He looked astonished  but bent and covered her lips
with his.  He kissed her deeply and fiercely.  She was
trembling against him when he released her.  She
opened her mouth to ask why so much passion when the
Limo came to a standstill, they had arrived at their
destination. They drew apart with a sigh as the driver
came to open the door.

Natalie scrubbed at her tear stained face, suddenly
conscious that her makeup was in ruins.

She turned back, reaching up a hand to wipe the
lipstick from his lips with her finger and thumb.  He
caught the tip of her finger in his lips and smiled
as she drew it slowly away.

"There's a powder room on the left side, just inside
the door.  You will want to freshen up there."

She nodded as he moved past her and got out of the
Limo.  He then reached back in to take her hand and he
drew her out.

Natalie kept her face down and didn't look into
anyone's face.  She went directly to the ladies room,
ducked into the first marble cubicle, and pressed
herself against the cool wall.  She felt overwhelmed
and a bit panicked.  "What am I doing? What must he
think of me?  I practically threw myself at him."  She
blushed remembering his deep kisses.  His tongue was
cool inside her fiery mouth.  His taste was pleasant
and tangy.

She took a ragged breath and forced herself to pull
out her compact.  She repaired her makeup, applied new
lipstick and freshened up.  She then took a deep
breath and stepped out of the cubicle.  She
tentatively smiled at several other women in the room,
washed her hands and dried then thoroughly.  When she
could no longer stay there she left the room.

She found Lucien waiting patiently near the staircase.
She discovered she was unable to speak to him.  He
offered his arm and she slipped hers under and around
his.  They went up the stairs. The seats of course
were the best in the house, a private box center
stage.  They did not speak as they waited and finally
the music began.

After the first intermission in which they spoke
only of the performance LaCroix reached over and took
her hand, "Do not be ashamed of your need for comfort.
It was my pleasure."

She sighed letting the tension go and relaxed.  She
squeezed his hand expecting him to let her go, yet he
only interlaced their fingers and held her hand firmly
but gently.

She let herself lean against his shoulder.

Suddenly Natalie woke with a start, "Oh, My God! I
feel asleep!"  She found herself cradled against
LaCroix as the last notes of the Symphony were dying
in the air.j

"Its okay, you were emotionally exhausted.  The
music was a lullaby."  She smiled up gratefully.
"Please tell me I didn't snore?"

"No, of course, not." The look on his face was so
innocent she found herself laughing at him, "I must
have and you're being a gentleman."  She was already
learning to read his face. "You're a sweet liar."

"Few people have ever referred to me as sweet."  He
got to his feet and pulled her to hers.

"Come on, I'm in need of a drink."  He guided her
expertly and quickly through the crowd.  The Limo was
waiting for them at the curb.  As soon as they were
seated LaCroix grabbed a flask set out for him and
drained it.

Natalie watched subtle emotions play across his
face.  He saw her curious stare.

"A virgin in love.  It is the finest blood."  After
that they sat close but quietly, each buried in their
own thoughts.  Natalie was confused about all the
things she had learned tonight from LaCroix. She
admitted to herself he was a fascinating man.  She
found she did want to see him again.

When they arrived at the hotel LaCroix insisted on
seeing her up to her penthouse.  They rode the
elevator in silence and he held her hand the entire
time.

At the door she found her voice was trembling a bit
as she asked, "Would you like to come in?"

If I do, you would not leave the room alive. Are
you ready for that?"

Tears sprang to her eyes, "No" she whispered.

He pulled her against him, kissing her breathless
then he left vanishing into the elevator.

Natalie looked after him a minute before turning and
sliding her key through the lock.  The door to the
huge penthouse opened. She stepped in with a sigh
of relief but then she realized disappointment.
Being with LaCroix was like trying to tame a
whirlwind.  He might eventually take her life, but she
knew she was powerless to resist him now.

She slipped her heel off and sighed with relief.
Sidney was already meowing and rubbing against her
legs.  She picked him up and held him close, then
took him to the kitchen to feed him.  As he ate she
went and stripped to take a warm shower.  The
multi-headed shower washed away the remaining tension.

