Rachel sat back and capped the bottle of nail polish before holding her feet out and examining the results of her labor. She now had ten dark red toenails. This was a new experience, but she'd had a lot of new experiences since Etienne Argeneau had made his first appearance in her morgue.

Frowning, she forced that thought away. It wasn't good to think about Etienne. She tended to grow morose and depressed when she allowed herself to think of the man and their time together. Rachel missed him. She had only spent a short time in his home, yet it had felt like both an eternity and a mere minute at once. It was as if she had known him forever and experienced a lifetime in a heartbeat. She missed him horribly.

Sighing, she set the polish on the table and stood up. Rachel lifted her jeans so that the cuffs wouldn't ruin all her hard work, then crossed the living room of her apartment and walked into the kitchen. She really should let her nails dry properly before trying to walk, but if she continued to sit on the couch there was no doubt she would just depress herself with thoughts of Etienne and their time together. Rachel had learned that quickly once ensconced back in her own life. Thinking of Etienne was a no-no likely to sink her into deep depression and make her eat ridiculous things like ice cream that her body didn't need and she really had no taste for anymore.

Realizing that she had walked straight to the fridge and opened it to examine its contents, she closed the door with a disgusted sigh. Then she propped her hands on her hips and turned to examine the room. It was spotless. She had cleaned it, as well as the rest of the apartment, before settling down to paint her toenails to pass the time. Rachel still had trouble filling her nights off. She had returned to her life to find that the day position had been given to someone else while she was missing. Her boss had apologized profusely, explaining that they had feared the worst when she had disappeared. The position had needed to be filled at once, so he had given it to Tony, who had also applied. Rachel had assured him she understood, and she did. In fact, much to her own surprise, she hadn't really minded. Her experiences in that one short week had definitely turned her into something of a night person. She now loved the nights and was happy to work through them. Oddly enough, her noisy neighbors no longer disturbed her sleep. She was somehow able to block them out and slept like the dead.

Her only problem with the night now was that it reminded her so much of her time with Etienne, which was wonderful and sad at the same time. She missed him.

A knock at her door saved Rachel from dwelling on Etienne and sinking into sadness and depression again. Pasting a smile on her face, she left the kitchen and walked down the hall to answer it, wondering which of her neighbors would be knocking at this hour. It was well past midnight, but no one had buzzed to be let into the building, so she was sure it had to be a neighbor.

Rachel didn't bother to check the peephole before opening the door. Her strength and speed had continued to grow in the weeks since she'd been turned, and she wasn't really afraid of anyone anymore. It was a new and rather empowering way to live. She pulled the door open and glanced out, then stilled briefly before stepping through the door and glancing up and down the hallway with bewilderment. She was sure she had heard a knock, but there was no one at the door. And there was no one in the hall.

"I must be losing my mind," she muttered as she stepped back inside and automatically locked and bolted the door. Rachel had turned and taken two steps away from the door when the knock sounded again. She stopped walking but didn't turn back to her apartment door. The knocking hadn't come from there. It was coming from down the hall, in the vicinity of the living room. More curious and confused than anything, she continued down the hall, and into the large, comfortable room, her gaze sliding over her overstuffed furniture before another knock drew her gaze to her balcony window.

Rachel gaped at the man who stood on the other side of her sliding glass doors, then rushed forward when he grinned and waved.

"Thomas!" she greeted as she pulled the door open to allow him in. "How did you get up here?"

"I climbed, of course," he said with a shrug.

Rachel stared at him, then stepped out onto the balcony and peered over the edge at the front of the building and the six balconies below her own. She turned back to ask with disbelief, "You climbed that?"

"Sure." He shrugged with amusement. "I like climbing."

Rachel peered back down the building again. It wouldn't be impossible to climb, she supposed, if you were strong and agile and weren't afraid of falling to your death. All of which were no doubt true of a two-hundred-year-old vampire. Heck, give her a couple of hundred years and she might be doing things like that herself.

A little laugh slipping from her throat, she turned back and led the way inside again. "Why didn't you just buzz? I'd have let you in, you know."

Thomas shrugged again as she closed the balcony door behind them. "I wanted to surprise you."

"Well, you succeeded at that," she said dryly, then smiled. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"I wanted to wish you Happy Valentine's and invite you to the Night Club," he said easily--but his words merely confused Rachel again.

"Umm... Thomas, Valentine's is in February. This is September," she pointed out.

