Vicki went home with strict orders from Coreen to take the day off. The way Vicki felt, that was not going to be a problem. Coreen drove her home and told her that Henry would be by later to check.

"I'm not an invalid, Coreen," Vicki told her while trying to stifle a groan.

"Yes, I know but I'm following orders," Coreen cocked her head and grinned.

Thanking her under her breathe once more, Vicki exited the car and trudged to her office apartment to take a hot shower and rest again. While letting the hot water run over her head and down her body, Vicki wondered to herself just what she'd thought Henry was supposed to be like. Was he this cad, a predatory beast who sought nothing but sustenance and his own sexual pleasure? Or, was he this caring romantic that truly thought of others and wanted to make sure his 'meal' as it were, enjoyed the experience? Was he relationship material? Did that even matter to her? She sure as hell wasn't relationship material but that dream, or whatever it was, damn! If that wasn't a dream, then Vicki would be a fool not to at least pursue some type of pleasure herself by giving in to Henry, even it it was just unattached sex. If it was a dream, it was the most realistic dream she'd ever had and wouldn't mind finishing it. Smiling to herself while she toweled off, she didn't notice it was past sunset when she stepped into her bedroom area.

Vicki nearly jumped out of her skin when Henry spoke a soft, "Hello."

"Henry!" Vicki exclaimed while grabbing the towel wrapped around her a little tighter.

"How did..What are you doing in here?" She scanned the room for a quick exit. Her heart was pounding, her mind was still reeling from thinking of her dream and her body responded to his close proximity in a way it should not be, or rather, she wasn't ready for her body to respond that way involuntarily.

"I wanted to see about you, Vicki, nothing more. Are you okay?" Henry moved toward her slowly. He didn't sense fear in her but anticipation. His eyes seemed to be genuine, the worry in them real and honest.

"Gee thanks but I've had worse beatings at the gym," she shrugged.

"Mmm..so you get shot often too?" he teased.

"No, not often, never really," she trailed off. She tried to look uninterested and began to find a way to retreat back into the bathroom to find something to put on, anything, a robe, shirt, something.

"What's the matter?" Henry prodded knowing full well what was happening to her.

"You weren't mind..I mean, in my mind today were you?" Vicki stopped herself from using the term Henry hated.

Henry shook his head, "Me? No, not me. I'm dead for intensive purposes during the day, remember? We don't dream." His smile was just a bit too michevious for Vicki to fully believe him. Vicki mouthed an 'oh' and nodded her head in agreement. Henry was amused with her reaction.

"Well, I shall go. You need rest," taking her hand, he kissed the back of it gently. Vicki's heart leapt into her throat nearly. Here she was, naked save a towel around her hair and body, Henry, the hot vampire, the sexy, romantic vampire, here in her bedroom and she just let him walk away.

"By the way, our date?" Henry reminded her.

"Date?"

"Yes, you agreed to go on a real date with me, after the case," Vicki did remember and now regretted it. She didn't want all of the messiness of dating and relationships, least of all with Henry, did she? No, she didn't. She just wanted hot, erotic, sticky and non-commital sex.

"Date, right. Uh..tomorrow night then?" she offered.

"I'll be here an hour after sunset, get some rest Victoria," and with that he was gone.

Feeling very unsatisfied and pent up, Vicki flopped on her bed, threw herself back and sighed.

What the hell was she going to do? Go on the date? Be cordial? She'd seen this man naked in her dream! She wanted him, badly that was undeniable but no strings attached. She wanted nothing.

She had to keep telling herself that, but did she believe it?