Even though he couldn't help comparing this kiss with the ones Jory gave, David was startled by the tender gentleness in the touch. A sense of warmth began at his lips, spreading throughout his body.

"I am a man," Liam repeated, lowering himself onto the flats on his feet. "Well, perhaps a little more than that. But you will discover all soon enough."

David shook his head. "Liam? What do you mean?" Liam lowered his head. "Look at me."

When Liam raised his face again, David gasped. "Saint again," he said. "How do you do that?"

Liam, somehow beautiful beyond compare, smiled a heartbreaking smile. "Learn to accept things, David, even if they are beyond your ken. Therein lies your path to true happiness." He let his hand trail slowly off David. "I have done all I can. Now, look over to your right. Begin at the bar I am pointing to."

David obeyed nervously. The place was packed from seat to seat with laughing, joking men. He frowned. "How is that supposed to help, Liam? A bartender that busy won't recognize someone like Jory. He's like me. Ordinary."

"Far from ordinary." Liam's voice sounded far away. "Remember that, David. Trust in me, in Jory, and in Amour Magique.

With a trinity like that, you can hardly go wrong." He laughed. "Now, hurry! Find your lover and make amends."

"I still don't see --" David turned to look back at Liam, but he was nowhere in sight. David stood alone, or as alone as he could be in a packed club. Men jostled past him, where Liam had been standing. "Liam?" He searched the crowd with his eyes, puzzled and worried. "Where did you go?"

No answer.

David swallowed hard. "Okay," he muttered. "I guess I'm on my own again. Just like always."

One foot in front of the other, David. Jory means a lot to you? Enough that you're willing to try and work through this? Then go and find him. A single step at a time. It'll get you there.

Careful of the melee of dancers, David began to weave his way through the crowd. "Excuse me. I'm sorry. Oh, G.o.d, was that your foot? Don't --"

"It's all right, man," a dark-skinned guy said with a grin. "I'm tough enough, and you barely got my toe." He eyed David up and down. "You are a big hunk of delicious, aren't you?"

David startled. "I'm a what now?"

"Mmm. Fresh. You taste like you've never been sipped before."

"Huh?" David took a step back, but the dark man followed him. He raised his arms to twine around David's neck. "Hey, stop. I don't even know your name."

"Who needs names?" The man began to sway against David. "Let's dance, sugarplum. The night's young."

"No! I mean, no, thank you, but I'm --" He took a deep breath. "Taken. A man named Jory."

"Jory!" His would-be partner pulled back and made a face. "You're kidding. He scored someone like you?"

"You know him?" David seized the man by his forearms when he would have turned away. "Is he here tonight? Have you seen him?"

"Oh, you've been caught good." The man batted huge brown eyes at him, lashes fluttering in a deliberately camp gesture.

"Are you a nice little boy for Jory? You'd better be. I've heard him called Father Jory because we all thought he'd be celibate forever."

Dark mocha lips pouted. "You're sure you won't dance just once? Jory can wait on us." He edged closer. "Maybe wait an hour or two ... I have a room not far from here."

David pulled away, more roughly than he'd intended and spoke more harshly than he intended. "Just tell me where I can find him. I'm sorry. You're a nice guy, and if things were different, I'd probably be knocked off my socks that you're interested." He paused to consider the idea. "Actually, I still am, kind of. But I'm taken. I have to find Jory."

"What's the rush?" His would-be partner sulked. "He's over in the corner bar, drowning his sorrows. He won't notice if you take a while. And if he smells me on you, then he'll be jealous."

David jerked back. "Jealous? I don't want --"

"What better way to make sure a man doesn't stray than to think he might lose you?" the dancer purred. His eyes had been rimmed with some kind of dark eyeliner. Or were they? The dark marks looked like they were under the flesh. Then, even as he stared, the man flickered a forked tongue at him, laughing when David flinched. "Come on," he coaxed. "Dance with me."

David moved away carefully, disentangling his arms. "What are you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Flick, flick went his tongue. It seemed longer than a human's should. "I'm something that could be your best dream ever. Come with me."

"David!" Liam's voice called.

