I rolled over yawning and got a mouthful of Lauren's velvety curls. Gently, I plucked the tresses out of my mouth and found a few of them were my own tangled strands. She was still out. Lauren slept (if that's what you want to call it) on her back. Her arms were crossed over her chest.

"Stereotypical vampire," I mumbled, placing a kiss on her cheek and slipping from between the cool satin sheets.

No, not all vampires sleep with their arms crossed like that. Lauren lays on her back a lot, but some mornings she dies holding me. I didn't like moving her when she was dead, and I didn't want her dying with her face near my neck, because that meant she'd wake with her face near it if I couldn't get away soon enough. A vampire plus a neck equals what? Therein lies my point.

The robe was at the foot of the bed, folded neatly over the wooden beam that mirrored the headboard. I picked it up, slipping it on. I needed some coffee and then a shower. First, I needed to find clothes to put on under the robe. I didn't feel like trying to play cover-the-peek-a-boos to keep from flashing anyone. Dinah was probably awake. The rest of the vampires would be just as dead as Lauren.

I didn't have any clean clothes, which gave me an excuse to rummage through Lauren's walk-in closet. It was decent-sized, with an obscene amount of silk. I found a pair of silk red pants with a drawstring and a matching button-up shirt and slipped them on, tying the drawstring and folding the waistband under so the pant legs wouldn't drag on the floor—a trick we short people learn early on in life. I ran the silken sleeve of the shirt through my hands, trying to decide if I wanted to wear it, then brought the material to my face, inhaling sharply. It smelled like clean detergent, but beneath that scent was Lauren's. I slid it on and grinned when it came down to my knees.

The kitchen was bright and sunny. Someone had drawn back the shades on the window in the dining room. I squinted into the brightness.

Dinah peeked out from the kitchen. "Pancakes?"

"Coffee," I mumbled, distracted by the strange reflection on the window. Once I could approach the sunlight without squinting I peered outside.

The backyard was just as huge as the front yard. I think both were too big to be called yards. Acres, maybe, but not yards. The sunlight bounced off the crystalline body of water where rocks were stacked neatly to create a beautiful waterfall that trickled into the pool. It was strange to see it uncovered so late in the year. Maybe it was heated. A beautiful gazebo was off to one side.

I turned to find Dinah standing patiently behind me holding a mug of coffee.

"Cream and sugar, right?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"No problem. You look very festive. It's still a little early for red and green, isn't it?"

She glanced down, looking at the pants, and gave a small laugh, shaking her head. "You raided Lauren's closet, didn't you?"

I took a sip, my shoulders easing with the first taste. The real cream and sugar she'd put in it blended perfectly with the coffee, not masking the coffee's flavor, but enhancing it.

"I didn't bring another change of clothes."

"You could've asked me for something. I'm closer to your size than Lauren is." She grinned, showing a row of perfect white teeth. "Though I have to admit, you look cute in oversized clothes."

I shook my head. I never understood how Dinah was always in such a good mood. Then again, she hadn't just woken. One of these mornings, I should jump up and down on her bed like a maniac while she was sleeping. That sounded like fun. I'd like to see how coherent and cheerful she was in the morning then. Dinah made me feel grumpy.

She went into the kitchen and returned carrying a white mug with a rainbow on it. From where I was standing, the contents smelled like spearmint tea.

"Gods," I said, sitting at the end of the table. "Even your fucking mug is cheerful."

She laughed, nearly spitting out her mouthful of tea, then swallowed audibly. "What?"

I tilted my head to the side. "How do you do it? How are you always in such a good mood?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. 'Cause when I'm awake I'm awake?"

"Apparently."

"I don't charge to the coffeemaker first thing in the morning."

"I don't charge."

"Seriously?" She laughed and I gave her an unfriendly look.

"Either way," she said, "I'm not a coffee addict like you are."

I shrugged. "That makes a little sense, but not much."

She sat in the chair next to mine. "I had a very good time last night."

Her words were so unexpected that instead of drinking the sip I'd taken, I ended up inhaling most of it. After I was done coughing, I blinked at her. "What?"

"I wish I had a camera. The look on your face."

"What look?" I cleared my throat.

