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I started to say so Started to try to explain why I was faster than a blood-servant As strong as one Make that two But Brian’s ar I clamped my mouth shut Brandon turned to me and said, "Nice bout, Yellowrock Reloves off for that one"

"Yeah Noback to protect the little lady" Brian pushed me away from him as if I burned his skin and picked up a towel He tossed one at his brother and they ot it Act as if nothing had happened Riiiiight "You boys weren’t holding back," I said "You gave it all you had and I busted your butts But if you’re gluttons for punishment" The twins pushed past Derek and out into the hallway Derek didn’t try to stop therabholes in my spine He murmured, "You’re as bad as the suckheads Maybe worse At least they don’t pretend to be huh a heated shock flushed through me I was in the hallway, the door wide open behind"I’ll be happy to provide the fists and feet to teach you to respect the weaker sex"

"If it’s sex you want"--Brandon said, wrapping his ar as Brian punched the elevator button--"we can oblige on that score too"

"Ever heard of tag-tea?" Brian asked "We canus to stop"

And ere in the elevator, the doors closing on us I fell against the elevator wall as the unit moved, my eyes closed "Crap," I said

The brothers chuckled, twin sounds of a-team sex? That’s the best you could coed open and we stepped into the hallway "Adht now We know Your heart rate sped up Blood-servants can tell"

I walked between and past thelory But I was not going to reply Not Going to

"All you can think about is how big the bed is in thewe are"

I couldn’t help rin but I wasn’t about to let the tempted Thanks but no thanks"

We entered our suite and h the common space; I went into h in that securely es dance around in her head I leaned against the door at my back and remembered to breathe I would not be teood is she wanted Iunder the spray fully clothed Just as quickly, I switched it to cold and leaned into the tile Cold water sluiced down ot a ain with aa coven leader’s spell without killing everyone involved--which couldn’t be done from the outside, apparently--and was dressed and ready for work as parley security chief, early Tonight I earing tights, knives, and a split-skirt dress that went tosilver stakes in my bun as hair sticks A new Walther, delivered courtesy of Leo, rested at my back Lipstick ht with blood flush

Hungry, ignoring the twins, I checked h the suite and down to the Black Bear Grill, where I ordered fried green to, and the cowboy bone-in rib eye, with grilled asparagus and stag fries with truffle oil and cheese And a bottle of wine I didn’t once look at the prices, knowing that I could feed a faladesh or sub-Saharan Africa for a year on what I was letting Leo pay for one et down onInstead I downed a glass of wine on an e the sensation would last onlyI tore off a hunk of bread and ate it with lass of wine I felt, h the room, around tables and chairs and the other patrons, and they sat atat the bottle with disdain They ate reen tomatoes when the order came They ordered meals and salads and more appetizers Brandon chose another wine from the list In French With a perfect French accent, of course When the waiter left, I restedthe chair rests and stared at them

"We’re sorry," Brandon said Which was not at all what I expected theether"

"We can’t think straight if we’re thinking about you"

"We can’t protect Grégoire if we’re thinking about protecting you too"

"We ht try to keep you alive instead of hiize"