Cassadaga Moon

Stiletto Sanction

Cassadaga Moon In the quaint town of Cassadaga, Florida, life isn’t quite what it seems. For the strictly raised Catholic Mia Christini, life is nothing like it seems. There are only three things Mia is sure of—her best friend Cindi might just be crazy, her boss is losing control, and morals are overrated. Weary of existing by a moral compass, she is ready and waiting for a one-night stand. She’s twentysomething, and it’s about time. When Jordan De L’croix sets his sights on her, she finds out that her integrity isn’t the only thing she needs to worry about, especially from a man who gets, or takes, what he wants with ease. And what he craves isn’t just her virginity. He craves her blood, redemption, and true love. Note: Hero and heroine involved in acts of vampirism. Genre: Contemporary Length: 69,956 words

CASSADAGA MOON Stiletto Sanction

R.M. Sotera

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

CASSADAGA MOON Copyright © 2011 by R.M. Sotera E-book ISBN: 1-61926-099-9 First E-book Publication: December 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Cassadaga Moon by R.M. Sotera from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is R.M. Sotera’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Sotera’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION To my husband (Scott) and son (Austin) who believed in me and pushed me through the five years it took to finish this book. I am forever thankful for the love and support you show me everyday. I love you both. And to all the real vampires out there, the ones who live in the shadows, thanks for being so utterly gracious and letting me crash your world. A special thanks goes to Merticus and Zero with the AVA – Atlanta Vampire Alliance - Your honest answers to my neverending questions helped me to understand the lifestyle better, thus you made it easier for me to write the hero in this book. May all of your days be filled with immense love and happiness. And finally to my dear friend, Linda Bitz – Our memories and friendship will live on forever long after we leave this earth through Cindi and Mia. You’ve always had my back – soul sisters we shall always be.

CASSADAGA MOON Stiletto Sanction R.M. SOTERA Copyright © 2011

New Beginnings “Blood is one of the body’s vital fluids, and for some people drinking blood is deemed more of an intimate act than sex. Although blood drinking is the most common form of bloodplay practiced, blood sports practitioners—people who play with blood—are certainly attracted to blood’s ritualistic and vampiric connotations. Blood is the essence of life. Blood is dangerous. Blood is thrilling and frightening simultaneously. Playing with blood requires an incredible amount of trust, care and understanding, and time between play partners. Bloodplay is true intercourse between players. It is beyond pain and pleasure.” Arlene Russo, Vampire Nation

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Prologue Journal entry—October 31, bloodplay room When Jordan slices through my skin, with slow, steady precision, I need to tell him how good I feel, but I don’t know how to construct the house of words and then invite him in. Am I completely nuts? Should I have run fast and far away from him? I’ve read about alternative lifestyles and concluded those types of people were misfits. Then I met him, Jordan De L’croix, professor of religious studies and believer in twenty-first-century vampirism. The Gothic Sanguinarian. He’s changed my life forever. The cuts only sting for a moment. It’s the sensation of his lips against my flesh that sets my body on fire. When he looks into my eyes and whispers, “Baby, trust me. I won’t hurt you.” I believe him. Lately, my love for him is all I think about. I have this feeling that soon it will strangle me. Yet, in some strange way, I anxiously wait for it to devour me.

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PART I: Kissimmee Moon Rising Chapter One True love and redemption, two things he knew better than to desire. In his life, the game remained the same. Meet, cut, then suck. And more than likely fuck. Why would tonight be any different for him? Blonde, brunette, redhead, who’s the lucky one tonight? Jordan De L’croix leaned against the back wall of the massive room near the bloodletting supply table. Incredulous, he gazed at the swarm of women gathered in the Firestone Club, prepared to make the ultimate move. The techno music blared through the building, impregnating the smoke, the alcohol, and the eardrums of hundreds of raving vamps and vampire lovers. Overhead, cyberlights in encased prisms forced arcs of vibrant colors across the mysterious pandemonium. Female donors were here to meet their very own vampires. Though it was common knowledge these vampires weren’t the undead, the ladies still carried on as if they were giving their blood to the mythical storybook vampires. He intently studied a young woman with fiery red hair as she strolled across the floor toward him. The space between her eyebrows wrinkled. Oh, yes…come closer, darlin’. He snickered, guessing she contemplated which pickup line to use. Nonchalantly, she eased her back against the wall next to him. “So, are you here alone?” Her tone crossed between sticky-sweet and sappy-seductive.

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“I am.” Jordan tilted his head, surveying the goods. A vanilla aroma lifted from her pores and encircled the air around him. The overpowering, heady scent was better than the earlier intrusion of illsmelling sweat up his nostrils. She glanced at him, checked the crowd, then turned to him and softly spoke. “I’m not with anyone tonight, either.” Perhaps you will be, and very soon. He studied her. Her demeanor was tight and cautious, with her shoulders pulled back, and her arms crossed her chest. The olive-toned, tanned skin around her neck and shoulders showed no sign of a recent blood donation. Of course, that didn’t mean there weren’t marks on her inner thigh, the place in which he preferred to feed. Though he wasn’t a betting man, he’d wage a week’s salary on the fact she was a blood virgin. It surprised him that such young women never thought twice about bloodletting. His gaze slid down her body a second time. Yeah, he could see her in his bed tonight. He slipped from his thoughts back to the present and the blood virgin in front of him. If she only knew the dangers that lurked in the shadows of the club, she might think about twice about her actions. Maybe…but probably not. He admired the beauty of her cherubic face. “What’s your name?” “Tanner.” Her brown-eyed gaze slid slow and seductive over the length of his body. “I haven’t seen you here before, Tanner. I’m Jordan.” He slid his hand forward, gesturing a handshake. She reciprocated. The moisture from her palm lingered on his skin once she pulled away. You should be nervous. This isn’t a good place for you. He couldn’t help the chuckle that came next. Actually, I’m not good for you. “You seem a little nervous, doll.” An angelic smile changed her pretty features, and then her tanned face contorted in stern concentration. She lowered her gaze toward the floor. “It’s that obvious, huh?” Written all over your face, darlin’. “A little bit. How about I give you some advice? You can take it or leave it.”

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She nodded. “You seem like a nice young lady, but you need to be aware of what you’re getting into in this atmosphere. Blood drinking is a very serious act. What do you know about it?” She brushed her palms over her black satin mini and sighed before regarding him quizzically. “Honestly, I really don’t know much about it. I’m here with my friend who has been letting vamps drink her blood for the past couple months. She’s always talking about how exciting it is. What a rush it is.” Her lips curved into a playful slant. “When Susie visited New Orleans last year, she went to this underground club called Fang and had a blast. I’ve wanted to experience it since then.” “Oh, I see. Curiosity is getting the best of you.” Perhaps he shouldn’t insist she walk away. After all, it was her life, her choices. On the one hand, he wanted people to respect real vampirism, to take it seriously. The teacher in him demanded he attempt to educate those who were unaware of the lifestyle. But on the other hand, the pretty girl could turn out to be his mark for the night. Not to mention, it had been awhile since he enjoyed a rogue night of blood drinking. He thought about his situation for a moment, and realized that drinking from her would be the best education. Hands-on was always the best way to learn. Interested to see which way she’d go, he gazed into her eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched like a skittish colt. Ah, an innocent. Forgoing his usual tactics, he decided to walk away and let her experience whatever it was she thought was going to happen. But before he went his happy way, he needed to warn her. Walking into a club like this, with a naïve attitude, would be dangerous in the end. “Don’t do anything tonight that you’re going to regret or maybe even die from. Instead, if I were you, I’d go home and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, do some research on the computer about real vampirism. Then, after you have gathered information, learned all you can, and taken the proper steps to insure your own safety, find

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yourself a vamp looking for a long-term donor. Trust me, most of the time you won’t find real vampires looking for donors in places like this.” He stopped, tired of preaching. After all, he wasn’t on the clock at the university. He glanced around the club. Where the hell is Jamison? Tension tightened the delicate features of the girl’s oval face. “You can actually die from this?” The words crackled. “If you’re not careful, yes.” She straightened and pushed her shoulders against the wall, appearing superglued in place. There was fear in her eyes as her gaze hit the wood floor. He sighed when he realized he’d frightened her. Oh shit, don’t stand there like that. Just leave from this place…trust me, it’s best. Before I decide to fulfill your desire. Tanner sucked in a deep breath and stepped forward. “I’m going to go now.” She turned to move away from him, then stopped. “What about you?” “What about me?” Ah shit. “Well…would you be willing to?” She batted her big brown eyes at him, doe-like orbs of vampire innocence, and his exact cup of tea. “Would I be willing to do what exactly, darlin’?” A cute chuckle came before she said the words. “Would you be willing to be my first try at having some fun with blood drinking?” He was minutes from a quick getaway. Yes, he was only minutes away from walking away, but not now. Seductively, he stepped in closer until his lips touched her ear. “I would love to be your first. I’m waiting for a friend, and after we talk, you and I will find a secluded spot in the club, and I will make you my blood doll for the evening.” A whisper sounded between them. “Really?” Now it was his turn to chuckle. “Yes, darlin’, tonight your wish is my command.”

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He studied Tanner as the excited smile stretched across her face. It amazed him how certain females wanted to be blood dolls, how they would let just anyone take their blood. He usually was extremely particular with his donors. Tainted blood was a serious threat, a danger he worked hard to stay away from. But there had been times when he had been less than careful in his practices. The current situation at hand would be one of those times. He usually tested the blood first, but tonight his hunger wouldn’t allow it, nor would the urgent need for pranic energy funneling deep in his gut. He slid his hand into hers. “Let’s go find my friend.” “Okay.” She tightened her fingers around his as they moved across the floor toward the bar. Passing the VIP section, he observed a petite blonde standing at the supply table, her well-manicured eyebrows knitted together as she studied the merchandise. She quickly gathered up a lancet and alcohol wipe with her black-lace-gloved hand, then walked past Tanner and him toward a tall, dark-haired man dressed in full vampire regalia near the DJ booth. The made-up count’s black velvet cape hung to the floor. A scarlet-red satin lining peeked from underneath as the boy reached out and pulled the woman against him. Role-players. It continued to intrigue him how some people dressed to the extreme, even donning fake fangs for effect. Visions of San Francisco and New Orleans flashed through his mind then disappeared. Just as quickly, recall of specials broadcast on the History Channel and the Biography Channel about his kind fragmented in his thoughts. Very rarely did people who considered themselves the real deal dress in crazy costumes. The role-players chose props. Most of his kind preferred to keep their personal lives secret. Yeah, until recently. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” A tall man with long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail handed Jordan a beer.

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Jordan glanced at his friend as he grabbed the cold beer. “You found me, Jamison, but you were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago. Where’ve you been?” “Stuck in traffic.” Jamison pinned his attention on Tanner. “And who do we have here?” “Tanner, meet Jamison Rierson.” Jordan smirked. The incredulous look on Jamison’s face was loud and clear. Tanner delicately shook Jamison’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” Jamison smiled and then turned his attention to the blonde girl standing with the role-playing vamp. Jamison shrugged a shoulder in what appeared to be a not-interested gesture. And then he gave a second look in the girl’s direction. Jordan scanned the room for a table then cleared his throat, hoping to detract Jamison’s uninterested feeling from the blonde female. She’s mine, too. “Let’s grab that empty table.” Jordan pointed, and the threesome moved across the crowded floor, dodging bodies swaying to the music. The aroma of sweat, mixed with incense, permeated into every crevice of the room. Jordan’s abdomen muscles tightened. The intense mixture was the one smell that made him instantly sick to his stomach, not to mention the vanilla stench from earlier still caked on the inside of his nose. As soon as they sat down, Tanner excused herself to the restroom. Jamison’s gaze followed her until she disappeared from view. “So?” Jamison took a swig of beer. “What’s with Tanner?” “Virgin blood doll,” Jordan replied then added, “Don’t give me a lecture on safe blood practices. I’m well aware of them.” “Then what are you doing?” Jamison arched a brow. “Seriously, what are you doing?” “What I always do. Taking care of my one and only. Numero Uno.”

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Jamison shook his head. “You know the consequences that could follow your actions. I’m not going to lecture you. Lord knows you don’t listen to my advice. Just be careful.” “I’m always careful,” Jordan smugly replied. Jamison rolled his eyes. “Yeah, whatever. Do you see anyone else out there you like?” Jordan laughed low. “Yeah, the one you were just scoping out.” The blonde girl Jordan spoke of passed by the table, stopping briefly to offer a nod of approval. “And, it looks like she may be interested.” “Yes, perhaps she is. Is she going to be after Tanner, or before?” Jamison’s voice was lackluster. “Don’t answer that. I really don’t want to know. Can we talk about the gathering now?” “You’re still thinking of that chick, aren’t you? You dumped her. She dumped you. What was her name again? Nina, Mina—” “Mia.” Jamison nodded. “It was just a few weeks ago that I had her in my arms again. I would have tasted her blood without thinking twice this time around. Now, she won’t even give me the time of day. She ignores me every chance she has, which, all things considered, is probably a good thing. It’s making it much easier for me to forget about her. And honestly buddy, I’m almost over her.” He hesitated, tapping his booted toe against the table. “And here you are, one on the floor and the other in the wings. Let’s talk about the gathering, please?” Jordan glanced over at the blonde, not paying attention to his friend’s lamentations about some woman he loved and lost. He told Jamison a number of times that he had to stop regretting his position when it came to women. Jamison either had to stick by the rules or break them. Speaking of breaking rules. His gaze skated over the blonde’s chest and then lower, thinking of ways he could pull her away from the guy she engaged. He responded to his friend without losing focus of his target. “I made sure that Paige sent out the invitations and that she called the

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members that never check their mail. The blood dolls coming in have completed their blood screenings. When I talked to Betty today, she confirmed all the lab reports came back negative for any types of blood diseases. What about you? How are things going on your end?” Jordan’s gaze continued to scan the blonde whose boyfriend’s tongue was practically down her throat. She seemed to have a nice, deep throat. Ah…better to… Jamison made an annoyed tapping sound and interrupted his lovely thought. Damn him. “Everything is fine on my end. The caterers and valet service are set to arrive early, and Paige and Lilley made sure to hire enough waitstaff this time. I would hate to have to see you tending bar again this year.” Jordan’s lips curled up at the edges. “Yeah, me bartending wasn’t such a great idea. I had a hell of a hangover the next day.” “Actually, you bartending was a terrible idea. For every drink you served, I downed one myself. At the end of the night, I was lying half under the bar. Not to mention, most of the women were barely dressed, or naked, and perched up on the counter. By that point in the evening, the house resembled more of a brothel than a coven party.” A snicker sounded. “Well, I believe we have everything covered, and this party should go down without a hitch,” Jordan assured him, turning his gaze back toward the couple who would need to get a room soon or find some empty closet to get it on. No, there was only one closet used for that here, and it would soon be taken. The thought of her lips on him made the lower half of his body stiffen from excitement. “I say we call it a night. I have some unfinished business I need to take care of.” Jamison looked at him, at Tanner coming across the floor, and then back at the couple. “I swear you look for trouble, man.” Shaking his head, he stood up. “Perhaps. But she has graced our table enough in the past half hour for me to believe she wants to get to know me a little better. I’m only making her wish come true.”

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“Good luck with that.” Jamison stood. “What about the other young lady?” Jordan rubbed his chin. Good point, but when it came to juggling a few women at the same time, “pro” best described him. The soft lights in the club dimmed. “Would you ask Tanner to wait for me at the bar? Tell her to order a drink and I’ll be there soon.” “You snake.” Jamison appeared to want to add something else but only said, “I’ll buy her a drink and disappear when you show up. Speaking of show up, how long are you going to be?” “You’re a pal. That depends.” Jamison mumbled something, then walked across the dimly lit club toward Tanner. Reaching her, he slipped his arm into hers and escorted her back to the circular mahogany bar near the exit doors. Once Jamison and Tanner disappeared from sight, Jordan ordered another beer. Leaning back in his chair, he scanned the club. The petite blonde he had set his sights on appeared to be in an intense argument with her vamp boyfriend. He chuckled silently. It wouldn’t be long and she would be at his table making irrelevant conversation with him. Ah, but the hunt is half as fun as the reward. He continued to inspect them. Their painted white faces rearranged in seeming anger. Her lips curled up at the edges as her boyfriend leveled a piercing gaze on her. Within minutes, the boyfriend stomped away, and she turned a searching look Jordan’s way. A broad smile crossed his lips. Come on, baby, come on over. I can make it all better. I promise. Once her boyfriend’s hands hit the metal handles of the exit door, she moved like lightning toward his table. He nudged the chair opposite him with the tip of his black leather boot, toward her. A seductive smile dripped from her lips. She placed her scantily dressed body into the chair. “Hi, I’m Jenna.”

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Though her high-pitched voice and uneasy giggle irritated his ears, he reached over and pulled her chair closer to him. “It’s nice to meet you, Jenna. I’m Jordan.” Your dream man for the moment. That’s right, baby, scan me if you like. Her brilliant, green-eyed gaze flashed with merriment. She licked her top lip, then crooked a corner of her mouth. The mirth of her expression switched to a wicked gleam. “You are totally hot…that long blonde hair is to die for…and those piercings are wicked.” “Yeah, they’re usually a deal closer, sugar.” She reached out and slid her finger against the earring pushed through the side of his nose. “I love the diamond stud. It’s my favorite.” He chuckled, and brushed a stray hair from his face. “And you are my favorite.” Excitement flashed in her expression. “So, do you want to get out of here? I mean, we could go somewhere more private.” Jordan raised an eyebrow, amused by her attempt to seduce him. He gave a second glance toward the exit doors. You move fast, baby. Is your boyfriend even out of the parking lot yet? On second thought, who cares? His cock pushed against his jeans. Hell yes he wanted to go. And he would. “I wouldn’t mind going somewhere more private. What do you have in mind, sweet thing?” She tittered and then leaned toward him with her overflowing bust that pushed at the seams of her red-jeweled bustier. “We could go back to my place or your place.” No, not my place. She flashed another seductive smile at him and near his ear whispered, “Or I could do you right here. I’m wearing a skirt with nothing on underneath.” She cocked an eyebrow. “I even carry my own condoms.” How nice. But he didn’t need her condoms. He had his own. Slowly, he stood up. “Let’s go, sweet thing.”

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Once her hand was in his, he directed them across the floor to a dimly lit hallway off the east side of the room. Without losing a beat, they walked down the small corridor until he found the door to the storage closet. He turned the knob and pushed open the door, whisking them inside. With the heel of his boot, he kicked the door shut. Within seconds, her hand cupped his erection. The evidence of his arousal made her pink-lined lips moan with want. The sound resonated in the darkness. His blood turned to molten lava, heating him from the inside out. Skimming his hands over her clothed breasts, the jeweled fabric was rough against his skin. His breath heightened just as he shifted his legs in an attempt to alleviate the swelling between his legs. “Let me take my shirt off,” she whimpered in between uneven breaths. He touched his lips to her cheek. “That would be nice.” She unsnapped the silver hooks on her bustier, and in moments, his hands captured her naked, swollen breasts. He kneaded and stroked them before bending down and taking one of the erect buds into his mouth. She gasped in delight. He sucked harder. He was ready to take her. Now. He released her nipple from between his moist lips, and, taking a step forward, he pushed his body against hers until she was flush against the wall. Shifting her hands to the top of his jeans, she grasped the material and unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. In a smooth motion, she slid his jeans down his legs to his ankles. With both hands, she slipped his underwear down, releasing the engorged flesh waiting for her. A sigh escaped her lips. “There, that’s better.” She kneeled on the floor, took the head of his cock into her mouth, and ran her tongue up the length of his shaft.

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He cupped her head gently and stroked her hair as she licked his shaft from hilt to tip. That a girl. The feel of her soft mouth taking his entire cock sent a bolt of fire lancing through him. Closing his eyes, he relaxed his mind, enjoying the vibration of her deep throat on his dick. He grew close to releasing but wanted to feel the inside of her wet core. A blow job, no matter how good, wouldn’t suffice. He moved her head away from him and the suction of her lips broke. “What’s wrong?” A dazed look hazed her green eyes. “Nothing’s wrong, sweetie. I just want a little more.” His body was on fire, hot, hard, and ready to take her. Reaching down, he pulled a condom from his wallet, prepped it, then snapped it into place. “Stand up and spread your legs for me.” He didn’t need to say another word. They always do what I ask. An excited squeal left her lips. Quickly, she stood and moved her legs apart as he inched closer against her. He reached around her and pushed her against him before he cupped her firm butt. Nice. As he lifted her, she wrapped her long, lean legs securely around his waist. He slid himself deep inside. With a contented sigh, he put his lips over hers. The head of his cock bathed in her wet heat. She was moist, the inside of her mound as wet as an oil slick. His body pulsated through his swollen and rigid flesh. He rocked inside her. She groaned in between kisses. The sweet sound of ecstasy left her lips, and he came in violent succession. With both of their breathing uneasy, he gently placed her feet back on the floor. “That was awesome.” She patted her skirt back into place. “Yes, it was.” He brushed a wisp of sweat-ridden hair from his face. If that’s so, then why do I feel so empty? The question always surfaced right after he screwed someone, no matter how good the lay. If he could just learn how to deaden his feelings, life would be perfect. Fucking grandiose.

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She reached down and touched his cock while looking up at him. “Do you need some help taking the condom off?” A seductive smile curved his lips. “No. I believe I can handle removing it myself.” He rid himself of the protection and arched an eyebrow as she began humming some familiar tune under her breath. “Okay,” she said in a singsong voice. “I guess we should be going. Did you want my number?” “Sure, honey, you can leave me your number.” He winked at her before zipping up his pants, listening a little more closely to the sound coming from her lips. She was humming “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake. He coughed a laugh back. SexyBack. Yes, I am. She was sweet, not to mention she just let him have her. The least he could do was pretend he was interested, but he had no intention to call her. She pulled out a piece of Hello Kitty paper and a fuzzy pink pen from her small black clutch. “I live with my boyfriend, so don’t leave a message if I don’t answer.” No doubt the vamp boyfriend who left in an uproar earlier. She didn’t need to worry, because he wouldn’t be calling anytime soon. To be totally honest, he never planned to call. The paper with her number would soon find a new home in the trash bin in front of the club. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.” Realization of some kind flashed across her face. She batted fake, dark eyelashes at Jordan. “Actually, I don’t have a car. My boyfriend took the car when he stormed out of here.” He smirked and then pulled her hand into his. “How about I give you a ride home?” His gaze moved over her. “Or I can call you a cab.” “You can give me a ride,” she said without an ounce of hesitation. Before leaving, he stopped by the bar for Tanner and then herded the trio toward the exit.

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Outside, Jenna laced her fingers securely around his. Tanner leveled a confused look at him, but he smiled, that smile that made the women melt in his hand, and slipped her fingers into his other hand before he popped the small piece of paper with Jenna’s information into the blue trash bin. Jenna was cute, but he didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary for her. On the other hand, though, he was grateful she relieved the pressure between his legs. There were many women he could approach to help him with that need. And these days, that’s all it was, a need. Sadness rubbed his heart, prompting him to look toward the full moon illuminating the ebony sky. His body and mind had forgotten long ago what it felt like to truly love a woman he was having sex with. It was better that way. When they’d finally reached his black Mercedes Kompressor, he unlocked both doors simultaneously, and they slid inside. Jenna evileyed Tanner, who sat quiet as a mouse in the backseat. Looking through the front mirror, Tanner’s expression was hard for Jordan to read. “Jenna, darlin’, where am I taking you?” He pulled out of the parking lot and onto Magnolia Avenue. After hitting the airconditioning button on the console, he cranked the air to high. September in Orlando was sweltering this year. Even though it was past midnight, the humidity was still potent. His back was soaked with sweat, and the fact that he was dressed in jeans and a longsleeve, black shirt didn’t help matters, either. He could take his shirt off, but then that would cause other problems. Two women, one willing, the other, well, a bit scared. “I don’t know,” she said through her glares. “You could take me home with you.” She gazed at him through dreamy eyes. No, I don’t think so. But, with a grin, he nodded. “I believe we have upset your boyfriend enough for one night. Don’t you think? And my friend Tanner and I have a special event to attend.”

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A cute smile raised her rosy cheeks. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m going to have to make it up to him with some great sex.” Yes. There was no doubt in Jordan’s mind that she would be able to do it. “So, where are we headed?” he asked again. “I live in the Lakes Apartments in Rosemont.” She laid her head against the headrest. “What event do you and Tanner have to attend?” He glanced at Tanner. She cracked a smile, then bashfully lowered her gaze. “A sanguinarian party.” “I like parties.” Jenna placed her hand on his knee. “I’m sure you do, darlin’, but this party is private.” “Fine. But next time you better include me.” Jordan nodded. “Sure thing. Next time.” He veered the car onto the I-4 interstate toward the east. Within twenty minutes, they pulled into her apartment complex. “I live in building six,” she said as he drove around the office toward the back of the parking lot. Once he passed the kidney-shaped pool, building six was in view. Easing his foot off the gas, he pulled into a space directly in front of the building. “Here you go, darlin’.” She reached over and touched her warm lips to his cheek. “I had a great time tonight. Call me sometime.” Hesitation held her in place. “You better call me for the next blood party.” With that, she slid her body out of the car and softly closed the door behind her. When she’d disappeared, he motioned for Tanner to take the seat next to him and then drove the distance to his condominium on the south side of town. With the thought of bloodletting soon, he drove the rest of the way home with the windows down, Tanner at his side, and breathed in the aroma of fresh oranges from the blooming magnolia trees that lined South Semoran Avenue. Ozzy Osbourne’s song “Crazy Train” blared from the eight-inch woofers. A thought that he should be happy and feel fulfilled with his life flitted through his mind. After all, he had a

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cute blood doll sitting beside him who would soon replenish his pranic energy, and most likely his loins a few more times. But the funny part was, he wasn’t.

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Chapter Two Mia Christini watched her best friend, Cindi, slide into skintight black jeans she wished she had the courage to wear. Cindi’s slightly curved, petite frame filled the pants as if they were designed especially for her. The low-cut black lace tank showed just enough cleavage, making her size-A cup appear larger than life. Mia’s hourglass frame made her self-conscious to wear tight-fitting clothes. With so-called measurements of a brick fucking house, at least that’s what her boss whispered in her ear days ago, tank tops like Cindi’s made her chest look massive, as if it were erupting from some dormant volcano. Years of growing up in a Catholic environment led her to believe that a body like hers was cursed. Her grandmother insisted that she wrap her chest with tape in middle school to hide her size. For years she wished that she had a body like Cindi’s, one that wasn’t destined for sin. She shook her head in an attempt to forget the memory. Grandmother. Mia continued to study Cindi as she primped in front of the floorlength, brass mirror. Her friend’s cropped shade of magenta hair complemented her sapphire-colored eyes. “You’re staring again, Mia.” Cindi chuckled right before she flashed Mia her right boob. “Cindi!” “Geez, girlfriend…take a chill pill. It’s just a tit.” Mia’s mouth hit the floor. She tried to squash the image of the small hoop fastened to Cindi’s nipple. “Your nip—”

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“Pierced? Yeah, I know.” Cindi’s mirrored image arched a brow. “Drives the men absolutely wild.” At five foot two inches without shoes, confidence radiated from Cindi’s small frame. Mia’s best pal reminded her of the deadly elfin assassins that her favorite author, Krista Kane, wrote about in her romance novels. Cocky. Beautiful. Deadly. “Did it hurt?” Mia willed her mouth to close. It refused. “All sorts of good pain. The kind that makes you want to—” The crude hand gestures Cindi made almost sent pee down Mia’s leg. “Stop already. I get the picture.” “Do you now, Catholic girl?” “Loud and clear.” Still chuckling from Mia’s obvious reaction, Cindi reached for her hot-pink lipstick, silently moving her lips. Mia bet she was teasing her under her breath. With a chuckle at her own uptight reaction, she slid her gaze over the hotel room, thinking Cindi’s job must pay her well if she could afford a room like this. The Egyptian-cotton bedsheets, which Cindi had made a point to discuss the previous night over cocktails, had a thread count of two thousand. The teak armoire and circular table and chairs carried intricate designs carved meticulously into the wood. After she applied her lip color, Cindi’s gaze moved across the room. It stopped on Mia. “Hey, grab me my black leather belt from the red suitcase.” She secured a black-onyx choker around her neck. Fulfilling her best friend’s command, Mia tossed her the leather accessory. Confident Cindi drove the belt through the loops of her denim low riders, then fumbled in her cosmetic bag. “Shit, I need to run down to the gift shop for a minute. I forgot my contact solution.”

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“Okay.” Mia placed her hand on the novel beside her. “I’ll read while you’re gone.” God forbid if you had to wear your glasses. “Take your time.” Cindi nodded. “If you insist, you little bookworm.” Mia picked up the book and returned to the section she bookmarked, reading a few lines before her throat was tight and her pants tighter. Wow, why can’t I find a man like this one? Tall, dark, and deadly. She gazed at the clock on the wall. Thirty minutes had passed since Cindi had left. She turned the page and gasped. Her hands held the book like it was the Holy Bible, her gaze glued to the text. Hovering in the doorway, Cindi’s soft-pitched chuckle filled the room. “You seem pretty enthralled in that book.” Mia glanced up. “Oh sorry, I can’t seem to put it down. Want me to read a part?” “If you insist,” Cindi replied at the same time she rolled her eyes. Mia bounced off the bed and cleared her throat. Her inner actress emerged. Planting herself in the center of the room, she gestured in front of her, Cindi’s cue to take a place on the bed. Cindi plopped down on the bed, contact solution in hand. “Now close your eyes. I need you to experience the full effect of the dialogue,” Mia insisted. Cindi obeyed. “Yes, ma’am.” Mia’s dramatic gene took center stage. “He stood near the bar, and she carefully watched his every move. His dark-brown hair cascaded over one of his hazel eyes while full, pouty lips beckoned her to ravage them. Moistness settled between her legs. She wanted to climb on him, attack and grope every inch of his chiseled body. Sasha’s lust mode was overbearing, and Darian’s body begged to be taken. She turned herself away from the sexual tension gripping her from the inside out, and glanced at the menu on the wall.” Mia took in a breath for creative effect before she continued. “POV change,” she added, then continued.

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“He lifted himself off the barstool and moved with ease across the floor for a better look at the raven-haired beauty. Inches from her, he whispered, ‘Looking at you from so far away is killing me.’ She turned to face him, her gaze smoldering. “‘Perhaps it’s time we bring you back to life.’ Desire pulsed through him as he pulled her against his body and licked his lips in anticipation. Leaning in, he kissed her soft ruby lips. Tonight he planned to explore her most intimate places. Without a doubt, she would be his—guaranteed. Very soon, he would rock her world.” Mia finished the last line, forgetting for a moment Cindi was in the room with her. Embarrassed by losing herself in the book, she hoped and prayed she didn’t look as flushed on the outside as she felt inside. Author Kane knew how to write romance. Mia devoured her books the minute they appeared in the bookstore. She loved the stories because what she was afraid to experience in real life she could experience within the pages of Kane’s novels. She closed the book and stared at Cindi. “Well, what do you think?” Cindi held a questioning gaze. “What do I think? Well, let me see. My best friend is reading the pages of a romance novel to me with desperation and need in her voice.” Tapping her fingers against her leg, her questioning gaze turned into a serious one. “What’s going on, Mia?” She snatched the book from her grasp and studied the cover. Flipping the book in her hands, Cindi’s lower lip curled into a slight smile. “Why are you still reading this stuff?” “It’s the latest Krista Kane novel, and you can stop with the facial expressions,” she added, determined to win the upcoming romance books suck debate. She was sick of having to defend her choice of reading to Cindi. But she knew Cindi was right. Reading about something was not the same as doing it. Cindi grinned before her preaching tone took over. “You need to let yourself experience some of the down-and-dirty lust you keep reading about. You know what? I know you hate when I say this, but

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that Catholic upbringing of yours has really done a number on you. Oh wait, I mean Nona Christini has done a number on you. That nasty woman is still affecting you from the grave.” Mia was well aware of that fact. “Please don’t disrespect my Nona. She couldn’t help her beliefs.” “Trust me, Mia. I’m not disrespecting her, just telling it the way it is. She was a bitch. I haven’t forgotten the nights in college that you cried yourself to sleep because that woman said unthinkable things to you. If I had it my way, I’d have stopped her years ago from hurting you.” Mia wasn’t prepared to go into a lengthy discussion about her upbringing. Not now. The knives burrowed in her gut were dormant for the time being. The last thing she wanted to do tonight was feel them twist again. Desperation begged her to change the subject, before the words and feelings she buried deep in her heart ran wild. Flashing back to Cindi’s original comment about experiencing the romance she read about in books, she said, half serious, “Are you kidding me? Downand-dirty sex?” “No, I’m not kidding. You need to let yourself go with a man, just once. At least before the white-wedding day.” Mia glanced down at the black Jimmy Choo stiletto Cindi slid her right foot in. “Nice shoes.” A deep, throaty laugh erupted from Cindi’s tiny frame. “Thanks, but you’re not changing the subject that easily. Where were we? Oh yes, you and some down-and-dirty, hot-and-sweaty sex.” Cindi slid her left foot into the other shoe. Sweat trickled down the back of Mia’s neck. “I would love to experience the sexual fantasies you mention, Cin, but do you really think that what happens in these types of books can happen in real life?” she questioned innocently. At the almost-erotic flash of Jamison, a gush of feminine awareness washed over her. Could she really have her very own

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dream man come to life? She had thought she was close with Jamison Rierson, but he shot her feelings down as if she was the embodiment of some deathly disease. His rejection still splintered her core. Continuing to wallow in her disappointment over Jamison, she reached out and tried to grab her book from Cindi’s grip. But little ol’ Cindi snatched it out of the way in one quick movement, so she gave up the urge to get it back and continued, “I mean I tried to reconnect with Jamison. We went out on a couple of dates, kissed, and when I told him how I felt and asked him about his feelings, he told me that the kiss was a mistake. Then he went on and on about how he really cares about me, but not in the way I want him to care. So, if I can’t get anywhere with him, how can I experience anything with anyone?” “Listen to me, girlfriend, you know I love you like a sister.” This compassion was a trait Cindi showed repeatedly in their friendship. A tender smile passed over her friend’s face, but she wasn’t fooled. She braced herself for the lecture she knew Cindi was about to let loose, and tried to stop it. “I know you do, and I feel the same way. But I know what you’re going to say, and it’s not what you think. I can forget Jamison. Even though he’s my boss, I’ve succeeded in ignoring him. I don’t talk to him at work, and I delete his messages. And give me credit. We didn’t talk for years after college.” “Really? You could have fooled me about forgetting him. I can see your feelings all over your face.” Damn, Cindi always could read her like a book. Mia couldn’t look her in the eye, so she glanced at the hem on her skirt. “You still care about Jamison, even though you are trying to forget him. I’m right, right?” Damn if the truth didn’t have a way of always biting her in the ass. Mia fidgeted under the correct Cindi assessment, crossing and uncrossing her legs, trying desperately to look like she was somewhat

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in control. She didn’t want to think about Jamison tonight. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply, a gesture that usually calmed her when the warm sensation behind her eyes emerged. I have got to forget him. He doesn’t want me. But then she buckled and turned her gaze on Cindi. “Okay, you’re right, but I am trying my best to forget him. I know he doesn’t care about me the way I do him. Like I said, our last date was proof of that.” Mia stopped. “Just give me time. I’ll get over him.” “Good. Jamison isn’t the right man for you. He’s always played you like a tight-strung fiddle with his erratic feelings.” Cindi patted on the bed next to her, motioning for Mia to take a seat. Obliging, Mia laid the book on the teak nightstand before she moved toward the bed and plopped down next to Cindi. A comforting hand reached out and gripped hers. “When you meet a man who rocks your world, and that man is not Jamison, you will let that special man do anything and everything. You know, cross borders that you never considered a possibility.” “If you say so, momma Cin.” “Smart-ass.” Mia huffed, and Cindi added, “I want to show you something.” She reached into the drawer in the nightstand by the bed and pulled out a battery-operated phallic toy. “Meet my little friend, Holmes.” Mia’s eyes widened at Cindi’s sinister expression and dildo in the air. Oh my God! She had heard about vibrators but had never actually seen one that wasn’t in the pages of a book. Her heart quickened a beat. Was this excitement she was feeling? Oh shit, I’m in serious trouble now. “What are you doing with that thing?” Playfully, Cindi rolled her eyes then stuck her tongue out in a licking gesture toward the phallic toy. “Oh for God’s sake, Mia, don’t look so surprised. It’s a vibrator, top-of-the-line model. There are many ways to experience wild, juicy, raw sex even without a breathing body.”

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With an expression she was sure was a cross between incredulous and excited, Mia stood, resembling a statue, gaze glaring at the hotpink plastic penis Cindi waved through the air like a wand. Thoughts of Catholic school, nuns, and lectures on mortal sins rampaged through her mind. The nuns would have a field day with her if they could see her now, not to mention the tongue-lashing she’d be privy to if they could read her thoughts. “Girlfriend, sometimes you have to improvise. Make do with what is around at the moment.” Before Mia could reply, Cindi was standing at the small table near the bed, liberally dousing perfume all over her small frame. Nonchalantly, without skipping a beat, she kissed the plastic toy before slipping it into her red leather suitcase. Once the shock of her best friend’s plastic penis has passed, Mia’s mouth managed to move. “I just can’t picture myself doing some of the stuff or crossing the sexual boundaries that many of the characters in these books cross.” Cindi let out a short laugh and shook her head. “Of course you can’t, but you will. Trust me, that man is going to come into your life, and when he does, your so-called sheltered life is going to bolt out the door. That Catholic upbringing of yours will be flattened. And it won’t matter anymore that your mother wants you to go to confession on a regular basis or that she’s upset you didn’t become a nun. God, just think how she would really feel if she learned you haven’t been to church in ages and that we were having this conversation.” “Cindi,” Mia warned before her lips tightened into a slight frown. “You know this is a touchy subject for me. Besides, the fact that I live like a virgin should be restitution for not attending church. My morals and beliefs have remained securely in place. Honestly, that’s all my mother really wants, anyway.” “Sorry.” A perceptive smile curved Cindi’s face. “Enough talk of religion. I’m so glad I was able to stop over and see you in between my research projects, and get to your students’ production of Chicago. It was nice seeing your parents and brothers at the play, but

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speaking of men…” Cindi cleared her throat, acting as if she were about to give a speech. Her smile changed her face, as if a Cheshire cat loomed behind her sapphire-blue eyes. Amused, Mia raised an eyebrow, waiting for her friend to continue, and wondered about the reticent expression on her face. When Cindi remained silent, curiosity over came her. “But speaking of men what?” “I’m really glad I didn’t have to go to South America right away, because the delay allowed me to meet Tristan.” “Tristan?” Mia gasped. No way. I only know one Tristan. He is trouble with a capital T. Was her best friend losing her mind? He was only eighteen years old, and in high school. She could go to jail for that thought! No, maybe she meant some other Tristan she met last night. Yes, I like that scenario much better. “You don’t mean my student Tristan?” “The one and the same. Smart mouth, cocky young man. Just my type.” Cindi’s words came across with a spark of eroticism, just before she let a devil-be-damned grin cross her face. “A nice piece of sexy caramel candy.” Mia shook her head. Tristan? She must have heard Cindi wrong. “Tristan…a piece of caramel?” “He reminds me of succulent candy with his toffee-colored, messy hair and rich, caramel-colored eyes. I didn’t think he was a student in the high school, so I introduced myself. He announced himself as the school rebel and entranced me with those eyes. Girlfriend, my heart almost stopped beating.” “Tristan.” Mia didn’t bother to hide her disbelief or shock. “Yes, Tristan. But enough talk about men. We have to get to the club before it closes.” “Oh…okay.” Could her best friend be serious? Tristan? Cindi coughed to cover up a laugh as they descended the lobby stairs. “Do you still journal everything?”

