“You were awesome. What’s next?”

I stretched. “I’m going home. Jerry may be back late tonight. I want to meet him. The shop closes at midnight on Saturdays so I don’t have to worry about stopping by there for a change.”

“You going to give it up? For a music career?” Ray stacked his music on top of the piano.

“No, the opposite. Music isn’t my passion. Sorry if that disappoints you, Ray.”

“What? With all that talent you’re going to just walk away from it? After one gig?” He helped me down from the stage. “I don’t get it, Glory. You could have an amazing career.”

“Is it? Amazing?” I let go of his hand. “I’ve seen the strain you’re under, balancing a successful career with a vampire’s schedule. And I know how the paparazzi hound you. I really don’t want to be that public. I had a taste of it when we were supposedly engaged and I hated it.”

“Yeah, they weren’t too kind to you. You wore a blue dress and they called you a blueberry.” He grinned. “I think blueberries are delicious.” He grabbed at me playfully.

“Thanks for reminding me.” I walked to the door and checked my phone. “Oh, a message from Jerry. Sorry.”

“No, I get it. He’s won.” Ray made a face. “But this singing thing. I’m not giving up on you, Glory. You should sing. Share the gift. You owe it to the world.”

“No, I owe it to myself to do what I really want and need. Believe it or not, I learned that tonight from a voodoo priestess.” I kissed his cheek. “Now I’ve got to go. Rafe’s waiting for me downstairs. See you Tuesday for practice.”

“Fine. See you.” Ray had decided to pout. I left him to it while I listened to Jerry’s voice mail. He’d stopped at home to shower and change clothes. He would see me on the roof of my building.

By the time I got home, which was still Lily’s apartment, I was pretty tired. I left Rafe watching a sports show on TV while I showered and changed into a gown and robe. Then I headed for the roof. Rafe left me to it. He could certainly hear if anyone entered the building and tried to go past him to the roof.

I settled on a lawn chair someone had left out to watch the stars and had just dozed off when I sensed movement above me. A familiar black bird drifted down from the sky. Then the man I loved shifted in front of me.

“Jerry!” I jumped up and ran into his arms. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

“That’s the kind of welcome a man dreams about.” He pulled me close and kissed me. When he finally let me go, he ran his hands down my body. “Hmm. What’s this? Ready for bed? Rafe around?”

“I’ll call him. You can stay with me. Mel probably thinks you’re still in Miami anyway.” I pulled my phone out of my robe pocket and gave Rafe instructions. “All clear.”

“You’re still in Lily’s apartment?” He followed me downstairs.

“Yes, I love it.” I unlocked the door. When we were both inside, I threw off my robe. “But not as much as I love you.”

“I don’t deserve this.” He brushed my hair back from my face. “Gloriana, you’re so beautiful. When am I going to hear you sing?”

“Forget singing.” I pulled his hand to my breast. “Make love to me, Jerry. Show me that you’re mine, all mine. And that Mel doesn’t have any part of you.”

“Don’t speak that woman’s name in this place. I won’t have her here.” He pulled me roughly to him, his mouth on mine. He swept me into his arms and carried me into the bedroom, where he laid me gently on the bed. He threw off his clothes until he was naked.

I gazed up at his strong male body, the muscles, the scars, every inch of him so dear to me. He reached down and slid my nightgown up and off over my head. Then he began a leisurely exploration, kissing a path up one of my legs and down the other. He stroked my breasts and slipped his tongue around each nipple until he sucked one into his warm mouth. I gripped his hair and urged him on, begging him to take me sooner, harder.

God, but he was being patient. I wanted to flip him over and force him to finish this. No. Why the rush? I bit my lip and let him continue his erotic torture as he kissed his way down to the pleasure point between my thighs. He pulled my legs up and over his shoulders, grinning at me wickedly before he licked inside, his tongue toying with me and bringing me to a screaming peak that had me twisting his ears.

“Bastard! I’ll make you pay for that.” I shuddered on the bed, beside myself with pleasure.

“Oh, will you?” He leaned back enough for me to see the light in his eyes while he slid his hand down to squeeze my buttocks. Then he ran his fingers inside to tease me mercilessly. “Do you hate this? Or this?”

“Yes!” I panted. “Oh, God, but I hate that even more.” I writhed on the bed as the sensations spiraled out of control again. He knew what he was doing to me and laughed before sliding me down his body to plunge inside. This was what I’d been craving, needing so desperately. Oh, the way he filled me. I grabbed his arms, my nails biting into his flesh. I smelled his blood and my fangs were down, eager to take his vein.

