"d.a.m.n!" I smile at my own foolishness. "I don't normally have the sound on. That threw me for a second there."

Stepping out of my skirt, I hook it onto my booted foot and toss it in the direction of Rafe's heap of clothes.

"Hi, I'm Iona. The front desk sent me up at your request." Her voice over the speakers pulls our focus back on to the monitor.

"I'm Joanna, please come in."

Iona steps into view. She's wearing a loose flowing skirt and a matching low-cut, peasant-style top. The gentle sway of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s beneath the top indicates she's not wearing a bra. Looks like she has come prepared if Joanna shows an interest in more than blood.

Rafe chimes in like he's watching a stag film with buddies. "Oh, yeah. That's what I'm talking about."

"Can you keep those comments to yourself please? I'm trying to look out for the welfare of an employee." I snort as I finish the last part. Even I can't claim altruistic motives at the moment.

Rafe runs his hands down my hips and presses me forward. I place my hands on the desk and push back to nuzzle his c.o.c.k with my b.u.t.t.

Iona speaks to Joanna in the other room. "I've never donated before. Can you tell me what you'd like? I don't want to disappoint you."

Joanna smiles in response. She stalks forward and leans in to Iona's neck. "You smell like Vivian, but she hasn't fed from you. Interesting." She takes Iona's hand and gently pulls her further into the room. "Why don't you take a seat? I prefer the femoral artery."

The sound of fabric ripping pulls me back to myself. My thong flies in the direction of the clothing. A wet tongue pushes into me from behind. Firm hands grasp the inner tops of my thighs, spreading them for better access. Slick, velvet pressure tickles my c.l.i.t.

I toss my head back and growl out, "Ohhh...that feels good."

"Femoral artery? Is that the top of my thigh?" Iona's excitement comes through as her voice rises on the last question.

Joanna cups her cheek, leaning forward to place a light kiss on Iona's mouth. "Is that okay, kitten? I won't if you'd rather not. There's always the neck and wrist."

In answer, Iona reaches down to her hem and raises the long skirt up to mid-thigh. "No, that's fine." Her voice sounds breathy. "Whatever you'd like."

Rafe grunts and pulls away from my opening. Mewing softly, I look back at him.

You hoping to watch them while you do me? You're a bad boy.

Joanna walks back to the bed, returning with the pink s.e.x toy. "This thing is cool. Have you ever tried it?"

Iona smiles, more confidence in her now. "Oh, yes. The Cone's phenomenal." She laughs out loud, visibly relaxing into the chair. "Vivian gave all the employees one for Christmas last year." She sits up in the chair and gestures Joanna over, retrieving the device from the other woman's grasp. "Let me put it to my personal favorite setting. It pulses in waves and gets pretty intense."

I'm only human. Rafe angles himself behind me, wrapping his fist around himself. And they are pretty d.a.m.n hot. The crown of his erection probes my wetness, teasing me with a bare inch.

Iona lowers the vibrating device to the floor, placing it between her feet. She settles back in the chair to watch Joanna. The perky blond vampire steps up and squats over the cone. She lowers herself on it, gently pushing Iona's thighs further apart while descending.

Rafe's thick head moves from my dripping center. A thick finger slides down my a.s.s crack, plunging into my p.u.s.s.y and drawing back out. It leaves a wet trail back up to my tight sphincter, circling the muscle before pushing in.

"Mmm... yeah, more baby. Push that thumb in deep."

Rafe complies, making my back arch in response.

"Good choice, this one is delicious." Joanna punctuates the comment with leaning in and kissing the maid's thigh. "But not nearly as delicious as you're going to be."

You bad girl, you like watching Joanna on that toy.

My eyes focus back and forth from the ladies on the monitor, to the vague reflection of Rafe and me in the screen's shiny surface. Both are so compelling, I'm glad I don't have to choose one and look away.

I squirm back, searching for the big hard d.i.c.k I know is there. Don't make me beg! Put your c.o.c.k in me, dammit!

Smack!

Rafe's hand collides with my rump. The movement presses his thumb in deeper and I moan out my pleasure. A second, softer smack follows the first.

Don't get bossy with me, or I may make you wait until the ladies are through.

A glance at the screen reveals the vampire's hand is hidden under Iona's skirt, at the juncture of her thighs. Joanna is kissing just below, at Iona's inner thigh, while riding that cone for all it's worth. s.h.i.t. She hasn't started to feed yet. They could be a while.

Rat b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I bet Rafe would make me wait. I reach out with one hand and click the system to dark. "I've seen enough to ensure Iona is safe. No need to infringe on their privacy more than is needed."

"Aww, no fair. I was enjoying that."

Are you trying to tell me you aren't enjoying this? I pull forward a bit, and look back over my shoulder.

He runs his other hand up and down my back. No, liebling, you know better than that. It was s.e.xy to watch and play at the same time. He punctuates his desire by pulling me back in place, while driving his thumb in again. Rafe places his c.o.c.k at my opening, teasing me with the pressure again. I love driving you crazy with want, my love. You're so d.a.m.n hot and responsive.

