regret and the obvious erection that I was now sporting. "I've got to go get dinner ready."

"What about me?"

I smirked. "You're already ready, I think."

"There go those mixed signals, Mr. Renfield."

"I'm sorry. I told you that I was out of practice. You still want to brave dinner with me?"

"Absolutely," she agreed, winking at me and then retrieving the magazine that she'd

been reading earlier from where she'd dropped it on the floor. ~ I know what people think of us vampires, that we're evil, blood-sucking fiends. Some of us are, but the blood doesn't sustain us. It's not food. It's more like a drug. Blood is intoxicating for us, it breaks down inhibitions, and it makes us impulsive. It's addicting. We don't need it, but once we've had it, we want more. I've never personally tasted blood, not one drop, not in all my years of existence. I never wanted to go down that path, to relegate myself to that kind of existence, to be that dependent.

So why couldn't I get the image of that trickle of blood out of my mind?

Violet Deeds was dangerous. I knew beyond doubt and beyond reason that she could offer me everything that I shouldn't want. Or should I?

As I poured us two gla.s.ses of cabernet, I let that question roll around in my mind. Had Fred's life really been so bad? I took a sip from my gla.s.s. It tasted delicious, but probably not nearly as delicious as Violet would.

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed Violet might be right. The rules are stupid. They're contrary to nature. Most species are driven to procreate. Okay...so I could live forever. I don't need to create another me to ensure the survival of the species. But nonetheless, I found myself wanting to. I found myself suddenly...wanting it all.

Yes. Violet Deeds was extremely dangerous.

I carried the gla.s.ses of wine into the dining room, set mine at the head of the table, and surveyed the area.

I'd always enjoyed dining by candlelight, so the edges of the room were lined with tall candelabrum filled with long tapers. When I last renovated the house, I intentionally left the dining room essentially as it had been. A long cherry wood table dominated it surrounded by matching chairs richly upholstered in the same red damask as the surrounding walls. I had chosen to set the table with Fred's favorite china and used the antique stemware that I'd picked up ages ago in London.

My favorite feature, however, was the mural on the ceiling of the sunrise sky. The vibrant hues of gold, orange and red were warm and inviting. Every night as I ate I could gaze up and be reminded of the new day to come, a veritable eternity of new days, days that I rarely saw. The mural usually brought me comfort, but not tonight.

Tonight, I realized that unless I took a chance, unless I risked, unless I reached out, all those days and nights would be spent alone. I closed my eyes, reminded myself of my duty, and sighed in resignation. My body shuddered, trying to shake off the feeling of regret.

"I brought you a gla.s.s of wine. Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes. The table's set."

She looked up from reading the magazine and smiled. "Thanks."

"I've been thinking about what you said, about your choice."

"My choice?" she asked, confused.

I sat down on the chaise alongside of her and took a breath to brace myself. "You remember. Vampire you and Pierre?"

"Oh, that." Violet looked down once again at the magazine. "Do you really read this?

It's...kind of boring."

"Really? You think so?" I loved that magazine.

She hesitated a bit, then said, "Kind of."

"I find it informative." I told her, feeling slightly defensive. "It's filled with practical advice."

"Cosmo's informative. This is boring."

Well, she had me at a disadvantage. I'd never read Cosmo.

Violet continued, "You know, Cosmo, the woman's magazine?"

"Of course," I said, "I subscribe to that, too. I keep it under the bed with my other non- manly magazines."

She laughed, then tossed the magazine aside.

"So, Grace said that you like to play the stock market."

"I manage one very large trust and then a few smaller portfolios...for close personal

friends. I'd be happy to look over your investments and let you know if I can do better for

you."

"My investments currently consist of a ten thousand dollar 'rainy day' savings account.

Every other dime went into the down payment for my cottage. I've been saving for years. It's terribly small, but it's right on the beach."

"Sounds...sunny. You carry your wine. I'll carry you," I said, lifting her up into my arms and making my way towards the stairs. "You don't look like you spend much time in the sun. You're so fair."

"Yes. Cursed with red hair and pasty skin. I'm the girl that walks the beach in the morning with the big floppy hat, the long-sleeved white shirt, and loose fitting khakis. You must work out."

"I have a gym downstairs. You're free to use it while you're here. And I adore fencing," I told her. "Once upon a time I fenced compet.i.tively. Now I use a virtual program. It's not as much fun. You don't happen to fence, do you?"

"Um...no."

"I could teach you?" I suggested.

"b.u.m ankle," she reminded me as we reached the bottom of the staircase. "Besides,

you'd sweep the floor with me."

