I was drowning. Laurelin threw the life raft.


Chapter 9

Beth's thoughts drifted between the man who held her in his arms, and the vampire waiting a few hundred miles away. Her little-girl crush on the man who had fought and saved her life had matured into a deep, abiding love that she could not deny. It didn't seem to matter at all that she was also deeply in love with Josef, and felt his absence every moment. Almost every moment. When Mick was making love to her, she thought of nothing but the sensations consuming her.

She wanted them both, always. And knew that one of them could not share. The one who'd just stirred, involuntarily pulling her closer to him as he woke.

"Good morning," she said, stroking the arm that enfolded her.

"You're awake." His lips brushed her hair, and he felt hers against his wrist.

Wriggling her bottom closer against his morning erection, she laughed. "I see you are, too." She turned her face to his, pressing a kiss to his lips that could not be interpreted as anything but an invitation. He got it, the hand that held her moving immediately to gently squeeze her breast, caress her stomach, and lightly brush her mound. Her response was immediate and she knew that with his hand trailing once again across her abdomen toward her sex, he'd know it very soon.

As his fingers slid between her wet folds, a moan escaped his lips, and he turned her under him, finding her center and sliding smoothly deep inside her. With the barest of movements, she felt his heat dance across her nerve-endings, fingers pinching one aching nipple, mouth attending to the other, another finger thrumming her clit, all the while pivoting deeply inside her. She quaked and writhed, head thrashing mindlessly side-to-side, overwhelmed by the completeness of her stimulation, coming again, then again, shouting his name, and still he continued as if he could not please her enough. Suddenly, she felt him tense, and pull his mouth to hers as his orgasm overtook him.

"Sorry," he said, looking most sincere as they lay in the afterglow of satisfaction.

"Okay. I'll swallow the bait. What are you sorry for?" Her mind wanted to run over the possibilities, really, it did, but she found herself still unable to think at all.

"Best I could do on an empty stomach." His grin of self-satisfaction faded as her pillow flew toward his head.

"Brat."

He laughed, kissing her happily, looking as satisfied as she.


As they walked across the tarmac to the small private jet that awaited them, Beth wondered if she had that silly grin that people got when they were thoroughly satisfied. She'd caught herself singing while she took a short, final ride on the magnificent horse she'd used the day before. The trail was beautiful, life was beautiful, and she felt herself the luckiest woman on at least three continents. She loved the two most wonderful men she'd ever known, and at this moment, they both loved her right back. Josef was like a magnificent lion, proud, vain, and unfailingly protective of his pride. Mick was a man so in tune with humanity, so moral, and loving beyond her most heroic fantasies. She knew she was a very lucky woman, indeed.

Boarding the charter that Josef had arranged, they were greeted by a hyperactive brunette in a company uniform. "Are you two newlyweds? I just love it when we have newlyweds, they're so cute!" The greeting their flight attendant extended as they fastened their seatbelts took them both by surprise, and both laughed long and hard.

"Not newlyweds. Old friends," Mick said, and Beth was not sure she liked that answer, until she saw the sweet smile he gave her.

"With benefits," Beth added, watching as Mick's cheeks colored as she suspected they would, now that he was human. As the man moved away, nodding knowingly, Beth gave Mick's hand a squeeze. "I love you Mr. St. John."

"Yeah, yeah, of course you do, what's not to love?" He was embarrassed about the blush, but he suspected they probably did look like newlyweds, aglow with their warmth toward each other.

As the short flight came to a close, Mick wondered how he'd feel now, watching Beth throw herself into Josef's arms, seeing the love between them, feeling so strongly toward her, and so very deeply grateful to Josef, who'd made this very special day possible, endangering himself to do so. It didn't matter that the dose had worn off half an hour ago; Josef had made an incredible gesture of friendship. He decided he just wouldn't look. Josef's house had very nice ceilings.


The door flew open before they had a chance to knock, and Josef swept Beth into his arms. No time to look at the ceiling, Mick was confronted by the pure joy on his friend's face, a joy reflected on Beth's.

It sucked. It royally, thoroughly, and completely sucked. Mick had never seen Josef so happy. Beth… he had seen her as happy. But Josef, open-faced, joyous… The moment imprinted itself on his memory. With certainty, he knew that he had to let Josef call the shots. He would jeopardize neither his friend's happiness nor Beth's. His own? That had been but momentary for more than fifty years, and he suspected that it would be that way as long as he survived.

