"You are going to do what?" Dominic stared at her as if she had lost her mind.

"I'm going to live as a vampire for one week,"Tracy replied."Starting tonight."

He grunted softly. "Shall I find you a coffin?"

"No!" She grimaced. "Do you really sleep in one?"

"It is only a box, after all."

She stared at him. "I don't think I could sleep in one."

"It is not required."

"Well, that's a relief. But you have one. I saw it."

"It is quite comfortable, I assure you. If you wish, you can try it out."

"No, thank you!"

He laughed softly, amused by her decision to "live as a vampire" for the next seven nights.

His gaze moved over her. She wore a black tank top, black jeans, and black boots."A new fashion statement to go with your new lifestyle?"

"I thought black was the color of choice for vampires."

"Wedo seem to wear it quite a lot, do we not?"

"I've hardly seen you in anything else.Except that night inMaine . Oh, and that night we walked on the beach."

"I guess I should expand my wardrobe."

"You think?"

"Come on," he said, grabbing her by the hand. "Let us go shopping."

She thought he was kidding, but the next thing she knew, they were in the city and he was pulling into the mall parking lot. Feeling suddenly light-hearted,Tracy let him lead her into the first mens -wear store they came to.

To her surprise, she discovered that Dominic had quite a sense of humor. He held up several gaudy Hawaiian shirts for her approval, grinned when she shook her head.

He held up golf shirts, baggy camouflage shorts, argyle socks.

Her sides were aching from laughing so hard by the time they left the store. Taking him by the hand, she led him into an exclusive men's shop.

She picked out several shirts for him. Much to her surprise, they were all in dark colors - indigo, a deep wine red, a rich chocolate brown, charcoal gray, black. And one white shirt with long sleeves that reminded her of the kind of shirt pirates once wore.

He looked at her, one brow arched. "I thought you were going to brighten my wardrobe."

Tracyshrugged. "I was wrong. These colors suit you."

With a nod of agreement, Dominic paid for the shirts and they left the store.

Hand in hand, they walked through the mall.

Tracy's mouth watered as they passed by the food court.Mrs. Field's Cookies.Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream. McDonald's French fries. Starbucks Coffee.A popcorn stand.Corn dogs.A candy store.Frozen lemonade.

Dominic looked over at her, a wry grin twitching his lips.

Tracypunched him in the arm. "Don't say a word!"

"You can always start your new life tomorrow."

It was tempting, so tempting. What had she been thinking? She should have had one last pig-out party before giving up the good things of life.

She shook her head. "No. I said I was going to start tonight, and I will."

Dominic nodded. There were so many different kinds of food these days, things unheard of back in the days when he had been a mortal man - things like ice cream, cotton candy, hot dogs, coffee that came in myriad flavors.So many new tastes in food and drink. He had savored some of them onTracy 's lips. But any desire he'd had to indulge in solid food had been thoroughly eliminated the night before. It had been foolish of him to think he could eat solid food. He was no longer human. His body could no longer tolerate such things. He was a vampire and blood was his only source of sustenance.

Leaving the mall, Dominic drove to The Catacombs.

"If you are going to live as a vampire, you might as well get acquainted with them," he remarked as he parked the car.

Entering the bar,Tracy noticed that many of the vampires who had been there the last time were there again.

Petrinasashayed up to Dominic as soon as they walked through the door.

"Dom," shepurred, her voice low and sultry. "Did you come for that dance?"

Tracysmiled sweetly at the vampire. "Any dancing he does tonight will be with me."

Petrinalooked up at Dominic, a pout on her pale lips. "Dom, why do you insist on bringing this mortal here? We could have so much more fun without her."

"You heard the lady, Pet," Dominic said, drawingTracy into his arms. "I will be dancing with my woman."

"Your woman," Petrinasaid, a feral gleam in her eyes. "What does that mean, exactly?"

"It means she is my woman," Dominic said, his voice suddenly harsh. "Not my slave."