Want me to play dirty? I push out with my desire, allowing it to fill the small room like a cloud. I feel a shudder pa.s.s through his whole body, reverberating down his arm and into his wicked thumb as well. Sensing what's about to come next, I tighten my inner walls in expectation.

Rafe removes his thumb and roughly grabs my hips with both hands. My a.s.s is forgotten in the race to drive his erection into me as fast as he can. Silk on steel pushes into my tight sheath. The sensation of being finally filled, after an hour of torment, quickly pushes me to the edge. Pushing back, my hips move in a slow circle. Rafe drives back and forth in deep and steady strokes.

"Oh G.o.d...just like that," I choke out. The waves start to build inside and my internal muscles start to ripple along his length. "Faster...please..."

"No." He keeps his rhythm the same, no faster, no slower. "I'm gonna bring you again."

Hearing that, I let go. Tossing my head back, I moan out my peak to the room.

My power pulses up and out with my release, ratcheting up Rafe's already increasing need. The liquid rush between my legs allows him to slip in and out with ease.

Hot, sweaty skin touches my back. His hand snakes around to my front and tickles my sensitive, erect c.l.i.t. Another hand cups and squeezes my left breast. The kneading sensation combines with the thrusting and circling to push me higher once again. Our movements on the surface of the desk trigger the wireless mouse to activate and the monitor jumps to life with the two ladies.

"Uhnn...ohhh..." Sounds of female voices reaching o.r.g.a.s.m fill the air.

"Mmmmnn..."

Hips piston back and forth slapping against my rump. Rafe's thick c.o.c.k slides in and out in time with his attention at my eager nub. I arch back into the feel of my husband's body, no thought for the images on the screen. His hand leaves my breast and a strong fist wraps into my long tresses to tilt my head back with force.

"Yes, yes! More, G.o.d, please more!" Iona's plea bounces off the walls in the little observation room and Rafe's thrusts come faster in answer.

The feelings and sounds quickly overcome me, forcing my second o.r.g.a.s.m like a steam train. Clenching my p.u.s.s.y around him, I try to increase his sensations as well, hoping to pull him into the abyss with me. My hair tingles along my scalp, the pressure of being held in place counterbalancing the taut muscles in my neck.

Rafe whispers into my ear, "Come for me, my G.o.ddess. You're mine."

One last tug does it, tipping me over the edge with his gentle restraint. Sounds and garbles come pouring forth from my throat. I'm unaware of anything but the electrical sensations lighting every nerve ending in my body at the same time. The shudders wrack me as my head is let go, and strong arms come around my middle to circle me in a tight hold. Warm shooting pulses deep inside my core accompany Rafe's loud moans of release.

A minute or two goes by before either one of us cares to move. Rafe's stubbly cheek rakes back and forth on the middle of my back in a loving caress of skin on skin, bringing me inexorably back to the here and now.

Rafe must have reached over and clicked the system quiet because the new lovers are no longer on the small screen.

He follows my train of thought and answers, "You were right, they deserve their privacy too." Running his hands up my sides, he rises from his position along my back and pushes forward one last time inside me. "That and the fact that if I watched much more I'd be ready for round two-and we've got work to do."

I sigh as he withdraws from my body.

"You're right. The backup power supply isn't meant to last longer than a day or so. If we can't find the problem with the main generator, we're going to have to reroute the power cables to the back up one." I groan at the thought of working out in the cold to accomplish that. "I'm going to detour down to our apartment to change. I don't want to ruin these boots in the snow."

I turn to face my lover and press my lips to his. My arms twine about his neck while his encircle my waist. Our mouths open, allowing the kiss to deepen. Pulling back, I look deep into his eyes. "That was astounding. I'm glad you thought of it."

He sighs and leans his forehead down to touch mine. "Every now and then, I get some good ideas." A slow smile curves the corners of his mouth upward. "And I'm always grateful you're ready and willing to give them a go."

I snort at the "grateful" part. "Like I could resist you naked for long? Please."

We get our clothes back on and meander back to our private suite. I change quickly into my leather pants from last night and a st.u.r.dy pair of Muggs, leaving the soft turtleneck on to keep me warm. I clip my phone back into place and check my watch. Our little interlude in the observation room lasted about thirty minutes. With any luck, we should be hearing back from the boys soon.

Heading into the kitchen, I find Rafe already pouring himself some coffee. His phone starts to vibrate, prompting me to raise an eyebrow at him in question.

He checks the screen. "I think it's Asa, though I don't recognize the number."

I find it interesting that Asa would be calling Rafe and not me this time. It would be nice if he naturally reported to Rafe. I don't relish having the young vamp call me with every concern, so I'll wisely keep my mouth shut.

Rafe flips open the phone, giving a terse greeting. I can hear Asa's voice come over the line. "We have a problem here."

"Hmm?" Rafe looks up to meet my eyes, checking to make sure I'm listening.

