"Anything."

"One, lingerie," Dev said. "I don't mean that pretty Victoria's Secret s.h.i.t. I want s.l.u.tty. I want to be able to eat it off her body, man. If it requires double A batteries, consider that a plus. Two, buy her shoes. She wears a seven and a half. Manolos, Jimmy Choos, good, high-end stuff. She's going to try to talk you into a kitten heel. Screw that. I want a full-blown cat. Nothing under a four-and-a-half-inch stiletto. I look particularly good in jewel tones. Understood?"

Neil gave Dev a quick salute. "She'll look like your wet dream by the time I'm done with her."

Dev let him go and sat back. "You can't imagine my wet dreams, little boy. Now, go tell your master I'll have his queen back in plenty of time for the party. I have to debrief her, you understand."

The limo door slammed shut. When he turned to me, I had to catch my breath. The last two days Dev had been very much in a professional mode. He'd been affectionate but circ.u.mspect out of respect for working closely with my husband. That cool, respectful man was gone, and in his place was one hungry boy.

"Drive until I tell you to stop," Dev commanded over the intercom, and the limo pulled away.

"Jewel tones?" My heart rate tripled as he turned those gorgeous green eyes on me.

"I don't know if you've noticed, sweetheart, but they complement my skin tone. Since those gorgeous shoes end up around my neck, I thought I should get something that looks good on me," he drawled as he shrugged out of his coat. "I'll tell you something else that looks good on me-your very naked body." He reached across the limo and pulled me into his lap. "I need to make a few things clear to you, lover."

"I'm listening." I sighed, leaning my head back against his shoulder.

I'd felt very neglected over the last two days. Dev spent much more time with Daniel than me, and I wasn't secure enough to not be a little jealous. I wondered if I was going to lose both of the men I loved to power and politics. He'd come to bed late, and though he had pulled me into his arms, he'd kissed me and promptly fallen asleep. I wasn't used to a Dev who didn't try to get into my pants twice a night.

Now he was making up for lost time. He slipped his hand between my legs and up my skirt. With unerring accuracy, his long fingers started teasing their way inside my underwear.

I'd felt so alone the last few days. I worked with the Revelation and planned out my heist, but mostly I sat by myself and worried. I needed a few minutes where I didn't think about worst-case scenarios.

"I would give anything to not send you into that welcoming party tonight," he whispered. His tongue lightly traced the sh.e.l.l of my ear, sending shivers up and down my spine. His fingers played in my p.u.s.s.y, spreading my l.a.b.i.a wide. I was already slick with desire. "It's killing me that I can't go with you."

He was talking about the first party of the conference, one that was being hosted in his club. I'd expected that we all would go. I didn't like the thought of being separated. There were too many things that could go wrong. It was getting hard to think though. He was teasing me, making me antsy and edgy. I wanted to force that finger inside me where it would do some good, but Dev held me tightly, unwilling to give up his game. "But it's your club."

"Not tonight it isn't," he explained. I caught my breath as one clever finger caressed that bundle of nerves that made me scream. Dev toyed with my c.l.i.toris, sliding his fingers along either side and twisting lightly. "Tonight it belongs to the vampires, and I'm not welcome. Vampires and companions only, with the exception of staff. I can go to the ball as part of Daniel's retinue, but it's still dangerous. I have to be prudent around you while we're here. I don't think you're going to like that. I need you to understand that I hate this situation. I want to be somewhere f.u.c.king you, teasing you, pleasing you. The last thing I wanted was to get involved in a coup attempt."

Dev's hand pulled away. Before I could protest, I was flat on my back. Dev's weight settled on top of me. I hated the clothes between us. Skin to skin. That was what I needed. His body nestled against mine like puzzle pieces that fit perfectly. "Then why are you doing this?"

His hair fell across his forehead, and he was so beautiful, my heart skipped a beat. His green eyes were intense and filled with something far beyond simple l.u.s.t. He leaned over, his nose nuzzling mine. Since he'd given up being strictly my lover, he'd become more and more affectionate, his sweetness growing daily. "Blame yourself, Zoey. I might have been happy with a nice long affair until you climbed on that altar. I know I was high, but don't think I can't remember that moment. I'll remember it as long as I live. I was going to enjoy you, lover, for as long as I could. Then I was going to respectfully allow you to go back to your husband because I thought that was what you would want in the end. f.u.c.k that, Zoey. You blew that plan all to h.e.l.l, and I'll do anything to stay in your life. You should have run."

I brought my hands up, cupping his face. We hadn't really talked about that night. "I couldn't leave you."

