Jerry pulled the car to a stop. We were on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The house behind us must have been built to fit perfectly on the spot. The stone and redwood structure hugged the terrain and had to have fabulous views from every window. It was dark and looked vacant.

“Who lives here?”

“No one right now. One of the Los Angeles vampires bought it as an investment. Then the market dipped. It’s for sale and I have a key. We can go inside and look around.” Jerry got out of the car. “What do you think? Is it romantic enough for you?”

“It’s perfect.” I walked over to the edge of a slate terrace and peered down to a beach far below. Steps had been carved into the side of the cliff. The waves drifted into a narrow beach and the wind had died down to a gentle breeze. I took off my scarf and brushed my hair back from my face. Then I felt Jerry’s hand slide down my back.

“There’s a heated pool. Want to go skinny dipping?” His voice was husky as he slid my sweater off my shoulders again.

“Why did you ask? Seems like you already know the answer.” I reached back and unzipped my skirt, then stepped out of it. My black thong was looser than it used to be and I took a moment to savor the feeling. Then I turned and reached for Jerry’s sweater, a yellow silk that had the look of Rodeo Drive. Flo had certainly had a ball with his credit card.

“I love this sweater on you. It looks great with your dark hair and eyes. But it has to come off.” I threw it over to land on a chaise near the pool.

“Just like this bra. Red is definitely your color. And I like the way it pushes up your breasts and matches that silk thing you have on.” Jerry leaned down to lick a path along the edge of the cami. “But they both have to come off right now.” He made quick work of them.

I undid his belt and slid down his zipper. “Hmm. Are you sure you have time for a swim?” I held his hard length in my hand. “Seems you’re ready to do a little something more.” I shoved down his jeans.

“A little something?” Jerry grinned, tossed away my thong and swung me up into his arms.

I let my heels drop to the ground. “Okay, a big something. Don’t get any of these clothes wet. I do have to go back to the hotel tonight. It’s important.”

“Why?” Jerry managed to kick off his pants.

“The weight-loss thing. I have to drink something special before I sleep.” I made a face. “Sorry if that broke the mood.”

Jerry ran his hand along my bottom. “Nothing could break this mood, sweetheart.” He kissed me, slow and deep, then walked into the pool down some shallow steps until the water hit him midchest.

“The temperature’s perfect.” I slid against him to stand on my feet. I’m not a fan of water, especially lakes with creepy-crawly things in them. But here, in Jerry’s arms, I felt safe.

“You make me hot, woman. I’m surprised the water’s not boiling around us.” He pulled my legs around his waist. I felt his hardness bump my stomach as he kissed me deeply, our tongues tangling together. Then he slid my legs over his shoulders.

“Don’t let me drown!”

“No worries.” He held one hand under my head and began to kiss a path up my inner thighs. My mind went blank and any pitiful swimming skills I had escaped me. Forget that trainer’s core. Jerry had found my real one. Like the core of a volcano, mine was deep inside me with a building pressure threatening to explode as he used his mouth on me. I felt the boiling, roiling, almost insanely explosive power shudder through me. My shudders made the water around us into wavelets but I just gripped Jerry’s arms and reached for what I needed so desperately—release.

“Jerry, please. Come inside me. I . . .” I reached for him but he shook his head, refusing to stop his delicious torture. What was he waiting for? Tremors shook me. A California earthquake? No, this was the beginnings of my own impossibly delicious violent upheaval. Finally he let me slide down his body to rest my cheek on his shoulder.

“What was that about?” I panted harder than after that trek to nowhere on the treadmill. One of my wildly scattered thoughts was that I’d read somewhere that sex burned calories and revved metabolism. Maybe I should weigh again before dawn.

“Your pleasure.” He smiled. “I know you well enough to realize I pleased you.”

“I’m so pleased I’m limp. Wow.” Thank God we were in the water because I couldn’t have stood if my life depended on it.

“A day of vampire sleep should cure you, lass.” He kissed my cheek. “Ready to see the inside of the house?”

“Not yet.” I reached between us. “I have one more item on my agenda, Mr. Blade.”

“Oh, you have an agenda, madam?”

“Yes, indeed.” I guided him inside me, gasping as he penetrated my sensitive flesh. “Oh, God, that feels good.”

“I didn’t think you could—”

“Hush.” I kissed his mouth shut. “I’m a vampire. I have superpowers, lover. Now, you know what to do. Do it. Until I scream and make waves and you can’t hold back anymore and have to give me all you’ve got.”