"She doesn't share her blood with you?"

"No." It wasn't quite the truth. He had tasted her blood, but he saw no need to share that knowledge.

A taut silence fell over the room as all conversation ceased. A moment later, the piano fell still as well.

"Why do you bring her here then?" Petrina demanded. "The Catacombs is only for our kind, or those who serve us. She is an outsider. She does not belong."

A low murmur of agreement rippled through the other vampires.

Dominic's gaze moved over the faces of the vampires in the room. "This is my territory," he said, his voice filled with quiet power. "Tracyis my woman. I have given her my protection, and offered her the Dark Gift. Whether she accepts it or not, she will remain under my protection. Anyone who harms or defiles her will answer to me."

"This may be your territory," Petrina remarked, "and you may be the oldest vampire among us, but according to the ancient laws of our kind, if she is not vampire and not a slave, she is fair game to anyone who can take her."

Petrina'sgaze moved overTracy , her narrowed eyes glowing with hunger.

"Do you wish to challenge my authority?" Dominic's voice rang out, echoing off the walls."Any of you?If so, step forward and I will oblige."

The vampires fell back, all but Petrina . Power gathered around her like an ominous cloud.

"So be it," Dominic said.

"There is no need for a challenge," Petrina said. "You have only to drink from her. We will know then that she is truly your woman and therefore deserving of your protection, and ours."

Tracystared up at Dominic, her heart pounding.

The other vampires closed in, their eyes glittering.

Dominic turned towardTracy . "It must be of your own free will."

It was hard to think with all those pairs of hungry eyes staring at her. If she refused, would Petrina challenge Dominic to a battle? She was sure Dominic would win, and while she wasn't fond of Petrina , she didn't want to be responsible for any hurt done to either Petrina or Dominic. More importantly, she wanted to be accepted by the vampires for Dominic's sake. Would it shame him in some way if she refused? Would Petrina actually fight him? Would it be a fight to the death?

"Tracy?"

"Do whatever you have to do." Turning her head to one side, she closed her eyes, and waited.

Dominic's gaze rested on the face of each of the vampires that now stood in a circle around them. "The blood is the life. I take this woman's blood, freely given, and in doing so, I pledge my life to protect her from any and all who would do her harm."

Leaning forward, he sweptTracy 's hair away from her neck.

Tracy's breath caught in her throat as she felt his fangs at her throat. There was no pain, just a quick heat followed by a wave of languorous pleasure.

As from far away, she heard a sudden intake of breath from the watching vampires as the scent of her blood filled the air.

She opened her eyes when Dominic's tongue laved the wounds.

"And now, to complete the ritual, she must drink from you."

Tracystared at Petrina , unable to believe her ears.Drink from Dominic?

He was watching her, waiting.

"Dominic..."

His gaze held hers captive. "It will not make you vampire," he said. "It will only bind us together."

Dared she trust him? What would happen if she refused? She met Petrina's taunting gaze, knew the vampire was doing this out of spite. Determined not to give Petrina the satisfaction of knowing she was afraid,Tracy smiled at Dominic. "I'm ready."

Love and admiration shone in his eyes as he made a shallow gash in his wrist and offered it to her.

Tracy's smile faded as she stared at the bright red blood. She had licked her own blood on more than one occasion, wiping it away with her tongue when she sustained a paper cut, or scraped her finger on a thorn.But this...

Leaning forward, she closed her eyes and licked a drop of blood from Dominic's skin. It was fiery hot, and sweet.

"It is done." Dominic's voice echoed off the walls like rolling thunder.

"So it is," Petrina said.

Marcus smiled atTracy . "Welcome toThe Catacombs."

"Thank you."

The other vampires drifted back to the bar or to their tables.

Dominic drewTracy into his arms as the piano player began to play again.

When she started to speak, he shook his head. "Later."

When the song ended, he led her to the bar. He ordered "the usual" for himself and a glass of orange juice for her.

