"When a young vampire exchanges blood with a master vampire, he or she becomes their servant. It's a life insurance policy to ensure as you gain in power, you don't try to usurp the throne, so to speak."

"Is that what you meant by 'take my will'?" I nod. "Does it have any other effect?"

Rafe snorts, "Don't you think that 'protect and serve' covers enough?"

I have a flash of insight. "Cy didn't drink from you did he?"

"No, but I wouldn't have hurt him."

Rafe shakes his head and heads for the stairs. "You're his wife's nephew. He knew that, you dumba.s.s." My lover tosses over his shoulder to me as he takes the steps three at a time, "I'll let you finish down here and I'll get back to doing the bills."

I head over to the workbench, leaning back against it again. Examining Asa from head to toe, I'm glad to see his erection is gone. Although it's a normal response to ingesting old vampire blood, it's best not to dwell on it too much. I'll pretend I never knew it was there to begin with. "How are you feeling with the blood?"

"Like I could fly! It's f.u.c.king extraordinary, you should bottle that s.h.i.t."

Thinking of the half dozen vials already bottled and chilling in the mini-fridge on the third floor, I smile. "Yeah, good idea."

The intelligence I saw in this young vampire's face earlier in the lobby creeps back in and his look becomes shrewd. "I've asked three times now, are you going to tell me how old you are?"

"I'm over five hundred and fifty years old, but my exact age doesn't matter that much." I don't bother to mention that my power feels much, much older. It's a result of all the vampires I drained as an enforcer and the darker time before that as well. I'm not really sure how old I actually "feel" to one who can read power well. Perhaps well over a thousand years, though I've never asked anyone.

"Criminy, you look d.a.m.n good for your age." He tosses a cute grin my way. c.r.a.p. I had hoped we could ignore the arousal part.

"Well, I'm married, and that is that. Nothing will ever come of our bond, so look elsewhere, capisce?"

He steps back a bit, like he's surprised. "Little full of yourself, eh? I was just saying you look good. I wasn't inviting a roll in the hay."

I can't help it-I toss my head back and laugh. The sound peals from my throat in a lyrical rush. G.o.d, I needed that. He wants to salvage his pride over the raging b.o.n.e.r, and that's fine by me. I've got no issue with playing it that way.

I collect my decorum once more and wipe the tears from my eyes. "So sorry about that. Want to see the rest of the bas.e.m.e.nt now? You can drill me for info as we go, 'kay?"

Walking off in the direction of the open wall, I don't bother to wait for confirmation. I hear his heavy, booted feet march behind me. I hit the lights as I enter through the opening and wait for the reaction I know is soon to follow.

"Holy s.h.i.t! This bas.e.m.e.nt runs under the entire first floor?" His voice sounds incredulous and I sneak a look back at him. Yup, his face mirrors it.

"Yes, it does. The north wing too. You just can't see that angle from here."

The s.p.a.ce opens up before us, interspersed with support columns every twenty feet or so. Asa walks past me to move further into the bas.e.m.e.nt under the hotel. "Why haven't you divided it up into rooms?"

"My blood has made you stronger for now, and maybe a little less sensitive, but it is below grade down here. That would be a b.i.t.c.h to keep heated. And besides, we have storage rooms. There is no need to keep things down here. This area is unknown to all except Rafe, Jonathan, myself...and now you."

I wait for a response but Asa wanders further in as though oblivious. He spots the first ladder descending from the ceiling and looks from it to the one past it, about twenty-five feet down, and then to the next. "Where do these ladders go?"

"They are escape routes. Every room has an access door in a closet, linked to the one above it on the next floor. All come straight down to here." I'm quite pleased with the design, but he seems unimpressed. Maybe it is all a bit much to take in at once.

I've got a lot to cover, so I continue on. "There are tunnels leading from this foundation to other locations on the property." I walk over to one of the access doors s.p.a.ced between the first and second ladder. "Six in all. This one leads to cabin one. I've got a map of the resort for you upstairs. I recommend you walk around later and explore the outside before you venture through the tunnels. Safer that way, so you know where you are when you come up."

Asa takes it all in, resting his hand on the first ladder and looking around at the vast s.p.a.ce. It goes on and on for several hundred feet.

"How? How did the workers do all of this?"

"Dynamite, fires, drilling machinery, and back-breaking work. You name it, they probably used it."

"The time it must have taken..." His voice holds a note of awe and he has a sh.e.l.l-shocked look to him.

Ah, now I see where we're going with this. He's still so young and has only been undead for a year. It must be a bit hard to grasp when you haven't been around something of this magnitude before.

"Yes, it took over a decade just to get the foundation done," I tell him. "Building this place took longer than any of my previous resorts, but it's a lot larger too. This one was meant to last."

Asa nods his head as he walks into the middle of the wide foundation and stands near a thick support beam. "This is where I'd like to build a command center."

