death, it can be to just first blood, but it is a way our people settle many things.”
“I’ve never heard of any of the women in your clan fighting over you,” I said.
“It was hurting us as a clan, so I ruled that if they fought for me, neither would win a place in my bed. I finally had to simply not date anyone within our clan, and then as I became king of more rat clans, I just ran out of dating possibilities. The power and stability were more important to me, and as I ruled over more people and land, I found that I didn’t have time to pursue a relationship, and here we are.”
“Wow, now I’m sort of embarrassed that I brought the topic up with our poly group, because it’s going to hit all sorts of issue buttons for you.”
“Who else besides Pierette agreed to it?” he asked, and the fact that he asked it at all meant that he was still intrigued by the idea.
“Angel’s arm went up so fast I thought she’d pop a ligament.”
He laughed.
“Fortune was interested, but I think Echo is feeling that they’re spreading themselves too thin now.”
“They have been a couple for hundreds of years, that must take precedence,” he said.
I nodded. “Yeah, till death do you part can last a hell of a long time when one of you is a vampire.”
“Only if the vampire makes you their human servant, or their animal to call, so you share their ageless immortality,” he said.
“If I make you my rat to call, I can’t promise I have any ageless immortality to share. I’m not a real vampire, I just share some of the powers of one.”
“I know, it is not for that reason I wish you to mark me.”
“You want the power,” I said.
He nodded. “I do.”
“It’s not that simple, Rafael.”
“Some of the people in your life are afraid that tying yourself to me will take time and attention from them,” he said.
I must have looked surprised, because he added, “I have spoken with Micah at length. He told me that some of your secondaries already feel they do not get enough of you.”
“I guess that’s another reason I thought about you sleeping with some of the other women. I thought that might take the pressure off the just-you-and-me dynamics and calm all the insecure people down,” I said.
“It is a good idea, Anita, but one thing I’ve learned dating crazy, passionate women is that logic and good ideas cannot reassure an insecure person. No matter what you do, it is never enough, because the insecurity is inside them and only they can fix it.”
“Wise words,” I said.
“I try, but I would like to leave wisdom behind now.”
“What did you have in mind?” I asked, smiling.
“Fuck me like you’re one of my crazy exes.”
I laughed.
“Then feed on me, feed on all the rats, take as much energy as you can.”
“You don’t want me to take that much,” I said.
“No, but take what you can, just in case.”
“I’ll have to alert everyone that I’m taking that big a feeding, so no one is driving a car or something where they need to concentrate,” I said.
“Benito has already sent out the text chain to let my people know.”
I could have argued that he should have asked me before the text went out, but I didn’t. He’d been proactive, I sort of liked that. Competency and confidence were sexy, and Rafael had both of those in spades.
5
WE GOT OUR clothes off in a rush of hands and eager kisses, but once we got into the shower, it slowed down to hands gliding over and exploring smooth, wet skin.
Rafael drew back to gaze down at me, water running from his hair, down his face. I had to move back enough that I was in the void his body made in the pattern of the water drops so that the only water hitting me was a few stray drops as it poured over him.
“I want time with you, Anita. I’m not in the mood for a quickie,” he said, raising his voice a little over the sound of the water.
“Okay,” I said, “probably better not to hog the showers from everybody anyway.” I tried to make it a joke, but his face stayed solemn and the weight of emotions in his eyes was almost too heavy to lift.
“Unless you need to go to one of your other lovers?” He smiled at the end, but the only