"All right, then. Unb.u.t.ton my blouse, the first three b.u.t.tons." She kept her hand on him through the slacks, kneading the organ that was lengthening, hardening there, indulging and amusing herself as Brian approached.

Gideon complied, his large fingers slipping the small pearlescent b.u.t.tons. Brian was there with the sensors, but Gideon closed a hand on her slim wrist, drawing her attention. "Allow me?"

He'd done it before, knew where Brian needed them to go. She knew Gideon preferred to be the one touching her. It teased her mind, how she had a servant and a vampire who were equally territorial, in different ways. But she was of a mind to rub the fur of this predator the wrong way, drive up his reaction even more.

"Not this time," she murmured. "You just watch. Make sure he puts them in all the right places."

Temple, heart, throat, pulse points, back. Brian's touch was gentle, and though he didn't linger, Gideon's attention stayed locked on the movement of the scientist's hands. Over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, down the back of her shirt where Brian's fingers slid along her shoulder blades to find the right point. Her throat. Gideon's gaze flared as she lifted her chin. It was the one place that Brian did linger, the vampire in him too strong to maintain his professionalism. It was just a slight caress along her carotid, but Gideon registered it. When his jaw tightened, she read the reason for his wariness. Sometimes older vampires took advantage of a fledgling. However, he held his silence, mainly because Brian's hands slipped away then, the task done.

The adhesive was strong, such that the sensors usually took skin when they were removed, unless they did it slowly. It caused more pain that way, but she could handle pain. She didn't want something like a dislodged sensor interfering with the next few moments.

In the past, wearing the tiny pads had diminished her shields, her self-confidence. It was a reminder that she was a victim, something sick and in need of care, protection. But she was in her element now and refused to be pulled from it. Gideon had continued to hold her wrist in that loose grasp as Brian did his task, but now she removed herself from her servant and indicated she wanted him to finish undressing. Turning on her heel, she saw Debra was adjusting the strap-on harness. The young woman bit her lip as the c.l.i.toral stimulator rubbed against her already aroused body. Brian was setting up his equipment, but she noticed his eyes kept cutting over to his servant. Everyone in the room was aroused, and that arousal was likely to get even more intense very shortly.

It reminded her of her dream, all the things her vampire senses gave her that she hadn't had before. The power and pleasure building in the room was a heated wave, and she closed her eyes, riding on it, the different scents, soft breaths, shifting of bodies. With the possible exception of Brian, everyone in the room was facing something they'd never done before. She'd certainly orchestrated acts like this before, but never as a vampire. The fear returned briefly, the flash of Gideon's bloodied skull, his glazing eyes. She did the exercise she often used before a session. Several deep breaths, held, then let out slowly, centering herself, making herself acutely aware of everything in the room. In fact, when she was in this mode, there was no Anwyn. She was the elemental directing events, no thought upon herself at all, simply guided by instinct, sensation and pleasure.

Aware of Gideon's attention and Debra's, waiting for further instruction, she reached under her skirt, wriggled out of her panties and let them fall. Stepped out of her heels and left those delicate female items in a pile as she moved to the roomy couch and lay down, propping her upper body on the array of cushions there. She eased the skirt up until it was high on her thighs, but would not reveal anything until he positioned himself between her legs. She would take him naked, while he would have only the sense of her under her clothes, in whatever way she allowed him to touch her.

Yet she knew there were times this was even more erotic to the male mind. b.r.e.a.s.t.s cradled in lace, a half-unb.u.t.toned blouse enhancing the cleavage, the crescent of the curves. A length of thigh, disappearing into dark fabric inches before the hip or b.u.t.tock was revealed. Her bare feet pressed to the sofa cushions.

"Come here, Gideon." She stretched out a hand.

He was high and hard, his c.o.c.k nearly brushing his belly. He hadn't looked toward Brian at all. In fact, his body had stayed at a canted angle to him, a defensive, belligerent posture. In his mind she saw his trepidation that she would push it, try to antagonize him in some way with Brian's presence, but she had no intention of doing that. Not this time.

He moved the several steps to her and she closed her hand on his forearm as he braced it on the sofa next to her hip. When he put his knee on the couch between hers, she gripped the other forearm, his hand now holding the top of the couch. The bite of her nails stopped his forward motion, a reminder. His thick lashes rose, revealing the dark blue eyes. "Ask me, Gideon."

"Let me inside you, Mistress."

"Say it the way you're thinking it."