"I totally caught you off guard." She started grinning again and I stared at her. There weren't any marks on her neck, but if there had been, they would have already healed. I didn't need the marks to know Vanessa had bitten her. She was damn near glowing.

A twinge of something flashed through me. Jealousy? Anger? Fear? I couldn't tell, but whatever it was I carefully squashed it down and ignored it.

"You slept with Vanessa?" I didn't have any reason to feel...this. Where the hell was it coming from? I didn't even know Eris. Why would it bother me if Eris and Rosalin slept together? I tried to bring my thoughts to a quick halt.

She blushed, as if remembering what had transpired. "Well, no, not technically. I can see why you're intimidated by her. She's very...intense."

"She doesn't intimidate me," I said carefully. "I rejected her offer because I didn't want to cross Lauren."

"Lauren told you she didn't mind if Vanessa embraced you," she said, and somehow managed not to make the word embrace
sound intimate. "She gave you permission to make your own decision. You turned Vanessa down because you're attracted to her and you were afraid you couldn't keep being bitten by Vanessa from turning into something sexual. I was in the room, remember?" She seemed a little upset.

"I remember," I said calmly, "and maybe you're right, but it's not because she intimidates me."

"Mila, you are, just admit it. She intrigues you too."

I gave her a cold look. "I won't admit to that."

"She's very good at what she does, you know."

I took a very careful sip so I wouldn't choke this time. "So?" I said, but it came out more defensively than I'd planned.

Dinah shook her head. "I have never known someone with so many hang-ups."

"You make me sound like I'm a prude because I wouldn't let her bite me."

"You're not a prude. You're just difficult and highly selective."

"I am. And, obviously, I made the right decision. I didn't want things to get out of hand between us, and since it got out of hand with the two of you—"

"Oh, no," she said with a wicked grin, "Vanessa is about control, remember? She's a pro-domme."

I didn't want to hear any more. I got up, walked into the brightly lit kitchen, and rinsed my mug out in the sink. Then I placed it on the top rack in the dishwasher, trying to keep myself distracted. I didn't need to be thinking about Vanessa and Dinah in the same sentence. Admittedly, I considered Dinah one of my best friends. It's strange, no matter how old we get we still manage to maintain the idea of a best friend. Shawn was a good friend, but more like a brother. I worked with Dylan and got along with him most of the time, but sometimes his jokes went overboard and just irritated me. Stein and I worked together, but we'd only been out to have coffee once in the three years I'd known her.

I watched Dinah as she walked into the kitchen in her light gray sweatpants and pink tank top.

"You're the closest thing to a best friend I have," I admitted.

"That's the first time you've actually said something really nice to me," she said, making me feel a little bad, but evidently not intending to.

"I'm sorry. I know I can be a bitch..."

"You're not a bitch. You were at first, before I got to know you, but once I did, I realized it was your way of keeping yourself safe."

"If you haven't noticed, I have a difficult time letting people get close to me."

One moment she was walking around the island and the next her arms were solid around me. I was so caught off guard for a moment that I just stood there, and when she didn't pull away I wrapped my arms around her lithe frame.

I'd break every one of Vanessa's Goddess-damned fingers if she hurt her. Or at least I'd try to.

With her face buried in the bend of my neck I heard the deep intake of breath as her body relaxed against mine. It wasn't sexual. It was comforting. My shoulders eased as I did the same to her, burying my face in her neck and inhaling her scent. Her perfume smelled soft and feminine, but beneath it was the earthy scent of wolf, of family.

"I would've preferred being promoted to more than just a friend," she said. "I'm glad I'm your best friend and all, but being with you was fun. A lot of fun."

I stood there, my face still buried in her soft skin, and tried to be uncomfortable but failed. Maybe it was the soothing scent of another wolf. But somewhere inside me, I trusted that she wouldn't try to turn the situation into anything more than it was. I spoke against the fall of her auburn hair. "You had amazing sex with Vanessa, remember?"

"I can't help it." She sighed heavily. "I like sex, even if it's just getting off on some woman's fangs."

I took a step back. "I know you do."

"So do you," she said, grinning again.

I clasped her shoulder. "Yes, but I like sex with my girlfriend. Besides, I thought you said most werewolves were monogamous. Whatever happened to that?"