"Sorry my little gift didn't last longer, Mick. But the cadre of ladies awaiting your luncheon desires grows impatient. Why don't you go have someone to eat, and we'll get down to the business at hand when you're done." Josef had glanced at him briefly before speaking, but his gaze went immediately back to Beth, and Mick knew that while the willing freshies were always available to him, Josef wanted a sip of the woman he loved. Privately.

"I could eat," Mick said. "Give me half an hour and I'll be ready to help plan this incursion."


Their discussion lasted but an hour, Josef having worked out most of the physical logistics the previous day. The jet, a seaplane and two small boats awaited his instructions. The matter at hand was how many accomplices, and how quickly they should launch their attack. Both agreed it should be soon; Lance and his bizarre entourage were far too dangerous to Josef's plans to allow their existence much longer. While Mick's motives were personal, he feared Lance would tire of his little torture games at any moment, and Coraline would die, so expediency was high on his list as well.

"Logan will control their security system. Apparently, he and Britt have already tested their capabilities, undiscovered, so I'm confident that we're ready on that end. What we need is muscle, but I don't want more than two men. Any larger a group is far too likely to be discovered." Josef sat back in his chair and waited for Mick's input.

"What about me?" Beth asked. "What do I get to do?"

"Nothing," the men answered as one.

"Why?"

"Too dangerous," and "You could be killed," were their simultaneous responses.

"I have an idea that will get me through the front door unimpeded. And I'm certain you boys can handle everything inside, with my help. I've been thinking about this for days. I will be the perfect distraction."

"No!" More emphatic this time, but no less simultaneous.

"You won't even consider my idea? My two champions, the men who both claim to love me, and neither of you will even listen?" She thoroughly understood their motives for not wanting her involvement. But she was angry. She knew she could pull it off. Ancient or not, she knew men. And she was fairly certain she knew vampires well enough.

"Beth, I feel free to speak for both of us on this point," Mick said. "We don't want you hurt or killed. Lance could kill either one of us. Or both. He's not getting a shot at you."

"So I just sit here with the freshies and knit body bags while the heroes go off to battle?"

Josef nodded. "Works for me. And if possible, use hemp. It's renewable."

She stood. "I'm leaving. You boys can hatch your scheme, and I'll stay out of your way. I'll see you both later." She turned and left the room without waiting for a reply.


"We are going to be two very sorry men," Josef said.

With a nod of his head, Mick agreed. "I'll leave before she comes back."

"The hell you will. I'm not afraid of Lance, though I probably should be. But Beth, angry and motivated? Oh, no, you're staying right here."


Beth sat at her vanity, staring at the silver-capped bottle. It sickened her, now that she knew and liked so many vampires, but still she was glad she'd kept the vile-tasting substance. It would serve her purpose tonight. And it very possibly could save Coraline for Mick. She loved him enough to be brave. She opened the bottle, touched the powder to her tongue. Looking at herself in the mirror with a wicked smile, she knew she would just have to convince them…


Josef was not so sure they had a great plan. Good, yes, but not great. The muscle would take care of the perimeter, and then join them for the main event. He assumed that Lance would kill Coraline; one look at Mick, and Lance would do it just for the pleasure of causing Mick pain. It was what it was, they had to do it now, and they had "Tibor" on board to lend an air of legitimacy to the visit. They would use tracer rounds, which should burn Lance from the inside out in seconds. He would love to watch the black-eyed bastard try to recover from that.

"So it's settled."

"It's the best we can do," Mick said unenthusiastically. He'd thought about everything that could go wrong, and decided everything could go wrong. He didn't like playing sergeant, but his cure was on the line and for that, he'd sacrifice almost anything. Especially since the teasing dose that Josef had given him had worn off a few hours before.

"Your enthusiasm is overwhelming. Let's eat before Beth comes back. We don't want to put too much pressure on our girl."

"Our girl? That's very generous of you, Josef. What gives?"

"Let's eat. How do you feel about Thai? I've got some visitors."

"Thai work's for me."


Josef had just run the first table at eight ball when they heard Beth enter the foyer and ask where they were.

"Damsel to the rescue," Mick said as Beth entered the room. He smiled at her, then sighed and added, "Oh hell."

"Wow. You look beautiful. What did we do to deserve this?" Josef didn't really care why Beth had clearly spent a lot of time on her make-up and hair. But he certainly appreciated her effort.

"This is what happens when you don't listen to the woman you love."

"What?" Josef asked.

"Funny." Beth looked to Mick, and she knew immediately that he knew what she'd done.

"I thought you got rid of that stuff."

"What stuff?" Josef asked.

"You were wrong," Beth said. "Josef's never met this part of me. And just because you didn't enjoy it doesn't mean he won't." She smiled in Josef's direction, locking her eyes to his. "I think Josef will love it."

