ress of him； hard and firm against my body； that made me shudder against him； it was the need in his body。 I felt his hunger quiver through his flesh； as if I could read parts of him that were too primitive for words； needs that had nothing to do with language； and everything to do with naked flesh。
He closed his eyes； and a soft moan escaped him。
〃What I offer isn't illusion； Nimir…Raj； it's real。〃
He shook his head。 〃Sex isn't enough。〃
〃I'm not offering sex； not now；〃 Even as I said it； I pressed my body against his。 His entire body shuddered against me； and a sound very like a whimper crawled out of his throat。
〃I'm offering a taste of power； Nimir…Raj； a small taste of all I can offer you。〃 In my head I knew it was a lie； but in my heart I knew it was true。 I could offer him power and flesh； the two things he wanted； needed； above all else。 It was perfect bait； and it was wrong。 I started to back down； to try and cram the power down； but Jean…Claude fought me。 He thrust his power into me like an echo of his body； riding me。 It was too late for me to feed as humans feed and give him back his strength。 He'd avoided me for nights； because I was weak。 I had grown strong again； and he had grown weak； and we had enemies in town。 We could not afford weakness。 All this； I knew in a heartbeat； his mind to mine。 And it was that seed of doubt could we afford to be weak？ that made me unable to shut him out。
〃What do you want in return？〃 Micah asked it in a whisper that held an edge of desperation； as if we both knew that whatever I asked； he would do it。
〃I want to drink the warm rush of your body； to have you fill my mouth with that hot liquid that beats just below here；〃 and I rubbed my lips across his neck。 The scent of blood so near the surface made my stomach twist； but we were close； so close； mustn't rush it； mustn't scare him。 We were like fishermen。 We had our net； all we needed was for the fish to stop fighting us and lay still。
My lips hovered over his neck as he spoke。 〃Show me you have enough power to make it worth my while； and I'll give you any body fluid you want。〃
I swept his hair to one side； and it slid back。 I balled my hand into a fist of his curls to keep it out of the way； and even that movement brought a sound from his throat。 I bared the long smooth line of his neck。 He moved his head to one side as if he knew what I wanted now。 I could see the big pulse in his neck； beating against his skin like something small and separate from him； something alive that I had to make free。
I licked my tongue across that throbbing skin。 I meant to be gentle； I meant many things； but his skin was slick and flawless against my mouth； the smell of him intoxicated me like the sweetest perfume。 His pulse throbbed against my mouth； and I sank my teeth around that frantic movement。 I ate at his skin； dug my teeth into the flesh underneath； and into his power； his beast。
I felt my beast rise through my body； like some great shape rising from the ocean depths； a leviathan that grew and grew； swelling up inside me until my skin couldn't hold it； then it touched his beast； and it stopped； hovering in black water； hovering in my body like some huge thing。 The two powers floated in that dark water； brushing huge； sleek sides down the length of their bodies； our bodies。 It was a sensation like velvet rubbing inside me； except this velvet had muscles； flesh； and was hard even where it was soft。 The imagery that kept flowing through my mind was of some great cat rubbing itself inside me； rolling through me； but bigger than that。 I'd seen Richard's beast move through his eyes like some great shape half…seen in water； and it felt that large； that overwhelming。 I drank Micah's power down but not just through my mouth and down my throat。 Everywhere I touched him； I fed。 I could feel his heart beating against my naked breasts。 I could feel the blood rushing through his body； feel every inch of him pressed against me。 Feel his need； his desire； and I ate at him。 I fed at his neck as if his pulse were the center of some filled cake； as if once I gnawed away the flesh I would have something unutterably sweet。 I drew blood； and with the first touch of sweet metallic flavor in my mouth； all pretense； all prettiness was wiped away； drowned in the scent of fresh blood； the taste of torn flesh； the feel of meat and blood in my mouth。 The feel of his hands pressing my body against his； my legs wrapped around his waist； riding him。 I was aware like some distant call that he wasn't inside me； that he was still pressed between our bodies； so hard； so ready that he quivered against my stomach。 His breath came fast and faster。 Someone was making small animal noises； and it was me。