"Let me f.u.c.k you." His lips were pressed together hard, his gaze locked on her so securely she knew it was a deliberate effort not to look toward Brian.

It's just us, angry man. You and me, and Debra. Brian will watch. That's all.

Gideon would react violently if Brian touched him, yet he had an overwhelming desire to please her. He was afraid she was going to let Brian do something to him, and he would have to disappoint her, refuse her, because he couldn't tolerate that. He was castigating himself for having limits, even as he knew he wouldn't budge on those limits. Another reminder to him that he wouldn't be her servant forever, because a vampire's servant couldn't have limits.

She read that swirl of thoughts, realized he was struggling with that cloud over their relationship, just as she was, but she decided she wouldn't allow that conflict to affect this moment. Laying her hands on his jaw, she brought his gaze to her face.

You cannot disappoint me in this, Gideon. Give yourself to me and Debra, and let your mind go. Simply be mine, and let me handle everything else. I promise Brian will not touch you.

He nodded, and she lifted up enough to brush her lips over his, holding his face steady so she controlled the movement. As she did, she angled her hips, brushed the edge of her gathered skirt against his c.o.c.k. She could feel the heat of it emanating toward what it wanted most. Lying back on the couch again, she reached down, gripped him. His lips pressed together, those fine muscles quivering in reaction and barely leashed restraint that only drove her own desires higher. "Keep your hands on the couch where you have them," she commanded, watching his face tighten further as she levered his c.o.c.k downward, fitted the head in the wet and welcoming gateway of her s.e.x. Contracting her stomach muscles, she drew him in, lifting her hips to slide up his length, then back down again, her body rolling with the motion.

It drew his hungry gaze to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, thrusting up against her blouse, the roll of her abdomen and the rock of her hips. She parted her lips, let out a sigh as his thick length filled her, creating unspeakable pleasure that only heightened his need to take over as he saw it in her face, felt it from her body. But though the leash of restraint was taut, he didn't try to yank it away. Not yet. And she wondered if he knew, intuitively, how that fired her own need to raging.

"Debra," she said. "Please join us."

Debra glanced at Brian. She'd moved to stand next to him, lubricating herself with the oil Gideon had left on the table. Brian was watching her glistening hands work the shaft. Now he picked up a towel, took each of her hands and wiped them clean. Reaching down, he caught two fingers in the top strap of the harness, tugged it, working the c.l.i.t stimulator against her. Her lips parted, her hand closing over his biceps for balance.

"You heard the Mistress," the scientist said, low. "Do as she commands."

Debra nodded, moved toward Anwyn and Gideon. Anwyn knew that walking in a strap-on for the first time could be a very powerful experience, and she enjoyed seeing the pleasure and wonder cross Debra's face as she adjusted her pace accordingly.

Gideon had turned his head, but now Anwyn directed his eyes back down. "Keep your attention here." She placed her fingers at her collarbone, ran them down her sternum, into the folds of her shirt. "Don't look up until I say you can."

Do you want me to bark and roll over, too?

We might play fetch later, if you're very good. Curling her hand in his hair, she tugged, not gently. He held his position, enduring the discomfort, his blue eyes intently studying the rise of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the valley in between. He was a breast man, she knew, and he liked hers exceedingly well. He'd quickly learned her ability to read his mind could be turned against her, so that he showed her in painstaking detail how he would run his tongue down that valley, tease in between, sc.r.a.pe the pale skin with the rough shadow of his beard, move over to take the nipple deep, suckle her hard . . . Curling her hand in his hair, she tugged, not gently. He held his position, enduring the discomfort, his blue eyes intently studying the rise of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the valley in between. He was a breast man, she knew, and he liked hers exceedingly well. He'd quickly learned her ability to read his mind could be turned against her, so that he showed her in painstaking detail how he would run his tongue down that valley, tease in between, sc.r.a.pe the pale skin with the rough shadow of his beard, move over to take the nipple deep, suckle her hard . . .

Her p.u.s.s.y contracted around his head, and his gaze flickered in triumph, his lips pressing together, for of course his thoughts stoked his own arousal.

Keep pushing, Gideon, and I'll have her change out that d.i.l.d.o for something much larger and thicker. Something far more like Daegan's c.o.c.k.

His gaze snapped to hers. The recoil in his mind from such a threat was far more volatile and emotion-driven than his flat rejection of Brian or any other man touching him. But she doubted Gideon realized the significance of that difference in reaction, or what it told her.

