Jerry was laughing silently when he finally decided I'd had enough fun. He stepped in front of Leroy and whammied him into submission.

"Gloriana, you are incorrigible. It almost seems a shame to erase this man's memory."

"Oh, I have some suggestions for him." I got in Leroy's face. "Leroy, you will respect your daughter's choices. You will be a faithful and loving husband to your wife. You don't believe in vampires and you won't ever drive on Sixth Street in Austin again because it makes your stomach cramp and you have to run to the bathroom."

I glanced at Jerry, who was choking on his laughter. "Hey, he was trying to figure out how to take me home as a souvenir. The very least he deserves is a little gas."

"Don't mind me, Gloriana. Carry on." Jerry leaned against the Suburban, arms folded across his chest. I got up in Earl's face. "Earl, you need to find a better friend than Leroy. He takes advantage of your good nature by making you chase after his daughter and her boyfriend. He owes you money for nonsense he made you order off the Internet. You're going to hound him until he pays you every dime. If you have a wife, you will tell her every day how beautiful she is. You will be faithful and true to her."

I turned to Jerry. "Now you can do all the regular stuff and send them on their way. I'm just going to sit here and look at this incredible view. Then after they drive off, we're going to have a little christening party for the house."

"House?"

"Oh, yeah. You've got to build it here." I dipped a finger into an imaginary pool and slid it between my breasts, then sat on the blanket with a sigh.

"Ah, the temperature's just perfect. Can you see the steam rising from the water? And just look at the lights in the distance. I'll always remember our first night in our hot tub with Leroy and Earl as our towel boys." Jerry laughed. "Let's leave the boys out of this, why don't we? Don't move, Gloriana. I like this scenario very much." He walked off into the darkness to deal with Leroy and Earl. I lay back and looked at the stars. Well, what do you know? I was happy. Then I saw the stakes the men had brought but hadn't gotten around to using cast aside in the dirt. Yes, I could freak out, melt down or dwell on all the danger out there, but what was the point? By the time Jerry came back, I had a nice romantic fire going. Twenty-two

I took one look at Jerry and knew things were going to get even more interesting. He had on a camo cap and nothing else. He'd also pulled out the old boom box I kept in the back of the Suburban and set it on a rock nearby.

"I'm going to demonstrate my complete confidence where you're concerned, Gloriana." He punched a button and I recognized the intro instantly. Israel Caine began to sing of love. Jerry held out his hand and pulled me to my feet.

"Still dizzy?"

"No more than usual around you, lover." I wrapped my arms around him as we danced to a song that always made me melt. Jerry had obviously found the CD in my car too, one of a stack I kept in there. Sharp stones bit into the soles of my feet, but I figured the pain was worth it.

Jerry slipped his hands inside my panties, caressing my bottom as he moved us to the music. I closed my eyes and put my head on his shoulder, letting the music, the man and the night carry me away to dreams of a permanent home here. Security. Something I'd never allowed myself to have before.

Why? Fear, I suppose. That Jerry would tire of me. That I'd disappoint him because some part of me had always believed his mother when she'd declared me his inferior. The song ended and a throbbing bass beat began. One of Ray's faster, hard rock hits.

"I hope you don't expect me to dance to that." Jerry smiled down at me.

"And break the spell? Turn it off." I pushed back and walked over to the blanket. On the way, I stepped out of my panties, twirling them on my fingers before I tossed them aside. "Would you check out that view?" Jerry switched off the boom box. The sudden silence was almost startling. "Oh, yeah. I'm checking out the view. What are you doing, Gloriana?"

I looked back over my shoulder. "Hmm?"

"Strutting around naked like that. Do you want something from me?"

"Don't I always want something from you?" I turned and snatched the cap from his head. "Going hunting, Mister?" He grabbed me around the waist and swung me up into his arms. "I already caught what I was looking for." I smiled and waited for whatever he decided to do next. What happened absolutely stunned me.

"Jeremiah Campbell, what's this?" I looked down at my hand.

"Your ring. The one you lost in Las Vegas. You didn't think Valdez wouldn't tell me about it, did you?" I couldn't look at him. Shame clogged my throat, and I kept my head down, trying to focus on the lovely ruby and diamond ring I'd had to hock during the worst of my gambling days. Back then, I'd convinced myself that I could get it back, no problem. But it had been a problem. And by the time I'd scraped together enough to make a payment on it, it had been sold. I'd wept bitter tears and that had been a turning point for me, the day I'd finally forced myself to walk into a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.