Micah's fingernails dug into my body； an instant before he poured over me in a scalding wave； noises too primitive for words； and not loud enough for screams ing from his mouth。
I felt Jean…Claude down that long metaphysical cord that bonded us together。 I felt him grow quiet and well fed； sated。 I drew my mouth away from Micah's torn throat； putting my cheek against his bare shoulder； my legs and arms still wrapped around him。 His arms still holding me tight。 I was covered in fluid； my breasts thick with it。 It ran down my body in heavy liquid lines； curling over my stomach； tracing down to my thighs。
He knelt there supporting both our weights； while our breathing quieted； and the massive pulse of our bodies subsided into silence。 And in that silence there was nothing but the feel of his flesh； the raw scent of sex； and in the distance； the satisfaction of the vampire。
10
THE SHOWER WAS one of those group ones； like you'd find in a health club。 But I was the only one in it。 I'd cleaned off； scrubbed myself thoroughly； but I felt like Lady MacBeth screaming 〃out； out； damned spot！〃 Like I'd never really be clean again。 I sat on the tiles under the hot； beating water； hugging my knees。 I hadn't planned on crying； but I was。 Slow tears that felt cool pared to the water pounding my body。 I wasn't sure why I was crying。 My mind was blank。 Usually when I try to be blank； I can't； but just then； there was nothing but the water； the heat； the smooth tiles； and the little voice in my head that kept running round and round like a hamster on a wheel。 I couldn't hear what the voice was saying I think I didn't want to。 All I knew was that it was screaming。
A noise behind me made me turn。 It was Cherry； still naked。 None of the leopards ever dressed unless I made them。 I turned my head away from her。 I didn't want her to see me cry。 I was her Nimir…Ra； her rock。 Rocks did not cry。
I knew she was standing over me； could feel it； even before the water's rhythm changed。 She knelt over me； the water sluicing around her； leaving me shivering in the sudden touch of the cool； waterless air。 I kept my face turned away from her。 She touched my water…soaked hair。 When I didn't protest she hugged me； arms going slowly around me； as if she expected me to plain。
I stayed stiff in her arms； with her body wrapped around me。 She just held me； head pressed to the top of mine； her body sheltering me from the water； leaving me colder； even as her body stretched like heat against my wet skin。 I leaned into her by painful inches until finally I let her hold me。 I cried； and Cherry held me。
The crying never grew； or got loud。 It remained slow tears while Cherry held me； and I let her。 Finally； there were no more tears； just the sound of the water； the heat； the feel of Cherry's body around mine。 There was fort in the touch of flesh that went beyond sex。 I pulled away； and she drew back。 I stood and turned the water off。 The silence was sudden and plete。 I could feel the press of the night outside。 Even without a window； I knew it was the wee hours of morning maybe two； or even three。 It would be dawn in a few short hours。 I needed to know why Jean…Claude was in jail。 Everything else could wait。 We had enemies in town； and I needed to know who they were； what they wanted。 After that I'd think about what had just happened； but not yet； not yet。 Avoidance is one of my best things。
Cherry handed me a towel and kept one for herself。 I wound the towel around my hair and retrieved a second towel for my body。 We dried off in silence； no eye contact。 It wasn't shower protocol； girls aren't as hung up about that as guys。 I just didn't want to talk about what had happened。 Not yet。
I wrapped the oversized towel securely around my body； and asked； 〃Why is Jean…Claude in jail？〃
〃For murdering you；〃 she said。
I stared at her for a few seconds； and when I could talk； I said； 〃Pass that by me again。 Slowly。〃
〃Someone got pictures of Jean…Claude carrying you out of the club。 You were covered in blood； Anita。 He was covered in your blood。〃 She shrugged； drying off a spot she'd missed on one long leg。
〃But I'm alive；〃 I said。 It sounded almost silly saying it。
〃And how would you explain that in less than a week you were healed of wounds that should have killed you？〃 She straightened； slinging the towel over one shoulder； not bothering to cover even an inch of her body。
〃I don't want him in jail for something he didn't do；〃 I said。
〃If you go tonight；