"The roof thing?" Justin asked politely. Thinking maybe he should humor them all and get his father out of here.

"Oh, yes!" Bill said in noticeable relish as he got to his feet. "A trick I've always enjoyed seeing you perform."

Maria shook her head, and Justin wondered at the glimpse of amus.e.m.e.nt he'd seen in her eyes as she traipsed behind the group out the patio door and onto the roof.

"Guys, I am not sure this is a good idea. We could push Justin into a full-blown hissy fit, or scare the c.r.a.p out of him."

"So your choice is to sink fang into his neck. You know, sweetie, alpha males very rarely enjoy being used for a late night snack. Well...that kind of snack. Wouldn't want you to kill the sparks-"

"Enough chitchat Brian. We don't need to review all the options," she hissed.

Justin realized that at least one of the other men had noticed his fascinated interest in Maria. Well, it didn't matter. Right now he frowned as Maria moved to climb up on the wall enclosing her patio. Her penthouse took up the entire twentieth floor above ground level. What did she think she was doing? He moved to hold onto her and then cried out in horror as she dove off into the night. Justin lunged to the brick wall, too slow to catch her. He looked over the side with dread.

He saw her drifting there, floating in the air as she called up to him, "I'm okay, I do this a lot. It's one of the perks of being a-"

"A vampire," he finished for her. "Get back on the roof!" he demanded. He lost what little sense of humor he possessed about this whole thing. He was furious. The adrenaline rush he'd experienced when she took a nosedive off the roof and his fear for her life pushed him over the edge. In all the years he spent fighting terrorists, he never once felt the pure terror of helplessness and sorrow he'd experienced in the split second she hung in the air just out of his reach. No one mattered enough to him for that kind of panic. Not even he, himself. Up to this point in his life, he'd fought against any meaningful ties other than the ones he shared with his parents.

The realization that this might be changing, combined with his body's first reactions, acted as a kick to his gut.

He watched Maria as she climbed back over the ledge. His hands were there to see she didn't slip. He didn't care if she could G.o.dd.a.m.n fly. He wanted her on the ground in front of him now!

"No. Don't say another word." Like a man possessed, he pulled her into his arms and fused his mouth to hers. He kissed her with anger and desperation, in fear for her safety and the need to claim and hold on to sanity. The kiss fast turned to one of discovery. Of newfound needs and a hefty dose of "I don't give a d.a.m.n, I want you anyway." Before he could even question the sanity of becoming involved with someone and something he didn't understand, he found the answer. Mine! Not just to f.u.c.k, but to care for. The kiss became heaven and h.e.l.l, and his salvation.

Bill shook his head and smiled. His son sure didn't waste any time. Since Justin came back from overseas, the father in him prayed this would happen. He watched the darkness and hunger burn in his son's eyes, and realized he'd only seen those stark emotions in one other place. Maria's gaze also held the weight of the world and a deep loneliness she never thought to fill. Bill knew that same loneliness had somehow been beaten into his son, as if his thoughts and memories where too horrible to allow anyone to share. Well...just maybe their loneliness could be reduced by one another. He'd intended to introduce the two of them one day soon. He just wished for better circ.u.mstances.

Bill shooed Matthew and Brian off the roof. He told the two bookends he needed some rest, he needed to think. He would take a cab home and leave Justin's car for him to follow. Or not.

He would see them all at the meeting tomorrow. Nope. Since it was already 3:00 in the morning, he'd see them tonight. Right now he would go home and try to sleep without nightmares beside his wife.

Nancy knew about Maria. They'd met a few times over the years and liked each other. After fifty-five years of marriage there were few if any secrets between them. When Bill told her of his plan to introduce Justin to the vampire, she went through several days of angst over the thought of losing any chance of future grandchildren.

Then with a mother's eyes, she went out to lunch with her son and came back with her blessing. "He'll never let anyone close enough to make me grandbabies," she'd said sadly. "If Maria can take the dead look from his eyes and make him laugh again...it would be wonderful. Just the shock of who and what she is might be enough to bring him back among the living."

Well, he would go home and tell Nancy that the two of them had met and the sparks seemed to be flying. Now it would be in the hands of G.o.d or fate...or something.

Chapter Three.

Neither Maria nor Justin heard the others leave, and they wouldn't have cared anyway. Locked in a world of their own making, a vivid blend of touch and taste and overwhelming sensation, they came together in primal need.

