"Perhaps you're right. Very well. My own word on it."

Liam chuckled. "Are there any deities you swear to?"

Julian laughed back. "Not as such, no. What if I swear to keep my word by the pain of holy water, the burning of a cross against my flesh, and the threat of a stake through my heart?"

"Lightly spoken, but yes, if you swear by all a vampire's worst fears, then I believe you." Bree felt Liam lay a small, warm hand on his back, between his shoulder blades. "Go on with Julian, now," he ordered gently. "Let him care for you tonight."

Bree made a small, sleepy noise and snuggled against Julian's chest. "Mmm."

"Drunk as a lord." Bree could almost see Liam shaking his head, wryly amused. "You must teach me how to enthrall one day."

"I shall. Consider it a gift of thanks."

"I need no thanks except to know that Bree goes into this via free will. Yes, yes, I know, there is no stopping it. However, if he is not prepared well, Bree is the sort who might be determined enough to pierce his own heart with the first sharp stick he can lay hands on and end this new life."

Julian stiffened. "You didn't tell me this before I made my oath." "Didn't I? My mistake."

Bree giggled. He swayed drunkenly against Julian, drew back a little, and gazed up into those ultimate bedroom, f.u.c.k-me- now eyes. G.o.d, he could drown in those. "Less talk, more action," he whispered. "Come on, Julian. Let's go."

Julian smiled down at Bree, reaching to play with one of his earrings. "Where do you want me to take you?"

"Your place. A hotel. Broom closet. Doesn't matter."

"So eager. You, Bree, are delicious." Julian glanced up, over Bree's shoulder. "Are we finished here, incubus?"

"Our words have come to an end. Keep your oath, and I'll keep mine."

"Done and done." Julian pulled Bree into another close, cozy embrace. Bree heard the light patter of footsteps going past them, and a brief burst of noise as Liam opened a door and slipped back into the club.

Then silence.

Bree let out a deep, contented breath. Julian hummed at the sound of Bree's sigh. "May I?" he asked. Reaching down, he lifted Bree's bare wrist first to his lips, for a long kiss over the vein, the tip of his tongue tracing its pattern, then moved to his ear.

"So beautiful," he said. "I never grow weary of this sound. The rush of blood through its myriad vessels. The thundering of a heart wild with l.u.s.t or fear. I will miss yours, when it is gone."

Gone? Where's it going? Huh. I'll ask later. When I feel like it. Bree shivered happily. He reeled, drunk on the feel of Julian's lips and fingers. "Kiss me?" he asked, hoping the cool man would play along.

"Gladly." Julian bent to brush his mouth over Bree's -- but only a brush, not even parting his lips. Bree whimpered, unashamed of sounding so needy. "Come on," he demanded as Julian drew away. "More. Don't hold out on me now."

"I would rather we find some privacy, before we lose all of our control. Will you come with me?"

Underneath the drunken fugue of happiness, Bree felt his first tremor of unease. The way Julian put it ... it sounded like he was asking for more than Bree to go with him to a room. For half a second, he was tempted to say no. Something Liam had said made him afraid of Julian. What the h.e.l.l had Liam been talking about? He struggled to remember.

"This will not do." Julian laid two fingertips to Bree's temple. "Pax."

Quick as a Popsicle in July, Bree's fears melted away. His heart swelled with adoration, just as his c.o.c.k filled with blood and began to throb, wanting its own share of Julian's touches. "I'll come," he whispered.

Julian smiled. "Good," he said. "Very, very good. Take my hand, now, Bree."

No hesitation. Bree let Julian twine their fingers together, cool against warm, and lead him back to Amour Magique's entrance. Nope, he thought, happier than he'd been in years. Don't ever want to wake up.

As they went inside, the music washed over them in a thick, heady wave. Bree's lips parted in amazement. "Julian," he whispered, tugging at the man's sleeve. "Julian! The club. I can hear its heart beating."

"Yes. You will be able to, now."

"How?" Bree shook his head. "It was all just music, and -- and noise, before."

"It has not changed. You have. You'll understand soon. Now, walk where I walk. Follow in my footsteps."

Bree felt the vaguest p.r.i.c.kle of fear at the base of his spine. As if he sensed it, Julian turned around and looked at him with genuine fondness.

The bad feelings floated away. Bree grinned back, wide and loose. "It's good," he said.

"Oh, yes. Very good, and it will only get better." Julian took a tighter grip on Bree's hand. "Now, come. But one more thing -- do not speak unless I give you permission. Not everyone here would understand what's happening to you. Most, but not all. This is for your safety. Do you promise?"

Bree nodded. Whatever you say, lover. I'll walk in your wake, and I'll keep my mouth shut. I can do that. Got a lot of practice at work, right? Difference is, I want to make Julian happy. That's what matters.

