Yay, more updates!!!!! Thanks for your reviews, it is always nice to know one's work is appreciated. Sadly, this post is not as steamy as the last, but I promise there will be more in the future.

Also I want to state that I realize my last update was a little off touch, after a quick review of other stories I realized that most sex scenes are from the female's perspective, and mine was more from Josef's. I believe this is because most of the readers are female. I thought this was interesting and was wondering if anybody else had noticed it too?

Anyways…Enjoy!!!

Building Bridges

Mick continued to stare at the door that had just been shut in his face. Why does she need to speak with Josef alone? What's going on? And what's gotten into Josef? I haven't seen him act like that since the 70's. Mick was pulled back to reality by Beth looping her arm through his.

"Hey," she breathed quietly. "What's up? You look lost in thought." Beth smiled as Mick faced her.

"Nothing…I just…it's nothing," Mick stammered as he finally turned from the door.

"Nothing?" Beth quirked her eyebrow, but let the matter drop. "Why don't you play the 'protective keeper' role and get me out of here." She squeezed his arm, urging him to move.

Mick smiled, "You're afraid?"

"Frankly, yes," she replied. "I wandered into a vampire club unknowingly and was almost attacked. If you hadn't been here-"

"—You wouldn't have been allowed inside," Mick cut in.

"Maybe…or maybe they would have let me in anyways, thinking you would show up later." Beth was sick of Mick blaming himself all the time.

Mick glared at her. You would never have been involved if I had stayed in the shadows like I should have. No use trying to change the past…Mick wrapped his arm around Beth's waist and escorted her from the club, And no use putting her in danger again.

"Wait," Beth said as they reached the door. "You're staying here to question some of these people, right?"

"No, Beth. I need to get you out of here."

"No." Beth stopped, forcing Mick to stop too. "You took the case, didn't you? This is the best opportunity you will get, you should take it." She looked at him in all seriousness.

"You know, I could just carry you out." Mick stated. He was going to get her to safety, even if he had to force her.

"Yes, but how would it look if you removed me kicking and screaming?" Beth pushed his arms off of her and stood defiantly in front of him. "This club has had a lot of excitement this evening, I bet the guards would just love to deal with that kind of scene." She could see the defeat in his eyes.

"Beth, you need…" Mick stepped closer to her, pleading with his voice that she listen to him.

"Mick," Beth's voiced softened. She knew he was only trying to protect her and she couldn't stay angry that long at someone who obviously cared so deeply for her. "I know you're worried, but look at it this way, if there is a rouge company out there hurting vamps and freshies, don't you think that the faster you got to the bottom of it, the safer it would be for everyone… including me. I mean, look what happened here tonight…"

Mick sighed. She has a point. "Okay, Beth. We'll investigate this now."

"We?" Beth looked to him in surprise.

"Yes. If you think I am letting you out of my sight, you are incredibly mistaken." Mick smiled, knowing full well that she would love nothing more than to help him.

Beth smiled. She loved being on the hunt with Mick. "So, where do we start?"

"Let's try the coordinator. He'll know who the dead vamp was drinking. Then maybe we can question the girl, if she's conscious."

Josef pulled back from the kiss. You're going a little fast here, he warned himself. What has gotten into you?

Adriana smiled. Had Josef not been sitting against the desk, he would have gone weak at the knees. He had to admit, this girl had game.

"Didn't you have something you wanted to ask me?" Josef said, dodging her lips as she leaned forward to kiss him.

Adriana pushed her bottom lip out in a pout and asked, "What, is this not a good enough reason for you?"

Josef smiled and brought her back in for another chaste kiss. "No, it is a very good reason. But I just thought you might have… shall we say, other motives."

"Fine…" Adriana huffed and sat back. "I wanted to speak to you about your freshies."

"What do you want to know?"

"Well, first of all, what company do you get them from?"

"I hire mine privately," Josef stated, settling back into his business self. "Mostly fresh out of college. They work for me on a private contract bases."

"You hire them?!" Adriana asked, astonished.

"Yes. They all know what they're getting into. I disclose all their duties fully before I have them sign. So far, none that I have approached have turned me down."

"It must be your good looks and alluring charm," Adriana complimented. Josef smiled.

"Actually, it's the money and benefits. I compensate my girls very well. They have free reign of my house and other… amenities I have at my disposal Not to mention the health benefits and pension plan." Josef grinned. "I treat them very well, and in return, they keep my secrets."

"Wow, sounds like a good deal. But how do you find them?"

"Like most employers—I advertise."

"WHAT?! How the hell do you advertise for freshies?" Adriana was very confused.

"I send recruiters to colleges in LA. I prefer my girls to be able to hold an educated conversation." Josef chuckled at the look of wonder in Adriana's eyes. "I have to say it is no small feat…trying to weed out the gossips from the discreet, but I have managed well for the last 80 years. Sororities have been my biggest help. I have standing appointments with a number of sororities. But now it has reached the point where I can simply hire within families."

"Families? What do you mean?" Adriana asked.

"Well, after I let my freshies go, they go back into the real world. They get normal jobs, get married, and have kids. I have had a few generations of women all from the same family service me. I admit it was kind of awkward at first to feed on the granddaughter of a previous freshie, but feeding within families helps keep the secret. The less people who know, the better."

Adriana just stared. This guy is too much, not only does he hire sorority girls, he hires relatives!

Josef seemed to sense some of her thoughts, for he defended himself. "If you're wondering, I do know each of my girls on a first name bases and I know what is happening in their lives—not only as a concerned employer, but as a protector. Nothing has ever happened to one of my girls while under my employment, except…well, that's another story." Adriana quirked her eyebrow, but didn't ask. She could always push for the story later.

"Well, until your friend St. John figures out what's going wrong with my freshies, I need…I mean, um…Can I…" Adriana trailed off. Why am I so nervous? It seriously can't be this hard just to ask him? Could it be because I have feelings for him? Adriana's face flushed.

"You want to ask me if you could borrow some of my girls?" Josef grinned wickedly as he watched the blood rise in Adriana's cheeks.

"Y-Yes," Adriana stammered. "I mean only if you can spare—"

Josef cut her off with a kiss. "Sure," he purred as he stroked her face. "I have just one request…"

Adriana closed her eyes and leaned her head onto his hand, relishing the feeling of his cool flesh against her cheek, "Anything," she replied.

"Since you will be depriving me of my meals, I will require that you join me." He looked into her face, searching for her response.

Adriana opened her eyes and he could see the shock and acceptance written there. "I have the club to run…" she protested half-heartedly.

"I could join you here. And afterward you could come back with me to my place." Again he searched her eyes for the answer.

"Would clothing be optional?" She smiled knowingly. Josef smiled back and leaned down for a kiss, which she eagerly accepted.