"All of my life I have been the expendable one." He lowered his forehead to mine, cuddling up against me. "I was the spare, and after I proved too human, I wasn't even that. Do you know how many people have told me they love me? I can get an 'I love you' out of a woman by looking at her. It's meaningless. It's a phrase designed to get me to do something. Even when you said it to me in the barn, I didn't really believe it. I thought you wanted to keep your lover for a while longer. I was pleased that it wasn't over, but I didn't believe. You proved me wrong. You would have done anything to save me."

I brought my hands up to hold his head to mine. "I love you."

"You would have sacrificed yourself."

"I love you," I repeated because he needed to hear it. He needed to believe it. Despite his good looks and wealth, he was just a man with all a man's insecurities. I loved him. I meant to be his safe harbor, as I once had been Daniel's.

"You love me," he whispered, wonder in his voice. "Know this, Zoey, I will do my best to advise your husband. I will do everything I can to see you on a proper throne with all due rights as his queen. I will stand in the shadows. I will concede my place at your side. I will never concede my place in your bed, and I will not concede your heart. Love Daniel all you like as long as there is a place for me."

When he kissed me, it was with everything he had. He didn't bother to undress me, simply shifted a bit and pulled up my skirt before tugging my undies down. The situation was far too urgent. He fumbled, a word that almost never described Dev. He was smooth and silky but tonight he faltered.

I took charge for the first time. I unzipped his pants, reaching for his c.o.c.k, stroking him until he groaned. I guided him to me and wrapped my legs around him, offering him everything I had. He kissed me as he strained to work his way inside me, slowly, inch by inch, teasing his way in, letting me get wet around him.

Dev groaned and pulled himself out.

"Condom," he muttered with a grimace. He pulled one out and rolled the hated piece of latex over his c.o.c.k, and then came back to me.

"I love you, Zoey," he whispered as he started to glide his c.o.c.k over that sweet spot he always found so quickly. "Remember that. No matter what you see tonight, no matter what you have to do, I love you."

An hour later, the limo rolled back in front of the casino. Dev set down his drink and tried to smooth his clothes into something that resembled a presentable state. After the things we'd done in that limo, there was no way his clothes stayed perfectly pressed. My comfortable clothes had held up better, but it was time for me to get ready for the party.

The driver opened the car, and the first thing I saw was Daniel. He leaned against the side of the building, a hollow look on his face. When he glanced up and saw me, his face went blank and he made his way to the limo.

"It's time, Zoey," Dev said, picking up his drink again. He took a long swallow of vodka. "Go with your husband. I'm going to find a poker table and hope no one tries to righteously kill me."

I leaned over to kiss him good-bye, but he put a hand between us. "No, Zoey. No more affection where anyone could see us. I told you you wouldn't like it, sweetheart. Unless we are with Daniel and playing out our happy menage, I will treat you with the courtesy of a servant. This game has started."

Daniel held out his hand to help me out of the limo. His eyes were dark, but he swallowed his anger. "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't do that again, Dev."

Dev inclined his head slightly to show his agreement. He looked at me and his face was blank. I was staring at the face of a politician, not my lover. "Zoey, you do not dare enter that gathering without his mark on you. Do you understand?"

I understood. Tonight Daniel would be drinking straight from the tap.

"How long?" I demanded. "How long do we have to play this stupid game?"

Dev reached for the vodka bottle. "We play until we win or we die."

I let Daniel help me out of the car. He shut the door and the limo took off.

"Zoey, people are watching." Daniel pulled me close, and I let my arm go around him.

I was grateful for his strong arm around me because I didn't like being the center of this attention. When Daniel said people, he meant vampires. I suddenly felt very ill equipped to do this part of the job. I was ready to slip into h.e.l.l and rescue my friend, but I wanted to hide at the thought of having to fit into vampire society.

"Mr. Donovan, Mrs. Donovan." A well-dressed man approached us. He was a middle-aged man with a solid build.

"Roman." Daniel shook the man's hand. "Zoey, this is Roman. He runs Dev's club here in Vegas. He's been a.s.signed to make sure we're comfortable."

"It is a great pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Donovan." Roman bowed my way, a gallant gesture. "Know I stand ready to meet your every need. My employer was quite adamant about making sure you were comfortable. Please understand that credit has been guaranteed at any store you would like to shop at or any restaurant you care to dine at. There is a driver at your disposal twenty-four hours a day."

"We get it," Daniel said irritably. "He wants her taken care of."

Roman stopped, his eyes slightly confused. "You do understand that he's done the same for you, Mr. Donovan? My employer was quite adamant that you both be taken care of."

That stopped Daniel for a moment. "Thank you. I appreciate it. Could you please show us to our room? We don't have as much time as I thought we would."

