistake. One that cannot be repeated."

I grabbed his hand, pulled and held it against my cheek.

"You already know I'm not afraid of death. The only things I am afraid of is being violated again and living a life without you in it. Don't you see? If my death would have helped you, healed you, it would have been worth it and I would have called it good."

He sank to his knees beside me again. "How can you forgive such an unspeakable act?"

"Because I love you."

"I can't -- I won't endanger you that way again," he said, pulling away. "I don't even trust myself to be this close to you."

I gritted my teeth as I watched him withdraw. Reaching out, I grabbed his shoulders and tried to shake him but he didn't budge.

"Listen to me, dammit!" I snarled. "I'm so tired of this shit. If you're not going to stay close to me, who is? Who's going to protect me, no one?"

I swung my legs over the side of the bed. The sheet fell away from me, revealing the corset that we never removed in our rush to taste one another. My breasts spilled out over the top, jiggling as I tried to shake him again but I just didn't give a good damn.

"If I'm to have no protection from now on, you might as well finish me off."

Denial flashed in his eyes and he shook his head. He would have said something, but I held my hand up in his face.

"I'm not finished yet, so keep your mouth shut."

Stopping for a moment, I took a deep breath and rested my hand on his chest.

"I love you, Gabriel. I don't want to live without you." I looked up, gazed into his beautiful swirling silver eyes. "If you would have killed me tonight, you would have continued until all those monsters were dead. You would have lived on and I would have considered my sacrifice well worth it."

Reaching up, I wrapped my arms around his neck and drew his head down to rest on my breast.

"I would have given my life for yours back at the compound. What makes you think I would do any less here at the house?"

I smiled.

"So, the next time you almost drain me dry, swipe a couple of pints of that blood you keep stored and give it to me. Just make sure it's O positive."

I let my smile grow to a grin and winked. "Who knows? You might get lucky and give me the blood of a nymphomaniac or something."

He wrapped his arms around me, trembling.

"I don't believe you forgive me."

"What's to forgive?" I asked with a snort. "You give me the best sex known to womankind and you think I should be upset?" I shook my head. "You should be so lucky. You may have just created a monster." I winked again. "A sex monster."

He grinned. "Sex monster? I think I like the sound of that."

I rolled my eyes and snorted. "You would."

He stood, looking serious. "We should get dressed. We must leave soon."

"Leave?" I frowned. "It's in the middle of the night. Won't they expect us to try and sneak out of here in the dark of night?"

"Yes, he said with a nod. "That is exactly why we must go now." He donned a pair of black jeans he pulled out of thin air and shrugged into a long sleeved black shirt. Stopping, he waved his hand and clothes appeared on the bed. All black and all my size.

Whistling, I sauntered over to the bed, picked up a pair of black crotch-less panties and matching bra.

"Have high hopes for later, do you?" I turned to him, my eyebrow raised.

He actually blushed. "You could say that."

"Can't blame a guy for hoping, I guess."

I slipped into my clothes as quickly as I could. I'm not as comfortable with my nudity as he obviously was.

"What?" I asked when I noticed his intense stare.

"You are so beautiful. I love the way your chestnut hair glistens in the light. The fire of your cinnamon eyes when you are angry. How they light with desire when I stroke your clit."

He kissed me slowly. It was a totally tongue-free kiss and so tender it brought tears to my eyes.

"Did I hurt you?"

He looked stricken, upset with the thought that he could have brought me pain.

"Of course not. I just . . ." What could I say? I already told him I didn't deserve him. "Forget it. We need to get moving."

Thankfully, he didn't push me for an answer. He merely agreed, took my hand and led me to the door.

"Have I told you I love you today?"

"You just did," I said with a grin.

Leaning up on my toes, I gave him -- what I hope was -- a toe-curling kiss.

"If you keep squeezing my rear like that, I don't think we'll be going anywhere soon."

Embarrassment scorched my cheeks and I pulled my hand back so fast you would think it had bitten me.

Gabriel threw his head back and laughed. It shocked me. I didn't think the man could get more handsome. I was wrong.

That didn't excuse his invading my thoughts again.

"Hey!" I gave him a shove. "How many times do I have to tell you to stay out of my head?"

He chuckled. "You didn't mind it earlier."

I made a face and narrowed my eyes. "Watch it, mister."

Warmth stole through me when he wrapped his arms around me, resting his hands on my rear.

"Our mind link is to help you understand our relationship better, among other things."

"Other things?"

"When you become one of us, you will need the link between us to learn faster." He kissed the tip of my nose. "I do love you, Alicia. My hope is that you never doubt that."

"I haven't doubted that for some time."

Turning, I faced the window and looked at him from the corner of my eye.

"I have, however, doubted your sanity a few times."

He pulled me closer.

"Ow!" I swatted him then rubbed my right butt cheek. "That hurts, dammit!"

I stuck my tongue out at him and watched the color of his eyes change from pale silver to a stormy gray. I loved the way I could make him want me like that. A few weeks ago, that would have scared the hell out of me.

He leaned down, pressed his lips to my ear. "We must get moving, my love."

The stubble on his cheek, coupled with the warmth of his breath on the sensitive skin of my neck, made me shiver with anticipation.

"We'll finish this," he kissed my neck, his lips and tongue doing wonderful things to my neck. "Later."

The door opened behind me and he backed me out into the hallway.

"Yeah, okay." I agreed with a nod. "But I want to stop somewhere where we can be handfasted."

"That anxious to get it over with, are you?" He gave me a half grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "If you are unsure . . ."

The impression of pain flickered in my mind before he severed the connection between us. I reached up to smooth the frown from his brow.

"No. I'm in a hurry because I will be stronger after you make me a vampire."

Did I just say that?

One of these days, I'm going to have to come to terms with the fact that I wanted to live with Gabriel for the rest of my life. Hell, let's face it. I wanted to live with him the rest of his life.

I reached up to smooth the frown from his brow and wondered if he kept peeking in on my thoughts because he was insecure about our relationship.

Pulling from his embrace, I paced away from him.

"The way I am now, I always need to rely on you for just about everything. Not that I don't want to rely on you," I hurried to add. I walked back to him, rested my hands on his chest and looked up into his eyes.

"I don't find that distressing or horrible in the least, but you have to admit it would be easier if I could defend myself. It would be so much easier for the both of us. To tell the truth, I'm kind of looking forward to truly mating with you."

"That is a sound argument."

"Don't go all logical on me now. I didn't realize I was arguing a case."

He took a deep breath and blew it out on a rush.

"You were not. I just thought you would like Tasha to be there for the ritual."

I pursed my lips and tilted my head to the side. "Well, there is that."

Did he really want to wait until we reached England, or did he want to defer the handfasting because it was what he thought I wanted?

There was one other possibility. Maybe he didn't plan to change me at all.

After all, he still held himself from me except when we were making love. It was almost as if he couldn't keep me from his thoughts when he was extremely aroused.

Chapter Twenty-one

Stay calm, Alicia, there's a logical explanation for why he wants to wait. Don't jump to any conclusions.

"Okay, we can wait. I'm guessing there's some reason you would rather handfast in Europe, so I'll defer to your better judgment on this."

"Thank you."

He pressed a quick kiss to my lips and led me down the hall to the back stairs.

"We must make it appear as though we are attempting to slip from the house unnoticed." We will communicate through our mental link and, like it or not, you must allow me in your mind to protect you from others reading your thoughts.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Well, I don't have much of a choice, now, do I?"

It was amazing how easily I accepted speaking mentally with Gabriel.

We opened the door at the bottom of the stairs and crept into the kitchen. The cook was already at work setting bread dough to rise.

What is she doing here so early? I glared at him, crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my foot. Let the poor woman sleep.

She likes what she does. I have spoken to her several times on this matter. I cannot convince her otherwise.

I looked up at him, confused. Can't she see us?

No. I am shielding us from notice. The less we say to those we leave behind, the better.

Oh, I never thought of that.

We continued to move through the kitchen to the back door.

I don't believe we're doing this just to put on a show for those damned freaks.

The show, my love, is to draw them from those under our protection.

I loved the way he said 'our protection' like I was already one of his kind. He always seemed to know what would make me feel better.

He stopped, cupped my cheek and looked into my eyes.

If the others see us leave, they will follow and, with luck, leave Cassandra and the others we leave here alone.

I didn't think of that either.

He thought of everything and I have thought of nothing. I felt so stupid.

You are many, many years younger than I am, my heart. Why do you insist on believing you should think like an ancient?"

I know you didn't just call yourself ancient. I rolled my eyes, pushed past him and sidestepped when Rosa almost stomped on my foot.

I forgot she can't see us. I turned to him and raised my brow in that annoying way he was so fond of doing.

Where to now, oh ancient leader?

I think the word is fearless. Fearless leader.

Hrmph. That's what you say.

He gave me a shark-like grin and I winked at him.

My heart skipped several beats when he grabbed me and planted another toe-curling kiss on my lips.

Silver eyes clouded with desire stared deeply into mine when he lifted his head. His lips still glistened with moisture from our kiss and his heart slammed erratically beneath the palm of my hand.

We must leave.

It sounded an awfully lot like he wanted to do anything but leave.

That is so. He inclined his head. We must be far from here when the sun rises. He frowned. I never should have brought you back here.

I'm glad you did. I wanted to tell Cassie goodbye. I didn't want it to look like we had just disappeared off the face of the Earth. She wouldn't have known where we went.

It would have been safer for her if she did not.

I gave into the urge to reach up and smooth a stray lock of hair from his forehead. The silky strands sifted through my fingers before stubbornly falling back over his left eye.

You need to get that cut.

He took my hand in his and kissed the back of my knuckles.

Time to go.

