“I don’t think I’ll be needin’ that.”

Peeling off the long gloves, I plopped them on top of the bag, flexing my fingers once they were free. Coming up behind me, Lex slid his arms around my waist and nibbled the back of my bare neck. Impatient, he spun me around to face him and kissed me long and hard.

I nudged him away, needing to catch my breath, and decided to take the opportunity to remove his shirt. One by one I undid his buttons and tugged the garment out of his pants. Pushing the shirt off his shoulders, he moved his arms to let it fall to the floor behind us. Reaching up, I freed his hair from the tie that held it back, and it hung loose around his shoulders. Immediately wrapping his arms around me again, he slid his hands up the back of my gown and then paused.

“I’m not sure how Portia got me into this dress. I have no idea how to get out.”

“Hmm. Hold extra still, sugar,” he warned. I frowned, and he drew a knife from the sheath on his belt and promptly sliced a long cut down the back of the gown, through the lacing of the corset underneath. “Sorry, but I don’t have time to find the manual.” Lex tugged both garments off, leaving a pool of scarlet silk around my feet as I stood in nothing but a pair of lacy red panties and the evil high-heeled shoes.

“Fine, I’ll blame you then when Portia looks for someone to murder for ruining her dress.”

“I think she’ll agree it was worth the sacrifice.”

Stepping out of the dress, I kicked the shoes aside and grabbed the buckle of Lex’s belt, dragging him back toward the bed. He nudged me back a bit as I sat on the edge, and I scooted toward the pillows. Before I was out of his reach, Lex took hold of the panties, sliding them off as I moved.

Stretched across the bed, I laid my head back among the pillows and moaned as Lex kissed a line up my inner thigh. One hand caressed its way up across my stomach and fondled my breast as his mouth teased the edge of my sex. I gasped, squirming slightly in anticipation as I felt the warm pressure of his tongue parting my lips. Lex moaned against me as he licked and nibbled at my clit. Arching my back, I ran my fingers through his hair as he tormented me with his tongue. A sharp wave of pleasure surged through me, and I cried out.

Lex drew away, and when I managed to catch my breath I grabbed his shoulders and tugged him upward. I kissed him, slow and savoring, feeling the heat of his body close to mine. I fumbled with the buckle of his belt, and managed to unzip his pants. Lex tried to tug both his pants and boxer briefs off at the same time, which really didn’t work well at the awkward angle he was in as he hovered over me. I smirked, shaking my head, and he grinned.

“Hold that thought.” Moving to the side of the bed, he quickly stood and removed the rest of his clothes. I ran my eyes over his naked body appreciatively-he really was all muscle, sleek and toned like a swimmer. Shivering from a combination of anticipation and the chill of the room, I ducked beneath the covers, and Lex joined me. As he lay beside me I ran my hands up and down his body in a slow caress. Reaching up, I drew Lex to me and kissed him, sliding my other arm around him as he moved to hover above me.

My arms encircling him, I watched him with a mixture of eagerness and anxiety. Lex gazed down at me, his eyes dark with desire. I could feel the hard length of him poised to enter me, and I shivered. He paused, and without a word thrust into me hard and deep.

“Lord and Lady,” I gasped.

He moved slowly at first, a careful pace that allowed us both to savor the experience. Lex murmured endearments to me in French, and I had only a vague notion of what he was saying. It didn’t really matter, because the sound of his voice alone was enough. He began to quicken his thrusts, and I matched his pace. Lex kissed me hungrily, as though he would devour me, and I felt an overwhelming wave of climax building.

I writhed beneath him, wanton and eager, until I let out a scream of ecstasy. My heart raced, and I let the sensations wash over me as we both slowed. He glided in and out of me with a lazy rhythm, enjoying my every whimper and sigh. Then when he decided I’d recovered enough, Lex pulled me even closer to him. This time he was relentless, and I came twice before he lost control. Shuddering and gasping he filled me, my name almost a prayer on his lips as Lex collapsed forward onto my chest.

Spent for the moment, we lay quietly in each other’s arms. I nuzzled his neck, and he tried to stroke my hair but was foiled by my elaborate hairstyle. Lex moved and lay next to me, propping himself up on one arm as he gazed at me.

Caressing my cheek, he kissed me softly. “I love you, Cat.”

My breath caught in my throat, and I blinked back tears. There was a small part of me that still wanted to hate him forever for handing me over to the witches’ council, but I couldn’t. “I love you too. You know, I think this may be the best party I’ve ever been to.”

Lex laughed, and then grinned. “Night’s young, Cat. There’s plenty of party left.”

Chapter Eleven

“Why do you own a sword if you have no idea how to use it?” Lex asked as I missed stabbing the practice dummy by at least three feet.

Dusting myself off, I raised my chin indignantly and glared at him. “Because it’s a ritual tool, and it’s not meant to spill blood other than mine. It’s a symbol, not a weapon.”

Lex and Tybalt turned to each other and sighed, both muttering, “Witches,” in the same disappointed tone of voice.

“Hey!” I scowled. “It’s not a bad thing to try to do no harm.”

“Not when there’s a hundred or so vampires out lookin’ to end you, darlin’,” Lex argued, and I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t see how this is going to help prevent that.” Waving the rapier in a series of swishing arcs, I eyed it dubiously. It wasn’t the most intimidating weapon I’d ever laid eyes on. I’d feel more secure with a claymore, except for the tiny detail that I couldn’t lift one. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but the rapier was faster and less likely to unbalance me.

Sure, I was safe behind my shields-as long as I remained conscious. A determined vampire could sit and wait for hours, even days, for me to pass out from exhaustion, and though I’d been bending the rules of witchcraft lately, I wasn’t about to start lobbing around fireballs like a sorcerer. I didn’t think I could even if I wanted to. With that in mind, Lex and Tybalt decided to teach me how to properly use a sword. Though really there was nothing proper about my technique, as I had all the grace of a dying wildebeest. It didn’t help that my muscles were already aching to begin with, from activities that had nothing to do with self-defense and were far more enjoyable.

“You’d be surprised what a weapon can do with the right enchantment,” Tybalt said as he strode over to stand next to me. “Easy now.” The faerie placed one hand over my grip on the hilt of the sword and then placed his other hand at the small of my back. “Here.” He guided me toward the target. “You stab here, aiming for the heart, as many times as you can manage. This sword is a piercing weapon, so you’ll not be severing any heads with it. Just concentrate on doing as much damage to the heart as you can, as quickly as you can. Those bastards heal wicked fast.”

Gingerly I poked the poor, straw-stuffed victim in the chest. “Like this?”

“Only if you plan on annoyin’ him by ruining his shirt,” Lex drawled.

“Hey, no comments from the peanut gallery.” I stuck my tongue out at him, and he smiled.

“Here, you need to lunge forward.” Tybalt tapped me gently on the back, and I felt a rush of power zip through me, guiding my muscles to react perfectly as I moved forward and expertly stabbed through the dummy.

“Wow. I just need to keep you standing beside me and everything will be fine.” I grinned, withdrawing the blade.