Roman led the way into the casino. Daniel and I walked behind him. I'm sure I looked like a gawky tourist, but I didn't care. Vegas was completely new to me, and I was kind of awed by the decadence of it.

Daniel leaned over and whispered in my ear. "This place is full of vampires, baby. Be very careful. That one over there is a Council member named Niko. He knew Socrates on a personal level. He's looking forward to meeting you, Z. Everyone is very curious about us."

I started toward the elevators but Roman diverted us.

"Your rooms have a private elevator, Mrs. Donovan." He indicated a lovely gla.s.s elevator off to the side of the lobby. He punched in a code and the elevator began to slide down toward us. "They're going to be curious, Mr. Donovan, because it has been a very long time since the Council designated a Nex Apparatus. It scares the h.e.l.l out of everyone. As for you, Mrs. Donovan, they're likely wondering what kind of woman shares a bed with such a man. A companion is used to a certain hardness in the vampire she serves. Mr. Donovan is believed to be on a whole new level. The other companions, they pity you."

The elevator opened and Roman entered, but I grabbed Daniel's hand. His eyes were downcast, his mouth a tight line. I looked around and, sure enough, there were at least ten pairs of eyes looking at us. Three women looked at me with great sympathy.

I could be angry with Daniel, but I wasn't letting anyone pity me for being married to him. I smiled and with great tenderness, lifted my lips to his. There was no mad l.u.s.t in my intent. This was affection and caring, and Daniel responded in kind. His lips touched mine, sweetly saying so much more than pa.s.sion could. I laid my head on his shoulder, and he wrapped me in a protective circle. We stayed there for a moment and then entered the elevator. I watched as they gawked at us. Daniel leaned down and set his chin on the top of my head, watching the lobby as well.

"Thank you, Z," he said quietly.

"They don't know you, Danny." If they did, they would think I was lucky. At that moment, I was thinking I was insane. I'd just left the arms of one man I loved and promptly found myself wrapped up in another. And my heart was just as content here.

"Maybe you don't know me," he said, pulling away.

I rolled my eyes. "Is this your 'rail against fate' time or are you brooding? And what the h.e.l.l is a Nex Apparatus?"

Roman piped up. "It means Death Machine. Daniel Donovan is the Council's Death Machine."

Daniel looked down again with a sort of shame that made my heart ache.

Still, I snorted. I couldn't help it. "That is the worst super villain name I ever heard. No one knows what Nex Apparatus means. What's up with all the Latin? When you show up to kill someone and give them your name, they're supposed to quake in fear, baby, not ask you for a translation."

Daniel laughed, and I was happy to get that look off his face. I didn't blame him for anything he'd done while working for the Council. He'd done it to survive. "I'll try to come up with something more suitable for you, Z."

"Good." I looked back down at that lobby. I would have to face those people soon enough. "And I'll try to find you some spandex."

"Neil will be thrilled," Daniel admitted, and he squeezed my hand. I got the feeling we'd be doing a lot of hand holding in the next couple of hours.

Whether I was ready or not, Dev was right. This game was on.

Chapter Eighteen.

When I stepped out of the shower, Daniel was sitting on the bed, slacks on, shirt off. I stopped, my feet planted to the ground. Intimacy. Even at home, we'd been careful of not catching each other in moments like this. Moments that felt like before, when it would have been perfectly normal for him to see me wrapped in a fluffy robe.

We were stuck in this suite together, pretending to be lovers for days. What would it feel like when Dev was here, too? When we were all thrown together, forced into a fake intimacy?

"Zoey, I'm sorry." His hands were shaking slightly, evidence of his need. "We should get this over with."

"All right," I said, loosening the belt of my robe. "Where do you want me?"

It was awkward. I was thinking about the fight we'd had and all the horrible things we'd said to each other. And I was thinking about the good times, too. I was thinking that we'd always talked about getting married in Vegas and avoiding a big wedding because it seemed silly when my father was our only family.

Of course, our little elopement wouldn't have included an entourage and a fabulous suite, and those fangs in Daniel's mouth.

They gleamed, primitive and ferocious in the low light. I'd never been afraid of them because they were a part of Daniel, but the minute he noticed me looking, he closed his lips, hiding that part of himself.

"Sit in my lap, Z. It's the easiest way."

I settled onto his lap, his arm curving around my waist and pulling me close. I could smell the soap from his shower and feel the smoothness of his skin as I wrapped my arm around his waist. I looked up and his eyes had bled to a gorgeous, surreal blue, the white disappearing.