He laughed at her wary expression. "We don't follow the regular calendar all the time, you know. After a few hundred years you realize that Valentine's is whenever it is, and Cupid shows up when needs must."

"Oh," Rachel said uncertainly. She really didn't have a clue what he meant, but she was so happy to have company and the chance to do something on her night off that she decided not to question it.

She'd thought a couple of times about going to the Night Club on her own but hadn't had the courage to for fear of running into Etienne. Rachel was afraid she'd throw herself at him or something embarrassing like that. Or that he'd turn away from her in anger. Did he realize yet what he'd given up to save her? Did he hate her? The fact that he hadn't even bothered to call suggested that he might.

"So." Thomas clapped his hands together, startling her out of her thoughts. "Go get changed, Dudette, and we'll hit the club. It should be a happening place tonight."

Rachel didn't even bother to think about it, just nodded with a grateful smile and hurried out of the room and into her bedroom. She was wearing the tight jeans Marguerite had fetched her from her apartment when she was staying at Etienne's. Rachel usually wore them on her days off; they were comfortable and comforting to her now, and reminded her of her time with him. She knew she'd eventually have to replace them but didn't look forward to the day.

She took them off now and donned a short tight black leather skirt she'd purchased recently in one of her weak moments, when she'd hoped Etienne might contact her. Rachel had hoped to wear it out on a date to drive him crazy. He'd never contacted her, however, and she'd let go of that fantasy. She had no desire to drive Thomas wild with it; he was nice, but Etienne had already stolen her heart and she doubted she'd recover for a long while. But there was always the possibility that they might run into Etienne. If so, she wanted to look her best. If nothing else, he would at least see what he was missing out on.

Rachel finished doing up the skirt, then whipped off the large T-shirt she was wearing, exchanging it for a dressy white blouse that she tucked into the skirt. Then she donned sandals that would show off her newly painted toes and hurried into the bathroom to apply a little eye shadow and lipstick. After running her fingers lightly through her hair for a sexy, slightly tousled look, she squirted some perfume on her throat and wrists and hurried back out.

"That was quick. And you look good," Thomas said with admiration as she rejoined him in the living room. "Let's go, Dudette. The night awaits."

Much to her relief, he didn't head for the door to her balcony, but started down the hall to her front door. Rachel didn't think she was ready to start climbing buildings yet. She grabbed her purse and followed him out of her apartment, her step suddenly lighter. She liked Thomas. Not in the same way she liked Etienne, of course. But he was fun and made her laugh, and she knew he would make sure she had a good time tonight. An evening at the Night Club would be fun, much better than sitting around her apartment, moping over what might have been.

Besides, she might gain some information about Etienne from Thomas. He would know how his cousin was doing and what he was up to. Rachel was embarrassingly hungry for information about Etienne.

Etienne packaged the discs for Blood Lust II, addressed the label, and set it aside with a sigh. He'd finished. Finally, it was done. He stared at the envelope for a moment, his mind blank, then stood restlessly and left his office. He'd been working on the game nonstop, not allowing thoughts of Rachel to intrude and interrupt him, except for the night that his mother had come by to harass him. Now that he was done, however, his first thought was of Rachel. He wondered what she was doing as he walked upstairs.

Was she at work? No, he decided. She'd learned she'd been given the day job the night he'd turned her. It was after midnight. No doubt she was sleeping right now, tucked up nice and comfortable in a big warm bed, he thought, and felt longing rise up within him. He wished he was there in that bed with her. Of course, she wouldn't get much sleep if he were there. He wouldn't be able to resist touching her, caressing her--

Etienne killed his own thoughts there. Fantasizing about making love to Rachel wasn't the most productive thing in the world. Besides, he had more important things to do, like figuring out a way to approach her. He had decided his mother was right. He had to tell her of his feelings and find out what hers were. The only question was how he should go about doing it.

Etienne was halfway through the kitchen when the phone began ringing. He immediately turned to the door to the basement, then recalled that he'd had phones placed throughout the house when the repairman had been in to fix the one in the basement.

Turning back, he walked to the phone on his kitchen wall and grabbed it up to bark "hello?" into it.

"Hey, dude!" Thomas's cheerful voice greeted him. "Guess where I am?"

Etienne grimaced. The sounds of loud music and talk nearly drowned out the man. It didn't take a genius to figure this one out. "Night Club."

