"No, that's fine," she said quickly. "I just didn't realize-"

"Thomas? What's happened?"

Inez recognized Bastien's voice, but didn't try to lift her head to look around.

"I left you a gift in the kitchen," Thomas announced, continuing up the hall toward him.

"A gift?" Bastien asked with bewilderment.

"Yes," Thomas said as he carried Inez past him and then added, "I suggest you get in there and figure out some way to restrain him before he heals if you want to question him about Aunt Marguerite."

Bastien didn't bother to ask further questions, Inez heard his footsteps rush away up the hall and then Thomas was carrying her upstairs.

"Thomas." Terri's worried voice greeted them at the top of the stairs. "What's going on? I thought I heard a scream and Bastien went to check and-What is Inez doing up? Should she be up yet?" she asked fretfully. "Bastien wouldn't let me out of bed for a week after he turned me."

Inez couldn't help noticing those words made Thomas chuckle for some reason. Once the rumbling in his chest died, he asked, "Is there any blood left in the cooler, Terri?"

"A bag or two, I think," Terri answered. "Do you want me to get more from downstairs?"

"Yes, please," Thomas murmured as he laid Inez on the bed.

Terri hurried from the room as Thomas moved to the cooler and fetched the few bags left in it. When he returned to the bed, Inez glanced at the bags and just the sight of the blood made that strange shifting take place in her mouth. She opened her mouth to ask one of the million or so questions suddenly buzzing in her head about being an immortal and found a bag popped to her new fangs.

The bedroom was empty when Inez woke up. For one moment, she lay still in bed, afraid to try to move for fear she might still be paralyzed, but then she set her teeth and tried to raise her hand, her breath rushing out in a relieved sigh when she was able to do so. Thomas had a.s.sured her that she would be healed by the time they woke at sunset, but she'd feared something going wrong and finding herself paralyzed and forced to live that way for centuries. It was silly, Inez knew, but fears were rarely rational.

A shout from somewhere on the main floor of the townhouse made her stiffen and she listened tensely for a moment, but when several excited voices followed along with a couple of more soothing ones, Inez decided everything was probably all right. She'd feared for a moment that Blondie had gotten free and hurt someone, but judging by the tone of the m.u.f.fled conversation she was now hearing, it didn't seem likely.

Sitting up, she glanced around and then leaned to the side to s.n.a.t.c.h up her robe from the floor. Inez slipped it on before letting the sheets and blankets drop away, afraid that someone might enter before she was properly covered. The townhouse was getting quite crowded with everyone here. Tying the sash of the robe, she got out of bed and moved across the room to her suitcase, but paused as she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror on the closet door.

Eyes locked on the image peering back at her, Inez bypa.s.sed the suitcase to stand before the mirror. She hesitated briefly, and then undid the sash of the robe and opened it to peer at herself, curious to see what changes the turn had wrought.

Much to Inez's disappointment, her body didn't seem much different. She hadn't sprouted up six inches, and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were still far too generous in her eyes. Still, she supposed she was a little firmer everywhere, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s a little higher, and her skin... Inez leaned closer to the mirror, running her fingers over one cheek with awe. Her skin was now flawless, as perfect as a baby's, and her eyes were now a beautiful golden brown, she saw, but her hair was still a wild halo of curls around her head.

Staring at herself, Inez marveled over the fact that after all the years of trying to diet and exercise her curves away she hadn't been far from her peak physical state after all.

The sound of the door opening made her jump guiltily. She quickly closed the robe and turned to see Thomas entering the room.

The smile that started to curve her lips faltered when she saw the grim expression on his face.

"Oh," Thomas said when he spotted her by the mirror "you're up."

"Yes," Inez murmured, and then asked with concern. "What was all the excitement downstairs about? Blondie didn't have bad news when Bastien questioned him, did he? Marguerite is all right?"

"Blondie-as you so kindly call him-didn't say a word. He might have if we'd had more time, but somehow the European council got wind of what was going on and sent someone to collect him. They wanted to deal with him themselves. Our only hope was that they'd be able to get something out of him, but"-Thomas hesitated and then admitted grimly-"we got news a couple hours later that he and his escort were attacked and Blondie lost his head. It would seem someone didn't want him to talk."

