Author’s Note: This one’s a little weird, guys. Ok, this is the deal. There is no Richard, no micah,
no furballs vying for Anita’s attention at the moment. Its just Jean-Claude in the ring. They aren’t
dating, but he is wooing. Jean-Claude has the two marks on her from guilty pleasures. Anita
knows about the council. She isn’t lupa, or nimir-ra. But she has her house instead of her
apartment. I kinda spliced the details of the books that I like best. Ah, its good to be the author.
Lol.

Demon Lover

Anita’s POV
 
 

Haze. Red haze. Everywhere, surrounding me. Silk sheets caressed my skin, of a crimson
red color. Red gauzy drapes surrounded the bed. I glanced down, I was nude. My pale skin
looked even whiter against the crimson red of the bedclothes. At first, I thought I was in some
dream with Jean-Claude, but something told me otherwise. I felt vulnerable. I felt scared. When
Jean-Claude invades my dreams against my wishes, I usually just feel lust, desire, and sometimes
anger.

A figure walked slowly around the curtain of red gauze, trailing his fingers on the fabric. I
couldn’t make out any exact features, but the person was most definitely a he. “Anita….” A
voice echoed throughout the room. I didn’t recognize it, but it slid down my skin, like velvet, or
the most expensive of silks. It was like Jean-Claude’s voice, but it wasn’t Jean-Claude
beckoning to me outside the curtains.

I hugged my knees to my chest. “Who are you?” I called.

A sensuous laugh resonated in the air. “Who am I?” a rich voice asked. “Does it matter,
Anita?”

I frowned, getting pissed. Anger is a great tool to hide fear. “Then what the hell do you
want?”

More laughter. As wonderful as Jean-Claude’s. The voice tricks pulled at my senses,
sending them reeling. “Such creative phrasing. What do you think I want?” asked the voice in a
languorous tone.

“I wouldn’t ask if I already knew, you dumb fuck.”

“Oh? Just try guessing, Anita. Just for me.”

“I would, but I don’t want to give you any ideas.”

Again, that laughter. It was beginning to scare me more than entice me. “Oh, Anita. I have
many ideas. There isn’t a thing in the world you could say, that I have not thought of trying with
you.”

Suddenly the red haze broke, to permit the man to pass through. I gasped. He was nude as
well. His skin was pale, his hair a golden chestnut brown. His jaw was angular, his shoulders
wide, his chest smooth, his lips full and kissable. But it was his eyes that were striking. The irises
were like molten gold, swimming with power. He smiled at me, a sensuous curve of lips. He
crawled towards me on the bed, and I scrambled back towards the headboard. “Stop right
there. I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but stay the hell away.”

“You don’t want me to stay away.”

“Oh yes I do. Who the hell are you?”

“You will know soon enough,” he answered.

“No.”

“Yes.” Suddenly the man was above me. His body pressed to the length of mine, and the
only feeling rushing through my veins was fear. I saw frustration in the man’s powerful eyes, I
wasn’t cooperating the exact way he wanted. Damn Right. “Why do you fear me?”

“Get off me and I’ll tell you.”

“No.” I could feel his manhood, hard against my leg. “Tell me.”

“Because I don’t know you.” I reached out to shatter the dream, and it all came crashing
down around me.

I darted upright in bed, breathing heavily. I tuned my ears to listen to my house closely, I
heard nothing. I didn’t know what the hell that dream had been about, but it was scary. I
clutched Sigmund to me, and lay back down, staring at the ceiling. I was afraid to close my eyes
again. The man had been desirable, too desirable. He frightened me, I didn’t know who he was,
but I had a bad feeling he wasn’t just a figment of my imagination. Was he a vampire? Demon?
Lord knows.

A small sound drew my attention to the door of my room. The browning manifested in my
hand, pointed at a figure standing inside the door. After a second glance I recognized
Jean-Claude, but still didn’t point away. “What the hell are you doing here, Jean-Claude? I have
had about enough unexpected visits for one night.”

Jean-Claude’s POV

I was sitting in my office at Guilty Pleasures. It was Saturday night. I could feel the crowd,
even within the confining walls of my office. The desperate humans, oh so desperate for a good
time, a smile, a chance to be loved, or at least the illusion that they are.

