Shower sex had always ranked high on my Oh, yeah. That's the spot list, and when the timing is less than perfect, like when Aunt Red has her feet up on the ottoman and a fire burning in the hearth, that's when the water component of a shower is most helpful.

Vincent made no excuses for his possession, which was what I labeled it. From the moment he hauled me off the couch, to the point where he was hammering me while chanting my name, Vincent controlled the situation. But, I never felt violated or forced, only loved, and when we snuggled under the spray enjoying the afterglow, he told me how desperately he needed me in his life, admitting to his jealous behavior but never apologizing for it.

The sun found us sleeping on the couch, slipping between the crack in the curtains and assaulting me in the face. It took me a while to pull away from Vincent, and I stood to shake my numb arm back to life. I got the coffee maker brewing and rummaged through my jars of artisanal honey. Funny thing about the demons and bees. It seemed my love of honey came from my grandfather's genes, which might also explain the vague memory I had of a female letting me stick my finger into a honey pot. Was it my birth mother?

"Have you ever attended a church service?" I asked Vincent as I watched him rise and stretch in one sinuous, sexy movement.

"More times than I cared to. All of them obligatory. It's usually a pastor asking me after the Valentinos fund a restoration."

"So, your family doesn't attend church regularly?"

"No. There are many human interests that gollums don't share. Religion is one of them."

"Is there a reason for that?"

"Yes," he said as he ran his fingers through his hair, making him look even sexier.

"And? Can you share the reason, or is that confidential?" I quirked my brows, causing him to do the same.

"Do you really want to talk about religion?"

"Well, it is Sunday, and I have been known to attend church with my family on occasion. At four o'clock they play Spanish mass music at Saint Patrick's Cathedral. No preaching, just the tunes."

I left my thinly vailed offer out there for Vincent to chew on while I pulled out coffee mugs and half and half, setting them on the counter.

"A bit of Spanish music might be nice before we pick up Sylvie," he said. "Scooby said he'll have her on the roof by six."

"So, it's a date? You, me and Saint Patrick listening to Spanish hymns?"

"Sure. Just don't ask me to sing."

As if the world decided to cut me some slack, Vincent and I spent a quiet Sunday staying in and vegging. He fielded one call from Australia, where it was already Monday, and Griffin called wanting to talk to me. After telling me all about Bonnie and Clyde's hijinks, she made me promise we would see each other soon no matter what happened with the domus situation. 

"I asked Bates to bring over some clothes and personal items," Vincent said as he popped off a text from our reclined position on the couch.

Oh, Bates. The Valentino's housekeeper who hated me for encroaching on his territory.

"When is that slated to happen?"

Vincent stood and pocketed his phone. "Right now."

"So, Bate's is a Guy Friday as well as your housekeeper?"

"He likes to avail himself in any and all capacities."

"Any and all capacities, huh? What are you trying to tell me, Vincent?"

Vincent chuckled as he walked to the door. "Bates has an innocent infatuation with me. Nothing you need to worry about. I'll be back up in five."

True to his word, Vincent returned promptly with a large Samsonite, which he rolled straight back to my bedroom while I followed him.

"How long do you predict this stand-off will continue?" I asked as I made space for his clothes in my closet.

"I have no idea, but the situation is a debacle I could do without." He hefted the suitcase onto my bed and unzipped it. "I have back-to-back meetings with shareholders tomorrow, and I need to introduce Sylvie to Rod Harper. Rizzo promised to meet you and Sylvie after her interview. He wants to see her while she's in town."

"I keep meaning to ask about Rizzo. How is his arm healing? It seems like I've been away so long."

"He's making good progress. His physical therapist is not far from Harper and Smythe. He'll escort you and Sylvie safely home."

"Escorting in the middle of the day?" I said this from inside the closet, using it as a cover to hide my grimace.

"A non-negotiable precaution." Vincent made his proclamation as he slipped a few pre-hung shirts onto the rack next to me. "Until you have mastered basic battle skills, you will be shadowed by a member of the domus." This second decree preceded a kiss, one that had my spine bending and turning me to putty.

Once Vincent and his black suits had moved in, we ate leftover turkey chili then dressed for our date with Saint Patrick. While Vincent didn't diverge from his usual black on black ensemble, I took advantage of the reverent occasion and wore a sleeveless tweed dress I bought exclusively for church. The hem hit above the knee, but the charcoal gray fabric gave it a subdued look, and when paired with suede boots and a black cashmere sweater, the look was bangin', as Sylvie would say.

Of course, we didn't hear any bangin' in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, only the soaring voices of a choir and the musical stylings of flute and mandolin. Just being inside the place gave me the chills, and my skin held onto a thin layer of goosebumps all through the performance. Vincent, for his part, seemed more amused by me and my constant whisperings, as I made sure he knew how high the spires rose, and how the stained glass came from artists in Boston. Afterward, as we walked to meet Scooby and Sylvie, Vincent divulged.

"Saint Patrick's is home to a repository, like the one Cecile had your mother break into." He said this as he stroked my hand with his thumb, maybe still listening to the music in his head. "There are items of supernatural significance hidden behind those walls, and very few know about them, not even the priests who pass by the doors every day."