Eyes back down, Gideon. If you want to please me. And so Brian can get his readings.

He hasn't gotten any for a near-death experience yet. But his gaze left hers, returned to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. But his gaze left hers, returned to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Arching a brow, she ran a hand up his flank, nails digging in a little. You don't seem to have any wooden stakes on you, vampire hunter. But impaling me on this would be quite a way to go. You don't seem to have any wooden stakes on you, vampire hunter. But impaling me on this would be quite a way to go. She lifted her hips, taking him deep again, clamping her muscles so it was a slow, tight drag back down to the head that made him grimace, mutter a quiet oath. She lifted her hips, taking him deep again, clamping her muscles so it was a slow, tight drag back down to the head that made him grimace, mutter a quiet oath.

She missed the razor tips she used to wear beneath her nails, but until she learned control over the seizures, they were a tiny pleasure she couldn't risk. She liked the way his body reacted when she left cuts on his flesh. He was particularly sensitive around the nipple area.

Debra had arrived behind him, and Anwyn glanced toward her, her gaze traveling over the woman's b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the slope of abdomen, the well-greased d.i.l.d.o bobbing gently between her legs. When she met Debra's gray eyes, the servant acknowledged her, then swept her gaze down, acknowledging her dominance. It was similar to working with Janet, Ella or Charlene, her Atlantis staff submissives, except this woman never had an end of shift. Her life was devoted to serving Brian, in whatever way necessary.

The type of slave almost impossible for a human Dominant to obtain in a civilized society. Feeling that familiar yearning return, she also remembered Daegan's words to her before he left. I wanted you as my servant, but in truth, perhaps what drew me to you was that you were a vampire in every other way but blood. I wanted you as my servant, but in truth, perhaps what drew me to you was that you were a vampire in every other way but blood.

The desire to own someone down to the soul was a human sin, the desire of a G.o.d. She shied away from the thought, even as her vampire blood eagerly embraced it. Perhaps that was why the G.o.ds had given her Gideon temporarily. The humbling reminder that even a vampire couldn't always have what she wanted.

But she did have this moment. "Debra," she said, her voice low so it wouldn't break over the tiny storms of sensation emanating from that provocative joining point between her and Gideon. "Touch him in whatever manner you wish before you put that inside him. I want to see you enjoy him."

It was like giving a child free run of a candy store, she thought, watching Debra's gaze travel from Gideon's tense broad shoulders, down the length of spine to the rise of muscular b.u.t.tocks, powerful thighs. He had one foot on the floor, so the spread of his legs would give her a nice view of the heavy t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e sac, a portion of his c.o.c.k, before it disappeared into Anwyn where she still held the head in stasis, her tissues quivering around it, wanting more.

I can give you more, Mistress.

Shhh. Give Debra this. Remain still and prove that you're mine. At least right now.

A muscle twitched in his jaw at the poignant note she couldn't keep from her tone. But of course he didn't deny it. Then they didn't have to think at all, because Debra moved closer. Her slim hand cupped Gideon's shoulder, her fingers whispering over his hair, threading through and stroking the strands downward, so she straightened and pressed them against the upper edge of his shoulder blade. She did it again, surprising Anwyn with her interest in a less s.e.xual caress at first. Perhaps the woman was rea.s.suring him, understanding he was new to this. Or perhaps she was doing something she wasn't often permitted to do. At least not to the man Anwyn suspected she was imagining.

At length, though, she seemed to recall that, for all Anwyn's open invitation, there was a practical reason she was doing this, serving the needs of her Master and a Mistress. Letting her fingers drift down along his spine, that shallow valley, Debra fanned out over the ribs, curving around and whispering down his side, stopping above Anwyn's hands, low on his hips. A shudder ran through Gideon, a twitch, and a slight smile curved the servant's lips. "Ticklish," Debra murmured.

"A little." Gideon didn't change his focus, following Anwyn's direction, but there was an easing to his features at the small teasing exchange. It tightened the bond between the three of them, made Anwyn settle into it further as well. She was cognizant of Brian monitoring his machines, making his notes on his mini-laptop, but also of the way he was watching every minute physical and emotional exchange. She expected it was for more than data collection.

