“No, I’m not proud for railing at you the way I did.” His voice was very low. “It took me fifteen years to come to terms with what I was after Ian turned me. Little wonder you still had mixed feelings over it.”

I hadn’t expected this. I’d steeled myself to hear a resounding agreement that yes, I had been a total ass over my discrimination. I swallowed, blinking to clear my eyes from the tears.

“Okay…so does that mean you’ll change me over?”

“Not so fast. The only reason you’ve listed for wanting to change is to thwart Gregor.”

“Do you just not want the responsibility of being my sire?” I asked, getting frustrated by the interrogation. “If so, Vlad already agreed to do it.”

Something glittered in his gaze. “I’m sure he did, but if anyone’s changing you over, it’s me. I daresay I’ve earned that. And if you think to do it behind my back, I swear right now that I’ll kill whoever sires you, no matter who he is.”

He’d kill anyone who changed you, Spade had said. Guess he was right. Damn possessive vampires.

“If you take my old prejudice out of the way, there’s no reason for me to remain part human,” I answered steadily. “As a half-breed, I’m easier to kill, and my abilities have a definite ceiling on them. As a full vampire, my potential is what I make it, not what my pulse and breathing limit it to. Plus, I can never go back to pretending to live a normal, human life. For all intents and purposes, I’m already a vampire. I just don’t have fangs yet.”

“Do you really believe that?” His voice was silky, but his gaze was rock hard.

“Yes.” No hesitation.

“Then prove it. Let me in your mind to see for myself.”

Oh hell no. No way was I about to drop my mental shields and expose myself like that. It wasn’t because I was lying about what I’d said. I was too afraid of everything else he’d see.

“Sorry, Bones, but you’ll just have to take my word for it.”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment. It was all I could do not to hold my breath.

“All right, then,” he replied at last. “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

I’d almost sighed in relief when he spoke again.

“On one condition.”

Figures. “What is it?”

“Oh, nothing too taxing. You’ll just have to share my bed tonight.”

I waited a beat, but he didn’t follow it with a punch line.

“You’re serious?” I got out.

He looked at me like I was slow. “Very.”

“Is this because I’m not wearing any underwear?”

That made him grin. “No, but it doesn’t help your cause.”

“You’re being ridiculous!” I pushed at him, but it was like shoving a brick wall. “What is this, some kind of undead dominance crap?”

“I’m testing your resolve,” he said calmly. “You refuse to let me into your mind to see if you’re just doing this because of Gregor or the ghouls. If you truly want it for your own reasons, then it would be worth my price. There’s always a price with vampires, Kitten. You know that.” He shrugged. “Or, let me in your mind to see for myself that you want this only for you.”

Strip bare either my emotions or my body. What a choice.

“I’m surprised you’d be able to clear your bedroom schedule on such short notice,” I said, hoping to piss him off into changing his mind.

His brow arched. “We all do what we must.”

I didn’t know how I’d be able to manage either option. Both would leave scars on my heart. “And the fact that I absolutely don’t want to have sex with you doesn’t matter?”

He turned my cheek until his lips brushed my throat. “Well, luv…I consider that my job to change your mind.”

His voice was filled with promise of pleasure. I couldn’t help the shiver that ran through me when he nuzzled my skin. Damn my sensitive neck. It was betraying me even as I fought to appear unmoved.

But the thought of him looking into my mind, seeing how deeply he was still buried inside my every thought, was far more frightening than anything else. Checkmate, Cat. You lose.

That didn’t mean I was going to be magnanimous, however. I gave him a bitchy glare.

“I hope it’s the worst fuck you’ve ever had, you ruthless, manipulating bastard.”

“Pillow talk already?” he replied with a slight grin. “Now you’re just trying to switch me on.”

I only wished I hadn’t showered before this damned meeting—and where was a festering yeast infection when I needed one?

“I have a condition of my own,” I said. “I showered in an empty guest room. We can do the deed in there.” The last thing I needed was to roll around with Bones in his bed, considering he might have rolled around with another woman in it the night before. Ew.

“Whatever you like.” He still had that curl to his lips. Apparently I couldn’t antagonize him into changing his mind either. “We can even use this couch, if you prefer.”

The way he traced his tongue on the inside of his lower lip told me he was thinking about it. That sent a flush of heat through me even as I cursed him. This’ll be a neat trick. Keeping my emotional distance while having sex with him.

“The guest room will be fine,” I managed.

His eyes glowed. “Right, then. Shall we?”

There was so much more than a simple query in those words. I looked around in futile hope that something would happen to delay this. An earthquake. Fire. Alien attack. Whatever, just bring it!

But there was nothing but him and me and the agreement I’d just made.

“I guess so.”

TWENTY-SIX

BONES EASED OFF ME IN A SINGLE LITHE motion, drawing me to a standing position along with him. I couldn’t help but flinch as his hands stayed on my waist, and I couldn’t have kept my heart from speeding up unless I’d put a bullet in it.

He walked very close next to me, a hand on my back propelling me forward. I didn’t drag my feet, but oh, I wanted to. We passed a person or two as we headed up the stairs, but I kept my head lowered, concentrating on everything but what would happen once we got to the room.

How could I possibly keep my cool while getting sweaty with him? What if I screamed out something horrifying, like “I love you”? What if I had an epileptic attack and started drooling or spitting right in the middle of things?

I had worked myself into a state of moderate panic by the time he pulled me inside the same bedroom I’d left just a short time ago. The robe I’d worn was still tossed over the chair. Bones shut the door and, in desperation, I tried to get a handle on things.

“Okay.” My voice was higher than usual. “Did you have anything particular in mind, or should I just start with the obvious?”

His mouth twitched. “Trying to make an assignment out of me? Sorry, luv, this is my night. When I want a favor from you, and this is the condition you set, then you can be as controlling as you like. In the meantime, I’ll take the lead. Now, kick off those shoes. They look like they’re pinching you.”

Almost grimly I did. The bed seemed to loom in size while the walls felt like they were shrinking, leaving nothing in this room but that soft, waiting arena.

Bones drew off his shirt. I looked away from the stunning, sculpted flesh it revealed. My nails dug into my palms. Things were coming to a head quickly.

“Turn around.”

I was both grateful and reluctant to do it. While it meant I didn’t have to stare at the carpet instead of him, I also felt vulnerable. Like I couldn’t defend myself if I didn’t see what was coming.

Cool fingers pushed my hair aside, making me shiver. A tiny tug on my dress preceded the slow, inexorable sliding of the zipper all the way to its base. Without that support, the dress sagged on my shoulders, slipping, then was flicked aside to fall to my feet.

A slight hiss came from him. Absurdly, I shut my eyes, as if that made me any less naked. I held my breath, shivering again.