By the time I finished brushing my teeth and emerged from the bathroom, the bed looked like a really good place to sleep.

Lauren sat propped against the pillows, still wearing her silky pajamas.

"You look comfy," I casually noted.

She sank lower, arms reaching above her head as her fingers laced around the wooden beam that connected the bedposts. The gesture reminded me of her bound wrists and I stifled a shudder of pleasure.

Lauren stretched, lifting her body slightly off the mattress. The last few buttons on the midnight blue shirt were left undone, falling open as she teased me with a glimpse of her pale, flat stomach. "Oh, I am," she purred, twisting her hips slightly in the stretch, showing off her hourglass figure, "very, very comfortable." Her voice was breathy. The look she gave me managed to convey more desire than her words.

I was wearing The Two Points shirt she'd given me, which was long enough to cover my black bikini-cut underwear. "Guess what I forgot?" I put a sway in my walk.

Lauren held a hand out and I took it. "I am glad you forgot them."

"You would be." I laughed as she pulled me into the circle of her arms. Burying my face in the bend of her neck, I inhaled the scent of her.

"You are tired?" she mumbled against my hair.

"Mmm-hmm," I breathed. "I got up early to go to work. Not all of us spontaneously combust in sunlight."

She laughed and swatted my thigh, gently. When I jumped, expecting more than a playful swat, she laughed again. "Do you plan to work tomorrow?"

"I told Stein to call me if she needed me. There's no point. I don't intend to juggle any more cases until I've figured out what happened to Jacob and where Beatrice is." Lauren nodded, then twined her silk-clad leg around mine.

"If you wish to go to sleep," Lauren drew the tips of her fingernails lightly across my exposed thigh, "I shall understand."

"I don't mind touching right now, but I don't think I'd survive a repeat of last night. I might not spontaneously combust but I might spontaneously pass out again."

Lauren stopped moving. "Ah, yes. You did spontaneously pass out." She grinned. "I do not think the bed would survive a repeat."

I laughed. "No, I don't think so." I snaked my arm around her back and played my fingers over the dip the position had created at the base of her spine.

Lauren kissed me and I returned the kiss, exploring her mouth until my head reeled and I was dizzy with desire.

"How did I ever say no to you?"

Her accent sent a shiver of pleasure through me. "You were scared and being quite stubborn."

"True enough." I brushed my lips across her cheek. "So were you."

"I was reasonably determined."

"Oh, really? Is that what they call it?"

"Yes."

I had to fight not to shudder when her breath tickled my neck.

"Why did you tell Vanessa if I gave my permission, you'd let her sink her fangs into me?"

Lauren nipped my neck. I jumped, letting out a sound that was uncomfortably close to a girlish yip.

"Oh, Camz, you have been too long in your hiding amongst the humans."

I frowned. "Dinah told me biting isn't always erotic for a vampire."

"She is correct. At times feeding is just that." She propped herself up on one elbow, gazing at me with those silvery eyes. I traced her jaw with the tips of my fingers.

"If my attraction was so obvious to Vanessa, I imagine it was obvious to you?"

Her head lowered and her lips brushed my palm. "It was."

"And that doesn't make you jealous?"

"You are not the type of woman that likes to feel guilty," she said. "You struggle with your desires, between those of wolf and human. Now there is a new addition to your personality."

"The raven."

"Yes, the raven. As well as the mark The Morrigan placed on your soul."

I agreed, again. I'd pretty much known the second bit of information from the moment I found my spiritual path and The Morrigan. I also knew she wasn't an easy Goddess to walk with. So far, I'd been right. The words "difficult to fathom" came to mind.

"I don't think the raven has actually shown any personality changes," I said. "Not like when I was infected with lycanthropy."

"The raven is very different from the lycanthropy virus."

"What does all of this have to do with Vanessa?"

"You are going through a transition. You are adapting to our relationship, overcoming your fears, as well as dealing with outside influences," she said. "I know you well enough by now to be certain you will not do anything to betray me, but you in turn need to know I give you that same amount of devotion. You have the freedom to make your decisions as you see fit, and I will not judge you harshly for them."

"You were jealous when Dinah and I slept together," I mentioned mildly.

"There is friendship between you and Dinah. I did not want that friendship growing into something more intimate and for you to lose your heart to her. That is why I was initially upset. Do you remember when I told you if you lost your heart to another, it would divert all of my plans?"

"Oh, yes. I'm still trying to figure out all of those plans."

She pulled me suddenly against her, and my thigh slid easily between her legs. "This," she said, "was my plan."

"Not a bad one."

"I do not think so." Her voice was as smooth and rich as velvet. "Camz, you may find yourself physically attracted to other women. So long as I am the keeper of your heart, I am satisfied."

I shook my head. "I don't get that."

The look she gave me told me she'd seen much more of life than I had in my twenty-six years. "How many women have you slept with?"

"That's the worst question to ask your lover."

"But you will answer honestly, won't you?"

"You really want to know?"

"I asked, did I not?"

I had to think about it, to make sure I wasn't pushing anyone out of mind. I'd forced myself to forget some of them. "Five."

"You had only been with three women before Dinah and me?"

I nodded. "All of which were long-term relationships, or at least I thought they were at the time."

"How many women have you kissed?"

"More than five."

"Do you see now how I know your loyalty will not falter?"

I shook my head.

"You admitted you were attracted to Vanessa, but it is as you told her. You are not a casual person. What happened with Dinah was because you are not used to controlling your wolf on a sexual level. I would not feel threatened by Vanessa if you grew a fondness for her..." She shrugged. "I still do not believe I would feel threatened. Intrigued, mayhap. I have seen the way she calls to you."

"Are you saying Vanessa is fair game?" I was confused.

"No." She swept back the long onyx curls of her hair. "I am saying if something happens between the two of you I will deal with it when and if it happens. I am telling you that so long as you are honest with me I will not get angry."

"I would."

"If a woman threatens to take more of your heart than I have, if she threatens to take more of you than I have, then she will pay dearly. Does that knowledge of my emotions make you feel any better, my love?"

"Yes, but I can think of something that would make me feel even better."

"What?"

"Falling asleep in your arms."

Lauren pulled me against her and I nestled my knee more deeply between her legs, resting the side of my face against the silken cloud of her curly hair. I wiggled, moving until I was able to bury my face in the bend of her neck. The warm scent she wore lulled me to sleep, but I clung to her unique, personal scent, breathing her in like the cool night air she reminded me of.