But when he kissed me it was easy to imagine that we still had the mystical connection that had pulled us together in the first place. I never would have become vampire just for hot sex. I'd felt back then like I'd met my, don't laugh now, soul mate. Some people don't figure vamps as being human. I know we're more than human. Along with enhanced senses, immortality and the potential for powers off the charts, we feel things more intensely. Hate, love, sorrow and, the worst for me, guilt. Is it any wonder our relationships tend to be complicated?

Blade had given all that to me, along with a libido that wouldn't quit. I like sex, need sex on a regular basis. Seeing Flo and Richard all touchy feely had brought that fact home big time. I strolled over to the lingerie section and picked up the bustier. I knew how to show off my assets and downplay my defects. I'd wear this tomorrow night and see what happened. I didn't doubt I'd have some opportunities—Blade, Damian, maybe somebody new. If I got a chance to have a good time, I was going to take it.

"Come on, Flo, pull!" The bustier laced up the front but lacked two inches before it would cover me decently.

"Just one more inch." To hell with decency. I grabbed the strings. Thank God they were industrial strength. "I'll lay down on the bed. Flo, you get on top and don't hold back. Use your vamp muscles this time."

"I don't know, Glory. If I do get it that tight, you're going to suffer." Flo shook her head.

"This from a woman who wears four inch stilettos? We suffer for beauty. Now get up here and do your thing." Valdez looked up from the bowl of dip he was licking clean. " I should sell tickets. Guys would pay good money to see you two like that."

Flo had climbed on top of me, her knees on either side of my waist. She held the strings in her hand, looked over at Valdez and grinned. "Only if I kiss her on the lips first."

"Ewww! You two cut it, oof, out." Flo had jerked on the strings and I would have gasped except I was permanently through breathing.

"One more… Got it!" Flo tied a bow, then frowned. "Better make it a double knot." She looked down at me. At least I think she did. Everything was kind of blurry.

"Hello? Stay with us, girlfriend. Can you breathe?" She climbed off me.

Breathe? Maybe, maybe not. I managed a nod and held out my hand. Flo pulled me to a sitting position. I was a little off center while I tried to adjust to the vise around my middle.

"You're really out there, girlfriend." Flo glanced at Valdez. "Is she turning blue or am I imagining it?"

" I don't know about her color, but I think she's going to blow. Cut her loose, Flo."

"Don't." Wheeze. "You." Gasp. "Dare." Sigh. I blinked the room back into focus and managed to stand.

"You should have a Bloody Merry." Flo pressed a cold can into my hand.

"No! Can't. Bloats me." I staggered into the living room and glanced down. Whoa. Talk about your ripe melons.

" Wear something else, Blondie." Valdez nudged my hip. " You don't look so hot."

"Au contraire, puppy. I look sizzling." At least I hoped that was the effect of my tits galore. "I just need some blush." I walked carefully into the bedroom and stroked some Fiery Rose on my cheeks. My spray-on tan had faded until I was pale again. Of course the fact that I hadn't let myself drink any Bloody Merry since waking had also added to the pale, "I'm undead," look. But fasting seemed to be the only way I could lose any weight. Temporary, but every ounce helped. I dipped a little blush into my cleavage. If the men in my life didn't fall over in lust, then I was going into a nunnery.

"I don't think convents accept vampires as novitiates." Flo picked up my blush and dabbed at her own cheeks. "This Kevlar. I should have worn something low cut."

"You look cute." Which she did. Flo had on the Kevlar bra with the bright yellow targets. She'd paired it with skintight black satin capris and four-inch heels with rhinestone buckles. There was a knock on the door.

"Lacy's here." Flo threw open the door. "Check out Glory, kitty girl."

"That's quite a costume." Lacy looked me over. "The Devil with, um, major bazooms."

"I'm a minion, a minor demon from hell, not the big guy." I had put on a very short skirt made of layers of red and orange silk with my bustier. The skirt looked like flames and had originally been part of my costume during my stint as a barmaid at the Hot Spot, a bar in the hotel where I'd eventually gotten work in the chorus of the revue playing the main stage. Cute little horns and a tail had carried on the theme and they were part of the junk I'd hauled with me to Austin. Damian and I were both hiding in plain sight tonight. Well, not much of me was actually hiding.

"My brother will love it. Especially if you pop right out of that thing."

"Thanks a lot. Are we ready to go, Lacy? Flo, are you waiting for Richard?" I hadn't asked before, glad Flo had been around to help me into my costume.

