"i have to go to mistress miniahna's," ruhn heard himself say. "to check on her before the dawn comes."

"all right, i understand." saxton took a step back, a reserve tightening his features. "i shall see you at nightfall, then. we need to pay a visit to those real estate developers."

"good."

there was an awkward silence. and then ruhn blurted, "when?"

saxton exhaled as if he were changing tracks in his head with effort. "ah, let's say five forty-five. end of business for them, dark enough for us. we'll need to take your truck-"

"i mean us. when can we...do this again?"

saxton's smile was quick and sustaining. "anytime you like."

ruhn reached up and brushed the male's face with his knuckles...before running his forefinger across that lower lip. flashes of what they had just done replayed with a soundtrack of their moans and gasps.

"thank you," he said.

saxton shook his head. "i rather think i'm the one who should be saying that."

no, ruhn thought. not at all.

he leaned in and kissed the male. as his blood began to stir, he knew he had to go-or he was liable to never, ever leave.

"it is i who am grateful to you," he whispered against those lips.

"who is oskar?"

as the question was whispered in her ear, novo came fully awake. at first, she had no idea whose chest she was lying all sprawled and warm on-but a quick inhale solved that problem. peyton. she and peyton were-

yes, the hospital room. she was in the clinic, still recovering from surgery.

lifting her head, she looked at the male she'd turned into a throw pillow. peyton seemed perfectly content to be used in such a fashion, his naked body relaxed, his eyes heavily lidded, the mess at his throat already beginning to heal itself. over on the floor, his tuxedo was all fallen-soldier-on-the-battlefield, scattered in pieces from having been cast aside.

his cock was much the same, resting flaccid and exhausted on one of his thighs.

she had the sense it would be back in working order at the drop of a hat.

"a lover?" he prompted.

"who?"

"oskar. you said his name in your sleep just now."

"oh, that's no one."

"really? you seemed upset-or your voice did."

"must have been a nightmare for no good reason."

"yeah." he brushed a wisp of hair back from her cheek. "can i ask you something?"

"sure."

"you want to go on a date with me sometime?"

novo cocked a brow at him. "a date."

"yup. dinner. dancing. this kind of thing."

"are you thinking there will be sex involved?"

"hoping, sure."

"maybe."

his smile went straight into the center of her chest, sure as that dagger had: slow, confident, sexy. "i love a challenge."

"i'm not a challenge, though."

"you are as far from easy as anyone i've ever met."

"you can never win me. that's why i'm not."

"isn't that the very definition of a challenge?"

"no, it's called a brick wall. you're welcome to try me, though."

"somehow, someday," he held his forefinger aloft, "i'm going to get through to you."

"ask yourself why you're bothering to try. you'll get far more out of that endeavor, i assure you-"

"she's soooooooooooooo hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh, hiiigh above me-"

novo recoiled and had to talk over all the off-key. "why are you singing?"

"-she's soooo looooovely-"

novo had to laugh. "you are a total freak, you know that-"

"-liiiiiike cleeeopatraaaa, joooooooannn of arrrrccc-"

"oh, my god, you are tone deaf."

as she covered her ears, he really turned up the volume. "-or apppphroooodiiiiteeee-"

his arms wrapped around her and he kissed her and kissed her again. but it wasn't about sex. he seemed to like the fact that she was laughing, and the mouth-to-mouth was his way of telling her that.

"why are you such a whack job?" she said against his lips.

"