“Take me, Gloriana. I want you to have all of me.” He fell on top of me, his neck just where I needed it.

I gasped as I held him close, my lips on his warm, salty skin, my bite clean and true. His blood flooded my mouth and I filled myself with him even as I felt him come inside me, warm and perfect just as I was clenching around him.

“I love you, Gloriana. No one else. Ever.” He whispered in my ear as he thrust one last time.

I wrapped my arms and legs tight around him, afraid to let him go. He was mine. Only mine. I told him that in my thoughts then gave him my vein, offering him strength that I knew he needed after his long trip. Finally we slipped apart, holding each other and falling on our pillows moments before dawn.

I tried not to imagine him in Mel’s bed. He’d have to hold her before he looked into her eyes and convinced her that they’d made passionate love even though they hadn’t. Would it work? Were we crazy to even try to fool a voodoo priestess?

I lay dry-eyed, his arm heavy around me, and prayed we wouldn’t regret this plan just as dawn began to pull me under. Jerry already snored beside me, exhausted from his shift across country.

Then I heard the hall door open. Rafe. We’d arranged for him to slip back inside the apartment to keep us both safe during the daylight hours. I inhaled once, just to be sure. Yes, it was him. I relaxed and turned to kiss Jerry’s bare chest, then his sleepy smile. It couldn’t be our last time together. I’d know it, surely. Then the sun rose and I knew nothing at all.

• • •

Jerry was about to sneak out after sunset when I took a call from Caitlin and arranged to meet her at the shop. He decided to go down and wait for her with me.

“You actually went to one of Mel’s seminars?” Jerry stood beside me while I unlocked the door. “She can be impressive, can’t she?”

“Yes, though I hate to admit it. She got me fired up to get serious about the shop. Focus my energy. I guess I can see why you might, might have been attracted to her in the first place.”

Jerry leaned against the door before I could open it. “I’ll always regret it, Gloriana.” He rubbed my cheek with his thumb. “I hope it’s taught me to control my bloodlust from now on.”

“Come on, Jer. It wasn’t just bloodlust at work. She’s a beautiful, intelligent, dynamic—”

“Hush.” He pressed that thumb over my lips. “You’re all the woman I want or need. No more time-outs, Gloriana. Promise me. When we’re apart, I obviously go mad.”

I reached for his hand. “Poor Jerry. Do you get lonely without me?”

“God, yes.” He pulled me to him, kissing me hard, then just as suddenly pulled back. “Do you smell blood?” He reached behind me and threw open the door.

I froze and grabbed his arm. “Yes. It smells like something died in there.”

“Stay here and I’ll check it out.” He had on his warrior face.

“Jer, we go together. This is my place of business.” Dreading what I would find, I flipped on the lights and proceeded with caution, trailing behind him since he wasn’t about to let me go first. Was this Mel’s doing? Who else? I thought we’d resolved our issues. I’d shown up with Rafe, clearly moving on from Jerry. Hadn’t I been convincing enough? What did she want? For us to rip off our clothes and get busy in the aisle during her brief intermission?

“Well, shit.” He stopped in his tracks. “There’s a dead goat lying on your counter.”

“Damn her! You know who has to be behind this, Jer. What do you bet she’s done some kind of voodoo spell work here.” The gutted animal was spread out on top of my fine jewelry case. Thank God the lock wasn’t broken so the gold and silver trinkets weren’t harmed. But there was blood everywhere, ruining any paperwork left lying around and spreading to the edge of a display of silk scarves. I snatched them back, relieved that they weren’t touched.

“That crazy bitch.” Jerry strode around the shop. “And look at this. Dead chickens. She’s done one of her ceremonies all right.”

“Come here.” A symbol was drawn in blood on the floor in front of the entrance to my shop. It didn’t take a voodoo dictionary to know that Mel was trying to keep customers from entering.

“Guess she wants to ruin your business.” Jerry walked over and dropped to his knees to examine a circle of dead chickens. “I’d say Mel’s trying to put some kind of spell on you. How do you feel? Any weird aches or pains?” He was up and by my side in an instant.

“No, don’t be ridiculous. Are you telling me you believe in that stuff? I’m, uh, fine.” But my throat tightened and I panicked. Could I talk, sing? I swallowed and cleared my throat. Of course I was all right. Mind games. The blood, the dead animals. It was all designed to freak me out. Too bad it was working. I shivered and grabbed a shawl from a display to wrap around me.