Suddenly a feeling of fear and distress ripped through me, beginning at the base of my neck
and ending in my toes. But I knew the feeling was not mine, it was that of ma petite. I reached
out to her through the marks, she was at her house, but that was mostly all I could tell. It must
have been a powerful sensation indeed, for it to tear through the barriers she normally keeps
between us. I rose from my desk, and departed from Guilty Pleasures, heading in the direction of
ma petite’s house. I wanted to check on her, as odd as that sounded. Me, checking on Anita, the
Executioner. I just hoped she would not shoot me for it.

I stepped over the threshold of her house. I had the invitation, I had done it enough times.
Not for the exact reasons I would like, but an invitation is a start, non? I made my way silently up
to her room. She had left her door open. In the dead of winter, she must have wanted to let the
hot air circulate through. But it was still very uncharacteristic of Anita to leave her door open, as
paranoid as she can be. Did someone open it? I pushed out my senses. Non, only she and I
remained in this house. I could see her sleeping form, her face contorted in an statement of
distress. She was having a dream. Suddenly she bolted upright, and listened to the room. Then
she lay back down, clutching her stuffed penguin to her. She thinks I do not know about
Sigmund, but oh, I do.

I made a small noise purposely, to alert her of my presence. Suddenly I was staring down
the barrel of her gun. It was nothing new. “What the hell are you doing here, Jean-Claude? I have
had about enough unexpected visits for one night.”

I smiled slightly. “I felt your distress through the marks, Anita. I came to investigate.” She
dropped the barrel of her gun from pointing at me to resting on the bed beside her.

“So you just let yourself in?”

“Essentially, yes. Only because I was worried about you.”

“Worried about me? My ass.”

Ah, ma petite, you can be so disconcerting sometimes, I thought to myself. “I can see you
are sweating in the dead of winter, ma petite. Something has scared you.” Anita put her gun away
in the holster she had attached to the headboard of her bed, realizing I was not here to hurt her.
“What did you mean by saying you have had enough unexpected visitors? Who else has been
here?”

Anita frowned. “I had a dream.”

“A dream? About what?”

Anita hesitated, deciding what to disclose to me. I could hear her heart beating, fast. She
smelled of fear, and of confusion. “I’m not sure exactly,” she answered. I walked to her bed,
moving slowly so as not to scare her, or anger her. I sat down on the foot of her bed. I waited
for her to elaborate. I was pleased she did not yell at me for sitting on her bed. If I play my
timings correctly, she might even allow me to lay down beside her. I would like that, I thought.

“What was in it?” I prompted.

“Why the hell do you care?” Ah, ma petite, such temper.

“Because this dream has obviously rattled you. I am curious.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“To one who knows you,” I said softly.

Anita furrowed her eyebrows. “At first, I thought it was some dream YOU had cooked
up.”

“For what reasons?” I asked, truly curious.

Anita smiled. “Because I was naked, and there was an abundance of red silk everywhere.”
I laughed, making her shiver. I do love the effect I have on her. “And that too. There was this
man, and his laugh, his voice, he could manipulate sound like you can.” This surprised me.

“Was he a vampire?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what the hell he was. But he had these amazing golden eyes.
He was frightening. The dream scared me. End of story.”

I quirked an eyebrow, a gentle smile playing on my lips. “I don’t think it was quite that
simple.”

“Yeah. But I don’t want to tell you the rest. Just take my word that I didn’t like it, and it
was scary for me.”

I stretched out on the bed, resting my head on my hand. She watched me, as a mouse
would watch a large predator. I could taste her heartbeat, her excitement. It is so wonderful to
know how much she wants me, to be able to sense it. But it can be so disappointing to be turned
away time and time again. Someday, I tell myself. “Very well, ma petite.”

I can tell that there is still something bothering her, le piece de resistance, that she is not
telling me. I gaze at her, willing this last piece of information to come to light. Not that willing does
much good with ma petite. Finally she breaks, saying, “I don’t think this was just some random
musing from my mind. I think this someone sent the dream to me.”

This was an interesting piece of information. I studied ma petite’s face. She was worried.
So was I. I and I alone should be the only one capable of sending ma petite dreams. I touched
ma petite’s hand lightly, teasing the back of her hand with my fingertips. “What did the man look
like, Anita?”

Once again Anita frowned. “He was tall, muscular, pale. He had brownish gold hair, and
his eyes were like molten gold.”

It was the molten gold eyes part that bothered me, for I only knew of one vampire who
had eyes as such.

Anita’s POV

Jean-Claude brushed his fingers along my hand, sending a thrill up my arm. “What did the
man look like, Anita?”