"Got it in one, dude." Thomas laughed. "Yeah, I'm here with this nuclear babe. You might know her. Rachel?"

"What?" Etienne stiffened, his fingers tightening reflexively around the receiver.

"Yeah." Thomas sounded smug. "She wasn't doing anything. I wasn't doing anything..."

"Thomas," Etienne growled. Cold fury rose within him at the suggestive pause.

"She's in the ladies' room now and doesn't know I'm calling you. If you want her, you better come on out here and join us," his cousin said with amusement. Then, in more serious tones, he added, "And you'd better get it right this time, dude. I'm not playing Cupid for you two again. If you mess up now, I'm taking her for myself. Happy Valentine's."

The click of the phone was followed by a dial tone. Etienne listened to it for at least a full minute as his mind raced. Thomas was playing Cupid. He was interfering again. God bless him, he thought, and slammed the phone down. Then he spent a moment dithering about what he should do first. He needed a shower and to change his clothes. He had to shave. Dear God, he had a beard growing on his damned face, he'd gone so long without shaving. Maybe he should bring her something. Flowers maybe. Where the hell was he going to find her flowers at this hour? Why did everything have to close at night? Didn't anyone out there want to make any money? he thought irritably as he hurried out of the kitchen.

"You're a happening chick, Dudette!"

Rachel laughed at Thomas's compliment as she danced to the rock tune blaring at them on the dance floor. She was having fun. Really. Lots of fun. And she'd only thought of Etienne about two thousand times in the two hours that they'd been there. That was less than usual.

"I'm pooped, Dudette. Let's sit." Thomas didn't wait for her agreement, but caught her by the hand and dragged her off the dance floor. Rachel followed without protest. She was enjoying herself but could do with a rest.

"Good, our drinks are here," Rachel said with a pleased sigh as she dropped into her chair. She'd decided to be brave and let Thomas order for her again, stating only that he couldn't order her a Sweet Ecstasy. He'd ordered her an Ever Enduring. That hadn't sounded too risky. Still, she'd asked what it was, and he'd merely smiled and said she'd see. Rachel tried it curiously, surprised that it wasn't bad. Not bad at all. She no longer needed straws to feed.

"Oh, look who's here."

Rachel glanced up and froze at the sight of Etienne making his way through the crowd toward them. For a moment, happiness filled her heart, but then worry replaced it. He didn't look happy to see them. In fact, he looked rather irritable, she decided as she watched him walk the last couple of feet to the table and pause there to stare at her. She was just deciding that he had realized what he had given up and did hate her when he suddenly whipped his hand out from behind his back and held out a bouquet of limp flowers to her. Rachel stared blankly at the sad bouquet before reaching out uncertainly to take them. Her hesitation was obviously too long, because Etienne immediately began to apologize for their state.

"I wanted to get you flowers, but none of the flower shops are open at this hour. I checked six all-night variety stores before finding any at all, and this was the best of the--"

"They're lovely," Rachel interrupted as she took the flowers. Limp and sad-looking as they were, they truly were lovely to Rachel. They represented hope, and she accepted them gladly, offering a shy smile as she lifted them to her face and sniffed the delicate bouquet of--"Salami?"

"They were kept in the deli fridge," he muttered, looking embarrassed.

Rachel bit her lip to keep from laughing, then smiled at him widely. "How have you been?"

"Miserable," he answered simply. "You?"

"The same." They shared a smile and both relaxed.

"Well, it looks like my job here is done," Thomas announced and got to his feet before explaining to Rachel, "It was fun, but I'm just the delivery boy, Dudette. Aunt Marguerite asked me to play Cupid and I like you, so I agreed."

"Cupid, huh?" Etienne asked with amusement.

"Yeah, you can laugh," Thomas said good-naturedly. "Enjoy it while you can. But don't mess up with Dudette this time. Once every hundred years is my limit on the Cupid gig."

Moving to Rachel's side, he bent to hug her and murmured, "Welcome to the family."

Rachel wanted to ask what that meant, but Thomas walked away too quickly for her to get the chance. She watched him disappear into the crowd, then turned to glance at Etienne as he took the seat his cousin had just vacated.

"I missed you," he announced the moment her gaze met his.

Rachel's eyebrows flew up at this claim. The thought "You could have fooled me" flew through her mind, and Etienne smiled wryly.

"I heard that," he said with amusement.

"I thought you couldn't read my mind," Rachel said suspiciously.