"Love what? With what part of you am I unfamiliar? And why do you sound like 1-800-do-me- now? Not that I'm complaining." Josef was confused, mostly at Mick's reaction to this very seductive Beth.

Okay, thought Mick. Calm down. Control yourself. Everything's different now.

"I love the coat, Beth. And I'll be more than happy to help you out of it…"

Beth moved closer to Josef, and robbed him of the rest of his thought when she ran her tongue up his neck, nipped his ear and whispered, "Thank you Josef, it does seem exceptionally warm in here." He slipped the coat off her shoulders, and she smiled knowingly at Mick's reaction. She'd worked hard to look much like a character from L.A. Confidential, smoldering vintage silk charmeuse clinging to her curves, sliding off her shoulder to nearly reveal one breast before she slid it sensuously back into place. "You two finish your game. I'll just pour myself a glass of champagne and wait."

She moved to the bar, found a bottle in the wine safe, and made quite a show of opening it and pouring her glass before climbing up on a barstool and crossing her legs seductively. She saw that Josef could not take his eyes from her, and Mick looked everywhere but at her. But he hadn't exposed her ploy, either. That encouraged her, and she raised her glass to her lips, savoring the feel of the luxurious bubbles as they bathed her palate.

"If it's that good, I'll have some," Josef said.

In a husky voice, Beth replied, "It's delicious. I'll be happy to pour you a glass. Mick, would you like some, too?"

Mick finally looked in her direction. At the luscious curve of her breast, peeking out of the front of a dress Coraline would have worn sixty years ago. At the dark-red fingernails that held the neck of the bottle as if it were stiff, living flesh that she was anxious to please. He took in her moist, crimson lips, parted in invitation. Now, they'd been lovers. He'd tasted the sweet, red life of her. And he knew without doubt that he would very definitely enjoy some, too. "Thanks, I'll have a glass."

Mick set his cue against the table and started in her direction, but she adroitly carried all three glasses to where the men stood, stepping between them as she offered each his drink.

"A toast," she said, "To the success of your mission." The subtle ring of the crystal glasses meeting still sounded in her ears as she parted her lips, touching the tip of her tongue to the rim of the glass before tilting her head back and draining it. Both men stood mesmerized. She felt a surge of power, certain that she was the most enticing woman on earth. She brushed parted lips briefly against Mick's, and then Josef's in turn, before sliding from between them to refill her glass.

"Does it matter that I'm clearly missing something?" Josef asked, his voice rough with desire.

"Miss me already?" Beth asked after another long, deep swallow at the golden liquid bubbling in the crystal flute. She sashayed back across the room, reaching between them to rest her glass on the edge of the table. "The champagne's making me warm." One hand found her neck, trailing slowly to lift the fabric away from her body, allowing them a brief peek at one taut nipple.

Mick hesitated, reason returning to his lust-fogged mind. Yes, they had made love. Yes, she was beautiful, seductive and he wanted her very badly. He even thought he had an idea of what her plan might be. However, he also knew all too well how she'd feel in the morning; embarrassed, ashamed and full of regret. "Josef, may I have a moment alone with Beth?"

"Unlikely, my friend," Josef answered, sure fingers mimicking the trail Beth's had mapped, savoring another glance at her. "Your turn." Mick reached out, his fingers unavoidably brushing her breast as he touched the soft fabric.

Beth looked at Mick, innocent yet defiant, as she turned her back to Josef. "Any offers to help me out of this?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder Josef.

He skimmed his fingers languidly across her collarbones and down her arms, as his lips brushed her shoulder. She arched her back, gazing at Mick all the while.

The ivory dress she wore clung to the outline of her breasts, gossamer silk caressed her smooth torso, clung to the curve of her stomach, draped her round hips as she swayed her body into Josef's. Mick swallowed hard, his resolve momentarily weakening as Josef ran his hand down her side, causing Beth an involuntary gasp as her nipples hardened against the soft fabric.

"Josef, please. One moment is all I ask."

Josef raised his head from Beth's shoulder, staring at Mick as if he'd grown multiple heads. "Fine. One minute." He turned to walk away, then turned back, clasping one hand behind Beth's neck to steady her as the other traced an open-palmed route from her neck to the space between her legs, cupping and lifting as his mouth covered hers. Releasing her, he left the room without looking back, breathlessly reiterating, "One minute."

"I'm leaving," Mick said. "I know what you took, and I know how you'll feel in the morning. You don't really want this little threesome, not like this."