The surge of pleasure as his mouth joined with hers tore through her body like smoldering fire bursting into flame. Justin kissed like a man obsessed and Maria welcomed the blaze. After watching and l.u.s.ting after him all evening, her mind no longer fought to give attention to either a new horror or a fresh craving. She allowed herself the opportunity to explore his body to her hearts content.

This man moved with a power and sensuality that screamed s.e.x. His taste was as addictive as the remembered sweetness of chocolate, the plunge and retreat of his tongue an enticement to take more. The soft brush of his goatee and mustache tickled her lips, while his hands seemed to carry an electrical charge that zapped every nerve and brought them shrieking to life. Pulsing, throbbing life.

She could feel her s.e.x swell and spasm in tune to the dance of his tongue in her mouth. The first trickles of readiness seeped from deep inside to coat her p.u.s.s.y. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s enlarged and the nipples chafed against her bra, demanding attention. She shifted in his arms, rubbing her body against him. The action only served to increase her frustration and the need for closer contact. For naked contact.

Maria fought to keep still. Waiting. Craving a harder touch. She could imagine his mouth on her. Felt her incisors lengthen as she antic.i.p.ated her mouth on him. Her imagination didn't prepare her for the reality of his touch. Her skin burned, her heart slammed against her chest at the onslaught of powerful need. She ground her mouth into his, wanting to scream in frustration as he moved to press her against the porch table, spreading her legs slightly to tease the hard ridge of his c.o.c.k against the apex of her thighs. She wanted her clothes gone. Wanted him naked. She thought about waving her hand to make the barriers disappear. Not a good idea, she decided. He'd have enough to think about over the next several days. She did not want him stopping in the middle of s.e.x to ask her questions about her powers.

She moaned as he slipped his hand under her shirt to cup her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. No. She definitely didn't want to distract him.

Justin couldn't get enough of Maria as she came alive in his arms. Her mouth welcomed his invasion and she met his wild desire without flinching. Her spicy-sweet taste carried a trace of orange and cinnamon, a leftover hint of the sangria she'd been drinking earlier. She was addicting. Intuitively he knew he'd always crave this taste and would never again be satisfied without access to it. Having her body pressed strong and lush against his drove him to the edge of control. He made a sound that was half gasp, half growl as his lips moved against hers.

He continued kissing her with lips and teeth and tongue. The small sounds she made in the back of her throat seemed to wrap around his soul, holding him bound to her with invisible threads. For the moment he wouldn't question their connection. He had better things to do. Her hands moved restlessly up and down his back and over his shoulders before she wrapped her arms around his neck and tangled her fingers in his hair.

"Yes," he growled into her mouth. "Oh, G.o.d. Yes."

Reaching down, he slid his hands under her a.s.s and pulled her up against him, nestling his aching c.o.c.k against her belly. He needed more. Shifting her up, he set her on the table's surface, wedging his knee between her thighs to further spread her legs, pushing closer. He rotated his hips in a slow circle and added a soft flex to pound a rhythm against her covered center. With each beat he increased the pressure against her.

She cried out against his lips, and like a man starving, he swallowed her moans as he once again slid a hand under her top to cover her breast. Over the silk fabric of her bra, he rubbed his palm back and forth, torturing her nipple with his teasing. He moved away from her, tearing his mouth from hers to lift her top and bra up and over her head, managing to free her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in one movement. He reached to cover the glorious mounds in his hands and took the pebbled nipples between his thumbs and fingertips. He pulled and twisted her hard nubs and watched their turgid response blossom. Hearing her breath accelerate, he looked up into her pa.s.sion-glazed eyes and smiled. Her lips were drawn tight, her jaw set in antic.i.p.ation.

"Justin, please. Suck on my b.r.e.a.s.t.s!" she gasped in demand, reaching to pull his head to her. Too slow for her sanity, he lowered his mouth to her to swirl his tongue around one taut nipple.

When he finally drew her into his mouth and suckled, she couldn't stop the sob escaping her lips or the roll of her hips as she sought his heat. She cradled her hands against the back of his head, holding him against her. She loved the feel of him at her breast as he succeeded in driving her to madness. The hair of his beard and mustache sc.r.a.ped over her quivering flesh as he moved his mouth over her nipples. G.o.d, what a wonderful sensation! She trembled with desire as he moved one hand down to stroke against the leather of her pants. The slide of his hand over her leather-covered core teased her wet slit, sending little spikes of heat coursing through her blood. She moaned, "Justin, please."