Inez frowned over this news and asked, "Is the escort all right?"

"He'll survive but he was badly wounded." Inez nodded silently and then said, "He said last night that his job was to keep us in York and off Marguerite's trail. He went after me because I kept coming up with ideas that would have led us out of York." She frowned and muttered, "I should have pushed for more information."

"Inez, the man was trying to kill you," he pointed out quietly. "It wasn't the ideal situation for gaining information. Besides, it doesn't matter now anyway."

"It doesn't?" she asked with surprise.

"Nope," Thomas said, some of the unhappiness on his face easing as he added, "Aunt Martine left a message for Bastien at his office, so he called her and-You have no idea who Aunt Martine is, do you?" he interrupted himself wryly as she stared at him blankly. Inez shook her head.

"Right, well, she's Jean Claude's sister. She was-or still is I guess-Aunt Marguerite's sister-in-law. She lives here in York actually, but was out of town until a couple days ago. Bastien had called her, but she didn't get the message until today. Anyway, she got a call from Aunt Marguerite."

"She did?" Inez asked, eyes widening.

Thomas nodded with a grin. "And she had the number of where Marguerite called from. Bastien, Lucern, Vincent, and Uncle Lucian have gone to Martine's to get the number and then plan to head straight to where she is."

"Uncle Lucian?" Inez asked with confusion.

"Jean Claude's twin brother," he explained. "He arrived with his lifemate Leigh while you were sleeping.""Oh," Inez murmured and then asked, "Why go over there? Why didn't Bastien just call her to get the number?"

Thomas grinned. "He gave some lame excuse to Terri that she wouldn't even repeat, but I think the truth is he probably did call. I think the guys just wanted to look into it themselves without the women along. Which is why everyone is upset," he continued, "Etienne and the women are up in arms at being left out at this point."

Inez bit her lip as she considered all he'd said and what Blondie had said last night.

"You're not looking relieved or happy to hear that Aunt Marguerite is fine," Thomas pointed out, his own happiness slipping away.

"Is she?" Inez asked.

He stared at her blankly.

"Why hasn't she called any of her children?" Inez asked.

Thomas smiled wryly and said, "It's possible she has. Most of them are here right now, though, and wouldn't get her call."

"Bastien would have," she pointed out quietly. "He got Martine's message."

"Well..." He frowned, but then shrugged and said, "She called Martine. She has to be all right."

"Thomas," Inez hesitated, reluctant to be the bearer of bad tidings, but then sighed and continued, "Blondie was working for someone who was willing to kill to keep us from finding her and possibly interfering in their plans."

"Yes, I know. He's dead, though," Thomas pointed out. "He can't hurt her."

But the person he worked for isn't, Inez thought unhappily, but hesitated to say as much to Thomas. He was obviously relieved and happy to believe his aunt was all right, and she was reluctant to make him worry when everything might really work out all right.

"Inez?"

Letting her own worries on the matter drop for the moment, she met his gaze, noting that the grim expression was back and asked uncertainly, "Yes?"

"Terri tells me that in the coffee shop you were thinking that maybe we should put off the turning until after we found Marguerite,"

he announced abruptly. "She's worried that you might be upset about my turning you as I did."

Inez felt her eyebrows rise. It seemed like a long time ago, but she did recall having the thought. It had been a brief one brought on by her fear of the pain involved. Obviously she'd been broadcasting her thoughts at the time, because Terri claimed she couldn't read minds. And while she'd forgotten all about it after everything that had happened, Terri hadn't, and had found the thought worrisome, pa.s.sing on that worry to Thomas.

"Inez, I'm sorry," Thomas said quietly, his expression earnest. "I had no choice. You were dying, and besides you agreed to the turn the night before. Didn't you?" He frowned and muttered, "Of course, it was right after you'd nearly drowned and you might not have really understood what was going on at the time. Do you even love me? You nodded to that too, but..."

He raised his head and said solemnly, "I'm sorry if you're upset about being turned, but I'm not sorry for doing it. Because whether you love me or not, Inez, I love you. You're strong, and brilliant and sweet and have a strength I've never seen in other women.