"Oh, but I do." And she did. The simple movement of air in the room stimulated every nerve ending in her skin. The very idea of these two men, under her control, making love to her all night long was enough to drive her orgasm. "The first time I took the drug was a lifetime ago. I wasn't in love with Josef, and you wouldn't sleep with me at the time. I want it. And I want you to stay."

She moved closer to him as she spoke and her heat was overwhelming. The voice, the way she brushed against him. "You do, don't you?" She nodded.

"Time's up," Josef said as he joined them.

Mick's lip raised in an ironic half-smile. "I was just leaving."

"Mick, I want you to see a therapist. Tonight, if possible. You are clearly out of your mind."

"Don't go," Beth said, one hand lifting the hem of her dress slowly, revealing the embroidered lace top of one thigh-high stocking.

Josef stood enthralled at the sight of her, and was seriously concerned about Mick. Beth was different in a most amazing way. She was powerful in her self-assurance, exuding a sense of unbridled sexuality he'd never witnessed before. It was almost as if she'd been turned.

"Why don't you boys finish your game? I'll have a seat on that big comfy couch." She sashayed across the room, perching at the edge of the couch before lounging back against the pillows.

"I think I'd rather join you." Josef set his cue down.

"Rack 'em up," she replied, stretching one arm over her head. Moistening her lips with the tip of her tongue, she added, "Winner's choice of my treasures."

"No fair," Mick pouted as Josef racked the balls in an instant, grinning all the while. "He always wins."

"Ah." She fixed her gaze on Mick, while her hand ran up her thigh, exposing the soft flesh above her stocking. Teasing her finger beneath it to gently massage her inner thigh, she added, "But I didn't say what the consolation prize was."

She watched, amused, as Josef played at vampire speed, running the table in seconds. Mick was right; he stood no chance of winning against Josef's gazillion years of experience. Time to level the playing field.

She rose, bypassing the table and heading straight toward the bar, where she'd left her purse. She appreciated the subdued lighting, knowing it would provide some cover for the first of her surprises. "Maybe you two should rest a moment," she said as she once again moved between them. "Have some champagne. My turn to play with the pool table." A hand on each of their chests, she moved her palms in a slow, languid movement that stopped just below each of their belts. With a gentle push there, she directed them back toward the couch. When they had comfortably seated themselves, she opened her purse, palming the small instrument she'd stored there.

"Who wants to be the videographer?" She tossed the camera at them, knowing it would never hit the floor.

Josef caught it. "Can't I hire someone to do this?"

She laughed. "You can take turns. But remember, whoever has it gets to zoom in." She tilted her head down, eyes looking up, all innocence, as she lifted the dress up over her knees, slowly revealing her body to their fervent gazes. She heard the whir of the zoom, and knew Josef was focusing in on the lace thong that had just some into view. Her hands reached behind her, pushing her breasts up and forward toward the unblinking lens. "I could use some help with this," she said, swaying her hips as she moved toward them. Neither man moved as she turned her back to them. But in a second, she felt cool fingers through the thin fabric and felt the zipper slide slowly open. Shuddering with anticipation, she wondered whose fingers they were. Sashaying back to the pool table, she turned toward them with a wicked smile, allowing the dress to flutter to the floor. With a little wiggle, she perched atop the table.

"Perfect." Beth smiled and blew a kiss toward him, so Mick knew he had actually said it aloud. She was so beautiful, and her uncharacteristically bold behavior almost made him re-think turning her. One of his hands slowly palmed his aching cock, and he noticed Josef trying to run the camera with only one hand, and thought that he was probably doing the same.

"To hell with this," Josef said, perching the camera on the back of the couch, as Beth slid a finger between her plump lips, trailing the moistened nail down her throat to one exposed nipple, circling the straining tip as she threw her head back, completely entranced by the sensation. Her fingers moved slowly lower, and then disappeared beneath the thong. She gasped as she stroked her own moisture, so hot, "So wet," she gasped.

Josef was on his feet immediately, tearing at his clothes as he closed the gap between them.

"No! Don't touch me yet," she commanded, still stroking herself. She traced her wet fingers over his lips. "Just watch."

He obeyed, her taste on his lips spurring his excitement higher. Mick moved to stand beside her, having also relieved himself of his clothing.

"My beautiful vampires." She lay back across the table, hips raised by the edge, legs slightly spread, all the while stroking herself in a languid rhythm. Placing one spike-heeled shoe against each of their chests, her fingers returned to her crimson lips. "Can you help me out of this?" She indicated the thong covering what they both wanted most. "Without ripping it this time?" In unison, each put one hand on one of her hips, sliding the lace covering down her thighs as she closed her legs to allow its removal. Watching as they took in surprise number two, her smooth, pale, hairless mound drenched with her excitement.