David automatically turned toward the voice, but there was no Liam in sight. "He keeps doing that," he said ruefully to the man all but clinging to him. Or who had been all over him like plastic wrap. Now, the dark man looked simultaneously turned off and horrified."The incubus," he hissed. "You're one of his? Don't tell him I tried to go after you. Be a pal, okay?"

"Incubus?" David blinked. "What do you mean?"

The man hooted. "You don't know? Sweet Jesus, you are in for a night. First Jory, then Liam. Look, I don't want any trouble. If Liam's laid a claim on your hide, I'm not going near you with a ten-foot pole." He folded his arms across his chest and leered. "It is a shame, though. If I had permission, we could have had a sweet time together." His tongue slipped out again, tracing over his brown lips.

David felt slightly nauseous. "I'm sure," he said. "Please excuse me. I have to go and find Jory. I really came here to see only him."

"Your call." The man stepped aside. "Just don't tell Liam, all right? That b.a.s.t.a.r.d has serious juice, and I don't want him p.i.s.sed off at me."

David considered the question. "He probably already knows," he said as kindly as he could. He wasn't sure how he knew, but it felt like the truth. "If I were you, I'd either go find someone else to dance with or leave for tonight."

"Spoil my fun."

"No, no." David put his hand on the man's elbow. His skin felt dry and rough, almost like sandpaper, or ... scales. Exerting his force of will not to jerk away, David guided him toward a group of men dancing in a circle. They were all dressed more or less like his accoster, thrashing to the beat. "Look. See there? Go and have fun."

"Hmm." The man took measure of the group. "Okay. But tell Liam nothing happened. I didn't mean anything except to show you a good time. You are a gorgeous man, you know."

David felt himself grow warm again. "I'm not, but it's nice of you to say." Before the man could protest, David gave him a gentle shove. "Go on, now."

"Okay. And try that corner bar. I'm almost sure I saw him there earlier." The man, whose name David had never even learned, melted away to join the circle dance. They parted like water to let him in. David watched for a moment as like came to meet like, and found himself smiling. Things were as they should be. He liked it when people were happy.

The thought made him stop to consider. He'd been selfish, hadn't he? Thinking only about himself, when he had Jory to keep in mind, too. If Jory was keeping secrets ... he must have a reason. Accept, Liam's voice reminded him from the back of his mind. No safety nets.

David nodded sharply. "All right, Liam," he said aloud. "If you're out there, and for some weird reason I think you are, keep an eye out for me, okay? Here I go."

He made his first move. "One small step for man," he said under his breath. "Jory, you'd better be over there."

I need you. I realize that now.

Surely they could work out their problems. He knew, knew, Jory would never deliberately wound him.

To his surprise, the music changed to something he liked as he picked his careful way around the edges of the dance floor.

Lights softened into muted colors, and the crooning of Hank Sr. started up. David almost laughed in delight.

"Wish I had my cowboy hat," he said, pleased.

He spared a glance for the couples on the floor, amiably switching from b.u.mping and grinding to slow two-steps, wound tight in each other's arms. His heart gave a b.u.mp. How good would it be to have Jory with him at that moment? They'd walk out onto the floor and stand close, so close, nuzzling into each other to the slow, sweet strains of good old-fashioned country. Thinking about it, his heartbeat picked up.

Jory, he thought wistfully. Be there for me. I'm coming.

The bar was close now. A cheerful-looking Asian-American with long, shining hair was behind the counter, pouring out drinks with a deft hand. He laughed and joked with his customers as he pa.s.sed over their beverages and took money or entered information onto a computerized tab. The lights were low and warm. Welcoming.

And there, in the corner, hunched over what looked like a b.l.o.o.d.y Mary ...

David quickened his steps. As he got closer, he could see a familiar head of tousled dark hair. Warm hazel eyes seemed dimmed with depression behind their gla.s.ses. A hand he had twined in his, which had rubbed his back or wrapped around his c.o.c.k, stirred a stalk of celery in a red drink.

His heart gave another bound. No matter what the problems were between them, this man was who he belonged with.

Jory didn't look up as David approached his side. Suddenly shy, David reached out to touch his shoulder. "Hey, you," he said softly. "It's me. I came to find you, Jory."

His partner's head snapped up. He stared in disbelief. "David?" "Yeah, babe." David moved his hand to caress the other man's cheek. His lover nuzzled into it briefly, eyes closing in what looked like relief. "I'm here. For you."