This last week you've done whatever was required of you to help find Marguerite without complaint or allowing fear to stop you, even going so far as being the bait in the trap." He scowled and then admitted, "Though I have to say I thought that was rather foolish. I was really p.i.s.sed at you for putting your life at risk like that."

"It sounds to me like you still are," she said quietly."I love you, Inez. It was hard for me to see you in such a vulnerable position," Thomas said, his expression solemn, and then rushed on, "Anyway, I'm not sorry I turned you. Even if you choose not to be with me, I'll not regret it. And I know we haven't known each other long, and you probably want time to get to know me better. I'm willing to give you that time. I-"

"Thomas," Inez interrupted, and he fell silent at once. "In ten hours I'll have known you one week."

"Well, really, we met months ago," Thomas said quickly.

She smiled faintly, but continued. "I'm usually slow and cautious in making decisions."

"I'm sure you've had to make snap judgments at work in critical situations."

"Our circ.u.mstances since we've met haven't been ideal, what with the worry about Marguerite, the need to find her, the attacks-"

"Inez," he interrupted worriedly.

"There has been a lot of pressure and stress. In effect, we've been living in a pressure cooker since your arrival."

"Yes, but-"

"In this week I've seen you worried, furiously angry, tired-"

"Inez," Thomas tried again with alarm.

"And despite all that," she continued, "you've made me laugh, and shown me more joy this last week than I've experienced probably in my whole life. You've been encouraging, and supportive, loving and caring, considerate and sweet to me."

"Well, except for that alley in Amsterdam," he pointed out guiltily. "And I'm really sorry about attacking you. I never would have if it hadn't been for the-"

"Thomas," Inez interrupted with exasperation. "I'm trying to tell you I love you."

"You do?" he asked, a smile spreading halfway across his face. "But then why did you tell Terri that you wanted to delay the turn?"

"It wasn't you. It was because of the pain involved," she said with a grimace and then admitted, "I don't like pain, Thomas. I mean I'm practically phobic about it. My whole life, I've avoided any situation that might involve pain. My dentist even has to gas me to fill a cavity." Inez shrugged unhappily. "I probably would have delayed and put it off as long as I possibly could if you hadn't had to change me to save my life. In truth, Blondie probably did us both a favor by precipitating the events that forced you to turn me."

"Precipitating the events?" he quoted, stepping closer to slip his arms around her waist and nuzzle her neck as he murmured, "G.o.d, I love it when you use big words."

Inez chuckled, her own arms slipping around his shoulders, as she reminded him, "Last time you said you liked it when I talk dirty."

"I do," Thomas a.s.sured her and scooped her into his arms, adding, "I also like it when you yell at me in Portuguese. I guess I just like to hear you talk."

Inez smiled wryly as he carried her to the bed. "That would be a good thing since you're going to be hearing me talk to you for a very long time."

"You say it like it's a threat," Thomas said with amus.e.m.e.nt as he set her on her feet beside the bed. "Trust me, it isn't. I look forward to spending the next countless centuries with your voice filling the silence."

"You're so sweet," Inez whispered, running one hand down his cheek, but glanced to the door as the m.u.f.fled sound of the bathroom door closing reached them. "We should go down to join the others.""No, we shouldn't. The turning is traumatic. Your body has been put through a lot and you need your rest," he a.s.sured her solemnly, his fingers beginning to work busily at the tie of the robe.

"Rest, huh?" Inez asked dryly as he finally got the knot undone and began to draw the robe open.

"Oh, yes." Thomas slid the robe off her shoulders and then bent to press a kiss to one breast as his hand closed over the other. His lips brushed against the quickly blooming nipple as he said, "Didn't you hear Terri last night? Bastien wouldn't let her out of bed for a week after her turn. There was a very good reason for that."

"I'm sure there was," she said, but his mouth had closed over her nipple, drawing on it lightly and the words came out a bit breathlessly rather than with the cynical tinge she'd intended.

Letting the nipple slip from his lips, Thomas straightened and kissed her again, his hands sliding over her body before he broke the kiss and said, "I, of course, shall keep you company to ensure you don't encounter any unforeseen difficulties."

"How considerate," Inez gasped as he caught her by the behind and lifted her to press her against the hardness suddenly straining his jeans.

