Images filled her—visions hot with lust and violence. Her pulse quickened, as if stirred, and she blanched, feeling sick. Lord, why was this happening? What had he done to her?

You will beg me, pretty one. As Monica begged me.

He wanted her to hunt the night with him, become a slave to darkness and death and uncontrollable blood lust. Revulsion turned her stomach. I will never walk with you. Yet she could hear the uncertainty in her own assertion. Jasper was Tommy, only a hundred times stronger. If he gained control of her mind, she would never know her wish from his. Never is a long time in my world. And I grow tired of Monica. His laughter echoed through her mind. She clenched her fists, battling the urge to run as far as she could from the madman below. He was only toying with her, testing her nerve, her strength. And it took all the strength she had to remain still, to ignore his taunting whispers, and stare at him in silence.

* * * *

Michael took the stairs two at a time, making no effort to keep quiet. Jasper had made little effort to conceal himself, and he would know that Nikki had called. Just as he knew the three zombies stationed around the hotel would move in on Nikki if he went after Jasper. He reached the third floor and ran down the corridor, only slowing when he approached his room. Even from this distance, he could feel her distress. Yet she resisted Jasper's call, and that was more than he had truly expected. He unlocked the door and stepped inside. Psychic energy danced around him, though he doubted if she was truly aware of his presence. She was using everything she had to resist Jasper. He clenched his fingers and stopped, taking a deep, calming breath. Now was not the time to run downstairs and commit murder. Nikki needed him.

He walked to the bedroom. She stood near the window, still wearing his old black shirt. It hung to her thighs and did little to hide her slender but shapely figure. She had never looked more alluring. Or more frightened.

"Nikki?” he said softly, not wanting to scare her by suddenly appearing by her side. She jumped anyway and turned. “He's here.” Her voice was steady despite the panic he could see in her eyes. “Across the road."

He stopped beside her and slid his hand down her arm, entwining his fingers around hers. The rhythm of her heart was loud and erratic, and her hands were like ice. He drew the other curtain aside and looked out.

Jasper waved at them.

Anger spurted through him. He clamped down on it, hard. “He's an arrogant bastard." She swallowed. “He's calling me, Michael. He wants me to go to him." He was really going to enjoy killing this bastard. “He's only testing, Nikki. And now he knows his leash is not as strong as he had hoped."

But the man below them only teased, and she knew it. He could taste the fear in her thoughts.

"Why don't you go down there after him?"

Because he wants you dead, and the zombies are ready to complete the task should I leave your side. “I wanted to make sure you were all right first."

"Then why not go down now?"

"Because he won't be there. He is just trying to unnerve you, Nikki."

"Well, it's working.” She untangled her fingers from his and wrapped her arms around her body. Though he wished he could hold her, give her the comfort she desperately needed, he didn't dare move. Jasper still watched them. “He can't hurt you unless you let him. You have your abilities. Use them to protect yourself."

She had to get past her fear. He couldn't be with her twenty-four hours a day. Besides, the best way to protect her was to kill Jasper. To do that, he had to leave her alone. She gave him a quick glance, and he wondered if she'd heard the thought. With the link between them growing stronger by the day, it was becoming increasingly hard to keep his thoughts to himself.

"He's leaving,” she stated quietly.

Michael watched him fade into the darkness, saw the blur of his body heat move quickly up the street. With dawn only a few hours away, he'd be off to hunt before retreating for the day. No doubt there would be more murders for the Lyndhurst Mail to report to its troubled readership. He let the curtain fall back into place and turned, drawing her into his arms. She felt so soft and warm against him. He brushed a kiss against the top of her head and held her quietly until her tremors stopped.

"Thank you,” she whispered, then pulled away slightly.

Her eyes were bright, but not with fear. He could hear the unsteady pounding of her heart and knew its rhythm matched his own

He raised a hand, gently brushing a dark strand of hair away from her cheek. Her skin was silk under his fingers. He traced the outline of her jaw, then lightly brushed her lips with his fingers. He wished he could taste their fullness, but that wouldn't be fair. Not when she was so frightened, and Jasper still ran loose.