"Excuse me, a what?" He's switched gears so fast I don't know where this last statement came from.

He starts to walk off and pace the area available, turning in sharp angles every now and then, and gesturing with his arms. "Here, down in the bas.e.m.e.nt. I told you I wanted to be in this main building and when we beef up the security, this is where it will all be linked."

"Umm... I don't recall offering this s.p.a.ce."

He flashes me a toothy smile. "Would you rather have it up in one of the guest rooms? Or we take out the dojo? Doesn't look like there are a lot of options."

d.a.m.n, he's right. I still don't appreciate the high-handedness he's showing. I never designed a security system into the plans, yes, that's true. They weren't popular in the eighties when I got the ball rolling on this place. We added on the observation rooms in the nineties and until now, with the murder, extra security hasn't seemed necessary.

"We'll talk about it." He says.

Oh good, another person with whom I have to "clear" things. It took so long to get things right with Rafe, I don't relish the thought of having to discuss logistics with yet another person.

I check my watch. "It's close to ten-fifteen and I've got to meet with someone at eleven. Let me give you a quick walk-through of the second floor and then you can take the map and explore on your own."

I'm not looking forward to tea with Olivia. I wish I had kept my mouth shut on an invite. Teaching her how to attract a vampire and become his servant? What the h.e.l.l was I thinking?

Chapter Twenty.

"Olivia, only you can determine which man is right for you." My patience runs thin. It has been a hectic morning and now dealing with her indecision frustrates me.

"Drew was just so incredible last night that I'm starting to rethink my position." She looks up, wistfulness and hope sparkling in her eyes.

I don't have the time for this anymore. The tour with Asa was rushed. Rafe had to take over to help me out so I could meet Olivia in time for tea. What I envisioned would be a mini-lesson in how to seduce a man has turned into a microscopic pick-apart of last night and I feel like screaming. At heart I'm not a good girly-girl.

I steal a look at my wrist, confirming the time creeps closer to noon. "Well, darling, while I would love to chat about this longer, I'm sorry to say that I can't." Liar, liar, pants on fire. "I have to meet guests for a private tour of the third-floor rooms."

"Oh, those rooms sound like fun. Can I come?" She sounds like she expects me to say yes. Poor thing, I hope I can let her down easy without ruining the girlfriend camaraderie I've spent so long cultivating.

"This one's a private request, dear, so I'm sorry, but no. Not this time. But tours are given throughout the day, so you can check with the front desk and they can set you up."

We make our farewells, kissing on the cheeks, like old friends. She's good at heart and does deserve happiness. I hope I can help her find it before she leaves. Heading over to the staircase, I spot Rafe coming out of the dining room.

You're a sight for sore eyes. That tea seemed to go on forever.

That one's all you. Rafe's amus.e.m.e.nt comes through loud and clear. You're the one who suggested it last night.

Yes, yes, I know. Does that mean I can't regret it and b.i.t.c.h every now and then?

We're face to face now at the bottom of the steps and I stand up on my tiptoes to kiss him gently on the lips. I'd rather be naked in bed with him and he knows it. That's not to say we aren't going to enjoy the next hour, but still, I have my preferences.

Rafe breaks the kiss and takes my hand as we head up to the third floor.

How did things go with Asa? I ask.

Not bad. He's real intense about security and has a lot of great ideas.

Peachy. Sounds like you're on board with the command center idea I had to hear about for forty-five minutes?

We clear the first landing and continue up to the next one. The warmth from his fingers seep into my hand and courses up my arm. I run my other hand along the smooth railing, smelling the wood polish freshly applied to the banister.

We need to get Asa a room, p.r.o.nto, or he's going to camp out in our living room until we catch Ivan, Rafe says.

My head whips around at that. You finally accept that I'm right and that it's Ivan?

I don't doubt what you saw in Sheba's mind. I question the fact it really is him if the scents didn't match up. Some other vamp could have put those images conveniently into Sheba's head.

He sees my face losing the happy calm look I had after our kiss and rushes head on.

But Asa believes you and that's the premise he's working from. If we have a madman loose on the premises, he wants to find him and keep us safe.

We reach the last landing and look around for the guests we're supposed to meet. I try to pull free from his grasp so that I can head toward room sixteen, one of the dungeon rooms.

"Wait." Rafe holds on to my hand and gives me a gentle tug back. "Have you tried to reach out and touch Ivan's mind yet?"

I wondered when he'd get around to thinking of that. "Yes, and no luck." His face clears and he looks relieved. "That doesn't mean it isn't him. It means his mind has been altered after the torture of his imprisonment." I've seen, first-hand, how that can happen. I've been there when the tribunal releases a vampire from imprisonment. Sometimes, death is the kindest option.