As if waiting for her demand, he pulled back and helped her to stand. In several struggling movements, he helped her peel off the rest of her clothes and left them lying in a pile on the terrace floor. He repositioned her body on the table. She blinked up at the sky as he gently pushed her down so she lay on her back, pushing her knees up to settle her feet on the edge.

He spread her legs and looked with wrenching hunger deep into her eyes. "d.a.m.n, I want to taste you so bad it's killing me," he growled as he dropped to his knees and leaned over her p.u.s.s.y, using the tip of his tongue to touch her with a bold stroke. Maria gasped and the sound seemed to launch Justin into frenzied action. He moved his mouth and feasted on her, spread as a banquet of need before him, as if he wanted to capture every last drop of her essence. He groaned low in his throat in ecstasy as his tongue slid sensually back and forth over her c.l.i.t, first with a slow, methodic stroke and then with quick flutters. She was so soft. Warm. Wet.

As she writhed before him, keening her pleasure, he moved his hands up to grab onto her legs and guide her knees to his shoulders. He positioned his hands on her a.s.s and held her still for his a.s.sault. He nipped at the swollen bud of her c.l.i.t and used his tongue to delve deep, plunging and retreating with a slow cadence that had her screaming in frustration. As he dipped into her channel with his tongue, his mustached lip brushed her sensitive nub. With slow intent, he reached one hand up her body and sought her nipple. As he increased the pressure and speed of his mouth, he pinched his fingers together.

The combined sensations sent Maria screaming en route for the first sheer drop of paradise. "More!" she cried in demand. "I need you deep inside me." Her body shook with the desire to hold him captive against her.

Justin stood and tore off his clothes. He pulled Maria back into a sitting position, and with his hands holding her knees up and open, he moved to nudge his straining c.o.c.k against her molten heat and met her hooded gaze. In a loving move that almost brought tears to her eyes, he raised his hand to her face and cupped her chin. He brushed his thumb over her protruding eyeteeth. "I'm making an a.s.sumption we don't need protection. Tell me now if I'm not correct, I have a condom in my wallet."

"No need," she gasped out, dropping her head. The feel of his swollen crown pushing against her v.a.g.i.n.a made it difficult for her to think. She snapped her gaze away from the shadowed sight of his c.o.c.k. He was big and thick and oh, so lovely. But she needed to make sure he wouldn't freak if she nibbled... "I don't. Know if I. Can stop. Myself. OhG.o.dohG.o.d." She needed to pause, regroup. He flexed his hips just enough so the engorged head of his shaft breached her, spreading her entrance. Pulsed. Just one inch in. Out. In. "Waitwaitwait!" she cried. She leaned her forehead against his chest in relief as he stilled with one inch of hard heat pushing into her. She couldn't think.

"Tell me!" Justin demanded of her.

"Bite. I may have to bite. Just a little sip?" she whispered urgently. She couldn't tell if he understood her. She pulled back to look dazedly into his burning gaze. She didn't understand her own reactions. She'd always had control over her need to take blood during s.e.x. Before.

Evidently the control was missing with Justin.

Her broken comment was a warning to him that she might be driven to take his blood. He wouldn't understand the need in her eyes, but he should be able to see the obvious affect of their lovemaking in her elongating teeth.

Justin didn't hesitate. There was no question in his mind-he would have her. He'd wanted her on first sight and that seemed like days ago instead of hours. From the moment he'd met her, he knew he would claim her p.u.s.s.y as his. He didn't understand it, but the feeling of possession took over his mind, became a part of him. Even after he'd found out she was vampire-a little blood drinking sure as h.e.l.l wouldn't stop him. "Fine." He punctuated his acceptance by pushing forward and he kept on pushing until he buried his long length deep inside her. Until his b.a.l.l.s brushed the cold iron rim of the table. He hissed in reaction to the small shock and the mind-blowing sensation of her internal muscles gripping his c.o.c.k in her scalding heat.

"Not going to work," he gasped. "Got to move, got to pound into you and we'll break the table. Your room?"

"There!" she pointed behind him to a second French door leading off the balcony. She waved her hand and the door flew back. Her display was something he'd have to remember to ask her about later. Much later.

"Hold on!" he demanded, as he wrapped her legs around his hips. The feel of her thighs clenching him, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s brushing against his chest and her p.u.s.s.y spasmodically clutching with each stride almost drove him to his knees. Sweat broke out on his forehead and he gritted his teeth together. Just a few more steps, he promised himself.

