I sure as shit remember how I woke up the following night. I was lying on my stomach with my arms over my head, my body numb and my head in a garbage disposal. I wasn't tied up, that much I knew because more than once I'd woken up in the exact same position. My head wasn't really in the kitchen sink, either. I'd only had two shots of Tequila and ended up feeling like thAT? I vowed at that moment never to drink again.

Trying to open my eyes, although they were swollen and hurt like hell, I finally managed; they were scratchy, too. It was difficult focusing on my surroundings. All I knew was I wasn't in my bed. The wallpaper was a gaudy 1920's print and the curtains—god, they should have fired the decorator. Curtain—sunlight. I grunted and quickly buried my face in the pillow to shield my eyes from a beam of sunlight I was sure would burn into my cornea. I tested them slowly before turning my head back to the side and saw it was dark outside. I'd slept all day?

I concentrated on my body then, ready for the bones to crack, but it felt like I was sleeping on a cloud. I didn't remember getting there, but at that moment it was the best place I wanted to be. I grunted and yawned as I stretched my body, buried my face in the pillow again and only then realized I was laying buck naked, the bed sheet covering me just at the top of my ass.

I was startled when something soft, cool and wet licked over the small of my back up to my shoulders with something sharp trailing behind it. I smiled. It was a dream! Or nightmare, really. I was still Master's. I couldn't have been happier. "Masssterr," I grunted drowsily, keeping my head facing the opposite direction to heighten the sensation of his tongue and nails exploring my back.

Master pressed His body against mine but it was different—way different. It was cold. Maybe He had been over the covers and because I was partially covered, He just felt cold.

"No, I'm not your Master, yet, but maybe soon. Welcome back, my angel."

Whose voice was that? Oh, wait. No! I wanted to deny who it was. It just couldn't be!

His erect penis brushed against my outer thigh, and I could no longer deny who it was. I had to see for myself, first. I painfully lifted my head and turned to face him. No, no, no! I threw myself off the bed and landed on the floor, dazed, confused, hurting like hell and still naked. "Eric!"

"Yes?" he replied cooly, scooting over to my side of the bed, his head in his hand and peering down at me with a devilish grin. Damn him and his grin! His fangs were exposed and scared me shitless.

I pushed myself against the wall, drew my knees up and wrapped my arms around me knees. "What the fuck ... what did you do to me?" I was petrified he'd done something—my body shivered at the thought.

"Nothing that you didn't want me to," he said maliciously.

"You mother fucker!" I screamed as I attempted to stand up. "I ... you ... I was drunk!" Somehow I made it to my feet.

"Yet no less delicious." He narrowed his eyes.

My hand clasped onto my neck but didn't feel any puncture wounds. Regardless, that was it! I stormed towards the door.

"Where do you think you're going dressed like that?" he asked.

I didn't understand the meaning of his words so I didn't answer. I opened the door and the vampire behind the bar at Fangtasia stood there, his big, threatening arms crossed over his chest. His right eyebrow rose and Eric's words sunk in. I was showing my bare body to another vampire. I slammed the door in his face. I was trapped then. SMACK. "Ow." SMACK. Bang. "Ow, ow!" Bang Bang Bang! "Fuck, fuck, fuck! Ow!"

I was pulled back from banging my forehead against the hard, wooden door, forced to turn around. Eric's hands held me firmly. "Now, don't go ruining that perfect face of yours."

I tried to fight him. I really did. But my body wouldn't let me fight back. I stood frozen before looking up at his chin, determined not to let him glamour me as he apparently had the night before. "Let GO of me!" That was the most I could do. Pretty weak and ... human, huh?

He stepped back and put his hands up defensively, a corner of his mouth slightly curved up. "There's a robe on the back of the rocker," he told me, nodding his head towards the corner of the room. "When you're decent, come downstairs for something to eat."

It was probably all poisoned, or hoped it was. "I want answers, Eric. You owe me that much."

"I will give you answers," he said as he opened the door; the bodyguard stepped aside.

"No, now!" I demanded. A naked woman making a demand? I would have laughed if it wasn't me.

He laughed wickedly that gave me chills; I wrapped my arms around me. "When you calm down—and I hope you remain a little spunky—I will tell you everything you need to know."

Before I finished blinking I was staring at the closed door and standing alone, in a room that I didn't belong, in the home of a vampire that wanted me for his breakfast (it being night, I assumed Vamps ate their breakfast at night), in a world I didn't belong. I was, for the first time in my life, completely defenseless, utterly alone and totally screwed at being in the hands of Eric Northman.

Putting on the robe and sulking for an hour, I swallowed what little pride I had left and went downstairs, though I had no clue where I was going. But by the time I hit the foyer I let my nose lead me. I was starving, and it seemed Eric played up on that particular weakness of all humans. I walked into what appeared to be a little-used dining room, of course, where the table had plates upon plates of food, all covered to keep warm, baskets with an array of biscuits, rolls and crescent rolls, and pitchers of lemonade, iced tea and water. I hadn't eaten for over twenty-four hours, not a week.