"I love you, David." Jory said, eyes still shut. "Can you forgive me?"

"Already forgiven." And it was true, he realized.

"You don't know everything yet."

"That's okay. I will, soon."

Jory nodded, jostling David's palm. "Close your eyes?"

"What?"

"Close your eyes, and keep them shut. Oliver, you look away." That must have been the bartender, David guessed, because the man chuckled and busied himself with other customers. "Please?"

David felt uncomfortable, but -- trust. He let his eyelashes flutter against his cheeks and stood there, blind, waiting. "What are you doing?"

"This," Jory said. David registered the sound of a bar stool being sc.r.a.ped back, then suddenly, blissfully, lips were on his.

He let his mouth fall open gladly for Jory's tongue to enter. Arms circled behind him, squeezing hard.

Jory drew back and whispered, "I just hope you're still glad to see me in a minute. Kiss me again?"

"I am. I always will be." David reached for Jory, holding him tight. It felt right to be doing so, even in public, where he'd normally have been nervous of someone seeing him. Having his eyes shut helped. He felt as if he were free-floating in his own coc.o.o.n, without a care in the world.

"I love you, too," he said, meaning every word. "I think I always will."

"David ..." Jory's mouth was on his again. "You don't know what you do to me."

David melted in his lover's grip. "Kiss me again?"

"You bet I will." Holding on, Jory pressed his lips to David's again. The kiss deepened, each man's hands roaming and roving.

"Not bad," David heard the bartender whisper. "Go on, Jory. Let him see."

Jory shook his head. "Not yet, Oliver."

"It's time, Jory. You must."

"Jory?" David began to open his eyes. Despite Jory's panicked yelp, or perhaps because of it, he looked curiously at his lover ...

And saw, instead of the warm hazel eyes, cold yellow. Instead of Jory's sweet mouth, a sharp, cruel one with fangs. David licked his lips and realized that they tasted of pennies. No, blood. He took one terrified glance at Jory's gla.s.s and realized that the "tomato juice" wasn't anything squeezed out of a vegetable.

No safety nets. In Amour Magique, anything is possible.

David felt himself trembling. "Jory," he whispered, staring. "Jory, you know those secrets you mentioned? Now might be a good time to start talking."

"Don't run away. Please." Jory's grip hardened.

David swallowed roughly. Only his faith in Liam kept him put ... that, and the familiar smell of Jory, the feel of his arms, and the smell of his hair.

"I'm staying put, but Jory, tell me ... is this a costume? Or how about you tell me the truth. What are you?"

Chapter Ten

"I won't lie to you," Jory said, meeting David's gaze. "I won't tell you this is a Halloween costume. It's the wrong season anyway."

To his surprise, David found himself chuckling. "Yeah. You'd have to go a way for me to believe you on that score." He reached out to brush his thumb across Jory's lower lip. "Are these teeth as sharp as they look?"

"Hey, watch it!" Jory cautioned. Too late. David flinched as he nicked his thumb on one fang.

A trickle of blood decorated Jory's mouth as he pulled away. "Yeah. They do have a good edge on them. Sorry about that." He made as if to lick away the crimson fluid, then made a face. "I didn't ... I don't ... I won't. My fault."

He s.n.a.t.c.hed up a c.o.c.ktail napkin and wiped his mouth. "Did it hurt you badly? I should have said something before. Jesus G.o.d, I am such a f.u.c.king idiot. David, let me see. Is it deep? Is it bad? Are you losing blood? I --"

"Jory, stop." David took a deep breath to steady himself. "I don't know what you are, but can you ... not be like this anymore?"

"I could." Jory shook his head sadly. "Thing is, David, this is who I am. I'm not as bad as some vam-- people I know. They have to use fancy magic tricks to hide their true faces. I can go back and forth."

"Which one is the default?" David delicately traced one forefinger under Jory's yellow eye. "It's actually not bad."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Kind of a turn-on."

"No kidding?" Jory raised his hand to cover David's. He winced. "You're still bleeding. I don't take from humans. I mean ...

oh, h.e.l.l. You're a smart guy, David. You've probably figured out what I am by now." He sat down, seeming to brace himself for an attack. "Go on. Let me have it."