SINGLE WHITE VAMPIRE Page 0,62

bright room with surprise. The walls were solid without windows, but there were skylights overhead. They were frosted skylights, and it hadn't occurred to her that they might be a problem. She should have thought of it. Her gaze moved to the table they sat at, and Kate almost groaned as she realized that she had chosen a table positioned directly under a skylight.

"The alcohol last night didn't help either," Lucern continued. "It dehydrates the body, too."

Kate frowned. She'd noted the crushed beer cans, empty pizza box and piles of peanut shells around the coffee table in front of the television this morning. It looked as if Chris and Lucern had enjoyed a boys' night. Now Luc was paying for it in spades. It seemed his state was a result of a lot of things. The latest reason was her fault, however.

They had nearly reached the table. Kate steered Lucern away from it and toward one of the exits. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" He sounded confused.

"To find you food." She stepped out of the reception hall and peered around. There really wasn't time to go to their suite. Somewhere closer was needed. She dragged him toward the men's room.

"Go inside and see if it's empty," she suggested. "If it isn't, make whoever's in there leave. You can do that, can't you? You know, control their mind and"

"Yes. But"

"Just do it," Kate insisted.

Lucern shook his head, but pushed through the door. A couple minutes later, the door opened and a man walked out. Kate recognized him as one of the male models. She smiled nervously at him, but he didn't smile backhe didn't even seem to notice her standing there. His eyes were glazed, his expression blank.

She watched him walk away, then slid into the bathroom, relieved to find Lucern alone.

"Okay." She walked determinedly to him. "Let's do it."

Lucern shook his head as she held out her wrist. "I can't."

"What do you mean, you can't?" she snapped in exasperation. "You've already bitten Chris and me once, so of course you can. Just get your teeth out."

"Kate, I can't. It would hurt."

"It didn't hurt last night," she pointed out.

"That was because you were overwhelmed with sexual desire."

Kate flushed, but didn't bother denying it. She had been rather hot and bothered. "What's that got to do with it?" Her eyes narrowed. "Chris wasn't"

"Of course not." He was starting to sound impatient. "But I can control his mind."

"So control mine."

"I can't, Kate. Your mind is too strong."

"It is?" She felt pleasure fill her. Her mind was too strong. Wasn't that nice? She had a strong mind. Oh, she realized suddenly, she even had a stronger mind than Chris, because, from what she'd seen upon returning to the room last night, Lucern had no difficulty in controlling him. She would have liked to gloat about that, but Lucern was still speaking.

"The only time I can get into your head is when you're sleeping, or when you're wrapped up in passion. At least, I assume I can then. You didn't feel any pain when I bit you last night, did you?"

Kate shook her head. "No. No pain at all."

He nodded. "Then your mind must have opened enough for me to infuse it with pleasure."

"Hmm." Kate digested that. "How do you know you can get into my head when I'm sleeping?"

Guilt crossed Lucern's face, and Kate suddenly recalled the erotic dream she'd had in his home. "You didn't" she said.

He flinched at the accusation, then raised his hands placatingly. "I was just checking on you. And you looked so sweet and sexy, I started thinking about what I'd like to do to you and I didn't realize you were receiving my thoughts until you er" He shrugged uncomfortably. "I stopped right away."

Kate glared at him, feeling vulnerable and exposed. The dream she'd had in his home hadn't been a dream at all. Or had it? His fantasy? Was it a dream? A waking dream? It hadn't been hers.

The bathroom door opened, and both she and Lucern glanced sharply toward it as a middle-aged man started into the room. Lucern scowled at him, his eyes flashing silver fire. Leave.

The man stopped abruptly, his eyes glazing over; then he turned and obediently left the room.

The minute they were alone again, Kate grabbed Lucern's hand and pulled him into one of the stallsshe could hardly let him keep putting the whammy on people who entered the bathroom. The stall was a close fit, but she supposed it was good