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Mia placed a hand on the brass handrail. “Yes, but not as often as I used to. Life has become a bit rote, so I’ve seen no point in writing down the same thing each day.” “Well, my friend, I just gave you a nice bit of information to write about. My growing lust for Tristan. Once I bed him, you will have all the lusty details to put on paper. Plus, we are going to a club tonight and a party tomorrow that I believe we can make very memorable. In a few days, you will be able to journal your little heart out.” “Great.” Bed him? The mere idea made her stomach drop. Instead of the usual butterflies in her stomach, rocks were in her gut. She knew Cindi like the back of her hand. When she put her mind to something, she did it. If she wanted someone, he was hers. For a brief second, she played devil’s advocate in her own mind. He is eighteen. Yes, but he is still in high school. She hoped she had enough money in her savings for bail. **** They went arm in arm down to the lobby and out the front doors. The late-afternoon sky was blanketed in varying shades of black and gray, resembling the onset of a hurricane right after the eye of the storm made landfall. Clouds swirled and straightened in the dark heavens. Palm trees bent from the strong winds. Mia took off running for her car, calling out to Cindi to hurry. Slightly concerned with the elements, Cindi broke her gaze from the tempest in the sky and, heeding her friend’s advice, ran after her. Minutes later, she reached Mia’s vehicle, flung open the door, and scurried in. Secure in the car, her gaze remained transfixed out the window. “Mia, look at the sky. Shouldn’t we find shelter?” “Shelter?” Mia glanced from the road toward her. “We’re in shelter. My car. Get used to it. We’re in Orlando, and here, you’ll experience the most God-fearing thunderstorms you’ll ever live through. You scared?”

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Scared? No. Hating rain? Yes. Amused at Mia’s attempt to “call her on the carpet,” she relaxed her head back against the seat and watched with half-hearted interest as rain poured from the heavens and pounded the car. Forget raining cats and dogs. It was like driving through endless waterfalls, with plenty of lightning surrounding both sides of the car. “We seem to be in the hellacious part now.” “Yes, we are. Just wait, a few minutes more and it will stop.” Just as Mia predicted, the storm stopped and they were heading down I-4 toward the club. Mia kept insisting that there was nothing to worry about the entire drive. She still seemed to assume that Cindi was afraid. Sweet little muffin, Mia was. Usually Cindi was the one calming Mia and protecting her. Cindi smiled when one of their excursions popped in her thoughts, the senior college trip to Key West. They had ended up in an undesirable area of town, and Mia was a wreck. When drunkards had followed them, and homeless bums had whistled at them and asked for money, Mia learned to fly. Yep, her fear took control, and her body took flight. Cindi had chased after Mia, who ended up at an intersection, sweating bullets and hyperventilating. From that moment on, she had ordained herself as Mia’s protector. She had told her that she would always take care of her. No one would ever hurt her friend, and if anyone ever tried, she’d kick their ass. Cindi rested her head against the window. She’d have to be on her toes at the club tonight and party tomorrow to keep a close watch on Mia. She hadn’t lied when she told her the club and party were work related. They were. She just hadn’t been too forthcoming with what kind of establishments they would be gracing and what her research really entailed. The lack of disclosure was part of her protection mechanism. Mia was such a good soul, so innocent, but she needed to loosen up, expand her horizons.

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Apprehensive, she glanced at Mia. Maybe the party is too much too soon? Well, too late now. We’re already on our way. The best I can do is keep an eye on her and hope that if anything weird goes down she won’t hate me. Thoughts of sharing with Mia the true nature of her work crossed her mind, but she didn’t want to lose her friendship. So many friends over the years had walked in and out of her life the moment they found out she was a psychic vampire. “You’re awfully quiet over there. Penny for your thoughts?” “Just thinking about how much fun we’re going to have the next few days.” Mia shot her a wry look. “Are you sure there isn’t something else on your mind?” “You mean besides us passing up the club?” The car slowed down as Mia glanced out the window at the sign whizzing past. “Firestone?” “That would be the one.” “Give me a sec. I’ll turn around at the street.” As Mia promised, she turned the car around and had them safely in the parking lot within minutes. They both emerged, slamming the doors shut behind them. A line of people started at the door of the club and wrapped around the side of the building. “Holy crap, Cin. It’s going to take us hours to get inside there.” “We’re not waiting in any line, Mia. Come on.” Pulling Mia’s hand into hers, she took off toward the front door. A big, burly bouncer with a Mohawk greeted them. “Ladies, the line is back there.” He pointed toward the montage of bodies gyrating to the booming bass wafting from the club. “My name is Cindi Vera Cruz. Check the guest list, and you will see we are on it.”

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“Hold on a second. Justin, hand me the guest list.” A cute man with curly, red hair handed him a clipboard, and Mohawk man glanced at it. “What’s the name again?” “Cindi Vera Cruz.” “How do ya spell that?” Cindi fought back the desire to snatch the clipboard from his fat hands and clobber him over the head with it. “C-I-N-D—” “Last name.” Now she had to fight back the urge twice as hard. “V-E-R-A—” “Okay. Okay. I see it here. Cindi Vera Cruz, plus one.” “Yep. That’s us.” He handed the list back to his assistant and removed the cloth rope from the VIP entrance. “Thank you kindly,” Cindi said, pulling Mia through the entranceway into the club.

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Chapter Three Jordan had just ordered Tanner a glass of chardonnay when the host at Firestone announced his table was ready. When they reached the secluded round table near the back door, Jordan slid the chair out for Tanner, and she plopped down. “Are you hungry?” He asked the question knowing damn well the poor blood doll was probably starving. She hadn’t eaten since her time with him, and since he’d just met her late yesterday afternoon, hunger could be a real possibility. “Are you?” A sweet tone answered back. “I can always eat, darlin’.” He wasn’t talking just food. His gutter mind always took center stage, and he loved it. Just the thought of him dining several times between her legs last evening made his pants a little snug. He glanced at his cock, catching the quick glance Tanner gave. That was his cue to grasp her hand and place it near the bulge. “You don’t mind, do you?” He leaned in close to her, the strawberry bodywash he’d purchased last weekend at Bath & Body Works to keep in his shower for his visiting women permeating from her recently bathed skin. “No. I’m growing rather fond of it.” He snickered. “Yeah, darlin’, they all do.” Her chuckle was sweet, and the long strokes she gave his erect cock even sweeter. Resting a gaze on her plump lips, it took all of his willpower to not push her to her knees under the table in front of him. Sucking him off was something she knew how to do. She may have

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been a virgin when it came to the blood game, but when it came to giving head, she was a pro. Lips made for pleasure. “Just don’t get too attached. It tends to like to wander,” he added. She squeezed him harder. Horny was taking the place of hunger, and he was just about to whisk her into his favorite janitor’s closet when the waitress appeared with their food. Thirty-five minutes later, they’d finished dining on shrimp cocktail, fried cheese, zucchini, and ravioli. He’d ordered a second round of drinks when Jamison approached the table. His appearance left much to be desired. His hair was tousled and not in its usual ponytail, and his expression was etched with annoyance. “To what do we owe this pleasure, my friend?” Tanner chuckled at Jordan’s words. A cordial expression crossed her face, and she added, “Nice to see you again.” Jordan opened his mouth to say something when a commotion broke loose at the bar. A brunette hauled back and threw a punch at a petite blonde, knocking her from the barstool she was perched on. Another woman broke a beer bottle against the forehead of the man beside her. The man cracked his head against the wood floor, giving Jordan a bird’s-eye view of the culprit that laid him flat. Christi Wilson launched off the barstool and straddled the incoherent man. The bar suddenly turned into mayhem central. Jordan was at Christi’s side before the bartender lifted the phone to dial 911. Christi wound up, ready to throw another punch at the passed-out man when Jordan grabbed her wrist. “What the hell are you doing?” In an uncontrolled slice of anger, she spit in Jordan’s face. “I’m going to kill this asshole.” “Hey! Spit on me again and it’s going to be lights out for you.” Jordan’s patience was wearing thin, and he bit back the desire to slam her head against the wood floor, so instead he managed to chuckle in spite of his desire to give her a punch that would knock her into tomorrow.

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Jordan tightened the hold on her wrist then swept an arm around her waist just as the Orlando Police Department barged through the front doors of the club. He gazed up just in time to catch Detective Kipling scanning the room. Our cue to fly the coop. He’d made it down the back hallway without Christi pulling out all of his hair and without Kipling seeing him. Jamison stood at the exit door. Shaking his head in what could only be described as disbelief, he pushed it open. “I’ll take care of Tanner and Kipling. Get Christi out of here.” “You asshole, I’m going to cut your dick off,” Christi wailed as Jordan rushed them through the open door. “You bet you’ll be doing something with it, but it won’t be cutting.” Christi kept bellowing obscene words, and Jordan just laughed. Keep that thought. **** A few hours later, Jordan hung up the phone. Jamison’s call came at the perfect time. He needed to get Christi home before her boyfriend came looking for her. The last time Matt showed up unannounced, all hell broke loose. He didn’t take to kindly to his girlfriend having sex with Jordan, so he probably wouldn’t be happy about what they did tonight. No. He wouldn’t be happy, but I sure am. The image of her full lips flashed through his mind. And then the remembrance of where they’d been. He readjusted himself before he made her later than she already was. After depositing a satisfied and pleasant Christi at her doorstep, he pulled the black Mercedes Kompressor from the curb and headed back toward the club. It was early, and there was fun still to be had. Twenty minutes later, he parked the car in his usual spot at Firestone. Once he reached the door to the club, he slipped an Andrew

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Jackson in the hand of Leroy, the only bouncer he cared for at the establishment, and waded his way through the crowd toward the back table he’d abandoned earlier in the evening. Jamison was at the table, sitting in his usual seat, but Tanner was missing. When he’d reached the table, his best friend nudged the vacant chair with the tip of his boot, gesturing for Jordan to take a seat. Jordan caught the eye of the waitress coming toward them, pointed to the longneck Budweiser on the table, and after she’d nodded and headed toward the bar, he plopped down. “What happened to my little Tanner?” Jamison took a swig of beer before he said, “I took the poor girl home. She’s goddamned infatuated beyond normal groupie with you. You really need to stop doing this to women. How are you ever going to find the right one when you—” “There is no right one. Not for a man like me, Jamison. Buddy, my lifestyle, my preference, they don’t bring the women that could be forever, only the ones that want forever to be one night.” “Bullshit.” Jamison shook his head and pinned Jordan with a challenging look. “You were in love once. Yeah, it was in college, and when she found out about the vampirism, she freaked and ran. She was probably meaner than she should have been, but what you two had was real. I’m not here to lecture you, buddy, but I think if you’d let your guard down and stop slutting around, you’d see I’m right.” Jordan took a long swig of his beer, then slammed it on the table. “Are you done lecturing me? And before you chastise me because I like to fuck women, you best look in the mirror.” “Fine.” “Yeah, fine. I think your little Mina…Mia has boggled your brain.” Jamison leaned back on his chair. “Perhaps she has.” A sadness fleeted across his best friend’s face. “You’re right. It won’t work.”

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Jordan’s phone tinged. He reached in his pocket, flipped it open, and said, “Jordan here.” Jamison silently motioned that he was going to the restroom and then pointed toward the bar. Jordan nodded and then said into the phone, “Glad you and Trixi came. Jamison and I will be there momentarily.” He chuckled. “Yeah, baby, I’m thirsty.” Excited about the new plans, a second night of blood drinking, this time with Trixi and Stacey, he disconnected from the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket before he joined Jamison at the bar. Once he’d filled Jamison in on the new plans, those plans being the blood dolls in waiting, the two men paid the bar tab and waded across the dance floor toward the rear of the club. On their way to the back room of the club, Jordan slipped a lancet into Jamison’s pocket. Jamison had mentioned he didn’t have any of his tools with him, and of course, Jordan always carried his talon and extra lancets in case of an emergency. The room was full tonight with many hungry sanguinarians. Jordan refocused his eyes in the dim lighting and scanned the room for Trixi and Stacey. The two redheads were sprawled out on the two black velvet loveseats against the mirrored wall. Jordan nudged Jamison, and the men moved to the couches, carefully sliding in beside their prospective donors for the evening. Comfortably seated behind Trixi, Jordan placed his hands on either side of Trixi’s waist and pulled her against him. Her white cotton blouse fit loosely at her waist, giving him ample opportunity to slide his hands underneath, and of course he just kept his hands traveling north. She conveniently forgot her bra, and he conveniently ran his hands over her tits, the soft, warm flesh inviting. His thumb touched her nipple, sending it to torpedo mode, and he pinched and played with her left tit while he slid the hair away from

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her neck with the other hand. Gently, he placed a kiss on the spot on her neck that he would soon cut, and sucked the skin into his mouth. She turned her face toward him, and a soft moan sounded. “That feels so good. Please pinch my titties while you cut and suck me.” “Yeah, I can do that. But, only if you unbutton your skirt and let me finger your pussy, too.” Trixi moaned again, a little louder this time, and unbuttoned her denim skirt. Jordan moved his hand from the tit he was squeezing and pinched down her warm flesh until his fingers rested in the soft curls above her pussy. When her breathing accelerated, he slipped his finger into her wet center. Then he punctured the skin on her neck. The blood surfaced. The crimson liquid made his mouth water. His lips touched her neck before he covered the cut with his mouth. He drew on her neck, and the metallic, salty taste filled his mouth, warming his body as he swallowed. He closed his eyes and licked the area, pulled his finger out of her pussy then slid it back inside. Her pussy clenched around his finger after he slid it back inside. The lights dimmed further, a sign that if the participants wanted to get funky, this was the time. No stray customers would be making their way back to this room now. Stacy turned her head slightly and whispered against his cheek, “I want to pleasure you. You just made me come. Now it’s your turn…” Well damn, he couldn’t fight a lady’s request, now could he? “Sounds like a plan, darlin’.” She slid off the sofa and landed on her knees, facing him. Then she unzipped his pants and pulled his cock into her hands, stroking it a few times from hilt to tip, carefully placing her lips around it and sucking it into her mouth. If Jordan remembered correctly, and he did, she gave a wicked blow job. Comfortable and content, he rested his head against the back of the couch and gazed toward the front doorway. A female with bright-

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magenta hair walked into the room. But it was the female that walked in behind her that caught his attention and sent a flutter of butterflies into his gut. The muscle-bound bouncer rushed the girls. The magenta-haired one touched the bouncer’s arm and appeared to be saying something, but Jordan couldn’t make it out. And the one with long brown hair glanced around the room quickly before backing out of the doorway. Trixi sucked him harder until he came in her mouth. But the usual feeling that came from a great blow job was gone, and in its place a desire to meet the amazing brunette that was here before she got away from him. Trixi cleaned him up and put him back together before she disappeared. I’ve got to find that woman. Jordan stood and planned to do just that when Jamison rose from his spot on the sofa and stood in front of him. His face was white as a ghost. “What’s wrong?” Jordan asked. “She’s here. Here at this club…” Jamison’s voice trailed off toward the doorway. Jordan glanced at the doorway while he tucked his shirt into his pants. “Who’s here?” “Her. She’s here. This isn’t good. I have to go.” Jamison’s voice held panic. “Can you be more specific? Her? She? What the fuck, who are you talking about?” Jamison dismissed Jordan’s questions and just said, “She can’t know about this part of my life. She’d never understand.” And with that, he left Jordan speechless and walked away. Jordan stared after him briefly before he remembered what he previously planned to do, find that woman. With a desire burning through him to find her, he walked toward the doorway that led into the front room of the club.

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Pretty lady…I’m coming for you.

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PART II: Cassadaga Moon Blaring Chapter One “What do you mean don’t run from the house if I’m scared?” “Mia, trust me. There’s nothing to worry about.” Famous last words. A jolt of energy, like an invisible hand lurching out from the atmosphere, slammed into Mia’s chest and traveled through her body at the realization that Cindi was a scientist who researched paranormal cults stemming from indigenous groups in the far corners of the world. First the strange club last night, and now this. So what are we doing on this porch in Cassadaga, Florida? Calm down. She semirelaxed and kept her attention zeroed in on the front door. Cindi would never put her in harm’s way, ever. There was no logical reason to be frightened about a party, even if it was in the psychic capital of the world. What could possibly happen that her best friend, aka badass Vera Cruz, couldn’t handle? One knock later, the door opened onto the goddess Aphrodite incarnate. If it weren’t for Cindi’s sudden death grip on her arm, no doubt Mia would have excused herself from the scene and hauled ass back to the car. During the greetings, Cindi muttered something about the two of them being from the Ravenfield Sanction. Then Cindi shot a quick, sharp look at Mia, the one that told her to shut her mouth, or else. So, she wants me to be silent. No problem. But what the hell is a Ravenfield Sanction?

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They followed their hostess with the mostess, through a massive foyer, to another room. A touch of Victorian flair decorated the room. Cindi motioned to the bar and walked over to it like she owned it, the spiky tips of her magenta hair swaying as she moved. “I see you found your favorite item of furniture,” Mia joked. Cindi smirked. “Of course. If there is liquor, I always find it. You know me.” She returned to the sofa where Mia had gone to sit, with two full glasses of burgundy. “So this is some evening so far.” Cindi brought the ratherexpensive-looking glass up to her mouth and took a hearty sip. “What do you think?” Mia sighed, not sure how to reply. Some evening. Not quite the words I was thinking. Mysterious and odd, now that would be a closer description of the evening thus far. “I hope it is all you ladies wished for and more,” a low, raspy voice interceded. Startled, both women focused on an overstuffed recliner in the opposite corner. Slowly, the chair turned until a flaxen-haired stranger faced them. He somehow looked familiar. This was when Mia’s life changed forever. The man stroked his hands along the armrests, slow and easy, with a sexy grin. She sucked in a quiet breath as his smile spread and he slid his hands to his thighs, splaying his fingers against his groin. The movements drew attention to the impressive bulge at the juncture of his legs. Damn. Just a wink from Mr. Sexpot, and her stomach fluttered. Holy Mary, Mother of God…pray for this sinner. Me. Lord, have mercy. Mia couldn’t look away from him if she tried. Nor could she rip her eyes from the glimmering studded diamond pushed through his nostril, or the small silver hoops in his ears. The man overdosed in pure sex appeal. “What’s the matter, pretty lady? Cat got your tongue?” he asked.

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Cat got her tongue? Understatement. How about her entire body? Embarrassed by his correct assessment, she pinned him with a stare. It was all she could muster. She hoped it was a good one. For a woman who taught voice control to budding actors on a daily basis, she should give herself a big F. The self-professed best-friend protector slid toward Mia, blocking his view. “We’re having a great time. Thanks. And who are you?” Cindi asked, before Mia could even form a sound. The words teetered on her tongue, and that was about it. He cocked an eyebrow, obviously not enjoying Cindi’s interference. “I wasn’t talking to you.” Oh, I wouldn’t have said that, Mr. Sexy. Cindi’s lips curved into a precarious smirk, obviously overwhelmed by the man’s brazenness. And suddenly, best bud appeared at a loss for words. “Oh, I get it. Your friend is deaf. Sorry, but I don’t know much sign language. If you have a piece of paper, I can write my part of our conversation down for her.” As if he were the hottest man on this side of the world, he leaned forward, placing both elbows on the armrests, puckered his lips, and blew Mia a kiss. The way his lips moved and his body swayed was sinful. You arrogant, sexy asshole. Aghast at his obvious flirting strategies, Mia gave him a silent tongue-lashing. He was the type of man her Catholic mother warned her about. He was scary, seductive, and probably to die for. Mia’s strange infatuation turned incensed. She had the urge to throw heavy equipment at him, but instead her voice decided to make an appearance. Yippie for small favors. “I’m not deaf. You just caught me off guard. I didn’t realize anyone else was in the room with us.” “Exactly,” Cindi chimed in. “Mmm… What else did I catch off guard?” His gaze traveled over her body not once, but twice. “Well? Are you having a good time darlin’?”

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Mia lost the simple function of speech again. But from Cindi’s expression, she hadn’t lost hers. “To answer your first question a second time, we’re having a marvelous evening. I’m Cindi, and this is my best friend Mia. We’re from the Ravenfield Sanction.” The hells angel tilted his head in a surveying gesture, one that looked like he was getting ready to bite into a nice juicy steak instead of a future introduction. Mia wanted to gag, twice, even though a part of her found him strangely charming. He continued to gaze at her as if she were part of his menu. More shocking, a part of her desired to be. The part of her labeled “good woman” itched to turn Catholic-woman-gone-wild tonight. “I’m Jordan, with the Stiletto Sanction. It’s nice to meet the two of you.” Before Mia could silently comment in her head, he had moved out of the chair and taken a seat between them. “So, was your drive here a pleasant one, Mia?” “It was an interesting drive, I mean, learning about the psychic town stuff.” Mia replied a little faster then she anticipated the words. The description of “stumbling idiot” took on an entirely new meaning with him in such close proximity. “Psychics aren’t your cup of tea?” His wry laugh filled the room. Mia forgot her train of thought, due to a random fixation with the diamond in his nostril. Uncomfortable, she glanced away. “It’s not that. I just don’t know a lot about their way of life.” Whom was she kidding? She didn’t know a single solitary thing about their lifestyle. Catholic girls don’t go there. “Do alternative lifestyles scare you, darlin’?” He continued to assess her with an intenseness that should have warned her to walk away from him, but somehow, she couldn’t, because he was much too fascinating.

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What about him was so interesting? One minute she wanted to level him with large objects, and the next she wanted to sit with him, answering every question he proposed. Cindi tapped her finger on her thigh, a sign she was slightly perturbed by the bad boy and his odd questions. “Jordan, would you like me to pour you a glass of wine?” He turned his attention to her for a moment. “As long as you’re offering, that would be great.” “Great, let me grab you a glass.” With her attention never diverting from Jordan or Mia for too long, she buzzed over to the bar, returned, and handed Jordan the vino. The entire act seemed as if it was completed before Mia blinked. “Thanks, Cindi.” So he has manners. Even though Mia tried not to stare at his full lips, she couldn’t help herself. They were really nice. Soft and kissable. Snap out of it! After placing the wine on the floor next to him, Jordan stretched out his arms against the back of the sofa. With a mischievous grin, he rolled his hips before relaxing back into the red folds, casually slipping a hand on Mia’s thigh. Oh my God, Mary and Joseph! Heat pulsated from his massaging fingertips through the denim of her skirt. She took a sip of wine, attempting to harness her overactive sweat glands, yet she couldn’t seem to turn away from his light-gray-colored gaze. “You’re staring at me.” Yes, she was. Cindi shook her head while Mia guzzled more wine. “Do you want to kiss me, darlin’?” Hell yes. No. I mean no, I don’t. Someone would think she’d never kissed a man before, the way the inside of her mouth salivated. She thought back to her last kiss from Jamison. No wonder she was acting like a cat in heat. Kissing her boss was a mistake, but one that she would probably commit again if he pushed her up against the wall and put his lips on hers as he did in the theater on Monday. All she

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had wanted to do was hang tryout sheets for the upcoming production of Chicago for her drama class, but instead she had enjoyed the head of the English department ravishing her in the middle of the school day. Cindi burst out with an uneasy laugh. “Easy, fella.” A sly grin lifted Jordan’s lips before his booted foot touched the side of Mia’s shoe. “Well?” A low, almost-inaudible growl left his throat. “Come on, woman, you know you want to.” Common sense told her to keep her ass in the seat, but she stood anyway. She should have realized being slightly buzzed and standing up would make things worse, but she wasn’t one to listen to her own intuition. “No. I need to go.” “Go where?” Jordan and Cindi questioned. “To the restroom.” Jordan cocked his head. Strands of hair touched his cheek, and he interceded. “I’ll take you to the restroom. I promise I won’t molest you unless you beg me to.” The way his black leather pants clung to his legs made Mia want to squeeze him so badly that she clenched her hands into fists. Oh, no you won’t. I am perfectly capable of stumbling down the hall by myself. “I don’t need your assistance. Just tell me the direction.” She cut him a sharp look that dared him to argue. Taking her cue or pacifying her whim, he let her win. “Fine, go out the door and down the hall to the stairs. The restroom is the second door on the right.” In a tipsy panic, she started across the room. Halfway, she turned back, remembering she was a lady and should act like one. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome, sweet thing. But if you’re not back in two minutes, I’m sending the cavalry in after you. Which, if you haven’t guessed, is me.”

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Chapter Two Inside the large bathroom, Mia plopped down in a black velvet chair. Her goal was to relax her jumbled mind, but images of the sexy hunk in black complicated matters. She was still trying to get over the disaster date with Jamison a few nights ago, and honestly, that had been taking up most of her mind roulette. Cavalry. After prepping in front of the mirror, she headed out of the bathroom and ran headfirst into what felt like a brick wall. “Ouch!” It wasn’t a wall, but her leather-clad dream man. In sheer embarrassment, she jumped back, only to have a firm hand grab hold of her. “Mia? Are you hurt?” Stupefied, she shook her head. “It’s me, Jordan. You know. The man of your dreams.” She knew who he was. Idiot! He didn’t need to inform her of that little piece of advice. How about stuck-up man of my dreams! “I know who you are. You just scared me,” she mumbled, and pulled away from him. Wrong move. A spinning room does not equal feeling good. She teetered, then placed her arms out to her sides for balance. Control teetered until he snatched her back against him, then tightened his hold. “Scared you, huh. Why don’t you let the big, bad wolf give you a hand, sweet thing?” “Stop doing that.” She brushed his hands away, but he kept his hold. Every nerve in her body was on betrayal, and suddenly they all ached for him. Every instinct cried for her to swing her arms around his neck and pull him against her. “You’re making me dizzy, Jordan.”

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“I do have that effect on women.” Conceited ass. “I’m sure you do.” “It’s that obvious, is it?” She ignored the question. The last thing he needed was for her answer to add to his already-conceited demeanor. “I just felt a little off-kilter from the wine, and sat down for a bit.” She stopped fidgeting and glanced up into his vibrant gaze. Her heart pounded fast against her rib cage. Even though she squirmed, he refused to unhand her. Stepping closer, he placed his hands against the small of her back. A pretend attempt at acting crestfallen tipped his features. “I take it, babe, from all the fidgeting you’re doing, that you’d prefer I let you go?” “That would be great.” Liar! “Mmmm, let me think about it. No.” His seductiveness sent sparks of heat through her body. Part of her wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and plant her lips against his mouth, but the other part wanted to knock his teeth down his throat. Her face warmed again. “What?” she stammered, realizing what he had replied. “I don’t think I want to let you go. Can you handle that?” he whispered. Oh, you’re just too cocky. And I feel sick. Small beads of sweat accumulated in every crevice of her hungry flesh. She desired his touch. In some unexplainable way, she longed for it. Touch me, please. “Say something, Mia. You look like you’re going to faint.” He was right. The room was beginning to spin, making her head feel lighter by the minute. “I’m fine.” His face moved out of focus before a chuckle sounded through the fog-induced haze in her head. “Actually, babe, why don’t you faint? That way I can give you mouth-to-mouth.”

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She needed to sit down before the evitable fall down came. With the room spinning, she was sure to be sick soon. Very soon. Muttered voices sounded down the hall. She turned for a moment toward the hum, then back at him. With a stoic look, he released her but stood close enough to pull her back into an embrace. “I’m only joking, sweet thing. Come on, I’ll take you back to the party.” “Thank you. Even the big, bad wolf gave Little Red Riding Hood a reprieve.” “Touché.” Relieved the spinning stopped, her demeanor softened. “Thanks, Jordan. Getting sick on you would have been the height of embarrassment for me.” “No problem, Mia. Let’s go.” He stopped midstep. “Actually, if you tossed your cookies on me, rather us, we could have showered together. I’d make sure to remove every piece of vomit from your”— his gaze traveled up and down her frame—“beautiful body.” Oh boy! He was saying all the right things for a stuck-up jerk. “That’s nice.” The prospect of sharing such an intimate, personal act freaked her. But on further reflection, heat coursed through her body from the mere thought of him naked. She felt her tongue touch her lips just as the image of his naked chest flashed through her mind. There was no doubt hell would be her final resting place. **** Walking back down the dimly lit corridor, Jordan slipped his hand into hers. Surprisingly to him, she didn’t resist his bold advance or glances. Familiar? No, it couldn’t be the woman who flashed into the doorway at Firestone last night. She wasn’t his usual personality type, but something about her captivated him. Her brown hair pulled together near the top of her head. Loose strands touched her slender neck and flushed cheeks. Big brown eyes stayed focused straight ahead, occasionally glimpsing the

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artwork along the way. A cuteness cocooned her. She had curves in all the right places—a delectable hourglass figure, a body made for sin. With him. The idea of her naivety and corrupting her innocence made his blood boil. He wanted to skim his hands over her clothed breasts, feel her fingers slide around the top of his jeans, grasp the material, unbutton and unzip them. A shudder ran through his body as he fantasized her kneeling on the floor, taking the head of his cock into her mouth. God, you’re beautiful. You’d look great permanently manacled to my bed. No, no. You’d be good as permanent arm candy. Something strange brewed inside him. Permanent? Do I really want something more? He sighed before his gaze searched for hers. Look at me, woman. She stopped her pretend studying of the wallpaper. Appearing bothered, she cocked her head to study him. “Don’t stare at me like that.” Exhibiting a little bit of authority my way, are we? I like it. He stepped into her private space and drew her to him. “By the way, that wasn’t nice. I can stare at you if I want to. Trust me, darlin’, I want to.” He had no other choice but to crush his mouth against hers without a whimper from her. At first, her body tensed, and she palmed his chest. Her petite fingers clasped his shirt as she pushed. Damn, usually the women were tearing my clothes off by this point in the evening. Laughing, he tightened his embrace. The aroma of her skin caressed his senses, reminding him of wild berries. Beyond ready to taste every inch of her, he stroked his tongue across her lips, and she clamped her mouth shut. Seriously? He chuckled. “Open up, darlin’.” “No,” she breathed against his mouth. “So, is this going to be our first disagreement, Mia?”

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Abruptly, she pulled away, leveling him with a look that made him want to climb up one side and down the other of her clothed frame. “What are you talking about?” Cupping her cheeks, he pulled her close again and whispered, “Stop fighting me, and let me kiss you the way you deserve to be kissed.” She looked like she wanted to run, then the look of panic dissolved to one of surrender, and she snuggled closer. When her eyelids fluttered closed, he pushed his tongue into her mouth. Good girl. To his surprise, she pulled him more rapidly against her, breathed in deep, and then her head fell backward and her body went limp. You have got to be kidding me. “Mia?” He touched the palm of his hand to her lips to make sure she still breathed. The woman had fainted. “I got you.” Chuckling, he swept her up into his arms and moved down the hallway. What would you do if you’d wake up in my bed? Probably turn the color of rubies. He kissed her forehead, thinking about the scenario. Perhaps another time. I hope. Damn. Something about her had his stomach clenched and his mind thinking about much more than sex. He wanted her in a way that was foreign to him. The thought of her earlier bantering excited him. What was she doing to him? Reaching the sitting room, he set Mia on the couch. Realizing Cindi hadn’t said a word when they entered, he scanned the perimeter. She wasn’t in sight. Pulling a chenille blanket from the back of the couch, he covered Mia just as his cell phone tinged, signaling a text message. He reached into the front pocket of his leather pants, pulled it out, and flipped it open. Two women entered the house tonight under false pretenses. Not part of the Ravenfield Coven. One is a scientist studying vampirism.

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We don’t need the publicity. Need to scare them. Ridge will deal with the scientist, you deal with the other. Make sure they don’t try a stunt like this again. By the way, I know how you are. Give her a little scare, nothing more. Elder JR. Jordan shut the phone and shoved it back into his pocket. Shit. This is definitely going to get messy. On the other hand, a little bondage may be just what the doctor ordered.

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Chapter Three When Mia came to, she had a screaming headache. Once she’d finally semirelaxed, she found she was lying on a sofa in the middle of a dimly lit room. She recalled Jordan’s arms wrapping tight around her, and that kiss. No one had ever kissed her like that. Ever. With a start, she sat up, moving her fingers in a circular motion on her temples in an attempt to lessen the pounding. The massage didn’t work. “How are you feeling?” Jordan whispered through the dimness. Mia scanned the room for him as she pulled her hair up and reclipped it. How did he think she was feeling? All her mind could grasp was the fire that ravaged through every crevice of her body when his lips touched hers. “Where are you, exactly?” “I’m over here, babe.” His voice was different. Raspy and short. “Stay where you are. I’ll come to you.” Mia’s gaze darted around the room in an attempt to locate her missing best friend, as Jordan sat next to her. Cindi wouldn’t leave her. Would she? Panic constricted Mia’s body like a python devouring its prey. Slow and thorough. Calm down. Maybe she just went to the bathroom. She forced a half smile to stop from hyperventilation. Shit! The warm sensation that his presence ignited started flowing through her body again, and she shifted when she felt the warm dampness between her legs. What is he doing to me? Desperate to gain control of her body, she repositioned herself in an attempt to calm down her raging hormones. “I must get going. I need to find Cindi.”

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He pushed his body forward, pinning her shoulders back against the sofa. “What are you and Cindi actually doing here?” The million-dollar question. In vain, she tried to wiggle from beneath his grasp. He was too powerful for her to budge and it pissed her off. “Let me go right now.” An astonished expression lit up his face. “No.” After an amused laugh, with one robust hand across her legs, he made sure she was completely immobile and under his control. “What did you say?” Mia barked, pissed that he thought her attempts at breaking free from him were so juvenile. Not to mention, exactly what were she and Cindi doing here? She would like that question answered, too. “I didn’t stutter, sweet thing. I know you heard me the first time. But in case you didn’t, I’ll ask again. What are you and Cindi actually doing here?” The strange gleam in his gaze unsettled her. His words came across like she was a hardened criminal. “We—” “We know the two of you are not coven members. Perhaps you and your friend are just interested in the lifestyle. Or did you two think a walk on the wild side would be fun? We can always use a few new blood donors. I don’t know, Mia. Why don’t you tell me what the story is?” A wave of panic shot through her body, and she latched on to both of the strong hands pinning her against the sofa. Obviously angry, he shot her a look that could have burned the skin off her face. “What is the story, Mia? I’m waiting. Would you like me to cut you right now? How about that? Would that satisfy your curiosity?” Cut me? Coven? Lifestyle? Blood donors? She had no clue what he was talking about. What she did know was that she had to come up with an explanation fast, or he might freak on her. Although he appeared to remain calm, his bottom lip twitched, and his eyes darkened.

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Acting 101 kicked into overdrive. She glanced up at the skulls on his do-rag and silently forbade herself a glance at his lips, as she processed words and actions into a logical explanation in her head. God, it would be so much easier if I didn’t want to kiss you so badly. “I think Cindi would be better at explaining our background and our reason for being here.” Where is Cindi? Then, a barrage of questions filled her head. What if the people in the house hurt Cindi? Did Jordan already know the truth, whatever that was, and he was aware of Cindi’s whereabouts? Oh my God, what if they cut her? What the hell does that even mean, cut her? Mia had to calm down, because in the emotional state she was in, her acting would suck. Perhaps she underestimated her own skills. He waited. “Very well, princess, let’s go find Cindi.” Lifting her from the sofa, he placed her feet on the floor. “Let’s go.” “Go where? I’m not going anywhere.” Every muscle in Mia’s body ached with need for him when her feet hit the ground. She wanted to run, away from him, from herself, but where would she go? Not to mention, what was Cindi really up to? “Yes, darlin’, you are.” “No. I’m not.” She and Cindi should have stuck with the original plan, to go shopping, but instead, they chose the research party, and so far their choice ranked bottom on the list. And it had nothing to do with the fact she was uncharacteristically attracted to a non-Catholic man that she could never have. Right, if I keep telling myself that, I just might believe it. “Enough of this bullshit.” He yanked her into his arms, hoisting her over his shoulder. “Don’t make me tie you up. I would enjoy that too much.” Her attempts at yelling for him to put her down were in vain. He just continued to walk down the hallway, smiling and nodding to people as they passed. The word “appalled” couldn’t begin to describe

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the feeling running though Mia’s head as his arms tightened around her thighs. Descending a narrow staircase, they eventually spilled out into a dimly lit corridor with a small wooden door at the end of the hallway. He knocked, and a short-haired woman swung the door open. “Hey, Lilley,” he said. Lilley smiled, batting long, dark eyelashes at Jordan. “Hey, you sexy man.” She glared at Mia. “Go ahead inside.” Jordan set Mia down into the empty room, which looked more like an oversized broom closet. Great. It was when Jordan ran his fingers down the cocky blonde’s arm, tapping her butt lightly with an open palm, that pangs of jealousy tinged Mia’s body and pissed her off. Before Mia could stop it, a low growl left her throat. Oh shit. At the same time that Jordan’s lips curled into a smug smile, Mia heard Cindi chuckle. Suddenly she felt like the comic relief of the night. A clicking sound from the door came seconds later. Startled, Mia faced Cindi. “Did they just lock us in here?” “Seems like it,” barked Cindi. She cocked her head at Mia. “Nice growling noise. Obviously his hand to her butt didn’t make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.” “I wasn’t growling. I was clearing my throat. Anyway, forget about that. We need to talk about what is happening now. What exactly is going on?” With a death grip on Mia’s hand, Cindi eased them both down onto the floor. “Mia, you need to listen to me carefully, okay?” “Sure.” In all the years that Mia and Cindi were best friends, Mia never feared anything that the two of them ventured in together, yet this was different. Cindi’s demeanor was reserved, her face full of concern. She almost sensed sadness in the pools of blue.

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“I need you to keep an open mind and listen before you say anything. I was hoping I could tell you the real reason I brought you to this party after we had gone, but that doesn’t seem likely, so here it goes. We are in a coven house, and what that means is we are socializing among a different kind of people. Actually, they’re regular people with different beliefs. That’s all.” Overwhelmed by this new plethora of information, Mia placed her palm against her forehead, resting her elbow on bended knee. “I don’t understand.” Appearing as if she were going to break into song at any moment, Cindi let a broad smile crease her face just a tiny bit, then pulled back. “We are with real vampires, Mia!” Mia stared wide-eyed for two full seconds. “Excuse me? Vampires? These people think vampires are real?” Her ears rang with the words real vampires. “These people are not the storybook type of vampires. They are real people who practice the art of blood drinking. I think that I have them believing that I am only a scientist and that we are here to cause no harm.” Cindi raked her fingers through her hair. Mia knew that move from all the years she’d watched Cindi do it. Cindi was scared. “Jordan and Lilley are the first and second in command to the Elder, and they are relaying my information right now to him. Trust me Mia, they aren’t going to do anything that would hurt us. They are a private and secretive organization. They’ll probably give us a warning and then let us go. No harm done.” Cindi’s intentions seemed harmless, but Mia contemplated what the “letting them go” part of the conversation really meant. One fact Mia was certain about, she was going to strangle Cindi when they exited this mess. Then, further refection made her think about Jordan. At least the man who garnered her attention that evening was a fox. And she forgot about her boss, Jamison.

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“There’s someone coming.” Mia’s stomach churned as she finished the words. “I hear footsteps getting closer.” Cindi bolted up from her reclining position. “Yeah, me, too,” she added and glanced at Mia. “Relax, girlfriend. Everything is going to be fine.” Before Mia could form a sentence in reply, the door opened, and Lilley and Jordan entered. “Our boss does not want to see either of you ever again,” Lilley practically yelled. “As for entering this coven house under false pretenses, well, our Elder decided to give you what you came here for. Tonight, you two can be blood donors to Ridge and Jordan, and at eight in the morning you can leave.” Before Lilley left the room, she turned to Cindi. “Oh, one more thing, I almost forgot. You won’t leave until you enjoy a little time in one of our secret bondage chambers. I am sure that the scientist in you is dying to know what other festivities some of us—how should I say—dabble in?” “You don’t scare me, blondie,” Cindi snapped, her tone razor sharp. Lilley smirked. “Good. I’ll make sure Ridge plays rougher than normal with you.” “Bring it on.” Without so much as a “have a nice day,” the dynamic duo left the room, slamming the door behind them. Mia stared at the closed door, wondering how this would end. Warm fingers touched her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mia. Just try to stay calm, and let’s just get through this night. I am so sorry I’ve done this to you, that I brought you to this place. Please forgive me for being so stupid.” A ghost of a smile crossed Mia’s face. “It’s okay, Cin. I know you never meant to put us in danger. Look at it this way, I have tons to write about in my journal now. Perhaps even a book is in my horizon.”

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“Yeah, hopefully you won’t be writing about the end of our friendship.” There was no time for Mia to promise Cindi that scenario would never happen, because the sound of the key turning in the door snapped Mia back to the situation at hand, the men. It’s like a damn game show with the revolving door. When the door opened, a very good-looking man, who Mia assumed was Ridge, maneuvered his way to Cindi. “She will be waiting for you tomorrow morning in the main foyer at eight,” he said. While Mia struggled to listen to Ridge, her gaze was fixed on Cindi. From the shade of red moving across her best friend’s skin, it was obvious that her anger escalated, a sure sign that a string of unspeakable profanities loomed. And they did as soon as Jordan entered the room. “You know what, I deserve this, but she doesn’t.” Cindi pointed to Mia. “You better not hurt her, Jordan. If I find out you hurt her in any way, I will come after you myself. You got that?” Jordan slipped a hand against the small of Mia’s back. “Cindi, Cindi, Cindi. Hurting her is not exactly what I had in mind. Don’t you worry. I will take care of our little Mia.” Mia felt her face flush at the same time the floodgates inside her body opened, releasing the liquid heat. If steam could have started erupting from the top of Cindi’s head, it would have. Exorcist coming. “Fuck you! You asshole, she is not OUR woman! You’re an arrogant ass!” Mia was sure her face transformed into a mask of shock. Probably not the right choice of words, Cin. Jordan glared, half humorous and half predatory, at Cindi, obviously intrigued by her choice of words. “Actually, Cindi, tonight she is mine. And as for the ‘fuck you’ part—most likely.” Whoa. I’m losing my virginity tonight.