Taking a deep breath, I squeezed his fingers and let him lead me to the door.

The slight breeze the weatherman predicted from the North carried the musty scent of the forest. The cool air lifted the hair from my neck and I shivered in the darkness.

Gabriel conjured up an old-fashioned looking cape for me and draped it across my shoulders.

Thank you. I pulled the heavy silk lined wool around me, snuggling deeper into its warmth. Does that come naturally or is that something I'm going to have to learn how to do? I reached out, resting my hand on his arm. You are definitely teaching me how to do that at the first opportunity. I'll save a fortune in clothes.

As you wish.

I made a face at the annoying phrase and hurried to keep up with his long legged stride.

We slipped silently through the yard and around the back of the garage. The side door opened as we approached. The more Gabriel used his unique powers in front of me, the more I wanted to be like him.

When we stopped, just outside the side door, he wrapped his arms around me from behind, his hands lightly cupping my breasts. My nipples tightened, they hardened into diamond-hard peaks that started to ache with the need to feel the warmth of his mouth.

You shall be like me as soon as we can manage to perform the ritual safely, my love.

The door opened silently behind me and we entered the dark garage.

I can't see in here.

If it had been dark outside, it was black as pitch inside.

Gabriel immediately merged his mind with mine and suddenly I could 'see' through his eyes.

This is so strange.

Everything was as clear to me as if the lights were on. The only difference, I could see things from several inches higher than usual.

So this is what everything looks like from up there, huh? I asked with a grin.

He chuckled into my mind, his fingers tangling with mine as he led me around several cars to a beautiful, red Porsche 911.

I whistled, and then slapped my hand over my mouth.

Sorry.

He grinned and opened the passenger door for me. I slid into the car and shivered against the cold leather seat.

Aren't you afraid we'll destroy this beauty? I know I would be terrified.

No. He shook his head. They will disable it while we are in the hotel, thinking to strand us. We will depart from our room, leaving no trace. Carlisle will pick up the car sometime tomorrow.

He easily slid behind the wheel and the car started smoothly while he fastened his seat belt. The things he could do with his mind still amazed me.

When he finished with his own restraint, he glanced over at me and frowned. My seatbelt wrapped itself around me, fastening itself snuggly over my hips.

"Thank you," I whispered. "Show off."

"It is more than likely that our enemies will be out there, waiting for us to leave so they might follow us. They will hope to catch us unaware. If they do not stop us tonight they will, no doubt, send their revenants to do their bidding during the daylight hours, when they are weakest."

He didn't remind me that he would also be at his weakest during the day. I've seen his weakest. He is approximately twice as strong as a human male, even at his weakest. I could have kissed him for trying to protect me like that. I refrained since he was still driving.

He reached over and rested his right hand over my left. I turned my hand over, threading my fingers through his. It felt good to be so close, so connected to another human being.

You forget, my love. I am not human.

The words spoken so softly in my mind, reminded me what my husband was and I didn't care. He was the kindest, gentlest man I have ever known. My husband was more of a gentleman than any human male I have ever met.

Traveling north, we sped along the highway for nearly three hours. We stopped somewhere around Traverse City, I think. He parked in the underground parking lot of a large, upscale hotel.

"We will only remain here long enough to make our enemies think we are trapped here for the daylight hours. Rogues tend to forget that it is only they who are so susceptible to the sun's damaging rays."

I opened the door to get out of the car. Before I could move, he was there, beside me, helping me from the car.

"How did you --?" I shook my head. "Never mind."

Of course, he was fast. I had seen it before, on the night we met. I forgot that, just like I chose to forget almost everything from that horrible night.

He pulled me into his arms.

"Do not dwell on those memories, my love. It breaks my heart to feel your distress."

How could I continue to reprimand him for peering into my mind when his every thought seemed to revolve around my comfort, safety and well-being?

I snuggled further into his embrace, taking advantage of the heat radiating from his body.

"How do you stay so warm even when it's so chilly outside?"

His hands skimmed over my back, gooseflesh followed in their wake. A heavy streak of desire shot through my system, my nether parts twitched and my sex grew slick with need.

Burying my face in his chest, I grinned, embarrassed. It seems the poor man had created a monster.

"We can regulate our body temperature, to an extent."

"To an extent?" I pulled back, tilting my head to the side.

He shrugged. "If it were extremely cold, we would still need a coat or cloak, for no other reason than to keep up the appearance of being human."

"Hello Mr. LeBlanc. How are you doing this fine evening?"

The door attendant, a fifty-something man, with friendly green eyes, graying hair and moustache ushered us into the building.

"Let's get you two out of the chill night air."

His gaze flicked over me briefly before he turned to lead us into the lobby.

"You should have warned us that you were coming, sir. We have your room available, but due to a convention in the area, we have no room for the young lady."

"She'll be staying in my rooms with me, Burton. You needn't disstress yourself."

"Oh!" The man cast another glance my way, his eyebrows raised. "Very well, sir. I didn't mean to pry, sir. I just . . . It's just that you never . . ." The man's gaze traveled back and forth between us, his face growing red.

Gabriel clapped the man on the shoulder.

"It's perfectly fine, Burton. Allow me to introduce you to my wife, Alicia."

Burton's eyes lit up. "Why that's wonderful. I've always said you needed to settle down. Too many years alone clouds a man's judgment. You should know that."

He quieted as we entered the main lobby. I dodged a bellhop hurriedly pushing a cart behind a woman in high heels who nearly ran across the marble floor to the opened elevator.

"I'll just get your key, sir."

Burton walked off. I took the moment to study his ramrod straight spine as he approached the front desk.

Turning, I raised my brow. "Why do you get the royal treatment?"

He grinned then winked at me. "They like me."

"Yeah, right."

I turned to the large fountain in the middle of the marble tiled lobby. A mermaid sat on an outcropping of rock, a waterfall cascading behind her. Her outstretched hand dipped into the falling water, parting it for a small bird perched on the tip of her tail. It was beautiful.

"This must have cost a fortune." I looked around the opulent lobby. It must cost a pretty penny to stay one night in a place like this. Not to mention that, he had a room kept for him.

I felt him behind me. His warm breath stirred the hair on the nape of my neck. Heat pooled in my middle and I couldn't help but think he would be lucky if we made it to our room if he kept that up.

"The fountain?"

I nodded. "Yes. It's the most breathtaking fountain I've ever seen." I circled around it. "Don't you ever wonder how much something like this costs?"

"One million, two-hundred sixty-three dollars and fifteen cents after tax." He reached out to wet his hand beneath the spray of water.

"How do you know? Did you design it?"

He shook his head, tucked me beneath his shoulder and kissed the tip of my nose.

"No, I bought it."

"You bought . . . ?" I felt my eyes grow round at his statement. "That means . . ." I cleared my throat. "You own this hotel?"

He grinned and hugged me closer.

"I own the chain."

My knees buckled. I would have fallen if he hadn't scooped me up into his arms.

My eyes glazed over when I looked down at my ring and thought about what went through my mind on our wedding day.

"I -- I've read about you. You're the man everyone says has the Midas touch." I squirmed in his arms, unable to look into his eyes. My gaze focused on his neck, watched his throat work as he talked.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"I -- no. Hell, Gabriel, I don't know. How will you ever know if I truly love you? I could have married you for your money."

He chuckled. Perhaps. If I were human. My gifts make it easy to know your innermost thoughts, remember?

Crossing my arms over my chest, I was glad for a reason to be upset with him again. I looked at him and smiled with false sweetness.

"Stay out of my head, if you know what's good for you. You goon," I hissed, then balled my hand into a fist and thumped his chest good and hard.

I shut up when I noticed Burton heading our way. The man didn't need to know that the newlyweds were already fighting. Hell, the honeymoon was barely over.

Speaking of honeymoons . . .

We will have plenty of time for that on our trip to Europe.

Ha! That's what you say. I think we're going to be too busy running from Rogues and revenants to have a good time.

The sensation of his fingers plucking at my nipples suddenly took me by surprise.

I slapped him. "Stop that."

Burton cleared his throat beside me.

"I have your key. Do you have any luggage, sir?" He asked, his eyebrow raised as if he knew there would be no need for luggage.

"No." He gave Burton a meaningful look. "This was an unexpected trip and we shall not stay long."

"Ah, I see, sir." He turned and led us to a special elevator, inserted the key and waited for the door to open.

"Rogue following you, sir?"

My mouth fell open and my eyes widened. My gaze darted from my husband to the doorman then back again.

"He is a Guide, my love. He knows about my kind and helps protect us from the Rogues and their minions."

"How many of you are there, anyway?"

It was hard to believe that I had lived my entire life without knowing about vampires. I knew other Guides existed, but I certainly didn't know on how grand a scale.

Gabriel tilted his head, deep in thought. "There are about three thousand Cartuotey and at least thirty thousand Guides."

"That many?" I felt my eyes go round at the thought.

He looked around us. "This conversation should not be taking place here."

Chapter Twenty-two

My gaze darted from the front doors to the check-in desk. Many people milled about, bustling from one side of the lobby to the other, all in a hurry to live their lives, all of them ignorant of the danger that surrounded them on a daily basis.

I used to be one of them. One of the lucky ones. One of the ignorant hordes of people who didn't know about all of the monsters that roamed the earth.

Pain filled my mind for a split second. Then Gabriel cut his mind off from mine. Gabriel severed our mental link, hurt.

The absence of his mind touching mine left a huge gap in my mind.

Grabbing his hand, I laced my fingers through his. I didn't' mean to hurt you. I put all of my love into my thoughts. I wanted him to know he was the only light in my otherwise dark existence.

He squeezed my hand and looked down at me, his expression somber, silver eyes gray with sorrow. You need not worry, my heart. The loneliness and insecurity are my failings, not yours.