I frowned. Jean-Claude was very interested in this dream. I wasn’t sure if that should scare
me, or not. “He was tall, muscular, pale. He had brownish gold hair, and his eyes were like
molten gold.” I studied Jean-Claude’s face, trying to get a clue what he was thinking. Of course,
as usual, it was an amused mask, hiding his deeper feelings. “Do you know who this guy is,
Jean-Claude?”

Jean-Claude paused, not answering. His fingers moved in tiny circles on the back of my
hand, probably trying to distract me. It was working. I pulled my knees up to my chest and
hugged myself. Jean-Claude sighed and laid back. His black hair fanned out around him. Those
midnight blue eyes studied me, with a gaze so intent that alone made me shudder. “I may have an
idea, ma petite.”

“Who?” I demanded. Jean-Claude shook his head. “You’re not going to tell me?”

“I am not positive it is the person I am thinking of.”

I glared at him. “Then tell me who you are THINKING of, whether you’re sure or not.”

“The name would have little relevance to you, ma petite.”

I sighed. “You are such a pain in the ass, Jean-Claude.”

He blinked, indifferently. A fine trembling started in my body. I wanted to tell myself it was
just because I was cold, but I knew that wasn’t it. Jean-Claude touched my arm lightly. “Ma
petite, you are trembling.”

“I’m cold,” I quickly answered.

“You are also lying,” he said with an amused smile. Jean-Claude sat up, snaking an arm
around my shoulders. He laid a gentle kiss on my temple.

“Behave yourself,” I said.

Jean-Claude chuckled, sending a rolling wave of gooseflesh over my skin. “Am I not, ma
petite? I am offering comfort, not sex.”

I sighed. I wanted to be comforted. But if I gave in it would be a point for Jean-Claude.
Damn it to hell. I leaned into him, wrapping my arms around his neck, resting my head on his
shoulder. I could smell his cologne. It was a sweet scent, with the undercurrents of exotic spices.
His baby soft curls brushed against my face. He was whispering something to me softly, I only
caught snatches of it here and there, it was in French. His fingers traveled up and down my back
in slow soothing lines. I pushed back gently with a sigh. “Go away, Jean-Claude. I want to go
back to sleep.”

Jean-Claude kissed my forehead, like comforting a child. “As you like, ma petite.” I
watched him leave the room, and heard him shut the door gently as he left the house. But I could
still smell his cologne on the sheets, that one piece of him lingering behind. I plopped back down
and closed my eyes, hoping for a dreamless sleep.
 
 

Jean-Claude’s POV

I left Anita’s house, shutting the door quietly behind me, but loud enough so she would hear
and know I had left. The outside air was frigid, but the cold did not affect me. I glanced up at her
bedroom window. The light was off, the curtains drawn. But I could faintly hear her heartbeat,
she was sleeping once again.

I returned back to Guilty Pleasures. Anita would be safe this night, she was not in physical
danger. Not as of yet, anyways. If her dreams continued, then we would both know it was time
to be en garde.

As I entered my office, I was met by an unpleasant surprise. I sank into my black office
chair, and met my visitor’s gaze with one of scrutiny. “What do you want, Gretchen?”

Gretchen had let herself into my office, and was sitting on the couch. She had always been
somewhat of a nuisance, but with his increasing interest in Anita, she was becoming even more
unstable. I knew Gretchen adored me, in a girlish crush sort of way. Mon Dieu! It was hard not
to know. “I wanted to see you,” she answered, tossing her long butter yellow hair. I had made
her into a vampire, around 200 years ago. I had become friends with her father, and she became
very sick. I saved her with the gift of eternal life, but I am afraid it will turn for the worst. “Where
were you?” she interrogated.

I smiled slightly. “I was with Anita.”

Gretchen immediately furrowed her brow in frustration. “With Anita? You know she does
not love you, Master. You are wasting your time.”

I waved my arm in a dismissing gesture, but I knew the movement sent my scent along to
Gretchen on the air-currents. She widened her eyes with alarm when Anita’s scent mixed with
mine invaded her nostrils. “I have held her close this night, Gretchen. Are you so sure I am
wasting my time?”

“She has held your body, Jean-Claude, but not you.”

I frowned. “And what makes you so sure of that?”

“After she has pushed you away so much Jean-Claude, how could you not see it?”

“You forget yourself, Gretchen. Leave, now.”