"I can't," he assured her. "Well, except when we're intimate. Your mind opens to me."

"Then how did you--?"

"You actually projected that thought to me."

"Did I really?" she asked.

"Yes. It was most likely accidental, but with practice you'll be able to do it at will."

"Really? Can you teach me how?"

He was silent for a minute, then said, "I have a better idea. I'll project a thought to you and you try to read it."

"Okay," she agreed, then tilted her head. "How do I do that?"

"Just open your mind to me and I'll do the rest," he told her, then went silent, his eyes narrowed with concentration. A bare moment passed before Rachel heard his thoughts as clearly as if he were speaking in her ear.

I miss you. I ache for you. Something is missing from life when you aren't there. I want you back in my life, my home, and my bed. I want to wake up each evening beside you. I love you, Rachel.

Rachel stared at him, hardly able to believe she had heard correctly. "Then why haven't you called? If Thomas hadn't brought me here tonight--"

"I would have found another place and way to approach you," he assured her solemnly. "I just wanted to get my deadline out of the way so I could concentrate solely on you."

Rachel thought that sounded rather lame. He'd wanted to get his work out of the way first? She came after work, after his video game? Well, that was flattering.

"You must be really pissed," he said wryly. "You're sending your thoughts out clear as a bell."

When she didn't smile or react in any way that might let him off the hook, he sighed and said, "Perhaps we should go somewhere quieter."

Rachel nodded solemnly, downed the last of her drink, and stood. They were both silent as they exited Night Club and made their way to his car. She didn't demur when he opened the passenger door for her to get in and didn't ask where they were headed. Neither was she terribly surprised when they pulled up in front of his house. It was where most of their relationship had taken place. It seemed the most logical place to resolve it.

Rachel followed him inside and into the library on the main floor. She felt calm steal over her on entering the room. They had spent several quiet evenings together in this room, simply reading together.

"Okay," Etienne said as they sat on the love seat and he settled his arm around her, drawing her against his chest. "It wasn't work. That was an excuse."

She wasn't terribly surprised at this admission but remained silent and was rewarded when he added, "I was afraid."

Now that did surprise her, and Rachel sat up and turned to peer at him. "Afraid of what?"

"Of being hurt, Rachel," he said quietly. "I've never thought of myself as a coward, but this was an entirely new experience for me. I've never met a woman I was attracted to and whose thoughts I couldn't read. It was a new experience and not very comfortable. I felt vulnerable from the start. And confused too, I suppose. You should remember, I've managed to live three hundred years without falling in love. The feelings you brought about in me took me by surprise."

"I was rather taken by surprise too," Rachel admitted quietly and settled back into his embrace. "And scared of being hurt. Actually, I was afraid you would realize what you had given up to save me and would come to hate me, which was--"

"Never," he interrupted firmly, giving her a squeeze. "I knew what I was doing right from the start. I was attracted to you from the beginning, even when you were sick and pale and looked ready to keel over." When she glanced up at him, he smiled to soften the description. Then he caught her chin in his hand and said, "Rachel, I can't imagine spending my life with anyone but you. I can't imagine a life without you. You have my heart, and I realize I may be rushing you and that you might want more time to consider it, but--"

"I don't need more time, Etienne," she interrupted quietly. "I know this is all happening quickly, but you're the man I've wanted all my life. If I had taken the time to imagine what the man I loved looked like and the qualities he would have, you would have been who I dreamed of. I love you," she said simply, and smiled when he released a long drawn-out sigh.

"Then marry me," he blurted.

"Yes," Rachel said at once, but he shook his head.

"You have to think about this, Rachel. This isn't a piddling twenty-five to fifty years I'm asking for. Marriage among my people--at least the people in my family--is for life. And life for us can be a very long time."

"I hope it's an eternity," she said solemnly. "I love you, Etienne. I would spend eternity with you. You have my heart too."

A slow smile spread wide across his face. "Thank you. I will guard your heart all the days of my life." The words were a bare whisper before he leaned forward and claimed her lips in a kiss.

Rachel sighed into his mouth as her lips opened. His kiss felt like coming home, and she had been away for far too long. Meeting his invading tongue with her own, she twisted where she sat and slid her hands up his chest. She allowed one to continue up around his neck and into his hair to catch in the silken strands there. With the fingers of the other she caught at his shirtfront to tug him closer. Her body arched into his of its own accord and desire was a sudden rush through her body, making her hungry and bold. Rachel wanted him under her, on her, and in her all at once. She wanted to join with him and feel his body fill her. She wanted to hold him and be held like this forever.