"You should rest,” he said, watching the sparkle in her amber eyes, watching the heat rise in her cheeks. God, she was beautiful.

"I want you to stay with me, Michael,” she said softly. “I want you to make love to me." He studied her, seeing the hint of desperation in her eyes, the fear in her thoughts. While he couldn't deny the attraction flaring between them, he knew it had nothing to do with her sudden desire to make love. In any other situation, any other time, he might have taken what she offered, enjoyed her company until the job was done, and then left. As he had with other women in the past. But not with Nikki, and not for the reason he could see in her heart. Somehow, it just didn't seem right for them to make love just to erase Jasper's thoughts from her mind.

But damn, she felt so good...

He bent and kissed her. He'd meant it to be brief, but her lips were soft and sweet under his, and he found himself wanting more. Her hand brushed his cheek as she moved it around his neck, and he closed his eyes, pulling her close, teasing her lips with his tongue. She made a sound that was almost a sigh, then opened her mouth, allowing him to taste her. He moved his hands down her back and cupped her buttocks, holding her softness against him.

He didn't want the moment to end, but knew it had to. No involvement, he reminded himself sharply. Let her go. He kissed her forehead lightly then stepped away.

"I cannot do this, Nikki.” Because Seline was right. He was playing with a fire that, once started, he might never want to put out. “It's not the right time or situation." A slight smile touched her warm lips. “It felt pretty right to me." It had felt pretty right to him, as well, and that was the problem. “I am a vampire, Nikki. It's a fact that can never be changed. I live in a world of darkness and tread paths no human can ever take.” He hesitated, watching her amber eyes darken. “I have made love to many women in my time, but they were little more than fleeting moments of pleasure. There can never be anything more for me. Vampire's cannot love."

The lie tasted bitter on his tongue. But it was better she think him incapable of love. It would make things easier when he walked away.

"I'm not asking for anything more than one night, Michael.” Her gaze searched his for a moment. “I don't want anything more."

Maybe she didn't, he thought, studying the dark auburn highlights in her hair. But could he hold her in his arms, make love to her, then simply walk away?

"Making love will strengthen the link between us, Nikki,” he said softly. “Can you risk that, when you fear the link almost as much as you fear the vampire?"

She glanced up sharply. “I don't fear you."

He smiled grimly. “No. You fear the darkness in me—the vampire. But I am not two beings, and you cannot fear one without fearing the other."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I don't care about the technicalities, Michael. I just want—"

He placed a finger against her lips, quickly silencing her. Someone approached the room. He turned and watched the heat of life approach. After a moment, he relaxed. It was only Jake. And just in the nick of time, too.

Smiling wryly, he glanced back at Nikki. “Jake's about to knock at the door. He's angry about something."

"How can you tell?” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, a gesture that spoke of the fear he could see in her thoughts.

"His heart is racing, and fury runs through his thoughts."

"Something's happened."

He entwined his fingers through hers and squeezed them lightly. She smiled, then motioned him towards the door when Jake knocked.

Jake's smile was anything but warm. “Have you heard the news yet?"

"No.” It wasn't too hard to guess what had happened, though. He stepped aside, allowing Jake to enter.

“Why?"

"Our vampires are on the loose again. There's been a triple murder in Highgate Park."

"When did this happen?"

"They figure about ten this evening.” Jake grimaced and walked into the small kitchen. “But the bodies weren't discovered until two. The cops are still crawling all over the place."

"You've been there?” Nikki said, surprise in her voice.

"No. I asked Mark to let me know if anything like this happened.” He glanced across at Michael and added. “Mark's the crime reporter for The Mail ."

Michael nodded. Jasper had been hungry when he'd left the hotel, so these murders had to be Monica's doing. He met Nikki's gaze and saw she was thinking the same thing.

"We have to stop her,” she murmured.