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**** While Jordan enjoyed his feisty bantering with Cindi, he wanted to start the evening with Mia, so he did the one thing that would probably send her into a slow-burn boil, and then he turned his back on an irate Cindi and walked with Mia from the room. “Sorry about that, babe. Your friend is quite a feisty little thing. I hope I didn’t upset you by arguing with her.” He studied Mia. She cracked an innocent smile—the one that lit her face up like a Cherub angel—the one that he was beginning to adore. She was definitely the girl-next-door type. For that moment in time, he stood there just staring at her. He knew he was doing it, but God knew he couldn’t help himself. The skin on her face was flawless and she wore very little makeup, another thing he wasn’t used to on the women he went after. Mia cleared her throat, causing him to glance into her big brown eyes. “Actually, I think you made Cindi’s night. She loves confrontation.” “Is that so?” His cell phone pinged. He reached in his pocket and pulled it out. After taking a quick look at it, he smirked, then shoved it back into his pants. Damn Crystal, one fuck and she thinks we’re married. After a few more seconds of roving Mia’s face, he touched her chin. “Look at me, Mia.” Timidly, her brown eyes obeyed. “I know you had no idea what you were getting yourself into when you came here. I wish I could let you go, but I can’t. Well, I can, but I really don’t want to. I can promise that I won’t hurt you, at least not intentionally.” His fingers brushed against the wisps of hair gliding against her cheekbones, but she remained fixated, deep into her own little world. The one he planned on crashing very soon. “Are you ready?” Jordan asked. She nodded. “Good, let’s go to my room.” He stepped forward, and her feet didn’t budge. Incredulous, he stepped back into place and glanced

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down at her, cocking an eyebrow. But she still didn’t move her feet. “Did you want me to carry you?” “No!” He smirked. It was obvious by the pale white color washed through her face, she was frightened. Perhaps she should be, simply because he was dying to screw her brains out, but for some strange reason, one that confused him, he wouldn’t, at least not until she asked him. Her lips moved slightly in what appeared to be an attempt to count. Was she counting to calm herself? The thought riled him. Damn, she is cute. Extremely cute. But would he let her go tonight, definitely not. “Okay, then—” “I just wasn’t ready, that’s all,” she blurted. “I’m ready now.” “Then shall we?” As they moved down the hallway, Jordan knew without a doubt he would never hurt her. Which, contrary to his own belief, surprised the hell out of him. He resigned himself to be gentle, loving, and careful with her. She had sweetness, an innocence about her, and that was rare to find in a woman these days. Well, at least in his type of woman.

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Chapter Four The long walk to Jordan’s room sent Mia’s nerves teetering toward collapse. The counting backward in her head wasn’t helping matters since she couldn’t concentrate long enough to get the numbers in correct order. Every time she glanced over at the long black streak pocketed in his hair, she felt like thousands of butterflies nosedived into her stomach. This would be her very first one-night stand. Just the thought of sex before marriage sent her body into panic all over again, with sweat tingling and an accelerated heartbeat. If she didn’t get control, Jordan would be calling an ambulance soon. I have to wait for marriage or else I’m going to spend eternity in the flames. Twelve years of Catholic school did teach her she would burn in hell if she gave it up before the big “I do,” even if it didn’t teach her anything else. After reaching the end of the hallway, with no more doors in sight, Mia stopped both physically and mentally and eased her back up against the black-and-red wallpaper that ran the length of the corridor. Finally, Jordan stopped and assessed her before he said, “We’re going up there.” Mia pushed herself away from the wall and glanced in the direction Jordan pointed. Another set of stairs lead to a third floor. “Wow, this place is big.” “Actually, my room is the only one on the third floor. It’s the attic. I converted it into my room because it is private and the biggest bedroom in this place.” “Oh,” Mia murmured. “You actually live here?”

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“No. I have my own condo in Orlando. But I do stay here a lot.” Oozing with manners, Jordan stepped in front of her and extended his hand. “Shall we?” As his strong, smooth fingers intertwined with her own, she imagined what it would feel like having them caress every inch of her skin. Every bit of common sense told her to run fast and never look back. Being taught from when she was a small child that impure thoughts outside of marriage were the entranceway to the devil’s lair wasn’t helping her situation. Yet she didn’t seem to care. At least not tonight. She sighed. I’ve officially become the epitome of a Catholic sinner, and a hoochie on top of that! So busy walking down memory lane, she almost plowed into the door when Jordan said, “Here we are.” She halted as he swung the door open. She stood in awe at the sight before her, trying to drink in the entire room with her eyes before stepping a toe inside. The room radiated masculinity, with a spicy Gothic theme. Massive and antique brown rattan furniture lined the perimeter of the room. A chartreuse down comforter covered the four-poster mahogany bed positioned in the center of the room. If she wanted to sit on the bed, she would need a stepladder to reach it. Covering most of the floor was a charcoal, floral-patterned Oriental rug. A man with taste. Good taste, scratch that, great taste. “Well, let’s go inside.” Mia glanced over at the doorjamb. “Okay.” Jordan released her hand, glanced over her once, and then a warm smile lit up his features as he drew her to him. Nice and close, his rich, masculine scent was all she could concentrate on for the moment. “Tonight,” he whispered. “I just want to love you, Mia. Will you let me?” Moved by his words, she stood in total awe.

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A devilish smile broke over his face. She wasn’t sure if it was from the warmth flushing her face or the lockjaw she felt. “I’m assuming when you growled at me earlier, it meant you wanted me, too.” He was right on the money. Nervous as all hell, she nodded. “It really wasn’t that difficult of a question, Mia. Do you want me?” he asked a second time. Overwhelmed by his words and the way his eyes held a tinge of pleading, Mia rested her head against his chest. How could she construct the house of words that would let him know how she felt? And, once she did, how would she let him in? She had never experienced a one-night stand, but maybe that’s exactly what she needed. What were the odds that she would see him after tonight? And if need be, she could always go to confession and beg for forgiveness after her sinful act. Closing her eyes, she breathed in his Jordan-owned scent once more before a sudden, blinding, intense need for him overtook her. She didn’t answer him, but instead, she listened to the rapidness in his heartbeat. Were the fast beats a sign that he wanted her as much as she wanted him? “Yes, I want you,” she answered finally. “I promise I won’t hurt you,” he vowed. His low baritone voice wrapped around her, truly making her fear subside. “I could never hurt you, Mia.” “I know.” Did she really know? She hoped. For now, for this moment in time, it was good enough. In the next moment, his embrace tightened, and she shivered at the touch of his skin on hers. She wanted to touch his mouth, yield every bit of her body and soul to him. Her moral confusion wasn’t enough to keep her away from him, and slowly the walls she conveniently built around her heart began to crumble. With her still in his arms, he crossed the floor toward the fourposter bed. “I surely didn’t expect that reply.”

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“Me, either.” The words just rolled off her tongue, shocking her some more. In the back of her mind, the good Catholic girl was telling her to stop the travesty, get down on bended knee, and beg for forgiveness, yet the woman in her wanted to experience Jordan. Every solitary inch of him. Placing her on the comforter, he asked, “Really? What reply should you have given me?” She scooted upright and crossed her legs Indian style, grabbing one of the decorative pillows from the center of the bed for moral support. “Well, I’m not that experienced with one-night stands.” “Oh?” Surprise edged Jordan’s voice. “Oh?” Mia echoed, confused. Jordan coughed to cover up a laugh, then tilted his head in an incredulous lean. “Are we going to have sex, Mia?” As if on cue, her body flushed several degrees in temperature. Oh boy, what does he mean, “Are we going to have sex?” I thought…oh, geez. “I’m sorry, what?” “Well, darlin’, usually the saying ‘one-night stand’ is synonymous with sex. Is that what you want from me tonight? You just say the word, and I’ll give you what you want.” Flustered, Mia flopped back against the bed and dropped the pillow to her side. There I go again, open mouth and insert foot. Did she want sex from him? She let her eyes skate over him for the umpteenth time tonight. Wow, part of me does want to experience casual sex, especially with you, yet the other part of me wants to jump off this bed and run home. Jordan lingered at the edge of the bed. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s leave tonight to fate. I’m going to get us a couple glasses of wine and make a quick stop in the restroom. Keep my side of the bed warm until I get back.” Once he was safely tucked in the bathroom, Mia reclaimed the small Oriental throw pillow and placed it over her face. She needed to

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disappear from view, just in case her expression gave more of her inner secrets away. “Fine.” I need to calm down. I need to think of something else. She was just starting the counting-backward exercise in her head again when the bathroom door opened and he emerged. Her gaze shifted once again to the diamond in his nose. Damn, that thing is sexy. “Touch it,” he whispered. She refocused. “Touch what?” Prompting her undivided attention by brushing a strand of hair over his shoulder didn’t help her refocus. “Don’t act shy, darlin’. You know you are dying to run your finger over and across my shiny jewel.” “What?” Shiny jewel? What the hell are you talking about? “Right?” She opened her mouth, hoping for a sound that wasn’t a babbling moan, then closed it. Jewels? Usually when men spoke of jewels they meant… She let out a gasp just as her mouth flung open. He’s talking about his penis! Flabbergasted, she opened her mouth a second time, and sound filled the room. “You’re crazy.” Lifting a pink-colored nail into the air—quickly checking for chips in the polish—she proceeded to give him a piece of her mind. “Other girls may want to touch your stuff—jewel—whatever you want to call it.” She pointed between his legs. “But I am not one of your groupies, and I refuse to touch your…your thing!” A stoic expression tilted Jordan’s face as he remained patient for a full minute, and then his mouth curved into a seductive, badass smile. “I meant my diamond stud, Mia. But I see other parts of my anatomy have captivated you.” He winked, deliberately stroked the corners of his mouth. “Oh, wait. You were talking about my other earring, my Prince Albert, right? I would love to show you that piercing.” She wished the bed would swallow her whole.

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“Oh my God, shut up!” She reached up with both hands and splayed her palms over her face, in an attempt to make him disappear. Extreme embarrassment did not even begin to describe how she felt. Prince Albert? “Actually, darling, to show you that special piercing, you’ll need to get me naked first. This, in your case, won’t be hard.” Mia preferred to disappear from the face of the earth and see nothing, simply because she really wanted to see him naked. In the time it took him to sit next to her on the bed, snatch her finger, and place it on the side of his nose, she’d decided to ask him the question she was dying to have answered. “What makes you think you are a vampire?” A truly surprised expression crossed his face. “Wow, that question was unexpected.” “Yes, I know, but I was going to ask you that before you bated me with the earring question.” When his finger started stroking Mia’s arm, heat curled in her stomach, gradually moving through her body, desire splintering every inch of her soon-to-be-sinner’s body. “I can’t say I’m surprised you’re asking about my lifestyle. Most people are curious. And though, my beautiful lady, I intend to give you an answer, you’re going to get the condensed version since I don’t want to waste our time talking.” Yeah, talking is overrated. Mia folded her hands on her lap in an attempt to look studious. It was hard since she really was interested, more like fascinated. Before he began, he slipped his hand into Mia’s, his warm palm sending her body into heat mode. “I knew from a young age that something was different about me. During my childhood, I was sick a lot. I was tired and depressed constantly. Psychiatrists analyzed me, and doctors ran test after test on me. Of course, the diagnosis was always the same. Mononucleosis.”

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“I got mono every year from the age of eight until I turned nineteen. For months, I would lie in bed, hating my life, wishing the world would swallow me up. It wasn’t until I was in college that the idea of real vampirism took form. I met a girl in one of my classes who noticed I was missing a lot of school. We started talking. One thing led to another, and I was awakened with a taste of her blood.” His gaze seemed to study her, a faint smile tipped his lips, and he continued. “I’m sure being a teacher, you’re aware that blood carries energy, that it’s a life force.” His mention of teaching prompted her to stop him. “Wait…how do you know I’m a teacher?” A little bit of fear snuck into the inferno residing in her body. She must have had the “are you a stalker” look on her face, because he answered her question without a second prompting. “Actually, I didn’t until now. Your necklace says ‘Number One Drama Teacher,’ so I assumed.” Mia touched her fingers to the gold charm hanging from the chain around her neck. Observant. “I’m sorry I interrupted you, please continue.” “Not a problem, I understand your concern. I’m sure I freaked you out for a few moments. No worries, I’m not a stalker, not yet anyway. Again he laughed. That low, beautiful sound wrapped Mia up like a favorite blanket. “I only consume a very small amount of blood, a few drops, and it isn’t all the time. Only when I know my body needs it.” Thinking she understood, she interrupted. “So, it’s a religious belief. That’s why you drink the blood? Like it represents Christ?” He slightly shook his head, but she ignored him and continued. “This practice sure sounds a lot like some of the rituals they practice in Catholicism.” She narrowed her gaze. “The whole idea of blood representing life sounds like the information was taken right from the pages of a Catholic prayer book.” “No, Mia. It has nothing to do with religion. We all have different spiritual beliefs. I drink blood for health reasons, because my body

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needs the pranic energy from it for me to live a normal life, a life without constant sickness that doctors can’t cure. I was born this way, doll.” Disappointed that she was wrong in her assumptions, her tone came across let down. “I just assumed it was a sort of a religious belief.” “Many people who don’t understand it claim it to be satanic or a cult. I’m a very spiritual person, Mia. I practice all types of different beliefs, from voodoo to Wicca. As for organized religion, like Catholicism, it’s not for me.” He says Catholicism like it’s the plague. No one needed to tell her that a blank expression sat on her face, because she felt her muscles relax. Jordan tightened his embrace on her hand then laced their fingers. “Oh, I see. You’re a Catholic?” His voice rang soft before a devious laugh intercepted. “Is it that obvious?” Why the strange laugh? Perhaps now you find me amusing, as opposed to whatever this is we have going on tonight. True interest seemed to perk up his expression a little more. “Umm, please tell me more.” She shifted her legs so they curled to the right of her body. Here we go, spilling the Catholic upbringing. “I was raised devout Catholic. I went to Catholic schools, and if my parents had had their way, I would have been a nun by now.” “Interesting.” She cocked an eyebrow. He appeared honest, and, strangely enough, interested in her. “How so?” “Wouldn’t it be interesting to take your blood-drinking boyfriend home to meet your parents?” Mia thought about his words for a few moments. “Interesting is a good word.” Did he just say boyfriend? Her heart skipped and then started to race.

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She would have been fine if his lips hadn’t touched her hand. When that happened, all she wanted to do was kiss him, but instead he slipped his right leg across her thigh. “You know, Ms. Catholicism,” he whispered, “women would give anything to be where you are right now.” “You’re comfortably conceited.” He smirked. “No, princess, just confident. I know what I can do to a woman.” Now his breath was on her neck, and it felt like all the air was sucked from her lungs. “Of course from this moment on, I only want to do those things to you.” When her breath returned, she pondered his question. “Oh, great,” she murmured, finding his vain attitude borderline charming. I find a man that catches my attention more than my boss Jamison, and he’s stuck on himself. Isn’t that just my luck? “You know, Mia, Cindi wanted to get caught by us. Her research will now be one hundred percent accurate once she spends time with a real-life vampire.” He coughed, then huffed out a half laugh. “Tonight, Ridge will give her the learning of a lifetime.” Before his words registered completely, Jordan pinned her against the mattress. She pushed against his chest. “I need a…drink of water.” “Mmm….you’re not going anywhere.” She tried again in vain to break free from his embrace. She felt like Sybil, because first she wanted him and then she didn’t want him. She really needed to get a grip and enjoy the hunk of a man on top of her. Slanting his lips over hers, he hesitated one split second before he covered her mouth with his. God, he felt like heaven, but when he deepened the kiss, she panicked, pushing her palms against his chest. He growled deeply and unlocked his lips. “Is this what you want, Mia? I’ll let you go if you want me to.” He bent down and nibbled the edges of her mouth. For one split second, she was sure she was in control, until shockingly she pulled him against her and kissed him. He tasted of the

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passion that she had denied herself for so long. She planned to rip his shirt from his body, when the doorbell rang. Startled, Mia sprang forward, knocking him off-balance and onto the floor. “I’m so sorry.” She couldn’t have hidden the embarrassment in her voice if she were the best actress in the world. No way. It was there loud and clear. Laughing, he picked himself up from the floor, then, straightening his pants with his palms, he chuckled all the way to the door. When he swung the door open unto the lady in white holding a syringe, Mia just about peed in her pants. One hour later, Mia was well educated in vampire donors, bloodborne pathogens, blood dolls, and all the latest cutting tools used for bloodletting. Her head was spinning out of control from her newfound knowledge. What shocked her even more than the recent vampire education, she agreed to give a tube of her blood for testing. Even though she kept asking Jordan what the purpose of taking her blood was, he’d just smiled, the smile that made her want to do anything for him, and asked her to please do it for him. Jordan had a way of making her agree to just about anything. Lounging on the bed, she contemplated their earlier conversation, still stunned she’d agreed to give blood to some random woman dressed in a nurse’s outfit. For all Mia knew, the woman could be in a costume left over from Halloween. Jordan had just returned his phone into his pocket for the third time. Damn man was a busy person. Mia cleared her throat. “Wow, as you stated earlier, this lifestyle is pretty dangerous.” She pondered extremely sick and death for a few moments. Did she need her head examined? Perhaps her idea of a one-night fantasy would be her demise. It would really suck to pick a casket out before my wedding gown. “Yes, it can be, so we normally have our own donors.” She scrunched her face. “There’s that word again…donors?”

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The next part of the conversation covered donors more intensely, and their function in the vampire world. Sliding back into bed with her, he took her hand into his then looked into her eyes. “I can’t taste your blood tonight unless I am positive nothing is wrong with it.” Bombshell number two. Mia’s thoughts came to a screeching halt. “Hold on a minute. I haven’t agreed to you sucking my blood.” Okay, she gave her blood to the nurse willingly, but she didn’t seriously consider he would be licking her blood tonight. The fantasy in her mind was one that consisted of donating sinful sex, not blood. Trying hard to hide her shock, she changed the tone of her voice, hoping it sounded questioning instead of frightened out of her mind. “Just so I have this all straight. The nurse took my blood earlier because you plan to taste it tonight?” She covered her unease with a nervous laugh. “Yes.” Jordan’s voice was calm and crisp, as if he were answering a verbal question on a test instead of telling someone he’d just met he was going to suck her blood. An annoyance tick started in the pit of Mia’s stomach. Finally, a touch of anger was popping up in her emotions. It was about time. “You know, it’s one thing to think about and understand the concept of blood drinking, but you want me to dive into the process right now without even having a chance to think it over?” A tinge of panic settled in Mia’s bones, once the anger dissipated. Am I letting my fantasy get out of control? Sex is one thing, but letting him taste one smidgen of my blood, that’s plain crazy, isn’t it? Her breathing accelerated as she tried to concentrate on the procedure for stopping her impending hyperventilation, but, as usual, what was the right exercise when she needed it? “Calm down, darlin’.” He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “We are talking about a small scratch and then a drop of blood, nothing more. I promise.”

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“Whoa. Scratch? I just gave a tube of blood. Why aren’t you drinking that?” Mr. Calm and Collected shook his head. “That’s for testing. I don’t like tube blood. I like it right from the body.” “And do you always get everything you want?” A wicked gleam lit up his face. “Well, yes.” I seriously need my head examined. Still reeling with disbelief, she tried to pry a smile from the edges of her face. The continued squeezing he’d given her fingers made Mia’s body tingle with awareness. Honestly, had she gone completely insane? A part of her, deep down underneath the layers of Catholic guilt and fear, wanted him in every way possible. And if it meant some ritualistic blood drinking tonight, then she would welcome it, welcome him. Gently putting a hand on her shoulder, he rubbed her tenseness. “Real donors know the rules about clean blood, however, we do keep a nurse on staff, especially during parties, for when blood dolls come here. We assumed, after we found out you weren’t Ravenfield members, that you and Cindi were blood dolls since it was obvious you weren’t donors to anyone in the Stiletto Sanction.” It took a ton of willpower to keep her jaw from dropping. It was starting to feel like a natural occurrence tonight. Their conversation was getting better and better. “Okay, I have to ask, what is a blood doll?” “I would expect no less from you, darlin’. It’s a person who likes to bleed for pleasure. We call them party favors,” he said, matter-offactly. Reaching over, he released the inlaid clip in her hair, letting the strands cascade down the middle of her back. “There, that’s better.” “Party favors? You are telling me that these random women come into this house, they are tested for bloodborne pathogens, and if they’re clean, they give their blood, not wanting anything in return?” The utter shock of such a scenario sent a flutter dancing in her stomach. She couldn’t bear the thought of his mouth on another

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woman, let alone random party favors. That possessive feeling returned. “Yes, women who are party favors do that exactly. Think of it like women and men who want to have a good time but want to forget about what they did the next day. Basically, a one-night stand without the sex, if they so chose.” “Does this sort of thing happen all over the world?” “I believe so. Most covens have their own rules they adhere to.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “No more questions tonight. Please.” Behind all the words, all the revelations, he was flesh and blood, and the sexiest man she’d ever seen. Without a doubt she wanted him, every part of him. Tonight she was his, tomorrow she would do the penance for this cardinal sin. No doubt. It didn’t take long for his fingers to clamp around the edges of her shirt, sliding it upward and over her breasts. The electricity from his touch traveled through her body like sparklers through every vein. Tossing her shirt to the side of the bed, he reached in for her skirt and unzipped it before he removed it from her body, casting it on top of her shirt. Instinctively she pulled back, afraid of her own desire. Then his hands clasped her waist, held her captive, and all she wanted was his hands all over her body. She tightened her embrace until their hip bones touched. A sigh left Jordan. “That’s better. I was starting to think you were frightened of me.” “No, I’m not afraid of you,” she whispered. “Truth be told, I’m afraid of myself, and how I feel when I’m near you.” “Sweet Mia, you’re making me crazy, woman. I was hoping we were past that stage of our relationship. You know, the one where you want to run from this room, and all the way back to Orlando.” He really had a sexy sense of humor. The intensity of the moment was to the point that she felt if he touched her she would incinerate, and if he didn’t she would die. That was until he reached for her bra,

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and cold reality washed through her veins like the breaking of a dam. I’m a twenty-six-year-old virgin! Confusion shifted his expression. “What’s wrong now? You’re flushed.” She looked away, anywhere but at him. What would he think about her status as virginal? Living out her fantasy was all well and good, but she couldn’t change the fact that she hadn’t had down-anddirty sex yet. Pretending was an option. Yes, she could see it now. Things progress and they consummate their union, and he realizes, in the midst of their bodies converging, that he is going where no man had ever gone before. Suddenly Star Trek reruns were running rapidly through her mind. Shit! Mortification, here I come. “Mia, earth to Mia. What’s on your mind? I told you earlier, and I mean it, if you don’t want to fool around, we don’t have to. We can sit here and talk.” My Catholic upbringing is really becoming a royal pain in my ass. “Okay, I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to say it. I have never actually had intercourse.” Mia delivered the words as if she was giving a lecture, making sure the teak bureau in the corner was her focal point. His expression literally changed from shocked disbelief, to humor, and then back again. “Mia, are you telling me you’re a virgin?” “You’re making fun of me?” Why in God’s name did he have to ask her if she was telling him she was a virgin? She relayed the words in perfectly spoken English. What part of “I have never had sex before” did he not understand? A little perturbed, she moved her body to the right in an attempt to pull away from him. Incredulous, he glanced at the small space between them. “I don’t think this is going to work. Get your sweet behind back over here.” “No.”

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Maybe she was being childish, but she expected his reaction to her admitted virginity to be a little more compassionate, less humorous. Before her inner thoughts could decipher more reasons to be angry, his arms shot around her waist. The anger vanished. “No. Actually, I think it’s sweet that you waited. You are truly a good girl in the eyes of Catholic morality. But I still plan on corrupting you. Of course, my reasons are strictly selfish. I want you for myself. ” Questioning gray eyes studied her. “What do you want to do, Mia? I’ll do whatever you want.” She had no doubt in her mind that she wanted him. Trembling, she turned her face and initiated a kiss. She needed him to love her, even if it was only for one night. All through her life she rejected her carnal desires even when it wasn’t what she wanted. For once, she was going to have what she wanted, not what others thought was best, and let her needs crash through the willpower exterior strangling her like a noose around her neck. His grip coiled tighter. “Say it, Mia. Please…say it.” She glanced down. Why was saying she wanted him so difficult? It’s not like she would have an instant replay of this night anytime soon, at least she didn’t assume so. Prompting her response, yet gentle, his tone slightly pleaded. “Am I what you want? If so, say it.” “I can’t,” she whispered, warmness building behind her eyelids. “Yes. You can.” Gazing at the chartreuse down comforter, she admitted, “You.” But he still refused to release her, only held her tighter. “What about me? What do you want from me? Say it. I need to hear it from your lips.” She couldn’t fight his power any longer, nor did she want to. His consuming passion broke her. Like the serpent that tempted Eve in the

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Garden of Eden, so did Jordan court and tempt her. All that remained was her sweet surrender. Finally, her resistance shattered. “I want you, Jordan. I want you to love me.” I’ll deal with the consequences of my actions later. His breath danced against her tear-streaked face. “As you wish.”

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Chapter Five Mia inhaled Jordan’s Obsession cologne as he pushed her shoulders flat against the mattress. Inching her pelvis closer against him, she wanted to melt her body to his. Placing his thumb in between her tits, he unhooked her bra. The cool breeze from the air-conditioning caressed the skin, intensifying her already-magnified state of arousal. On the first try, he tugged her bra off. Leaning in, he grasped her tit, then sucked the nipple into his mouth. Gently, he bit the hard nub, alternating between nipping and sucking, practically pulling Mia from the bed with his movements. He squeezed the other tit with deep, full-hand caresses, making sure to pinch the nipple, rolling it between his fingers and thumb. The sucking started the fireworks moving through her body. Closing her eyes, she savored the exquisite feel of his lips on her body. “You feel so good,” he whispered, his breath ragged. Reaching underneath, he cupped her buttocks, carefully sliding her panties to her knees. “Wait,” she begged. Catholic guilt lingered, yet she was too far gone to retract. A low snort sounded. “Are you sure?” She considered his words, for a second. “No.” “Mmm…” He cupped her between the legs, his hand soft and warm. Gently, he massaged her canal, slipping one finger into the moist folds until he reached the small bulb between the nether lips, then slid in a second finger. Her body dampened to his touch. She wanted, no needed, his hands all over her body. The volcano of her desires had

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lain dormant for so long, and now, the intense, burning tension needed release. Her voice came through the desire-ridden fog. “You feel so good, Jordan.” “Then I shall continue, darlin’.” With her invitation, he stroked faster, showering her stomach with kisses. When she thought her body couldn’t take anymore, the first tremor erupted, stopping him in the midst of fingering her. “God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered. Mia’s passion exploded with his sweet words, her first orgasm with Jordan traveled through her body with soul-shattering intensity. Yes, she’d climaxed during foreplay with the two other guys she’d been with, but this one was different, more explosive and enjoyable, driving her to want more of it, of him. Shooting her arms around his neck, she pulled him on top of her. The only thought in her brain was holding him tight and never letting him go. Perhaps if she held on to him, the night would never end. Still reeling from his touch, she hadn’t noticed when he secretly grabbed the black bag. Moments later, his phone pinged. He swiped it from the top of the nightstand, flipped it open. “Looks like you’re safe, kitten.” Still riding the wave of sexual delight, Mia pushed herself up on her elbows. “What do you mean I’m safe? Kitten?” Reaching into the bag, he pulled out a long, silver piece of metal. His eyes enlivened as they danced over the inlaid jewels. Mia admired the array of stones. Sapphires, rubies, and onyx. “You have clean blood, my dear.” He glanced at her, then his eyes returned to admiring the object. “‘Kitten’ is a term of endearment. You are my little minx.” Her thoughts raced around inside her head in record speed. Clean blood. Minx, really? Curious, she watched his every move, slightly

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concerned, as he slipped his index finger into the talon, which fit him like a glove. What the… With panic surely present in her eyes, she strived to sound complacent. “What is that thing?” In the midst of his adoration, gray eyes roamed her face. “Mia, my sweet little minx, I’m a sanguine, a Gothic lifestyler. I drink blood, however, as you well can see, I don’t have fangs. This finger armor is what I use to acquire my blood from donors. I’ve been using this gadget for many years. I’m a pro at it, so you have no need to worry your pretty little head.” He hesitated. “I won’t lie to you though, the first cut is going to sting a bit. No worries. I’ll be careful.” Sitting motionless, she’d come to the realization that he just may be nuts. There was no way she was letting him touch her with that thing. He never asked her once, the entire evening, if she would mind if he drank her blood. Although he did insinuate early that he was going to drink her blood, she’d assumed it would be from the earlier vile donation. She did not intend to be a donor—not like this with him slicing into her flesh—tonight. Gothic crazy is more like it. “No, Jordan. I don’t want to give blood tonight. I would prefer to have time to think about such an intimate request.” Now she was totally off her rocker. It was okay that she wanted him to make love to her, yet letting him taste her blood was off limits? The imagined little devil sitting on her right shoulder spoke into her ear, and then the angel on the left shoulder countered, and she pingponged between the two. But she soon accepted with all the analysis going on in her head, tonight was a fantasy, and she should embrace the entire experience. Amusement rearranged his features. “Let me get this straight, you don’t mind having sex with me, but letting me taste your blood is too intimate?” He stifled a smile. “I’m afraid that you don’t have a choice. Remember, I’m your penance for sneaking into the coven house. ”

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Bullshit I don’t have a choice. “Jordan, everyone has a choice. And I didn’t sneak in here. I was lured in here by my best friend.” She scrunched up her face once the words left her mouth. Lured by my best friend, I sound like a lunatic. He opened his mouth then closed it without a sound. “I know that you’re scared, Mia, but isn’t the teacher in you just a bit curious? I know if I were in your shoes, I would be first in line to experience something new, different.” Unfair. She couldn’t believe he was playing the teacher card. Then the truth of his words hit her like a ton of bricks. Maybe she was curious, but didn’t curiosity kill the cat? Would curiosity kill this minx kitten, too? “I’m interested in your lifestyle. But…” With that, he sat up and leaned against the corner of the mahogany bedpost, then closed his eyes. “Then trust me.” “Fine. I’ll do it. But if I have to get stitches, you’re taking me to the hospital and paying the bill.” Maybe a childish ultimatum, but it was an ultimatum nonetheless. She demanded that he agree, covering her breasts with her hands. He opened his eyes just as he folded his arms across his chest. “I can guarantee you that bleeding to death isn’t going to happen. Your cut will be nothing more than a scratch.” His amused expression filled her with indignation. She fired back at him in the most smart-ass tone she could muster. “Really? Well, look at me, I’m new to this process. I assumed, Mr. Vampire, you would be drinking a cup of my blood. Just don’t hurt me. I mean, on a serious note, I hate pain.” “Ah, kitten, I told you earlier that I make a scratch and lick a few drops from it. The types of vampires that drink cups of blood are in myths. One more thing, I bet I can change your mind about pain.” Strategically rearranging her hands across her breasts, she met his sexy gaze with one of her own. At least she hoped it was sexier. With all the in-depth conversation, Mia kept exposing them. Not that she

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should care now, since he’d already become up close and personal with the twins. “You know what, you don’t need to cover your beautiful breasts. Trust me, they are etched in a permanent place in my mind. I happen to like looking at them.” He sighed. “Talking is finished. Where were we?” Drawing her to him, he inched her back down on the bed then whispered, “Spread your legs for me.” The raspy glint of authority in his voice had her automatically spread for him. A cold sensation on her inner thigh and recognition of the stringent smell of alcohol sent a chill down her spine. The warm touch of his hand followed by the cold surface of the metal talon grazed her thigh. Blinded by her fear, her body twitched in an attempt to pull away from him. But his strong hand grasped her right thigh, holding it in place. “Relax your muscles, kitten.” Relax. She listened with strange obedience to his distant voice. Silence. The cold metal claw pierced her skin, jolting her bottom off the bed a few inches. His mouth lowered to her thigh, and all common sense took a vacation as she moaned with pleasure from the heated desire splicing though her body. He tightened the embrace on her leg and licked the cut with renewed energy, and her sinner’s mind begged for more. Please lick me between my legs. She waited. It took every ounce of willpower not to grab him by the hair and hold his head between her legs until his tongue obliged. The words danced through her head like a seductive tango. Please lick me there.

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Chapter Six Mia’s eyes opened before the alarm chimed at seven o’clock, to Jordan sitting on the edge of the bed, already showered and dressed in faded blue jeans and a tattered Maroon 5 T-shirt. “Morning.” His voice was crisp and clipped. “If you would like some coffee while you’re getting ready, there is a pot over there.” He pointed toward the small, round table near the bathroom door. She glanced at the silver coffeepot, then back at him. “Thanks. How did you sleep?” He turned away with a grimace on his face, making her contemplate his cool demeanor. What happened to the man who had taken her in his arms and kissed every inch of her body the night before? Was he upset with her? What made him devoid of all emotion? The fake Jordan seated beside her was ripping her apart inside. She fought back the urge to vomit and burst into tears. Abruptly, he moved from the bed to the window. “I slept fine. Cindi will be waiting for you downstairs in the foyer in an hour. The bathroom is stocked with towels and whatever else you may need to get ready.” Why was he acting so strange? The nausea in the pit of her stomach lurched a little farther up. This was the kiss-off scene. Jordan stirred the sheer purple curtain covering the window with his finger and glanced outside. “The Elder appears to be gone. Looks like you’ll be able to leave without incident.” Finally, he looked at Mia for the second time since she awoke. “Is there anything else you might need before I leave?”

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How about treating me as if I’m not some total stranger? What did I do to you in the past six hours that’s caused you to be such an ass? Anger replaced the hurt feeling that was eating at her stomach. He was the player that she pegged him. How stupid to think what had happened last night was nothing more than a game for him. She slid off the bed. “No. I’m fine.” In all honesty it was a game for her, too. So why did she feel hurt by his actions? Crossing his arms, he turned and faced her. The stoic look was still glued to his face. “I guess this is good-bye, then.” What the hell? Jordan appeared ready to walk out of her life forever. Well, at least I have my memories of spending the night with him, and they were good. No, they were awesome. Mia made her way toward the coffeepot, and, with unsteady hands, she poured a cup. She wanted to lunge across the room and throw herself into his arms. He had touched an emotional side of her that she didn’t know existed, until last night. The boulder lodged in her throat made it next to impossible to stop her urge to cry. Contain yourself. Cupping the hot coffee mug, she reasoned with herself to calm down. He doesn’t deserve to know how I feel. Her internal battle escalated, and before she could stop it, the steaming cup of coffee crashed to the floor, its contents a puddle underneath her feet. Not the slightest bit phased by her actions, she spun around and blurted, “I really enjoyed last night.” **** Damn it! How could Jordan walk away now? He marveled at how fear didn’t stop her from admitting how she felt about him, how she spoke freely about her enjoyment of their time together, her admittance leveling him where he stood. Truth be told, he wanted to kiss every inch of her beautiful, slightly pouted lips and then throw her on the

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bed and lick her pussy until she screamed out from the desire ripping through her sweet Catholic ass, but he couldn’t, at least not yet. It also occurred to him he should turn around and send her into hysterics, tell her she was only one of his casual playthings. In all honesty, that would be the best thing he could do for her, to save her from himself. But she wasn’t a plaything. No, she was much more. But before he could say anything, she added, “I even enjoyed it with the pain and stuff.” Even her guarded smile sent his cock jutting against his jeans. With her smile warming his heart, his face softened. Exiting now would be impossible after looking into those big brown eyes. She glanced at the floor and her long brown locks grazed her shoulders. He wanted to smooth his fingers through her mane. So instead of leaving, he took her small waist into his hands. “I delighted in you more than you can ever imagine.” “Really?” “Yes, Mia. Although I want you to stay, you can’t. I want nothing more than to lock you in this room with me, make love to every inch of you. But I can’t. Trust me, getting close to me will only hurt you.” The words left his mouth before he could reel them back. The truth hit him square in the face. Getting close to him might hurt her. But the realization made no difference to him. He wanted her. My sweet virgin. The time has come for you to come out and play. Right or wrong, he would have her. Her innocent gaze rolled over him, making him clench back the desire to throw her over his shoulder and tuck her back into his bed. She touched his arm. Her warm hands sent shards of heated need through his body. “I’m probably not your type, either. Right?” Jordan was well aware of the storm brewing inside him, one that was fierce and would soon spiral out of his control. Two days ago, he was content with the flavor of the month or the slut of the night. How could he deny himself Mia now that he glimpsed paradise in her

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touch? She had no idea the lengths he would go to just to be with her, but soon she’d understand. “What do you think my type is, Mia?” Carefully, she seemed to choose her words. “Tall, blonde, beautiful.” He smirked. “You’re being extremely kind with that assessment. People who know me believe my type to be any woman with a pulse.” “It sounds like your reputation precedes you,” she responded in a much lighter tone. She’d just started biting her lip when Jordan stepped forward until her body was pinned securely between him and the door. “I don’t deserve a woman like you.” “Why?” “It’s a long story, Mia. Let’s just say that so far in my lifetime, I haven’t been the best human being.” He recognized compassion on her face and a little caution, or perhaps fear. “We all have skeletons in our closets,” she rebutted. Breathing in, he let her scent take him. The sweet smell of coconut lifted from her hair and embraced him. Moving her to arm’s length, he kept hold of her. She had no clue to what extent his skeletons reached. He may not hurt her intentionally, but someday, somehow, if his previous behaviors were any indication, he would cause her pain. Past sins could be buried, but they never truly disappeared, at least not from his recollection. “Baby, my skeletons have a mind of their own.” A sullen look crossed her face. Her dark eyes regarded him with disbelief. “Everyone can be redeemed.” “Perhaps.” She frowned. “You don’t believe in second chances?” “Not really.” Before she could reply, he kissed her forehead and slipped out the door.

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One hour later, with all her belongings, Mia descended the spiral staircase. She stepped off the last rise just in time to catch Cindi cussing under her breath. “Mia, are you okay?” Obviously concerned with her best friend’s saddened demeanor, Cindi planted a bear hug on Mia, practically knocking the wind out of her. “What’s wrong? I mean besides last night’s escapade.” Cindi studied her expression. “Did he hurt you? I will march back up those stairs and castrate him with my blade if he did anything that harmed you.” Blade? “I’m fine. Let’s just get out of here.” “I can do that.” Walking out the front door, neither one looked back, only shut the door softly behind them.

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Chapter Seven Monday morning, when the alarm blared with Toya singing “I Do,” Mia pried herself from the mattress, looking forward to her classes. After the confusion of the weekend, work would be a refreshing relief. Or so she thought. Easing into the school parking lot, a different dilemma had surfaced. Her boss Jamison Rierson waited for her beside her parking space. Confronting him was inevitable since he looked both perplexed and nervous. With his expression seeming urgent, Jamison practically accosted her when the car door closed behind her. “I need to talk to you. I feel so bad about what happened between us. I need to explain myself to you.” His voice was matter-of-fact, while his gaze searched her face. Mia’s head still whirled from the events at Stiletto House, and the last thing she wanted to deal with was Jamison. However, she felt it best she humor him. “I’m listening.” She leaned back against the car door. Our disaster date was long ago. Our shared kiss days ago. Must we rehash? “Mia, the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you.” His voice came across distant, and his gaze moved past her, toward something over her shoulder, then fixed back on her eyes. “I am sorry. Please believe me. I mean it. Hurting you was never my goal.” Without warning, her stomach fluttered, as if thousands of butterflies let loose inside her body. I need to forget you. “I want you to understand that although I do not feel for you in a romantic way, I still want to be friends. I know our date was a disaster, and I’m truly sorry about that. Please, forgive me if I led you

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to believe any differently. It was never my intention.” His gaze left hers and flittered everywhere but on her. Why couldn’t he look at her? Once again, what Jamison verbally relayed was quite different from what his body movements portrayed. Even after her unforgettable night with Jordan, Jamison still had some kind of bizarre effect on her. Part of her, and she wasn’t sure how big of a part, still found him attractive. Deciding he probably would not give up on the “friend” scenario, she agreed friendship would be fine and allowed him to escort her down the hall to her classroom. The day flew by, and before she knew it, she was driving home. She glanced at the bouquet of stargazer lilies Cindi sent from New Orleans, strapped securely into the passenger seat. Her best friend was a powerhouse. She’d dropped Mia off at home Sunday morning, and headed straight for the airport, arriving in New Orleans that evening. Mia would call her as soon as she settled in for the night. Pulling into her complex, a black line of thunderstorms had rolled in off the ocean, darkening the sky. The distant warning of thunder rumbled. It’s going to be a cozy night tonight. After phoning Cindi, she settled in for her nightly ritual, but tonight before she got down to the tedious business of grading highschool papers, her gaze transfixed on the storm outside. Rain clouds attacked the raven-and-violet-silver Florida sky on their way out toward the gulf. The stack of her students’ quizzes from the day lay nearby. Well, work before pleasure. Halfway through grading, the phone rang, and she quickly snatched the receiver. “Hello!” She hoped and prayed Cindi was on the other end. Silence. She waited. More silence followed. Just as she was about to click the receiver, someone said, “Hey.” Faint breathing tickled her ear. “You have turned my world upside down, woman. I woke up this morning with the taste of you traveling through my pores. I need to see you again.”