"Oh my," Josef said, as he leaned forward, placing her leg over his shoulder as his lip met her flowing juices with his tongue. When Josef raised his head to look into the face of the moaning Beth, she saw his fangs.

"No!" she cried. "No blood!"

It was Mick whose hand reached between her parted thighs, stroking slowly, hoping to calm her fears. "Her blood will could make you very ill, you shouldn't taste her tonight. Promise her, Josef."

"What the hell is going on here?" Josef asked as Beth pulled him up beside her on the table, lips locking his in a blinding kiss, as Mick added lips to fingers with a groan of pleasure. When Josef broke contact long enough to look at her, to see the blazing passion in her eyes, he gave in to just the moment, to the sight of her face straining toward orgasm. "That's it baby, come for us." At that moment, just as her body flushed and her toes curled, Mick plunged into her as Josef held her, capturing her cries of release with his lips as his hands traveled her breasts. He felt rather than saw Mick pull out, and trailed kisses and caresses down one side of her body as Mick's mouth and hands travelled up the other.

She'd lost control. She was lost in sensation, pleasure she had never known, reason, language abandoned to primal moans, screams, out-of body ecstasy as she gave herself over to the two of them, completely. Hands kneaded her buttocks, stroked her thighs, pinched her nipples as Josef's mouth found her center, tongue slowly, quickly, slowly circling her, plunging in, Mick's mouth found hers, their endless patience for her pleasure driving her to yet another climax, her hands finding Mick's straining erection as she came. Stroking him, hearing the sounds each man made as their pleasure mounted; she'd lost control and didn't care, wanting only to give as she received. Josef was pulling her off the table, away from Mick, no, Josef was behind her, his hand stroking her clit as he entered her. Her lips met Mick's as Josef bent her further, allowing her to take Mick into her mouth, and together they set a rhythm, moved as one until finally they came together, Mick flooding her mouth as Josef flooded her center. She heard their sounds, mingling with her own, Mick gentling her mouth as Josef kissed her back. She knew she had to let them go, feed. As if reading her mind, Mick kissed her deeply, and then reluctantly moved away, grabbing his discarded clothes as he made for the door.


Josef gathered her against him in silence, the sound of her heartbeat a symphony of desire in his ears. He knew he should get up and follow Mick, sate his other needs and return to her.

He simply could not leave her alone in this moment. She clung to him, her bravado gone, spent, and vulnerable. "I love you entirely," he whispered, kissing her hair, her eyes, and her lips. "Your heart, your mind, your body."

She looked at him with eyes that shone that same sentiment right back at him. "Josef –"

"What?" he teased, nipping her shoulder, fangs retracted.

"Me, too. Go feed. I can't say I'll be right here waiting; it turns out slate is pretty hard. But I'll be right there," she gestured toward the couch, "Waiting. And I'll tell you what you don't know about tonight."


She pulled on her dress and sat on the couch next to Mick, who had returned nearly as Josef left her. He pulled her close to him, and she naturally lay against him, as if she were meant to be there.

"Mick, promise me something?"

A wink and a nod answered her question, and she continued. "When we rescue Coraline…"

"When we rescue Coraline?" He said the words, but knew they were fruitless. He suspected he knew her plan, that she would be the distraction, and while every fiber of his being screamed "No", he knew Beth would not allow them to leave her behind.

"Promise you'll always be my champion, my friend, that you'll never stop loving me." Tears welled in her eyes, spilled down her cheeks in thick trails.

"Always," he answered, kissing the drops away as they fell. He knew that with her words, she was releasing him to Coraline. "If you'll promise me the same. Well, except the champion part," he said with a wry smile.

She laughed and held him to her, and he swore he could feel her affection, soft and enveloping as velvet against his skin.

"What's going on here? Laughter, tears… did I miss an episode of 'Ghost Whisperer' while I was gone?"

"No. I just got my walking papers," Mick answered.

"You know what? I don't even want to know what that means. What I do want to know is…"

"Black Crystal," Beth said. "I took some. So you'd know I could help, so you'd know I have to. There are two people I'd kill for, and die for, and they're both right here. And if you think for one minute that I am going to sit by idly watching while you two go fight this battle… Think again. I am going with you. I will dazzle and distract Lance, and you will destroy him. End of discussion. But if he kills me, one of you had better get his cute butt in there and turn me before I really die."

"It's settled then?" Mick asked tentatively, looking toward Josef.

"Not at all," Josef replied. "I think this calls for further negotiation. What say we adjourn to my nice cool bedroom for round two?"


Thanks for the encouraging reviews... If only there were 36 hours in a day.....