Gretchen did, slamming the door behind her. Childish.
 
 

Anita’s POV

I sat on a velvet upholstered chaise. I was wearing a black silk robe, with a black negligee
underneath. But I was in the same crimson room, the bed sat over in the middle of it. Shit.
However, being dressed was an improvement.

“Ah, Anita, you ran away from me last time.” The man with the golden eyes stood, leaning
against the bedpost.

“I wonder why?” I said sarcastically.

“I was very disappointed that you left.”

“Really. That’s what I’m about to be doing again, so see ya.”

I began to reach out to shatter the dream again, struggling to wake up, when suddenly the
man was before me, his arms one on either side. His eyes were amazing, and I felt him try to
suck me under. Trying. “No, you will stay.” He said in a firm voice that did not have margin for
argument. Well he didn’t know me.

“Sorry, Goldie, you’re going to have to try harder than that.

I shot upright in my own bed, breathing heavily. Only now did the fear kick in. Someone
was definitely sending me the dreams. I had to talk to Jean-Claude. I glanced at the clock. It was
only 11. Jean-Claude would still be at Guilty Pleasures.

Author’s Note: Oh yeah, some other things that haven’t happened. Anita doesn’t know about the
arduer, and Asher isn’t around yet. I guess its in a Laughing Corpse time frame, sort of. Only
Jean-Claude has reached the point where he’s on Anita’s list of monsters who aren’t monsters.
Right. So here we go……..

Anita’s POV

I walked into Guilty Pleasures with a mission on a Monday night, and it wasn’t to see
vampires strip. A voice stopped me. “Do you have any holy items to check?”

“No,” I lied, and continued towards Jean-Claude’s office. Much to my dismay, I found
Robert blocking my path.

“Hello, Anita.”

I nodded. “Robert.” I crossed my arms.

“Is Jean-Claude in?”

“Yes. You should really stop lying to Tiffany about your cross, Anita.”

I smiled. “Fuck you, Robert. I need to see Jean-Claude, so if you’ll excuse me…” I tried
to push past him.

“Are you expected?”

“No.”

“Then I can’t let you pass.”

“Go tell him I’m here, then! I am in no mood for games, so go tell him Anita is out here
with something important to tell him! And if you don’t, I wont be held responsible for my
actions!”

Suddenly the door to Jean-Claude’s office opened behind Robert. Jean-Claude stood
there in all his beautiful glory. His midnight blue eyes flashed with anger. “Is there a problem,
Robert?”

Jean-Claude’s POV

I was writing at my desk in my office at Guilty Pleasures. It was around 11:30. I was doing
some paperwork. There seems to always be paperwork, owning Guilty Pleasures, Danse
Macabre, and The Laughing Corpse. Suddenly I heard quite a commotion outside my door. It
sounded like Robert, arguing with….ma petite. Yes, definitely her, no one can threaten like she
can.

I flung open the door. Anita’s eyes immediately turned to me. I knew I looked wonderful in
all black. I glared at Robert. “Is there a problem, Robert?” I asked.

Robert immediately dropped to one knee before me. “There is no problem, Master.”

“Then what are you arguing about?” Robert bowed his head lower. I could sense his fear
of me. Good. Too many are forgetting who is master around here. He didn’t answer, cowering in
silence. “Robert.” I filled that one word with menace.

“I did not let Anita barge in on you because you were not expecting her.”

“Anita is always welcome, Robert. Remember it.” How could she not be welcome? Fools.

“Yes, of course, Master.”

Anita entered my office, walking under my arm. She is so tiny, but mighty. I chuckled at the
thought. I shut the door in Robert’s face, not wanting anymore to do with him tonight. I would
deal with him later.

I leaned against the corner of my desk, crossing my arms. “Good evening, ma petite.”

Anita stood in the middle of my office, her arms crossed as well. For such a petite lady she
is so good at looking intimidating. “Hi.”

“And to what do I owe this great pleasure?”

“I had another dream with golden eyes in it.”

I froze, letting the life slip out of me. A thrill of fear ran through me, but I knew Anita
couldn’t tell. I am a master of harnessing my emotions. She waved her hand. “Hello?” She does
that when I sink away from life. I blinked, and furrowed my brow. “Who is this guy,
Jean-Claude? You’re scared.”

“I am not scared,” I said, not pleased that she could tell.

“Yes you are,” she insisted.

“I am cautious, ma petite.”

“Who is he?”