She slipped into a silky gown and crawled into bed.
Sydney having finished his meal joined her.  She fell
into a deep sleep.

Natalie slept through most the next day and woke
feeling refreshed and better able to face the future
that Nick had left her to face alone.

She worked the next four nights.  LaCroix called
several times just to make sure that she was being
well cared for.  His manner was formal and impersonal.

Natalie began to wonder if he had changed his mind.
Did she have the power to frighten off the ancient
vampire?

On Thursday night at work, a dozen red roses were
delivered.  They were huge, velvety and perfect.  The
card read,
 

         "Please join me for a drink at the
          Raven when you
          get off tomorrow.
          I will have a car sent."

                      LC
 

She smiled as she shivered with excitement.  She was
going to see him again. The next night she was so
excited she could barely concentrate on her work.
She finally hustled Grace out of there and sent her
home.  She went into the ladies locker room to change
into a simple black evening dress.  She started
to put up her hair but then realized that would
leave her neck bare.  That would be tempting fate
considering she was going into a vampires' den.  She
placed a black choker of lace around her neck.  She
knew it would make LaCroix laugh, but it gave her a
sense of security.

The driver was waiting when she stepped from the
building.  There was another driver with him; he would
take her car back to the hotel.  "LaCroix had
thought of everything." She said dropping her keys
into the young mans hand.

"Yes ma'am, the tip was huge too.  I will take good
care of your car."

Natalie smiled and entered the Limo.  She realized
she was rather hungry and was pleased to find a fancy
selection of fine food for her dinner.

The traffic was light tonight and they arrived at
the Raven nearly 15 minutes before the appointed time.
The bouncer waved Natalie into the club.  She
took a deep breath and walked down the ramp, through
the chains and the crowd of young gyrating bodies.
The room was full of smoke and loud music.  She
spotted LaCroix by the bar.  His back was turned
toward her and she approached him quietly.  He took
her breath away. He was dressed immaculately;then she
heard his voice.

"Nicholas' human pet is coming here for a drink,
Myklos.  See that she is well taken care of. She may
have news of him.  I mean to stay on her good side."

She let out an involuntary gasp and he turned.

A panic rose in her, have I been wrong to trust him,
she thought.  "Human pet," he had called her.  As if
she was an animal. She turned away to escape and fear
rose in waves out of her. Every vampire turned to look
at her. They were all alert becasue of her fear and
their hunting instinct were tuned to her.

Suddenly a hand like a vise grip grabbed her arm and
a command rang out, "Touch her and you die!"

She found herself forced past the sea of faces and
away from the huge room into a quiet secluded office
in the back.  The door was closed drowning out
the noise and danger.

She found herself held tightly against LaCroix's
chest.

"Let go of me," she hissed. "How dare you touch me?"
She pushed against his chest.

She was released and she raised her hand to slap
LaCroix's face when the pain in his eyes stopped her.
She lowered her hand and stood confused.

"My words were not meant to injure you."

"No?  You did a damn fine job."

"My words were not meant for your ears."  He said in
that soft whisper of his.

"That's obvious.  What kind of game are you playing,
LaCroix."

"It is no game, not for you anyway.  I was setting
up a scenario.  One I could relax and enjoy your
company with, without everyone wondering why you
were with me.  Just as Nicholas had to be careful
with you around our people so do I. I must also answer
to the Enforcers."

She stared at him still furious.  "You expect me to
believe that?"

He took a step toward her and Natalie held her
ground.

"You, Natalie are the most amazing woman.  You must
be protected at all cost."

He grabbed her and kissed her so fiercely that she
no longer questioned that he desired her too.  She
clung to him needing to believe him.  Suddenly
realizing he was the only person who might save her
from the despair of losing Nick.  She knew her
association with him could possibly be fatal to
her eventually, but she had already lost her heart
to him.  How could she have come to this place so
quickly?  Did he know?"