Maria groaned. Every new sensation heightened the arousal of her already primed body. The soft, feathery brush of his chest hair against her nipples combined with the rocking thrust of his hips to press his shaft deep within her. His pubic bone nudged her c.l.i.t with each step and added to her rising need to taste him. She lowered her mouth to his neck, teasing her senses further with the musky scent of his arousal and the intoxicating foreplay of his pulse against her lips. She shuddered and shared Justin's reaction to the vibration of her body as he tensed even further, his c.o.c.k twitching inside her.

After long tortured seconds they fell to the bed, Justin covering her length and bracing his upper body on his hands. They both looked down to see their bodies joined. He pulled out of her tight heat and thrust forward. And again. Faster.

"Harder! More!" Maria pleaded as she threw her head back, arching her hips up and into him.

Justin moved to appease her and she gloried in each hard thrust. For what seemed like endless minutes their bodies slapped together in raw primal l.u.s.t.

"Not enough...never enough," he growled, and lowered his head, never breaking the tempo of s.e.x as he bared his neck to her.

Maria's mouth sought and found the bulging vein at his neck. She felt the area with her tongue and smiled as Justin groaned in urgent encouragement. She broke the skin and slid her incisors deep, holding him to her so the motion of their bodies wouldn't cause him to jerk away...and drank, moaning her pleasure at the combined taste and feel of him.

As he burst within her, Maria pulled away from the sweet temptation of his blood and screamed. Her body clenched tight and convulsed with his in crushing pleasure. d.a.m.n! In almost two hundred years s.e.x hasn't been this good! She fought an irresistible need to chain Justin to her bed. The visual of him bound and at her mercy sent a small aftershock through her and her muscles clenched tight, throwing them both into another, softer, detonation.

Justin tried to think. To move. The moment Maria bit into his neck, pinpoints of heat exploded throughout his blood and surged through his flesh. He noticed his c.o.c.k seemed to grow harder, thicker, and his body more desperate for release. He wouldn't have thought it possible. The sensations spurred him to plow his shaft deep into Maria's c.u.n.t, and he found the movement of her mouth nursing at his neck punctuated each forward movement. The mutual sensations hurled him into insanity. An explosive rapture so intense he already wanted it again.

Maria lay on her bed with Justin's body tangled around hers as she stared at the ceiling. Well, she thought. What a good way to get acquainted. She couldn't understand her craving for this man. Normally blood and s.e.x left her feeling sated. Replete. Tonight she wanted more. Maybe because it had been so long...

She stifled the dawning realization that the boys had heard every sound they made and she would have a h.e.l.l of a night tomorrow putting up with their verbal replay of the end of her s.e.xual celibacy. Time enough to worry about their teasing. She waited for Justin to start questioning her. And waited.

After several minutes, he groaned and picked up his head enough to meet her gaze. "If the next time we make love is even close to as cataclysmic as tonight, I am going to lock you up for a week. d.a.m.n! How do you live through the intensity?"

Maria heard the unspoken question and smiled. Well done. "Well, it has been, oh, fifty years or so since the last time I had s.e.x, but I don't remember it being quite so...intense. If it had been, I'm not sure I would have waited this long," she whispered.

He nodded, question answered, and moved to kiss her. Sweetly, carefully. When he pulled away Maria looked at the clock. She needed to have this conversation soon as the sun would be coming up in an hour or so. She knew she wasn't quite ready to share every aspect of her life with a new lover. No matter how tempting it would be to day sleep in his arms.

"Justin, we need to talk about tomorrow. About the Council meeting."

"Okay," he said without questioning her. "Do you want to have this conversation lying here naked, or should we get dressed and move in by the fire? Although, I have to tell you, if you want my full attention on what you are going to say...the fire would be a better bet. I already want my hands on you again," he grumbled, as he moved one of those hands up her side to cup her breast.

Maria moaned when he flicked her nipple with his fingers. "Oh, G.o.d! You're right, by the fire would be better."

He laughed at her and moved to disentangle his long limbs from her body. He stood up and Maria just stared. Dayam! What a fine piece of eye candy. She knew his body looked great. But without clothes, the reality was unbelievable. His muscles had muscles. He epitomized "be all you can be" crossed with some gorgeous Viking dude.

