"I did it."

Yes, he did and he knew exactly what she liked for breakfast. It was the reason her hips were too ample. "Thanks."

Maybe he wants to fatten her up then keep her to himself. She had a big b.u.t.t. That should be enough. Leaving her dark thoughts alone she decided food was the best distraction.

She kept her hands to herself, sat down, and inhaled her apple pancakes with bacon. Too bad she was hungrier for the guy next to her than what was on the plate in front of her. This reminded her that they had something to discuss. "We need to talk."

"You sound like a guy."

"Maybe you're rubbing off on me."

Why did she say that? She groaned. Daedalus didn't bother to mask the mischief in his eyes.

"I'd like to rub something on you but you won't let me."

She couldn't help smiling as she looked down at her food. She cleared her throat. "That's why we need to talk."

"Thirsty?"

"Sure. I'll have what you're having."

Well, she liked being this close to him, liked finding out what about his private life. No daggers or swords for a barrier, just Daedalus being himself.

"What are you drinking, by the way?"

"A special brew. Too strong for you."

"Let me taste for myself."

He wagged his finger at her. "Nope. You'll be flying to the moon," he said, then took a sip and licked his lips. "Can't show up fully loaded at Tilly."

That's true. She counseled drug-addicted teens, but she couldn't let it go. Daedalus's caginess returned. He guarded his special concoction as if it was gold. "It can't be any worse than Jamaican rum. My mother is Haitian and they have five times more stronger spirits there than Jamaica."

Funny as he drank his concoction his color returned, like magic.

Daedalus arched his brow. "How about Jamaican rum in coffee."

"You really don't want me to know do you?"

"I don't," he said.

Fine. She was determined to find out eventually. She rubbed her forehead then rested her chin in the palm of her hand. This wasn't going they way she'd hoped. He deflected her questions and gave her s.e.xual innuendo instead. Not that the flirting wasn't appreciated early in the morning, but she still was on the fence about him.

"About the original topic?"

"I don't know why we're connected, Ilida. Why a.n.a.lyze it?"

"Why should I be connected to someone who doesn't want anything permanent?"

"What's wrong with a little while? Six months? Nine?"

"What happens to me after you find someone else?"

"You are a strong woman. You'll find someone who'll want permanency."

G.o.d, he can do some verbal slashing. He either knows what he said cut my heart out or he's deficient and doesn't have a clue that I'm falling for him. Yes, I will find someone new, but I don't want to keep looking over my shoulder waiting for his next conquest to push me out of the way.

"Let's try to stay away from each other. If you feel me, block me. I'll do the same."

"Good idea."

Deficient, Ilida decided. Her agreeing with him surprised him, too. It figures. He doesn't know what it's like to be dumped. And who would want to dump him? Really. It was her l.u.s.t talking loud and clear. She decided s.e.x was purely designed to get one into trouble.

Daedalus slid off the stool. Two steps later, he was behind the counter pouring coffee into a cup. Whatever else he added to his coffee, he didn't pour into hers. He slid the cup to her. She smiled at the scene they made.

"What?"

"Smiling at the picture."

"We could do this often."

"You, me, and all the other women you shared your bed with. That would be awkward and crowding."

Annoyance darkened his face. "As you wish," he said.

"It's that easy for you?"

"Would you like me to force myself on you?" Daedalus asked.

He looked to be two inches from being p.i.s.sed off with her.

"Of course not. It just seems you could take me or leave me."

"I'd like to take you upstairs now, but for some reason, Ilida, I don't want to make your life... difficult."

There was the familiar tingling in her stomach. He ruined her for other men. She cleared her throat. "So we're agreed on staying away from each other for good."

"We can't be friends, obviously."

"We could try. How far do you think we'd get?"

"My bed or yours," he said then gulped down the last of his special brew.

Not what she'd asked. It was virtually guaranteed they'd end up in bed together but she didn't have to tempt fate. It was time to go. "Thanks for breakfast," she said as she stood up from the counter.

"Do you have to leave so soon?"

"Yeah, I'd better."

"I'll drive you to work."

She touched his chest and the tantalizingly hard pectorals under his merino wool sweater. She felt him flinch. His eyes darkened with warning.

"I-I'll catch a cab to Penn Station."

"No, I'll drive you there."

"Can you guarantee we won't rip each other's clothes off on Eight Avenue?"

He leaned on the door while she took her coat out of the closet.

"No, but I don't want my picture on the cover of the Post with a huge stamp on my forehead that says 'Billionaire Nudist'. So I'll refrain from gettin' nekked."

"I'm sure the Post would sell more copies."

"Stop," he said while he held her coat open so she could get into it. "The verbal sparring is turning me on."

"Sorry."

He drove her to Penn Station, but she swore there were times when it seemed like he was about to collapse behind the wheel. Or so she thought. Daedalus was tougher than nails and she didn't believe he had rum in his coffee. If he was tired, he didn't complain about it and tried not to show it. He would be great to lean on in dangerous situations, but she'd never have that privilege of finding out.

