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A hot bath Once oing to be the worst-dressed person in the roo to replace that black robe at the first opportunity

They were sitting on the couch, each as far away fro like a mannequin, one arm on the back of the couch, the other on the ar his soft boots to perfection Richard was curled on his side of the couch, one knee clutched to his naked chest, the other knee curled on the couch

Richard looked co for a roving photographer to come by The two men in ot to get so, out"

"If you are referring toUnless Richard goes with me"

"Stephen told you why I&039;m here," Richard said "She&039;s hurt and doesn&039;t need to be alone"

"Look at her, Richard Does she look hurt?" He held up a graceful hand "I ade But she does not need your help Perhaps she doesn&039;t even need mine"

"I invited Richard to stay over I did not invite you"

"But you didinviteme that Second, when did I invite you?"

"&039;The last tiust I believe"

Shit, I&039;d forgotten It was beyond careless I&039;d endangered Richard Things orking out, but I hadn&039;t known that when I left him here alone, alone in a place where Jean-Claude could coht now," I said

"If a drauest But Richard ht"

"Why not?"

"I think you are one of those woive your body, there, too, is your heart If you sleep with our Monsieur Zeeht be the point of no return"

"Sex isn&039;t a commitment," I said

"For most people, no, but for you, I think it is"

The fact that he knew ht heat in a rush upwith him"

"I believe you, ma petite, but I see the way your eyes follow hi luscious and warm and very alive If I had not been here when you came home, would you have resisted?"

"Yes"

He shrugged "Perhaps Your strength of will is frightening, but I cannot take that chance"

"You don&039;t trustthat could have

"Why? You got the hots for hiuard The surprise on his face orth the outraged look on Richard&039;s face Jean-Claude looked at Richard He gave hi his body in a slow, intiroin or his chest, but on his neck "It is true that the blood of shapeshifters can be sweeter than huetting torn apart"

"You sound like a rapist," I said

His ss "It is not a bad comparison"

"That was an insult, you know," I said

"I knoas reement," Richard said

"We do"

"You can sit there and talk about taking reement"

"It would be enjoyable to take you for o back on it"

"What agree our mutual powers," Jean-Claude said

"What does that mean exactly?" I asked

"We&039;re not sure," Richard said "We haven&039;t worked out the details yet"

"We&039;ve just agreed not to kill each other, ma petite Give us a little time to plan beyond that"

"Fine Then both of you get out"

Richard sat up straighter on the couch "Anita, you heard Lillian You need to be woken every hour just in case"

"I&039;ll set an alaro"

He looked puzzled and a little hurt "Anita"

Jean-Claude didn&039;t look hurt or puzzled He looked sht Happy?"

"Yes"

"And you&039;re not spending the night, either"

"I had not planned to" He stood, turning to face ht kiss"

"Your what?"

"My kiss" He came around the couch to stand in front ofa little ed on et"

I jerked the sleeve out of his fingers "You haven&039;t gotten anything yet"

"True, but I am hopeful"

"I don&039;t knohy," I said

"The agreement between Richard andYou date Richard, and you date me We both woo you One cozy little faet to bed"

A slight frown appeared between his eyes "Anita, you are notthis easy"

"Hurrah," I said

The frown sive up on you ever being easy"

"Yes," I said, "you would"