It's all that matters anymore. Huh. When did that happen?

He shrugged. Floating on his own private cloud of bliss, he clung to Julian's hand and followed him through the crowds. They didn't b.u.mp against or into a single man, packed though it was. Bree glanced around in curiosity and saw that wherever Julian moved, the dancers shifted out of his way. Made a path for him. More than a few snuck curious, but definitely awed and seriously respectful, glances at him.

b.i.t.c.hin'. I landed the king of the ball. Bree giggled to himself. Or is that, king of all the b.a.l.l.s?

Julian led Bree back into a darkened corner of Amour Magique, up to a ... bar? Yep, a plain old bar, dimly lit, with a scrawny shrimp of a mostly bald man polishing gla.s.ses and chatting up his handful of customers. He looked to be having a great time, but the instant he saw Julian, he waved the other guys off and ambled straight over. His look wasn't one of respect, but of amus.e.m.e.nt and a touch of admiration. "Look at what the black cat dragged in," he said with a crooked grin. "So you caught him after all, huh?"

"Tom," Julian said with a slight nod. "Yes, I have done what I set out to accomplish. I always do."

"Yep. You manage to get what you set your mind to having, that's the truth. Kinda b.l.o.o.d.y, though, isn't he?"

"A bit. He's a fighter."

The bartender -- Tom? -- let out a low whistle. "No s.h.i.t? He hit you?"

"Of course not. I believe, from what he was screaming while he pounded the man's head into a jelly, that it was his ex-lover.

A man who had done him great wrongs."

"Most exes do. You gonna go after him, if he lives?"

Julian smiled. For the first time, his eyes looked to be tinged with ice. "What do you think, Tom?"

"Think I'd better get a crew out there to mop up the mess."

"Wise decision." Julian laid his hand on Bree's shoulder, drawing him protectively close. "I have struck a bargain with the incubus to take special care of my prize, and I have laid charms upon him, but it strikes me that he seems somewhat more unfocused than even a little blood loss and magic should make him. It has been a long time since I cared if a mortal was ill in any way. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Blood loss, yeah. How much you take?"

"More than my usual amount. Two, perhaps three pints, instead of half of one."

Tom rolled his eyes. "Jeeeeeeszus, Julian. Humans don't give up that much blood and walk off whistlin'. You gotta give them something to get their sugar back up and some liquid into them, or they go all woozy."

"They do?" Julian sounded worried. "He seemed fine before. Many decades ago, I set the half-pint limit when I determined it was all I needed. Before that, when I drank, I drained my victims dry. I am not accustomed to this halfway mark. Why did it not affect him until now?"

"Runnin' on that changeover high, is my guess. Now that he's calmed down, his body's yellin' for some seeing to. Yeah, yeah, I can see he's h.o.r.n.y, and that's not what I'm talkin' about. Here." Tom pulled down a short gla.s.s, bent underneath the bar, and came up with a pitcher of orange juice. He poured the gla.s.s brim-full and shoved it over to Bree. "Get him to drink that up if you want he should make it to your rooms without pa.s.sing out."

"He might faint?"

"Like my kids say, duh. Hey, you." Tom poked Bree in the shoulder. "Chug-a-lug."

Bree stared at the juice. It looked off to him, like it had turned. He glanced up at Julian to find his face furrowed in thought.

"Yes," the man said. "Drink, Bree. Perhaps not all of it, but as much as you can swallow. I know it looks dreadful, but you must, for your own good."

Bree slumped. Well, s.h.i.t. I thought we were heading for s.e.x when we left that smoking porch. Do not pa.s.s Go, do not collect $200, you know? Now I'm being told I have to drink all this juice? f.u.c.k that. Don't want it.

He frowned. I do want something, though. Something besides s.e.x. Weird. What is it, though? Can't put my finger on ...

"Bree," Julian said, gentle but firm. "Drink."

Bree shut his eyes. He lifted the gla.s.s to his mouth, took a swig, and swallowed, trying not to taste it. Didn't quite work. He still got a blast of citrus across the tongue. But the stuff had definitely gone off. It tasted like decay. He made a face despite himself, but to please Julian, which kind of seemed to be all that mattered now, he kept on drinking.

"Good," Julian murmured. "Very well done."

"Not bad. I figure it must taste like p.i.s.s to him right about now. You picked a good one after all, Jule, gotta hand it to you.

Enough of a h.e.l.lcat to ride the blood l.u.s.t and beat the s.h.i.t out of an enemy, but then he follows your orders like a lambie pie. Not bad. Thrall?"

"A small one."

"Figured. You gonna take it off before you, eh ..." Tom paused meaningfully.

"I think so."

"He'll be scared. Might try to fight."