They were staying away from each other.

"You still need instruction on using your powers."

"I can manage on my own."

"How?"

"The library, websites."

"They are better than me helping you?"

"Under the circ.u.mstances, yes."

I knew I was dreaming when I found myself surrounded by wild flowers, olive trees and whitewashed houses. My feet were partially submerged in clear, clean water. The rocky, b.u.mpy, earth I sat on smelled of ancient ash. The sea, a jewel of greens and blues lay before me like an aqua blanket. The waters were still and the air warm and somewhat humid. Armeni Bay on the Aegean Sea!

I was home? Why would I dream about Santorini? I vowed never to set foot on the Island again. No, I wasn't really there. It was a dream-a representation of Santorini. Then, I stopped and my vampiric ears strained to listen to soft humming.

I first noticed a toffee colored arm swinging in and out of view. I then saw fabric the color of Santorini blue flapping like a flag in the wind. The humming became louder and more p.r.o.nounced. Finally, Ilida stood on the tiny hill and there eyes locked on each other. A smile appeared on her face then she ran to me and held me fiercely.

Her nose crinkled with amus.e.m.e.nt. Her breath was warm and minty on my neck. She was so small. She barely reached my shoulder. "I've been waiting for you. What took you so long?"

G.o.d! That voice sent shivers down to my c.o.c.k. The wild feeling of wanting to pick her up and swing her around came over him. Would I hear her laughter or her fear then? For three weeks, we'd been having these rendezvous. Who was she? Why did I react to her as if I knew her heart? "Ilida?"

"Quit playing around, Daedalus."

I grabbed her shoulders, turned her around to face him. "Is this a trick? Are you some vehicle for my enemies?"

"Whoa! Hold on now." She eased out of my grasp to easily. I don't know what this is," she said, as she shrugged and smiled. "I just want to go with the flow."

"This isn't funny. You're playing with my..."

"Shhh." Her index finger pressed lightly against my lips. I wanted to take her finger into my mouth and suck.

"I'm not trying to play with your emotions. I'm as confused as you are, but look at this gorgeous scenery."

I did. I looked at her. Was she telling the truth? Did they somehow do this together? It was their link.

"Do you really think I'd play with your emotions?"

"I don't know. You'd have an easier time of it than most of my enemies."

She wagged a short finger at me. "You wouldn't trust an ordinary shoe box." Then she crossed her arms in mock irritation. She was playing with me and I lapped it up like a hungry puppy. "Should I feel insulted that you'd think I would hurt you?" she said.

"Are you doing this?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"How can you not know?"

Her name fluttered on the wind as delicately as a gossamer wing into the blue sky. I muttered a curse as my ears attuned to the sound of breaking gla.s.s.

Quickly, his body jumped to alertness. He sat up, the covers fell exposing his rock hard chest, and abs tensed and ready to fight. Someone was in his house, again. It wasn't easy to send the brutal erotic feeling to the farthest corners of his mind until later. My dream woman's essence still lingered as always around me, in. Being with her left my lair vulnerable.

Other emotions-waves of confusion and anger beat at my soul, competed for attention. It wasn't mine but the intruder's emotions. I bounded out of bed forgetting my pants.

I'm sleek, ferocious as a wolf, and sneaky as a bat. I can take down anyone in a fight...but this wasn't an intentional intruder.

I ran down the stairs never making a sound. Stealth was one of the things I did best. What I saw shocked me to the core. He had to be no more than sixteen, seventeen. His eyes were blood red wild with blood l.u.s.t. Foam leaked out the corners of his mouth. The boy's skin was pale and his strength bordered on vampires scale. He reeked of Red Queen.

The boy demolished the couch with his sharp talons. Cotton duck covered the coffee table, floor. It extended to the kitchen counter. My desk was about to meet the same fate. They could be replaced, but this boy needed my immediate help.

"Hey!"

The boy's eyes zeroed in on me. Wrinkled folds surrounded his red, sunken eyes. Pinpoints of light, as pupils, bore into me with hunger. He was nearly too far gone for help. His grayish, pink skin hung off his skeleton. The clothing hung off his shoulders. Fangs to long for his mouth protruded over his lips.

I jumped off the stairs and landed on top of the boy. We tumbled to the floor, knocking the coffee table on its side. Swiftly, I turned the zombie's head to the side and bit down on his neck. The boy howled from the shock and pain of my fangs puncturing his neck. His skin texture was chewy and tasted of decay.

My stomach wanted to heave.

Acidic blood swamped my mouth. The burn intensified as I kept sucking. I sucked and sucked, not swallowing the tainted blood. I lifted his mouth away and spit out as much of the blood as I could. The rug smoldered, and a sizzling, burning sound accompanied smoke where I spit out the blood.