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She lost her ability to speak. Jordan was on the phone, and she couldn’t even whimper. “I can’t get you out of my mind, Mia. I want you.” She tried to form sounds. None came. “Say something.” He cleared his throat. “Perhaps I have the wrong number. Sorry I disturbed you, darlin’.” “Jordan! Please, wait.” In all her excitement, she jumped up from the recliner, clipping the glass of red wine on the floor next to the chair with her foot. As expected, a nice burgundy color canvassed the small Oriental rug under toe, and she couldn’t have cared less. “Well, well, I was starting to think no one was on the other end.” “I’m sorry. I guess I was shocked to hear your voice.” Her frantic demeanor came to a slow halt. “Jordan?” “Yes.” “I–I,” she whispered, as her voice cracked then disappeared into her throat. “You what, Mia?” “I can’t seem to get you out of my mind, either.” I said it. Without warning, motor-mouth syndrome stepped in to hold her hand. “I can’t begin to understand what happened between us, or why you think you’re a vampire. But I do know that I really like you, and I want to see you again.” She waited a brief second and then added, “I am willing to try and understand all this vampire stuff.” He chuckled, his laughter numbing. “I need to see you, too.” “Why don’t you come to my apartment?” The words that left her mouth shocked the hell out of her. Hoochie woman was taking over! Though, at the rate she was going, nothing appeared to be off limits anymore. “Really?” The raw sensuality of his voice froze her in place, but only for a brief second. “Yes. Unless you are in the middle of something. It is getting late and—”

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“I’m coming to see you now. Give me the directions, and I will be there to ravish you shortly.” One hour had passed since Mia invited her blood-sucking, potential boyfriend to her apartment. The entire time she waited for his arrival, she paced back and forth across her living-room floor, trying to settle her frenzied nerves, occasionally glancing at the clock on the VCR. The blue numbers read 10:00 p.m. Where is he? As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Overzealous, she bolted toward the door and swung it open, only to become the ugly duckling in the room. How did he always look so damn good? Even in his faded jeans and T-shirt, he looked like a dream. And his hair, those blond locks made her want to do more than just run a comb through them. “Hi, princess.” He reached out and pulled her against him. “Hi,” she managed to squeak. They remained in the doorway, entangled in each other’s arms, as she prayed to the Virgin Mary and all the saints she didn’t faint from the sheer intensity of his presence. “Well, don’t you look yummy tonight.” He growled. “Are you going to invite me in? Or make me stand out here all night?” Graciously, she stepped to the side, and motioned for him to enter. Gain some composure. I’m acting like a starstruck teenager. But, he didn’t enter, only stood staring at her. “Remember, sweet thing, I can’t enter unless you invite me in.” When the vampire pun registered, she smirked, thinking about how stupid she must look at this moment. “Oh—vampire humor. Aren’t you funny.” “I try to be. Nice place you have here.” He walked inside and over to the couch. She’d closed the door and turned just in time to get a nice view of his butt before he slid onto the sofa. “Would you like a glass of wine?” she asked. “Sounds good.” “Would you prefer red or white?”

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He let his eyes rove her body, his admiration practically gluing her feet where she stood. “Red is a definite for me. Unless you have something more pungent and metallic tasting.” “Ha. Ha. I guess that’s your vamp humor again.” “Yeah, it is. I figure a little bit of humor makes my odd lifestyle seem a tad bit funnier than strange.” Leaning back against the sofa, he spread his legs just enough for her to admire his other jewels, the ones she confused with his earrings on their last visit. Determined not to be bated by him again, she walked into the kitchen. “Hurry back. I’m getting lonely in here,” his voice echoed from the living room. Hold your horses. Five minutes later, she set the wine on the coffee table in front of him and took a seat next to him. “No, I don’t believe this will work.” He shot his arm out and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her snug against his thigh. “Much better.” Mia’s heart hammered against her chest cavity. “Sexy” didn’t begin to describe him. She cracked a nervous smile. “Okay.” “Let’s talk, sweet thing.” Nodding, Mia gave her undivided attention. At a loss for words, they sat for a moment in awkward silence. He leaned in, his breath stealing the air between them. Mia anticipated a lip-locking kiss, and, if that were the case, she would never learn anything about him tonight. No, no. I need to find out more about him. Words escaped from her, finally. “Tell me about your family?” Jordan chuckled, obviously in response to her nervous stupor. “If you insist. I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. My father is a defense attorney, and my mother is a music teacher. She teaches piano.” “Do you play?” With genuine interest, she waited for his reply. At that moment in time, the way the light from the small lamp on the

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mahogany coffee table beside them caught the black streak in his hair handsome did not begin to describe him. God, you’re beautiful. “Play piano?” He licked his top lip, sending her hormones dancing a seductive salsa. The things she could imagine those lips doing to her sent a flush of heat coursing through her body. “Yes.” She gazed down toward his fingers to see if they were long and thin, a good indication a person was a pianist. “I dabble with the piano sometimes. Mostly I play my acoustic guitar.” “Are you any good?” He hesitated before he answered in a naughty Southern drawl. “Mia, darlin’, haven’t you learned by now that I’m good at everything I do.” She changed the subject. Yes, she was aware of the obvious fact that he thought he was good at everything he did, but that did not make it true, nor did his conceit make her like him any less. If anything, it made her more attracted to him. But why? Logic yelled for her to give him the boot, send him packing. Yet her heart felt differently. “What about brothers or sisters, do you have any?” “No, doll face. Just me.” His phone pinged, and he reached into his pocket, pulled it out and flipped it open. “What about you, do you have any siblings?” After checking the screen, he hit a button and slid the phone back into its place. “Yes. Two brothers.” With the phone secure in his pocket he pulled her hand into his, and they sat in the silence, meshed fingers together, transfixed on the way their hands fit. Did he feel the heat radiating from their hands? Every ounce of common sense lingered in her head, and shouted loud and clear for her to run from him. How long would it take a man like Jordan to

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discard her to the curb? Yet he was like some newfound drug, one that she couldn’t bear to live without. Since he already traveled through her veins, detoxing him would be next to impossible. Another thought emerged. Ask him to dinner. Without contemplating a game plan to ask him on a date, she blurted, “Would you like to have me for dinner this week?” Ah…shit. A wicked flash of excitement lit up his expression. “What an offer. I would love to have you for dinner.” She tried to focus on his face through her haze of embarrassment. “No, I meant would you like to come over for dinner. I can cook, or we can go out…” She plowed over her words, digging the hole deeper. “Calm down, sweet thing. I am well aware what you meant. I would love to have dinner with you even if you’re not the main course.” Relaxing from her vexation, she yawned. “It’s already past midnight, doll, and we both have to get up bright and early for work tomorrow. I say we call it a night.” “Both?” “Yes, Mia, I have a job at the University of Central Florida.” “Really?” She couldn’t have hidden the shock in her voice if she cut the cords. “What do you do there?” His grin, both boyish and roguish, made her heart skip a cadence. “I’m a professor of religious studies.” “No shit! I mean shoot.” Embarrassed by her choice of words, she cracked a smile. He deftly covered his laughter with a cough. “Geez, Mia, what do you think? I am a normal guy. Well, to an extent.” A quick wink in her direction added a wave of additional heat to her warm face and neck. Man, if you keep doing that, well, move over, sinners, I may be visiting tonight.

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As their conversation progressed, a brainless teenybopper replaced the independent woman she considered herself to be. Of course he had a job. He was a grown man. “Well, we did meet under bizarre circumstances, so I wasn’t sure about things that concern you.” “That’s fine, doll, we have time to discuss my lifestyle and the entire culture. I promise to answer all of your questions. Let’s consider it a future Q&A date.” His smile turned his lips into the most beautiful mouth she’d ever seen. She wanted to press her mouth against his. Instead, a raspy voice replied, “Sounds good.” “Let’s call it a night,” he suggested, as the two of them walked to the door. “Are you healing okay?” Mia glanced at the remnants of their first union. “I’m fine. I cleaned and bandaged the cut this morning, which I did yesterday, too. And, by the way, it is just a scratch.” With a tenderness that massaged her heart, Jordan reached down and kissed her cheek. “I want to do this the right way, Mia. I could take you back to your bedroom and make love to you all night long. Trust me, it’s what I want to do.” His lips grazed her ear. “Honestly, you couldn’t stop me if I chose to ravish you tonight, but I want more from you.” “Oh.” At this point, he could have said anything and she would have obliged him. He was right about his earlier words, she couldn’t stop him if he wanted to make love to her, because she wanted it just as much as he did. Harlot! “I never thought I would feel like this, at least not again in my lifetime. I am falling fast and hard for you, Ms. Christini. I wouldn’t have believed such a thing as love at first sight existed, especially for a man like me. Not until you. I thank the higher being that placed you in my path.”

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She reeled from the word “love,” but was it too fast? “Really? You lo—like me?” “Like you? Yes, I believe that issue has already been resolved.” Mia sighed deeply. “I better go. Remember, I’m all man, and you are driving me crazy. If I don’t leave this instant, I can’t promise you I will.” “I’ll let you go tonight.” With the best pout she could muster, she touched his hip. “But only because I know I’m going to be with you tomorrow night.” He smirked, leaned in, and kissed her cheek. “I should be finished with my meetings by eight in the evening. I should be on your doorstep shortly after. We’ll go out for pizza.” “We can order in, if you want.” “I like that plan.” A sheepish grin kicked up the sides of his face. “That way we can have dessert first.” With Mia hugging the open doorjamb with her back, Jordan slipped out the front door, leaving her to stare into the darkness of the tepid Florida night. **** I feel so drained. I need blood. Pulling up to The Firestone Club, he recognized the Stiletto Sanction members’ cars, so he parked and went inside. Becca already stood at the bar. “Hi. You ready?” she asked, her tone sweet. “Hey, Bec.” He kissed her cheek. “You look great. Thanks for meeting me tonight. I appreciate it. I know you just worked a late shift. You’re probably tired.” “Anything for you, Jordan. You called, I’m here. Sleep is overrated anyway.” Strolling across the club toward their spot, he placed a hand on her shoulder. She’d been his donor for two years. Lucky for him, their

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relationship was uncomplicated. In the past, he had donors who couldn’t understand sexual relationships didn’t always come with being a donor. He’d experienced both types of donor relationships in his life and usually liked the no-sex ones. She led him to a secluded area in the back of the club. Without saying a word, he slipped the talon blade on his finger and punctured the soft skin on the back of her neck. As the warm, salty fluid touched his tongue, his body gradually warmed with new energy. The blood coated the inside of his mouth before he swallowed, moving it down his throat. The taste of her type O-negative blood sent his body into overdrive. He closed his eyes and let the warmth travel from the core of his stomach into his limbs. The black color behind his eyelids sparked with splotches of white. Having had enough blood and reminiscing about his lifestyle choices, Jordan slipped the blade off his finger and slid it into his pocket. Content, he pulled a small tube of NEOSPORIN ointment and a small Band-Aid from the adjacent pocket and dressed her cut. Without saying a word, Becca kissed his cheek, then stood. He eased his head back against the chair. “Thank you.” “Anytime. That’s what I’m here for.” She turned and disappeared through the dimly lit bar. He closed his eyes and relished in the force dancing throughout his body. As Becca’s blood replenished his pranic energy, he pictured Mia. Did she dream about him? Her radiant image etched perfectly on the inside of his eyelids. His body ached to touch her again, like he did the first night they met. He folded his arms over his chest and slipped into a dream world. The darker side of his desires pushed through another image, a bedroom, no—his bedroom. And in the bedroom vision manifested an image of Mia’s manacled wrists displayed above her head, her body dangling from a small chain sunk into the ceiling. Her tiptoes grazed the floor.

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With his silhouette on a stool beneath her, her naked body teased him, and her extreme vulnerability and submissiveness excited him beyond imaginable possibility. He sucked in a deep breath and let the dream vision move into crystal focus. With both hands, he caressed every inch of her tight, virginal body, and when her swoon transformed into a high rumble, he reached down, snapped open the hook attached to his belt, and released the small leather tether. Exhilarated, the silhouette of a man whispered to the bound woman, “Remember, darling, the infliction of sweet pain will magnify the release of ultimate pleasure. Let me show you. Let me bring you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams.” **** Mia checked her cell phone for messages before she strolled back to the bedroom. Passing down the hall, she ducked into the kitchen to shut the garden window above the sink. The aroma of fresh rain lingered in the air, which meant one thing. Another storm was going to arrive within minutes. She grabbed a diet soda from the fridge before she made her way back down the hall toward her bedroom. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she waited for her laptop to boot up. Her fingers touched the keyboard, and she typed “Google.” Once the search engine came up, she typed “vampire.” A few seconds later, an endless list of sites appeared on the screen. She scanned them, not sure what she looked for, until her gaze zeroed in on The Life of the Sanguinarian.

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Chapter Eight The next evening, the tingling of the hot water caressed Mia’s body, encompassing her in total relaxation. How was she going to ask Jordan about the frightening images that plagued her dreams last night? Alarming photographs of women tied and bleeding from hooks. She dried the last part of her body, slipped on her favorite black linen skirt, pulled a blouse from her closet, and stepped into Gucci sandals. The sandals were last year’s Christmas gift from her very wealthy godparents. Aunt June always sent her extravagant gifts. She’d said it was because they’d never had any children of their own and they’d always considered Mia the child they’d never conceived. If it hadn’t been for Aunt June and Uncle Thomas, her life would have really sucked growing up. With a quick glance in the mirror and check of the time, she left the room in time to answer the doorbell. “Are you going to invite me in, sweet thing?” He leaned his shoulder against the inside of the doorjamb, his confidence and oozing sex appeal practically knocking her off her feet. She loved looking at him. “Yes.” He stepped into the foyer. “You look beautiful. Actually, you take my breath away.” His voice echoed as he drew them to the sofa. She left distance between them after they sat. “Come closer.” He patted the space beside him. “How’s this?” she asked, sliding until their thighs touched. “There, much better. I appreciate how you did what you were told.”

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She half smiled. The tone in his voice caught her off guard. But before she could consider his words a second time, he grinned wide, displaying a glimpse of silver in his mouth. She knew she was gawking. Her face felt like it lost all elasticity. “What’s wrong, Mia? Do I have something on my face that’s scaring you?” A shrug lifted her petite shoulders. “Nothing.” He raised one eyebrow. “Are you sure?” The pangs of backpedaling surfaced. “Well, yes. I mean I was staring at the gum in your mouth. I’ve never seen such silver gum.” She felt stupid, as if she were a teenager standing in front of her mother, lying about using her mother’s makeup. “I’m not chewing any gum, sweet thing.” “Really?” “I think you are talking about this.” He pushed his tongue out from between his lips. To her surprise, resting dead center in the middle sat three small silver balls in a vertical position. “You pierced your tongue?” “Correction, babe, I pierced it three times.” “Wow. I mean why?” she blurted. Although there wasn’t extra space between their bodies, he pulled her into his arms and pushed his chest closer against her until the bulge in his pants pressed her pelvis. The heat from his body burned through her clothes. If spontaneous combustion happened from bodies touching, they would have been dead by now. “As you can see, I like piercings.” “Yes, I can see you do.” Why so many piercings? She had to admit, although it scared the hell out of her, they did look sexy on him. “What you don’t know is I did these ones”—he whispered, slid his tongue through his lips, bared all three silver balls—“for you.” Pushing her palm against his chest, she halted him. “You pierced your tongue for my benefit?” For me?

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Amusement danced in his expression. “Yes. Definitely, yes. Let’s just say at some point in our relationship they are going to give you unbelievable pleasure.” Her curiosity piqued. “How so?” “Let’s just say when my mouth explores certain parts of your anatomy…your pleasure is going to explode into another realm.” He cupped her butt, and she felt the flush immediately. “Oh.” “Oh yes.” His tone, laced with a promise, heated her inside. To her surprise, she anticipated what would come as his hand tightened around her behind. “Let’s go to dinner before I end up ravaging you here and now.” “I thought we were going to order pizza?” “No, tonight I want to take you out. To the Cheesecake Factory. I want the world to see the beautiful woman who belongs to me.” He gave a long, silent, sizing-up moment. “I mean, you do belong to me, don’t you?” She turned a shy gaze toward him. “Yes. I don’t quite understand it, but I am yours.” She hesitated a moment. “All yours.” “Good. I couldn’t bear to think you weren’t.” **** As soon as their table was ready in The Cheesecake Factory, Jordan ordered a bottle of expensive champagne, and Mia excused herself to the restroom. Deep in thought, warm fingers touched his shoulder. He looked up, and there she was, his brown-haired beauty. “Hey, babe, I didn’t see you come back. How could I miss my woman walk across the floor?” His body tingled with awareness from her close proximity. As long as there is breath in my body, I will always notice you. She slid back into the chair. “It’s fine. I haven’t been here very long.”

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Scooting closer to the table, she waited. He reached over and placed his right hand on the back of her chair. “So, are you ready to get started with the Q&A session?” “Yes, I’m ready. I’m all yours.” “That’s what I want, you to be all mine.” His words resonated matter-of-factly. “Let’s continue with the vampire lesson I started to give you the night we met. After I finish, or during, you can ask questions. Sound like a plan?” She cleared her throat. Her features softened with a girlish charm. “Yes, sounds great to me.” One hour later he was finished spilling his guts. Taking a sip of water, he studied her. “I often wonder why it’s not out of the ordinary for people to believe in the supernatural, yet for one to believe in real vampirism is absurd.” His gaze fixed on her. “Are you still with me, babe?” “Yes.” “Good.” “So, what is Stiletto Sanction, exactly?” she asked, before taking a sip of champagne. “Our safe haven.” Her lips unlocked in amazement. “What about relationships? You mention real vampires live normal lives, does that include marriage and children?” “Mia?” Jordan’s face resembled a mixture of seriousness and comic relief. She glared at him. “Yes.” “I am human. I can do all of those things if I want to,” he added. “But we tend to stick with our own kind. In Stiletto Sanction, the rule is you date and marry your own kind.” Mia’s expression turned solemn, and Jordan slid his hand into hers. “I know what you’re thinking, sweet thing.” “You do?”

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“By our laws, I am forbidden to see you. Trust me, you and Cindi sneaking into the Sanction under false pretenses complicates matters a bit.” “Oh.” A server walked past their table. “Do you think I give a damn about the Stiletto rules, Mia?” “Yes. Well, maybe. I mean…I hope no?” “’No’ is the correct answer here. Let’s get one thing straight, nobody tells me who I can be with.” Pulling her into his arms, he secured her butt onto his lap in front of the entire restaurant. Yeah, people are staring. Do I give a damn? Nope, not one little bit. “Mia, I am falling in love with you. From the first moment I met you, I wanted you. The moment I tasted your blood, I changed. I have a sworn position to uphold with the Stiletto Sanction, and I will do my best to protect the Sanction. I can’t promise to uphold the oath of finding a vampire mate. Been there, tried that.” The devastated look in her gaze shook him. “Are you saying I’m forbidden?” “Technically, but we’ll find a way to work this out, darlin’, I promise.” She peered down at the table. “One more thing. Last night I did some research on vampirism, and I came across a lot of stuff. Basically there is no easy way to put it. It scared the hell out of me.” He could just imagine what she found on the Internet by typing the word “vampire” into a search engine. Yet he needed to indulge his sweet woman. “Like what?” “Images of people doing things.” “What kind of things?” His curiosity piqued. She glanced away, obviously searching for the right words. “Things looking very painful and bloody.” “Look at me, Mia.” With the tip of his finger, he reached under her chin. “Stop looking away from me. What did you see?” He waited. “Baby, answer me.”

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“People hanging from hooks. Women bleeding, tied on beds with people watching. And—and drinking blood.” Her words chopped through the space between them. He stared at her for a minute before his tongue passed across his top lip. When he was certain the laughing was squelched, he spoke. “Darlin’, what you were looking at is bloodplay. Bloodplay is not the same as vampirism. You have no need to worry your pretty little head. I promise not to string you up to a meat hook and bleed you all over the floor.” Relief shook her features. “Thank God.” “Unless you want me to.” He chuckled when her eyes almost popped from her head. Jordan could only hope she would be up for the experience someday. He would cross that bridge down the road. He planned to show her things beyond her imagination. Her face remained priceless, not to mention white as a ghost. “What do you mean?” “There are many vampires who enjoy bloodplay.” With raw, sexual heat in his voice he asked, “Since I have your mind there, would you do it if I wanted you to?” Her entire body stilled. “Do what?” “What if I asked you to enter bloodplay with me. Would you consider it?” Her expression turned contemplative. “With people watching?” His heart jumped inside his chest so suddenly he could have sworn he heard the thumping. Would she do it for him? “No, just you and me. Not another soul in the room.” Watching her struggle with her internal debate, he took the opportunity to interrupt. “Have I been honest with you?” “Yes,” she murmured. “Do you think I would let you get hurt, or rather, do you think I would let anything go too far, without pulling you from it?” He waited.

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She waited, obviously her mind pondering bleeding for him. “Well?” He wasn’t being fair with his prodding, but damn, she considered his question, even remained in heavy concentration over it. It took her minutes before she answered. “Yes.” He gauged her reaction carefully. “Yes?” With one word, she turned his cock from hard to iron solid. If she knew the thoughts he entertained about the two of them in his dream world, would she run from him? Or would she allow him to release in her the unbridled passion residing deep within her guarded psyche? Pulling his hand into hers, she stared at the fit. The heat radiating off her skin wrapped around his heart, and squeezed it. “I trust you enough to enter into something I don’t understand if it makes you happy and is something you want.” “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He asked the question but knew if she hadn’t admitted she would participate in bloodplay with him, he would have remained in the restaurant all night until she did. **** Back at Mia’s apartment, they strolled, hands interlocked, toward her building. The aroma of oranges hovered from the magnolia trees spilling into the night breeze. She breathed in the cool night air. Reaching the door, he embraced her, lifting her feet from the ground. “You are my woman, and there is no more falling. I love you, everything about you.” Why couldn’t she say it back? Her voice wouldn’t budge past the knot in her throat. Years of being hurt by love made it hard for her to say the words. The last man she thought she loved had tempted and lured her, then dumped her. What if Jordan planned to release the same carnage on her life? She wouldn’t live through the intensity of pain like that again and come out sane. Not to mention it had been only a few days. This type of attraction only happened in romance novels, not real life.

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“Don’t fret darlin’, you don’t have to say it right this moment. Just know that you’ve changed me.” Placing her feet on the ground, he added, “I want to come inside and love you the rest of the night, but I’m going to wait until you want me just as much as I want you.” He moved to walk away but turned back. “One more thing. I want to be the perfect gentleman for you. A one-night stand isn’t what I want. Not from you. It’s shocking for me to admit, Mia, but love and respect outweigh my lust.”

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Chapter Nine Unnerved by the second night of the same vivid dream of hanging in a warehouse, dripping blood, Mia rose the next morning before the alarm sounded, vowing to stay there until the images passed, or at least until her heart stopped racing. She glanced at the clock. It was Wednesday morning and she really wanted to stay in bed with the covers pulled over her head. Before the images of her students’ faces could flash through her mind, she picked up the phone and called in sick. A mental health day was long overdue. In the middle of practicing relaxation techniques, Jordan called. He was under the impression a walk around Lake Eola on such a beautiful day would be her cup of tea. At this point, she would have walked in a rainstorm, blizzard, hurricane, or tornado with the sexy, long-haired, earring-clad, tattooed man. Arriving within the hour at Lake Eola, she recognized her handsome man sitting beneath a huge cypress tree near the lake. The water was calm, and from a distance it looked like a sheet of cellophane. Not even a ripple danced on the surface. The stillness of the water meant today was going to be a scorcher. Spotting her, he stood up, waving his hands back and forth above his head, her cue to move toward him. I’m coming, sexy man. A little overzealous, she ran to meet him and didn’t consider the sweat factor, not until the beads dripped down her back. Oh God, I’m sure I resemble a drowned rat at this point. Instead of sexy, I’m a sweat ball!

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As if Jordan somehow heard her thoughts, he cupped her arms and stepped back, surveying her face. “It is so awesome having you next to me this morning. You look beautiful.” Perhaps her body didn’t look so bad after all. She reached around his waist, giving him a well-deserved squeeze. “It’s really great seeing you this morning, too.” His gaze moved past her, and she followed his stare, wondering what enthralled him. He studied the swan boats circling the lake. “You seem to be enamored by the boats.” “Yes. I guess I am. The people inside them look relaxed, like they’re having a ton of fun. I bet riding around the lake in one of those is relaxing…perhaps a little magical.” One swan boat broke away from the others. A group of teenagers guided the helm, and they steered it straight toward the bank where Mia and Jordan stood. As they came closer, Mia recognized all of them. But the one who stuck out the most sat in the back of the swan with one piece of his tousled, brown locks stuck to his forehead from sweat. The girls in the front were screaming and waving at her as if she was their long-lost sister. Mia’s first thought was why are they here and not in school? Followed by a second one, which whispered, they could be thinking the same thing. The swan came to rest on the bank of the lake, and Jordan glanced down at Mia. “I take it these kids recognize you?” “Yes, they’re my students.” “I figured. Check out the boy in the back. He looks less than happy about being there.” Jordan did a double take just as Mia glanced at the boy. The swan came to a perfect halt, and she recognized students, Tristan, Jessica, Tamara, and Lisa. Jordan’s hand tightened around Mia’s fingers.

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“Hello, Ms. Christini.” Tristan raked Jordan with a stare that practically knocked Mia off her feet. Then a devilish grin lit up his boyish face. “So, is this your man?” Holy shit. Should she introduce Jordan as her boyfriend, acquaintance, or friend? She tried to release Jordan’s hand, but his grip tightened, as if in anger. But why would he be angry with Tristan? He didn’t even know the boy. “Yes, I’m her boyfriend, Jordan. And you are?” The happy crew stepped out of the boat. Jordan waited while Tristan eased closer to Mia. With an arrogant force, Tristan stuck his hand out in Jordan’s direction. “Tristan’s the name, dude. Ms. Christini’s my drama teacher. I’m surprised you haven’t heard about me. I mean, Ms. Christini and I do see each other every day. And I do know her best friend Cindi…very well.” Mia wished a giant hole would open up and suck her into the ground. Now would be perfect. Suck me up, please! But instead, Jordan pinned Tristan with a vexed look. “Well, Tristan, my Mia sees many students every day. She doesn’t single out any students in particular. To her, you’re all special.” The girls giggled at Jordan’s words. They stood in the same spot, obviously, from where Mia stood, mesmerized by his appearance, resembling puppy dogs in a pet store window, bows and all. Surely his tight blue jeans and white cotton shirt opened at the chest added to their already giddy state. Poor girls. Tristan cocked his head. “Well, I guess I’ll have to do something in her class so she remembers me over everyone else.” He scanned Mia up then down. “So, Ms. Christini. I’ll have to cause some trouble so you can give me detention in your room. Or better yet, give me detention with Cindi watching over me. Oh wait, how about both of you watching over me?” He ran his tongue over his top lip, and Jordan’s grip on Mia tightened to the point of pain.

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The girls stood speechless, their gazes darting from Mia and Jordan, to Tristan. The surreal scene felt like a clip from MTV’s The Real World. “Well, kids, we have to get going.” Jordan started moving toward the path. The girls chuckled. “Yeah, us, too. Come on, Tristan, you promised you would buy us breakfast after the boat ride.” Snickering, they stepped into the swan. “Bye, Ms. Christini. Bye, Mr. Hunk.” Mia rolled her eyes. Jordan smirked. Tristan remained in his spot. “Bye, girls.” Jordan waved and edged Mia closer to the path. “You go ahead, sweet thing. I’ll be there in a second,” he whispered and headed toward Tristan. Before Mia could open her mouth to beg Jordan not to embarrass Tristan, he was standing in front of him. Tristan glanced over at her, puckered his lips. Oh no! She couldn’t watch, so she willed her feet to move. Please God, don’t let him kill my student! Cindi will be irate if anything happens to him. Her caramel candy. Mia shook her head. I know their relationship is wrong on so many levels, but he’s eighteen. Even the reminder that Tristan was of consensual age didn’t change the fact if Cindi and Tristan got caught doing whatever it was they were doing, Cindi would be spending time in the big house. Even though the boy was eighteen, and of legal age, he was still attending high school, and that just didn’t look good for Cindi. Thoughts of Cindi’s face plastered on the television, the headlines reading, Local Woman Has Sex With Boy Still In High School, flashed through Mia’s mind. She shook her head and kept walking. Yeah, but as long as Cindi’s mug shot looked good, she’d be thrilled with the scandal. Mia chuckled. I’m not ready for relationships where my best friend is incarcerated. I’m still trying to deal with a boyfriend who isn’t Catholic, and a vampire. Thirty minutes later, Jordan walked up the path toward Mia, plucking a flower on the way. At his approach, she tapped the palm of

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her hand against the empty space beside her. He sat on the bench next to her, laying the flower against her bare thigh. “Is everything okay?” she asked, running her fingers along the plush green stem of the burgundy and white petals. “Everything is fine, darlin’.” “You were gentle with him, right? Tristan appears cocky, but I think he’s just a scared boy inside an adult body.” He put his arms around her and pulled her against him. “Everything is fine. You’re right he’s a cocky adolescent.” His grip softened. “Sometimes your compassion paralyzes me. Too bad more teachers don’t care about their students the way you do.” Wow, the compliment moved heat through her body, touching her from the tip of her head to the soles of her feet. She glanced out across the water, and pointed to one of the boats gliding past them. “Well, you and I are going to have to paddle around this lake in one of those swans sometime soon!” She cracked a smile, then breathed in the fresh floral aroma from her flower. “It’s a date. I think it would be romantic to go boating at night. What do you think?” “That’s an awesome idea. In the day, it’s too hot. Nighttime sounds better, more romantic,” she agreed. Mia wondered if his true feelings about the dark had something to do with his vampirism. Some clichés just seemed too hard to resist. “Good. Well, shall we?” He pointed to the trail leading around the lake. “Yes, let’s get walking!” **** Just when things couldn’t get any worse, a recognizable tall figure emerged in the stretch ahead. Without a doubt, she knew this day was going to be memorable, but probably for all the wrong reasons.

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Two minutes later, the newest figure stood in front of them. “Well, if it isn’t the infamous Mia,” Jamison said. After a few excruciating seconds, she managed to croak a few words, “Hey, Jamison. You never mentioned Lake Eola at work.” Nor did he mention playing hooky here during their employee lunchroom conversations. A forced smile moved across Jamison’s face. “The conversation never came up the few times we had lunch.” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “So, how do you know my buddy Jordan?” This time it was Jordan’s turn to be grilled. “Mia and I met at a local nightspot, and a friendship blossomed,” he replied. Confusion took the place of uneasiness. “Yes, that’s right. We met a while back,” Mia agreed. Jamison looked to the ground, then back at her. “You look great, Mia. As always. It’s nice to see you again.” A strange moment passed between him and Jordan, and Jamison added, “I’ve got to get going, you two. Enjoy the rest of your walk.” Without waiting for a reply, Jamison turned and walked away. Jordan didn’t even have to open his mouth, because she was aware of what he wanted, and damn, she wanted clarification on local club and friendship. “We work together,” she blurted out. “I figured you worked with him, from the conversation.” Jordan appeared guarded. She reached out and grasped his hand, searching his face for some spark of emotion. Anything. “Come on,” she said, “I’ll tell you about how Jamison and I met on our way to the coffee shop.” “What’s there to tell? You met at work.” A breeze shifted. “Actually, we met years before I moved to Florida. We met while I was still in college in Pennsylvania.” His brows lifted, and he dropped back a step. “Really?”

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It appeared from his expression that he knew more. And then what appeared to be a sudden realization sparked his expression. “Yes. It’s a long story,” she mumbled. “One I intend to have with you. Let’s walk and talk.” A quaint little coffee joint sat at the end of the trail. A trip to Lake Eola wasn’t complete without a coffee from Little Java’s. “Let’s go have a cup of java, and you can tell me all about Jamison.” They continued down the trail. “My relationship, or rather nonrelationship, with Jamison was strange. His feelings confused me. He would say he wasn’t interested in me, yet his body language was contradictory.” Jordan remained silent. “When we met I was a teenager in college. So perhaps I was immature when it came to men. But I thought he liked me as more than a friend. Even after I moved here, he asked me out to dinner again.” She couldn’t believe she was spilling her guts to Jordan, but for some reason she needed to tell him everything. But, even with her desire to sing the truth, his expression remained unreadable. “Go on.” “We went out a few months after I arrived, and everything was going awesome. I thought I understood his feelings. I mean I was sure we had something special. But I was wrong again. The next few months after our disastrous final date, I did everything I could to forget him. ” All she wanted to do the rest of the afternoon was spend time with Jordan, talking about something other than her failed relationship with Jamison. She was relieved when they reached the door to the Little Java Coffee Shop. Jordan opened the door and stepped to the side. “Come on, darlin’. Let’s get a cup of coffee.”

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Chapter Ten Comfortably seated at one of the high bistro tables, Mia and Jordan ordered two Café Cremeila and continued to talk, waiting for the waitress to arrive. “Here ya’ll go. Two Café Cremelia, with extra whipped cream on one.” The perky redhead placed Mia’s coffee on the table first, with the hand donning a ring on every finger, and reached for Jordan’s coffee. He slipped a twenty out of his wallet, placing it on her tray. “Keep the change…” he hesitated, glancing over at her name tag, “Tammi.” “Why thank you, sir. Y’all let me know if y’all fixin’ to need another one. ’Kay?” Jordan nodded. “Okay, Tammi. Don’t work too hard.” Mia added in a soft voice, “Thanks.” Tammi disappeared from the table, and another figure appeared. “Well, if it isn’t Jordan De L’croix. Hey, baby, how ’bout a threefor-one blood delight tonight?” the voice cackled. A tall, raven-haired woman stood in front of them with a body made for sin. Jordan held a horrified expression. Slowly, the beauty eased down into the empty chair beside Mia. As if a faucet turned on, Jordan’s mood moved from incredulous and stunned to a severe case of pissed off. “What the hell are you doing here, Christi? Don’t you have some sorry soul to mess with?” Christi let a seductive smile imprint her face, reached out, and ran her hand down the back of Mia’s hair.

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Mia jerked away from her, shooting Jordan a confused look. “Mia, this is Christi, an old acquaintance. Christi, this is my girlfriend Mia.” The raven-haired beauty shot him a look so wicked it should have incinerated him. “Old acquaintance. Really?” Christi’s head fell back before a deep, feral laugh erupted, garnering the attention of customers in a half-mile radius of the café. “How about the woman you fed from for more than a year? The woman you enjoyed outrageous sex with while sucking blood from between her thighs!” “Christi, what are you doing over here? Come join me, darling,” Jamison’s voice rolled through the room just in time. “Let’s not bother Jordan and Mia right now.” Jordan exhaled a breath. Christi looked up, as if in a sudden trance, and followed Jamison to a table at the far end of the café. “Who was she?” Mia’s voice cracked. Jordan raked his fingers through his hair once Christi and Jamison sat down at the table across the room. “One of the skeletons in my closet.” “I see.” Mia continued to study the buxom brunette. The words “sexy woman” were definitely an understatement. What did he do to her? “Do you? From the expression on your face I’m not so sure you do. I can’t change things that happened in my past, darlin’, but I can change my future. With you, I want to change. You make me want to be a better man.” “What happened with her?” “I didn’t treat Christi that great. Most likely she’s angry with me.” Mia gathered the beverage napkin in her hand. The next question on her tongue she really didn’t want to know the answer to, but she asked it anyway. “How many women have you had?” “Many.”

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The frown moved across her lips quicker than she could control it. “Does it matter, Mia? Do you care about me less, knowing I’ve had many women in my bed?” She glanced up at him again, and this time his gaze wouldn’t allow her the refuge of looking away. “Let’s get it all out on the table. Right now, darlin’.” “What?” “My sex life. No secrets. I’m about to rock that Catholic upbringing of yours to the core. You need to listen. Decide if I’m worthy of you…your love.” Worried, she countered. “What if I don’t want to know everything? Some secrets are good, right? I mean, you don’t have to divulge every sordid detail.” He half smiled. “Probably not, but I’m going to tell you anyway. I don’t want any secrets between us, not now, not ever. Trust me, I wish I could change what I’ve done, but I can’t. Listen to what I have to say, darlin’, then you decide whether or not I’m worthy of redemption.” His phone pinged, but this time he kept his gaze glued on Mia and let the caller go to voice mail. “I have enjoyed many women. Sometimes one at a time, sometimes more than one. Did I care about any of them? No—not really. I fucked them because it’s what I wanted. There wasn’t an emotional attachment behind it.” With his remark, Mia’s mouth dropped open. “You didn’t care about any of them?” “I cared about one other woman in my life, before you, but the relationship ended badly. She couldn’t accept the vampirism.” He reached for his coffee and took a deep gulp, gazing at the liquid before he returned the cup to the table. You cared for not a single one of them? “How could you sleep with all of those women and not care about a single one of them?” Her voice trailed off.

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“Sex and love do not equal the same thing, Mia.” He glanced toward Jamison and Christi. “I enjoy sex immensely, with or without love tagging it.” “Most men do, don’t they?” “Yes, most men do. It’s the way we’re programmed. Women usually think about love, men think sex. Women think about feelings and emotions while men think about how many orifices they can slide their dicks into.” Talk about laying it on the table. The man was spreading it all over the table. “How do I know I’m going to be enough for you?” “Love,” was all he said. But his answer didn’t pacify her. Seriously, how could she be enough when he’d had more than one woman at a time? “I can’t compete with all of the women you have had.” “You’ve already outshined them, and I haven’t even had you… in the biblical sense, yet. We have a connection that goes beyond sex, beyond love.” Maybe he was feeding her a line of bullshit, or maybe he was telling the truth. It really didn’t matter because she wanted him more than anything or anyone she’d ever wanted in her life. She reached over the table and kissed him. He grabbed her hand, pulled it into his. When he broke the kiss and his breath touched her cheek, he whispered, “I want to devour you, feel you in my bones, woman…in my soul.” “I feel the same about you. But, Jordan, before we leave, tell me about her.” She pointed to Jamison’s table. He glanced at Christi. “Come on, I’ll tell you her story on our walk back to your car.” They hit the sunny walking trail and both slipped on their sunglasses as Jordan discussed Christi’s story. “Renegade vampire gone wild” pretty much summed it up. “Does anything I’m saying make sense?” he asked.

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When they reached the parking lot, Mia stopped first. “Yes, it does. By making Christi feel special, she is less apt to run her mouth about the sanction. Right?” He glanced toward her car, moved them in front of it, and then leaned against the hood. Shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, he waited. His actions gave Mia the perfect opportunity to admire his body. “See something you like, Ms. Christini?” A wave of heat rushed across her cheeks. “I’m sorry, I—I—” “No need to be embarrassed, darlin’. I’m beyond flattered by your assessment of me. I plan to assess your curves later myself.” Mia half smiled. She needed to get her thoughts back on track. Right now all she wanted was to feel his hands all over her body. Get a grip, woman. She attempted to regain her pre-gutter mind back. Still feeling warm, she switched gears back to the discussion at hand. “Christi is an affection-starved little girl in a woman’s body.” Jordan nodded. “That’s a very considerate way of putting it.” He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather ogle my body a little more?” Yes. Ignore him. She glanced over at the fountain perched in the middle of the lake, spewing water in a circular motion. Jordan stepped closer toward her, shortening the distance between them. “Go ahead, ask what’s on your mind.” “Jamison Rierson. How do you know him?” Her gaze stayed glued to the fountain. It was as if she was waiting for some magical element to change the form of it. She would need to make sure when she wrote in her journal tonight she mentioned the beauty of the fountain. “Vampire.” A group of small children running past them up the sidewalk broke her concentration for a split second before she gasped. “Seriously?”