"We must go back to the bar." He informed her.

"No!" she cried, shaking with fear.

"Natalie," he took her face in his hands. "You must
act as if I hypnotized you into forgetting what you
heard earlier."

"Could you really do that to me?  I am a resistor."

"Yes I could, or at least take your memories for a
time.  If you wish I can do that."

"No, I don't want that."

"Good, I do not want to take your memories Natalie.
If you are to trust me you must have your memories no
matter how painful they might be."

"Do you see me as Nicholas' human pet?"

"No," he said as he caressed her face, "my dear.  I
do not.  But until you are marked by me you can not
come here without a reasonable explanation."

"Marked?"

"If I were to taste your blood you would bare my mark.
Your blood would be infected minutely by me.  Your
blood would then have a signal telling the
others to stay away.  You would be under my
protection.  No other vampire would touch you."

Natalie eyed him curiously, "How much blood?"

"Only a few drops."

Natalie raised her fingers toward his mouth.  "Take
it."

"Natalie, right now you have freedom to be with me.
If you are marked by me you will have to be brought
across eventually."

"I'm not sure I can go out there without your
protection."

"Do you understand what I have told you?  You
accused me of not informing Nicholas enough.

She looked deeply into his eyes, she reached up her
fingers and caressed his cheek and saw his eyes flash
his relief and desire for her.  She saw something
there even she did not think he knew was there and she
made up her mind, "Take it, Lucien.  I want to belong
to you. Taste my blood and you will know my words are
true."

LaCroix wrapped his fingers around hers, she
extended her index finger, and with his other arm he
drew her against him.  His eyes took on a warm glow
and his fangs extended.

Natalie felt an overwhelming excitement.  So
powerful that her legs buckled and LaCroix supported
her against him.  He asked again, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, do it."

Her finger was drawn past his cool lips.  His tongue
swirled around the warm flesh and then she felt a
prick and LaCroix sucked down the tiny drops of
crimson fluid into his mouth.

He groaned with pleasure and Natalie was suddenly
aware that he physically desired her.

He looked astonished as he let go of her finger.
"How can you care for me so deeply, so quickly?"

He drew her tightly against him in awe and confusion
as he realized that ending her human life would hurt
him.  He loved her warmth and the feel of her beating
heart against his chest. He held her and stroked her
hair.  He held her until the desire he felt for her
was
squashed by the knowledge that he did not need to take
her forcefully, she wanted to be with him.  He had
all the time in the world.

With a sigh he released her, "Come we must go back
out."

Natalie didn't feel any different, but she trusted
LaCroix and knew she would now be safe. She raised her
face to his and he bent to kiss her gently.

"I am here, I will keep you safe. You are mine now."
He pulled her toward the door and she fell into step
at his side.  He held her hand against his arm to
give her courage.  As they came into the room every
eye turned to look. Natalie saw the surprise register
on their faces as they recognized that she was marked.
They then turned away one by one ignoring the couple.

Natalie relaxed completely.  She sat with LaCroix in
a private booth.  Fine wine was brought to her and
LaCroix drank deeply from his goblet of blood
wine.  They talked about trivial things, her work
and his nights.

An hour later LaCroix escorted her out of the
nightclub and into the waiting Limo.  He joined her on
the ride. The driver pulled into the street
apparently already aware of their destination.

Back behind the privacy screen, Natalie asked, "The
driver, is he a vampire?"

"No human, sometimes it's necessary for me to be
driven to business meetings during the day.  With the
darkened windows I am protected from the sun."

Natalie snuggled against him and he held her close.
He felt a fear for the first time in centuries.  Was
this why Nick had fled?  The power of his desire for
this woman was overwhelming.  Had Nick felt this way,
with his damn sense of right and wrong?  It would have
prevented him from taking her, making her, his.  Was
Nick's love for Natalie stronger than his, Nick had
run rather than harm her?  He himself, was weak he
would never leave her side.  He wanted her with him.
He could not face his life without her.

End Part 3