No, they are mine, Gabriel. You wouldn't have been so lonely for so long, if not for my weaknesses in the past.

How could I let him continue to blame himself for everything? It was so unfair to my gentle husband. Besides, I was no longer the frightened child he married.

Later, when we were alone, I would let him know that I didn't expect him to take the blame for everything. It wasn't that he was weak. On the contrary, he is the strongest man I know. It was because I had been so weak for so long.

He leaned down to whisper in my ear. "This is neither the time, nor the place for this, my love."

I looked around us, wondering if anyone besides Burton overheard us.

"You're right." I took his arm. "We can finish this in the room."

Many things needed to be finished between us. My perpetual state of selfishness was at the top of the list of things to be expunged from my life.

Burton escorted us to the room, and then left us to inform the other Guides in Gabriel's employ, to expect a siege.

I eyed the blue, satin-covered bed, wishing we had the time to use it.

Gabriel wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Do not be cross with me," he said nuzzling my ear. Shivers of delight coursed through my body, causing heat to settle in the pit of my stomach.

Covering his hands with my own, I leaned back into him and rested my head against his shoulder. We stood silent, basking in each other's presence for a long time.

Gabriel was the first to speak. I had been content in my husband's strong, arms, reveling in the feeling of safety they provided.

"We must go now, my love." He kissed my temple and pulled his hands from beneath mine. "I will shield us from the watchful eyes of the Rogues. They must not know we have gone. We need to identify as many as we can. The surveillance cameras will tell us what we need to know."

"Where will we go? Do you really think we'll be safe in England?"

Taking a deep breath, he sighed. "No. They will look for us anywhere I have a home. We will visit Micah's sister in Chicago or a friend of mine in another city." The corner of his mouth lifted in a half grin. "It is fortunate that I have lived as long as I have. I have many people I call friend who would help us."

My mouth fell open and I blinked. "Micah has a sister?" It would be an understatement to say I was shocked to find that Tasha had a sister-in-law. She never mentioned her.

I frowned and rested my hand on his chest. "Wait a minute. I thought Micah was born a vampire . . . Wasn't he?"

"Yes," Gabriel said with a nod. "He was born a vampire, as was I."

"Do you mean that we . . ." I moved my hand back and forth between us. "You and I can have children?" I don't know why that surprised me. Tasha never once mentioned anything about that.

He searched my gaze for a moment before answering with another nod. "Yes, Alicia, you can have children. That, by the way, is entirely up to you. You have the power to either keep yourself from conceiving or you may decide what day you would like to become pregnant with my child."

I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth. "This is an interesting development. That kind of takes all of the fun out of it, doesn't it?"

"Oh, no." He grinned at me then winked. "I do believe the fun is still involved to fertilize the egg you produce."

My cheeks burned and I reached out to pinch him. "Didn't you say it was time to go?" I glanced through the window at the approaching dawn and hoped that no matter how he planned to get us out of here that I would be able to handle it without going into hysterics.

He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me gently. Thoughts of our escape and visits to people I don't know flew from my mind when his lips pressed against mine.

Warmth surrounded me, wrapped around me like a cocoon. I lost the ability to acknowledge the passing of time. I was so lost in the warmth and my husband's kiss.

After what only seemed like a moment, my feet touched the ground. I frowned. When had they left the ground? I opened my eyes and looked around me.

We were no longer in the hotel room. We stood on the roof of another building. I looked out over the strange city, sure that the lights on the horizon were not the lights of Traverse City.

"Where are we?"

"Muskegon."

"What are we doing here?"

"We are going to enlist the help of a friend of mine. We can no longer wait to handfast. You are in too mush danger as a human. I can show you how to protect yourself if you are one of The Chosen."

"The Chosen?"

"It is what we call ourselves because true Cartuotey will only choose to turn their fated mate. You are my fated mate and I have chosen to turn you." He lifted my hand and kissed it. "If you still wish to become like me."

My stomach knotted at the thought and butterflies took flight, leaving me to wonder if it was what I truly wanted. I steeled my resolve. Of course, it's what I wanted. Who wouldn't want to spend eternity with a man like him?

I raised my hand and cupped his cheek. "That is a wonderful idea, husband." I smile softly, swallowing my trepidation. "How long before we get there?"

His smile was dazzling. One day it would be my undoing, I knew it. He looked at me as though I had just given him the world.

"We are there."

"Ooh!" I swallowed thickly. "Great. Do you think he'll mind us just showing up on his doorstep without warning?"

Gabriel shook his head. "No. He will not mind. What we are about to request of him is considered a great honor among our people."

I took a deep breath and blew the hair from my face, then licked my lips, nervous. "A great honor, huh?" I pushed the errant hair back from my forehead. "Do I know him?" That wasn't a fair question and I knew it. I had met so few of them over my lifetime.

"This is Maximillian's residence."

Well, at least it was someone I knew, sort of. I had started to like the Micah look-a-like before he had left to rid the world of a couple of revenants at the mall. I stopped him with my hand on his arm when we reached Max's door.

"How do I look?" I asked, nervously smoothing my hair and clothing. This was essentially another wedding day. I wanted to look the best that I could.

"You look lovely, as always." He reached up to push a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "Your chestnut hair glows with fiery highlights. Your changing eyes dance with a dark golden light and your cheeks are rosy with the blush of your youth and modesty. You are, in a word, beautiful." He leaned down to kiss the tip of my nose. "You needn't be embarrassed. You must know I think you are the loveliest woman in the world."

I looked away, tears in my eyes. Knowing he thought that and having him say it were two entirely different matters. I so didn't deserve him. "I wasn't fishing for compliments, you know. I merely wanted to know that I didn't look a mess."

He threw his head back and laughed.

God, I love it when he does that.

"Alicia, my love, you are beautiful at all times. I have never seen you 'look a mess'. Stop worrying."

My thoughts flew back to the night we met. I knew I was a mess then.

Gabriel cupped my chin and gazed into my eyes. "You were beautiful, even then. Never doubt that."

He turned to the door and held out his arm for me to take it. "Shall we?"

The door opened just as he raised his hand to knock.

"I knew someone was out here, but I can say I never expected it to be you two. Why aren't you off having a honeymoon?"

Gabriel bowed formally then shook Max's hand. We have come to ask you a favor."

Max crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe. "What kind of favor, old friend?" He blinked slowly, the expression on his face and the wild pulsing of his aura made me believe he knew what my husband was about to ask, or he at least had a good idea.

Gabriel tucked me beneath his shoulder and smiled down into my eyes before he returned his gaze to his friend.

"We ask you to handfast us."

Max stood up straight, backed away from his door and extended his arm toward his living room. I felt my eyes widen with surprise when he moved away and I saw inside. I never expected a bachelor to have such a well decorated home.

His living room, decorated with a modern flair, was a dream. The floors, made of tumbled, cream marble gleamed in the soft light from the lamps on the glass-topped tables.

A circular, blue-white rug sat beneath a rectangular chrome and glass coffee table. Behind that stood the sofa, a decorator's dream in modern design, seven feet of decadence covered in buttery, light cream-colored leather.

Glass topped tables flanked the ends of the sofa that faced the large fireplace. Two side chairs of a matching design flanked the fireplace facing the long sofa.

"Come in, please." He waited for us to enter before he asked, "What brings you to me for your handfasting? I thought you would want to wait until you reached England and your family for that."

His curiosity wasn't lost on me. I watched his aura pulsing with the excitement of Gabriel's request. He attempted to appear calm, but his aura told me our request had him totally jazzed.

My gaze darted to Gabriel. I didn't know he had a family overseas. I bit my lip as my cheeks warmed again, we really needed some alone time.

Visions of the both of us naked, in bed, danced through my mind and I turned away from the men to look at the large, abstract painting that hung over the fireplace.

Not that kind of time alone, I scolded myself. Boy, I've sure come a long way from that frightened girl, haven't I?

"Come," Max said and led us into a more traditionally decorated room.

It appeared to be a spare bedroom. There were no identifying articles. It boasted a California king-sized bed, a large, dark-walnut armoire, dresser and vanity set. Two overstuffed chairs sat in front of another huge fireplace.

Max walked over to the armoire and opened the doors. He pulled a medium size hand-carved box from an inside drawer and turned to us.

"My mother made this for my handfasting." He grinned. "But I don't mind sharing it. And," He slapped Gabriel on the back. "I know she'd be tickled to know you're going to use it too."

He set the box down on the polished walnut dresser and lifted the lid. The scent of frankincense and cedar permeated the room. He turned to us, his manner suddenly somber.

"You both must recite the ritual vows. Are you ready?"

I nodded, unable to find my voice.

Gabriel tangled his fingers with mine and squeezed, reinforcing my nerve.

Max pulled a sheet of rolled parchment from the box, removed the ribbon and unrolled it. He placed one small, white candle at each corner on the top and one small, metal disc at each corner at the bottom to weight the page.

Pulling a small white-handled knife from the box, he extended his arm, waiting for me to place my hand in his.

"Your full name?"

"Alicia Marie Chalmers."

Max's gaze darted from me to Gabriel then back again before he spoke. "Alicia Marie Chalmers, you have made your choice?"

He paused, obviously waiting for an answer.

I cleared my throat and nodded, swiping my tongue over my dry lips. "Yes. I have chosen."

Max's eyes bored into mine as Gabriel wrapped his arm around me for support.

"Now that you have made your choice, you must recite the vows of The Chosen."

I nodded, finding my voice. "I will."

"You must repeat these words exactly as I say them."

His fingers tightened around mine as he bent my fingers backward to stretch my palm smooth.

