〃Asher had been with Belle for many years before I arrived； and more beyond that before he found Julianna。 He and I were in the circle of innermost power； where many strived for centuries to get to and failed。 We were her favorites until Asher found Julianna。 It did not occur to me until decades later that Belle was jealous； but I think in a way that was it。 She slept with other men； other vampires； and she was content that Asher and I shared each other's beds； and that we went to the vampires she chose to share us with。 But another woman that we chose ourselves that was different。 But it is one of our most sacred laws not to harm another's human servant； so Belle did nothing。 Then Asher offered Julianna to me； and we became a ménage à trois； and that raised the question of Julianna sleeping with others。〃
He looked down at the floor； then up again。 〃Arturo was one of her favorites as well。 He desired Julianna； but Asher refused him。〃
〃Asher refused him； not Julianna；〃 I said。
〃She was his servant。 She could not deny if he had consented。〃
〃Ick；〃 I said。
He shrugged。 〃It was a different century； ma petite； and Julianna was a different woman than you are。〃
〃So why did Asher refuse？〃 I asked。
〃He feared for Julianna's safety。 We both did。〃
〃Arturo liked it rough？〃
〃Mother Nature had made it almost impossible for Arturo to have it any way but rough。〃
I looked at him。 〃What do you mean？〃
He gave that graceful shrug again。 〃Arturo is still the most well…endowed man I have ever seen。〃
It was my turn to shrug。 〃So？〃
He shook his head。 〃You do not understand； ma petite。 He is bien outillé； well tooled。 Ah； what is the English？ 。。。 Hung like a horse。〃
I started to point out that Richard was pretty well…endowed； but it's bad form to point out to boyfriend A that boyfriend B is bigger。 Micah was better endowed even than Richard； but again； it didn't seem the thing to mention。 I was finally left with； 〃I've seen two men that were hung like horses； as you say； and it was intimidating； but 。。。 you're implying that you feared for Julianna's safety because he was so big。〃
〃That is exactly what I am saying。〃
〃No one's that big。〃
〃Arturo makes even our Richard and your Nimir…Raj seem ungraced。〃
I blushed and wished I hadn't。 〃Those weren't the two men I was referring to。〃
He raised an eyebrow at me。 〃Indeed？〃
The way he said it made me blush harder。 〃In New Mexico； one of Edward's backups； and one of the bad guys。〃
〃And how did you happen to see just how well…graced they were； ma petite？〃 There was something in his voice； a hint of warmth； like the beginnings of anger。
〃I did not have sex with anyone。〃
〃Then how did you see them nude？〃 His voice still held that warm edge； and I couldn't really blame him。
〃Bernardo； Edward's backup； and I got questioned by a local biker gang； uh club。 They didn't believe he was my boyfriend。 They asked if he was circumcised； and I said yes。 I figured I had a better than fifty…fifty chance in America。 They made him drop his pants to prove it。〃
〃Under some threat； I assume。〃 He was looking more amused than angry now。
〃Yeah。〃
〃And the other one？〃
〃He tried to rape me。〃
Jean…Claude's eyes went wide。 〃What became of him？〃
〃I killed him。〃
He touched my face； gently。 〃I have only recently understood why I was so very attracted to you from almost the first time I heard you interact with the police。〃
〃Not love at first sight；〃 I said； 〃but love at first hearing。 I don't have that good a voice。〃
〃Do not underestimate the dulcet sounds of your voice； ma petite； but it was not the sound of your voice that fascinated me。 It was your words。 I knew from the moment I heard you； the moment I saw the gun and realized that this lovely； petite woman was the executioner； that you would never die waiting for me to save you that you would save yourself。〃
I cupped his hand against my cheek； looked into his eyes and saw again that sorrow for failing to save Julianna that never quite left him。 〃So you wanted me because I was such a tough broad？〃
He let me make the joke。 He even smiled； but it never reached his eyes。 〃Oui； ma petite。〃
My voice was soft when I said； 〃So Arturo wanted Julianna。〃
He took his hand back； slowly。 〃And she feared him； and we feared for her。 This is two hundred years ago； a little more now。 Asher was not as powerful as he is now； and we feared that his human servant would not survive Arturo's attentions。〃
〃I've got to ask； how big was he？〃
Jean…Claude spaced his hands apart like you'd measure a fish。 〃Like this big。〃 It looked to be about six inches。