The tan expanse of skin she drooled over started with a chest and shoulders molded and shaped into complete perfection. The few scars she saw only enhanced his rugged, dangerous appeal. The light dusting of blond chest hair drew her eyes downward to a fully primed, dancewithmeohbaby c.o.c.k. The darker shade of hair under his belly provided a perfect foil for his thick shaft and the heavy ball sac. The deep skin tone of his shaft appeared flushed with blood and heat. The dark blue vein that pulsed along his length made her lick her lips in antic.i.p.ation. The k.n.o.bbed head glistened with pre-come.

"Maria," Justin growled in warning.

She closed her eyes and sighed with heartfelt pain. "Yeah. I know. I'll just lie here with my eyes closed while you get dressed. Then I'll join you in the living room."

He didn't waste time. He grabbed their clothes off the balcony, threw his on and soon disappeared to wait for her. Maria rolled out of bed and went to her closet. She dressed for comfort in sweats and tied her hair back. She walked into the living room to find Justin sitting on the couch, with both Matt and Brian in the overstuffed chairs.

"Here, babe," Brian said as she pa.s.sed him, handing her a gla.s.s of blood-wine. "Thought you might need this."

For Brian the comment was very mild.

"Thanks. You guys are still up," she stated as she settled on the floor in front of the fire, waving away Justin's motion to have her sit beside him. She needed some distance. Her hormones were still singing little happy songs. And she wanted to watch his face when they talked.

"Yeah, it was, um, just a little bit difficult to even consider going to sleep with the p.o.r.no noises you two made. Congrats on finally getting laid though!"

Maria shook her head. Unfortunately, this sounded more like what she expected. "Justin, I apologize if anything these two say offends you. I have given up trying to beat manners into their thick skulls." She brightened considerably. "But feel free to use your sizeable muscles to pound on them at will."

Justin threw back his head and laughed, which left Maria staring at him in awe once again. Jeez, she might have to kiss Matt and Brian if their antics put this look in his eyes. This man seemed totally different from the one she met at the coffee shop. His face pleasantly etched with satisfied l.u.s.t and laughter instead of shadows and pain.

"No problem. I'll smack them around if it makes you feel better, but I believe he's right. I am sure we made considerable noise."

He was gloating. The man's cat-ate-the-canary look broadcast his satisfaction loud enough that everyone in the room could understand. Maria shook her head. Men! She would never comprehend them.

"We'll go to bed in a minute though," Matt said. "I just wanted to let you know we got in touch with everyone for the meeting. They will all be there with bells on. And speaking of bells, I have a new outfit for you. Do you want it here or at the club for tomorrow?"

"Club. I will go out as soon as I wake up, and then go into Sins about 6:30 to take care of some business before the meeting. Justin, I am a.s.suming you will be going to the meeting as well."

"I wouldn't miss it. However, it would help if I understood what club you're talking about and what exactly this meeting is," he replied.

"Which is part of what I wanted to talk to you about. But hold on-the guys can go get some sleep. Do you think you two could come up with something for Justin to wear as well and bring it to Sins?" Maria asked, looking at Matt and Brian. She knew tomorrow the issue of clothes would be the hardest part of Justin's night.

Justin interrupted, "I'll just swing by my place and grab something."

Maria sighed. "This meeting is a Vampire Sentinel Council. I will get into what that means in just a second. The short version on wardrobe is that the Council is old and very set in their ways, and there is a certain-well, dress code, or statement to make if you will. I haven't been willing to push changes enough to end their fun. The boys will have to find you something to wear." She turned to Matt. "Keep it black. Get pants with simple studs and an acceptable shirt. Please, Matt, don't go too extreme," she pleaded, knowing any promise he made would be kept.

He nodded his agreement and she relaxed.

After Matt and Brian left the room, she looked at Justin and smiled. "So. Where to start? The meeting tomorrow will be held at my club."

"Sins?"

"Short for Sins of the Flesh," she said, and watched as his eyebrows rose. "I know...a little hokey. The main area is a Goth bar with live bands and dancing, there are separate, smaller bars with male and female strippers, and a theater for live shows."

"I can't wait to see it," he commented dryly.

"Yeah, it's an experience all right. Now to explain Vampire Council." She thought for a moment.

"Why do you say vampire with different accents sometimes?" Justin questioned.

Maria frowned. "Oh, sorry. V. A. M. P. Y. R., or vampeer, is old world, and said like you're talking around teeth. V. A. M. P. I. R. E., or vampire, is an American or new world thing. I've lived so long on this continent and with the bookends I mix and match."