Debra turned her hand over, slid her knuckles over one b.u.t.tock, down to the top of the thigh, and then across, to the t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es. When her hand closed over them, Anwyn knew it, from Gideon's mind and his reaction, his c.o.c.k convulsing in her channel, his biceps hardening at the stimulation. Debra apparently had some very clever fingers, and Brian hadn't cleaned all the oil off them. Gideon's breath whistled through his teeth as she painted his rim, making his body jerk in tiny motions. Then down again, teasing the s.c.r.o.t.u.m, another thorough fondling and kneading of the area that Anwyn knew from personal experience filled up the hand with a nice rounded weight. Then she reached under, and Anwyn felt the pressure as Debra wrapped her hand around his base.

"Would you like me to guide him deeper into you, Mistress?" she asked, her eyes focused and intent, mouth wet where she'd licked her lips. "Make him move in and out of you with the motion of my hand?"

"I'd like that, yes."

Debra tightened her grip, her other hand falling to rest on his b.u.t.tock, applying pressure, giving him direction. Slow, guiding him in deep, at least until the ring of Debra's fingers pressed between them, and Anwyn felt the slim knuckles against her l.a.b.i.a. Then Debra changed her direction and Gideon came out, just as gradually. Watching it, the struggle in his face to obey their direction, she knew he was going crazy caught between two s.e.xually aroused women. The male need to rut was growing hard and fierce as the heat in his c.o.c.k. It made Anwyn's own desires rise. Debra wasn't detached, but she was as controlled as a Mistress right now, holding her desires back, channeling them through what she was doing to Gideon.

On the fifth withdrawal, a groan escaped Gideon's lips, and his head fell a little lower, the hair on his brow brushing Anwyn's jaw. Tightening her fingers on his hips, she dug into the upper rise of those muscular b.u.t.tocks.

"Don't you come, Gideon," she whispered. "That's for your Mistress to decide. The longer you hold it, the hotter you'll make me. Feel how wet my p.u.s.s.y is now?"

"I want to taste it," he muttered. "Love eating your p.u.s.s.y, Mistress. Sucking your t.i.ts. f.u.c.king you, hard and long."

Oh yeah, he was headed into pure, primitive need and leaving everything civilized behind. "Five more times," she managed. "Then I want you inside him."

Debra gave a nod. Her hand had slipped from an innocuous pressure to a solid grip of his b.u.t.tock, and when he gave a strangled oath, she knew the girl had slipped a thumb partially inside him, getting him ready, teasing him some more.

"Count it out for her, Gideon," Anwyn said, letting that ruthless edge into her voice that she knew caught his attention, and sliced him even sharper than her razor nails. "Or I'll make her start over."

"Five."

A m.u.f.fled cough came from Brian, and even Debra was startled into a flash of a smile. Anwyn managed to suppress hers, but caught Gideon's hair in hard fingers, jerking his head back up so he was looking directly into her face. "Gideon. Count. From the beginning."

She cupped her breast with her other hand, the fingers teasing aside the cloth and pushing the bra down to reveal an aroused nipple that she began manipulating with her fingers before his avid gaze.

"Two," he growled, as Debra pulled him out for the second time. The muscles in his face strained, his lips peeling back, as he went back down into her. Anwyn tightened her own muscles, at a lower level, making sure she squeezed him tight.

"f.u.c.k. Mistress. Three. G.o.dd.a.m.n it."

"Don't curse at me, Gideon Green. Two more."

"Not . . . going to . . . make it."

"Yes, you are." She flicked her gaze at Debra. The woman understood, tightening her grip on him. A third mark had even greater strength, so she knew the constriction of her fingers would serve the same purpose as a c.o.c.k harness. "Your seed is mine to command. You release it when I say."

"Four." His eyes couldn't leave her exposed breast now. His lips were parted, tongue making a quick swipe over them that felt as though he'd licked the hard nipple. She shuddered, and his eyes darkened. He was in her mind as she was in his now. No need for curtains during this, because the mutual desires and rough demands wrapped them together even more tightly. He knew what she wanted, what would give her the most pleasure, and she knew there would be no more jokes now, because at this level, pleasure was all he wanted to give her, past his fears or shields.

"Five."

Debra released him, maneuvering over his legs to kneel on the long couch behind him. She made a provocative and pretty picture in just her heels and stockings. Glancing at Anwyn to confirm she was still following her direction, the woman took the sleek black d.i.l.d.o in hand, and began to guide it into him.

a.n.a.l penetration was still something he resisted, such that she needed to hold the reins over him tight when it happened. This was the first time during these difficult weeks she'd had the courage to do that, and she'd only just broken him into it before she'd been turned. But his reaction to this, and the other things she knew, that he couldn't admit, told her it was time to start doing more of it. It broke him down, took his mind past everything, into pure, wild desire.

