Vincent and I definitely had differing opinions about the term ASAP. When I returned to bed after my enlightening evening with the girls, he still hadn't come home from handling the disturbance. I guessed the time to be around seven AM when I woke up with Vincent's legs and arms wrapped around me, and I spent a few minutes indulging in our rare moment of closeness, snuggling against him and caressing the dark stubble on his chin. He stirred and tucked me under his arm as he kissed the top of my head.

"You have no idea how great it feels to have you in my bed," he said.

"I was just thinking the same thing. How long have you been asleep?"

"I haven't."

"Did you just get home?"

"No, I've been here about an hour, but I didn't want to sleep through this. You feel too good."

"I know what you mean." I planted a quick kiss on his chin, and his stubble tickled my lips. "How was your night?"

"Very enlightening. The demons are obsessed with you."

"Really?" I turned in his arms so I could see his eyes. They were my only gauge to his feelings. "Are you talking about Christoph and his groupies?"

"Yes. Apparently, your purple-haired demon slept around a lot, and they all think they're infected."

"Her name is Kelly." I wasn't sure why I felt the need to personalize my attacker, maybe because I had a hard time seeing her as a demon. She looked like a regular girl.

"It was Kelly."

"What?"

"She killed herself last night. Apparently, she was feeling the pressure of infecting her comrades. One less demon to worry about."

He shrugged his cold indifference, but my throat was attempting to collapse in on itself, and I pulled away from his warmth to sit up.

"What's wrong?" Vincent's forehead bunched. He looked confused and a little sanctimonious as he stared at me.

I didn't want him to see me cry, but that's exactly what was happening, and I swallowed hard as I tried to keep the tears at bay. I knew it was not the proper reaction for a gollum after hearing about the death of a demon.

"Nothing. You wouldn't understand." I pushed off the bed and headed for the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I grabbed a tissue and stood in front of the mirror, dabbing moisture from my eyes. Was this my fate, to become a beast like them, spending my nights snuffing out demons then grabbing takeout? Or would I be kept at home popping out baby gargoyles to replenish their dwindling numbers? Neither option sounded appealing, and talons and fangs weren't exactly trending for women. Did I really want all of this or just the mega hunk who came with it? Did I have a choice?

Vincent knocked. "Reese. Please, tell me what's bothering you."

Really? Did he have no clue why I might be upset? Was he that desensitized?

"She was a demon," he said calmly. "She hurt you. She was ready to deliver you to Cecile. Kelly didn't care about you."

"How do you know she didn't care? Have you ever been inside the head of a demon? Have you ever spent a day in their shoes?"

There was a good amount of silence before Vincent spoke again. "No, but I have felt the pain of their hostility. Lived with the fallout of their malicious acts. Hated them for taking Roberto away from us. I have a biased resentment towards all demons. It's in my DNA." I heard him sigh as he leaned against the door, making it groan under his weight. "I understand you're still trying to figure us out. But, please... say you still love me in spite of it."

I hung my head, exhaling until there was no breath left in my lungs. I didn't want to fight about this, but I also wasn't ready to accept it. I refused to believe demons were pure evil. The time I spent with Heath hadn't been all bad. I opened the door and found Vincent dragging his fingers through his hair. I slipped my arms around his waist, holding him close to let him know I still loved him.

"I'm going to make a terrible gollum," I said as I breathed in his yummy scent.

"Actually, your compassionate nature could end up saving the domus. Gollums may battle for the side of good, but we are still bred to fight, and you were not. You are a lover, first and foremost, and I am most fortunate to have won your favor."

There was a whimper at our feet, and we looked down to find the dogs wagging their tails.

"I believe we're being summoned into the kitchen for breakfast," Vincent said as he acknowledged Bonnie and Clyde with a scratch behind their ears. "This might be a good time to show you how much I've spoiled them. If you'll be living here long term, you need to learn who's in control."

I grinned at Vincent's candid confession. I loved fun Vincent. "The dogs always run the household," I said as we were led out of the room by Vincent's four-legged friends.

The feeding ritual Vincent followed for his dogs wasn't anything I hadn't witnessed before. Bonnie ate only organic chicken, and Clyde needed his heart meds cut in half then hidden inside his food. After the lesson ended, I made coffee, and Vincent and I carried our mugs to the balcony to greet the morning. The temperature had dipped into the thirties by my estimation, and we were both breathing out vapor as we stood at the wall, flanked by the stone gargoyles. Vincent insisted I take every opportunity to overcome my fear of heights.

"If I'm going to live here, I need to figure out what to do with my apartment," I said as I blew over the lip of my coffee mug.

"And Mr. Pearlman," Vincent added.