"My blood to your blood. With the gift of my blood, I offer my life into your safekeeping. By taking your blood, I accept the offer of your life. Our blood blends, mixes and changes us. It creates one life in the place of two. We shall become one new, complete being with one heart and one soul. Together we are one. I have chosen Gabriel Lucian LeBlanc."

Fear gripped me with the same strength that Max and Gabriel held me with as he positioned the sharp blade over the exposed palm of my hand. My body tensed when I realized what he was about to do.

Alicia.

I looked up into Gabriel's eyes at his mental nudge. Somehow, my fear was gone. I stood mesmerized by those silver eyes staring into mine. He compelled me then, I know he did. Suddenly my fear was gone. He filled me with the knowledge that what we were doing was right.

I grinned up at him, my trepidation wiped from my mind and I repeated the ritual as Max said it to me.

"My blood to your blood. With the gift of my blood, I offer my life into your safekeeping."

I felt Max slide the knife across my skin as I mimicked his words. There was no pain and I glanced up to Gabriel and knew he blocked the pain for me somehow. He looked down at me and winked as I continued.

"By taking your blood, I accept the offer of your life. Our blood blends, mixes and changes us. It creates one life in the place of two. We shall become one new, complete being with one heart and one soul. Together we are one. I have chosen Gabriel Lucian LeBlanc."

Max released my hand, turned to Gabriel and raised his brow. Gabriel extended his arm without hesitation, turned his large hand palm up and began to recite the ritual words.

"My blood to your blood. With the gift of my blood, I offer my life into your safekeeping," repeated his friend's words as Max dragged the knife blade across the palm of his hand.

Max took our hands and pressed the wounds together then bound them tightly with a beautiful, gold trimmed emerald cloth.

My eyes glazed over as his blood mixed with mine. Something happened when his blood flowed into my body. I tensed when I thought about how revenants became the way they were.

Never fear, my heart. You will not become my servant. A revenant consumes the blood of the vampire. The change is not the same for them. They drank vampire blood as humans. You will not consume my blood as a human.

He gazed into my eyes with such love that it brought tears to my eyes. I stared down at our hands, tied together with the green silken scarf and whimpered when a strange burning sensation traveled up my arm. His blood felt like lava flowing through my veins. I looked up at him and giggled drunkenly just as my legs turned to mush.

Gabriel lifted me easily with one arm. "Wrap your legs around my waist, Alicia. I do not want to drop you."

I giggled again. "You wouldn't dare drop me, you goon." I wrapped my free arm around his neck and my legs around his waist then blew a raspberry against his neck. "When do I get to open doors with a look?" I asked, trying to give him the same completely serious look he always had when he did his tricks.

"You're going to have a time with her," Max said with a laugh and turned to leave the room. He gave Gabriel a meaningful glance. "I shall be gone all evening, old friend. My house is your house."

"I thank you." Gabriel smiled in his direction before turning his attention back to me. "What am I going to do with you?" He leaned down to kiss my neck.

Little slivers of desire shot through my blood, mixing with the potent addition of Gabriel's life force flowing through me.

My nether parts pulsed with need as he turned his attention solely on me.

"I love you, Alicia. Have I told you that today?"

I shook my head, still high from the mixture of his blood with mine. His blood was like an amphetamine to my system, giving me boundless energy. I practically glowed with his power.

"Your power now, my love. It is your power. You will have to come to terms with it, learn to control it. Otherwise it will control you."

I blinked down at our bound hands. "Hey! Why did he tie us together? Lemmie go." My words began to slur as the heady effects of our handfasting began to take effect.

"I cannot untie the cloth. It will remove itself once the ritual is complete."

I pulled back to look into his eyes and was mesmerized by his rapt attention. I licked my lips, suddenly nervous when I realized my precarious position.

My nether parts rubbed against his hard shaft and I ground myself against him, seeking relief. I lowered my head to his, pressed our lips together and moaned.

"God, you taste good," I panted against his cheek, then laved his ear.

"I could say the same of you," he growled. He turned his head and captured my mouth, suckling my tongue when I opened for him.

My desire for him had reached new heights. I couldn't wait to have him naked and on top of me. The picture of us writhing naked on the bed flashed through my mind and suddenly we were there. His hard cock pressed against my stomach as he lay between my spread thighs.

"No fair using vampire magic on me."

"No fair teasing my imagination with such thoughts," he said in retaliation. "Your wish is my command, my lady."

"I didn't wish for nothin'," I denied.

"Perhaps not, but you wanted this. You cannot deny it."

My breath came in short gasps as he rubbed his body against mine like a cat. I gulped air as his hands slowly caressed my breasts. He dipped his head, laving the hardened tips with the rough velvet rasp of his tongue.

The fingers of my free hand tunneled through his hair. I pulled his head to me, reveling in the sensation of his lips on my skin and the silk of his hair on my body.

Lacing the fingers of our bound hands, he grasped my hand tight, assuring our bond. Our blood flowed freely between us and suddenly, I knew everything there was to know of my husband.

He hadn't lied to me about his age. He was present at the crusades. Memories of an obscure King named Arthur flooded my mind. In Arthur's fabled castle, Gabriel passed a highly polished silver plate hanging on the wall. He turned, looked at himself with a tortured expression. His distorted reflection showed wealth and stature, yet he still walked alone.

Opening my eyes, I gazed up into his eyes. He pulled away to look at me. I pushed the hair from his face and smiled softly.

"I'm sorry you had to spend so much time alone." I searched his gaze. He didn't blame me, though he should.

He kissed me again, his teeth gently nibbling at my lips. His tongue swept into my mouth, the faint mint flavor that always seemed to be on his lips was intoxicating.

My tongue brushed against his, invited him deeper within the recesses of my mouth. He groaned against my lips and I reveled in the fact that I had such an effect of him.

He moved his lips lower, to my neck and nipped at the sensitive skin there. His hand skimmed over my shoulder, trailed down my back and slid around under my breast.

I arched into him with a moan, encouraging him to pay homage to the diamond hard nipple perched atop the swollen flesh. He stepped back, looked into my eyes and threaded his fingers through my hair. His fingers tightened in my hair. He tipped my head back and trailed his lips over the sensitive flesh of my neck, where he had bitten me. The spot tingled and burned, causing my nipples to tighten to the point of pain.

My womb clenched and I waited for the pain that would give way to a pleasure-pain I would be barely able to stand.

"Please," I whimpered as he tortured my needy flesh.

My heart slammed in my chest and my breath came in short gasps.

"I would worship you," he breathed against my breast. His tongue lapped my nipple and I squirmed beneath his ministrations.

"Finally," I groaned. My free hand fisted in his hair, held him to my breast as he suckled like a babe.

His cock pressed impatiently against my lower abdomen, the sensation of his muscular thighs between my legs made my pussy weep with need. I'd never been so turned on in my life.

"Gabriel," my cry, a mixture of overwhelming need and desperation must have finally broken through the sensual fog I sensed in his mind.

He lifted his head to gaze down into my eyes. His bright aura surrounded us, a veritable rainbow of color filled with sparkling starbursts. His eyes were aglow with that same strange iridescent orange-red that I had come to recognize as an indication of the physical or sexual hunger of his kind.

Our kind now, my love, he growled into my mind.

Shifting his hips, he thrust himself deep inside me and I screamed my nearly instant climax to the heavens.

He moved slowly, his cock gliding in and out of my moist channel as he gazed into my eyes. I raised my hips to meet his, in an attempt to get him to move faster.

He watched me, his eyes glowing with a feral light that both frightened and exhilarated me. His face, a tight mask of need, told me exactly how hard won his iron control really was.

Another, more intense, orgasm built inside me. My muscles tightened involuntarily as I reached for the ultimate pleasure.

My whole body clenched as I waited for those few precious seconds of paradise.

I heard my own piercing scream as Gabriel buried his teeth in my breast. He finally gave in to the urge to pound into me with abandon. I didn't want this orgasm to ever end.

When my incisors lengthened, I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. The change that went through my body made me suddenly aware of the rapid beat of Gabriel's heart and the blood that rushed through his veins.

He swiped his tongue across the tiny wound on my breast and lifted his head to look into my eyes.

"You have no idea how long I've waited. How many times I've dreamt of seeing that wonderful glow in your eyes, my love."

Gabriel lowered his head to press his mouth against mine. I could still taste my blood upon his lips. The flavor was unlike anything I ever tasted before in my life. I expected it to taste metallic, abhorrent. I never dreamed it would be so spicy, so addicting. I licked my lips when he lifted his head and wondered what he tasted like and my whole body clenched with a new need.

Hunger.

He pulled away, his free hand cupped the back of my head and pressed my face into the crook of his neck.

"Bite me," he whispered into my ear, his mind touched mine and added a slight compulsion. He wanted to be sure that I would feed. Please, Alicia."

I opened my mouth, kissed his neck and slowly laved a trail down over his chest. Finding his pulse, I lapped at his spectacular pecs and flicked his flat nipple with my tongue. My tongue swirled over his pulse and I felt him grow larger within me.

"Now, Alicia. Please. Before I die." He rammed inside me, his entire body tense with the need to climax.

Finally, I gave in to both our needs and sank my teeth deep into the flesh of his chest, just over his heart. Blood flowed into my mouth. I hate to admit it, but it was delicious. It was the most wonderfully addicting thing I ever tasted. Impossibly, Gabriel grew even thicker within me. His engorged member stroked me in places I never knew existed.

"Wrap your legs around my waist," he groaned into my hair.

After I did as he instructed, he slammed himself inside me as he came. His semen sprayed into me in hot jets as the sound of his guttural groan filled the room.

My vagina tightened around him, my own climax milking his shaft as he collapsed over me, holding his weight on his elbows.