"The generator has been damaged. According to Jon, it will take days to fix."

"c.r.a.p."

"He also reports that the same vampire from room six was here at Gen-One. He thinks the power was sabotaged."

"We'll be there in ten minutes," Rafe says, speaking way more quickly than usual. "Tell Jon to call the maintenance guys and Jerry out. We've got a big job ahead of us."

Rafe clips the phone back to his waist and looks at me. "If that b.a.s.t.a.r.d is going after the power, what's next?"

I think back to what I know of Ivan before answering. "He's setting the stage. He wants us scared."

Chapter Twenty-two.

After working outside for several hours, moving above-ground cables, I'm feeling stiff and cranky. Jerry, our sixty-something engineer, has successfully directed us on how to reroute the primary power supply. Everything will come through the backup system until the repairs can be made.

"Looks like someone came in and started pulling cables out with their bare hands," Jerry says. "Guess the power don't hurt your kind?" He raises one eyebrow with his question.

Jerry's a sharp old b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He's been here since we opened and not much gets past him. Good thing he's not at the main building often or I'd have to tamper with his keen intellect more than necessary when he retires.

"No, you're right, it doesn't. We act like conduits and pour the energy back into the ground."

Jerry nods to himself, like another piece of the puzzle snaps into place for him.

"Four days, Jerry, that's what you said, right?" I ask.

He looks around at the mess, nodding his head. He runs a hand through his short hair, mussing it up as he thinks. "Yup. I'll need some strong backs and nimble fingers working 'round the clock." He looks back at me with a twinkle in his hazel eyes. "It'll get done, don't worry your pretty little head about it."

I smile at the sentiment. Nice to know someone can get a complex job done without my help. "Great. You need anything, let Rafe or me know."

Leaving Jerry to his job, I head over to Jonathan's secluded cabin. It's closest, so Asa, Jon and Rafe, have gone there to warm up. I pull the hood up on my subzero parka, stomp the circulation back into my feet, and head off into the darkness on the paved walkway. A gut-wrenching howl rips through the air. The fine hairs on my body stand up at the eerie sound. Tones of remorse and sadness filter through on the long note as it dies down.

Up ahead in the darkness, the door to the cabin whips opens, slamming into the inside wall. Pounding footsteps on the wooden porch echo out. The rectangle of light from the cabin briefly illuminates a man running away. Reaching out with my senses, I connect with the frantic emotions of the runner.

It's Jonathan. The energy pouring off him feels chaotic. That howl meant something and only he knows what. Two more figures, taller than the first, emerge from the cabin in pursuit. I change my course, angling through the woods at a run. Trees stream past me in the black. Outdoor spotlights, attached to Jon's large heated kennel, wink behind tree trunks and bounce up off the hard-packed snow.

Sprinting past the buildings, I hear movement up ahead and dive deeper into the woods to get to it. The lights no longer reach the snow in front of me. A faint glow from the moon illuminates the pines as I dash and dodge between them. Bursting through the trees, I slam to a halt a few feet from Jon's hunched form on the ground. He's cradling something to his chest. A ring of six wolf crossbreeds pace around his kneeling body as he rocks back and forth. A high keening sound rends the air as Jonathan tosses his head back, yelling out his despair.

Rafe and Asa break through the woods, into the small ten-foot clearing. They skitter to a stop and take in the scene as well. Jon kneels in frozen gore, holding the remains of one of his wolves. The compacted ground reveals no obvious signs of a struggle, but plenty of night-hued blood. Jon's dog must not have been out here too long, or the carca.s.s would have been frozen to the snow.

"Jon, I..." I'm not sure what I should say.

There's nothing I can say to ease his pain. These half-wolves are his pack. Jon looks up at me, his eyes wet with unshed tears.

"It had to be him," Jon chokes out. "That b.a.s.t.a.r.d must have caught her," he lowers the dead half-wolf to the ground, "when she was coming back from patrol."

"I'm so sorry." The words aren't enough.

I approach, closer than the wild eyes of the wolf dogs want me to, and drop to my knees next to Jonathan. My arms go around him and I pull him to me in a hard embrace.

I whisper in his ear, "Nothing I can say or do can ease your pain. But I can promise you this-we will kill this son of a b.i.t.c.h." Jon's arms come around me and he returns my hug.

"d.a.m.n right, we will," he whispers back.

Rafe moves forward. "Jon, let me take her body back to the shed by the kennel. I'll wrap her in a tarp and you can decide what you want to do later."

Jon eases back from my hold. He takes a jagged breath and lets it out slowly, head bowed. "Thanks." He reaches out, placing a hand on the blood-free fur between her ears, giving her one last pat. "She was a good dog. I'll bury her this spring when the ground lets me."

Rafe kneels and takes the stiff form in his arms. Rising, he heads back through the woods in the direction from where I came.

"Asa, go with him," I direct. "I don't want him alone with this killer out."

I heard that, Rafe calls in my mind.