"Yes, and Mr. Pearlman." I smiled as I lifted up to kiss his cheek. He could be so thoughtful.

"Why don't you have him live here?" he said. "There's an empty apartment next to Colin. I was going to offer it to you if things didn't work out between us."

My mouth hung slack as I absorbed the shock of his announcement, which quickly turned into a wave of nausea when I thought about things not working out between us. I refused to go there. We had been through too much. "You would do that for him?"

"I would do that for you."

His matter of fact tone had me smiling again. "What about the domus? Will they be open to it? How will you keep the truth from him? It's obvious Bates knows about your alternative lifestyle, but I figure that wasn't mentioned when you interviewed him."

Vincent shrugged as if his gollum status was common knowledge. "I rescued Bates and his partner from an attack, which resulted in our current arrangement. Mr. Pearlman impresses me as a man who knows how to keep secrets, and I believe I can make a good argument for his case to the domus." He kissed me, offering his coffee-flavored tongue, and I gave him mine. Our comfortable exchange had me remembering a time when kissing was a dangerous prospect for us, now it seemed perfectly normal, although nothing about Vincent was normal.

"I'm not sure you remember, but you agreed to be my date tonight," I said.

Vincent adopted a thoughtful gaze as he stared out over the cityscape. "What time is this party?"

"From nine to midnight."

"Sure, we can fit it in right before I give Rafael a lesson in humility."

Oh. The challenge. My stomach climbed back onto the nausea train. "The challenge is tonight?"

"Technically, it's at three am."

Of course, it made sense to hold the challenge when most people were sleeping. Would they hold it out of doors? Would all the domi be involved? "Am I invited?" I asked, although it made my chest hurt to think about watching Vincent engage in a bloody battle.

Vincent offered me an incredulous look. "Reese, you are the focus of the battle. Your presence is required, as well as a member of each opponent's family. Typically, it's an elder or a magister. Since I am the magister of my domus, I have chosen Colin to represent the Valentinos. Hugo will represent the Cromwells.

I called up my memory of Hugo and wondered if he was the white-haired man with the nasty scar on his chin. "So, the first to draw blood is the winner? What happens after that?"

Vincent's incredulous look changed to a wicked smile. "I claim you as my mate and take you home to have my way with you."

"Do you mean... really have your way with me?" I looked up at him expectantly, enjoying the way his eyes lit up as he continued to engage in that wicked smile. I could get used to fun Vincent.

"All the way, baby. I'm throwing caution to the wind. We both deserve this."

I wanted to ask him if he was still worried I could infect him, but I hated to dampen his enthusiasm. Far be it for me to question his methods. As long as I reaped the rewards. Unfortunately, I had a question that needed to be answered. An unpleasant question.

"Vincent, I really hate to bring this up, but... What if Rafael draws first blood? I don't have to go home with him do I?"

His face hardened into granite, and just like that, fun Vincent was gone. "If by some freak accident the fool manages to wound me, you will be obliged to spend twenty-four hours in his presence, but you are not required to submit to him in any way, shape, or form."

In a synchronized maneuver, we hugged each other and gazed over the balcony, letting the unpleasantness evaporate like the vapor from our breath. From there, the day progressed in the same manner. I followed up on some leads, Vincent commanded enterprises from a small office that I had originally mistaken for a laundry room, and Bonnie and Clyde took their walk through the park, giving Vincent and me a chance to talk and hold hands like a normal couple. Later, we took a nap together then dressed for Shane's party. I had packed my favorite black pencil skirt and matching schoolboy blazer, which I paired with Italian wedges. Vincent donned his usual pleated pants, but he changed it up by wearing a collared shirt rather than a V-neck.

For ease of parking, Vincent had one of his standby chauffeurs drive us in the Escalade, and we arrived at Off The Bone just after nine o'clock. Shane stood at the front door greeting arriving guests, and when he saw Vincent on my arm his eyeballs bugged out. Clearly, he recognized the notorious Valentino, but introductions were made anyway.

"Hi Shane," I said as Shane shook my hand politely. "Thanks for the invite. I'd like you to meet my date, Vincent Valentino."

Vincent pursed his lips at my intro, but he smoothly recovered as he shook Shane's extended hand. "What Reese meant to say was boyfriend. This is a nice place you've built here. Great location. I expect you're mortgaged up to your neck."

"Inheritance, actually. My great uncle was loaded. Overseas real estate."

The two boys hit it off, and Shane abandoned his post at the door to chat up Vincent as he gave us a tour of the state-of-the-art kitchen. Of course, I'd already seen the kitchen, including a private tour of the walk-in freezer where Shane introduced me to the joys of frozen nipples. I tried to keep my mind off the methods Shane used to warm them as I held Vincent's hand. His iron grip kept me plastered to his side.