And you can. The words whispered through her brain, a message from him to her that brought a chuckle from deep in Rachel's throat. But her happy amusement died and the chuckle ended on a growl as his hand found her breast through the cloth of her blouse. Things were suddenly quite serious.

Rachel allowed herself to fall backward on the love seat, tugging more insistently at the cloth of his shirt as she did so and forcing him to follow her down. Etienne shifted and came down on top of her, his lips and hands becoming more demanding. Within moments, Rachel's white blouse was open and the hooks that fastened the front of her bra were undone. She shivered in anticipation and arched beneath him as he pushed the silky material of her bra aside, revealing her naked breasts. When he bent his head to capture one already erect nipple, she clasped his scalp in both hands and held him close, then suddenly released her hold on his hair and pushed him away.

The startled expression on his face as he raised up away from her was priceless, but Rachel was too busy working at his shirt buttons to take much notice. She quickly undid them until his shirt gaped open as he leaned over her, then spread her hands over the wide expanse of bare skin. Rachel loved his chest, the hardness, the strength. She stopped when her palms ran over his nipples and caught them between her thumbs and forefingers to fondle them with interest.

Etienne released a low growl at the caress, then lowered himself over her to claim her lips once more. Passion burst between them, hot and unstoppable, and the time for exploration was over. It felt as if they had been apart forever and the need between them wouldn't be denied. It was like a brushfire, burning bright and furious. Their kisses became almost rough, and she scraped her nails up his back as his hands roamed her body, then dug them into the backs of his upper arms and arched beneath him as he slid one hand between her legs to press against the leather of her skirt.

"I need you," she gasped. It was a demand, not a plea, and was accompanied by Rachel reaching between them with one hand to clasp him through his jeans.

Etienne's reaction was immediate. He lifted himself briefly to kneel between her legs on the couch, pushed her skirt up the few inches necessary, grasped her panties and, rather than draw them down, simply snapped the sides of the flimsy silk so that it fell away like so much flotsam. He was undoing his jeans as he came back down on top of her, then he slid one hand under her bottom, lifted her slightly, and slid into her as she wrapped her legs around his hips.

Rachel groaned with relief as he entered her, her body welcoming and holding him tightly as he groaned at her ear. Then he began to move, and they were both swept up in the moment; striving, almost fighting for the release they needed. Etienne made sure Rachel found hers first, but the moment she cried out and clenched around him as it claimed her, he said, "Thank God" through clenched teeth and allowed himself to join her. Then he collapsed on top of her and they lay panting together.

Etienne was the first to stir. Releasing a wry, still breathless laugh, he shifted them on the couch so that he lay flat on his back and she now lay splayed on top of him, limp as a rag doll.

"Well, that was..." His voice was husky and he let the words trail off.

"Hmmm..." Rachel murmured, then lifted her head to grin at him lazily. "Want to do it again?"

Chuckling, he clasped his arms around her and hugged her close. "Love to. You good to go?"

"Oh yes, I--" She stopped abruptly and lifted her head again, her eyes wide.

"What?" he asked with concern.

"I didn't faint," she said with amazement. "That's the first time I haven't fainted."

"Then I definitely didn't do it right," Etienne decided and sat up, forcing her up with him.

"Oh, but I... er... enjoyed it as much as usual," Rachel said, aware that she was blushing but unable to stop it. "Maybe more. It was pretty hot."

"It was, wasn't it?" He was grinning rather smugly as he scooped her up in his arms and stood to carry her across the library.

Rachel shook her head at the male ego and laid her head against his chest as he carried her into the hall. They were halfway up the stairs to the second floor when Etienne suddenly asked, "What were you drinking at the club?"

"An Enduring something," Rachel murmured, toying with the hair at the base of his neck.

"Ah." Etienne nodded.

"Ah what?" Rachel asked raising her head off his shoulder to peer at his face curiously.

"You won't be fainting tonight," he informed her with amusement.

"Oh?"

"Hmm." He chuckled. "In fact, Thomas has arranged it so that I'm in for a real workout."

"Really?" She asked with interest as he carried her into the bedroom. "I think I like your cousin."

"Right now, I do too," he said with a laugh. He kicked the bedroom door closed behind them.