I reached up, cupped his cheek and noticed that our hands were free.

"That . . . that was amazing." I squirmed beneath him as his cock began to grow again and pressed against my nether parts.

He smiled down into my eyes and for the first time, looked truly happy. The lines that had formed around his mouth and eyes began to ease.

Tentatively, I touched his mind and was surprised to find that he had never been so happy, relaxed or sated in his life.

He dipped his head to kiss me. "We must go. We cannot stay here indefinitely."

"I -- I don't think I can go anywhere yet," I said as a debilitating lethargy stole over me. My eyelids grew heavy and my hand fell from his cheek to lay limp on the bed at my side.

"I'm just so tired . . ." I'm not sure, but I think my words slurred as I drifted off to sleep.

I woke to the comforting sound of my husband's steady heartbeat beneath my cheek, four hours after our handfasting.

He squeezed me and kissed me on the top of my head. "We must leave this place. I do not wish to draw these people to Max's home."

I started to sit up. "I don't either," I said, chewing on my lower lip. Tears burned my eyes as I wondered if those monsters would ever leave me alone.

Gabriel drew me into his arms. "They will soon learn that you are now under my protection and will remain so, despite their efforts."

His hands traced soothing circles on my back as he held me close. I snuggled into his embrace, uncaring that he had peered into my mind again. I could do that to him now and I would at the first opportunity. Sometimes it was confusing, trying to figure out whose thoughts were dancing around inside my head.

He pulled away and gave me a smile. It amazed me, how I could still go weak at the knees just by watching the man grin.

"Time for lesson one, my love."

"Huh?"

"Your first lesson will be dressing yourself." His knowledge poured into my mind and I suddenly understood how to dress myself in the way of his people.

"Our people," he whispered in my ear. "You are one of us now."

"Yes, I suppose I am." I clothed myself with a thought, conjuring up something I had seen in a magazine but could never afford. Then, as practice, I clothed him. Well, sort of.

He looked down, then back up at me, his eyebrows almost reaching his hairline.

"I'm a grown man, Alicia. What are you thinking, dressing me in children's underwear?"

Chapter Twenty-three

He did a double take.

"I stand corrected, a thong with an elephant's face." He frowned, reached down and grabbed the limp material of the trunk, looked at me then raised his brow.

"I like it," I replied, circling around him to get a better look at his wonderfully muscled ass and imagined his cock filling out that extra bit of material.

Giving in to temptation, I ran the palms of my hands over his perfectly shaped cheeks and squeezed, raking my nails lightly over his flesh.

He sucked a breath between his teeth with an audible hiss.

"Why an elephant?" He looked down at himself then blushed. "Do you think me a child?"

"Of course not," I grinned. "I just wanted to watch the trunk grow." I looked down and watched with a wide grin as the trunk began to rise and his cock filled out that extra bit of material.

"I hate to be the one to bring this up, but we cannot stay here and play," Gabriel said, clothing himself with a growl.

"So," I said, flicking my gaze to his crotch. "Did you ditch the underwear or are you still wearing them?"

He gave me an enigmatic smile and winked.

"Maybe."

"Maybe, what? Maybe you're wearing them or maybe you've ditched them?" I gave him a little smack on his arm, just because I could, and stuck my tongue out at him. "You're a tease. You know that don't you?"

He chuckled, pulled me to him and gave me a quick kiss.

"We really must go. I'm beginning to get a bad feeling about remaining here."

I sighed. "Me too. One of these days we will be able to settle down and have a normal life, won't we?"

He took my hand in his and kissed it. He led me out of Max's penthouse apartment, leading me to the roof of the building and then pulled me into his arms. Lifting my chin, he searched my eyes.

"We must leave here in a manner that may be disturbing to you. Do you wish me to compel you?"

I opened my eyes wide and stared at him. "Why didn't you compel me the other day when you turned into that giant, slimy, scale covered puke-green dragon, lizard boy?"

Did that mean that he could have saved me all that fear and anxiety I felt the other night? I didn't know whether to be pissed or laugh that he didn't automatically think of me as some shrinking violet that needed protection from the world.

"Lizard boy?" he asked, cocking that damnable eyebrow at me again. I know he knows I think it's unbearably sexy, the jerk.

"Yeah," I snapped. "Lizard boy." I fisted my hands and rested them on my hips. "Wanna make something of it?"

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly through his nose. I'm not sure, but I think he counted to ten.

"You never cease to amaze me, woman," he replied, shaking his head. "I didn't compel you the other day because I was too weak to do so. Remember my excessive blood loss from that bullet wound?"

My gaze darted to his chest, and my fingers itched to examine the place of his wound again, just to be sure it had thoroughly healed.

"Of course I remember it. It scared the living hell out of me."

It had. He looked so weak, so pale . . . and gray.

"Wait a minute." I stepped away from him, shaking my head. "You don't expect me to turn into a--a dragon, do you?"

I almost collapsed with relief when he shook his head. Of course he didn't. How could I do such an unbelievable thing?

"For now you are correct. You cannot change into a dragon. Yet. Becoming a dragon is much too advanced for a neophyte such as yourself. Today, we will try a simple mist. Changing one's shape requires that you alter your molecular structure by breaking it down to its most basic composition and reassembling it almost simultaneously."

"Huh?"

He laughed and merged his mind with mine to help me break down my molecular structure to mist.

This is so weird. I projected the words because I no longer had a mouth or vocal chords.

Gabriel's soothing presence in my mind kept me calm. I took the time to look around. It was strange. I had no eyes, yet I could 'see' everything around me.

Are you ready?

As ready as I'll ever be, I guess. I glanced to my left, where Gabriel had stood only moments before. A patch of fog hovered three or four feet off the roof of the building.

Visualize yourself moving forward and you shall.

He merged his mind fully with mine to help me propel myself forward.

My gaze darted nervously downward.

I won't --

I tried to lick my lips. They felt horribly dry. I giggled a bit hysterically when I realized I couldn't because I had no lips in this form.

I won't fall out of the sky to go crashing to my death if I lose my concentration, will I?

I felt my husband's arms slide around me. His cheek pressed against mine. It was a strange sensation, considering the fact that I had no body.

You needn't worry, Alicia. The worst that will happen if you lose concentration is you will no longer continue to move forward. You will simply drift gently through the air until you regain control of your thoughts.

Well, that was a relief, sort of. I didn't want to drift aimlessly through the air, either.

You need not worry, little one. I would never allow that.

You have seen Cassie and me together, haven't you? She's the little one, not me. I'm huge, compared to her.

He chuckled. You are still small compared to me. You will always be my little one.

I rolled my nonexistent eyes.

Puhleeze! I used one of Tasha's favorite sayings. A football player would be small compared to you, Goliath.

You just like calling me that because of the size of my --

Hey!

My first instinct was to give him a good smack on the arm, but with no corporeal being, all I could do was sputter ineffectually.

Creep.

That does not keep you from loving me.

I didn't answer that. Besides, he knew I did.

Where are we going?

I hope some place safe.

He held the visualization of our forward movement in my mind and we traveled west over the lake toward Chicago.

I was exhausted by the time we reached the other side. That insidious thirst began to eat at me halfway across the lake. He grew worried for me. I knew he did. I caught a glimmer of something in his mind about my being stuck like this until I starved to death if he didn't feed me soon, but the thought was gone, almost as soon as I'd discovered it and I wasn't sure if it was my imagination or if I'd actually sensed his concern.

I would have collapsed when we finally reached our destination. Gabriel shifted back into human form, his mind still fully merged with mine. He looked at me, somehow knowing exactly where to look to give the illusion of staring into my eyes.

"This is Micah's sister's place," He said, indicating the door behind him. "Now, visualize yourself human again, Alicia. I shall help you."

I put every bit of my lagging energy into changing back to my corporeal state. The mist around me swirled and contorted, changing into weird shapes as I put forth the effort to regain my old self.

Finally, when I finally succeeded in reclaiming my body, I collapsed into my husband's arms.

"You must feed."

His words reminded me of that terrible craving, the horrible hunger that crawled through my body, demanding blood.

Suddenly, I was aware of the steady beat of his heart, the blood rushing through his veins and the agonizing fire that scorched my insides. My whole body burned with the need to feed, to sink my teeth into his neck and drink until there was nothing left.

I pushed away from him and covered my mouth with my hand.

"My God, Gabriel, I can't control this. How can I live, with you, with anyone if I can't control myself?" I looked up at him horrified. "Changing me has turned me into some ravening beast, just waiting to suck the life from you!"

My hand muffled my words and tears streaked down my face. I dashed them away and turned away from him, away from temptation. He smelled so good. His blood called to me. The strong, steady beat of his heart promised me nourishment.

Grabbing me by the arm, he turned me to him and pushed his fingers through my hair. He fisted his hand at the nape of my neck and tipped my head back to look into my eyes.

"You will feed, Alicia."

His compulsion was too strong for me to resist. I felt myself leaning forward, my mouth opened and I sank my teeth into his neck. Thick, rich blood flowed into my mouth and I swallowed it greedily. My mind, horrified at what I did, tried to make my body reject it. I wanted to stop, to spit it out but my starved body would not allow it.

Soon, the debilitating hunger subsided and Gabriel released me from his compulsion. I felt him growing weaker as I fed, and found the strength to pull away before I killed him.

"You could never hurt me, my love," he said as I closed the small wound in his neck and wiped my hands over my mouth disgusted.

"As a Cartuotey, I have trained those changed, like you, to feed without killing their prey." You are but a child compared to me. Do not worry that you could ever hurt me.

"Prey," I almost stuttered the word. "Is that what every human is to me now? Are they nothing more than prey to be fed on, used for blood and -- and sex?"