"Marguerite raised me right," he a.s.sured her, bearing her down to the bed.

Her soft chuckle was m.u.f.fled as his mouth closed over hers.

And now a sneak peek at

Vampire, Interrupted

Coming March 2008 from Avon Books Marguerite's Story Marguerite wasn't sure what woke her, a sound perhaps, or the crack of light from the bathroom being momentarily blocked, or maybe it was simply an instinct for survival that dragged her from sleep. Whatever caused it, she was alert and tense when she blinked her eyes open and spotted the dark shape above her. Someone stood at the side of the bed, looming like death. That thought had barely formed in her mind when the dark shape used both hands to raise something overhead. Recognizing the action from her youth when broadswords and weapons of its ilk were more common, Marguerite reacted instinctively, rolling abruptly to the side as the a.s.sailant's arms started their downward swing.

She heard the weapon sing by her head just before tumbling off the bed. Marguerite landed on the floor with a thump and a shout that became a frustrated curse as she found herself tangled in the sheets. Glancing up, she saw her attacker jump onto the bed to follow and swing the sword again. Marguerite promptly gave up on the sheets, s.n.a.t.c.hed the lamp off the bedside table, and swung it around to block the blow.Pain vibrated up her arm on impact, eliciting another shout, and she turned her eyes away from the flying sparks as metal met metal. Marguerite took a bare moment to be grateful that the Dorchester was a five-star hotel with quality-and fortunately metal- based lamps that didn't snap under a sword's blow and then felt the weight taken off the lamp and glanced back to see her attacker winding up for another blow.

"Marguerite?"

Her shouts had apparently woken Tiny, she realized as he called out again, sounding closer. Her attacker realized it too and tensed briefly, then-apparently deciding against taking on two of them-turned away and raced for the balcony doors.

"Oh, no you don't," Marguerite muttered, dropping the lamp and lunging to her feet to give chase. She wasn't the sort to allow someone to sneak up and attack her in her sleep, then run off to do so again another day. Unfortunately, she'd forgotten about the sheets tangled around her legs, but was abruptly reminded of them when she crashed to the floor with her first step.

Gritting her teeth, Marguerite peered toward the balcony doors as the curtains were tugged open. Sunlight immediately poured in, illuminating her attacker. There wasn't much to see. The man was encased from head to toe in black; black boots, black pants, long-sleeved black shirt, and all of that covered by a black cape. He also wore black gloves and even a black balaclava covering his face, she saw as he turned to peer back at her. Then he slid out onto the balcony, allowing the curtain to drop back into place as the connecting door between her room and Tiny's slammed open. "Marguerite?"

She swiveled her head to him, and then pointed toward the balcony doors, gasping, "He's getting away!"

Tiny immediately charged across the room, rushing for the doors leading onto the terrace. He wore nothing but a pair of gold silk boxers with a big heart on the backside, and the sight made her blink in surprise. The moment he disappeared through the billowing curtains, her surprise turned to concern. She'd sent the unarmed, nearly naked man after her attacker-who had a sword.

Cursing, Marguerite concentrated on the sheets wrapped around her legs. They fell away easily now that she was no longer under threat, and made her mutter to herself with exasperation as she scrambled around the bed and hurried to the balcony doors. She charged right into Tiny's bare chest as he stepped back into the room.

"Careful. It's daylight," he rumbled, catching her upper arms and moving her back away from the curtains. Releasing her, he turned to close and lock the doors.

"Did you see him? Where did he go?" Marguerite asked, trying to peer around his large frame at the brightly lit terrace beyond as he pulled one of the heavy panels of cloth into place. The action blocked out the worst of the sunlight and most of her view of the terrace.

"I didn't see anyone. Are you sure you weren't dream-?" Tiny paused mid-sentence as he glanced over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of her in the bit of sunlight still slipping between the gap in the curtains.

Marguerite raised an eyebrow in question at the sudden widening of his eyes.

"You're hurt," he said with a frown. Letting go of the curtain, Tiny caught her by the chin and tipped her face up and to the side so he could get a better look at her neck. He then cursed and released her chin, taking her by the arm instead to hurry her to the en suite bathroom.