Her eyes flicked to the marble counter by the sink. "I told you there were exceptions to the rule. We're both dominant females. We're allowed to pick and choose." She shrugged. "I just haven't found the right one, and until then I intend to enjoy being single." She met my gaze and gave one of her fleeting smiles, but not before I'd seen the hurt look.

I touched her arm and she dropped her gaze to my hand. "I don't like seeing you hurt." I spoke softly. "If you need to talk, you know I'm here. You'll find the right woman, eventually."

"I miss being in a relationship," she said abruptly. "I miss snuggling, and movies, and dinner, and learning about my partner's little quirks. Lately, it's just been sex."

"Maybe it's because you're giving the sex away without a relationship contract."

"A relationship contract?"

"Yes," I said seriously. "You offer your body without asking for any form of commitment in return. When you make it look like what you're offering is just sex, women will take it and leave it."

"I told you I was interested in a relationship."

"You beat around the bush about it and I wasn't ready for one."

"You got into a relationship with Lauren." Her tone was bland, but I could feel the tension behind her words.

I took in a deep breath and spoke carefully. "There was something there I couldn't run from."

"With me? How was it with me?"

"You were good," I murmured, remembering. "I honor the experience, Dinah. You're the only other wolf I've been with. I just didn't feel that soul pull and, be honest, you didn't either. It was just lust and metaphysics."

"You're right. But I am very fond of you."

"I'm fond of you too."

"You and I both know we make better friends. I just want someone, you know?"

"I know." What else was I supposed to say?

"I still think we would've made wondrous fuck buddies."

"And it's back to sex. I swear, you think about it more than I do."

Dinah laughed. "I think we're about even in that area. I'm just more open. You keep yours all bottled up and unleash it at random moments."

I couldn't help but give her an amused look. "Are you saying I'm explosive?"

"When it comes to emotions you can be."

"I'm not that bad."

"No," she said with a grin, "you're not that
volcanic."

"Thanks, Dinah," I said lightly, hopping up to sit on the island counter.

Dinah rested her shoulder against the cabinet by the stove. "Are you going to the party tonight?"

"What party?" I asked, then remembered. "Are you referring to Lauren's Samhain Masquerade?"

"Yeah?"

"She hasn't invited me." I gave a small shrug. "I'm not much of a party girl. I can't believe she's trying to swing this thing with such short notice."

"It'll work," she said confidently.

"How? Especially if she's wanting all of her vamps to dress up in these exquisite costumes. How can they get them so quickly?"

"Lauren's got connections. She's not dressing all the vampires, just the ones working the floor. She's already hired a handful of skilled tailors and seamstresses."

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

"She has her ways," Dinah said again, but this time in a cryptically pretentious tone.

I slipped off of the counter.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Home. I need a shower."

"Lauren has a shower."

"I need my shower, and my clothes."

She made a little "o" with her mouth. "I'll tell her when she wakes."

"Thanks. I'll go get my stuff and leave."

Dinah nodded. Remembering her words, I stopped in the doorway and turned. "Fangs?"

She blinked at me. "What do you mean?"

"You said something earlier about getting off on some woman's fangs." I gave her a sly look. "What was that about, exactly?"

Her lightly tanned cheeks flushed a shade of rosy pink.

"Oh," I took a step toward her, "if it's making you blush so hard you have to tell me."

She took in a deep breath and said as casually as she could, "I got off when Vanessa bit me."

"That's possible?" I asked, then remembered my night with Lauren. Dinah opened her mouth to respond and I held up a hand. "Never mind, don't answer that."

I went back downstairs and grabbed my backpack, swinging it over my shoulder. Remembering I was still wearing Lauren's clothes I dropped the bag and pulled out a wadded pair of jeans, the Two Points T-shirt, and some socks. Lauren must've put the shirt in my bag. I didn't recall it being in her hands on the way back to the bedroom last night. Then again, I had been utterly exhausted, both emotionally and physically. So, who knew?

I slipped the shirt on over my head, folding the crimson pajamas and laying them across the back of the armchair. I pulled on my shoes and scanned the room, making sure I wasn't leaving anything behind that I needed. Leaning over the bed I placed a soft kiss against Lauren's forehead. It was still some hours 'til sundown. I dug the car keys out of the front pocket of my bag and left.