"Zoey, please let me pull you in. I don't want to hurt you." Pulling me in was his code for using his powers of persuasion to make the bite o.r.g.a.s.mic. I'd had it both ways and firmly came down on the side of pleasure. "I won't take advantage."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. He wouldn't take advantage. Daniel had proven to have excellent control when it came to denying himself. It had cost us years. I sat on his lap, the world narrowing to him. There was no worry in this place. There was no king or queen or Council. There was only pleasure and joy.

"I can hear your heartbeat, baby," Daniel said, his voice a deep, rich seduction. His free hand stroked my throat, tracing the veins he found there. "I can hear the blood rushing through every vein. It's like music, and when I listen close enough, my whole body responds until we're in harmony. I never feel my heartbeat unless I'm with you."

My head fell back and I shivered as the warmth of Daniel's mouth enveloped me. He kissed my neck, his tongue laving affection, getting me to the perfect place where I wanted one thing. I wanted his bite more than my next breath. Every part of my body responded. My nipples peaked. My skin sang. I would swear I could feel every inch of my body opening wide to welcome him.

And my p.u.s.s.y was the greediest bit of all. Warm and wet. It didn't matter that Dev was out there somewhere. In that moment, with Danny's magic riding me, I just wanted him. An image played through my head. Daniel's fangs. Dev's hands. Together.

I was caught, trapped in those eyes and perfectly content to be there. My arms tightened around him, my heart thudding when his fangs penetrated. Bite doesn't cover it. It was penetration, his body in mine, my blood in his. The o.r.g.a.s.m bloomed across me, rolling in wave after wave of joy and pleasure until I simply let it be and gave over to him entirely.

I don't remember when my robe came open, but when Daniel was through, it was hanging off me.

I probably looked extremely wanton, laying there in his lap, my naked body relaxed from a surfeit of pleasure. He'd pulled me close so my nipples rubbed against his chest.

"You okay, Z?" He moved me on the bed because I couldn't quite move my limbs yet.

Nodding, I looked up at him. I knew what he wanted. He wanted to nick a vein and hold me to him as I sucked, his blood an exchange, strengthening the bond between vampire and companion. He wanted that exchange and the s.e.x that inevitably followed, but Daniel merely laid me down and brushed the hair from my face. He was not enough of a gentleman to close my robe. He stared for a moment as he licked his fangs, getting every last drop. For just a second, he forgot to hide himself from me. He was a gorgeous beast.

"G.o.d, you're beautiful, Zoey." He shook his head and laughed. "I took off my shirt in case I spilled. I should have taken off my freaking pants. I have to change."

But he stood there, looking at me as I giggled like a drunken schoolgirl because it wasn't blood he'd spilled. His face cleared and his fangs disappeared. He sat on the bed, a rueful smile on his face. "Thanks for coming with me tonight. I want you to know I'll keep you safe."

I reached out, my limbs beginning to come back to life. "I wouldn't be anywhere else."

He reached for my hand, and we sat there for the longest time.

"This is what the inside of Dev's head looks like." Daniel said an hour later as we stared at the scene in front of us with no small amount of shock and awe.

This particular club was called Descent. It was everything a Las Vegas club should be-decadent, rich, plush, and more than a little vulgar. Ether was a nightclub. Descent was something slightly different. It was a strip club, which I would have appreciated knowing in advance. There was one large stage complete with a shiny pole that even now a lovely woman was contorting herself around. No one can work a stripper pole like a shapeshifter. There were two smaller stages with dancers and patrons sitting around watching.

The room was full of vampires. By the looks of it, there were roughly two hundred in the club. It was a good portion of the vampire population. These were the movers and shakers, the old ones. Daniel was the youngest vampire in the room by hundreds of years. If it hadn't been for his unique talents, he would never have been invited to these proceedings. He would have been a fledgling and beneath most vampires' notice. They all noticed Daniel Donovan as we walked into the room. Every head turned, and I saw fear and suspicion in their eyes.

"Wow, you know how to make an entrance," I said under my breath.

"They're all afraid of me," Daniel explained. "They know that if they step out of line, I'm the one the Council would send. I'm the one vampire they never want on their doorstep because if I'm there, I've come for one reason only. I'm their executioner."

"See, The Executioner would work," I pointed out. "It's kind of humdrum, but it's better than the Nex thingie."

Daniel's lips turned up in a half smile. He put his arm around my waist, his hand settling on my hip. He was staring down the room. I suddenly realized there were maybe thirty women in the room who could possibly be companions. Thirty scrumptious snacks and two hundred hungry vampires.

"They know you're mine. You'll be safe. These are well-trained vampires. If one of them steps out of line, well, they know I can take care of it. Zoey, if one of them even looks at you the wrong way, you let me know." He was staring at my neck, and I knew he was looking at the mark he'd left. I couldn't help but think about it, too.