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He laughed low. She just stared at him. “You’re serious. He is a vampire, too?” “Yes, he is.” A plethora of emotions rushed through Mia, to the point of almost knocking her off-balance. Oh my God! It finally made sense, why he wouldn’t get close to her. He assumed she would never understand his alternative life style. “You realize Jamison wanted you for more than a friend, don’t you?” She couldn’t speak. Her mouth felt as dried out as a plum that lay for hours in the Arizona sun. “Sure.” “Look at me.” Jordan took one more step, pinning Mia between his body and the car. “I understand if you had feelings for him. But know this, darlin’, I won’t let you go. Not without a fight.” Damn. Now her eyes were tearing. “Are your tears for him?” His voice slipped over her. It remained steady, his expression soft. She thought about it. Are they? “No. It’s too late for Jamison. I had feelings for him once, but when I met you, they disappeared. Actually, it’s like they never existed.” Was he questioning her feelings for him? Did he wonder if her new knowledge about Jamison would change anything between them? “Are you sure, babe? Am I what you want?” She didn’t need to contemplate his question, so she answered him with a fact, and then a question of her own. “Yes, you are what I want. How can you even ask me that?” “Because I’m not so sure, now that you are aware of Jamison’s secret. What if he decides going after you is what he wants? Not to mention, you are still falling in love with me. You could just as easily fall out of love with me.” She was in shock about Jamison—this much was true—but losing Jordan was not an option. He must know her feelings were a done

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deal. The falling was finished. She was in love with him. It didn’t matter that their courtship had been less than a week. Love at first sight existed throughout time and space. Touching his arm, she admitted, “I’m done falling.” A wry expression lit up his face. “Meaning?” She found refuge against his chest. “I love you.” I said it. “I needed to hear those words from you.” He crushed his lips against hers, and she could’ve sworn the impact of his kiss curled her toes. “Let’s go somewhere more private before I strip you naked right here.” “Good idea. How about my apartment?” His breath caught, then glided between them like velvet. “Mmmm, we better go…now.” Mia drove the distance to her apartment complex in a haze, occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror to make sure the black Mercedes Kompressor followed. What about birth control? She didn’t own condoms, and she wasn’t on the pill. What about the sponge and spermicides? Shit! She pulled into the complex and whipped her MINI Cooper into the space in front of building six. Jordan emerged from his vehicle before she had the keys out of the ignition or the window rolled up. “Geez.” Jordan planted himself by her car. “Remind me not to drive with you. You drive like a bat out of hell.” She pushed the door open and stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Ha ha.” She arched a brow at him. “I had a lot on my mind.” “Like what?” A sexy grin crossed his face. He seemed to study her as his face turned serious. “Well, besides the obvious heavy shit we just discussed back at the lake.” “Not that.” She dug in her small purse for keys. “Birth control,” she blurted. Will I ever learn to think before speaking? She examined the ring of keys in her hand. Probably not. “I have protection, Mia.”

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“Oh.” I really have to get with the sex program. She moved like lightning toward the stairwell. He snickered and followed close behind. “Did I say something wrong?” Taking the steps two at a time, she stopped and yelled back to him. “Shut up.” “Shut up! I’ll show you shut up,” he countered, sprinting up the steps to catch her.

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Chapter Eleven Bring on the sex! Inside the apartment, Jordan scanned the living room while Mia headed for the kitchen. She poured two glasses of her special sun tea and cranked the air down to seventy-five degrees before she rejoined him. The day was turning out to be a scorcher, and if it hit ninetyeight degrees like the meteorologist predicted, the humidity would make it feel like it was well over one-hundred degrees, turning her apartment into a sauna. Maxing out the air-conditioning would do nothing to cool her inner temperature. Oh well, some things are just worth suffering through. Appearing in the doorway, Mia watched Jordan study the framed pictures on her small oak desk. “Those pictures are mostly my family.” He took the tray from her hands, placed it on the small table in front of the sofa. “You resemble your mother. She is very beautiful, darlin’.” “That’s very sweet of you. Thanks.” “Just relaying what I see.” He walked over and stood in front of her. “Come on,” he whispered, and guided them to the sofa. He sat down and then straddled her across him, pushing his erection alongside her inner thigh. “Don’t you want some tea? “Not this moment.” His lips pressed to hers, as his fingertips roamed in small circles along her back. “I want Mia now. Tea later.”

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Her face grew warm. It was as if the room was closing in on her. A deep flutter lined her stomach. She was sure she was about to puke all over him. For God’s sake, she was a grown woman! But one who hadn’t experienced full-blown intercourse yet. Sheltered upbringing equaled embarrassment later. And her later had just arrived. Should she be perspiring as if someone released a fire hose above her head? It wasn’t just her virginity that frightened her. What if all the years of Catholic instruction were correct? Was giving herself to a man before marriage going to send her straight to hell? Am I prepared for the consequences of my actions? Even if Jehovah God stood in her living room telling her pointblank what she was about to do was wrong, she would do it anyway. Her body desired him more than it did eternal life. As if he could hear the bantering of her thoughts, he released her. “What’s wrong?” His face was beautiful. She reached out and traced the diamond stud in his nose with her finger. “I guess I’m a little nervous, that’s all.” “Don’t be, baby. I won’t hurt you.” The promise in his words eased her nerves. “I believe you.” When he placed the tips of his fingers against her cheek, her stomach flipped. “I promise to be gentle with you,” he assured her. When he reached for her wrists, his cell phone rang. “I’m sorry, babe. I have to get this.” She slid off his lap, depositing her body next to him. He flipped open the phone. “Yeah,” he snapped. At least his hands held no malice, because he was able to continue massaging Mia’s left leg. She gazed at him as he listened to the voice on the other end of the phone, almost happy for the unexpected reprieve. “Fine, I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

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“You have to go,” she stated rather than questioned. She was well aware of the answer. “Yes, but it’s a good thing. Jamison wants to talk.” “Oh.” Her tone bordered more perturbed than sad. We were in the middle of…and you have to run. She didn’t expect her first time to happen like this. Not only was she absent the white dress, soon she would be minus the man. “I’m sorry, Mia.” He touched her hair, just a light stroke. “I shouldn’t divulge this information, but I think we are in too deep for me to keep it from you.” He paused. “Jamison isn’t just a vampire. He’s the Stiletto Sanction Elder.” “Elder?” she repeated, a little puzzled. What the hell is an Elder? “Yes. He is the leader of the group, the rule enforcer, the head honcho.” He lifted her back across his lap. His cock jumped, and. as if it had called her name, Mia’s gaze moved over it. Jordan laughed, and narrowed his gaze toward his dick. “See what you do to me, woman.” Awkward couldn’t describe Mia’s sudden predicament. Did she have to examine his crotch? Especially while he watched? “You can examine my jewels all you want when I get back,” he promised. “I’m going to see Jamison to talk about you.” Thank God Jordan changed the subject from his cock to Jamison’s Eldership. Examine it! He makes it sound like a science experiment. “What if he says no? Can he make you stay away from me?” Incredulously, he huffed. “Babe, I don’t give a shit what he thinks. All I’m going to do is try to talk some sense into him. I found someone outside of the group. He is going to have to deal with it. Nobody can make me do anything I don’t want to do. You should know that about me by now, Mia,” he promised, then kissed it with a seal of authority. “I don’t want you to lose your status in the group because of me. Can’t there be a compromise?”

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“Jamison will compromise. So, yes, would be the answer to your question.” “You seem positive that you can change his mind about us.” What if Jamison wouldn’t compromise? Did being an Elder give him the power to dictate relationships? It was hard for her to imagine the academic Jamison, the one who chaired the English department at Dr. Phillips High School, and this Elder Jamison were the same person. My co-worker is the head-honcho vampire. Wow. Warm fingers outlined the contours of her cheekbones. “Earth to Mia. I’m going to take off, but I’ll be back so we can continue where we left off. Okay?” His tone streamed through her thoughts. She glanced into his face, and his expression turned to one of demand as his lips crushed hers. This was the side of Jordan that frightened her, the untamed, almost ferocious part of him. Unsteadily, she pulled back. “Yes, I’ll be waiting.” “Good, keep my side of the bed warm.” The tone of his thrilled whisper felt like strumming fingers across her body. “Oh good, you’re going to sleep over.” She giggled. For a brief moment she felt as if she was seventeen again, sitting beside her black-haired high-school boyfriend, the sweet emotion of first love pulsating through her veins. “We won’t be doing much sleeping, Mia.” “I didn’t think so,” she murmured. Her thoughts swirled. If he were a mythical vampire, he would have understood the distress in her voice. Do I have clean sheets on my bed? A new toothbrush under the sink for him? Do I snore? Oh my God! He watched her for a brief moment. “Are you scared of me?” His humorous chuckle followed the question. Mia’s mouth dropped open. No way did he hear me. After a few seconds, “Ha!” was her reply. “Just wait, you little minx.”

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He clasped her waist, tickled her, then released his hold after one hearty laugh filled the room. His teasing turned to one of seriousness. “I’m so addicted to you, woman.”

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Chapter Twelve Driving down the barren street leading away from Stiletto House, anger mixed with relief and eagerness. His discussion with Jamison ended with the Elder’s approval. Jordan hoped Mia would accept the terms of them being together and understand if, or, as far as he was concerned, when they married, she would embrace the coven traditions dealing with marriage. His mind swirled briefly around the act of first rite, virgin blood, and consummation through sex. Coven ceremonies were quite different from most ceremonies she witnessed. He could bet on it. Her image flashed through his mind. When he’d left her earlier, her thick brown hair was tousled around her shoulders from him running his fingers through it. He could still feel the silky strands falling through his fingers. The way she’d looked at him with those innocentlooking, big brown eyes made him want to strip her naked and tie her to the bed. The things he wanted to do with her almost made him blush. Almost. Grabbing his cell phone, he dialed. She didn’t pick up on the third ring, so he planned to leave her a message. After the fourth ring, she answered. “Hello.” Her voice held the sound of angels singing. “Hey, baby.” “Is everything okay?” she whispered. Her concern titillated him. His cock jutted forward. Down, boy. “Yes. He gave his blessing. Even though we didn’t need it.”

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The next sound through the phone was the sweet melody of her honest laughter. “I’m so happy. Even though you don’t think we needed it,” she assured him. “Are you still sleeping over?” “I told you before, darlin’ Mia, no sleeping tonight.” He veered off the I-4 corridor toward Rosemont. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” And I am going to jump your bones. “I’ll see you soon. Bye.” “See you in a few,” he promised. With tantalizing thoughts of what he’d planned to do with her when he took her to bed, he snapped his phone shut and stuck it into his pocket. **** Mia paced the living room floor in happy anticipation of the doorbell’s buzz. On what felt like her twentieth stroll around the sofa, the chime sounded. The minute it took her to swing the door open felt like eons of time passed. But it was worth the wait. He stood leaning against the doorjamb, his face gorgeous in the silver moonlight. She couldn’t help herself. She lunged forward, pulling him against her with all her feminine power. I didn’t just accost him in the doorway. Yes, I did. He nudged her chin up. “What’s this?” “I’m sorry. Am I being too forward?” Her face warmed. Before she could say another word or think another rational thought, he crushed her against him and kissed her, slipping his tongue between her slightly parted mouth. Reaching up, she cupped her hands around his neck, and her kiss deepened. The need for him erupted through her body. In an agonized gasp, she pulled back. He fought for his own breath. “It’s okay, darlin’. Relax. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.” Her sudden need to view all his body blindsided her. “I want to see it.”

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He bent down and captured her lips again with a hungry urgency that left her breathless, before pulling back briefly. “You want to see what?” “It.” Should she call it his dick, cock, Mr. Happy, thingy? Did men name their private parts? She contemplated a response just as their conversation, the first night they met, flashed into focus. Jewels. “I want to see your jewels.” Calm down, Catholic hoochie! Sounding desperate isn’t becoming. The kissing stopped, and in its place, a wicked grin passed across his face. “Just so I understand where this conversation is going, are we talking about my earring this time or something more substantial in size?” She gazed at the strand of black hair touching his shoulder, then at the pockets of gold that claimed the rest of the dark tresses. Just say it. “You mentioned before you left to see Jamison that we could experiment when you got back. Well…I want to see it.” She placed her palm against his crotch. A brave move, but stepping up the process was essential to her suddenly brave exterior. He glanced at her hand, then ground his erect cock against her cupped palm. “How about we move away from the doorway? I’m not sure I want to unleash this monster in front of your neighbors.” Sliding strong arms around her waist, he lifted, and moved them forward into the apartment. She did the only thing that seemed logical and reclaimed his mouth. After a few feet, he kicked his foot back, slamming the front door. Mia stroked his erection again, but this time she fisted the material of his pants to get a better feel. “Be careful, baby, I’m doing my best not to strip you naked and make love to you right here.” She unhanded him. “But I want you to.”

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Her revelation scared the hell out of her. Her feelings for him were no longer hers to control. Somehow they existed beyond space and time. He grabbed two handfuls of her shirt in his fists, smiling as he pulled her shirt up and over her head. Her breasts pushed against the front of her bra, a cue to set them free. His finger touched the clasp. “Wait!” she yelled. His face took on a humorous expression. “I mean not wait…but—” she choked out her words. He smiled so broad his entire face danced with delight. “What do you mean, darlin’?” “I’m not sure what I mean. No. What I mean is— is—what if I’m extremely bad at this?” What if I suck at this? “Darlin’. I told you before, I would teach you everything you need to know. Trust me, babe, a lot of it is going to come to you naturally. Don’t think so much about it. Let your desire for me guide you.” Closing her eyes, she breathed in the spicy aroma that clung to him. His smell was like an aphrodisiac reminiscent of a mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg. “I want to be all you want. Enough woman for you.” The truthfulness in her tone suffused the room. I want you to want me because I’m sexy. For the first time in my life I want to be that woman. “You are enough woman for me.” His voice was final. Was she enough? He touched a finger to her lips. “We don’t have to jump into intercourse, darlin’. There are other things we can do.” He displayed his silver-studded tongue. A shudder of heat coursed through her veins. Unexpectedly, as if they had a mind of their own, her breasts glided against his chest. He took it as his cue to unhook her bra, before he eased them both onto the floor. After what felt like an eternity to her, he dipped down and took the throbbing peak of her erect nipple into his mouth, palming the other breast as he sucked. As if that wasn’t enough to drive her into an

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ecstasy coma, he moved his mouth from one breast to the other, lapping the hard little tips. She arched her back in offering. “Oh…God,” she whimpered as she fought for more oxygen and for forgiveness for what she was about to do. “You taste so good.” He moaned the words. “I could suck your tits the rest of the night. I just might.” Without reprieve, his lips reclaimed her nipples. But this time, he nibbled the tips. Hungrily, she reached for his zipper. As he reached for the button of her jeans, she hesitated, tensed. From the confines of her breasts, he glanced up in between licks, the metal from his tongue ring curling her toes each time he looped around the nipple. “I do love you, Jordan” she whispered. His lips temporarily retreated. “You do? It’s no surprise, darlin’, that I love you, too.” In a quick minute, he slid her jeans down her hips and onto the floor. Just as she purred with delight, he reached in and gathered the top of her floral panties into his fist, pushing them to the floor, exposing the brown curls between her legs. When his hand found the soft, wet tunnel, she whimpered louder. His middle finger lingered at her entrance. She took in a breath that rattled her body. “You okay?” His deep, masculine baritone whispered in her ear. She thrust her hips forward, “Yes.” That was her invitation for him to slide his finger into the folds, and like magic he made her wish his command. Her body arched with delight as he pulled his finger out and slid it in again. She lost herself in the magic of his touch, moaning softly as he moved his finger faster. Arching her back, without an ounce of self-control, she rubbed herself against his hand. “Oh…you like my touch don’t you?” It was a rhetorical question. “My little minx.”

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“Yes…yes,” she moaned. “Let’s see how this feels.” He inserted two fingers in between her swollen little lips, sending her body into overdrive. Shamelessly, she ground herself against his hand. “Come for me, baby,” he whispered, sucking her tits again. Just when she thought her body couldn’t withstand anymore, her orgasm erupted. As her kegel muscles contracted, she fought the urge to pee her pants. “Good girl.” A brief few minutes passed as they lay in the quiet. Tonight, she was ready to explore a little further and unleash, as he so kindly put it, his monster. It was time for her to reciprocate. At least that was the advice her recently purchased magazines gave. Ready to give pleasure and to try out the newest techniques in the magazine, she unbuttoned his pants. She touched the smooth flesh, gazing over his erection a few times before she moved her finger to the mushroom head. He appeared to study her face, the lines of expression creasing his features unreadable to her. She stroked his cock. It jumped, and she stroked it again. “You’re killing me, woman.” “Sorry,” she murmured. His cheeks kicked up into a half smile. “Just let me know if you have plans on dissecting it.” “Funny.” Cautiously, she lowered her face toward his thighs, grazing his abdomen with her tongue on the way down, before she put her lips on his cock and sucked in. His sudden pelvic thrust broke the suction. Her head jerked upward. “Did I do something wrong?” “No, darlin’. I’m fine. Better than fine. Fucking awesome.” “Good.” Slowly, she took his cock into her mouth again. It was huge, the skin hot and sticky. The fullness of him filled her. Carefully,

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she recalled what the magazine on her nightstand suggested about the perfect blow job. First, secure your hand around the middle of it. Done. Second, suck on it like a Popsicle, making sure to let the entire shaft slide down your throat. Working on it. Third, swallow quickly when the love juice spurts. Okay, I can do this. Oh yes, she almost had forgotten about the hand movements. She continued to move her mouth up and down on the root, and he stiffened more. As if getting harder were even possible! When she harnessed his balls in her grip, he arched his hips to meet her. Placing his hands on either side of her head, he secured her face between his legs, and she sucked him off, quicker and faster. “I need to pull out, baby.” His thigh muscles contracted against her shoulders. She shook her head, increasing the speed. Not finished yet. His body stiffened, then released. Like a river overflowing, the salty liquid flowed down her throat, and one thought swirled in her head. Cosmopolitan lied about the taste! “That was incredible,” he moaned. Not exactly what she was thinking. She came up off him as the last bit of sticky goo slid down her throat. “Incredible” wouldn’t be the word she’d use right now, but as long as he felt good, that was all that mattered. Sitting up, he scooted his back against the bottom of the sofa and pulled her against him, placing the blanket from the cushion across his lap. She snatched her T-shirt off the floor and glanced at him before pulling it over her head. The bra would have to wait. “Cute.” As if his reply didn’t embarrass her enough, he laughed. She couldn’t believe after their intense sex play he managed to look like he just walked out of a Greek myth, hair hanging perfectly, shoulders glistening with sweat, muscles perfectly chiseled. She could just imagine what she looked like. Her hair was probably matted all

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over her head, and her makeup smudged under her eyes. She was sure she didn’t look as sexy as he did. She cracked a half smile. “Well?” “Like I said, you were incredible.” “I hope I did it right since it was my first time.” Acting 101 took center stage. “You bring out the animal inside me.” She wanted to throw up from the taste coating her mouth. “Woman, you did it beautifully,” he assured her. He arched an eyebrow and continued to study her. “But, you’re looking pale, darlin’. Actually, green would be a better description.” Relieved, she huffed. “Good, because I think Cosmo left out a few important factors.” “Cosmo?” he repeated. Mia huffed at him again, but this time with spunk. “I read in Cosmo how to give the best blow job, so I practiced what I read.” So help me God if he laughs… “Let me get this straight. You have been studying Cosmo so you can learn to please your man?” “Yes. But they left out a very important factor. She batted a stray hair from her face. “Taste.” “So, sweet thing, I take it from your nice shade of green the taste accompanying a blow job wasn’t discussed in detail. Was it?” “No. Cosmo left out that important part of the process,” she mumbled, refusing to give him the satisfaction of gazing at him while they discussed his penis. He chuckled, her cue to reach around and pinch the taut skin on the side of his stomach. “Ouch!” “Don’t laugh, it’s not that funny,” she teased, burying her head into his neck. “Come on, Mia. It is a bit funny.” “If you say so.” It wasn’t funny, it was gross. “Next time, I’ll make sure I have Certs in my pocket,” he promised.

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Oh, he was having too much fun with this little issue. She worked hard to stifle her laugh. Certs. How romantic! She needed this conversation to cease. “Can we stop talking about this? Please?” She puckered her bottom lip in an attempt to focus his mind on something other than the taste of his love juice, another word she learned compliments of the newest issue of Cosmopolitan. While making a mental note to write to the editor in charge, noting the article in question to be half truthful, Jordan pounced on her and flipped her, pinning her body beneath him. “Yes, baby, we can quit talking about the taste of me, but don’t you worry, I am going to teach you everything Cosmo didn’t, and everything it can’t. At least when it comes to you loving me.” The conversation ended. Rather, it screeched to a halt. “I believe it’s time we take this relationship to the next level. Don’t be afraid, sweet thing, I won’t hurt you. I promise.” Scooping her up, he carried her to the bed. “I know you won’t hurt me. I just, I’m not sure I’m ready yet.” He grinned, a recognized attempt to put her at ease. “You’re not ready yet. But you will be soon. Tonight we sleep.” “Really?” There was such relief in her voice. If she was being honest, and she was, the blow job escapade exhausted her mentally. She wasn’t sure she could perform another unknown feat. “Yes. Holding you against me is enough for tonight. Anyway, I have planned a special time and place for the big event.” He placed her on the bed. “When I finally claim your virginity.” He slid onto the bed beside her. “Now move your sweet little ass over, and let the big, bad wolf in.” She mumbled and moved to the right, and he folded his body next to her. ****

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As they lay in the darkness, Mia on the verge of sleep, he hoped she would always love him as much as she did this moment. There was so much he planned to teach her. He closed his eyes, and thought of the exhilaration that streamed through his body when his fingers touched the tightness of her mound, remembering vividly how she writhed under his hold, and how her hips had churned with desire for him. The thought of her swollen breasts and her pink-tipped nipples made him yearn to roll over and start sucking on one, and to lick her pussy with his pierced tongue. The anticipation of tasting her again thrilled him. He sighed deeply, and through the silence came the soft, gentle breathing of a woman asleep. My woman. He waited a few minutes before he emerged from the bed. Standing in the doorway of the bedroom, his gaze moved over her as she slumbered. Did her dreams include him? He desired to stay with her all night, even promised her earlier in the evening that sleeping wasn’t in the cards tonight, but the excitement of the past few days had knocked Mia out, and his body craved another form of nourishment. He hadn’t fed in a few days and felt the effects of his lack of pranic energy coursing through his veins. Dinner time.

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Chapter Thirteen Mia awoke the next morning to the blazing rays of the sun shining through her bedroom window. The remnants of the last evening’s festivities lingered in her mind. She moved her hand across the contours of the double bed, reaching for Jordan, but captured a piece of rough paper instead. Her heart stopped. What the…! Was it a Dear John letter? What else could it be? She was positive he would be beside her when she woke up. She sighed, thinking back to last evening. I did say I love you, but so did he…first. Oh no. Mortified, she gasped as tears warmed the back of her eyes. She must have scared him away. As if an invisible force crashed into her chest, she scrunched over until her breath recaught. Her Catholic guilt pushed her memories back to another time. A vivid image of her grandmother came into focus. The words her grandmother said long ago still pierced her soul. “If you give your body to a man before marriage, you are a slut—a whore—going to hell. He will throw you to the gutter like you would deserve. When I married your grandfather, I was untouched by male hands.” These were the words the old woman spurted before sitting down at the table during every Sunday spaghetti dinner. Mia came to think of her weekly words as the preamble to the dinner prayer. It was no use. She couldn’t contain the tears, so she let them trickle down her cheeks in droves. When the last tear fell, her gaze refocused on the paper she grasped in her fingers. Preparing herself for the harsh words she anticipated concealed within it, she opened it. Mia,

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I love you so much. I can’t live another moment of my life without you in it. Permanently. Marry me. Love, J Mia stared in disbelief at the paper, waiting for her heart to beat again. Marry me. He loved her, truly loved her. Perhaps she wasn’t cursed after all. I’m not so bad, Grandmother. I can be loved. Scooting off the bed, her cell phone rang. Picking it up from the nightstand, she flipped it open then plopped back onto the mattress. “Hello,” she said. “Good morning, sweet thing.” “It’s you.” “Were you expecting someone else, darlin’?” he asked. “No. I wasn’t.” “Did you read my note?” She glanced down at the parchment she clung to for dear life. “Yes, I read it.” “And…what did you think about my letter?” “It was nice,” she blurted out. There was so much she wanted to say, yet she couldn’t get the words to leave her throat. Of course she couldn’t. “Nice as in I have awesome hand writing, or nice as in you want to be my wife?” Dead air. “Darlin’, I’m well aware my proposal wasn’t the most romantic, but I will make the celebration of my proposal romantic beyond your imagination when I see you. I just didn’t want to wait. I had to leave last night, and I didn’t want to wake you, but I planned to ask you to marry me as soon as your beautiful brown eyes opened this morning.” “Was everything okay…since you had to leave?” “I needed a little nourishment.”

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“You could have raided my kitchen,” she answered innocently. He chuckled into the phone, his laughter hugging her like a favorite blanket. She knew her addiction to him grew stronger every time he opened his mouth. “Not that type of hunger.” “Oh…you mean energy hunger. Blood.” “Yeah, darlin’, blood would be the magic answer,” he assured her. “So, Mia, what is your answer about marriage possibly with me?” “Yes. Definitely yes.” Leaning against the headboard, she took a quick peek at her redpainted toenails. Saying yes to him felt so right. “I love you, Jordan.” “And I love you more than life itself. In just a few days you have taken a man like me, and made me feel worthy of love. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world by agreeing to be my wife.” She stood in blissful silence for a minute, engulfed in her newfound happiness until visions of her grandmother’s face flashed through her mind, bringing with it a flush of nausea. I am not a whore. I am worthy of love. The face flashed once more, but this time the awful words spoken to her years ago, which had sliced through her, manifested clear as day. “A non-Catholic man is a sure way to hell. Marry one and you condemn your soul to the flames, Jezebel.” “There is one more thing,” Jordan mentioned. Mia cloaked the image, moved the phone from her left ear to the right one, and sunk down to the floor. Twirling the fringe of the red and white oval carpet in front of her, she pulled her legs up Indian style. “What is it?” “I want a coven wedding, Mia.” She thought about his words. She hadn’t considered any other type of wedding outside of the traditional Catholic type her parents yearned for her to experience. Yet, in her own heart, she would be happy to elope to Vegas. “Are you there?” Jordan asked. “Yes, I’m here.” Coven wedding… “I’m surprised you don’t want to elope?”

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He laughed. “That does sound more like me, doesn’t it?” It sounded like him in more ways than she could count. He didn’t appear to be the type who would want to carry on at a big wedding. “It does sound like you.” “Well, darlin’, I want to show you off in front of my coven and every other coven in the tri-state area.” “Are you positive you don’t want to elope?” her voice cracked. If he were in the room with her instead of on the phone, he would see the begging in her gaze for an elopement. “Honestly, Mia, I can’t elope.” “Because of your position within the coven. Right?” “The main reason, yes. But I have my own selfish reasons, too. I want the opportunity to show you off in front of my world.” Just when she thought Jordan’s words couldn’t fill her heart with more love for him, he would say something else that blew her away. “Do you want a Catholic wedding, darlin’? Be honest.” Before she could stop the word, it flew out of her mouth. “No. I mean, my parents want one.” She hesitated, and scrunched her lips. “Is a coven wedding legal?” “Of course they want their little girl getting married in a big white wedding. And yes, darlin’, a coven wedding is legal. What do you want, Mia? We can always have two weddings if it makes you happy.” “You would do that for me?” “Don’t you know by now I would rearrange the world for you if it made you happy?” “But you’re not even Catholic,” she offered. “It’s just a ceremony, Mia. It’s what you believe in your heart that’s important. You forget, I believe in a higher being, just not the Catholic rendition of Jehovah.” “I wish you were here. I don’t need a Catholic ceremony for me, Jordan. But my parents will never understand a coven ceremony.”

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Camouflaging the disappointment in her tone didn’t work. It was obvious in her voice she was saddened. “No worries. We can have a separate celebration with them.” Mia thought about his statement. It might work. “Do you think a separate celebration with them could work? Not the traditional Catholic wedding, just a party after we pretend elope.” “For you, darlin’, I can make anything possible.” Excitement coursed through Mia’s veins. It was as if someone had removed a boulder from her chest. “This could work, Jordan.” Her thoughts went into overdrive. “I will tell them once we get married we decided to elope to Vegas. No doubt they’re going to assume I’m pregnant—which they’ll find out is false—when we travel to Pennsylvania for the wedding celebration. My mother will be so excited about planning a party, the disappointment of the huge white wedding she envisioned will surely dissipate from her memory.” “You can always wear the symbolic white dress for your mom.” “Oh no, not the one she has had me envisioned in since I was born. She had my wedding planned before I could walk or form a sentence.” His laughter rang through the receiver. “It sounds like a done deal. A coven wedding here in Florida and a Catholic façade ceremony in Pennsylvania. Let me go ahead and give Jamison a call. I need to let him know things are moving forward, and that you’re not calling the media, reporting on real vampires.” He laughed again, then added, “Or that you ran out of your house, screaming that I’m a crazy lunatic who is sick in the head.” Mia bit back a chuckle. “I will take you any way I can, sick, blood drinker, or crazy lunatic.” “Really? You’ll take me any way, huh? I’ll see you tonight. I’m taking you out on the town to celebrate.” The phone went silent. “Wear something incredibly sexy. After dinner I’m going to bring you home and tie you up.”

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Her breath caught. “Tie me up?” “It’s a real possibility tonight, darlin’,” he assured her. “I love you.”

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Chapter Fourteen A few months later, Mia sat in her bedroom and grabbed the pen on the nightstand before she opened her journal. With much to say, she didn’t know quite where to start, so she perched on the bed, closed her eyes, and cleared her mind. The raw emotions swimming in her core revealed the words in her heart. Journal Entry, October 31st This weekend I am marrying Jordan. I found my dream man in a vampire. It sounds funny, writing the words, yet that is what he is, and I accept him. All of him. I remember Cindi once telling me that the perfect man portrayed in romance novels didn’t exist. Her advice was simple. She said, “I may find parts of those men but never the real thing.” Yet I think I’ve found a close replica in Jordan. It’s funny how at first I disliked his arrogant ass, thought him a stuck-up dick, but somehow he let the façade he built around his heart crumble, and he allowed me in at the same time I welcomed him. We still have our skeptics, those of our friends and family who think we are moving too fast, but I don’t care what they think. Love binds us together. If the world ended tomorrow, if God called me home—or, I’m afraid in my case, perhaps the devil— I could go freely, knowing that I found my love of a lifetime in Jordan. Mia tapped the pen against her journal, and then her thoughts shifted, when Cindi came into focus. Cin.

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Glancing at her reflection in the floor-length mirror perched on the front of the closet, she stared into her own brown eyes, then gazed back down at the paper and continued. But most of all, I miss my best friend. I wish Cindi could’ve been here for my wedding. Yet I understand. Sometimes it’s hard for me to comprehend how much she loves her job, having to be in so many godforsaken places in the middle of the world. I haven’t told her lately how much I love her, my soul sister. I hope she knows. Heat moved across Mia’s face, and her eyes welled up with tears. Dear God, if you still consider me worthy of a prayer, could you help me corral my nervous nature to a minimum. To be honest, I am a little scared. And finally, if you’ve considered striking me dead or anything like that, could you wait till after I’ve had sex. I’ve waited a long time for the event, and I really would like to experience it at least one time before I die. Mia finished the last sentence, closed the journal, and then secured it in the nightstand by the bed when the doorbell rang. Bolting from the bedroom in a small frenzy, she made it down the hall in record time, even without stubbing a toe, and opened the door. There stood Jordan in all his glory. It was his outfit that changed her expression from excited to sultry. Leaning against the doorway, she felt thunderstruck for a few seconds before the cool air seeped into her open mouth. Black leather pants hugged his narrow waist. Damn, he looked fine. With a quick jerk, she pulled him against her. “Umm…you’re killing me here,” he whispered. “I believe the coven is going to have to wait for a while. I need to claim what is mine. Here and now.” He ran his hand down the back of her hair. “I

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am trying to wait and take your virginity on our wedding night, but you are making it impossible for me. I swear that minx persona you keep hidden is out in full force tonight. Does kitty need a petting?” “I’m sorry. You just have a way of making me burn inside.” And outside… After closing the door, he carried her to the sofa. “I want to taste you on my tongue. I’m afraid I can’t wait any longer.” He paused, and drew a ragged breath. “I need a little appetizer before the main course.” Within minutes, she was naked and sprawled across the floor. Jordan was on top of her, playing with her tits and sucking her nipples. And it felt like heaven. After a few intense moments of sucking her nipples, he stopped and glanced at her. “I see they’re happy to see me.” His gaze smoldered and caught Mia’s in its iron-clad grip. He pressed his outer thighs against her inner thighs until she was spread eagle underneath him, holding himself up with one elbow as the other touched her panties. “Don’t move a muscle.” The pressure of his palm against her red silk panties sent chills down her spine, instantly dampening her. Before Mia could react, he ripped her underwear from her body. “Hey, those were expensive,” she bellowed. He smirked at her sudden outburst but didn’t change his direction. “I’ll buy you a new pair. Two or three,” he added. Passion-filled eyes scanned her briefly. “Put your hands underneath your tits and hold them for me.” She looked at him as if he had just sprouted wings on his back. “You don’t need to buy—what?” “You heard me.” Taking her hands into his, he moved them toward her breasts. She closed her eyes as their hands cupped the soft flesh. “Don’t let them go. Do you understand?” The tone in his voice was foreign, unfamiliar to her yet somehow very entrancing.

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Watching with fascination, her gaze followed his head as it leaned in toward her breasts, leaving a mane of blond hair behind. Her eager breasts waited, and so did he. What are you waiting for? Do it already. Please. Unconsciously, she arched her pelvis forward, and he glanced back up at her. “In time, sweet thing, in time,” he whispered through the white-filled passion haze clogging her head. As he promised, he cupped her tits and started sucking. When he raised his hands from hers, she raised her own. “No,” he said, “your hands stay.” His expression was beautiful, savage, utterly mesmerizing. The air in her lungs seized up like setting cement. “Oh no…I–I can’t touch myself when I’m alone. I–I surely can’t do it in front of you.” “Massage your breasts for me, Mia.” What? “Are you crazy? I can’t.” “Sure you can. Your hands are already there. Just move them.” Authority returned to his voice. “Go ahead. Do it. It would please me to see you do it.” She sprang up. “No, Jordan, I can’t! Masturbation is a mortal sin in the Catholic Church. I mean, I’m pushing the boundaries now. If I do this, no amount of penance will let me into purgatory or heaven.” He stared at her. Heat sizzled in his ashen eyes. “Mia, darlin’. Calm down before I have to call 911 because you can’t breathe. Listen to me. Men in the Catholic Church decided that masturbation was a sin. Their religious dogma is bullshit. Show me in the good book of yours where it says ‘thou shalt not feel pleasure from one’s self without burning in hell.’” The words her grandmother and the nuns at Saint Rosa Maria Catholic School spoke years ago circled her thoughts. Like some newage robot, she opened her mouth and spilled. “Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely

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disordered action.” She stopped, pleased that she still remembered the rote memorization from years of instruction. Proof. “Geez, how long did it take you to memorize that crap? You do know what the word Magisterium means, don’t you?” She narrowed her gaze. “Well…kind of. No, not really.” He sighed, and ran his finger down her arm, sending chills racing up and down her spine. “The word means ‘teaching authority of the Catholic Church.’ Now, since we are discussing sin and its link to masturbation, the Hopi Indian tribe practices masturbation in religious rituals. Are they going to hell, too, Sister Mia Christini?” Smart-ass! Jordan pinched her nipple. “What about mutual masturbation? Is it wrong for us to stimulate our own bodies while we’re together?” He pinched the nipple harder, and her body practically convulsed with sexual energy. “Is it wrong for me to get off in the shower when I’m thinking about you, and baby, you’re nowhere around?” A hard hum of lust traveled through Mia’s veins at the thought of him touching himself in the shower. “I can’t concentrate with you doing that. And I caught the Sister Mia comment.” “Poor baby.” A wicked smile lit up his features. “What are your thoughts? Are other cultures around the world, condoning masturbation in their religious practices, sinners in your eyes?” Touching her cheek, he drew an imaginary line down her jaw line. “You caught the comment, did you? I’ve always wanted to do it with a nun. Perhaps I’ll buy you a nun costume.” She ignored his last two comments and addressed the first. “You’re playing the professor-of-religious-studies card on me. I can’t say their beliefs are wrong.” “Exactly. Religion is man-made, darlin’. I can guarantee you that your rendition of the almighty head of the universe isn’t going to materialize and strike you dead because you touch your body for me. If anything, he’d probably strike me dead, not you.

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Mia had to admit, he did have her thinking pretty deeply about his words. “Enough talk, Sister Christini.” He nudged her back to the ground. His long locks fell to the front of his face and landed against her cheek. “Now, can we continue?” “Sure.” She edged her hands toward the flesh of her breasts. He cupped her wrists and placed them on the mounds. Apparently, her easing into the practice was too slow for him. Her swollen buds reacted. They stood at attention, and practically leaned in to her own touch. Traitors! What was she doing? They love it! “Good.” He moved down her body until his face was between her legs. Putting his finger into his mouth, he sheathed it, and then brought it out, placing his hand down to her warm damp entrance. Lowering his face, he touched his tongue to the small swollen lips between her legs, causing chills to dance up her spine. “Finger me. Please.” Mia about had a stroke when the words left her mouth, but she want him to do exactly that. He slid his tongue into her pussy, then moved it back and forth, at the same time pushing his finger farther into her. Mia’s body arched again, and, as if her hands had a mind of their own, she massaged her swollen nipples, palming and pinching them. Glancing up toward Mia, he pulled his finger out of her. The clear liquid covered his finger, and a second later he slid it in his mouth. “You taste so good.” She stared at him through hooded lids. “I love you,” was all she could say. It was all she wanted to say. “I love you, too, sweet thing.” This time, when he put his tongue back in her pussy, he moved it back and forth, catching her clitoris between his lips. He sucked in once, and she struggled to move against the small silver metal gliding against her clit, but he held firm. As the climax built, Mia screamed, throwing her arms against the back of the couch, spreading her legs

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farther as her body convulsed, and he didn’t remove his mouth until the last jerk moved through her body. “Feels good, doesn’t it? You taste fucking fantastic.” “That—was—incredible.” She caressed the back of his hair, reveling in the soft feel of the strands as they laced through her fingers. Moving up onto his knees, he snatched her into his arms. The musty scent of her feminine love juice lingered on his face, but she didn’t care and locked her lips to his. Her man tasted like heaven, even with her scent still clinging to the inside of his mouth. “Did I do want you wanted?” she asked, reaching for her blouse. “The question is, did I do what you wanted?” She pulled the blouse over her head. “The best is yet to come, baby,” he promised. She had no doubt this was true. She couldn’t imagine what intercourse was going to be like with him if foreplay was like this. “I can only imagine.” “I have so much in store for you, so much to share with you. Masturbation today, and a little bit of bondage tomorrow.” Bondage? She couldn’t even find the words to reply to his comment, nor could she find her underwear. Oh wait, he destroyed them. Instead she glanced at the vanilla candle on the coffee table. The scent still lingered even though the wick burned down a few hours before he arrived. “Would you go back into my bedroom and get me some underwear?” she asked him. “Sure. I can do a panty run.” “My underwear, or as you so eloquently put it, my ‘panties,’ are located in the third small drawer on the right-hand side of the armoire,” she informed, trying to catch a glance at the clock above the television. “I’m on it.”