By the expression on Rafe's face, I can see my explanation is an idea he's not yet ready to accept. Our guests will be here any moment, and I realize I'm grossly overdressed for the tour. Reaching to remove my turtleneck sweater, I focus back on the here and now. The cashmere slides up and my Merry Widow-covered nipples harden when the air hits them. I toss the sweater at Rafe and reach behind me to unzip my suit skirt. As it shimmies down my hips, I step out of the fabric and spread my boot-covered thighs into a wider stance. "Ah, much better."

Impeccable timing being my forte, Liam and Francesca round the corner and head down the hall towards us.

I look back at Rafe and lower my voice. "We'll talk more later, hon, okay?"

Rafe moves closer to me and reaches out his free hand to run it down my hip, curving around to my backside. "Oh, that's fine by me. This is going to be fun." He gives me a playful smack on the rump. "You can count on it."

"Liam, Francesca," I call out in cheerful voice, "so good to see you again. How was your first night here?"

"The hotel's fantastic. Its reputation is well-earned," Liam answers.

He looks well rested and content. Good, exactly the right frame of mind to try something new.

"Are we starting here in the north wing or in the east one?" he asks.

I grin. He has no idea he's not going to see any other rooms. "We'll start in here," I reply. "I'm sure there is bound to be something you'll like."

Liam's eyes take in my outfit in a slow perusal from head to foot. "This doesn't look like standard inn-keeper attire. Although I have to admit, it looks good on you."

"Glad you like it. I have something similar in store for Francesca."

"You mean there are clothes in there I can borrow?" Francesca asks with a high pitch to her voice.

"Oh yes, something for everyone." I give her a playful wink in return.

Francesca's eyes dilate in excitement. Her breathing comes in and out fast, in short bursts. She looks like she's already turned on. Either Liam was a busy man before they headed up here, or she's antic.i.p.ating the tour so much she has worked herself up to this on her own.

Without further ado, Rafe sweeps his key card down the lock and opens the door. I turn and lead the three of them inside. "Step into my parlor..."

Rafe finishes for me, "Said the spider to the fly."

My boot heels rap sharply on the late tile floor, echoing up and bouncing off the matching tiled walls. There's no fabric in here to cushion and absorb sound so every nuance appears amplified. Twinkling lights from the black ceiling lend an air of mystique. The dancing shadows from the pre-lit candles make the whole s.p.a.ce come alive with movement.

"Fabulous!" cries Francesca. She runs a hand over a wooden rack with silver-lined cuff restraints as she walks by.

Liam's cool demeanor is gone-a spark of equal excitement lights deep in his blue eyes. His rugged face turns up in a small smile while he watches his mate get animated in her pleasure. Francesca lingers over each item, appearing to get caught up in a spell that she alone is weaving.

I nod to Rafe and he walks over to a corner where a large dressing screen stands. He steps behind it and I know he's stashing my clothes there as well as removing some of his own. In the time it takes for Francesca to discover the silver shackles hanging on the empty back wall, Rafe emerges from behind the screen.

My lover stands still, shirtless and wearing a black leather hood. The sculpted muscles of his chest bunch beneath his taut skin like an animal about to pounce. Rafe's snug jeans ride low on his body. The kissable angles of his hips create a line that points straight to his fly. I look up to see the mask hiding his facial features from view and feel heat pool low in my middle. I want him right now and d.a.m.n the fact that we aren't alone.

Francesca's fascination with the silver restraints on the wall have made her miss Rafe's entrance, but not for long.

I walk over to her and pick up one of the cloth-lined shackles. "Would you do me the honor?"

Her gaze whips up to meet my eyes. "Really? You'd let me bind you here?" Her excitement comes off her in palpable waves. Her face flushes and her lips part. I bet her panties are damp at just the thought of tying up a vampire.

"But, of course, I know a guest would never try to harm me," I rea.s.sure her, but in actuality, I know no such thing.

That's the real reason Rafe is here; he'd never allow me to do this without being close by to protect me. The fact that I could easily control their thoughts doesn't matter to him. In essence, it's a small thing to ease his mind on so I don't argue.

I step up to the wall and raise my arms up for the cuffs dangling from the stone on both sides above my head. Shaking my long hair down my back, I spread my legs and push my a.s.s out on display. Liam comes closer to watch as Francesca binds my left wrist in place.

"You aren't in pain from the silver?" His voice holds honest curiosity.

"No, the cuffs are lined, see?" I angle my bound arm to give him a good look inside the metal circle.

Liam grunts. "Interesting."

He reaches out and runs a hand along the silver chain attaching to the cuff to the wall. The soft hiss of searing vampire flesh and the pungent aroma of singed hair wafts up to greet me. He removes his hand quickly and the smell dissipates while the small burn heals. Francesca moves to the other side and repeats the process on my right wrist, securing it as well.