He growled low and his eyes started to glow. "You will never use a human for sex."

I pushed my hands through my hair. Of course, I wouldn't. He should know that. What the hell was wrong with him?

"Look, I certainly don't need to deal with your jealousies now," I said, trying to ignore the fact that the hunger, the need, that had been so all-encompassing just a few minutes ago was just a dull ache in my middle. I wasn't starving any more, but I still wasn't at full strength and neither was he.

"You need to feed, you're gray."

"There will be blood inside."

He indicated the building behind him again and I gave it a glance.

I felt my eyes widen as I finally noticed the building. A large sign over the door proclaimed that we stood in front of the Blue Moon Café. The huge building, an ancient three story colonial was painted dark gray.

I was surprised I could tell that in the weak light from the streetlamp. The light blue moon mural painted on the front of the building glowed bright in the dark, surrounded by small glowing dots that must be stars. I stared at it for a while, rapt.

"The artist was certainly talented, wasn't he?"

A man's face grinned happily from the center of the moon. It wasn't easily visible, one had to study the mural to see it.

"Welcome to the Blue Moon, where everyone with good in their hearts is welcome." I turned to Gabriel. "What does that mean?"

"It is a message to our kind. We may enter without invitation during these hours--" he pointed to another sign below the one I read. "--as long as we have no intention of harming anyone."

"Are you saying a vampire really can't enter someone's home without an invitation?"

"Yes. That is one of only a few of the old wife's tales that is accurate." He lifted the corner of his mouth. "Amazingly accurate as it turns out. That is why so many Rogues have revenants to their dirty work. They have similar strength and longevity, but do not have to abide by many of the rules."

"Mmmmm . . ." What was I supposed to say, 'yippee'? It's not as though I'm a match for even a revenant. They proved that at the mall.

"You are more than a match for them now, my love. You are no longer human. Cartuotey blood runs through your veins. You would be surprised to find just how strong you have become."

He reached past me and rang the bell for the upper stories. I didn't see the little button there, until he pressed it.

"Yes?"

The disembodied male voice came from the speaker beneath the doorbell.

"Damien? It's Gabriel."

"Gabriel LeBlanc? Wait a minute, I'll be right down."

He wrapped his arms around me and drew me close. I snuggled within his embrace, glad for the warmth that seeped into my body from his. I pressed my nose to his chest and inhaled deeply. He always smelled so good.

The door opened behind me and Gabriel pushed me to the side, ever mindful of my safety. For some reason, he didn't want me facing the person who answered this door.

"Old friend." The man bowed his head and grasped my husband's forearms in some sort of ritual fashion. "Please, come in."

I stared at the interior in rapt fascination as we entered the small restaurant. The tables and chairs sat arranged in arcs. They resembled half moons. Several round tables, which I'm sure, were supposed to represent full moons sat in the corners of the large room. A dark blue ceiling held fiber-optic stars that, even now, twinkled merrily.

I glanced at the clock. It was three in the morning. I know I would be royally pissed if someone woke me up that early but the man just stood grinning at us as I literally gawked at the whimsically decorated café.

A woman stepped up beside the man whom I assumed was Richard. She was tall. I would guess, at least six feet. She wrapped her arm around the man's waist with a smile.

"No matter how many times it happens, I never tire of seeing a person's first reaction to the Blue Moon." She smiled and offered me her hand. "I'm Elisabeth. Welcome to our home."

I stared at the beautiful woman. Her ebony hair fell around her shoulders in long waves, the ends brushing her waist. Large sky blue eyes dominated her heart-shaped face and naturally red lips framed perfectly shaped white teeth.

"Thank you," I said, barely able to keep myself from stuttering.

The woman's beauty and bearing made me think I must be in the presence of some sort of royalty. Vampire royalty. Was there even such a thing?

"Elisabeth, Richard, I would have you meet my wife, Alicia."

The woman smiled easily and stared deep into my eyes for a moment. "I see you have already chosen." She turned to Gabriel. "I was sure I would be asked to perform the ritual for you as I did for my brother."

"Alicia's safety was at risk. Besides," he said with a smile. "I did keep it in the family. Max bound us together."

"Max? He's back from Europe and didn't call me?" Her eyes narrowed and she thinned her lips. "I'm going to have to have a talk with that man."

Gabriel gave her an enigmatic look. "I think he may need some space right now. I have a feeling he'll be searching you or Micah out soon enough." He looked puzzled for a moment as if he were searching for the right words. "His scent is different lately. I wonder if he's found his mate."

Elisabeth jumped up and down excitedly and clapped her hands.

"Oh, I hope so. He's been searching for so long. He hasn't found his mate once, you know. It'll kill him if she turns him down."

She turned and led us further into the building. "Why don't we carry on with this conversation upstairs where I can get you some nourishment?"

Richard began to close the door behind us when a loud crash rent the door in two and it burst inward. Wood flew everywhere, splinters embedded in my arms and my husband growled, promising retribution to the source of my pain.

The force of another blast threw him back into one of the beautiful round tables and it shattered beneath him. Four men rushed through the door. Two of them headed straight for Richard and Gabriel, the other two set their sights on Elisabeth and me.

"Take my hand!" Elisabeth screamed over the horrible grumbling of the revenants that followed the rogues through the door.

I did as she asked, following her as she pulled me back to an open elevator and closed the doors. She pushed the down button and we descended to the basement where we would be closer to the earth.

"We must open a portal and get help."

I agreed. Yet I was hesitant to do so. The last time I opened a portal under duress it tore a ragged hole between our dimension and the next. It almost killed Tasha and me to close it.

Something upstairs crashed and a revenant screamed out his frustration at the locked elevator door.

"It won't take them long to find the stairs," Elisabeth said as she led me through the surprisingly organized basement into a dark little room. She moved a bookcase aside and a door appeared behind it. We hurried through, closing the door behind us.

We stood huddled together in an even smaller room. It was empty, except for a table, two chairs and one small cot.

She took my hands in hers. "Visualize the portal opening right here, in this room. Don't think about those beasts out there," She said, nodding toward the hidden door. "Think about daisies, black-eyed Susans, roses any flower you can think of."

"Red and white roses they were Grandmother and Aunt Mag's favorites." Since I saw and smelled them every week for the last several months, those would be the easiest to visualize.

She smiled softly. "And your favorite?"

"The peach colored rose, commonly referred to as peace."

"Wonderful choices." She pulled me away from the door. "Now take my hands and think of those flowers. Visualize a door opening in the ground, right here beside us. It will be a door in the wall, over there." She pointed to my right. "It's filled with your favorite flowers. Do you think you can do it?"

"Yes." I nodded and closed my eyes. I would trust her, after all, her husband was upstairs taking a beating too.

I cleared my mind of all its clutter and visualized the portal opening, filled with all of my favorite blooms.

Suddenly, a large, hole appeared in the wall and a giant of a man jumped out of the portal. Not just any man. Power seeped from his pores. His skin actually glowed with the energy stored within him. Soon, another appeared and another until four tall, muscular men, good-looking enough to die for, stood in Elisabeth's basement.

Chapter Twenty-four

Their auras amazed me. They were much like the aura of a Cartuotey but it was more. Kind of like a Cartuotey on steroids. Energy snapped and cracked around their tall, muscular forms. Starbursts erupted into small explosions and fizzled like children's sparklers around them.

Wide eyed, they looked at each other, then bent forward, took deep breaths and grinned before they knelt before us. "We come to do your bidding mistresses."

I'm not even going to go there.

See that you do not, Gabriel grumbled into my mind.

I blew him a mental raspberry. You should know better than that.

He was immediately contrite, but the emotion cost him dearly. By distracting him, I had given his enemy the opportunity to strike him.

I cut him off from my mind and turned to the group of men before me. They were dressed in some sort of strange armor and all held strange-looking weapons, some sort of laser swords that reminded me of the movies.

"We need your protection," Elisabeth said, indicating the door the revenants were attempting to open. "Our mates are out there protecting us. They are only two against many. That is how you will know them."

They nodded, stood and formed a column to file through the door when Elisabeth opened it. She stopped with her hand on the door and turned to them.

"Please be careful." She glanced at me. "We do not want any of you to lose your lives. Our greatest wish is that you all return to your families safely."

They looked back at us, their faces blank.

"We have no families, Mistress. You are the first women that we have seen in a thousand years."

"How have you survived so long with no women?"

He paused. "We have . . . synthesized everything for our needs. Our world is otherwise bountiful."

"What a shame," Elisabeth mumbled, shaking her head. "Looking like that, no women, no sex. What a waste."

With that said, the inter-dimensional soldiers burst through the door and cut down the revenants standing there. The monsters squealed in pain as they died. A part of me felt sorry for them. Another part felt they got what they deserved. The revenants were men who wanted to be vampires for the power it would give them.

In my opinion, they deserved everything they got.

I turned to Elisabeth. She stood near the portal watching it suspiciously.

"What's the matter?"

"We must stand guard over the open portal. Do not think that because we found decent soldiers that we are safe. We must stop other entities from gaining access to this world." She gave me a solemn look. "They were fighting something on their world."

"Oh, my God. You're right. I didn't think about that." I cast a quick glance back to the door. "And the kind of weapons they had . . ." I looked up at her, scared. "Maybe we should just close the portal."

She shook her head. "It wouldn't be fair to them, Alicia. We couldn't be sure that we would send them back where they belong. You could reopen the portal on a totally different dimension."

Damn! I knew the woman was right, but that didn't mean I had to like it.

"You're a Guide. Why don't you put an energy gate over it? A gate that would remain open on this side, but locked on the other."

"What's an energy gate?"

She sighed and shook her head. "How long have you known you were a Guide, sweetheart?"