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Minutes passed without Jordan’s return. She assumed he must have forgotten which drawer she sent him in search of, so she picked herself up from the floor and headed for the bedroom. Reaching the slightly ajar door, she lifted her hand to push it open but stopped dead in her tracks. Her jaw dropped open in surprise. Jordan stood against her dresser, gripping her favorite underwear in his left hand. His right hand cupped his naked, huge penis. With his eyes closed and deep moaning, he massaged the length of the shaft. As he pumped his cock, a wave of desire pulsated through Mia’s body, practically knocking her off her feet. She’d never considered the pent-up frustration pulsating through his veins each time he brought her to climax. She should have reciprocated and pleasured him. But her last attempt at the botched blow job had her gun-shy when it came to his penis. A raspy moan left his lips right before his hand filled with clear liquid, and he opened his eyes. “Shit.” Mia moved away from the door an inch and continued to gaze through the small opening at her man. Even standing in the bedroom playing with himself, he was gorgeous. His hair swayed around his shoulders as he scanned the room, she assumed for a towel. Looking at the underwear in his hand, he shook his head and sighed. In what felt like slow motion to Mia, he pushed the material toward the mess and stopped. No, not the underwear. Twenty-five dollars a pair! I just laundered them. I haven’t even worn them yet! Shifting her shoulder to the left, Mia lost her balance and clipped the door, swinging it open. “Ouch!” She stared wide-eyed for two full seconds. Jordan turned his head, and his shocked gaze caught hers. A hot blush crept over her face. “I–I–I’m sorry. You didn’t return and I thought maybe—um—you couldn’t find the drawer.”

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A sexy, Jordan-owned smirk lit up his face. “I should have searched for a towel before jacking off in your bedroom, don’t you think?” How could he be so calm? And sound so damn sexy. He sounded like he just got his hand caught in the cookie jar, not around his penis. She glanced at the floor. “I can get you one.” Before he could open his mouth to form a sentence, she bolted across the small hallway into the bathroom. Quickly, she reached into the cabinet against the wall, becoming a wild banshee, throwing towels aside, looking for one that was not a favorite. Not wanting to waste too much time, she hurried back into the bedroom. “Here you go,” she said, tossing it to him. Hoping the shocked expression disappeared from her face, she stood in the center of the room, watching him clean himself. When he finished and was put away, he raised an index finger and gestured for her to come closer. “You caught me doing the deed. Now I’m really in a bind.” Filled with embarrassed discomfort, she forced a smile. “What do you mean?” Clutching the red satin panties, he whispered, “I have this uncontrollable desire to feel these against my skin. Rub them over every inch of my naked c—” “You’re still holding them. I mean, the satin is touching your skin. Technically.” What the hell is wrong with me…technically! Really? “That isn’t exactly what I was referring to.” He glanced down at the bulge in his pants. “I believe he would like to feel them against his head.” She stared down at his clothed penis in surprise. Jordan stared back with humor. When she didn’t reply, he added, “If these panties are special to you, I can search for another pair.” He opened the drawer in front of him, fishing his hand through the stack of multicolored underwear. Astonished, she gasped.

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“I guess you don’t like that idea either?” “Ah…” Thoughts of their last experience with her first attempt at a blow job flashed through her mind. She had some studying to do. She needed to please her man before he went blind pleasing himself. And ruining all my underwear. And then she opened her mouth and inserted her foot farther. “Do you do this often?” Oh my God, Mia…shut up! He pushed the drawer closed, quickly slipping an arm around her waist. “I’m a male, darlin’. Masturbation is in our DNA. Of course, since I met you I’m concerned I may go blind soon. Would you still want me as a boyfriend when I can’t see?” He lowered his head, curving his lips into a playful frown. “Soon I will need a seeing-eye dog.” Now it was her turn to gasp a second time. He laughed. “We better get going. Daddy Jamison wants to see us before the wedding tomorrow.” He paused before he added with excitement, “And I can’t wait until tomorrow. As soon as we are pronounced man and wife, I’m hauling your ass to the honeymoon suite and tying you to my bed, darlin’.” Tie me to the bed?

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Chapter Fifteen Mia awoke the next day in Jamison’s house, excited about her wedding. She had found out the night before that Jamison arranged for Cindi to be there, which thrilled her beyond words. The two of them sat up most of the night talking. Mia glanced up at Cindi just as she stepped from the bathroom. “You look great, Cin.” “Thanks. Like the dress?” Mia loved the tight-fitting black mini dress and loved her black heels even better. Cindi glanced down at her shoes and surveyed the merchandise. “After our conversation last night, are you sure marrying Jordan is what you want to do?” “Yes. I’m sure. Like I told you last night, I had feelings for Jamison, but they are long gone. I love Jordan.” “All right then, it’s show time. Let’s go down stairs and marry you off.” A breathtaking array of sounds flooded the foyer as they moved closer to the adjacent gathering hall. “Listen to all of those people,” Mia whispered. Her knees suddenly felt like rubber. Even with years of theater performance behind her, she suffered stage fright. Being the center of attention still made her weak at the knees. “The place is packed,” Cindi added. “I didn’t realize myself how many people lived this type of lifestyle.” “Neither did I,” Mia whispered as she and Cindi stepped into the aisle. She took one look at Jordan in his black Armani suit, with his

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broad smile, and knew without a doubt she’d made the right decision. Marrying Jordan was her destiny. And before Mia knew it, she’d made it down the aisle, married Jordan, and was at the reception, standing in front of the gift table, waiting for him to return with their champagne. “You look gorgeous, woman. Sexy as hell.” She hadn’t seen him approach, but her man’s acknowledgement sent her body into a fluttering nosedive. “Thanks. You, too.” “Mmmm, that red dress fits you like a glove. I’m glad you decided to forego the traditional white for this ceremony. We’ll have plenty of white frills when we tie the knot again in Pennsylvania.” He growled low under his breath, letting his gaze dance across her body, a greedy look imprinted his face. “Damn, woman, that dress needs to come off, and very soon.” Her face heated up to the point of hovering sweat beads on her forehead. “Be good.” He crossed his arms. “I told you, I am good at everything.” He glanced around the table, studying the gifts. “Let me correct myself, I’m great. Are you ready for me to show you?” “Jordan!” An oblong, gold-wrapped box caught his attention. He looked at it, then carelessly flipped it into the air. “What?” Even after the short amount of time they were together, he still managed to pull her true feelings from her lips. “I always want to be in your arms. I want you to show me everything, Jordan. But could you not destroy our wedding gifts before we open them?” “You will be in my arms forever. I promise. Let’s go mingle through this reception before I ravage you right here on the gift table among the china and crystal.” He moved his gaze over the gifts once more. “How many useless pieces of stuff we won’t use, do you think are in this pile?” He slid his hand across the small of her back and

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whispered in a voice meant for her ears only. “Now, how many people thought to get us sex toys or even vampire tools?” A young waiter walked past them with a silver platter, nodded and smiled. A garlic aroma from the shrimp scampi lifted from his tray. She inhaled the scent. “Vampire tools and sex toys? Would coven members purchase those things?” Jordan laughed. “Yes. Trust me, coven members are not the only people who buy those types of gifts.” She glanced over at the crowded dance floor and smiled as Cindi, Ridge, Jamison, Paige, John, and Trudy swirled with the beat. Her new family. When the band plunged into the next song, he pulled her toward the swirling pandemonium. “I love this song,” she whispered as the black and spiky-haired lead singer belted out the opening lines to “You’ve Brought Me to Life” by Evie. The singer was no Eve Lament, but she would do. “You brought me to life.” His words came sudden and with so much conviction they rendered her speechless. “I hope I always have this effect on you.” Forever. **** Jordan dipped her, even though the song was a little too upbeat for such a graceful move. “There will never be another like you, Mia.” He was sure of the fact. His thoughts converged on the conversation he had with Jamison about John Ennisbrooke, the night he told him he planned to marry Mia. He wasn’t concerned at the time about the threat to his life, but now things were different. He didn’t want anything to threaten the world he planned to build with her. The lead singer belted out a high note, and Mia glanced over toward Cindi and Ridge gliding across the floor. “Will I be enough for you?”

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His lips grazed her cheek. He had admitted to her a few weeks ago he had enjoyed many women in his lifetime. Would she be enough for him? Could she be enough for him? Yes, she’s more than enough. More than I deserve. He dipped her again, but this time his mouth lingered on her throat. He wanted so much more of her the aching stung him clear through to his gut. “Yes. You are all I want. Forever.” A slight moan escaped her lips when pulled her up from the dip. She reached up, standing on tiptoes, and arched her face until she was inches from the bottom of his chin. “Good,” she whispered. “I couldn’t bear to lose you.” “I will never let you go. I promise, you will forever be my woman.” The music shifted into a faster beat. Cindi strolled across the dance floor with her right index finger pointed toward Mia. Her hips swerved and curved to the band’s rendition of Demi Lena’s pop song, “Get Your Funk On.” Jordan released her, then pulled her back. “Show me your moves, sweet thing.” Cindi reached for Mia, and tucked her arm around her. “Okay, girlfriend, let’s show these people what we can do.” The two women stopped. Cindi released Mia while one spotlight focused on her. The beat rocked the dance floor, Mia pushed her right foot forward, seductively moved her hip to the right. The slit in her long, red dress glided open, revealing the creamy flesh of her long legs. Jordan shifted his weight from one foot to the other in an attempt to hide his sudden erection. The screeching of the electric guitar resonating through the room embraced his woman in the sensual dance. His gaze rested on her stiletto-heeled foot. She pointed her toe. The soft light captured the smooth skin peeking though the black straps of her sandal. She

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wrapped her hands around her waist, slowly circled her hips once, twice. She moved like a wildflower swaying in the open air. He fought the urge to walk across the floor and scoop her up into his arms. Instead, he glanced around the room as the guests watched his wife. Like a seasoned belly dancer, she unhurriedly gyrated her hips from one side to the other. Her hands meshed together as she moved them about her head. The soft illumination radiating from the spotlight above her head oozed across her body, covering it with a golden glow. His cock throbbed. He folded his arms, letting his hands dangle in front of him. Shit, did anyone else notice his hard-on? The lead singer of the band pointed to Mia before she belted out the refrain to the song. “I’m looking for a way to lay you down. Let me in, baby!” Mia repositioned her hips. Just when Jordan thought he couldn’t take anymore, that his cock was going to burst, she licked her finger and moved it down the right side of her body across her hip. That’s it. I’m going to be screaming in pain any minute. Show is over. **** She breathed in his scent and closed her eyes as he eased her back into his arms and placed his cheek against hers. “You dance beautifully, darlin’. I am such a lucky man. Thank you.” Tilting her head up, she touched his cheek. “For what?” “For loving me, Mia. For taking a chance on a man like me. Watching you dance, and knowing that you love me…well, it’s the greatest gift I’ve ever received.” The heat from his cheek warmed her hand. “Let me give you a lesson on some of our guests tonight.” She agreed.

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He spun her around to the right side of the dance floor, gliding them past a few of the Goth-dressed dancers until they were comfortably swaying in the center of the floor. “The tall brunette standing by the cake table is Melissa Sterling. She is one of the five female-coven Elders. She runs the Mesa Sanction in Pennsylvania, somewhere near Pittsburgh. It is one of the biggest covens in the world.” A grin crossed Jordan’s face. “She’s a bitch from hell if you mess with anyone she cares about. But you should like her anyway since she’s a girl from the ’Burgh. Just like you are.” Farther down the floor he pointed to another man. “Now, that’s her husband David. He is what the organization calls a cleaner.” He planted a kiss on her neck that took her breath away. “A cleaner is a person that takes care of any issues dealing with crazy donors, coven embezzlement, vampire abuse, and donor abuse. He is like a cop, but a private one. Strictly private security. Sanction security.” “Interesting.” “Baby, you have no idea. David can clean up a mess in a matter of hours. We don’t know how he does it, but after he performs his magic, not a single solitary piece of evidence is left standing. Each year at the reunions, he is the talk at many campfires. He does work for the FBI during the day, in a job that is strictly undercover and top secret.” Jordan chuckled slightly as if he was remembering some private thought from long ago. “Shit, he’s probably some sort of hightech assassin.” Before she could say another word, he grabbed her hand, moving them toward a secluded little table near the exit. Both stood behind the chairs, not attempting to pull them out and sit. “So have you had enough wedding bliss for tonight? “Yes. If the truth be told, I’ve had more than I can handle.” “I’m going to grab a bottle of champagne, and I’ll meet you in the foyer.”

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She reached up on her tiptoes and touched her lips to his chin. “Don’t be long.” A wicked gleam creased her face as she glanced at her hand. Before he took a step, she slapped his butt hard. He turned back, mouth flung open. “You little minx.” “Kitty says hurry up.” His blond hair fluttered behind him as he hauled ass toward the bar. Once outside the hall, she scanned the area for the ladies’ room, but without one in sight, she jumped into the elevator and pushed the button. A minute later, the doors opened to an abrupt stop onto a barely lit corridor. She stuck the tip of her foot out of the elevator, and, reconsidering—the floor appeared vacant—she snapped it back inside. It wasn’t until a small, stifled sound arose from the east side of the corridor did she consider stepping back out into the semidarkness. Moving with as much speed as possible in her stiletto-heeled shoes, she made it down the corridor toward the muffled sounds. A dim light radiated from a cracked steel door a few feet into the circular foyer adjacent to the corridor. She moved with caution toward the sound, not wanting to impose on a private party. Halfway toward the door, she reached down, removing her shoes, and proceeded the rest of the way on tiptoes. Closing her eyes for a moment, she breathed deeply, inhaling the rich, metallic scent camouflaged by other odors. Blood…jasmine…berries. Careful not to disturb the unknown, she stepped back against the wall and peered into the room. Shock gripped her dead in her tracks when her innocent gaze captured the scene unfolding behind the door. Four metal walls enclosed the intimate space. Dangling from the ceiling was hung an array of chains of different sizes and shapes.

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Sunken into the rafters in the middle of the room were black leather belts and cuffs attached to thick silver chains. Her gaze shifted to study the stainless-steel floor. Streaks of scarlet blood came into focus. A flood of panic slid down her spine. She stepped backward, preparing to bolt, but instead her body bounced against someone else. Familiar arms wrapped her from behind, sending a wave of calmness through her. She sighed in anticipated relief as he kissed the side of her cheek. Jordan. “I had to use the bathroom.” She cleared her throat, curiosity lodged in her mind. What is this place? A much-lower voice replied. “I don’t think this is one.” Jordan swept her away from the door, pinning her against the wall with his body. “Are you curious, baby?” She stepped into him, placing her face against his chest. “Kind of. But I’m scared.” Shame flushed her against him. She balled up a piece of his shirt in her hand. His words came across softly. “Don’t be. If the sight of what you see gets to be too much for you to handle, I’ll pull you away from it. It’s only a game. Bloodplay. I promise, if you can’t handle the sight, I’ll take you from here.” Gradually he moved them back toward the front of the door, keeping her tucked next to him. As she stood like a statue with eyes transfixed on the manacled girl with magenta-spiked hair hanging from the ceiling chains, the cadence of her heart stopped for a second. Cindi? How in the hell did she have time to change her clothes and string up to the ceiling so fast? Jordan turned his head toward the figure coming down the corridor. “Hey, Jordan. Hey, Ms. Christini. Oh, excuse me, I mean Mrs. De L’croix.”

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Mia didn’t even need to glance over to recognize whom the cocky voice belonged. Tristan. Like a flash of bronze light, he strolled past them and disappeared into the room. At the sight of him, Mia squeezed Jordan’s hand. “He’s one, too?” Jordan chuckled, and gazed down at her with an intrigued look that hinted at a heart full of unbridled secrets. “Yes. He’s one of us. And he enjoys bloodplay. As you can see, so does your best friend.” With her head reeling, she glanced back into the room. Tristan came into focus holding a small black whip in hand. Now she was about ready to have a cow. “My ex-student is a dominatrix?” she whispered. Jordan chuckled low and kissed her ear. “His title is “Dom.” Dominatrix is a female.” She stepped back snug against Jordan’s chest. Instantly, he tightened his hold. “Don’t be scared.” Although fear had a tight hold of her entire body, she wanted to watch. Something deep down inside her desired to witness what was about to happen. And again, the images of her Internet research weeks ago snapped into her head, the warning disclaimer scrolled across her mind, “There is a fine line between bloodplay and vampirism. Be sure you know what you are getting yourself into before you decide to enter either one.” The smell of leather and newly burned sandalwood incense spilled out into the hallway, inching into her nostrils. Feeling like some type of voyeur, she watched through the crack in the door as Tristan ran his hand across Cindi’s torso in a loving gesture. Cindi smiled at him. Closing her eyes, Mia drew in a slow, calming breath as years of parochial teachings slid across her mind, jolting her into the sudden awareness that turning back was impossible. She moved closer, pulling Jordan behind her.

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Cindi’s magenta hair flowed like blood around her head. She whimpered and smiled down at Tristan, whose eyes gazed lovingly, but the smile was cruel. He cracked the whip across her body. With each of her pleasurable cries, he hummed along. Ruby-red blood sprang in thick dots across her breasts. His gaze flicked toward the doorway, then back to Cindi. Mia pushed her face to the right, against the safety of Jordan’s chest. “All is fine, darlin’,” he whispered. “But, he’s hurting Cindi.” “It’s all part of the game.” “My little vixen,” Tristan’s voice crooned within the room. “I know I can make you scream.” As the whip snapped across her bare skin a second time, she released a subdued scream and fainted. He reached up and unhooked her bound wrists. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open as a half smile graced her angelic face. His features softened with a boyish charm. “It’s okay, Cin. Relax.” He leaned in and licked the clotting blood from her shoulder. Fascinated, Mia pushed her body forward so she could hear their conversation. Jordan let her move away from him but held her right wrist. Mia wondered what thoughts were swirling in Jordan’s head. A surge of love for him rounded her chest, knocking her invisibly offbalance. Tenderly, Tristan laid Cindi across his lap. “You’re a clever little one.” Cindi smiled as though she was in a drug-induced stupor and purred. “I’m glad you like it. It’s fun.” A spatter of crimson danced on her face, drying to rusty brown. She stirred her hand to wipe it, but instead, Tristan cupped her wrist. “I want that.”

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Enthralled, Mia watched as he licked her best friend’s face clean of blood, then, as if they had been lovers for ages, they embraced and kissed. Jordan stepped toward Mia, pulling her with him. “We better get back, Mrs. De L’croix—our guests are going to wonder what happened to us.” “You’re right,” she agreed in a splintered voice, one she tried hard to hide. He stopped her in her tracks. “What’s wrong, baby?” Dazed, she stared at him. “Nothing’s wrong.” She lied. “Did what you witnessed scare you?” She tried to dodge his demanding stare, but was well aware that her attempts were ludicrous. “Not in the way I thought it would.” He moved a wisp of black hair away from his cheek, smoothing it behind his ear. “Meaning?” “Well, it looked like Cindi and Tristan enjoyed what they were doing.” Cindi and Tristan—I can’t believe it. “They were enjoying themselves, Mia.” “But how?” “It’s the forbidden side of passion, Mia. The hidden regions, as human beings, we fear to travel. For some people it can’t be just one or the other, because they need both the pleasure and the pain.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “It’s okay for you to feel enticed by what you witnessed.” I’m really going to hell. No mercy for the wicked. “Do you need both?” “I don’t need it, but I have had it. And I would love to experience it again with you. Will you let me ease your fears, love you in a way that will take you to unbelievable levels of pleasure?” “You do want it again, don’t you? The pleasure and pain?” She feared his answer with all her being because of the longing in every limb of her body to experience with him what Tristan did with Cindi.

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Was she insane for the splendid chills running through her sinful frame? Jezebel. No, worse than Jezebel. She couldn’t hide her anxiety. He knew her too well. “Have I frightened you?” he asked. “No.” The word flew from her mouth before she had time to rethink her answer. “And that is what scares me the most.” Reeling from the sudden honesty, she fell against his shoulder. “I want to be with you in every way possible. I’m not afraid of you hurting me. I’m afraid of the desire I have to feel the pain and the pleasure with you.” At the revelation of her words, his eyes closed. She heard the catch in his breath before his words. “I promise you, Mia, there is no reason to fear anything you feel for me. Together we will experience desires people only dream about.” The edge of excitement in his voice made her realize, all along he hoped for this outcome. “We don’t have to try it the first time in a room like that one. Do we?” she asked, her voice soft yet inquisitive. “No, darlin’. I was thinking more of our bedroom. Unless you prefer me to strap you up in front of a group of people. I can do that, too.” “You’re joking. Right?” “Of course I’m kidding. I do have some limits. Wait, let me rephrase. When it comes to you, I will corral my limits until you are ready to experience them with me.” They’d reached the elevator. Once inside, he stepped in front of her and pushed the button. As the small compartment jetted upward, she reached for the handrails. The sudden acceleration always made her stomach flutter to the point of nausea. She steadied herself before speaking again. “Good, because I don’t think I’m ready to join a bloodplay group quite yet.”

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**** Jordan adored her honesty and innocence. She had a way of taking his heart and softening it. Knowing deep-down inside she was afraid of this darker side of him, perhaps even unsure of his desire for pleasure and pain, he was certain he would be easy and gentle with her as she inched further into the realm of his forbidden world. The elevator halted. “Let’s go and finish our celebration. I believe my taking your virginity is way overdue.” Her sweet laugh rolled over him. She stood on tiptoes, her voice soft in his ear. “Did you want to deflower me here?” “Don’t tempt me, woman. I am already using all my willpower. I don’t think ravaging you in an elevator for your first time would be memorable in a good way.” “This is true.” He pressed his cock against her thigh. “But then again…” She turned fifteen shades of red, one of the qualities he found so endearing. “No. Oh my gosh, not here,” her panicked-then-flustered voice begged. “I’m teasing. I have a much better idea.” Stepping off the elevator, they shuffled around a drunken crowd in the foyer. Just as he was about to guide them to the mysterious, shadowy direction of the small area in the back of the gathering room, the sound of splintering furniture shook the walls.

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Chapter Sixteen When the blood-curdling screams died down, a long-legged, lanky man barreled into the room, pulling a serrated blade from behind his back. Chaos ensued as the drunken party began to scream and tried to run toward the gathering hall. In a flash, Jamison, Cindi, and David were in the foyer. Mia froze as an unbearable fear gripped her body. Oh my God! The intruder lunged toward Mia, prepared to drive the blade straight into her unprotected chest. Before a scream could leave her throat, Jordan pulled her to him, just as Jamison and Cindi crouched into a fighting stance in front of her. Damn. This can’t be happening. Deep into the commotion, the cleaner, David, moved further into the frey. His black leather trench coat swayed around his ankles, and with a powerful force, he snapped the knife out of the man’s hands and threw him into a half nelson stranglehold, incapacitating him. At the same time, Jamison placed his arm in front of Cindi, and both of them relaxed their stances. Immediately, Jamison’s expression rearranged to one of recognition. He narrowed a look at Jordan that could have burned the skin off his face before his angry gaze bore into the now-debilitated man. “Ennisbrooke, what the fuck are you doing here?” Ennisbrooke slithered like a snake trying to break free from David’s stronghold. “Let me go, you piece of shit!” Saliva dripped down his chin as his green-eyed gaze full of hatred darted between David and the rest of the group. “I came here for one reason. To ruin

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that man’s life”—he pointed a shaking finger at Jordan—“the way he ruined mine.” “Not today,” David said in a flat tone. “If you don’t want me to relocate your nose into your brain, you are going to walk out of this house and keep on walking until you get to Mexico.” Mia gazed in awe at David. Even though her feet couldn’t move to save her life, and she couldn’t talk because of the fear ball lodged in her throat, she had to admit he was one fine, badass man. With the sculptured face of an angel and the body of a warrior, David’s lethalness hugged him like a cloak. His spiky black hair glistened from the soft lighting overhead. David’s arms tightened around Ennisbrooke until his face filled up with a red color. “We are moving toward the door. Say one word and I’m going to snap your neck first, ask questions later. Now move!” Jordan’s expression turned cold as he turned Mia over into Cindi’s protection. Before Ennisbrooke and David reached the door, Jordan stood in front of them, clenching his teeth. “I could ruin your life more, which I’m considering since you popped up uninvited at my wedding. Be lucky I didn’t keep screwing your wife after that night. Trust me, she wanted me to.” Jamison tapped Jordan on the arm. “Probably not the best choice of words right at the moment.” Jordan glared at him. “Shut up.” Jamison stepped back, just an inch, and glanced at Mia. Yes, she was shocked about the “screwing your wife” part, but with her brush with death, she blocked it from her thoughts the best she could. It was obvious Jordan’s anger mounted, from the squaring of his shoulders. “Perhaps Ennisbrooke should have kept his wife on a fucking leash.” In a flurry of anger, Ennisbrooke kicked forward, banging the back of his head against David’s chest. David snapped his foot between Ennisbrooke’s legs, spreading his feet apart, restricting all of his fledgling movements. Ennisbrooke moaned with added fury. “I am

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not finished with you yet, De L’croix. I swear I will ruin your life the way you did mine. I promise.” With slow and methodic precision, his glare fixed on Mia. Jordan was in front of Mia in mere seconds, shielding her view. It was the look he pinned Ennisbrooke with that turned Mia’s blood ice cold. “Don’t threaten me, you piece of scum. Go home to your wife. Perhaps if you were more of a man she would have forgotten about me.” Jamison signaled to the door, giving David his cue to push Ennisbrooke across the floor and out the door. When the door slammed behind them, Jamison and Jordan, still yelling at each other, walked to the far side of the room. “What the hell just happened, Cin?” Mia asked, her voice but a crackle in her throat. The shock of almost being stabbed on her wedding day left her body, but just as quickly, numbness took its place. The idea of this man wanting to kill her weaved an unsettling path through her consciousness. How many more men were sitting in the wings waiting to kill Jordan because of his promiscuous ways? And then the big question still lingered. Did I bring this on by my choice to marry a non-Catholic man? She glanced toward the table holding the guest book and swore she saw herself. She did a double take, yet her twin still remained. With hair the color and style of hers, the same exact dress, the fake Mia watched the real Mia. Cindi pulled her arm, and Mia turned her head. When she looked back, the woman was gone. What the… The commotion must have numbed her brain into seeing a vision of a doppelganger, or else she needed several drinks to relieve the shell shock. Occasionally Jordan looked away from Jamison and glanced her way, but she couldn’t seem to make her mouth move. At least she could try and smile at him.

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Cindi took her by the hand, and after a long, sizing-up moment, she creased a brow in concentration. “The man is John Ennisbrooke. Jamison warned me about him a few days ago. He and his wife attended a coven retreat a year ago, and Jordan slept with his wife.” Cindi glanced at Jamison and Jordan, and continued, “You see, Mia, in certain coven houses, the rules state if a couple comes to a retreat and one of the Elders wants to entertain their spouse or significant other, it should be considered as a show of respect to the coven leaders. If the couple is married, it is the couple’s choice if they want to entertain, however, if the couple is not married, it is proper coven law to let the Elders have the person they want for the weekend.” “Are you kidding me? Jamison and Jordan can sleep with any woman they want, married or taken, at coven gatherings?” In her opinion, it sounded like they were a bunch of horny dogs, not respected leaders. Shrugging her shoulders, she turned a questionable look on Cindi. “What could the reason be for sleeping with other people’s significant others?” Were these another of Jordan’s skeletons? Geez. How many more lingered in the shadows? She knew he had been with lots of women, but damn, she had no idea her life would be in danger because of it. “Well, Mia, you could look at the act as showing respect to the Elders, or just a strange rule someone wrote a long time ago who wanted to get laid and couldn’t. You know as well as I do people write the rules, and they can make them say whatever the hell they want to.” Cindi took in a deep breath, and arched an inquisitive brow. “Does it make you love Jordan any less knowing the type of man he was before you? Do the other women make a difference?” Hesitation lingered briefly. No. It didn’t matter. She knew what she was getting herself into with Jordan. When it came to his past, he was honest with her from the beginning. She knew he was no angel.

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“No,” she admitted. Regardless of his past, she loved him more than anything in the world. Did it frighten her? Yes. Was she going to be enough for him? She hoped. “Good,” Cindi added. “Look, here comes your men. I mean man.” Incredulous, Mia shook her head. “That’s not funny. I told you, Jamison was my past. Nothing more.” “I know you say that, but I wonder who would be the groom if Jamison would have returned your affection. Would it truly still be Jordan?” Of course it would still be Jordan. It would always be Jordan. Although Jamison still fluttered her stomach when he was near, Jordan rumbled her entire being, like no other man ever had. Cindi stepped back as Jordan pulled Mia into his arms. “Are you hurt?” His voice deepened. “I’m sorry about what happened.” His breath traveled down her neck, making it impossible for her to think clearly. “I can’t erase the things I’ve done, baby, but I can tell you I will not stand by and let someone hurt you because of my mistakes.” His shoulders sagged. “Honestly, Mia…I wanted to kill him.” The aroma of the flowers around the room calmed her, and she touched his hand. “I love you, Jordan. Your past is just that. The past.” As his mouth closed over hers, all her questions and confusion quilted. Love is all that matters. **** Once Mia and Jordan had finished sprucing up in the restrooms, they met in the foyer before heading toward the next phase of the wedding celebration. The gathering. The entrance to the gathering room was magnificent, with its massive arch of black roses and stargazer lilies. Black twilling twined

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between the flowers. Cocktail tables were decorated with fine white linens and clear circular bowls were filled with floating red and black candles. To the east of the room were red leather sofas and a DJ booth. In the very back of the room, in a softly lit corner, a standalone table covered in black linen contained an array of bloodletting tools. Yet the farther they moved into the room, it wasn’t the strange bloodletting table that garnered Mia’s undivided attention. No, it was the strange contraption hanging from the ceiling, past the pool table, that garnered her complete fascination. Not because of what it was, more because she recognized it. Although her man was going to glide right past it, she stopped. Crossing her arms and raising an amused eyebrow, she studied the contraption for a second before blurting out, “It’s a sex swing.” A seductive smile creased his lips. “You know what a sex swing is?” His voice overloaded with sexual tones. “And how is it possible you know what a sex swing is, Mrs. De L’croix?” She pinched his arm. “Don’t get all excited. I watched an episode of Sex in Las Vegas, the one where Christina has wild sex in a sex swing, like this one. Knowing me, I’d probably kill myself in the thing.” A slight frown crossed his face, but his eyes still sparkled as he stepped behind her and inhaled, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Damn, baby, I was sure I was going to be able to talk you into letting me have it taken down and put into our room. Your first time could be a lot of fun with you strapped into the swing. ” “Perhaps I’ll consider it,” she admitted with true conviction stinging her words. His smile eased into a grin he couldn’t seem to control. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed I can change your mind, but in the meantime, let’s grab the table over there in the corner and drink some champagne while we celebrate the start of our new life together.”

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Waiting for him to return, she watched the crowd twirling on the dance floor, admiring her new and old friends. She hadn’t noticed Jordan’s return until he was sitting across from her, staring. A devilish grin inched up the sides of his face. “I’ve got a surprise for you. Are you game?” For Mia, it depended on what the surprise was. Images of the bloodplay room focused in her thoughts. No, it couldn’t be that. Could it? A tinge of excitement passed through her veins, and then just as quickly, a tinge of fear. “What do you have in mind?” Her voice squeaked way more than she’d hoped it would. “Taking your virginity. Come on, let’s go.” Reaching the entrance to the cave-like area, the sex swing was no longer visible. Instead, a long, thick, black curtain camouflaged it, reminding her of the stage curtains used in theaters. They passed the curtain and came upon guests lounging on stuffed black sofas and chairs. Faces scanned them, smiling as they walked by. The first couple they passed reclined on a sofa, with the man propped up behind the woman. She recognized the bloodletting instruments strewn on the sofa but couldn’t make out what kind they were. Jordan kept moving Mia through the shadowy darkness as people whispered messages of luck and Godspeed, ending at an oversized black leather chair in the far corner of the room. Reaching the chair, he sat first. Spreading his legs, he pulled her between him. “I want you so badly,” he breathed. A slight moan left her lips. “You know that when it comes to blood practices you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to tonight. It is enough for me that you are my wife. I will be taking your virginity, but I will let you decide if you want to give me your blood. Again. ” Her head swirled from the desire heating every part of her body. Pure yearning might have just ignited her flesh into flames. How could she not feed him the blood he wanted and needed. Of course,

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his donor, Becca, could still give him blood, but deep down inside, Mia knew she didn’t want that happening anymore. For her, it wasn’t an option. It was love. It wasn’t like he’d drink her dry. A small cut would not a cup of blood make. “Jordan. I want to give you my blood. I want to be with you in every way. I’m not scared. I want this. I want you.” He ran his finger down her arm. “You don’t have to do anything to have me. You have me regardless if you ever give me another ounce of your blood again.” “I want to give you my blood. Case closed.” He smirked. Before she knew it, once again, the invisible blow to her chest garnered her temporarily speechless. “Case closed. I’ll be back,” he advised, proceeding into the darkness. And shortly he was back, moving across the floor like a predator approaching its prey. His black leather pants hugged every part of his tight, lean body, and his white shirt slipped open, revealing a sleek chest. The closer he approached, a piece of his blond-black hair brushed across his cheek, just enough to make him look ravenous and wild. Reaching the chair, he pulled her hand into his and lifted her from the cushion. “Where are we going?” she asked. He kept walking. “It’s a surprise.” She glanced ahead, unable to see because of the muted lighting in the room. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay back where we were?” Stopping midstep, he turned slightly. “Are you scared?” She cocked her head sideways. “Of what?” “Of where I’m about to take you?” “No. Not scared, just curious.”

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“Well, don’t be. Here we are.” He stopped in front of a black curtain. “I hope you don’t mind. I’m dying to see you swing.” The deep sound of his voice caressed her soul. Swing? Oh boy. Thoughts of dangling from the ski lift at Bryon Head, Utah, flashed through her mind. The lift workers had to stop the entire ride to unhook her from the lift. It was beyond embarrassing. The huge, leopard-print velvet swing attached to the ceiling with industrial-size hooks took up most of the space. A large, plush seat was in the middle of the swing, equipped with padded back and butt support, as four adjustable stirrups protruded outward from the middle seat for comfortable binding of arms and legs. A tension spring held the entire swing together for easy sexual maneuvering. While she stood mesmerized by the contraption, he remained flush against the wall, watching her every move. “So what do you think of it close up?” She stared at the chair, preparing to blow his mind. She blew him a kiss, then scooted up into the chair. “What are you doing? I was kidding.” His shocked expression was funny, and it was the first time he seemed to be at a loss for words. “I’m not.” I hope I look sexy doing this. She must have, because he didn’t waste any time strapping her into the chair. As soon as the last words left her mouth, he had her bound, both of them stripped and ready for action. Carefully, he touched her knee then spread her legs. The cool breeze kissed her thighs. Her legs quivered. While she lay spreadeagle, his eyes danced over her body. He didn’t need to say anything. His face said it all. Again, he had a way of making her feel uninhibited, sexy, and alive. His cock jutted forward. In all his naked glory, beautiful didn’t begin to describe him. “You’re staring at me,” he whispered. More to the point, she was staring at the size of his cock. Now that the time had come for sex, it looked a lot bigger than she remembered.

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“Sorry. I…” “Do you want me, Mia?” She nodded. Pushed against her restraints. The things were tight. Standing in front of the swing, he pushed her body upward, securely holding her weight against his chest. “Say it, then.” “I want you,” she admitted, but so low she wasn’t sure she actually said the words. He chuckled then covered her lips with his. Deepening the kiss, he slid his hand inside her wet pussy. “I know you want me, darlin’. I can see it in your face, and feel it between your legs. But I want to hear you say what you want me to do to you, so I can make sure I’m doing everything you have in mind.” With his hand lodged between her legs, he continued to massage his fingers in and out of her wet center. His touch ignited every nerve in her body. A gentle sway of his hand sent her body into overdrive, and she started to grind against his hand. “I want you to do everything to me.” When the cut to her thigh came, there was only time for screams of pleasure. His body shifted, and he bent to his knees, just as his finger moved deeper into her pussy. His mouth devoured the cut, and the more she arched her back, the faster his tongue licked the salty, thick, ruby-red liquid. Time halted. As he fed from her, every nerve in her body screamed from the sheer intensity of the moment. He sucked harder and fingered her faster, and the moment she thought she couldn’t take anymore, that she was completely spent, her body exploded into one orgasm after another. “Oh my God,” she whimpered, pushing against the restraints, wanting desperately to wrap her arms around him. Removing his sheathed finger, he lifted his head. “Oh, sweet girl, God has nothing to do with it. It’s all me.” A chuckle crept from his lips as he redeposited his finger into the moistness.

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Her muscles contracted. “Wait—I don’t think I can take anymore,” she murmured. Again she tried in vain to push away against the restraints, even lifting her shoulders. An unexpected measure of wildness moved over his features. “I don’t think you are going to undo those ties, sweet thing.” She recognized the ragged heat in his gaze, the sweet pull of his primal desire. Without hesitation, Mia domed her body, asking for more. With his tongue, he opened back up the small cut, sucking hard. Then he licked at the wound. Please don’t stop…never stop. If this is wrong, I’m ready to go to hell now. If loving you is wrong, I will suffer any consequences. This time when she came close to orgasm, he released his mouth from her thigh, locking his gaze on her as she came on his hand. After the last jolt of ecstasy pummeled her body, he put his fingers to his mouth and licked clean the remnants of her juice. “You are an incredible woman, and I love you.” Overwhelmed with passion, she studied his flawless features and her heart did handsprings in her chest. “I love you, too, so much. You are forever my man.” Wanting to freeze-frame the moment forever in time, she took an imaginary picture, sealing it next to her heart. “I want to make love to you, woman. I want to hear you talk dirty to me. Right now.” The time had come. The deed would be done. Oh boy. His penis suddenly looked like it was a missile. “Wait,” she whispered. “Wait, what do you mean talk dirty to you?” Two strong hands cupped her legs. “No. Not this time. Relax, darlin’, I won’t hurt you.” His voice was no longer soft and gentle but sparked with need and a small amount of frustration. “No worries, I’ll teach you dirty talk.” Oh god. She felt if he touched her she would incinerate into millions of pieces. This was it, her final moment of Catholic virginity.

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Relax, he won’t hurt you. He’s even going to teach you to talk dirty. In all reality, she knew what talking dirty was about, she just wasn’t sure she could do it. And the more she stared at his missile-resembling penis, the more she felt like vomiting. The word “huge” didn’t begin to describe it, however, massive and humongous most definitely did. Jordan moved into position in front of her, and her heartbeat accelerated. She prayed a silent Hail Mary that she wouldn’t start hyperventilating. It was happening. She was about to lose her virginity, and could have a heart attack all in the same moment. The time had come for her to become a woman in the biblical sense. Shouldn’t she be happy? She wanted to be happy, but fear was more real at the moment. She kept telling herself it was going to feel awesome, yet she didn’t really believe that. Who was she kidding, it was going to hurt like hell. From what she read in magazines and from Cindi’s sex talks on many occasions, the first time wasn’t always the most memorable. Yeah, romance novels tried to pretend that it was, but that was bullshit. Her mind continued racing a mile a minute. Jordan put a hand on each of her thighs and pushed until her legs were nice and wide. And her body tensed to the point of pain. “Relax, darlin’.” She didn’t relax, only watched as he removed his hands from her thighs, opened a condom package he had strategically hidden on the swing, and slid the contents onto his cock. And in all honesty, she was still waiting for some act of God to happen that would stop their union since she was going against everything she’d been taught. On one hand, she did wait for marriage. On the other hand, she had married a man who wasn’t exactly a Catholic role model. He bent down and kissed her nose as his cock brushed against the top of her pussy. “Show me how much you love me, Mia.” And then he got into pre-mounting position, and to her surprise, instead of spewing puke, a calming sensation moved through her body

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as he mounted her. He slid his cock halfway in, and she screamed. Small whimpers but a scream just the same. Yes, it hurt. Her legs tensed again. She couldn’t help it. “Relax, darlin’. One more push, and I’ll be deep inside you,” he mumbled the promise as their lips touched. She went to scream, this time only to have him deepen the kiss and mumble her cries. Once he was fully inside her, he cupped her ass in his hands and rubbed as he began to pump her pussy. “Relax. I’m fully inside, darlin’ Wasn’t so bad now, was it?” Easy for him to say. Naked desire warmed her. “It hurts,” she whimpered against his mouth. He parted her lips with his tongue. Before he slipped his tongue inside, she added, “And feels good, too.” And he did feel good inside her. She couldn’t lie. Yes, it’s a tad painful but not as much as I’d envisioned it would hurt. Slowly he rocked his body against hers. The movement glided the swing back and forth. Her body prepared to explode again as her muscles tensed and the orgasm grew closer. A small moan of pleasure escaped her lips. You feel so good. His thrusts quickened. “Come for me, baby.” The pain had subsided and his constant pumping started to really feel good. It wasn’t so bad. As a matter of fact, it was pretty awesome at the moment. And then some unforeseen sex force took hold of her. “You feel so good,” she groaned from her sex-induced coma. “Do I now?” A piece of his sweat-soaked hair fell into his eyes. “Tell me how good I feel. Tell me how much you love making love to me, how much you love fucking me.” The last part she wasn’t sure she could say out loud. “I love making love to you, Jordan. It does feel good. Now.” He chuckled as her cries rang through the room. With what seemed like renewed vigor, he pushed the swing faster and harder with each pelvic pump.

