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I might have pulled away； I might not have； but the moment the front of our bodies touched； it was too late。 There was no going back； no saying no； nothing but sensation。 I felt that cool； shimmering wind that was his aura touch mine。 For one trembling moment we were pressed together； our energy breathing against each other like the sides of two great beasts。 Then the boundaries that held our auras in place gave way。 Think of it as if you were making love and suddenly your skin slid away； spilling you against your partner； into your partner； giving you an intimacy that was never imagined； never planned； never wanted。
I screamed； and he echoed me。 I felt us begin to fall to the floor； but Richard caught us； cradled us against his body； laid us gently on the floor。 The power did not leap across to him； and I didn't know why。
Jean…Claude's body was on top of mine； pinning me to the floor； his groin pressed over mine。 He drove his hips in against me； forcing my legs apart around the slick covering of his legs。 I wanted him inside me； wanted him to ride me while the power rode us。
He struggled up on his arms； leaning up and away from me； forcing his lower body tighter against mine。 And the power built in a skin…tingling rush； building； building； like that shining edge of orgasm when you can feel it growing large and overwhelming but can't quite reach it。
I saw Richard leaning over me like a dark shadow against the haze of the lights。 I think I tried to say； no； don't； but no sound came。 He kissed me； and the power flared； but still he wasn't part of it。 He kissed my cheek； my chin； my neck； working lower； and I suddenly knew what he was doing。 He was kissing his way down to the hole over my heart chakra； my energy center。 Jean…Claude had already covered the one at my base； my groin。 Richard's chest stretched above me； smooth； firm； so temptingly close； and I raised my mouth to his skin； so that as he kissed down my body he drew his naked chest across my tongue。 I licked a wet line down his body。 He buried his mouth inside the halter top and touched over my heart； and my mouth found his heart at the same moment。
The power didn't just build； it exploded。 It was like lying at ground zero of a nuclear explosion； the shock waves shooting out； out； out into the room； while we melted together in the center。 For one shining moment I felt both of them inside me； through me； as if they were wind； pure power； pouring through me； through us。 Richard's electric warmth buzzed over us； Jean…Claude's cool power poured over and through like a chill wind； and I was something large and growing； holding the warmth of the living and the cold of the dead。 I was both and neither。 We were all and none。
I don't know if I passed out or if I just lost time for some metaphysical reason。 All I remembered was that I was suddenly lying on the floor with Richard collapsed beside me； pinning one of my arms； his body curled around my chest and head； his legs touching down the other side of my body。 Jean…Claude was collapsed on top of me； his body pressing the length of mine； with his head to one side resting on Richard's leg。 They both had their eyes closed； their breath ing in ragged pants； just like mine。
It took me two tries to say a breathless； 〃Get off me。〃
Jean…Claude rolled to one side without ever opening his eyes。 The fall of his body forced Richard's legs to move a little farther out； so that Jean…Claude and I both lay in the semicircle of Richard's body。
The room was so quiet I thought we were the only ones left in it。 As if all the others had fled in terror of what we'd done。 Then the room thundered in applause and howling and other animal noises that I didn't have words for。 The noise was deafening； beating against my body in waves as if I had nerves in places where I'd never had nerves before。
Asher was suddenly standing over us。 He knelt beside me； touching the pulse in my neck。 〃Blink if you can hear me； Anita。〃
I blinked。
〃Can you speak？〃
〃Yes。〃
He nodded and touched Jean…Claude next； stroking a hand down his cheek。 Jean…Claude opened his eyes at the touch。 He gave a smile that seemed to mean more to Asher than to me； because it made Asher laugh。 The laugh was a very masculine one； as if they'd shared some dirty joke that I didn't understand。 Asher crawled around me until he was kneeling by Richard's head。 He lifted a handful of thick hair so he could see Richard's face clearly。 Richard blinked at him； but didn't seem to be focusing。
Asher bent low over Richard； and I heard him say； 〃Can you hear me； mon ami？〃