On stroke five, Debra had pulled him halfway out of Anwyn again, so now he was forced to stay in that position, waiting, powerful body shuddering as Debra worked against those tight muscles.

Anwyn took her hand from her breast and crept to his b.u.t.tock, applying pressure. "Slow, Gideon. Push into me until you can't go farther, and then stop. Then suckle my breast."

He did, at a little swifter pace than Debra had managed, but she'd give him credit for not ramming home at this point. When he got there, he lowered his head. Unlike Debra, he didn't look for further confirmation, a chance she might change her mind.

"Oh . . ." Her breath caught in her throat as his clever lips closed over her nipple. A hot, wet, demanding mouth, pulling hard. Her angry baby. A strained smile touched her mind at the thought, but no other thought was maternal as she cupped the back of his neck. "Let her in, Gideon. Push outward and relax. I want her deep inside you. Surrender to my will. Let me give you everything."

That shudder again, his long fingers flexing. He'd moved one hand so it gripped her upper arm. She permitted it, knowing he needed an anchor, a connection between them. Debra made an approving murmur and Anwyn felt the sensation of it travel to her womb as Debra sank to the hilt in his a.s.s, pressing her body against Gideon's bare back.

"Good. There you are." She reached up, stroked a hand over Debra's bare shoulder, then down to Gideon's rib cage. "Start f.u.c.king him, Debra. Ride him hard and take yourself to climax."

She pressed her lips to Gideon's temple as he nipped her and she gave a throaty moan. "As she does that, I'll come. Then you can come, Gideon. You can use me as hard as you want, pound into me like a battering ram."

She noted Debra glance at Brian, her eyes bright with desire, lips parted as she lifted her upper body to do as Anwyn bade. Brian met her gaze, nodded. Gave his permission for the climax. His green eyes were fierce with l.u.s.t, and Anwyn knew she wouldn't be the only one used hard before this was over. She wouldn't be surprised if Brian called Debra over after and f.u.c.ked her right there in that chair, hands cupped over that sweet round bottom, his gaze devouring the quiver of her full b.r.e.a.s.t.s as he pounded her down on him in a vulnerable straddle, making her keep her hands locked behind her so he had a Master's access to all of her, no control over her own motion or balance.

It was what she would do.

As Debra began to move, Gideon let out another strangled snarl against Anwyn's breast, renewed his suckling there with fierceness. The other one, Gideon. It wants attention, too. The other one, Gideon. It wants attention, too.

He shifted his grip, yanked her shirt back on that side, so that the fabric tore, a b.u.t.ton coming loose between their closely pressed bodies. He pushed the bra down and attacked that nipple, the animal taking over. The hand gripping her arm was bruising, but the other still held his weight mostly off her, so there was a part of Gideon still in there, taking care of her. As always. It swamped her, pushed her arousal up even higher, the emotional always capable of goading a woman's physical response ever closer to that shining edge of helpless pleasure. The point where everyone, Mistress or slave, gave up control in favor of that mind-numbing bliss.

She'd noted that Debra brought a singular focus and intensity to every task, and this was no different. She was being very thorough, trying different strokes, speeds, angles, impacts, probably cataloging Gideon's every response. Anwyn saw the colors of his mind go red and orange, a swirl of flame. He wasn't suckling in rhythm anymore, just nipping and licking at her nipple in a frenetic oral need, anything to distract him from a climax he wasn't going to be able to stop.

She'd punish him for it later, because she couldn't stop her own. Just the friction of him holding still inside her, while lashing her breast with ravenous desire, was enough. f.u.c.k me, Gideon. Let yourself go. f.u.c.k me, Gideon. Let yourself go.

He lifted his hips, countering Debra's weight and rhythm, and plunged downward. Hard, deep, pounding strokes, that snarl becoming a male cry of raging l.u.s.t and release. Debra's moan joined him, evolving into a high, thin scream as his motion took over the pressure on the stimulator. Together, they brought Anwyn to that edge and took her over, so they jumped together into that delicious free fall. The powerful shock of Gideon's thrusts transformed her body into one long shudder of response that wrenched a cry from her own throat, one Gideon took into his as he covered her mouth in a needy, demanding kiss. He swallowed breath and sound together as they rocked to completion, turning in the flames of that red and orange field in his mind.