"So, only gollums and demons know about them?"

"And some humans wanting the artifacts for rituals, but very few have the gift to find the doors, let alone open them."

"Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me. Why are you telling me this?"

"Because we're partners, which means your problems are my problems, which means I have to bring you up to speed on everything related to gollums and demons so you can protect yourself."

"I thought battle training was going to do that."

"Battle training is part of it."

We spent the next forty minutes walking and talking about the role demons and gollums played during the forming of the Roman church until we landed at our destination, an eighty-eight floor skyscraper. The helicopter made its graceful landing, and Vincent left me standing at the stairwell as he met the copter, helping Sylvie unbuckle from her restraints and grabbing her overnight bag. A longish goodbye followed this. No doubt, Sylvie had charmed the pants off Scooby, and Vincent finally walked Sylvie back to where I huddled next to the exit.

"What a great guy," Sylvie said she saluted the helicopter's retreating rudder. "Do I get a helicopter escort home too?" She raised her eyebrows at Vincent as we all clamored into the stairwell.

"The copter is at your service any time you need it," said Vincent. "And Scooby is married."

Sylvie clicked her tongue. "I know. He told me all about Jill and their daughter, Whitney. She received a scholarship to NYU and is the light of their life. Great to see you, bestie."

Sylvie pulled me into her oversized sweatshirt, nearly tripping me as we made our way to the elevator. Her breath hinted at cinnamon from a piece of gum she was chewing, and when we reached the elevator door, she kissed me very deliberately on the mouth.

"I just had to get that out of the way," she said as she snapped her gum.

"Is there something I should know about?" Vincent said, tilting his head curiously.

"Nothing she hasn't already told you, I hope," Sylvie said. "I'm just damn glad to be here. I quit my job."

"Oh shit, already? I thought you were going to wait until after the inter..."

"I don't care if the interview doesn't work out," she interrupted me. "Bossman said he wouldn't give me tomorrow off, so I handed him his flash drive and told him to insert in his fat ass. And, here I am. Ready to start my new life."

The elevator door opened, and Vincent and I looked at each other as Sylvie trotted determinedly into the car. On our journey to the lobby, Vincent and I listened to Sylvie rail on her ex-boss. Even when several people joined us in the elevator, she never stopped her rant. When the doors opened to let everyone off, Sylvie had received two pieces of advice and a business card. Colin drove up in his Porsche as soon as we walked outside, and Vincent's Bentley pulled in shortly after it.

Bates climbed out of the Bentley, looking smug as he caught my eye, or maybe it was his severely arched eyebrows that made me want to shrink back in fear. Still, I made a point to greet the heavily-perfumed man with a friendly smile.

"Nice to see you again, Bates."

"Oh, yes. Good to see you too... Reese, was it?" He stopped and looked pointedly at my outfit. "Is that sweater new?"

"Fairly new."

"Well, you bring it to me when you're ready to wash it. I have experience with cashmere. Enjoy your evening." Bates handed the keys to Vincent before sauntering off to the Porsche and sliding into the backseat.

"What's going on here?" I asked as I watched Colin help Sylvie into the Porsche's front seat.

"Colin is dropping Bates off at his home," Vincent said. "Then he and Sylvie will meet us at your place. I suggest we have the pizza delivered."

Once Vincent tucked me into his car, he engaged his dashboard navigation system and maneuvered into traffic. The man commanded every seat he occupied with practiced efficiency, and I allowed myself to become mesmerized by him as we journeyed across town. It wasn't until Colin called with his ETA that I realized I needed to decide on a pizza place. Via Vincent's high-tech Bentley, we ordered the pie and got settled in just as Colin and Sylvie arrived. Sylvie's flushed face and vixen grin told me they had already started their sexathon, and she hauled me into the bathroom straight away.

"Oh my God, Reese. I don't know how Colin managed it, but I just had the best Porsche sex of my life." She said this as she sat down to pee.

"Do you have other Porsche sex experiences to make the comparison?" I asked as I grabbed my lip balm and leaned into the mirror to apply an ample coat.

"No, but I do have the Volkswagon incident."

"If you had sex in a Volkswagon, what is it doing on your list of best Porsche sex?"

"Small car?" She shrugged as she finished her business.

"Did you do it in the back seat? Colin is a tall guy."

"Nope. I climbed into the cockpit and rode him like any self-respecting, horny girl."

"Starting out the night with car sex. Very underground," I said as I plucked a few stray eyebrow hairs while Sylvie washed her hands.

"My goal is to make it to five this time. Colin asked me to stay with him tonight, if that's okay with you." She frowned apologetically but her giddy mood couldn't be concealed.

"That's exactly what I wanted to happen. Vincent and I will arrange to meet you and Colin at the parking garage around the corner from Harper and Smythe. I expect a full blow-by-blow when I get there."

Sylvie's eyebrows rose as she grinned at me through the mirror. "I smell a challenge. The sister with the most take downs buys the coffee."

"Sounds like my kind of challenge, but my plumbing is occupied with other things right now."

"Oh, damn. Well, the shower is handy for..."

"Already did that," I said through a cheeky smile.

Sylvie slapped me on the butt and winked. "You dirty girl. I guess that makes us even."