Flo studied her long red nails. "No, he's meeting us there. I'm mad at him. He's getting mysterious again."

"I believed him last night, if that helps. I don't think he's staking other vamps." I picked up my black satin cape lined with red and tied it around my shoulders. I still wasn't breathing much, which made serious inroads on the sexy feeling.

"Good to know. But, Flo, it sounds like you and I both need new boyfriends." Lacy looked very sexy in Ryan's suit. The trousers were slung low on her hips and the jacket was held closed by just one button. There was plenty of bare skin above and below that button.

" Blade's here." Valdez stood and there was a knock on the door.

"Why?" I flipped the dead bolts. "We were just leaving."

" Ask him yourself." Valdez gave me a look then sat down again.

I opened the door and Blade stood there, resplendent in Campbell plaid complete with broadsword. My heart jumped around in my chest. I'd always loved the way Blade looked in clan regalia. Tonight he had the whole "I'm ready to slay the world for you" look going on.

"Why are you here? We're on our way to Damian's party."

"I know. Valdez told me."

"Where's Mara? She told Damian she'd be coming with you."

"She'll be along. I have a guard assigned to her." He looked at Flo and nodded approvingly. "Good idea, Florence. Gloriana, where's your Kevlar?"

"I'm not wearing it tonight." I threw back my cape and let my cleavage shine. And was Blade looking? You bet he was. Good news that I rated Blade's personal attention tonight while Mara got stuck with a bodyguard.

"Living dangerously, are you?" Blade moved closer, his fangs just showing beneath his smile. "Or perhaps you've been developing more of your powers. Any new tricks to show me?"

Hmm. He was obviously remembering the now-you're-dressed, now-you're-naked number I'd pulled on him. I wouldn't mind another round. I smiled back and let him read the possibility. Lacy cleared her throat and Flo shook her head.

"Gloriana is keeping secrets from us, Jeremiah. She's been working on her powers without me." Flo smiled sadly. "I just hope you don't have to use them tonight, Glory."

"I don't think Westwood will try anything at a party where he'd be surrounded by vamps." I glanced at Flo. "And it doesn't hurt for a woman to have a few surprises up her sleeve, does it?"

"Not at all. I just hope you're right about Westwood. But we'll be well protected, Jeremiah." Flo grabbed a black fur shrug and pulled it on. "Damian has a security force and his grounds are surrounded by a ten-foot fence. I can't see Westwood climbing a fence, can you?" Flo patted my arm on the way to the door.

"I have my own security there too." Blade was definitely giving me the eye. I was a naughty girl and trailed a finger across the top of my lace bustier.

"Then we should be fine." I picked up my black satin clutch. "Let's go."

"Not yet." Suddenly solemn, Blade blocked the door. "I have news. About the cross that staked Marguerite."

Chapter Twenty-one

There went the party mood. "What about it, Jerry?" I had a feeling I didn't want to hear this. Lacy and Flo sat on the love seat.

"I've been in contact with vampires in Houston. The crosses used there were identical to the one that took out Trevor. And another vampire was staked in Dallas last week. Same kind of cross."

Nothing like a vamp network. Blade had always maintained connections with other strong vamps.

"Who was killed in Dallas? When? What night?" Despite her blush, Flo was pale. Did she wonder at all if this was Richard's work?

"Thursday night. Sebastian de Ville. You knew him, Florence."

"Of course." She bit her lip. "In London. Many years ago. This is terrible." She gave me a look. "Ricardo was with me last Thursday night, Glory. Does that make you believe in him?"

"I told you I believed him, Flo. But it's good to have proof." I let Flo read my aggravation that she still read my mind whenever she felt like it, then shrugged. "If you know where he was every minute last Thursday, Flo, then we should both feel better."

"But what about Margie?" Flo put her hand on Blade's arm. "Wasn't the cross that took her the same?"

"No, it wasn't. And that's what's bothering me." Blade did look serious. "My expert traced it to a local store here, but they've sold dozens of them."

"But surely not sharp enough—" Lacy looked at me.

"No. Someone sharpened one end." Thank goodness Blade didn't whip out the cross for us to study.

"Poor Sebastian. He was a poet. Very gentle. So undeserving of such an end." Flo stepped back and dabbed at her eyes with a lace hanky she'd had tucked between her breasts. The Kevlar was my size, not Flo's. She could be carrying a change of clothes in there. "But what does this mean, Jeremiah?"