"I wouldn't," I promised, heading straight for the dining room. "I'd be very...gentle."

"Gentle, huh?" she asked, looking around the dining room and then glancing back at

me. "It's beautiful, Ren."

"It's not often that I have a woman as stunning as you grace my table."

I sat her down next to at head of the table and pulled out the chair.

"Always the gentleman," she teased, taking her seat and reaching for the cloth napkin

that had been neatly folded on her plate. "The china is beautiful."

She surveyed the room, obviously taking in the abundance of candles, the sparkingcrystal, and expensive fabrics. "Are you trying to impress me, Mr. Renfield?""Do I need to impress you, Dr. Deeds?""Grace thought the world of you, Ren. That's more than enough for me. To Fred and Grace," she said, quietly. Violet slowly lifted the gla.s.s to her lips and took a sip of her wine, eyeing me appraisingly over the rim of the delicately cut crystal. Her gaze was intent and unwavering. It bore into me and through me, heating me from the inside. I reached out and took the gla.s.s from her hand, making sure that my eyes never left hers. Color rose to her cheeks. She glanced down briefly. When her eyes once again rose to meet mine, I lifted the wine slightly in the air.

"To Fred and Grace," I repeated. Then I took a sip from her gla.s.s.

She smiled, amused. "I see you're not afraid of cooties."

I set the gla.s.s back down and slid it towards her. "I don't get sick. I'll be right out with dinner." I took a step back, then another, hating to leave the sight of her.

The flames of the candles danced, casting shadows around the room, the high polish of the table reflecting their light like a mirror, giving her porcelain skin and copper hair an almost iridescent glow. I was reminded of the beautiful enchantress in d.i.c.ksee's painting, La Belle Dame Sans Merci, and wondered briefly if like the heroic knight I was fated to be charmed into spiritual slavery. Or maybe I'd been enthralled long ago and Violet was here to rescue me.

"I met a lady in the meads, Full beautiful-a faery's child, Her hair was long, her foot was light, And her eyes were wild."

"Keats," she said, leaning forward, having recognized the pa.s.sage. "You've studied poetry?"

"I may not be good with words, but I appreciate them," I said.

"I think you underestimate yourself," Violet whispered.

G.o.d, how I wanted to take her into my arms and kiss her. My arousal was building and it was laced with something more primitive, the desire to take her, possess her, and mark her as mine. I turned and pushed my way through the kitchen door.

I walked over to the sub-zero freezer, opened it up, and let the bracing cold hit me. I grabbed a bag of frozen corn and fleetingly thought about dropping in down the front of my pants, then placed it on the back of my neck. It was starting to come together for me. I'm a little slow on the uptake, but give me time and I can usually suss things out. This wasn't about fate stepping in, or a test of my spiritual fort.i.tude, or even divine intervention. This was an attempt at matchmaking. This was a misguided gift from Fred and Grace. Long ago Fred and I had called a truce and agreed to accept one another's lifestyles. I guess she figured death allowed her dispensation.

I tossed the bag of corn back into the freezer, slammed it shut, and then retrieved the plates I had served earlier from the warming drawer. The fact that this little weekend was a manipulation didn't change my predicament one iota. I was attracted to her, emotionally and physically. There was something in Violet Deeds that called to me, something beyond the normal emanation of a human woman.

I walked back out into the living room. The siren that had invaded my house was trying to balance a spoon on the end of her nose. I sat my plate down at one end of the table and then walked up to her.

"A little moisture helps," I said, taking the spoon from her as I put down the plate.

I opened my mouth; let my warm breath cloud the surface of the spoon, then rubbed the area vigorously with my thumb before placing it on the tip my nose. "See?"

Violet laughed. The spoon fell and effortlessly I caught it.

"Good reflexes."

"You should see me do the table cloth trick," I said walking over to my chair. "It only

works half the time, but then when it doesn't, I still get out of doing dishes. So, all in all it's basically a win-win situation... What?"

She was leaning over to one side and frowning. "Why are you way down there?"

"This is where I usually sit."

"But I can't really see you unless I..." She bobbed back and forth, trying to peer around the large silver candlesticks.

I picked up my gla.s.s, plate, napkin, and cutlery and then moved down the table to the

place beside her. "Better?" I asked, sitting down.

"Much. It's an interesting poem, don't you think? I wonder what motivated Keats to write it? To give a woman such power, the power to enchant and seduce men into slavery."

"Are you kidding? Women all possess that power."

"Oh, please! This is fabulous, what is it?" She asked, taking another bite of her dinner.

"Veal."