"I gave my word that he would understand what was happening to him. I can bear a bruise or two if he chooses to struggle." "Guess you're a tough old bird after all this time, yeah. Oh! One more thing, just to be sure." Curious, Bree opened his eyes and took a peek, just to see Tom rummage under his bar again and come out with a box of chocolate-chip cookies. "Make him eat at least one. Two, if he can choke them down. It'll help."

Bree groaned.

"Hush, now," Julian chided. "Eat." He picked up a cookie and held it to Bree's lips. "Open for me, now. Open wide."

Bree found his lips parting. Julian slipped the cookie between his teeth. Automatically, he snapped off a bite and chewed.

Then gagged.

"Tastes like cardboard, huh?" Tom asked sympathetically. "Or sand, maybe."

Julian hung over Bree like a hawk until he'd choked one cookie down. "Enough," he decided. "I can feel what he has consumed making a difference in his blood. It will do. I thank you for your help, Tom."

"Eh. It's my job. You want anything else? Kinda figure you got take-away tonight, but I could let you have a free sip of any type you want. Get the motors revved up."

Julian chuckled. "Always looking to make a sale, Tom? No, I don't require anything else from your bar, and though you meant Bree's nourishment as a gift, I will see that you're paid for it. I must ask you for one more favor. I grow impatient, and it is difficult for one even as powerful as I to maintain a thrall for so long. May we use the dimensional doorway behind your bar tonight?"

Tom frowned. "Silas, he don't like me doin' that. Got into a s.h.i.tload of trouble last time I let someone borrow my ride."

"Very well. I'll barter a future pledge against this favor. Whatever you please, so long as it harms neither Bree nor myself.

You may use it yourself, or give it to Silas."

Tom eyed them up and down. "Yeah," he said. "That's worth the risk. Come on back."

"Bree." Julian tugged at Bree's arm. Curious, but keeping his mouth shut, Bree followed Julian as Tom lifted up a section of the bar top and let them inside. The little man led them around to an even darker corner. Not just regular dark. This little patch swallowed up the light. He stared, fascinated.

Tom jerked his head. "Just step on in," he said. "It'll take you wherever you wanna go. Like Dorothy in Oz. Just think about home, my friend. You'll be right there."

"My thanks, Tom." Julian bent and brushed a kiss across Bree's cheek. "Close your eyes. Walk forward until I tell you to stop."

This is weird. But ... I'm not scared. Not at all. I can trust Julian.

Obedient as a child, Bree screwed his eyes shut and stepped forward. He felt a brief lurch, as if his stomach were dropping out, then a light thump. He fell a little, losing his balance for some reason. No biggie. Julian was right there to catch him.

He tilted Bree's head to the dim light. "You did that well," he said, voice hoa.r.s.e. "I must be strong enough to wait a little longer, but for now ..." Letting out a small hiss, Julian dipped his head and hungrily kissed Bree's mouth. Rougher than before, much more eagerly, Julian's tongue thrust in and out in imitation of the f.u.c.king to come. Bree felt sharp pains as Julian bit down on his lips and lapped off the welling blood, but h.e.l.l if he cared.

He just wanted the kiss to last forever. And even if they were in public, he wanted Julian's hand on his c.o.c.k. Now. Five seconds ago would have been better. Moaning into the kiss, Bree thrust his hips into Julian's and ground against him.

"Bree," Julian whispered between sips of his mouth. "Are you so eager? Speak."

"h.e.l.l, yeah." Bree reached between them and rubbed the heel of his palm against Julian's c.o.c.k, as hard as his own. "I want you. You want me. Come on, Julian. f.u.c.k me. Make me see stars."

Julian dropped his head onto Bree's shoulder and let out a groan. "Bree, you tempt me too far ... my control ..."

"Yeah," Bree breathed, stroking Julian with all the skills he possessed. "You like it, huh? Want me?"

"More than you could know. I have waited centuries for you."

"Yeah? I've waited a couple hours. Long enough, don't you think?" Bree let his fingers wander to the fastening on Julian's pants, starting to pull them open. "No more wasting time."

Julian clutched at him. "Bree ... Bree ..."

Bree blinked. The weirdest sensation crawled over his skin. Kind of like it was being peeled off. "What the f.u.c.k ...?" he blurted. "Julian, did you feel that?"

"I did." Julian's voice was bleak. "My thrall has broken, and you are powerful enough now to see past Amour Magique's shields."

"And what's that mean in English?" "It means your eyes are open now." Julian stroked Bree's arm. "I wonder if Liam knew this would happen. More than likely, he did. Cunning b.a.s.t.a.r.d of an incubus! He knew I would be forced to this."

"Forced to what? Julian, you're not making much sense here. Look at me. C'mon, look at me. What's up?"

"You'll know as soon as I do look at you," Julian whispered. "Promise that you will not run away before I can explain."