I took a deep breath. “If I tell you, you must promise me you will not go out with your
weapons and try to hunt him down.”

She frowned. “I’m not promising anything.” Ah ma petite, you can be so difficult at times.

Anita’s POV

“If I tell you, you must promise me you will not go out with your weapons and try to hunt
him down.”

I frowned. That was my exact plan, like hell I was going to let some psycho invade my
dreams like that. “I’m not promising anything.”

“Then I will not disclose the name to you.”

I growled, starting for the door. “Then I will find the damn name on my own, and take the
bastard out my own damn way!”

Suddenly I was airborn. I landed sitting on Jean-Claude’s desk, stuff went flying. He held
down my hands on the desk on either side of me. He leaned into me so my legs were immobile
as well, and we were nose to nose. I was an effective prisoner, and he had moved so fast I didn’t
even have time to go for a gun. I made the mistake to turn my back on a vampire. My heart
thumped in my chest, and only partly because of fear. “You’re hurting me.” Jean-Claude
loosened his grip on my hands, but I still wasn’t going anywhere. I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t
have to look into the intenseness of his.

“Look at me, Anita,” he said softly. I opened my eyes. “Now listen to me, please.” It was
the please that kept my ears open. “This man is not your average vampire, Anita. He is part
vampire, part demon. He is the true head of my line of vampires.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know that Belle Morte is considered the head of my line?”

“Yes.”

“But you do not know exactly what that means. I…” Jean-Claude paused, closing his eyes,
as if searching for the words. The closeness was incredibly intimate, probably more than I
wanted. “Some vampires of Belle Morte’s line, including Belle Morte, have something called the
arduer.” He paused again, still not sure how to explain.

“What’s that?” I prompted.

Jean-Claude sighed. He was truly reluctant to tell me whatever this was. “It is another
hunger, ma petite. A craving not for blood, but for flesh.”

“You can’t digest the skin of victims, Jean-Claude, its impossible.”

“Not that type of flesh, Anita.” He rubbed his cheek along mine. “This type,” he whispered
in my ear, gently nibbling on my earlobe. I gasped. Jean-Claude moved back to face me, either
sensing or just knowing I was about to bitch at him on principle.

“So you’re some sort of incubus.”

“Oui, ma petite. To return to the topic at hand, this man who seems to be taking such an
interest in you, is part true incubus.”

“What is a true incubus.”

“For lack of a better word, a sex demon.”

“Ok. So how did he get to be half and half?”

“I truly do not know. He just is, and now it appears he wants you.”

“So I’ll just bust out the uzis, or better yet, call Edward.”

“I would not object to you calling Monsieur Edward, the more protection you have the
better. But I want you to understand how powerful he is, Anita. He does not answer to the
council. They let him be, he leaves them alone. They fear him.”

“So we are talking way more powerful than Nickolaos.”

“Oui, ma petite.”

“Shit.”

“Oui again.”

I sighed. “So he wants to have sex with me. Worse comes to worse, I can survive that.”

Jean-Claude shook his head. “No human has ever survived a night with him, ma petite.
He…loves them to death. The demon side of him kills his victims.”

“Great.” I said sarcastically. I closed my eyes, and leaned my forehead against
Jean-Claude’s. He moved his hands next to mine, so he was no longer restraining me. “So, do
you think silver bullets work on this bastard?”

Jean-Claude chuckled, a low sound that made things lower than my gut clench. I was
suddenly aware of how very close he was. “I hope so, ma petite. But I also hope things do not
come down to brute force.”

“What is his name?”

Jean-Claude sighed. “Amador.”

“So you’re afraid this Amador guy is going to kill me.”

Jean-Claude raised an eyebrow. “If he gets a hold of you, yes.”

“And that would hurt your power.” I said coldly.

Jean-Claude frowned at the last remark. “I love you, Anita. I do not want to loose you.
And I know you love me, at least a little.”

I sighed. “Maybe.” A slow smile played on his lips. He leaned in and kissed me gently. His
lips were so soft, like rose petals. I leaned into him, carried away. With a low moan deep in his
throat, he parted my lips with his tongue, exploring my mouth. His hands kneaded into my sides,
and I realized they were under my shirt. I buried my hands in his soft hair, enjoying the texture.
Suddenly the door opened. I jerked away from Jean-Claude, making him smile. He pushed away
from the desk slowly.

“What do you want, Gretchen?” he asked, not even looking to see who it was.