"I don't deserve it."

Jerry put me on my feet, then walked over to stare at the city lights. "I admit that for a long time I was so angry that I would have agreed with you."

I bit my lip. Did I dare touch him? Of course I did. He'd given me the ring back. I walked over and put my trembling hand on his back.

"I'm sorry, Jeremiah. Truly. I was sick. Out of my mind. Though there's no excuse, really. I guess I had to reach bottom before I would get the help I needed."

"Like Will has done." Jerry turned around. "When you finally felt you could trust me enough to tell me about that part of your life, I realized I wasn't angry anymore. Happy Christmas, Gloriana."

"You're a little early, Jerry." I sniffled and tried to lighten the mood before I bawled like a baby. "You'll have to wait for your gift unless you'll settle for"-I twined my arms around his neck-"a free pass." I wiggled a little. There was nothing like being skin to skin with my guy.

"Oh? And just what is this pass good for?"

"A ride on the Glory train, of course. Kind of like a Eurail Pass. You can go anywhere you want as many times as you'd like. Unlimited access." I jumped up, throwing my legs around his waist. "All aboard." Jerry laughed and backed me toward the blanket. "I hope there are no more unscheduled stops on this trip." I looked around and shivered. The darkness outside the clearing with its flickering firelight was pretty complete. Of course Leroy and Earl had managed to sneak up on us earlier, and they weren't exactly seasoned vampire hunters.

"Maybe we should get in the car and lock ourselves in."

"Now I've spooked you." Jerry kissed my chin, then laid me gently on the blanket. "But you're right. We're very unprotected here. I'll not let another interruption spoil my first trip." He smiled down at me and my heart turned over.

"All righty then." I jumped up, grabbed my panties and headed for the car. "Let's try out the back of the Suburban. I'll grab the boom box if you'll put out the fire and get the blanket."

I lay back and watched Jerry toss his clothes in the driver's seat, then close the door and lock us in. He crawled in beside me.

"Now where were we? Ah, yes. My itinerary." He used a fingertip to draw a path from one of my nipples down to the valley between and up to the other nipple. "The twin peaks of pleasure." He leaned down and followed the same line with his tongue.

"Definitely worth another look." He pulled one into his mouth while his hand slid down my body.

"Mmm, Jerry, I think there are some special events planned." I walked my fingers up his spine and buried my hand in his hair.

"Would you like to hear about our highlights tour?"

He finally looked up. "You think I need a guide? I've traveled these paths before."

"If there's nothing new, why bother?" I wiggled under him until I felt the tip of his length just where I wanted it.

"Oh, it's no bother, old girl." He eased inside, just an inch.

"I am that. Old. Ever think-" Suddenly I had Jerry's mouth on mine, his cock deep inside me, hard and fast. Yes, sometimes it's better just to shut up and go with the flow. Then, when I could gather more than one thought together, I decided I was letting Jerry distract me. I caught him by surprise, rolling him under me.

"Now you didn't think I was going to let you take the express, did you?" I slid down him until my mouth hovered above his cock.

"Sometimes we need to revisit the familiar to really appreciate it. Now just look at this stout fellow." I dragged a fang down him, and Jerry moaned and arched his back. "Hmm. I'd say that no matter how many times I've seen him, he's still . . ." I put Jerry out of his misery, pulling him deep into my mouth as he groaned my name and dug his fingers into my hair. By the time Jerry and I had explored all our favorite scenic areas, I had a new respect for the cargo capacity of the mighty Suburban and figured I definitely needed new shocks. Jerry lay beside me, more absolutely relaxed than I'd seen him in a long time.

"I may have to go to Europe if Igor says Lily's there, Gloriana."

"Way to spoil a mood, Jerry." I sat up and studied him in the dim moonlight coming in through the back window.

"I just thought you should be prepared. I know my mother and Mara will be sure to tell you when you see them later."

"Oh, at your house." Usually staying over at Jerry's is a treat. He's got a fabulous master bath, with a Jacuzzi tub built for two, not to mention a steam shower bigger than my closet. "I guess a hotel tonight is out of the question."

"Too complicated."

"It's getting late. I guess we'd better go then." Too much to hope that the ladies had barricaded themselves in their rooms. I crawled over the seat, which led to a little slap and tickle, which would have led to more except it was late and we had to beat the sun home.