She drank it down in three long swallows and asked for more.

When she finished the second glass, Dominic took her by the hand and headed toward the door.

Tracyshivered as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. As though waking from a dream, she stared at Dominic. "How could you put me in a position like that?" she demanded. She wiped her hand across her mouth. "How could you?"

She jerked her hand from his grasp and wrapped her arms around her middle, sickened by the memory of what she had done.

"I am sorry, my best beloved one. I had no idea she would invoke such an ancient law."

"You should have known!"

"Tracy..."

"Don't touch me!"

"Tracy, calmyourself . No harm has been done."

"No harm? No harm! You drank my blood! You made me drink yours!"

"Was it so very unpleasant?"

"Yes!" He reached for her again, but she slapped his hand away. "Leave me alone. I'm going home."

"I will take you."

"No."

"It is not safe for you to be on the streets alone." Reaching into his pocket, he offered her the keys to his car.

"Not safe? I thought I was under your protection now," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"Not every vampire in the village was in the bar tonight."

She wanted to refuse his offer but wisdom prevailed. Muttering, "Thank you," she took the keys from his hand, careful not to touch him.

"I will walk you to the car," he said, his tone indicating he would not take no for an answer.

He opened the door for her, not with the key, but with a thought.

She slid behind the wheel, shoved the key in the ignition, and drove away without a backward glance.

Once out of the parking lot, she knew she didn't want to go home, couldn't face being in that big, empty house, or wondering if he was prowling around below, listening to her every move, her every thought.

Turning off the main street, she drove to the Driftwood, anxious to surround herself with normal people doing mundane things.

"So much for my life as a vampire," she muttered.

Parking the car, she hurried into the neighborhood bar.

Inside, she took a deep breath. Compared to the murky atmosphere of The Catacombs, the Driftwood seemed as bright as day. An upbeat tune was playing on the jukebox. There was a low hum of conversation, the sound of laughter, of ice cubes tinkling against glassware. Even the smell was different.

She slid into a booth, ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri, then sat back and closed her eyes. Whatever had made her think she wanted to be a vampire? How could she have even considered it?And Dominic. She could pretend he was human, that he chose to live a slightly different kind of life, but he wasn't human and never would be again.

Vampire.She shuddered as she recalled the hungry way Petrina and the others had looked at her.

She couldn't stay here. Even under Dominic's protection, she would never feel safe in Sea Cliff again.

She lifted a hand to her neck. He had taken her blood, and she had tasted his. A bond, he had said, exchanging blood would create a bond between them.

What, she wondered, did that really mean?

It means I can find you wherever you go.

Startled, she glanced around, expecting to see Dominic standing nearby. It took her a moment to realize that the voice she had heard so clearly had been in her mind.

It means we can communicate when we are apart; that I can read your thoughts, and you can read mine.

Get out of my head!She silently screamed the words.

And then he was there, sitting in the booth across from her.

She stared at him, her heart pounding. "I can't do this anymore." She fisted her hands around her drink to keep them from trembling. "I don't want to be a vampire. I don't want to be part of your world. And I don't want you in my head."

"Tracy..."

"I mean it, Dominic. You said you would let me go if that was my choice. Did you mean it, or not?"

"I meant it."

"Then let me go."

"As you will," he said quietly.

She was filled with a wave of unexpected regret. He looked so stricken, so unhappy. Why couldn't she have fallen in love with an ordinary man? She had waited her whole life to fall in love and when she did, it was with a vampire.

Reaching across the table, he took one of her hands in his and kissed her palm. "Farewell, my best beloved one."

"Maybe things will work out next time," she said, hoping to erase the sorrow in his eyes.

"There will be no next time," he replied, and vanished from her sight.

Tracysighed. Breaking up was never easy.

She finished her drink and slid out of the booth.

It wasn't until she reached home that she wondered what he had meant when he said there would be no next time.