“Someone is here to see you, Jean-Claude.”

This made Jean-Claude raise an eyebrow. “Who?”

“I am not sure, Master. He would not give his name.”

“Is he a vampire?”

“Yes, Master.”

Jean-Claude sighed. “Send him in, I suppose.”

I hopped down off of Jean-Claude’s desk. The sight of the visitor almost knocked me off
my feet. “Good evening, Jean-Claude.” Jean-Claude nodded at him, with a not too friendly look
on his face. “Ah, Miss Blake, so good to meet you in person.”

I stared at Amador, the supposed bad ass vampire, shocked. He was…let’s just even
more enticing in real life. Amador held out his hand for a handshake. I glared at it. I had feeling of
immediate lust and fear tumbling around inside of me over this man.

Amador dropped his hand when he realized I wasn’t going to take it. He smiled slightly.
Turning to Jean-Claude, he said, “You have a lovely city, Jean-Claude. And a lovely human
servant.”

“Indeed. So, Amador, why exactly are you here?”

Amador smiled at me. He was trying very hard to win me over. I could feel his mind
tugging at mine, but then washing over. He was trying too hard to catch my eyes as well. ”I will
be frank with you, Jean-Claude. I am here for Anita.”

“Oh? What for?” Jean-Claude asked, as if he didn’t know. Amador didn’t know
Jean-Claude knew about the dreams.

“Well, we have something of an agreement. I have come to collect her.”

I frowned. “Like hell you are!”

My hand twitched to draw the browning, but Jean-Claude touched my arm, warding me
off. “I am afraid ma petite and I are rather detained at the moment, Amador, and I cannot spare
her. Matters of state.”

Jean-Claude lied smoothly. From the power coming off of Amador, I was actually proud
of him. “Why don’t we ask her?” said Amador.

He turned to me, waiting for an answer. This guy was arrogant. But he had enough power
to be so. ‘You want to go with me, come with me,’ said his voice in my head. Shit. I took
Jean-Claude’s hand, holding it up. “Sorry, not going, detained, really can’t tear myself away,” I
said quickly.

Amador raised an eyebrow. My heart was thumping in my chest. Adrenalin. Fear. “Very
well. Then we will meet again soon, Anita Blake.”

Jean-Claude squeezed my hand in his as the door shut, leaving us by ourselves once again.
I took my hand back. I couldn’t believe he let me go that easily. Jean-Claude must have read my
disbelief, because he said, “He is merely biding his time, ma petite. He will be waiting for you,
when you return home.”

“Shit.”

“You cannot return home this night, ma petite.”

“Where am I going to go? A hotel? And possibly shoot people up?”

“Come home with me, to the Circus.”

“No way.”

“I will sleep in my coffin, and you may have my room.” I shook my head no again. “As you
said, ma petite. You cannot go to a hotel. To go home tonight would be foolish.”

“I don’t have any stuff with me.”

“I can provide, Anita. Do not worry.”

“I should say no.”

“Say yes.”

“Only if you promise to behave yourself.”

Jean-Claude smiled wickedly. “I promise not to ravish you in your sleep, ma petite.”

I sighed. “That’s not exactly what I’m afraid of, but I have a feeling its as good as its going
to get.”

Jean-Claude laughed. It played along my skin, a brush of silk. “Oui, ma petite. If you are
finally coming to the Circus with me, then it is indeed as good as it gets.”

I sighed, then smiled. I was going to the circus.

Anita’s POV

I walked out of the bathroom in Jean-Claude’s room, clad in my pajamas, a pair of
exercise shorts and a t-shirt. I found them in the car, a leftover change of clothes from my last
workout date with Ronnie. I sat down on the edge of the bed next to Jean-Claude. He smile
wickedly. “I am disappointed that you were prepared for an overnight stay, ma petite. I have
some wonderful things that would fit you nicely.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I doubt I would have worn any of them.”

He shrugged. “Do you require anything else, ma petite?”

“No, I think I’m good for now.”

Jean-Claude sighed. The sun will rise soon, I will leave you to slumber.” But he made no
move to go. “Do I get a goodnight kiss?” he inquired, a mischievous gleam in his eye.

I smiled. “If I say no?”

Jean-Claude chuckled. “Then I will steal one anyway.” He leaned in to kiss me, and I
stopped him with a hand on his chest.

 “What’s up with this? You have been way more aggressive tonight.”