“A tall order.” Jerry grinned and walked me over until I sat on the second step.

“I think you’re up to it.” I sighed and leaned back as he began to move. Pressure built inside me almost instantly. He gripped my buttocks and drove into me, his fangs glinting in the dim light. I offered my throat and he took me there, drinking for a moment, then pulling back, a strange look on his face. I didn’t question him, just kissed him and held on to him as he pushed into me one last time, shuddering with his release. I screamed as pleasure rippled through me again, hoping there were no neighbors to report murder being committed on our hilltop.

We leaned against each other for a long moment. I knew the time for talking was overdue. I smoothed my hand up his back, then tugged on his wet hair.

“What?” He leaned back and looked down at me.

“You didn’t drink from me like you usually do. What was wrong?”

He frowned. “You didn’t taste the same. And, trust me, my love, I’d know your taste blindfolded in a room with a hundred other vampires.”

“I believe that. Just like I’d know yours.” My stomach lurched and I swallowed. I was not going to be sick again. No way. I just couldn’t be. I gently pushed him away. “I’m sorry. I guess it’s those supplements I’ve been drinking to lose weight. Now, let’s go inside. I’d like to see the inside of the house.”

“Okay. It’s weird, though. Never thought I’d turn down a chance to drink from you. I’ll be glad when this diet of yours is over and you’re back to the Glory I know and love.” He gave me a searching look, then pulled himself out of the pool. He walked over to a cabana and grabbed two white terry robes.

I couldn’t look away. Jerry naked is art. Perfect male from dark wet hair, worn longish this week since apparently Flo had convinced him to skip a haircut, down to his muscular legs that looked so great in a kilt. And in between . . . I sighed. My warrior was back at poolside, reaching out a hand to pull me out and to wrap me in my own robe. I shivered as I stood next to him and tied the terry closed.

“Cold?” He picked up our clothes and held out his hand.

“Not really. It’s a beautiful night.” I stared at the ocean, then up at the stars. The moon was just a sliver this time of the month. But our vamp vision served us well along with the glow from the security lights at the edge of the terrace.

What was the deal with my strange taste? I must taste truly awful for Jerry to refuse to drink from me. It was usually our favorite finish to lovemaking. I hadn’t tried to feed from him because of the stupid diet. And I’d missed the closeness of the act. Damn. I shook off the worry and grabbed his hand.

“Come on. This house looks fabulous from the outside.” I walked with him toward the door. Forget the taste issue. That was nothing compared to the Ian issue. I felt disloyal working with a MacDonald. If Jerry laid down the law and forbid me to see Ian again, though . . . Well, I guess I’d leap over that Grand Canyon when I came to it.

“All right, I have the key here.” He pulled out a key ring and went to work on the back door. Then he punched in a code on a pad inside. “Security code. Chip gave it to me. He’s pretty trusting. Guess he’s aware that another vampire would be a fool to cross a member of the ruling council here in L.A.”

“A vampire named Chip. And he’s on the Council?”

“Yes, Damian and I had drinks with some of the members last night. Some pretty powerful characters. They run a tight ship. I admire that. You don’t want to cause trouble out here or you’re staked.”

I shivered. “That’s drastic.”

“Yes, it is. And it’s why the Energy Vampires didn’t set up shop here. They figured Austin was an easier territory to infiltrate.” Jerry flipped a switch and we saw a beautiful sunken living room. The pale turquoise walls were hung with oil paintings of California landscapes. There was a natural stone fireplace similar to Ian’s and a brown leather sectional couch that made you want to sink into it and enjoy the fire that came to life when Jerry flipped another switch.

“Nice.” I approached the fire and held out my hands. I didn’t want to talk about the Energy Vampires. We’d had run-ins with the bad guys in Austin and barely escaped with our lives. “I like this place. Beautiful art.”

“Chip is a collector. Those paintings are worth a fortune. They don’t necessarily come with the house. What do you think? Should I buy one? As a souvenir of our time here?” He smiled at me. “Which one is your favorite?”

What a question. Leave it to Jerry to go big. No little plastic “I heart L.A.” key chain. I should pick out a favorite painting, one that would probably set Jerry back six figures, and he’d have it to remember our time in California. Oh, hell. Would he want to remember anything when he heard about Ian? I had to tell him. No way was I letting this go any further.