"Eat," came a voice behind me that scared me so badly I jumped as I twirled around to face Eric. He was staring at me oddly, but I let it go.

"Okay, so, I'm here. Tell me what I want to know," I said firmly.

"Eat," he repeated.

I had no appetite. "Eric, please," I started, softening my voice, "just tell me."

We played the 'Stare the other down till the other looks away' game for five minutes before he said, "You eat. I'll explain."

Sounded fair enough. I sulked over to the chair with the place setting and sat down. Eric did not. He leaned against the wall and watched me like I was prey. Hell, in a way I was. I looked over the food and I had to be honest, I was famished.

So I ate while Mr. Eric Northman, Fangtasia Club owner, Dom Extraordinaire and last but not least vampire, gave me the whole scoop. I wasn't expecting to hear how my former Master, lover and friend had betrayed me in the cruelest of ways. "I met Daniel six months ago when he came into Fangtasia. He was highly ... interested in our kind."

"What? Kidnappers, masochists and straight up bastards?" I asked with a mouthful of food, not polite, I know, but we were far from etiquette rules.

"God, seeing that makes me glad I don't eat human food anymore." He snickered. "Anyway, as I was saying," he cleared his throat impatiently, "I traded my life's story for you."

"That's a flat-out lie! He would never—"

"Well, he did, I'm afraid."

"You didn't know me before we met," I stated.

"Oh, but I did. He'd inform me where you two were. I'd watched you very carefully. I watched your every move, and how you satisfied your Master, and when you misbehaved."

"I never mis—" I couldn't finish that because it might have been true. I put my fork on the plate and sipped the lemonade to gather my thoughts. "Okay, what else?"

"That doesn't bother you?" he asked incredulously.

"What else?" I repeated, leaning back against the chair.

"I didn't have to tell him that much. It seemed he already knew quite a lot of information. When he was satisfied, and only then, did he tell me you are—were his slave."

"And?"

"So, we worked out a deal. He told me your limits, most of them, and I agreed that he be there while ... my side of the deal was met. He didn't like that."

Good. "And he agreed for you to whip and fuck me?"

"No, that was a bonus."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Bonus?"

He pushed himself off the wall and was standing beside me in a heartbeat. I was startled as well as impressed. "Call it a favor, a bribe, whatever you want. By the way, you have me intrigued, little girl."

"I am not a little girl!"

He glanced down at my cleavage and grinned. "That I can attest to." I pulled the collar of the robe over my chest. "You were a good slave, and I wanted to find out for myself."

Yeah, tell me something I don't know.

"Daniel was happy with you—for a human," he chortled harshly. "He was proud of you for carrying yourself to his standards when you were at the club."

Okay, I didn't know that and of course, I knew the latter part, too. But that still didn't answer my question.

"It was an even trade. Two meetings, over and done with. As far as your situation now, I had nothing to do with that."

Hmm, do I believe him? "Then ... then why did he—"

"I can't answer that, Connee. But you are aware that sometimes Masters—"

"I know that! Okay, so answer me this—you brought me here so apparently you aren't done with me. What do you want with me?"

"To make you an offer." He put his hands on the arm rests, just as I had done to him at the club.

I stood my ground—or ass, as the case was—and raised my eyebrows with curiosity, but also with dread. "And what might that be?"

"Daniel tells me you are an accountant."

"Yeah, so?" I was beginning to see where he was going with his little offer, but I had to hear it before I got my foot stuck in my mouth.

"I need an accountant for the club. You do that for me, and I shall be your new Master."

"Where's the logic in that?" I asked dumbfounded. "You get an accountant and a slave?" I shook my head. "Doesn't sound fair to me."

"You are no fool, Connee. You need a Master, do you not?"

"No, as a matter of fact I don't!" I said confidently. "I don't ... it's too soon."

He came closer to my face and snickered. "It's never too soon."

Yes, it was. I'd been without a Master for just over twenty-four hours and I had more confidence in myself than I've ever had, as well as strength to stand up for myself. "I've got a job," I stuttered.

"I could pay you handsomely."

"I don't accept orgasms as payment," I barked.

He laughed long and hard at that. "God, I like your spunk. Let me ask you this: Where are you going to go? How much money do you have for a new wardrobe considering you had none in your car?"

Oh, that's right. Daniel threw my suitcase out the door, but I didn't grab it when I left.

"Who's going to take care of you?" he challenged.

His face was only inches from mine and my blood started to boil. "I can take care of myself."

"Leave if you want. See how far you get." He stepped back and leaned against the dining room table. "You have until ten o'clock tomorrow night. My offer ends then." He headed out of the room before turning back to me. "There is an outfit in the bedroom closet. Your car keys are by the door."