“Aggressive?” Jean-Claude asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“Yeah. You’ve been advancing way more than usual.”

“You have been more lenient to my attentions this night.”

“Have not.”

“Oui, ma petite. You have not threatened to shoot me once this night.”

“I shouldn’t have to. Why are vampires so damn attracted to me? I had my hands full
enough with you, and then this Amador demon lover comes along, who wants to fuck me, then
kill me.”

Jean-Claude stopped to think. “I believe Amador wants you because no other vampire has
tamed you.”

“Killing me wont tame me.”

“I do not believe he wishes to kill you.”

“What? But his arduer would kill me.”

“Not necessarily.”

“Wait, you said no human has ever survived him.”

“Because he did not want them to survive. It is possible to control the arduer.”

“Meaning you can control yours.”

“Oui. But I could not kill a lover with mine, even if I wanted to. It is more pleasurable than
violent.”

I thought about that. It made sense. Jean-Claude wouldn’t have been chasing me for so
long just to kill me. “So what, you think he wants to keep me as a pet?”

Jean-Claude dropped his eyes. “For him, it would be as such.”

Then it all dawned on me. “You are afraid he’s going to mark me. And that’s why you’re
being so aggressive.”

Jean-Claude frowned. “You are mine, Anita, and I will not loose you, not even to
Amador.”

There was a solid determination in his eyes, but under that was fear. “I belong to no one,
Jean-Claude.”

“No, ma petite, you are mine. But wouldn’t you rather be mine, than Amador’s?”

I slumped back on the bed. “I’m not an object to be fought over, dammit!”

“I know that, Anita. But where I have tried to persuade you to come to me over years, HE
will force the marks upon you. He will take you against your will, whether you will it or no.”

“He can’t force me. He tried to roll me with his eyes twice and couldn’t do it.”

“Then he was behaving himself, greatly, ma petite.” Jean-Claude leaned over me, his arm
by my shoulder. “I love you, Anita. Amador does not. I want to be with you because I enjoy
your company, not for some twisted game of dominance. I want to make love to you, not hurt
you.” With each sentence he moved closer to me, until we were nose to nose for the second time
this night. “I want to touch you, to enjoy every inch of your body, starting here.” He kissed me
tenderly on the lips. I was lulled into closing my eyes. My hands reached up to touch his hair.
They traveled down to touch the smooth skin of his chest. I jerked back, to look at Jean-Claude
smiling down at me. He rolled to the side of me, propping his head up on his hand. Taking my
hand in his, he held it to his heart. “Touch me, Anita. It will not hurt, I promise.” A wicked smile
spread his lips.

“Don’t you have a coffin to crawl into somewhere?”

Jean-Claude sighed. “I suppose,” he said, sitting up. I squeezed his hand, preventing him
from standing. He turned his gaze back to me.

I sighed. “I love you a little, Jean-Claude. But give me time.”

Jean-Claude nodded with a smile. “I would give you anything you ask Anita, and time is
certainly something I have in my possession.”

I smiled. “One more thing. I have to go back to my house in the morning, then to work. But
I’ll be back here by the time the sun sets.”

Jean-Claude nodded. “If you are not back by sunset I shall scour the city for you, ma
petite.”

I laughed. “Sounds drastic.”

Shaking his head, Jean-Claude replied, “It is not. But I know I cannot forbid you to leave
at all.”

“You’re right, you can’t.”

“Then be cautious, even in the day, Anita.”

“I always am.”

“I know.” Jean-Claude lowered his eyes, then turned his gaze back to me. “If you do
encounter Amador again, ma petite, do your best not to let him touch you.”

“Why? Jealous?”

“Not exactly.” Jean-Claude caressed my leg, and something traveled up it, spreading along
my body in a cool rush of pleasure.

I gasped, my breathing heavy. “What the hell was that?”

“That was just a miniscule taste of what the arduer can be like, ma petite.” I hugged myself,
like I was cold, but I wasn’t cold.

“I get your point.”

“Perhaps.” Jean-Claude kissed me gently. “Goodnight, ma petite. Je t’aime.”

I paused, but then decided to answer, “I love you too, Jean-Claude.” Suddenly there was
a screech outside the door, a cross between a human scream and a cat who’s tail had just been
stepped on. “What the hell was that?” I demanded, going for my gun.

Jean-Claude chuckled. “That, I believe, was Gretchen. She has been listening at the door for
quite some time.
 

Continue to Part 2