"All of my life, but Grandma and Aunt Maggie would never allow me to learn to use my powers. They thought if I didn't know how to open a portal, I couldn't get myself into trouble with it."

She nodded. "I see." She glanced back at the hole in the wall of the basement regularly, as if waiting for something. "Who taught you to open a portal?"

"No one. Tasha was teaching me to close them, but no one has ever taught me how to open a gate. I don't think Tasha even knows how."

"You do." She looked meaningfully at the entrance to another dimension in her basement wall.

I shook my head. "I didn't do that. You did."

She gave me a wan smile, wrapped her arm around my shoulder and spoke to me as if I were a slow child.

"I can't open a gate, Alicia. I was born a Cartuotey, like my brother." She shrugged. "I know a bit about it. Shay, one of our good friends, told me how she finds help when she needs it. That is the only reason I told you to visualize your favorite flower."

She glanced back toward the opening that led to the main section of the basement.

"Though, I must tell you, your soldiers are much larger and much better looking than hers. They almost look like . . ." She shook her head. "Let's just hope they are at least as effective as the one's Shay conjures up." She smiled. "It makes me wonder what type of flowers are her favorites."

I took a deep breath. "Dammit! I refuse to hide down here while Gabriel and Richard fight for their lives upstairs. I'm going up there."

Besides, I had a moral obligation to the soldiers I brought over from the other side as well. They didn't ask to come here. They were compelled to follow my orders since I'm the one who opened the gate.

I visualized a sparkling field of pure energy settling itself over the hole in the wall. Energy from the other side popped and cracked as I fitted it over the portal.

Elisabeth reached out and put her hand against it, testing it.

"It looks good."

"Yeah, well it's the best I can do." I turned for the entrance to the small room. "I'm outta here. I'm going back upstairs to watch my husband's back."

"Richard is doing that. You needn't worry."

I turned to her with a frown. "Can you say you're not worried?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm afraid I cannot."

Elisabeth followed me back up the stairs and gasped when we entered the kitchen. It looked like a tornado hit it. Pots and pans lay smashed on the floor. Two dead rogues bled copious amounts of blood all over the expensive Italian tile. One of the huge refrigerators stood opened, the door ripped from its hinges. Food was everywhere.

We followed a trail of blood through the kitchen and out through the hall to find a wounded soldier on his back just outside the dining area.

"Go, I'm dying anyway." He waved us away.

A loud crash had us rushing up the stairs to the second floor to see how our husbands fared through this battle.

We found our borrowed warriors on the second floor, the rogues outnumbered them two to one, yet they fought as though it was nothing.

"Where are Gabriel and Richard?" Elisabeth called over the clash of armor and the sizzling sounds their weapons made.

One of the rogues zigged when he should have zagged and a glowing weapon cut him in two. I gagged. The rancid smell of burning flesh and rotted meat filled the room.

Elisabeth made a face. "Man, they stink!"

"One down, five to go," I breathed disgusted. I grasped Elisabeth by the arm.

"I'm sorry they're tearing your home and restaurant apart."

"Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault."

I nodded. "Yes, it is. They followed us here. They've been trying to kidnap me."

"That is a choice the rogues make. It is a choice the men who become revenants make. They choose to be what they are, regardless of the consequences. We just bring them justice."

We tiptoed up another flight of stairs to the third floor. We still hadn't found our husbands. I reached out with my senses, trying to find Gabriel through our mind link. He blocked me.

"Dammit! He's blocking me. He won't let me find him through our link."

"Of course he won't. He doesn't want you in any danger, just as Richard doesn't want me in danger."

At the top of the stairs, she continued down the hall.

"I don't think they're up here."

"Me either," I said with a frown. "The only other place I can think of is --"

"The parking lot," Elisabeth said with a gasp as she stared through a window, a horrified look on her face.

I joined her at the window and stared through the glass at our husbands facing down three rogues and an incomprehensible amount of revenants.

"Shit. How many do you think they're up against?"

"I can't count them, they're moving around too much. I see at least twelve or thirteen."

Gabriel, using his vampire talents, zipped up behind a rogue who jumped on Richard's back. He drove his fist forward, ripping its heart out just before the creature sank its teeth into the other man's neck.

It fell to the ground, writhing and bucking, its body in the throes of death as Gabriel grimaced and threw the shriveling heart on the ground.

He turned to a rogue, bared his teeth and snarled. His eyes grew red, glowing from within as he inhaled, gathered energy about him and sent a huge glowing ball of blue light into the head of the nearest rogue.

I felt my eyes widen and my mouth fall open as we watched our husbands work together.

Facing each other, they placed their hands together. Their combined energy built a ball of pure white light that surrounded them like a circle. The ball grew larger, encompassing their enemies. The rogues and revenants fell to the ground as their bodies jerked and twitched.

The light grew incredibly bright and several small explosions caused starbursts near the rogues.

No. Not near the rogues. Dust fell from the colorful explosions leaving the two touching Cartuotey behind. The explosions weren't near the rogues and revenants. They were the rogues and revenants.

Gabriel and Richard were the only two left in the circle. There was absolutely nothing left of their enemies.

I stared into Elisabeth's wide eyes.

"Did you know they could do that?"

She shook her head. "I was just about to ask you the same thing. Richard never once mentioned that he could do anything like that."

I swallowed thickly. The power our husbands possessed was immense.

"It's a good thing they're the good guys, huh?"

She nodded, obviously still stunned.

I looked down at the floor, and then my gaze tracked over the room.

"Your house . . ."

She shrugged. "It's just a house. We have others."

"But your beautiful restaurant, it's destroyed."

Again, she shrugged, a tear tracking down her face.

"It was time for us to move on anyway." She looked into my eyes. "That is only one of our curses." She continued at my questioning look. "We cannot stay in one place too long. People have the most horrible manners. They begin to notice you don't age."

She smiled wanly, picked up a broken picture frame up off the floor. It was Elisabeth and Richard, only the picture was old, very old. Taken in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century, the manner of dress and the cobblestone streets behind them gave them away.

"Who is the woman beside you?"

"She was my best friend. Her name was Mathilda." Her tears ran freely as she wiped debris from the face of her friend, heedless of the broken glass. "She was a Guide, but she never found her mate. She died at the hands of a rogue."

She turned to me, her eyes reflecting her pain. "So, you see, there is still the pain of loss."

"Yes, there is." I placed my hand on her arm. "I'll never forget Aunt Mags or Grandmother. They saved my life at the cost of theirs. I will always grieve for them, just as you will grieve for her."

Suddenly, somehow the circumstances of Mathilda's death surged into my mind. Normally, I'm not psychic, yet I knew beyond any doubt how her death came about. For once, I was in a position to give comfort instead of take it.

"It was her choice you know."

"What?" Elisabeth asked absently as her thumb stroked lovingly over the sepia toned photograph.

"She chose to give her life in exchange for yours. It wasn't your fault."

"How -- how did you . . ."

I shrugged. "Hell, I don't know how I know half the things I do nowadays. Maybe I'm becoming psychic or something."

It beats the shit out of seeing auras. I still have that useless talent, but since I'm getting used to it, I don't notice it so much anymore.

"Just take my word for it. She knew what she was doing. Just as my aunt and grandma knew what they were doing. They loved us and made the ultimate sacrifice for us. What we do with that gift is a reflection of our love for them."

Where in the hell was this coming from?

A golden light glowed softly over her left shoulder. I couldn't see anyone there, but if I had to guess, I would guess it was Elisabeth's best friend.

Tell her I love her. Tell her I would die for her again.

The light grew closer surrounded Elisabeth in a soft glow.

She does not know the babe she carries has no soul. It is dying. I can save it. Tell her I love her.

I got the impression of a soft smile. As the light shrank, and hovered over Elisabeth's flat stomach.

One other thing, tell her not to name me Mathilda. She said the rest with a laugh as the light disappeared into Elisabeth's middle.

Warmth surrounded me as Gabriel's mind touched mine. He shared my experience with Richard who in turned shared it with his mate.

Elisabeth collapsed to the floor, holding the photo of her friend over her heart. Tears streamed over her beautiful face, dropping onto the sepia toned photo in her hands.

"That was her voice. You couldn't know I was pregnant and you couldn't know her voice. She actually spoke through you," she sobbed.

"And she still loves you, my love. Enough to die for you, and it seems, enough to live for you once again."

Richard and Gabriel strode through the debris and gathered us into their arms.

"Your work is not yet done, mate," Gabriel breathed into my ear. "You still have a gate to close and a few friends to send home."

"You're right. I do." I frowned and pushed shaking fingers through my hair. "What about the wounded one?"

"He cannot go home. Those who are wounded so badly in battle would not survive the trip."

"Umm . . . What do we do with him? We can't just leave him to die."

"No we cannot. Someone who can help is already on the way. I got word of it while you were sleeping. However, we must send the others home and close the portal."

I gazed up into his eyes and threaded my fingers through his hair.

"You look gray. You need to feed."

"As do you. Perhaps your friends would oblige."

I felt bad asking them after all they had done, but we did all need to feed. We had expended a copious amount of energy fighting those monsters and I would need more before I could send the men back to where they belonged.

I let him lead me back down the stairs and we asked the three remaining men if they would mind donating a little blood.

It was strange watching Gabriel take a long deep breath around them. He wanted to make sure their blood wouldn't harm us. He nodded and I turned to them to make our request.

"We need to feed. Would you object to our taking of your blood? Just a small amount, I assure you," I added when their eyes widened.

"If it pleases you, mistress."

Our husbands stepped forward, each of them grasping a warrior by the upper arms. Then, obviously thinking better of what they were about to do, they each brought a thick wrist to their mouths and pierced the men's skin.

Gabriel looked strange when he lifted his head.