Richard swallowed； coughed； and said； 〃Yes。〃
〃Bon； bon。〃
It took me two tries but I had a smart…aleck ment； and I was going to make it。 〃Now； everyone who can stand； raise their hands。〃 None of us moved。 I felt distant； floating； my body too heavy to move。 Or maybe my mind was too overwhelmed to make it move。
〃Have no fears； ma cherie； we will attend you。〃 Asher stood； and it was as if it were a signal。 Figures moved out of the crowd。 I recognized three of them。 Jamil's waist length cornrows looked right at home with his black leather outfit。 He was Richard's lead enforcer； or Sk？ll。 Shang…Da didn't look fortable in black leather； but the six…foot…plus Chinese never looked fortable outside of nice dress clothes with polished wing tips。 Shang…Da was the other enforcer for the pack； the Hati。 Sylvie knelt beside me； looking splendid in vinyl； her short brown hair touched with burgundy highlights。 Though it looked good； I knew she was conservative enough that it was probably a temporary color。 She sold insurance when she wasn't being Richard's second in mand； his Freki； and insurance salespeople didn't have hair the color of a good red wine。
She smiled at me； wearing more makeup than I'd ever seen her in。 It looked great； but it didn't really look like Sylvie。 For the first time I thought how pretty she was； and that she was almost as delicate…looking as me。
〃I owed you a rescue；〃 she said。 Once upon a time a bunch of nasty vampires had e to town to teach Jean…Claude； Richard； and me a lesson。 They'd taken prisoners along the way。 Sylvie had been one of them。 I'd gotten her out； and I'd kept my promise to see everyone who touched her dead。 She did the actual killing； but I delivered them up to her for punishment。 She kept a few bones as souvenirs。 Sylvie would never plain that I was too violent。 Maybe she could be my new best friend。
The werewolves took up positions around us； facing outward like good bodyguards。 None of them were as physically imposing as Narcissus's bodyguards had been； but I'd seen the wolves fight； and muscles aren't everything。 Skill counts； and a certain level of ruthlessness。
Two vampires came to stand with Asher and the wolves。 I didn't recognize either of them。 The woman was Asian； with shining black hair that fell barely to her shoulders。 The hair was nearly the same color and brilliance as the vinyl cat suit that clung to nearly every inch of her body。 The suit made sure you were aware of her high； tight breasts； her tiny waist； the swell of her shapely hips。 She gave me an unfriendly look with her dark eyes； before she turned her back on me and stood； hands at her side； waiting。 Waiting for what； I wasn't sure。
The second vampire was male； not much taller than the woman； with thick brown hair that had been shaved close to his head； except for a layer left on top that came about halfway to his eyes； shining and straight。 He gazed down on me with a smile； eyes the color of new pennies； as if his brown eyes held just a trace of blood in them。
He turned his attention outward； arms crossed over the black leather of his chest。 They too faced outward like good bodyguards； letting the crowd know that even though we couldn't stand up； we weren't helpless。 forting； I guess。
Jason crawled in between their legs； head hanging down； as if he were almost too tired to move。 He raised his blue eyes to me； and the look was almost as unfocused as I felt。
He gave a pale version of his usual grin and said； 〃Was it good for you？〃
I was feeling better enough to try and sit up； but failed。 Jean…Claude said； 〃Lie a little longer； ma petite。〃
Since I had no choice； I did what he suggested。 I lay staring up at the dark； distant ceiling with its rows of lights。 They'd turned off most of them； so that the club was nearly dark。 Like the soft gloom that es when you close the drapes during the day。
I felt Jason lay down on the other side of me； head resting on my thigh。 Not long ago I'd have made him move； but I'd spent my time away learning how to be fortable being close with the wereleopards。 It had made me more tolerant of everyone； apparently。 〃Why are you tired？〃
He rolled his head up to look at me without raising it from my leg； one hand curving over my calf as if to keep his balance。 〃You spill sex and magic through the whole club and you ask why I'm tired？ You are such a tease。〃
I frowned at him。 〃One more ment like that and you'll have to move。〃
He snuggled his head on my hose。 〃I can see that your underwear matches。〃
〃Get off of me； Jason。〃
He slid to the floor without being told twice。 He could never leave well enough alone； our Jason。 He alway