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I ca for air Ryu ithme up till I could breathe

"…so sorry," he murmured "I should have warned you"

I hacked and wheezed for another thirty seconds, and then everything onky as the world spun Between en and the fact that the water’s unnatural poas literally flooding my brain, I felt faint No wonder I hadn’t been drawn to the pool like I was to the ocean--this force was totally unnatural and insanely strong Ryu carried e Standing between ht until the dizziness passed

When I could finally openfour of hi the power arching up froled in the water "That is soht "Glad you’re enjoying it," he murmured intoback to look at hi ht, ‘Who does crack?’ I mean, seriously, akes up and is like, ‘Het why people do other drugs But crack? Who does crack?" I looked at hi "This pool explains why people do crack This pool is crack" I finally blinked, hard, feeling like the top oflifted off and my brain replaced with ambrosia salad

Ryu looked distinctly worried "Okay, Jane, I think you’ve had enough" I giggled at him Ryu was funny

I admired him as he ju your clothes!" I informed him, in case he hadn’t noticed He’d taken off his jacket and shoes, but he was still wearing his trousers, shirt, and socks His thin black shirt clung to his et a better look as he put his hands under ht and out of the water Then he turned led at his shins

"You’re hot, Ryu," I murmured, as I stared into his lovely face "Seriously hot And so I a to tell you a secret"

"A secret, huh?"

"Mht now, but don’t tell anyone Shhhh! It’s just between the two of us…" I trailed off as I realized I was no longer in that a pool

"I know, baby It’s the water You’ll feel better soon"

That wasn’t what I had meant, so I told him so "No, silly, I’m really not me I’m the other Jane," I whispered, conspiratorially "But she’s wayto roll with it"

Ryu looked concerned for a second, but I’d ? Can’t I swiently on o, I pinwheeled backward, nearly falling into the pool

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" I cried, as he lunged forward to grabback into his ar me forward so that I was on my oo feet, but he was careful still to support me "I’m sure you do"

"I really do!" I declared, petulantly "And I like swi?"

"I think you’ve had about enough swiht hard "We can have sex in the pool," I wheedled "Lots of sex!"

Ryu laughed "I knoe can, darling" He kissedupstairs to sleep"

"Oh, poo," I said "You’re no fun I bet the genie would take hty," Ryu said, sticking his tongue out at athered me even closer I wound my arms around his neck and pressed my cheek to his "I like you, vampire man," I whispered in his ear

"I like you too, Jane True," Ryu said, his voice husky

I’d just gone in to give his edible little ear a nibble when a sharp voice cut through our intimacy like a scythe

"A sweet My cousin has hihtening almost painfully

"Ryu," the nasal voice continued "Put down your halfling and say hello"

I winchedto find the speaker Her voice was ive you a pet, my ambrosia salad threatened

"Nyx" Ryu’s voice was low "As always, a pleasure"

I giggled He was being sarcastic

"What did you do to the girl?" Nyx asked I had finally found her and was trying to get a good look But she was upside down No, I was upside down No, I was looking at her from upside down My head hurt