"What are you?"

"We are the Sun Warriors of Cartuotain, those who still search for the birthplace of our mates. Are you the missing tribe?"

Gabriel answered the man's formal bow with one of his own before they shook hands in that strange way all Cartuotey did.

"I do believe we are."

Elisabeth stepped through the rubble that was once her home and approached her husband.

"Come on, we need to get these men back through that portal so Alicia can close it."

She started toward the basement, and then turned to look at each of us in turn before her gaze rested on the three Sun Warriors.

"Aren't you coming?"

The three men looked at each other.

"No," they said in unison.

One of them stepped forward, his black eyes glowing with intensity.

"We refuse. You cannot force us to return to that existence."

He turned and spoke to the other two men in his own language and they all nodded. "We are all in agreement. We need the softness and caring of a real woman, not the unfeeling sex of the salimons."

"Salimons?" I asked, curious. I looked from Gabriel to Richard who had suddenly become conspicuously silent.

"A salimon, as I recall is a . . . machine designed specifically for sex."

"A -- A machine?"

Elisabeth nodded. "I don't remember them well, I was too young when we left to have been involved in the conversations about them, but from what I've gathered, they were invented for the men to slake their lust when the women became few."

"It's a wonder there are any of you alive. It seems like you would have die off with no way to breed."

"Longevity is our curse as well as our blessing. We can live for tens of thousands of years. But with no love, no children, what is there to live for?"

"How many of you are left?" Gabriel said as he wrapped his arm around me. Knowing this makes me even more grateful that I have found you.

I love you, too.

I smiled into his mind. I didn't want to flaunt our relationship in front of the others, as Gabriel seemed to want to do. I realized he felt the need to stake his claim, but these men had been nothing but respectful to Elisabeth and me.

They already know we are mates.

Perhaps, but one cannot be too protective of one's mate.

I rolled my eyes at his possessiveness, even as the warmth of his love comforted me.

"So what now?" I asked. "How can they stay? They have no identity here."

"That is easily fixed," Richard said with a shrug. "I know some people in Washington that can help us with that."

"How many people do you guys have on your payroll?" I held up my hand. "Never mind. The less I know the better off I'll be."

No wonder Tasha kept saying they were going to drive her nuts. At first blush, these guys looked like normal everyday men. Well, very tall, very good looking men.

Okay, so maybe that's not very normal at all, but at least they don't have the appearance of someone who is going to have you questioning your sanity on a daily basis.

I sighed. "Either way, I have to close that portal and I may need some help. Where can we find another Guide?"

"You opened another portal, Alicia? Geeze. I can't leave you alone for a second, can I?"

I squealed at the sound of that familiar voice. Turning, I pulled from my husband's embrace and ran to Tasha.

"What are you doing here? I didn't expect you back so soon."

"I was told that you handfasted without me," she said with a pout. "So, of course I had to hurry back here so I could read you the riot act over that." She gave me a squeeze. "But I hear that you did it for your own safety, so I guess I forgive you."

She turned, looking around at everyone in the room. "I've been told you have an injured man here. Where is he?"

Elisabeth stepped forward, gave Tasha a quick hug and said, "Follow me."

She led us back to the kitchen where the man lay so close to death. He looked up, touched my hand and smiled through his pain and weakness.

"You are real." He coughed and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "I am glad I came here. It is worth dying to know that a world with females still exists."

"You're not dying. Not if I have anything to say about it." Tasha reached out and placed her hand on his arm.

"Nothing can stop it, now. I am too far gone. Even blood will not help me."

She snorted. "Don't you know? I am supposed to be your savior or some such nonsense. You know, the woman who has insurmountable power who is supposed to deliver our kind from evil." She made a face at the pronouncement and I put my hand over my mouth to stifle a giggle.

The others filed into the room behind us, watching as she placed both hands on the man's head and closed her eyes.

"Project to me, everyone. I don't have the power to do this on my own. He is weak. I need some help to bring him back at least far enough that he can heal himself."

I felt Gabriel push his power into me as I shared mine with her. The other newcomers stared in awe as their friend injures disappeared, healing at an accelerated rate, even for their kind.

Our kind, Gabriel whispered into my mind.

Yeah, yeah. Let me get used to it, will ya?

Micah pushed past me and took Tasha in his arms when she began to sway with weakness.

"You must feed if you are to help Alicia close the portal."

Gabriel pulled me up beside him and into his arms. "You must feed as well."

The invitation in his voice made my stomach clench with anticipation. I squirmed in his arms.

"I can't," I whispered. "Not in front of everyone."

Heat seared my cheeks as I thought about how carried away we both get when I feed.

"You must." He stared into my eyes. "Let me help you."

I nodded my assent and let him compel me.

My teeth sank deep into his neck and I drew his blood into my mouth. He tasted different somehow and I chalked it up from his feeding from the others who just came through the portal.

Thankfully, his compulsion kept my usually horny impulses at bay and I was able to feed without embarrassing myself. I closed the wound with a flick of my tongue and stepped back when he released me from his compulsion.

"We need to close that portal now," he said before brushing a kiss across my forehead.

I nodded then cleared my throat. "Yes, we do."

Epilogue

"How did they take their separation?"

Gabriel shrugged. "It's not as though they have much choice. They know they need to learn about their new home. If they stay together, the learning will be more difficult. They know this."

"That's good." I wrapped my arms around Gabriel's waist and rested my head on his chest. "What about us? There is that little matter of the Satanists. Why won't they leave me alone?"

"They think you are the key to separating their master from his prison."

"Ha! I'm the key to separating their balls from their bodies. That's about all the key I am to them."

I loved the newfound sense of independence and power being one of The Chosen gave me. I would never feel vulnerable or weak again.

"I know you hate to leave this house. It's one of your favorites, isn't it?"

He took a deep breath and kissed the top of my head before bending slightly to rest his cheek against mine.

"It is, but never as important as you or your safety." He turned his head to kiss me.

My toes curled as his hand roamed over my back and rear. Lifting me easily in his arms, he squeezed my ass as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

Smiling, I wished our clothes away and reveled in the sensation of his hard cock pressing against the heat of my sex.

Do it.

You are not ready.

I'm so ready, I'm about to explode, I whispered feverishly into his mind.

I didn't care about the rest. Not now. My whole life with him was foreplay. His heated looks, the soft caresses, how he held me as though I were spun glass. He pressed his lips against mine, driving his tongue into my mouth as he drove his huge member deep into my already wet sex.

I whimpered against him knowing this was right. He was mine, just as surely as I belonged to him. I keened softly as the sensation of his mouth on my nipples drove me over the edge and I came onto him, my juices covering his hard shaft as he pistoned within my clasping vaginal walls. His cock drove deep inside me, covered with the slick evidence of my desire.

Turning, he rested my shoulders against the wall, giving himself better leverage and more control to drive even deeper inside me, and the world shattered as I came again.

"Please," I panted, leaning forward to lave his ear.

"Please what?" He rasped, his breath coming in short gasps as a line of perspiration dotted his face. His cock grew inside me, rubbing that elusive spot and I felt the beginnings of another orgasm gripping me.

He reached down to stroke my sex, his finger circling the small nubbin of nerves as it began to throb when my climax grew nearer.

"Harder," I keened.

"God, you feel so good," He panted in my ear, his tongue doing magical things to my insides. Goose bumps rose on my flesh and delightful little tingles tripped up my spine as my climax overtook me.

I sank my teeth deep in the flesh just above his heart as he dropped his head to my neck, his teeth piercing my throat, just below my ear.

It was heady, like having a few drinks, energizing.

He pulsed inside me, warmth shot into my clasping channel as my muscles clenched around him. My climaxing body grew tired, boneless as he held me against the wall.

"I don't know how you do that." I kissed his chest and dropped my legs from around his waist so he could set me on my feet.

"Do what?"

"Stay standing while you're coming, like that." I stumbled a bit when he set me on my feet. "See what I mean?"

"Practice," he said with a chuckle.

"Hey! I don't want to hear that." Hell, he didn't have to know I was secretly thankful of his many talents.

"Too late. But it is good to know that you appreciate me."

I couldn't help but get that strange funny flip-flop in my stomach when he grinned at me like that.

"Oh, shut up." I stuck my tongue out at him, tempted to give him a good swat.

"We must be going. I have lived here far too long and one of our neighbors has just asked a tactless question about our age differences."

I scowled. "That's none of his business!"

He waved a hand and dressed me.

"Even so. When questions such as those arise, it is time to move on. Time to make new friends and hope we can stay put for a while. Besides, the Rogues know we live here. If we leave, it may take time for them to find us. Perhaps they will set their sights on some other poor unsuspecting victim."

"You don't really want that, do you?" I asked, aghast.

He shook his head. "No I do not, but we cannot stay here."

He gazed around the study we had holed ourselves up in, his eyes sad as he took in the homey interior.

I would miss sitting in here with him, curled up with a good book in the overstuffed chair as he worked at his desk. The fire that usually burned merrily in the fireplace was cold now, the hearth dark. Only our memories warmed the room now.

Would we ever be able to return to this house, our first home?

"Perhaps one day," he said with a nod. He held his hand out to me, palm up. "Come, it is time we moved on."

About the Author

Tianna Xander is the author of several paranormal, time-travel and science fiction romance novels. She loves reading everything from romance novels, murder mysteries and encyclopedias, to handbooks on solar energy. Tianna is the first to admit she spends far too much time surfing the internet and chatting with her online friends and critique groups.

Having written four novels and working on at least one more at any given time, Tianna still finds time for her family, friends and her many pets. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband, two children, a pair of cats, two big dogs and one occasionally terrorized Netherland Dwarf bunny. Her life is anything but boring.