After being seated at the counter, the one that offered us front row seats to the kitchen, Shane and his staff proceeded to give us the VIP treatment, and we ended-up sampling just about everything on the menu. Vincent even agreed to sample a microbrew Shane had developed specifically for his restaurant. Once we had eaten our fill, Shane walked us to the Escalade to say goodbye, and Vincent and I promised to return.

When we had pulled away from the curb, Vincent tugged me possessively against him, squeezing my hand where he held it in his lap. "I have never wanted to deck so many people in one place before. Do you know how hot you look in that skirt? Every guy in there had an instant hard-on when they looked at you."

"Oh, come on, Vincent. You're exaggerating." I grinned at him but he looked none too pleased as his gaze roved over my exposed legs. "I thought we talked about you not harping on me about what I wear," I continued. "At least I'm wearing the recommended color for blending into the scenery."

"Yes, well... you and your hot body couldn't blend into the scenery if you tried."

I wasn't sure whether I felt coveted by his possessiveness or annoyed by it, after all, he was a hot commodity and could have his pick of women. Instead, he chose me, demon stench and all. Vincent's cellphone rang, and he reached into his pocket without releasing my hand. After glancing at the screen, he offered me an apologetic shrug before answering it.

"Vincent Valentino. Good. I need you and Sergeant Reed to arrive at two forty-five. I don't expect you'll be there long once the battle starts." Vincent chuckled at whatever the caller said. "That's true, but I never underestimate my opponents. There's a first time for everything."

Vincent's expression darkened when he returned his phone to his pocket, and his hand tightened around mine. I had a hunch he and the caller were talking about the challenge. Based on everything I knew about Vincent, I couldn't picture him worrying about a battle, but he remained silent as the grave for the rest of our journey home. It wasn't until we were riding up the elevator together that he snapped out of his mood, trapping me between his arms and the wall. His dark expression had not left him, but his eyes shimmered like polished silver, telling a very different story.

"Listen, Reese. I'll need a couple hours alone to meditate and prepare for this challenge, so we may not have much time together before then." He lifted one hand off the wall and brushed his knuckles across my cheek, sending lusty signals directly to my groin. It was times like these that I felt coveted; when his gaze devoured me and my body liquefied under his touch. "I've been told I don't have a romantic bone in my body and that my personality is likened to a hot pepper that's been left in the freezer... and those were the compliments. Most women I've dated didn't air their grievances with me. They just reported them to the tabloids. Those things never bothered me. Not until I met you."

"Why do you say that? Did you think I would go running to the papers and reveal your big secret?"

"No. I didn't want you to have a preconceived idea about me, regardless of whether the rumors were true. I wanted you to form your own opinions. The truth of the matter is, I had not met my match, and I was convinced there was no one out there who could stir my emotions and thaw my frozen heart. You have done that, Reese, and I want to thank you. I want to thank you for loving me despite my... challenging nature."

My mouth split into a smile as warmth spread through my chest. Despite his challenging nature, Vincent had a way of making me want to give everything up for him, and it seemed I was well on my way. I reached for his collar and pulled him close so our noses brushed against each other. "That was the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me."

I only had a moment to catch the glimmer in his mercurial eyes before his lips claimed mine, searing my skin with their intensity and passion. His tongue forced entry, and I met his ferocity with my own, sliding my hands down his backside and dragging his body closer. When I felt the strength beneath the zipper of his pants, a moan escaped my throat. My sex was already wet and eager for the after party, but I knew that was not where this kiss was headed. Still, a girl could dream.

Vincent kept me wrapped in his greedy embrace until the elevator stopped to let us off, and we stumbled into the hallway, flushed and panting. A few feet away, Wren and Lucy chatted, and I stopped to stare at them like a dear in the headlights. If it had been anyone else, I might not have felt so embarrassed, but these were the matriarchs of the domus, and I didn't want to give them the wrong impression. Sex appeal was not the only thing that attracted me to Vincent.

Vincent, on the other hand, seemed unruffled. "Good evening, Lucy. Mother."

"There you are," said Wren as she and Lucy hurried over to us. "We were wondering when you would get back. You both need to prepare for the challenge."

I glanced from Wren to Vincent, wondering if I had missed some important bit of information. "I need to prepare?" I asked tentatively.

"Of course," Lucy chimed in. "Don't you want to look your best when Vincent claims you as his mate?" She offered a smile that looked much to crafty for a woman her age.

I automatically glanced down at my overexposed legs. "Oh, should I change into something less..."

"Less revealing and more refined? Yes, dear." Lucy took my hand and gave it a squeeze. "You just leave all the work to us. And Vincent, don't worry about your sweetheart. She will be ready in time."