〃That's not so big。〃
〃That is how wide he was；〃 Jean…Claude said。
I just gaped at him。 〃You're exaggerating。〃
〃No； ma petite； believe me； I remember。〃
〃Then how long was he？〃
He made another measuring movement。 I laughed because I didn't believe him。 〃Oh； please。 You're saying he was what； about six inches wide and over a foot long？ No way。〃
〃Yes； way； ma petite。〃
〃You said Arturo was one of Belle's favorites。 Does that mean she 。。。 〃
〃Had sex with him； oui。〃
I frowned； couldn't think of a slick way to say it； so just blurted out； 〃Didn't it hurt her？〃
〃She was a woman with a large capacity for men in every way。〃
Gee； that was polite。 〃Most women wouldn't be able to 。。。 acmodate that；〃 I said。
〃No；〃 he agreed。
〃Did she want to kill Julianna？〃
〃No； she believed Arturo would not harm her。〃
〃Why？〃
He licked his lips； which he rarely did； and looked unfortable； which he did even less often。 〃Let us say that something that Belle Morte taught Asher and me to take pleasure in； we also did with Julianna。〃
I frowned at him； because I so did not have a clue。 〃If you're hinting； I'm not getting it。〃
〃I would rather not discuss it； now。 Perhaps at a later time。〃
I frowned harder。 〃What aren't you telling me？〃
He shook his head。 〃I think； ma petite； that you would rather not know。〃
I looked at him。 〃You know； Jean…Claude； there was a time not that long ago that I'd have thrown a fit and made you tell me everything。 But now if you tell me I don't want to know； then I'll just believe you。 I really am not up to hearing intimate and shocking details about your vampire sex life。 I've had enough shocks in that area for one day。〃
〃Ma petite； I think you are growing up at last。〃
〃Don't push it。 And I'm not growing up； I'm just getting tired。〃
〃As are we all； ma petite； as are we all。〃
I let the royal blue satin robe fall from my hands。 It had wide lace sleeves and more lace at what passed for the lapels； to curve in flowers down the sides。 It was beautiful and fit me perfectly。 Most robes are too long for me。 He'd probably bought it with me in mind。 I belted it in place and didn't want to ask any more questions about the ardeur and sex and vampire stuff。 But some things had to be clear between us。
〃I need to get this straight； Jean…Claude。〃
〃Oui； ma petite。〃
〃You say that what we did was sex； so in effect I had sex with everyone？〃
He just nodded。
〃You don't seem at all jealous about that。〃
〃I was participating； ma petite。 Why should I be jealous？〃
The answer confused me more。 I frowned up at him。 〃Okay； let me try this again。 You say the ardeur may need to be fed more than once a day。 We can't count on you being Johnny…on…the…spot when it happens。 I can sleep over here； but 。。。 〃
〃You may need to feed when I am not awake。 This is very possible； in fact； it is likely。〃
〃Okay； then what are the rules？〃
It was his turn to frown。 〃What do you mean； ma petite？〃
〃Rules。 I mean like what will make you jealous and what won't？ What； or who； am I supposed to stay away from？〃
He started to smile； then stopped。 〃You are one of the most cynical people I have ever met； the most practical in a life…and…death context； and if you knew some of the people I had met； you would understand the pliment that is。 But you are also very earnest； like a child。 It is a type of innocence that I do not think you will ever outgrow。 But I find it hard to deal with。〃
〃It's a fair question。〃
〃Indeed it is； but most people would not need to ask it so blandly。 They would either ignore it and do the best they could when the need arose； or they would ask who among my people will I allow you to have sex with； without being angry。〃
It made me wince to hear him say it； but 。。。 〃I like the way I phrased the question better。〃
〃I know。 You are simultaneously one of the most direct women I know； and one of the most self…deluding。〃
〃I am really not liking where this conversation's going。〃
〃Fine； but I will answer my question； because it is the truth。 If Nathaniel is your pomme de sang； then I will let intimacy with him pass。 Jason as my pomme de sang is within his rights to make love with my human servant。 It is considered a great gift for a vampire to share his servant with another； and Jason has earned that。 He has served me faithfully for many years。〃
〃I'm not a prize to be given away。〃
He held up a hand。 〃Hush； ma petite； I will answer the question； and I will try for truth； even though you do not want to hear it today。 There are many things I would have told you today； if you had bee