The power of it rolled over and through her, keeping her in its grip for longer than she antic.i.p.ated. When at last it was done, an aftermath of relief and repleteness at once came in its wake. She'd taken command, taken control, just as she'd done a thousand times in the rooms above, and she hadn't hurt him. The shadow creatures had been nearly still throughout all this, not even their normal buzzing murmur able to rise above the sound of hearts pounding, desire surging and the thoughts of need and l.u.s.t ricocheting between their two minds.

The very first night, Daegan had told her she could choose choose to let go of control, stay in command of who she was by acknowledging she needed their help, needed to rely on them. That she could trust them enough to allow herself that surrender. For wasn't that what she demanded of a submissive? What she wanted so deeply from Gideon? Not just for a moment, here or there, but fully, totally committed, as Debra obviously was to Brian? to let go of control, stay in command of who she was by acknowledging she needed their help, needed to rely on them. That she could trust them enough to allow herself that surrender. For wasn't that what she demanded of a submissive? What she wanted so deeply from Gideon? Not just for a moment, here or there, but fully, totally committed, as Debra obviously was to Brian?

As she came down, shuddering beneath Gideon, his hard muscles quivered against her, his mouth pressed to her temple. Debra's forehead was against his shoulder, both of them trying to keep their full weight off of her and yet catch their breath. It made her remember something else. Something that Gideon had said, about his brother and Lady Lyssa.

I've seen the relationship between a vampire and a servant, Anwyn. Between two of them who love each other. I'm not so sure that kind of ownership, the Dominance and submission, isn't a fluid thing that goes both ways over time.

He was wrong about it in practice, but in matters of the heart, she knew what he meant. He was her servant; he would submit to her s.e.xually, with some resistance, more or less, depending on his mood. However, if he was rough or violent about his submission, it balanced, for when she surrendered to him, to help her through seizures, letting him into her mind, he was as gentle with her as if he'd been given the most precious of treasures to protect.

She put her hand on his skull, holding his head to the side of hers, and caught some of Debra's loose hair, pressing her lips to it in brief thanks, giving her the warmth of her eyes, since she was too wound up to smile. Debra nodded, but also, reading her cue, eased out of him and straightened, leaving it just the two of them, so Anwyn could wind her arms around him, hold him close.

Vaguely, she was aware of Debra dropping the strap-on to the side and going to Brian. His gaze slid over her naked body, lingering on the dainty ribbon at the tops of her stockings, the way the heels accentuated the tempting length of legs, the tilt of her a.s.s. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were still rising and falling more rapidly with her climax, her lips parting at his regard. Placing his hand on her throat, he pulled her in to him as if he might take a kiss from her. Instead he paused just over her lips, holding her there. A tremor of need ran through her, her naked body almost but not quite touching his fully clothed one. He nodded after a weighted moment. "Go to the bedroom. I'll be there soon."

Lowering her gaze, she disappeared down the hall to the guest bedroom. Brian met Anwyn's gaze. "I'll sort this data out shortly. You can have your servant take off the sensors at your convenience. Thank you, Anwyn. I think Daegan's right. I think you'll get along quite well in our world. In fact, it's likely you might teach us a thing or two." A slight smile, and then he shut down the equipment and followed his servant, leaving her and Gideon alone.

Gideon lifted his upper body, running a thumb along her cheek. "Why don't I carry you to the bedroom, Mistress?"

Her limbs felt heavy, her mind a bit disoriented. "Is there another coming? Another seizure?"

"No. But I think that may have taken a lot out of you. You were stressing about it a lot. Afraid you might bite my head off or something, like a vampire praying mantis."

She pressed her lips together against a smile. "I'm never going to teach you proper respect, am I?"

"As I told you in the beginning, this is as good as it gets."

Anything better might kill me, Gideon. She put her mouth against his shoulder as he lifted her. She was in fact somewhat logy. "You were magnificent. We may have inspired Brian to f.u.c.k Debra within an inch of her life." She put her mouth against his shoulder as he lifted her. She was in fact somewhat logy. "You were magnificent. We may have inspired Brian to f.u.c.k Debra within an inch of her life."

"He needs to rea.s.sert his claim, make sure her sticking a d.i.l.d.o up my a.s.s hasn't made her forget she belongs to him."

"Do you think that's childish?"

"Not at all. Just the way we guys are." He slanted her a look. "You already knew that."

"That men are childish? Definitely."