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“And?” By this time, he was sucking on one nipple and pinching the other between his finger and thumb. “Say it.” Talking dirty wasn’t her forte, but she felt like saying it to him. Damn, you are good. He had her in a place she never wanted to leave. “I love fucking you.” “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” “Well, yes. And no.” “We’ll work on the ‘no’ part,” he promised as their bodies slid against each other, and the sweat beaded on both their faces. In unison, they exploded into ecstasy together. Still inside her, he held both their weight. “So, is the swing everything you thought it would be?” His voice was ragged, but so sexy. She was drowning in him, the taste and smell of him. “Yes.” “Shall we do it again?” She released a nervous sigh. “Do you think you could untie me first?” “No. I like you tied up.” His features softened with a boyish charm. “Okay, I’ll untie you, but only if I can tie you back up in our room.” “I’ll think about it,” Mia said. “Okay, darlin’. You have five seconds,” he added. Once they were fully dressed, and finished discussing Mia’s lack of dirty-talking skills, they planned on rejoining the party, when Mia stopped them. Before they stepped out from behind the curtain, she faced him. “How do I look?” she asked, hoping she didn’t have the just-beenfucked look about her. Jordan stared her up and down. “If I may say so myself, sweet thing, you look radiant.” She studied him. “That not what I mean.” A baffled expression changed his features. “What do you mean?”

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She straightened the front of her dress. “I mean, I don’t have the look, do I?” He regarded her quizzically before answering. “Ah, what do you mean ‘the look?’ Darlin’, the cryptic wording has me a bit confused. I feel like we’re playing a game of charades.” “The look. The one that hints to everyone we just finished doing what we did,” she babbled, feeling beyond stupid. Another piece of information Cindi had told her about during their sex talks. Why couldn’t she just come out and say what she meant? She was turning this into a guessing game. “Oh, you mean do you look like we just had sex?” He licked his sexy lips. “Mmmm, you mean do you look like my hands roamed every part of you and my fingers danced inside you until you came all over me. Should I go on?” Mia threw her hands in the air. “No!” “Don’t worry, sweet woman, you look radiant. And, by the way, I am going to assume people are aware we make love. Who cares if you have the look? Trust me, you are going to have it several more times tonight,” he promised her, brushing the loose strand of hair from her face. “Good,” was all she said, and his lips were on hers in a heartbeat. A few minutes later, when she was gasping for air, he opened the curtain. In the midst of easing back out into the crowd, a huge commotion erupted in the middle of the dance floor. He grabbed her by the hand, and hurried them toward the crew on the dance floor. The gang opened the circle, letting them in, and immediately closed it. Jamison took the floor. “We have two major problems. Problem one, Christi crashed the wedding dressed like Mia. From what I can gather, Ennisbrooke may have abducted her when he was escorted from the property. Her purse and a broken strand of pearls were found near the driveway entrance off Hummel Road.”

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Mia’s mouth flew open, she was sure resembling a giant O. “I saw her. I thought I was losing my mind. I thought she was a doppelganger. Why was she dressed like me?” Jamison sighed and shot a glance toward Jordan. “I think she wanted someone that belongs to you. Becoming you was the only way she could think to get him.” Mia’s stomach churned from the mere thought. “Wait a minute. She looked exactly like me down to my hair color. Stunned into awareness, Mia dropped her head. “She wanted Jordan. She is probably planning on getting rid of me. She’s crazy about him, we all know that. But, is she crazy enough to hurt me? Or kill me?” Jordan interrupted. “Hold on a sec. I know the difference between you and Christi, darlin’. A wig and dress isn’t going to change that. She isn’t going to get near you. I promise.” Jamison cleared his throat. “I don’t think we should worry so much about her clothing but more about her state of mind. She spent the last few months in the mental hospital in Orlando.” Mia glanced at Cindi and then back at Jamison. “That’s not good. Not only do I have to worry about her fatal attraction to my husband, I also have to worry about her mental capacities.” Mia felt the flush moving through her cheeks long before Cindi reached out for her. Cindi took her hand. “She’s a crazy bitch, Mia.” Jordan coughed back a laugh and glanced at Cindi. “Don’t sugarcoat it, Cin.” Cindi leveled a gaze that pinned him in place, obviously perturbed at his remark. “When have you known me to sugarcoat anything? We all know she’s a crazy bitch. It’s not my fault I’m the only one who will admit it. Had I seen her, I would have kicked her ass in front of all your guests. Recent mental patient or not.” Melissa interjected. “Wait a minute. I have no problem calling her a bitch. Let’s add crazy motherfucker to the title.” Visions, too clear for Mia’s taste, brought back memories of that woman practically dry humping Jordan a few months ago. She had thought they were going

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for coffee, not aware the first of his skeletons would be gracing them with her presence. Jamison huffed. “Ladies, regardless of the love loss, and her state of mind, the woman is missing. Can we concentrate on the problems at hand? Melissa and Cindi nodded, but Jordan, his gaze stuck on Melissa and Cindi, added, “Hey, this is getting interesting. I wonder what these two would have to say about me in my past life.” Melissa chuckled. “You’re lucky, Jordan, because Mia’s redeemed your sorry ass. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but you’re a different man than the one I met years ago. The love of the right woman has done wonders for you. It took a former Pittsburgh woman to tame you. I wouldn’t have believed it had I not witnessed it myself.” Jamison covered his face with his hands. Through muffled sound, his voice came. “Can we continue please?” Jordan winked at Mia. “Yes, please continue.” Jamison resumed. “Problem two, twenty minutes ago, Cindi went into the main part of the house to ask the servers to deliver more food. Splattered all over the news was a story about a man who picked up a girl in a bar in Vegas.” Cindi glanced at Jamison, and he nodded, then she continued. “The man wined and dined the girl, took her home and brutally killed her. The girl’s best friend is the one who found her.” Cindi took a deep breath and settled her gaze on Mia for a second. “The media relayed the scene was so gruesome it appeared as if it were out of a horror movie. The woman was found in bed, nude, with six-inch gashes across her neck, thigh, and shoulder. The poor woman bled to death. The only evidence the Henderson police hold is an opened box of antibacterial wipes, a bloody lancet, and sterling silver finger armor.” Melissa gaped. “Sounds like a vampire crime.”

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Jamison excused himself, and Ridge narrowed his gaze on Jordan. “Or a scene made to look like a vampire crime has taken place.” A sharp pain stabbed Mia’s temples. Mia thought it was obvious some kind of ritual killing took place in Vegas, and from the reactions of the people in the circle, so did they. And boy, they really disliked Christi. Her stomach turned. She swallowed back the nasty bile traveling up her throat. But did she want to kill me, like Ennisbrooke? Mia pulled Jordan’s hand into hers. “Who would want to stage a vampire killing?” Jordan touched his lips to her hand. “There are many sick people out in the world, darlin’.” He studied her face, to the point of making her feel like her lipstick was smeared all over her face. “Don’t worry about Christi…she’ll be found.” Jordan glanced at Cindi, and she added, “There are some crazies out there, girlfriend. They’ll catch this guy.” She tsked. “And find Christi. Knowing that crazy bit—lady, she probably flagged down some man driving by. Caught a ride with him.” Jamison had returned to the circle. “Friends of mine in the Cassadaga Police Department are on their way over to investigate the Christi issue. As for Vegas, I think we have a game plan for the situation. I made the call, and Scottie is on his way here. When he arrives, Jordan, Ridge, Scottie, and I are going to board the next flight to Vegas. I need someone who is close with the Oasis coven, specifically Ryan, to give him a call.” Mia interrupted Jamison. “Exactly why are you going to Vegas? And taking my husband with you?” Jamison’s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, glanced at the message, and slid it back into his pants. “Because our culture is very private, and the police are going to need help understanding our beliefs and customs. We’re just going as consultants. No worries.” How in the hell could he say ‘no worries.’ Christi was MIA, a madman was killing in Vegas. It looked like they should all be worrying. A lot.

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The lines of Jordan’s face etched with deep concern. “Don’t worry, Jamison. I will take care of reaching out to Ryan. I will call him as soon as we are done here and see if he can meet us in Vegas tomorrow.” Jamison’s expression turned solemn when he looked at Melissa. “I need you to get on the phone and call every coven out West. Tell them we are flying in tomorrow. Due to the bad situation brewing out there, we need to get together and talk.” Melissa didn’t speak. She looked up with her intense, brown-eyed gaze leveled on Jamison. “You got it. I’ll make the calls immediately.” Jamison smiled. “Use my office.” He hesitated, then addressed Cindi. “I feel bad about this, taking Jordan away from Mia before they even finished enjoying their wedding celebration or their honeymoon, but I will make amends. I need you to take charge of my house and work in close proximity with Paige. I need both you and Paige to take care of Mia while we are gone.” Anger at Jamison’s lack of regard for her opinion sliced through Mia, causing her hands to ball up into fists at her side. “What do you mean, watch over me?” She narrowed a suspicious gaze on him. “Excuse me, but in case you haven’t noticed, Jamison, I am a grown woman. Why would I need Cindi and Paige to take care of me? I’m coming with you guys.” “No, Mia, you are not coming.” Jordan’s firm tone sliced through the room. Mia’s voice plowed over the group. “Yes, I am.” Bothered, Jamison met her gaze with an apologetic look. “Mia, I didn’t mean it like you’re taking it. We have a man who obviously is a vampire, one like us. The evidence he left behind proves this point. This man just exposed a ton of people who practice vampirism. This could get ugly. Not to mention, Christi isn’t very fond of you, and she’s missing. It would be safer for you to stay here in the coven house. We will be back in a few days.”

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Bullshit! Mia didn’t feel like getting the third degree from Jamison, not to mention her husband didn’t look all that excited about her desire to go, either, from the way he was firmly shaking his head. “You’re not going.” Jordan pinned her in place with his stare. “I am not putting you in harm’s way again. Not if I can help it. You were already almost sliced and diced because of me and my wayward ways. You will stay here, and I’ll make sure you stay put even if I have to tie you to our bed.” A short chuckle sounded. “And we all know I’d love doing that to you. So give me a reason to, darlin’.” Jamison and Cindi both shot shocked gazes at Jordan. Mia felt the flush shoot into her face. Jordan just admitted to the entire circle he wanted to tie her up. All right, time for me to retreat temporarily. She would work on going with them. For now, kicking in her acting skills was top priority, so she crossed her fingers and agreed to stay. “Fine, I will stay with Cindi and Paige,” she barked, catching a glimpse of relief on Jamison’s face. “Come on, Mia, we will have a blast. We can go shopping, out to eat, and dancing. Spend all Jordan’s hard-earned cash.” Cindi looked at Jordan for acceptance of her statement. He nodded. Jamison turned his energies toward David. “Can you pick up Scottie?” David stepped forward. “Dude, I’ll take off right now and head to the airport to pick up Scottie. I’ll bring him straight back here.” In two short strides, he moved toward Melissa and planted a kiss on her lips. “Later,” he said before heading toward the door, his trench coat swaying in the wake. Once everyone had taken their leave, and the evening was finally over, Jordan and Mia retired to his room. Both showered and dressed, even made love in the shower, but that didn’t calm the dread Mia was feeling. She grabbed a bottle of water, then plopped on the bed beside Jordan.

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“I am so sorry about this, sweetie. I will make it up to you and take you anywhere you want to go when I get back.” “It’s fine. Uh….” The hesitation in her voice was hard to hide. “Tell me what’s wrong?” “Well, why would someone want to out the vampire lifestyle? And why make such a brutal attempt at doing so?” She leaned her head against his chest, wanting to drown in the safety of his being. “I hope Christi is found.” He tightened his arms. It was exactly what her body craved. “You know how in every belief system there are those who get overzealous and dangerous about their beliefs?” “Yes.” “Well, it is the same in the vampire community. This subculture is no different. There are nuts in this organization just like in every other different culture. He stroked her hair before he added, “And I’m sure Christi is fine. Knowing her, this stunt is about her being the center of attention.” “Jordan she was in a mental hospital. I’m sure it’s more than being the center of attention.” “Perhaps. Don’t worry, she’ll be found. She’s not completely nuts.” She gazed at his perfect face and touched her finger to the diamond stud in his nose before she kissed him. “When you explain in that way, I see what you mean. People have fought over cultural beliefs for decades.” She frowned, hoping her expression was hard for him to read. “You know, If I were Christi, I wouldn’t want to let you go, either.” She had to find a way to accompany him to Vegas. And she would. His lips touched her forehead. “What is it? You’re hiding something. Share.”

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“I just don’t understand what you, Jamison, and this Scottie guy are going to do in Vegas. You’re not cops. You and Jamison are teachers, and who is Scottie?” she asked. “Well, Scottie is very knowledgeable when it comes to vampirism. He runs the Elian vampire church. He’s an Elder Bishop.” Mia scrunched her nose at him. “Elder Bishop?” He chuckled, and smoothed his open palm down her back. “Yes, it is like the Pope in the Catholic Church. He is the Pope in the vampire community.” He yawned, and ran a finger across her right clothed breast. “Can we just leave the conversation as is? I will explain everything to you later.” She tightened her grip around his waist. “Yes, you can guarantee I am going to pick your brain when you get back. I still don’t understand what you and Jamison are going to physically do. ” She felt the urge to continue the discussion even though it was obvious he didn’t desire it. “It’s quite simple, darlin’. Jamison, Scottie, and I are going to sit down with the police and tell them anything and everything they want to know about the vampire subculture.” She squeezed his hand. If anything ever happened to him, she would die. And as if someone pulled a chair out from under her, a powerful rush of emotions pulsated through her veins, making her throat ache. “You just be careful. I don’t want you tracking some lunatic down. You’re a professor, not a vigilante.” “Yes, love. I promise to be careful. The last thing I need is to kick the bucket when I’ve been married a short time. And, may I add, we haven’t even had the blood-fest part of our wedding ceremony yet.” Oh goody. Blood-fest. Truthfully, she could wait for that ceremony, probably indefinitely. “I’ve decided I’m going with you.”

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“That’s not even funny, Mia.” He leveled piercing gray eyes at her, pinning her in place. “You promised you would stay with Cindi and Paige.” Mia jumped up from their sitting position on the bed and he followed. “I lied. I’m an actress, remember?” **** Over my dead body. You will not step foot from this state. “You are not going, and that’s final.” What was she thinking? He would never put her in danger again. A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Seriously, darlin’, I don’t want to worry about you in an unfamiliar state where a killer is running loose.” She crossed her arms in front of her. “I’m going.” She wasn’t going anywhere. If it meant tying her to the bed and locking the door, he would do it. He held up a hand in restraint, as if warning her off. “Please, Mia, stay here. You and Cindi can spend every dime I own. As long as you are safely tucked away here at the house, I won’t worry. Please?” “I can spend all your money in Vegas.” Anger moved across his face, and he picked her up, tossed her on the bed then pinned her against the mattress. “Mia, Mia, Mia. No, you are not going.” His mouth pressed into a tight line. “Please, baby, don’t make me restrain you.” “You would do that?” Surprise twisted her features. He touched his lips to her neck. “I would do whatever it takes to keep you safe.” And he meant it. Her life was worth more to him than anything in the world. But could he keep her safe in Vegas? He could fly her out there in a few days. If the truth be told, he didn’t want to spend any amount of time without her. He touched her hair, loved the way it felt against his fingers.

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Her brown eyes searched his face. “Are you still going to tie me to a chair if I insist on going?” The weight of her pleading expression pierced his skin. “Yes and no.” “What?” He clarified his words. “No, I won’t be restraining you here, but yes, I will be restraining you in Vegas.” She flung her arms around him. “I can go with you?” “Jamison is probably going to have a coronary. Yes, you are coming with me. ” One half-hour later, Jamison hung his phone up and glanced at Mia. “It looks like Paige and Cindi are as adamant about going as you are now that they know you will be joining us. Jamison sounds like he’s ready to blow a gasket.” Jordan whistled low and shook his head. “Cindi can be a handful when it comes to protecting you, darlin’, and Paige was given the responsibility of protecting both you and Cindi, so it looks like we are all going as one big, happy family.” “I was coming even if you said no,” she added. “That’s what you think.” You feisty little minx. I adore you.

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Chapter Seventeen The next morning, Jordan awoke before Mia, packed a suitcase, made a few phone calls, and ordered breakfast. She lay on the bed still sleeping, her thick brown hair strewn against the pillow. Fuck. From just looking at her, he was hard. He gazed down at his boxers, the only stitch of clothing he wore, and snickered at the suddenly tented material. Two days and you’ll be next to me again. “Good morning, honey.” Her beautiful brown eyes had opened while he was gazing at his tented dick. “Good morning to you, darlin’.” He smiled. “You called me ‘honey.’” He waited, the hunger in his loins consuming him, until she crawled completely down the bed before pouncing on her and pinning her against the mattress with his body. He covered her mouth with his. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered. She mumbled softly, “Jordan, you’re hurting me.” He stopped. He didn’t want to hurt her, just take enough of her memories with him to get him through the next few days without her. Forgive me. “I’m sorry. I just love you so much, woman.” “I love you, too.” Her desire for him spoke volumes from the way her gaze roamed his face and her hands slid against his back, and over his butt. She wanted him. And damn if he didn’t want to bury his cock inside her pussy. He imagined how wet it probably was, and that just about sent him into sexual overdrive. Temporarily content with her verbal love

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admission, he tightened his hold. “You belong with me.” Reaching between them, he ripped her panties from her body. She chuckled with disbelief. “Hey, that’s the second time you ruined a pair of my undies.” Her stab at humor warmed his heart and flooded his body with peace. “I’m sorry…again. I’ll buy you a dozen when you get to Vegas.” She grabbed hold of the waistband of his boxers and slid them from him. The moistness between her legs hovered beneath his penis. Lifting her with two hands, he flipped her on top of him, guiding his full cock into the folds of her body. She moaned, welcoming him further. Amazement gripped him as his shy, beautiful, innocent bride turned to putty in his hands. When he thought he couldn’t take anymore, she bit his lip, and then passion lifted his body into euphoria. Without missing a beat, she leaned over, pulling his black bag from the hidden drawer. Catching his undivided attention, he slowed down their grinding to watch the love of his life pull out the silver talon. Reluctantly he took it from her. “I’m not sure about this, Mia.” “I want to give you my pranic energy.” He looked at her with unflinching directness. “Really? I don’t know if I should. I mean the state we are in. I don’t want to cut too deep.” “I trust you.” She moved the hair from her shoulder, inviting him to cut her neck. “I trust you with my life, Jordan.” His mind convulsed with turmoil, but his heart was in an uproar. She was the most beautiful woman in the world, and she loved him. Truly loved him. Could he be careful? “You trusting me isn’t the point. I don’t know if I trust myself.” Deciding he could be cautious since her faith in him outweighed his own, he secured the talon. The cut was quick.

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She flinched, pressed her tits against his chest. His cock stiffened inside her as his lips moved to the scratch, then she grinded mercilessly when he licked the blood. The orgasms came rapidly, one after the other, and she cried out in ecstasy, giving him the perfect opportunity to trail his mouth from her neck to her lips. Inviting him in, she took his lips, sank her tongue into his mouth. Not having enough time to swallow, the blood still caked his tongue. Fuck, I’m going to gross her out. Get ready, she’s going to haul ass. Her body tensed before she pulled off his mouth, She studied him as she ran her tongue across her top lip. “My blood tastes like…it tastes kind of sweet.” He sighed so loudly his body shook. “I thought for sure you were going to jump off my body and haul ass out the door.” “After the orgasm you just gave me? I’m not sure I could’ve moved that fast. I’ll admit the taste was a bit gross at first. But then again, it’s my blood. I’ve cut myself and sucked the blood before. Of course, not from another human being’s mouth. Just chalk it up to the things we do for love.” Beautiful. “You drive me wild, woman.” Tears glazed her big brown eyes, toying with his sanity. He didn’t ever want to see her cry. The thought of her hurting froze him in his tracks. “Mia, baby, what’s wrong?” “I hope you always love me like you do this moment. I’d die if I lost you.” The tip of her finger drew an imaginary line down the side of his face. “Woman, you are under my skin, in my pores, in my blood. I will love you always, for eternity. I guarantee.” “I would do anything for you, Jordan.” How did a man like him score a woman like her? He still had the uneasy gnawing in the back of his mind he was going to fuck it up and lose her. Maybe her God loved her enough to show a man like him redemption.

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He marveled in the thought. Redemption. “What you did for me this morning, giving me your blood without me asking was so unselfish, so magical, and very, very damn hot!” He half smiled and prepared to blow her mind. Again. “I have an idea. When I get to Vegas tonight, how about I score a pair of Las Vegas Police Department issued handcuffs?” He was joking, however, he wanted to see what she said. He did, after all, promise to restrain her once she arrived in Sin City. A curious gaze pinned him in place. “If that’s what you want, Jordan, I will try anything for you.” Her words hit him like body blows. “Really? You would let me cuff you to the bedposts?” He waited while his curiosity piqued as well as another member of his anatomy. Again. “They wouldn’t be tight, right?” “That depends on how tight you want them.” I promise I won’t make them tight, not even slightly uncomfortable. Just say yes. She leveled a childlike expression at him, making him want to taste every inch of her body for a second time. “Perhaps we could cuff one wrist and see how it goes,” she added. He tried not to laugh, although containment was becoming next to impossible. “Ah, sweetie, if I am going to cuff you to the bed, it’s going to be all or nothing. I’m going to cuff both wrists to both bedposts and drive you insane with loving you, every inch of you, until you come in the palm of my hand.” He tightened his legs around her. If she wasn’t careful, he was going to grab the towels from the bathroom and tie her up now. She turned a nice shade of red. My favorite. “You really know how to make me blush. I can feel my face flushing. Am I bright red yet?” “I love red on you. And, darlin’, I could make you blush so much more, but I think I’ll leave that for another time.”

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“Oh goody. I can’t wait.” “Neither can I.” A devilish grin broke across his face. Mia changed the subject before she ended up shackled. She wasn’t quite sure she was ready for that yet. Drinking her own blood from his mouth was still fairly fresh in her mind. One new event at a time. “So mister bondage man, when exactly will the ladies be arriving in Vegas?” Looks like Jamison has you, Cindi, and Paige scheduled to arrive in two days. That gives you gals time to pack, and us time to get settled.” **** The next day, Jordan called them several times from Vegas explaining how they were working with the Henderson Police Department, specifically Chief Joey Jasperillo, and the number-one crime-scene investigator, Linda Levoux. Cindi and Mia had returned from lunch earlier. Cindi was walking toward the door when Mia called her back. “Cin, we never talked about what happened between you and Tristan last night in the blood room.” She sighed. “I was waiting for you to ask me about that. Tristan told me you and Jordan watched from the doorway. It’s bloodplay, nothing more.” “Nothing more?” Cindi was quite nonchalant about Tristan beating her with a whip. Nothing more? “Are you and Tristan in a relationship?” “He would like to think so.” Yeah I bet he does. “Does it hurt?” “Yes and no. The welts hurt, but the soft touches afterward make it worthwhile. I know this sounds cliché, but it hurts so good. It’s another world in the blood room. I can be anyone I want to be when

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I’m restrained or doing the restraining. Dark fantasies can lead to ecstasy beyond one’s wildest dreams. To trust your welfare to another human being is the ultimate in vulnerability.” Cindi’s words were weaving an unsettling path through Mia’s consciousness because of her own strange desires brewing. “Cindi, I can only admit this to you. I am curious. I want to experience what goes on it that room. But I’m afraid.” Cindi pulled Mia’s hand into hers. “Don’t let the fear cripple you. I’ve heard Jordan is a pro in the blood room. Rumor has it he’s careful, loving, and thorough without even being in love with any of his submissives. He loves you, and because of that I know he would never hurt you.” She glanced at the clock. “We need to get a move on. Meet you downstairs.” Cindi slid out of the room before Mia could ask more questions. She tried to imagine herself in the bloodplay arena. Perhaps with Jordan, it would be okay. And maybe not. Paige, Cindi, and Mia reached the Orlando International Airport in a little less than an hour, with the limo driver’s speed never reaching below seventy miles per hour. They boarded the airplane, and before Mia knew it, they were flying safely in the skies. She slept a few hours, awakening just in time to feel the plane descend into Las Vegas. After collecting their luggage at baggage claim, they walked across the airport and up the stairs to wait for Jamison and Jordan outside of Starbucks. As soon as they reached upstairs, Cindi’s gaze hit the first slot machine, and she took off running. The machine clanged, and in thirty seconds flat, she lost her money. With the realization of seeing her husband moments away, Mia suddenly felt nervous. In an attempt to pull herself together, she stopped, stepped away from the crowd of moving people, and leaned against the wall. “What’s wrong?” Cindi’s expression turned serious, even with her gaze scanning for more slot machines.

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“What if, after he sees me, his feelings are not the same or not as intense as he thought they were?” She tilted her head back to bring the urge to puke to a halt. “Everything has happened so quickly. It’s been a whirlwind. What if after having a few days without me he realized he’d jumped the gun about me? I mean it does seem too good to be true. Love at first sight isn’t logical, so people say.” “Mia, there is a hunk of a man coming for you. He loves you. Everything about you. Who gives a shit what other people think or say? Now stop your needless worrying and put a smile on that face.” Paige nodded in agreement, which was odd, since the woman had glared at Mia through the entire wedding. She was probably one of Jordan’s skeletons, too. She hesitated. “Thank you two for being so good to me the past few days.” “That’s what best friends are for,” Cindi added. “Now let’s go.” So they did. When they reached the entrance to Starbucks, her man was standing there, waiting for her. His blond hair rested against his shoulders, and he wore his trademark black leather pants, a HarleyDavidson hoodie, and steel-toed, black boots. There he was, her Jordan, her man, her life. But before he caught sight of her, she had to freshen up, so she talked the girls into ducking into the bathroom for a quick second, never expecting the gun to her back or the muffled screams of Cindi and Paige to be the last thing she heard when her world went black.

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Chapter Eighteen Sliding in and out of consciousness was a godsend for Mia. She wasn’t sure how much longer her body could withstand the deep lacerations that were coming more frequently now that John Ennisbrooke knew he was a hunted man. What had happened days ago was still a blur to her. It had happened in seconds, a sharp object in her back, a strong hand around her waist, and then a voice telling her to keep moving if she wanted her husband to live. She shifted her body to her right foot, trying to alleviate some of the pain, when she heard the door open. “So, how is my pretty blood doll today?” John asked, strolling toward her. She refused to open her eyes, refused to look into his crazy, deranged face. She licked her swollen, cracked lips. “Please, can I have water? Please?” And then she repositioned her weight to the other hip, wanting to scream from the sudden surge of pain. He came close, close enough that his rank breath touched her cheek. “Well, that depends.” He curved his lips into a dangerous smile. “You give me what I want, and then you can have what you want.” He stepped back and yanked on the chains suspending her from the ceiling. As the pain shot through her body, as if someone was ripping her limb from limb, she shrilled, urgently wishing death would take her. But even her tears dried up, even they’d abandoned her. His second tug on the chains sent her into massive hysterics. “Please, no more!” she begged.

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Losing the feeling in her legs, the dislocation of her arms was imminent. She listened as footsteps moved to the other side of the room, then the sound of metal screeched closer as a gurney came into view. “Hell!” he shrieked as he rattled her chained arms. “I’ll be damned if you are going to die on my watch before I have had a chance to enjoy all your suffering.” He shoved the gurney underneath her and loosened the chains so that she lay flat with her arms still extended, before he cussed and walked out, slamming the door behind him. She heard the faint sound of his footsteps walking up the stairs right before her thoughts halted and she slid into darkness. **** When John reached the top of the stairs, he slammed the door with all his might, his demeanor exploding. He marched into the spare bedroom, opened the cedar trunk, and pulled out his hunting knife, the one with its gleaming serrated edge, then put it back. No, he was going to need to salvage her. Taking her blood intravenously was a more viable option. Besides, to make her beloved husband suffer, he had to slowly torture the love of his life. And he was going to do just that. He promised to suck the blood from her tattered and beaten body until he was covered in the crimson liquid. Pulling out the needle and tubing, he headed back downstairs, taking the stairs two at a time, kicking the old basketball that happened to roll in his way. Standing at the door, he pulled the key from his pocket to the secret room, the one he referred to in his mind as “the dungeon.” She lay passed out on the gurney, her arms still suspended above her body. He needed to take her arms down from the chains, yet keep her forcibly contained in the room. His best bet was to chain her ankle to the floor. The thought almost made him boil over with excitement.

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Calm down. We have time to enjoy her. Lots of it. Perhaps he should fuck her first, give Jordan a little taste of his own medicine. He straddled her unconscious body, working carefully and methodically until he had released her from the ceiling. She didn’t move a muscle, so he checked her pulse to make sure she was still alive. Fuck. He was more than aware that the police were close to arresting him, and the coven members were closer to killing him, so this was his last “hurrah,” and he was determined to make it a Hollywood event. When they found Jordan’s wife, she was going to be completely drained of her blood, beaten, and chained to the floor of his dungeon. He couldn’t wait to see the shattered look on her husband’s face when he gazed at his sweet wife savagely murdered. Again, that warm feeling seeped into his veins. He scanned her body, resting his gaze on her chest. Luck was on his side because she was still breathing. With careful precision, he wrapped the cuff around her leg, then secured the chain to the cuff. Happy with his work, he walked over to the iron post exposed from the wall, hooked the chain, and latched the padlock. Ecstatic with his quick thinking, he prepped her right arm for the blood withdrawal. Once the first drop of blood hit the transfusion bag, he was satisfied, so he headed upstairs to have his dinner. Tonight he was celebrating, so steak and potatoes were on the menu. Oh yes, and a nice cold beer. His thoughts rested on her. Dessert. **** Mia flitted into consciousness and pushed to open her eyes, but her vision was blurred, and her stomach in knots. She tried to move, but her body refused. Please tell me I’m dead. The orientation of the room had changed. She was no longer sitting upright, and her arms were no longer suspended. She managed

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to will her eyes open, but nothing in her darkest nightmares could have prepared her for the vision before her. She stared in horror at the red droplets in the bag beside her. Oh my God. She wiggled her fingers, and pain shot through her as if thousands of tiny needles were embedded under her flesh. The taste in her mouth was sour, like fresh vomit. Then a scream tore through the air. Is he killing me? Is he draining me? Completely?. Thoughts of Jordan converged on her. She wanted to remember him if she was dying. She wanted the last thing she saw to be his handsome face crinkled up in an adoring smile, and him whispering how much he loved her. Her only wish now was that all the people in her life she loved knew her feelings for them. She had to believe they did. It would make leaving this world so much easier if she were certain. As her eyes closed and hopelessness filled her heart, she thought of the children that she would never have. In her dreams, they had hair the color of gold and eyes that matched Jordan’s. They are beautiful. I am tired. So tired… In the distance, the thump of feet hitting the wooden stairs joggled her memory. Her killer was coming. A cold chill traveled through her body, the feeling intensified by the metal of the gurney against the bare flesh of her back. He’d undressed her. The realization that bra and panties was all she wore brought into clearer focus her vulnerability. And she wondered the most horrible thought of all. Did he rape her? She hurt so badly all over, yet didn’t hurt in that way. Perhaps he hadn’t claimed that part of her yet, but soon would. She looked at the bag filling with her blood once more and prayed that she’d die long before his hands touched her intimate places. The sound of the key turning warned her of his approach. The click caused her heart to slam against her chest, and then with a powerful jolt, the door swung open. “So, I see you are awake, or should we say ‘coherent?’” He snarled, moving closer into her line of vision.

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She gazed directly into his menacing, ice-blue eyes as he leaned over her. There was no remnant of humanity left in his gaze as he peered back at her. When he was inches from her face, he reached in and touched her cheek. “So, I think it’s time you and I get to know each other a little more intimately.” The smell of stale beer attacked her nostrils just before his lips fervently accosted her. With the small amount of strength that remained in her broken body, she violently shook her head. “Stop. No. No.” Then she bit down hard, catching his bottom lip in her teeth. “You fucking bitch!” he screamed and punched her in the face, splitting her lip. She sucked in a whimper as the scarlet liquid began to travel down her chin. A warm sensation roamed through her body once again, and the lightheadedness reclaimed her. Please stop. Please, just kill me and finish this. Again, thoughts of Jordan converged on her. If she thought about him, would it make the pain less frightening? She tried to remember Jordan’s face, the love he held in his gaze every time she walked into the room. She felt her eyes filling up with tears just remembering the memories that they’d shared. The spicy smell that radiated from his pores when he crawled into bed with her and pulled her close. It was enough, if it had to be. She could die now, never doubting his love for her. If you can hear me somehow through the space that divides us in time, I love you. As she teetered on the edge of consciousness, her captor bent down until his nose touched hers. With a low growl, he leaned in and licked the red liquid dripping from her lips. She tensed before she clamped her lips shut. He came up off her mouth and cocked an eyebrow. “So you are giving up, I see. Well, that’s good because you are going to need all of your energy for what I am going to do to you next.” With that she closed her eyes. Her blond angel waited for her, and she needed to go to him, to the world they’d created for the short time they’d been together. The loving smile of her husband was the last

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image that flickered across her mind as she slid into the darkness that encompassed her. **** Mia’s eyes opened with a start, and her body prepared to take flight when she felt the sharp stabbing pain travel down her arm. She’d passed out for a few seconds. It felt like someone had jammed razors under her skin. He hadn’t budged from his spot, only stood towering over her. “Oh, so I see you have decided to grace me with your presence. Good. Just in time to watch me begin to drain the blood from your other arm.” He yanked her free arm up off the gurney. With careful precision, he taped the angiocatheter to her arm. His demented gaze danced over his handy work. Obviously proud of his accomplishments, he reached down and grazed the side of her face, sending a cold chill through her body, then he snapped the tourniquet from her arm. The feeling of razor blades traveling through her skin sent more pain burning through her already wounded shell. “Oh God!” she screamed, while his wicked laughter echoed through the cold and musty room. Stop. Please! I can’t take anymore. He reached for the duct tape, pulled off a piece, and shoved it over her mouth. “Now, that should stop the screaming.” As if stalking a wounded animal, he moved toward her, his wild gaze inches from her face. “Are you scared yet, princess?” She closed her eyes, praying he would leave, wondering why her life still existed. Dear God, please take me. Please. She wanted it to end, cease, completely finish. Still laughing, he moved to the other side of the room, reaching the door in minutes. “See you later, princess. Get ready for me. I promise you that when I return, well…you are going to know me a whole lot better, if you know what I mean.”

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**** John made sure to kick the basketball that kept jumping in his way once more before he headed up the stairs. His thoughts were dancing with scenarios of how he was going to do it to her. After all, he knew he would enjoy it, and she, well, he really didn’t give a shit what she felt. No doubt he would be forcing himself on her, since that would most likely be the only way he could fuck her. He was powerful, he was a god, and anyway, nobody could stop the great Dracula when he seduced and murdered his prey. What made anyone think they could stop him? The sound of the doorbell roused him from his thoughts and then instantly concerned him. He wasn’t expecting company. He hadn’t ordered anything over the internet, so it definitely wasn’t a delivery. Then who could it be? Damn! If those fucking Girl Scouts or Brownie things are at my door, trying to sell me cookies, I’m going to slit their little throats. The thought of killing a little girl excited him. Perhaps another time. At the moment he was busy killing Jordan’s wife. And another waited in the wings. He slowly made his way to the foyer, making sure the intruder, whoever it was, could not see him from the pane of glass on the side panel. Once he was securely hidden to the right of the door, he peeked around, and to his amazement, the front porch was bare. His astonishment soon spiraled into anger, and he shoved himself back against the wall. Did someone feel the urge to play tricks with him? Oh, not today, he was in no mood to play with the outside world. He had much to do right inside the comfort of his own home. Raking his hands through his short and spiky black hair, he turned to head back downstairs to his blood doll in waiting, when the front door came crashing open, throwing shattered glass all over the front foyer. He stood dazed and confused as Chief Joey Jasperillo and three undercover cops from the Henderson Police Department converged

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on him. Chief Jasperillo reached for his handcuffs, and in a sweeping motion, came down with fury on John Ennisbrooke. “You piece of shit, lowlife scum!” he yelled through tightly clenched teeth, pushing the cuffs tighter on John’s wrists. John laughed. Chief tightened his grip. “I wouldn’t laugh if I were you. Now where is Mia De L’croix, you piece of shit?” Mere seconds after the words came out of the chief’s mouth, Jordan stormed through the doorway. With his free hand, Jasperillo grabbed Jordan, holding him steady until another officer could take John from his grasp. Jordan turned hard, cold, lifeless eyes on Ennisbrooke. “Where is my wife?” John struggled in the tight grasp that kept him immobile. Raising darkly rimmed eyes, he glared at Jordan. “Oh, I think you’re too late, my friend.” Jordan let out a shrill before he moved faster than seemed possible across the foyer. Just as he was about to cup his hands around Ennisbrooke’s neck, one of the officers yelled from the basement, “Hey, there is some kind of secret room down here.” Instantly, Jasperillo flashed Jordan a look, reached into Ennisbrooke’s pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He handed the man over to another officer and took off downstairs. Jordan narrowed a cold, murderous look at the man standing handcuffed against the wall. “Ennisbrooke, if you hurt my wife in any way, I am coming back up these stairs and snapping your fucking neck.” **** Please, Mia, be alive. Please. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being hurt or worse. And now, he had put her life in more danger than he could have ever thought possible. His stomach churned. The closer

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they got to the basement, the rancid, musty smell of death filled his nostrils. Coming off the last step, he scanned the narrow cellar for evidence, quickly spying the secret door within seconds. Both men exchanged glances as the chief reached into his pocket. He pulled out a set of keys quickly and fumbled with them on the ring until he found the right key. “Please, Chief, hurry, please!” Jordan begged, praying that his wife was still alive. He swallowed against the boulder lodged in his throat. “Stay calm, Jordan, we are minutes from her,” the Chief promised, yet his voice reeked of uncertainty. He narrowed his gaze as he pushed the key forward. Before he could turn the lock, Jordan knocked him out of the way and slammed against the door. The Chief took his cue and on the second body slam, the door splintered open. The Chief lunged for Jordan before Jordan’s mind had a chance to process the scene in front of him. Paralyzed by a fury of fear and anger, Jordan scanned the room. The metallic smell of dried blood was everywhere. Metal chains hung from the ceiling. It was only when his vision took in the silhouette of the limp female body hooked with IVs did his voice return. “Oh my God!” He bulldozed over the chief. “Mia, baby,” he whispered in a cracked voice, coming up beside her. She lay still. Her skin no longer held the radiant glow that it once did. Instead, her body was laced with deep gashes and bruises. Oh no. Through the tears welling up inside him, fury began to spiral. “Get the paramedics down here now! Get this shit off her now!” “Jo–r–dan?” He put two strong hands on either side of the gurney and leaned down close to her face. “I’m here, darlin’.” He kissed her forehead, wanting desperately to take away her pain, the pain he caused. “I’m so sorry, Mia.”

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She flinched. “It hurts.” Tears flowed down her face, spilling onto his hand. I am going to kill that motherfucker. Turning scathing eyes to the door, he yelled, “Where are the fucking paramedics?” He wanted to rip her away from the torture chamber that surrounded her, but she needed medical personnel, but until they showed up, he could try and removed the duct tape from her arms and legs. “Chief,” he yelled and then turned to scan the room, “do you have a knife—I need to get this damn tape off her.” The chief grabbed his knife and launched it across the room. Jordan reached up and caught it with one hand. “Thanks.” Just as he removed the last piece of tape from Mia, paramedics stormed the room. He intended to step to the side while they worked, but his plan cut short when she reached out and placed a cool finger to his hand. “No—please stay with me.” “You bet, sweet thing. I will stay right here with you.” The aroma of her coconut shampoo caught a hold of his senses. In that moment all he wanted to do was reach down and nuzzle his face in her hair, pull her up into his arms, and never let her out of his sight. Ever again. The paramedics worked fast, disconnecting the IVs from her as gently as they could, and even their attempts seemed painful. The massive bruising from the needle marks had already begun to appear on her pale flesh. Jordan stared at her bruises with a new fury. When the second and final needle was removed, she screamed in agony as if razor blades were shooting through her limbs. He glared at the paramedics, ready to snap their heads off. “What the hell did you do? Be careful!” With his brow pulled tightly, the lead paramedic glanced up at Jordan. “Sir, I’m sorry—but your wife’s shoulders are dislocated as well.”

