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〃I don't back up； not for anyone。〃 I almost laughed。 〃Though next time； maybe I'll make an exception。〃
〃I didn't mean to hurt you；〃 Richard said。 〃But seeing you together like that 。 。 。 Knowing you're with him isn't the same thing as having it rubbed in my face。〃 His anger had vanished the moment he'd hurt me。 Horror at what he'd done； fear for my safety； sanity returning in a rush。
〃We were only kissing； Richard； nothing else； no matter what he wants you to believe。〃
〃I was suddenly so jealous。 I'm sorry。〃
〃I know it was an accident； Richard。 I'm just glad there wasn't a wall closer。〃
〃I could have hurt you badly。〃 He took a step towards me； hands reaching； and stopped himself。 〃And you want me to let the beast loose enough to kill。 Don't you understand how hard I fight to control it？〃
〃I understand better than I did a few minutes ago；〃 I said。
〃Your bags are in the hallway。 I'll bring them in； then I'll go。〃 This was the look I'd been dreading。 This crushed； puppy dog look。 The anger had been easier to deal with； if more dangerous。
〃Don't go。〃
They both looked at me。
〃Jean…Claude staged this。〃 I held a hand up before he could protest。 〃Oh； I know you enjoyed yourself； but you still wanted Richard to see us together。 You wanted to pick a fight。 You wanted to show me he was as much a monster as you are。 You succeeded on all counts beautifully。 Now； get out。〃
〃You are throwing me out of my own bedroom？〃 He looked amused。
〃Yeah。〃 I stood up and was only a little wobbly on the high heels。
Jean…Claude sighed。 〃I am to be relegated forever to my coffin then； to never know the joy of your pany for my slumber。〃
〃You don't go to sleep； Jean…Claude。 You die。 Maybe I lust after your warm； breathing body； but I'm not up to the full package yet。〃
He smiled。 〃Very well； ma petite。 I will leave you and Monsieur Zeeman to discuss the last few minutes。 I would ask one thing。〃
〃And that is？〃 I asked。
〃That you not make love in my bed when I cannot join you。〃
I sighed。 〃It would be pretty tacky to make love with Richard in your bed。 I think you're safe on that one。〃
Jean…Claude glanced at Richard。 His eyes seemed to take in every inch of him； lingering on the open wound at his neck； though maybe that was just my imagination。 〃If anyone could withstand the temptation； it is you； ma petite。〃 Jean…Claude looked at me； his face unreadable。 〃I am sorry you were nearly hurt。 I did not mean for that to happen。〃
〃You always have good intentions；〃 I said。
He sighed； then smiled。 He glanced at Richard。 〃Perhaps I am not the better monster； after all。〃
〃Get out；〃 I said。
He left； still smiling。 He closed the door behind him； and I was left with his power dancing over my skin； the feel of his lips and hands on my body。 It was only a kiss。 Foreplay。 But even the rush of adrenaline； of nearly being thrown into a wall； couldn't chase away the aftereffects。
Richard stood staring at me； as if he could sense the power somehow。 〃I'll go get the bags；〃 he said。 He could have said so many things； but that was safest。
He went to get the bags； and I sat down on the bed。 Richard could have killed me。 Jean…Claude would never have lost control like that。 I wanted Richard to embrace his beast； but maybe； just maybe； I didn't understand what that meant。
23
I sat on the edge of the bed； waiting for Richard to e back into the room。 My skin was jumping from Jean…Claude's parting gift。 Only a kiss； and Richard had nearly torn into Jean…Claude and me。 What would Richard have done if he'd caught us doing something truly lascivious？ It was better not to find out。
Richard set my suitcase and both bags inside the door。 He went out and came back with his small overnight bag。
He stood there； just inside the door； staring at me。 I stared back。 Blood still trickled down his throat from where I'd cut him。 Neither of us seemed to know what to say。 The silence grew until it was so thick it began to have weight。
〃I'm sorry I hurt you；〃 he said。 〃I've never lost control like that before。〃 He took a step into the room。 〃But seeing you with him 。 。 。〃 He held out his hands； then let them fall to his sides； helplessly。
〃It was only a kiss； Richard。 That's all。〃
〃It's never only a kiss with Jean…Claude。〃
I couldn't argue that。
〃I wanted to kill him；〃 Richard said。
〃I noticed。〃
〃You're sure you're all right？〃
〃How's your neck？〃 I asked。
He touched the wound and came away with fresh blood。 〃Silver blade； it won't heal immediately。〃 He came to stand in front of me； looking down； so close that the legs of his jeans nearly brushed my knees。 It was almost too close。 The lingering brush of Jean…Claude's power made my skin ache。 Richard's nearness made it worse。
If I stood up； our bodies would touch； he was that close。 I stayed sitting； trying to swallow the last bits of Jean…Claude's kiss。 I wasn't sure what would happen if I touched Richard now。 It felt almost like whatever Jean…Claude had done reacted to Richard's body。 Or maybe it was me。 Maybe I was being that needy。 Maybe my body was tired of saying no。
〃Would you really have killed me？〃 Richard asked。 〃Could you have plunged that blade home？〃
I stared up at him and wanted to lie to the sincerity in his eyes； but I didn't。 Whatever we were doing with each other； whatever we meant to each other； it couldn't be based on lies。 〃Yes。〃
〃Just like that；〃 he said。
I nodded。 〃Just like that。〃
〃I saw it in your eyes。 Cold； dispassionate； like someone else was looking out。 If I was sure I could kill coldly； it wouldn't scare me so much。〃
〃I wish I could promise you that you wouldn't enjoy it； but I can't。〃
〃I know that。〃 He stared at me。 〃I couldn't kill you。 Not for any reason。〃
〃It would destroy something in me to lose you； Richard； but my first reaction is to protect myself at all costs。 So； if we ever have another misunderstanding like we did tonight； don't help me up； don't e close to me； until I'm sure you're not going to eat me。 Okay？〃
He nodded。 〃Okay。〃
The energy rush that Jean…Claude had given me was fading； calming。 I stood up； and Richard's body touched mine。 I felt an instant rush of warm energy that had nothing to do with the vampire。 Richard's aura enveloped me like a breath of warm air。 His arms slid behind my back。 I slid my hands around his waist and laid my cheek against his chest。 I listened to the deep throbbing of his heart； running my hands over the softness of the flannel shirt。 There was a measure of fort in Richard's arms that simply wasn't there when Jean…Claude held me。
He ran his hands through my hair； putting one on either side of my face。 He pulled me back until he could see my face。 He bent towards me； lips parted。 I stretched on tiptoe to meet him。
A voice said； 〃Master。〃
Richard turned with me still in his arms； so we could see the door。 Jason crawled across the white carpet； dripping crimson drops as he moved。
〃My God； what happened to you？〃 I asked。
〃I happened to him；〃 Richard said。 He walked over to the crawling man。
〃What do you mean； you happened to him？〃
Jason abased himself at Richard's feet； face pressed to the carpet。 〃I'm sorry。〃
Ri