He shook his head in exasperation. Did she never learn? Jasper was still out there, and no doubt waiting for such a move.

Her gaze was defiant. “You can't find her without me."

Maybe they could, and maybe they couldn't. It wasn't worth jeopardizing her safety to find out.

"You'll slow us down,” Jake commented into the brief silence. “You're a liability, Nik. Trying to protect you might well get us all killed."

"We'll be moving in the daylight—we'll have the advantage, remember?"

"The zombies can still get around during the day,” Michael reminded her. “And Jasper has proven he can move at dawn or dusk."

She lifted her chin, though he could hear the unsteady pounding of her pulse. “I'm going. I refuse to let fear rule my life."

Or anything, or anyone, else. He clamped down on a surge of anger and glanced at his watch. “It's past four now. We'll have to give it a few more hours before we move. That way we'll be sure to find them asleep—if we find them."

Jake frowned as he poured some soup into two coffee cups. “And you? Won't you be affected?" Nikki raised an eyebrow, and Michael smiled. “As long as we avoid the sun between ten and three, I'll be fine."

Jake poured soup into two cups and handed one to Nikki. “I'll be back at eight, then. That way, we'll still have two hours to hunt around. Nice soup, by the way." Michael walked him to the door. Jake turned the handle, then hesitated. “Don't let her come with us,” he said softly.

He raised an eyebrow. “I can't really stop her."

"Find a way. Stop her. I don't care how. Just don't let that madman get his hands on her again." This from the man who had once told him Nikki could be difficult when it came to getting her to do anything she didn't want to do. He nodded and closed the door, then turned to find her watching him. Her knuckles were almost white against the cup.

"If you intend coming with us, you'd better get some rest. Jake was right. As you are, you'll slow us down."

Her eyebrows rose in surprise, and he smiled grimly. “I don't intend to argue the point any more. If you wish to commit suicide, who am I to stop you?"

Anger glinted in her eyes, but she made no comment. She quickly drank the rest of her soup, then turned and stalked into the bedroom. He followed and leaned against the door frame, trying to ignore the slim line of her legs as she climbed into bed.

"Do you need anything?” he asked. Their thoughts touched briefly, and passion caressed his mind. He tensed and quickly broke the contact.

She sighed. “No."

"Call me if you do. I'll be resting on the sofa.” He ran his fingers through his hair and turned away, moving quickly to the sofa. But he knew he wouldn't sleep. Not after the fire of her touch.

Chapter Eleven

"Nikki, wake up."

The soft words speared the madness. She shuddered and fought the dark layers clinging to her mind, desperate to reach the safety of Michael's voice.

"Nikki, let it go. Break the connection."

Warm hands touched her face, caressed her cheek. The demons of madness laughed rabidly, but retreated.

"Nikki?"

She opened her eyes, studying Michael for a heartbeat. He sat on the edge of the bed, his dark eyes full of compassion and a certain amount of wariness.

"Hold me,” she whispered, pushing the blankets aside and struggling upright. “Please, just hold me." He drew her into his arms. She leaned a cheek against the bare warmth of his chest, allowing the heat of his touch to chase the chill away. Allowed the tender caress of his thoughts to chase the last strands of darkness from her mind.

"You have to fight him, Nikki."

"How?” Her voice cracked slightly, and she bit her lip. But how could she fight Jasper when she'd never been able to fight Tommy? Jasper's evil was far more intense than Tommy's ever had been. But she'd survived Tommy, and she'd survived three nights of Jasper's insanity. She'd survive this—any way she could.

Michael held her silently, the rock to which she clung in the ever-turbulent currents of her life. Gradually, almost unwillingly, she became aware of his scent, musky yet fresh; aware of the slight tension in the arms that held her so gently. She could hear his heart pounding as erratically as her own. She lifted her head and met his gaze. His smile made her heart do an odd little somersault. He gently touched her cheek, then ran his fingers down to her lips. “Not making love to you is the hardest thing I've ever had to do."