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What the fuck! He glared at the medical professional before he turned to scan the room. When he honed in on the additional chains lying on the ground, near the one that was still connected to his wife’s ankle, a new rage birthed itself inside him. Then the two metal hooks above her body came into focus. “Son of a bitch. I’m going to kill him.” Chief Jasperillo immediately tensed, then stopped his surveying of the room before he glanced Jordan’s way. “What is it?” he asked, carefully placing the evidence he collected against the small table by the door. He stared with angst at the hooks that previously hugged his wife. “That piece of shit suspended my wife from the ceiling with chains!” And suddenly, as if a steam roller had just run over him, he remembered the night terrors that she suffered from the past few months. The dreams of being suspended from a meat hook in some strange warehouse. The nights she woke in a cold sweat, her fingers clinging to his chest for dear life. He couldn’t protect her from her own dreams, and now those dreams had materialized. That man upstairs would get no trial, not in his lifetime. Before anyone could stop him, he took off out of the room, running full speed ahead to kill the man upstairs. He reached the top step in a matter of seconds, his goal clear. Snap that fucker’s neck. The door was ajar, so he stepped into the foyer, where Jamison stood with both arms shot out in front of Ennisbrooke. “Jamison, get the hell away from him! His time has come—that motherfucker is dying now!” Without thinking twice, he closed the distance between him and Jamison, catching Jamison’s hands as they shot out, pushing him backward. “Jordan—calm down. Listen to me, you can’t touch him. If you do, you are going to get arrested. ”

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Jordan took a breath, one that rattled his chest to the core. “Let me go, now! I don’t give a shit what happens to me. I am going to crush his fucking skull for hurting her.” Jamison squeezed him tighter. “Damnit, listen to me! He still hasn’t divulged where Cindi is, and—Paige is dead!” Ennisbrooke let out a high-shrilled laugh before he laid his head back against the wall. “You assholes, you will never find that magenta-haired firecracker.” That was it. Jordan was killing this asshole now. Jamison reinforced his hold on Jordan again and then pulled him into a bear hug right before he pushed him backward and up against the wall. Inches from his face, he whispered, “Jordan, get a hold of yourself. I know you want to kill him. I do, too. But if we don’t find Cindi, she is going to die. Do you want that? How are you going to explain to your wife that you let her best friend die?” He lowered his head. “Buddy, I know I am asking a lot from you, but you have got to calm down.” The sweat poured from Jamison’s brow. Jordan sighed. Jamison was right. She would die if anything ever happened to Cindi. He couldn’t let Cindi die. They had to rescue her. With that, his thoughts began to clear, and his heartbeat slowly returned to normal. “You’re right. I’m not thinking straight,” he admitted, then rotated his head in the direction that Ennisbrooke stood detained, slouching against the wall. Before he could move his lips to say anything, a voice echoed from the basement, “Hey, there is another door down here.” As if someone had yelled “fire,” Jamison and Jordan raced for the stairs, taking them two at a time. When they reached the bottom, a police officer motioned for them to follow him through a tiny opening in the side of the far wall in the basement. Jordan stepped through the hole first, then the police officer, followed by Jamison close behind. Standing on the other side was

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another wooden door. All three men stood dumbfounded, staring at each other. None of them had keys. Jordan remembered the keys in Mia’s room. The ones they didn’t use since he’d decided to break the door down. “Listen, the key ring that had the key that would have opened the room where Ennisbrooke detained Mia, had other keys on it.” Before anyone could say another word, he was gone. He reached the dungeon holding his wife, and once again, the fury inside him bubbled against his chest. He wanted to rip every inch of tubing and monitors from her bruised limbs. Calm down. She’s going to make it. Please, God. I know that I’m not one of your believers, but she is. She’s everything good in this world. I don’t deserve her. Look what I’ve done to her. For a moment, his gaze transfixed on her lifeless body as the paramedics buzzed around the room, still busy removing the attached devices. Taking a deep breath, he let the air fill his lungs before he asked the chief for the keys. His voice reeked of the sadness spilling from his heart. After a touch of his lips to her forehead, he vanished from the room. **** The key fit the door like a glove. With one click of the bolt, Jordan and Jamison rushed inside and instantly stopped in their tracks. In the middle of the room sat an old dentist-style chair with Cindi cowering in the middle, her head in her hands. She wasn’t bound, but her clothes were shredded, and the remains of dried blood covered her arms and legs. A slow, steady whimper filled the drafty room. Jordan carefully put his arms around her shoulders, and at the same time Jamison clasped her hands. Without warning, like defibrillators crushing her chest, she raised her head and screamed, “Where the fuck is Mia, you asshole. I am going to give you another ass kicking if you so much as touched a hair on her head.”

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Like a wild animal she began slamming her body against the cracked plastic of the chair. Jamison tightened his grip. “Cindi, honey, it’s me, Jamison.” Half crazed, she stopped and narrowed her gaze on them. Then, like nature had released a dam, tears began to run down her face. “Where is Mia? Oh God, please tell me she is not dead. I didn’t protect her. I always protect her. Always.” Jordan caressed her cheek. “Cindi, sweetie, Mia is in the next room. She isn’t dead. The paramedics are working on her right now. She should be on her way to the hospital shortly.” “I tried to fight that asshole. I tried to get to her. He is a coward. I beat the shit out of him, but fighting a door…I couldn’t do. I couldn’t break out of here. I am so sorry, Jordan.” She moved her hands to her face to cover herself from view, but instead Jamison reached in and pulled her into his arms. Like a small fragile child, she hugged him as he lifted her into his arms. Jordan sighed and stepped back. Jamison glanced at him, smoothing Cindi’s hair with the palm of his hand. “Go be with Mia. I have her. We will meet you at the hospital.” Before he could step through the hole, Jamison cleared his throat. The lines of his face etched up with deep concern. “Listen to me, buddy, don’t go upstairs. Leave Ennisbrooke to the police.” “I’ll leave him to the police for now.” He raked his fingers down the length of his hair. “He’d better hope and pray that my wife and her best friend come through this. I guarantee you if they don’t, he is dead. Plain and simple.” Before Jamison could say another word, Jordan disappeared.

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Chapter Nineteen Jordan followed the paramedics into the emergency entrance at St. Rose Hospital. His eyes remained glued to her chestnut hair, watching it glide gently off the gurney as they wheeled her through the ER. Her eyes remained closed, and the compact vital-signs machine hooked to her chest slowly hummed. He looked around the emergency room. There were very few people waiting. The many times in his life that he experienced the emergency room, it was usually overflowing with people. Strange ones. He continued following the path that the paramedics took until suddenly, two strong hands reached out and forced him to stop. “Excuse me, sir, but you can’t go any further,” an authoritative voice echoed. He glared at the figure possessing the voice, and then the young man put a firm hand on his shoulder. “Young man, I would advise you to take your hands off of me. That is my wife they are admitting. And come hell or high water, I am not leaving her side.” Back off before I throw you through those glass doors. “Of course, sir, I understand you want to be with her. But we need to get her admitted and see what we are dealing with. I promise I will keep you informed. And when she is in her private room, I will take you there personally,” the boy said, all the while trying to nudge him back out the double doors. Angry, he reached up and grasped the black-haired young man’s hand from his shoulder. He tried desperately to control himself, when

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all he wanted to do was fling the little nurse boy across the room. Don’t fuck with me now. “I am not leaving her. End of story. Now deal with it.” He sucked in a deep breath and then glanced into the man’s frightened face. For god’s sake, the boy looked like he was going to cry. He leveled the best compassionate gaze he could muster. “I understand you are doing your job, but like I said, I am not leaving her side.” The man-boy stood for a moment, appearing to contemplate what he should do. He looked like a college student. “Sir, I really don’t want to get fired. This is my second day on the job, and if I lose this apprenticeship, it will take another semester before I can get into another one, if they well even accept me once I am fired. Please— isn’t there some way we can work this out? I promise I will keep my eye on what is happening with your wife and keep you updated on her progress.” Jordan sucked in the stale air and tried his best to clear his mind. He glanced at college boy again. Oh hell. He was a young kid, kind of reminded him of Tristan. The last thing Jordan wanted to do was get the poor kid fired. “So, what is your name?” The young man gawked at him with big green eyes and nervously licked the top of his lip. “My name is Kyle—sir.” “Well hello, Kyle. I’m Jordan De L’croix, and that woman in there is my wife Mia.” He reached out, inviting a handshake. Perhaps a little compassion might go a long way. Nervously, Kyle reciprocated. “It’s very nice to meet you.” “Likewise. Now, I don’t want to get you fired, Kyle, but I need to know everything that is going on with my wife. I am going to put my trust in you. I would advise you not to fuck it up.” Kyle curved his lips into a slight smile. “Mr. De L’croix—I–I…” “Please, call me Jordan.” “Okay—Jordan. I’ll make sure that you know everything that is going on in the restricted area. I’ll go right now and be back shortly

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with a report.” The young college man sighed and then released his strong grip. “Good—I’m counting on you.” He forced a smile. He didn’t want the kid to be too freaked out by him. Jordan was well aware of his scare factor. Immediately, the apprentice took off through the metal double doors, giving Jordan the opportunity to step backward against the wall. With his heart heavy and his mind exhausted, he closed his eyes. In the distance, buzzers sounded and faint voices echoed. He forced himself away from the wall and glanced down the long hallway to the glass windows lining the back wall. A few minutes later, he stood at the massive windows looking out over the strip in plenty of time to see the moon slowly moving the sun out of sight, twilight time.

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Chapter Twenty I stood in the field of wildflowers. The vivid purple, red, yellow, and orange colors danced in my view. Gazing across the vast field, I saw the silver hair of her bun gathered tightly above her head. Then I inhaled the floral scent that was all around me and my legs began to move toward her. She still looked like she did just before she died. She even wore the same A-line, black dress that slightly covered her knees. Nona? My body felt light as a feather. The pain was finally gone. But where was I? I looked back at the darkened sky behind me. Something was pulling me back toward the darkness, but I wanted to go toward her, toward the light that was coiled around her fragile limbs. If I could reach her, maybe she would acknowledge me again. Accept me into her arms and make the fear that was ripping my soul open disappear, she had loved me…once. I remember the words “Mia, I love you grandchild,” coming from her parted lips. Or had it been a dream? A low, buzzing sound was ringing through the light-aqua sky like someone was scraping their nails against the chalkboard. What was that sound? I looked back just in time to see the sky changing to ebony. And that sound, now it was piercing my eardrums. I fell to my knees, burying my face in my palms. Please make the sound stop. **** The door to Jordan’s right flung open and a male nurse came running. “She’s flatlining!”

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Jordan heard the words from the hallway. Flatlining? Without even thinking about his actions, he moved through the open door that lead to the emergency triage area. Fear moved his body faster than he thought humanly possible, and he kept moving until he reached the room with the commotion. Mass hysteria continued to engulf the small room as the nurse yelled to start CPR. With a strong kick, the doctor pushed the metal cart out of his way before he ripped open Mia’s gown. “We need the vasopressin yesterday.” His voice sliced through the pandemonium. **** Before the platinum-blonde nurse could flip the cap from the syringe, the doctor snatched it. “Come on, pretty lady, don’t die on us.” The clanging of the syringe hitting the floor sounded just before his voice. “Another round of compressions. Now.” The doctor sped through the room. His swiftness would have made any person dizzy. His piercing blue gaze flashed toward the monitor again. “Come on, Mia, come back to us.” He raked a hand through his silver hair. An invisible force pushed through Jordan’s body, practically knocking the breath from him. What had he done? His body numbed as the pain of possibly losing her became clear. Karma had finally reached him. The only woman that he truly loved was dying, and it was because of him. The doctor gave the order for another round of compressions, and his words battered Jordan, each time like body blows. Slowly, the doctor raised his hands from her chest and stepped back. Letting out a beaten and battered breath, he glanced at his wristwatch. “We need to call it. TOD 7:30 p.m. Twilight time.” No, no, no. Please not her. As the pain turned into rage, he wished someone would have driven a knife through his heart. Life without her wouldn’t exist for him. He swallowed an upsurge of sobs. Please,

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Mia’s God, don’t take her. I swear I will make this right if you spare her life. I’ll walk away, take my skeletons with me. Please. Please. Damn you! She’s a good woman. Don’t let her die like this. Not because of me. Ennisbrooke would die tonight. That was his final thought as he dashed from the room. Halfway down the triage hall, commotion behind him stopped him in his tracks. Nurses and doctors ran in and out of Mia’s room, and the young man from the reception area ran straight toward him. “Jordan, Jordan, wait. They have a pulse.” “Mia, darlin’.” When he reached her room, the doctors were hooking her back up to the machines. He went to her side and pulled her hand into his. “Mia, honey. I love you. Please, come back to me.” She didn’t move, didn’t even flutter an eyelid, only lay as still as death, but she continued to breathe. She returned from the brink of death. Happiness moved through his body, counteracted by overwhelming sadness. He had made a promise to her God. And now the promise had to be kept. He stayed by her side for the next few hours as she slept. Her breath was like music to his ears. He kissed her cheek, letting the tears spill in droves down his face. He cried for her, for himself, and for the happiness he thought they could have had. But now the time had finally come, and regardless of the medical staff’s complaints, he needed to feel her in his arms one more time before he walked out of her life. So, with a heart that felt as if someone had taken a butcher knife to it, he slipped an arm around Mia and pulled her against him. “I will always love you, Mia. Forgive me for what I must do.” He kissed her cheek, etching her face forever in his mind, and walked out of the room, out of her life, forever. ****

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Months had passed. The pain of losing Jordan hadn’t quite registered with Mia, even after he made it clear that their marriage was a mistake. Physically, she’d almost healed completely, but mentally her heart still ached for Jordan. Jamison was there for her during those first few months when Jordan left, and now the two of them spent a lot of time together. He knew that she still loved Jordan, yet it didn’t faze him. He promised her in time she would forget Jordan. But the problem remained that she didn’t want to forget him. She loved him too much to forget him. The gang, minus Jordan, had flown back to Florida to lay Paige to rest. Her funeral was beautiful and attended by many House members. Jordan had phoned Jamison to let him know when he would attend the viewing, just to make sure Mia wasn’t there. During the funeral service, Jordan didn’t even gaze Mia’s way. She remembered that clearly. She also remembered how badly she felt about Paige’s needless death. The woman didn’t deserve to die at the hands of Ennisbrooke. It was a true tragedy. John Ennisbrooke remained in jail, and Cindi was staying with her temporarily. With everything that had happened in her life, Mia was more than willing to take a minivacation when Jamison and Cindi suggested one. So the three of them packed a few bags and headed back to Vegas to spend a weekend on the strip. They’d checked into the MGM Grand and were waiting for room service when Jamison mentioned a new club they should check out. Mia was well aware that Jamison and Cindi felt that she needed to get out, so the three of them were going to Rain, a new club on the strip. On the ride to the club, Cindi and Jamison discussed the upcoming Stiletto Sanction party, but Mia had no desire to jump into their conversation, so she just stared out the window at the neon lights. Once inside the club, she excused herself to the restroom. What am I doing here? I’m not ready for this. Too late now, she should’ve played the sick card before they left the hotel. She fixed her makeup and headed back to the bar. That was when she saw Jordan leaning

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against the bar, with a tall, dark-haired woman on his arm. Running felt like the thing to do, but she couldn’t do that. Tonight, she wanted to look into his eyes when he told her to her face that he never loved her. If she could just get him alone for a few minutes, she could change his mind about them. I know I can. Her chance was arriving sooner then she had anticipated. He was coming across the bar toward the men’s room. “Jordan.” He stopped in front of her, dodged her stare. “Hello, Mia.” “We need to talk. Please talk to me for a few minutes.” Her heart felt like it was about to jump from her chest. So much for keeping cool, calm, and collected. “No, darlin’, we don’t need to talk. It’s over. I’m sorry if I hurt you, but again…it’s over.” “If we’re over, Jordan, then why can’t you look at me? You broke up with me over the phone. Don’t you think I deserve more?” He said nothing else, just moved around her into the restroom. By the time Mia approached the bar, Cindi and Jamison had disappeared, so she took her drink and leaned against the wall, sipping and people watching. Why wouldn’t Jordan talk to her? How could a man who professed months ago that he loved her more than anything in the world treat her so badly? The kidnapping wasn’t his fault. Ennisbrooke was a psycho, whether or not Jordan had slept with his wife. While Mia was busy mentally beating herself up, Jordan and the woman returned to the bar. He glanced at Mia and grinned right before he grabbed the ass of the woman beside him. Pulling the woman into his arms, he started walking backward, pinning her to the wall next to Mia. Mia’s legs felt like rubber, and her heart like someone just shot an arrow through it. She needed to run from there, keep on running and never look back. Now.

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“Excuse me,” she said, her voice low and raspy. She took a step forward and his hand shot out, and held her against the wall. “I don’t think so.” Then he crushed his lips to the other woman’s mouth. The slut wrapped her arms around his neck as he grinded his body against hers. Mia wanted to puke. And the tears, they fell freely now. “Please let me go.” “Let her go, Jordan!” Jamison’s voice sliced through the bar, and everyone turned to stare. Jordan released Mia, but her legs wouldn’t move, only kept her glued in place. Jordan narrowed a stormy-gray gaze at her. “Why are you still here? Can’t you see that I’m tired of you?” His voice was cold and distant, not the same voice that repeatedly vowed undying love for her. The woman in his arms stared at Mia, right before her lips edged up into a smile. A wicked smile. “Oh look, baby…you’ve made her cry,” she mocked. Taking Jordan’s bottom lip into her mouth, she moaned and rubbed her hands across his butt. “Mmmm….you are making me so hot, woman. I say let’s go to my place so I can fuck you all night long.” When he cupped the woman’s breasts, the entire bar turned eyes on them. “Please stop.” Mia slid to the floor, cupped her face in her hands. “I’ll tell you what, how about you come with us, Mia. When I’m done with her, I’ll give you a mercy fuck.” Jordan laughed, his last words ripping her soul from her body. It was over, and he didn’t love her. How could he after this atrocious display? It wasn’t until Jamison slid Mia into the car that she realized Jamison had her in his arms. Cindi continued cussing up one side and down the other, wanting to go give Jordan a piece of her mind. Actually, she wanted to kick the shit out of him, but Jamison forbade it.

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“Regardless of what that asshole says, Mia, I know he still loves you. He is acting like a complete idiot because he feels responsible for you almost dying,” Cindi said, her voice cracking with anger. Jamison pulled out onto the strip. “What he did tonight was inexcusable. I’m sorry.” His tone held a steadiness. Mia sniffled. “I’m the idiot. I didn’t want to let him go, but tonight he made it easy for me.” She said the words, but deep down inside she still loved him. Given time, perhaps that would pass, too. “I still say you should have let me kick his ass,” Cindi mumbled, clasping Mia’s hand into hers. “He never deserved you. And trust me, he will pay for hurting you.” “Could we just go home? Please.” Mia wanted to be alone and possibly sleep forever.

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Chapter Twenty-One One month after the Vegas fiasco. Getting ready for a Stiletto House party was like preparing for a wedding. Jamison had everything planned down to Mia and Cindi’s dresses. Of course, he had done the same when Mia married Jordan, something she was trying hard to forget. She really didn’t want to attend tonight, but she owed a lot to Jamison the past few weeks, especially after what happened in the club last month with Jordan. Jamison made every attempt humanly possible to lift her spirits, even attended chick flicks with her and Cindi, along with giving her the leave of absence from teaching, with pay. She slipped into the low-cut, form-fitting black dress, and then into the sandals. Cindi had dressed earlier and was already downstairs since she held a special role tonight as cohost of the Stiletto function. When Mia came off the last step, Jamison was waiting for her. His black tuxedo fit him perfectly. He’d even cut his hair. The short, brown locks glistened in the soft lighting. “You look beautiful, Mia.” He extended his hand, and she took it. Tonight he was to be her date. He’d insisted, since Jordan would be attending. Being the second in command, Jordan was expected to be there. She could handle this. Now, stopping Cindi from kicking his ass, that was something entirely different. She was actually having a good time mingling with the guests, discussing proper sanguine etiquette with the crew that arrived from Pittsburgh, and talking about teaching drama with a few of the vampires from the university faculty. She was just getting into a

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heavy discussion with Jamison’s donor when the hair on the back of her neck jutted forward. It had to be Jordan. She turned just in time to see Cindi flying across the floor, her face as red as a beet. Before she reached Mia, David, one of the Pittsburgh vamps, intercepted, grabbing Cindi around the waist. Then Mia’s gaze rested on Jordan. Hold your cool, Mia, he can’t hurt you. “You get away from her, Jordan,” Cindi yelled, squirming against David. Jordan didn’t move, only stood staring at Mia. “I need to talk to my wife.” Wife? What does he mean “wife”? “We’re divorced…remember?” Mia rebutted. “Technically we’re not divorced yet. You are still mine.” Incredulous, she glared at him. Like hell. Her fists balled up at her sides. Perhaps she should’ve been more worried about punching Jordan out, instead of Cindi doing the deed. “We are not married. How dare you. You fuck everything on this side of the Mississippi and you think we’re still married.” Something snapped. She felt the coil in her chest, and then the spring burst. “Get away from me. You…you ass!” “Jordan, you need to back off,” Jamison demanded, gently cupping Mia’s elbow. “This isn’t the time or the place.” “Fuck you. You want my wife for yourself. You can’t have her.” Somehow, Cindi managed to slip out from under David’s hold, because the slap she delivered to Jordan’s face stopped everyone in the room who wasn’t already gawking at them. “I should take my blade and cut your dick off for what you did to my best friend. She loved you, and you crushed her heart.” She went for a second slap but wasn’t fast enough. Jordan cupped her wrists, held her at arm’s length, and she kept yelling. “How could you hurt her like you did? You never deserved her.” Then she spat at him.

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“Someone better restrain her before I do it,” Jordan said, his voice cool, calm, and still even tempered. David, still holding Cindi, moved her a few steps farther away from Jordan, and for the first time, Mia saw Cindi turn around and break down. Not once in all the months Mia came apart from Jordan’s denial of his love for her did Cindi once show any weakness, only compassion and strength for her best friend. The pain, the hurt, the heartache, it was coming back. Mia touched her hand to her abdomen as her breath hitched. Jamison pulled her against him, motioned for security. “Please escort Jordan from this house,” he said. “No, wait…I want to speak to him,” Mia whispered. “Are you sure?” Concern edged Jamison’s features. She nodded, so he stepped back, turning her over to Jordan. Jordan touched her arm, and her heartbeat accelerated. “Not here, darlin’.” “Fine.” She glanced back at Jamison as Jordan led her from the room. Jamison winked, and a ghost of a smile crossed his face. “It’s okay,” she mouthed back to him. When they reached the hallway, her feet left the ground. “Put me down.” “No.” He carried her up three flights of stairs without saying a word, and she refused to look at him, even when she felt his gaze boring into her cheek. Damn him. Once inside his room, he plopped her onto the center of the bed and took a seat on the chair opposite her. “Are you sleeping with Jamison?” “What?” She was still trying to fix her dress that happened to ride up her legs when he tossed her to the mattress. “What if I am?” “Just answer the question, Mia.” “You have no right to question me, Jordan. You lost the right to care about me when you decided our marriage was over.” Damn

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dress. She shimmied her body back and forth, trying to get the darned thing fixed. He grabbed hold of the dress and pulled it loose, smoothing it down over her thighs, immediately sending sparks the size of lightning bolts through her body. No way was she falling for him, not again. “The dress is fixed. Now talk. Are you sleeping with him?” “Yes,” she blurted, lying like a dog. “Yes, we sleep together every night, and I love it. He is the best lover I’ve ever had.” “Really?” She could feel the flush in her cheeks long before he commented on it. “You’re lying,” was his cold reply. Defensiveness driving her, she countered, “No, I’m not.” “Then prove it to me.” By now he’d taken a seat on the bed next to her, too close for lying comfort. “Kiss me.” “Screw you. I’m not kissing you. Why don’t you go find the woman you were sucking face with at the bar that night in Vegas. I’m sure she’d love to kiss you.” Mia jumped from the bed before he had a chance to grab her wrists, and ran toward the door. Halfway across the room, he stepped on the hem of her gown, stopping her in place, along with ripping the dress down her back. Now she was pissed, cold, and ready to punch his teeth down his throat. But she didn’t have a chance to react before she was in his arms. “Let me go, Jordan. Right now.” “Fine,” he said, then pulled her against him and crushed his lips to hers. And the kiss was magical, making her all the more devastated. She twisted and turned in his grasp until finally he let go. “I hate you,” she yelled, slamming her fists against his chest. “I hate your fucking guts,” she yelled louder, hitting him harder. Desperation made her try and stop tears from falling, but the pressure behind her eyelids was too intense, and she failed. Tears the size of snowflakes fell.

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“I love you, Mia. I always have. But I made a promise to your God to walk out of your life, taking all of my baggage with me, if you lived.” She let out an enraged snort, sucking all the snot back up into her nose. “I still hate you! Prick.” He didn’t retreat, but held her tighter, planting his mouth all over her face, lips, and eyes. “The only way I could get you to hate my guts was to hurt you with infidelity. But, darlin’, I never slept with that woman, or anyone else for that matter. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted. And I won’t keep my promise to your God. The only way I can stay away from you is if he comes to earth and strikes me dead. Or you put a knife through my chest, straight into my heart.” “I hope he does strike you dead.” She didn’t really mean it, but the shock of his revelation that he still loved her made her desire for him bubble back and forth between happiness and anger. She touched her lips to his, bit him once, then twice, before he threw her to the ground and planted his body over hers. “I’ve missed you so much it hurts. You can bite me until you draw blood, but it will never change my feelings for you,” he admitted. The pain from months of agonizing over his rejection started to simmer, calming her enough to wrangle in her tears. She touched her lips to his cheek and kissed him once, then twice. “I do still love you, Jordan.” Her voice cracked. “Even though you ripped my heart apart.” “I’d hoped you did. I will take the rest of my life proving to you how much I love you, I promise.” He inched up his handsome lips into a wry smile. ”Now take this dress off before I rip it the rest of the way off your body.” She sat up, proceeding to unzip the dress, when he cupped her wrist. “Where did you get this dress?” From the look on her face, he must have known the purchasing culprit, because moments later he tore the material from her body and threw it to the floor. “He will never dress you again.”

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Mia could feel her face lighting up in surprise as his gaze settled on her lace lingerie. He cocked his head to the side, ran a finger over the black lace, and instantly she was wet between her legs with need and desire for him. “I like this,” he whispered, his voice raspy, sexy, inviting. “Cindi bought it for me. It was a cheer-Mia-up present.” “Right. Remind me to thank her for it after I scold her for spitting on me.” He smiled and touched the chemise. “Come here.” Sitting on his lap, she waited for him to touch her body, marveling in the thought of his hands bringing her desires to life again. As if he heard her thoughts, he slowly removed her undergarments, then held her at arm’s length, his passion-laced gaze surveying. “God, you’re so beautiful.” Taking off his underwear took mere seconds. For Mia it felt like an eternity. The term “on fire” didn’t begin to describe her present state. Perhaps “inferno” was a better picture. A conflagration of raw sexual need whipped through her as his erection pressed against her thigh and he pinned her to the ground. With his knees, he nudged open her legs. Then he seductively sucked his two fingers into his mouth before sliding them inside her pussy. Gently, he pushed open her thighs until her knees touched the floor. Mia grinded against his fingers, kissing his face all over, not once closing her eyes. This time she wanted to watch his expression when he loved her. They even left every light in his room on, and probably the door unlocked, but it didn’t matter if the entire party downstairs barged in, she wasn’t leaving this moment. When his mouth sucked in her nipple, she moaned. It felt damn good. “The other one…please touch it.” He pinched the hard bud, twirling it between his forefinger and thumb, occasionally squeezing it, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. He finger fucked her, carefully alternating between sucking her tits, and squeezing and biting them.

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Then he flipped his body until his erect cock hovered above over her face. At the same time he lowered his body, she opened her mouth, taking in his cock as he spread her nether lips with his fingers and filled her with his tongue. She sucked and sucked. “Mmmm…that feels good,” he moaned, his breath tickling her between her legs. “Suck me harder, darlin’. Show me how much you’ve missed me.” And she did it, taking turns caressing his buttocks, then squeezing and pushing down on it. Even when he started pumping against her mouth she kept on track, because he tasted so good this time around. He was the only man who’d ever released the sexual inhibitions she felt all her life, and he would remain the only man who could. So this time, when his cock stiffened and the juice flowed, she swallowed it with pleasure, but most of all with love. Jordan released, and she came minutes later, his mouth still glued to her nether lips, sucking them in, licking them until her orgasm crippled her body. When he mounted her, she pulled him close, embarrassment about sex no longer a factor for her, only enjoyment brought to fruition by love. After their fifth time at making love, he finally grabbed pillows and a blanket from the bed, but then got right back to the job at hand once the pillows were under Mia’s head. With him buried deep inside her, he flipped Mia over so she was on top of him. He held her around the waist, gliding his cock back into her opening. She glanced toward the window, catching the slither of sunlight poking through the curtains, the only thing in the room still closed before they entered. “It’s getting light.” He smiled, contentment seeming to ease from his pores, and then he pulled her to him and kissed her nose. “Looks like we’ve made love the entire night. Let’s go a few more rounds, then crawl into bed. What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t put you to bed?” “A few more rounds, and then take me to bed, Jordan.”

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Chapter Twenty-Two Mia and Jordan made a superior attempt at fighting Jamison when he insisted on rethrowing the blood gathering party, but, like always, he refused to listen, so they caved and let him plan the entire event. His reasoning was that he still felt guilty about the abrupt ending to their wedding celebration. Finally, after he and Jamison hashed out Jamison’s feelings for Mia, something Jamison assured Mia and Jordan he needed to do to clear his conscience, things seemed back to normal. Or as normal as they could be from all the drama. The wondering about what they discussed still interested Mia, but Jordan wouldn’t talk about it, only said in his Jordan-owned-sexy-way that Jamison backed down, which Mia found suspicious, especially when Jordan grinned with devilish satisfaction. “You look good enough to eat in that dress.” Jordan stood by the window with an eyebrow cocked. “Remind me to buy you a few more dresses in that shade of red.” Yes, he’d insisted on purchasing Mia’s dress for this function, refusing to take no for an answer when she insisted she could buy her own. Mia was still reeling about what she donned underneath the dress, her bloodplay outfit for the evening. After canvassing the room a few times, Jordan pulled Mia’s hand into his and moved them across the foyer and into the elevator. Once the door closed, Jordan caged Mia between himself and the brass railing. “Are you sure you want to do this tonight?” Physically she was ready. Mentally, not so much. She thought about what lay under her dress. The two black leather triangles attached to her breasts with lace, her red thong panties, and the mini

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version of a skirt she wore, slits everywhere. The four-inch, highheeled, thigh-high red leather boots could do some serious damage if she chose to kick someone’s ass. “What are you thinking about, darlin’?” His voice crooned in her ear as he slid an open palm against her clothed breast. Instantly her nipples hardened. The desire for him to strip her naked traveled all through her body, and warmness pooled everywhere. “Well?” His lips twitched. She wanted to suck them off his face. “I think I look like a hooker underneath this dress.” His lips touched hers. A deep, ravenous kiss followed the one that made her toes curl and other parts of her body heat several degrees. “You look beautiful, Mia. Sexy as hell. Now let’s take off this dress so I can get a better look at you.” As Jordan wished, he unzipped the dress, and she slid it from her body. When the material balled at her feet, she stepped from it and leaned against the railing. The elevator came to a halt, but they didn’t move. Instead, she looked into his light-gray colored gaze. “I want to look at you…now.” He stepped back, giving her a better view. And what a view it was. Seductively, Jordan removed his jacket, then took his time with the shirt, slowly rocking his hips from left to right as he unbuttoned and tossed it to the floor. Now he was shirtless, those succulent muscles radiant in the soft elevator lighting. Her gaze traveled down his chest then stopped. Pushed through his right nipple, a silver hoop dangled. How did she miss that when they’d dressed earlier this evening or when they’d made love each night since their reunion? His black pants stayed on his body. Thank God. She couldn’t imagine what he could’ve fit underneath them. They fit him like a glove, one she couldn’t wait to remove. He pinned her with a delicious look, one that temporarily incapacitated her, then slid his tongue across his lower lip, baring the

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three neatly placed silver spikes pressed into his tongue. “Do you like what you see, darlin’? I know I love what I see. Shall we join the party?” he asked, gesturing toward the opened door. Shit, when did you open the door? She’d been so busy ogling his body she didn’t even see him press the button. She hoped she looked as sexy as her husband did. Just the thought of those spikes on her flesh sent a flush through her body settling in her face. A low chuckle left Jordan’s throat. “You’re blushin’, Mia.” Yeah…what else is new. “You seem to do that to me on a regular basis.” She moved past him and out the door. “I’m sure I’ll be blushing a lot more before the night is over.” “I’m hoping so.” He slid past her, grabbing her hand into his. “Let’s make a bet? The next time you’ll blush so beautifully will be when I—” “When you want?” Mia yanked him to a stop. When he’d finally stopped laughing, he tilted his head, gazed into her eyes in a way that made her feel like he was looking into the depths of her soul. “When I hold you in my arms and strip you naked. Before I lovingly bleed you. That’s when, darlin’.” She was sure an incredulous look must’ve passed over her face. “I’m getting naked in front of the entire room?” A rock lodged in her throat, a little out of fear, mostly out of shock. “No. For my eyes only. Ever.” Relief washed over Mia. She was just getting used to the hooker outfit. Group nudity may have been pushing the envelope a little much tonight. Not to mention she was definitely pushing the boundaries with her God tonight. She’d calmed down a lot when it came to religion, especially since marrying, separating, and reuniting with Jordan. There were days when she and Jordan had been separated—she had thought they were divorced—when she’d wanted God to take her because it was too damned hard to live without him.

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Reaching the end of the hall, they stopped at the doorway leading into the blood room. “Jordan?” Swamped with emotion, she reached out and touched his hip. “I love you so much. I always will.” The look on his face mirrored her feelings. “I know you do, darlin’. And I—I will always love you, woman, until I take my final breath. And if another life exists, I’ll love you in that realm just as much.” Their promise to one another was sealed with a kiss. Tonight, the Stiletto House bloodplay room was filled. Cindi, Tristan, Ridge, Lilley, Jamison, and his date flanked areas of the stainless-steel and black-leather room. The room was on the smaller side but filled from top to bottom with strange and unnatural-looking devices. During Mia and Jordan’s one voyeuristic episode, she didn’t concentrate on the room as much as the participants. Manacles hung from the walls, and blood stained a few sets. Ropes and chains were spread out on tables along the back wall, and a small alcove tucked into the back wall. Mia stood in the doorway and glanced down at her outfit, and then slid a hand over the soft leather replica of a skirt. Jordan bent down and kissed her cheek before he slid a hand against her back. “You look beautiful, darlin’.” His gaze slid down her body once more. “Are you ready to go inside?” This was it, the time she’d been anticipating for days. For months. “I’m ready, Jordan.” She whispered the words, hoping she sounded ready. Truth be told, her nerves remained heightened, yet her excitement and need to share this part of Jordan’s world overshadowed the fear. He pulled her against him, and his soft cotton pants caressed her black-stocking-clad thighs. It still surprised her he didn’t have on his leather pants. He was rather fond of them. “Let’s go.”

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It didn’t take long for them to make it halfway through the room, even with Mia stopping to stare at the bodies donning black leather, chains, and more piercings than she cared to count. Reaching the small alcove in the back of the room, Jordan stopped. “Here we go. Our private paradise.” Mia scanned the area. A set of red satin scarves anchored from the ceiling and swayed against the black leather stool positioned in the center of the floor. A small tether whip lay in the middle of the stool. “No chains for me?” Her voice cracked. Damn. She tried her best to sound sexy. Instead she sounded like someone cut most of her vocal chords. A chuckle sounded. Jordan slid an arm around her waist and turned her toward him. “Not tonight, darlin’. I want to ease you into play gently.” Soft lips kissed her cheek. “Are you sure you’re fine with this…so soon after all that’s happened?” She knew he was talking about her kidnapping, the memories of Ennisbrooke keeping her bound and beaten in his dungeon. Perhaps the images of Ennisbrooke might surface tonight. But it was a chance she was willing to take. Since her wedding reception, the moment she’d walked in on Tristan and Cindi in this room, something inside her changed. A desire like none she’d ever known welled up and spilt through her like a tidal wave. “I’m positive that I want to experience this night with you, Jordan. Take me to the forbidden realm. Love me like you’ve never loved me before.” Heat so intense traveled through her veins. Her breath hitched as the warm sensation took control of her body. From the main room the stringent smell of alcohol, soft whimpers, and moans started to inundate the alcove. And another odor, metallic. Blood. “Your wish is my command…has always been my command.” When they reached the stool, Jordan picked it up and set it to the side. He cupped her elbows, guiding her toward the vacant area. “Give me your hands.”

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As instructed, she offered her hands. He brought them to his lips, kissing them gently. He studied her as he laid one of her wrists on top of the other, then wrapped the silk scarves around both, making a tight knot. “Is it too tight?” “No.” He didn’t say another word, only moved behind her. The sounds from the rest of the guests were getting louder, and she tried to focus on Cindi’s voice. Cindi hadn’t been strung up when Jordan and Mia walked into the room. She wondered if she was now. A cranking noise from behind garnered her from the thoughts. Slowly, the scarf started to pull upward until both her wrists were in the air and she stood on tiptoes. That’s when the motor-like sound stopped. “Are you okay?” Jordan’s voice whispered from behind. Truth be told, she thought this would be the part that would resurrect flashbacks of her torture, but it didn’t. She wanted this. Wanted him. “I feel awesome.” He was in front of her now, holding the stool. His blond hair swayed against his shoulders. After placing the stool in front of her, he clipped the small tether crop into his silver-studded belt and took a seat. Wrapping both of his legs around her thighs, he pulled her close. As she closed her eyes, her feet left the floor. “Look at me, baby.” His lips touched hers. “Open your eyes and look at me.” She wanted to, even tried to pry them open. But they refused to budge. “I can’t.” A soft knock sounded near the opening to the alcove, and then a deep voice spoke. “Jordan, man, I hate to bother you, but a couple blood dolls just showed up. Said they’d been here before…with you. They want to know if they can play tonight.”

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They’d been here with you. Mia tried not to react. Easier said than done. She felt her body tense, and just as quickly, Jordan’s thighs tightened against her. “Where are they?” Jordan asked. “They’re outside the door,” the man said. Mia recognized the voice this time around. Ridge. “Send them to me.” Jordan slid his hand against Mia’s back. “Now.” “I’ll get them,” Ridge said as his voice trailed away. A few minutes later, Mia smelled the strong scent of perfume, and then a high-pitched voice said, “Sorry to bother you, Jordan, but you did say we should stop by anytime if we wanted to have some fun.” Another voice rang against the first. “We heard that you’re married now. At first, Sue and I couldn’t believe you were married. I mean the Jordan we know, married. But to each his own. Since you’re not available anymore, well, we were wondering if we could play with a few other coven members. I mean, you’re still off limits…right?” Before Mia’s eyes flung open, she growled nice and loud so she was sure they could hear her. “He’s off limits, ladies. Forever.” A sexy smile slid across Jordan’s face. “You heard my wife. I’m off limits. Go find Ridge and tell him I said to find you two partners for the evening.” The redhead giggled and the brunette gave Mia a glare before they both turned and walked away. “You’re the man of the hour.” Mia couldn’t help but comment. That drop-dead gorgeous smile stretched further across his face. “I do believe that’s the second time in our relationship that you’ve growled for me. Man of the hour, huh? Only for you.” He kissed her nose. “Are you ready to play with me, darlin’?” “I’m ready. I’ve always been ready and waiting for you.” “I love you, Mia.”

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THE END WWW.RMSOTERA.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR R.M. Sotera is a romance vixen stuck in the body of a prim-andproper woman. A transplant to Las Vegas, by day she is a wife, mom, taxi driver, counselor, and psychologist to her wild and, at times, crazy friends. But when the family goes to bed and the house is dark, she seeks refuge in her office, where her deepest desires take hold. And…ultimately a story is born. ~~Read a story by R.M. Sotera ~~ ~~Where Happily Ever After Is Just The Beginning~~

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