Anita Blake 14 - Danse macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton Page A

might even see the real Haven behind the smiling, hip exterior. Pierce glanced behind them at Auggie. I said what I'd said to the twins. "Don't look at your master, look at me, and give me an honest answer. Do
you
want to be traded to St. Louis?"
    He started to look at the couch again. I touched his arm. A jolt of power ran through me, made me drop his arm. It stopped him midmotion, turned him back to me with his pulse pushing at the side of his throat. "What was that?"
    I fought the urge to rub my hand along the side of my skirt. "I'm not sure. Power, some kind of power."
    "You're not sure?" He sounded as suspicious as he looked.
    "I honestly don't know why there was a power jump when we touched. I didn't like it either."
    "I want to go home," he said. "I don't like being traded away, and I really don't like being offered up for sex like some kind of whore." He let the anger fill his voice, and the anger raised his power like heat across my skin.
    Octavius said, "Be careful, cat."
    "No," I said, "I want honesty. I've seen what happens if someone is forced to be in a group that they don't want to be in. The local lion pride works well; I don't want to queer their deal."
    "So you won't taste Pierce now, will you?" Auggie asked from the couch.
    I shook my head. "Take him back home, Auggie. I'm surprised you brought him, him not wanting to come."
    "Bunny said Pierce was one of the best lovers she'd ever had. I thought you'd enjoy that."
    I couldn't control my face fast enough.
    "What's wrong with that?" Auggie asked.
    "The idea of Bunny, just—" I made a push-away gesture. "I'm fighting off a visual."
    "She could be crude, but she was very good at her job."
    I looked at Auggie. "And her job would be?"
    "Sex."
    "She's your mistress, not your whore. Mistress means more than just sex."
    "Now that is Jean-Claude talking."
    "Maybe, but it's still true."
    He shrugged those massive shoulders. "You've met her, Anita, do you really think I sat around and had stimulating conversations with Bunny?"
    I laughed, I couldn't help it. "No, I guess not." Then another thought occurred to me. "Why would you date anyone that you couldn't talk to?"
    He just stared at me, a look on his face that I couldn't read. "You mean that, don't you?" He smiled, almost sadly, shook his head, and wouldn't meet my gaze. "Oh, Anita, you make me feel jaded, and very old."
    "Do I apologize for that?" I asked.
    He looked up, smiling still. "No, but that you meant that question makes me wonder about my choices for your
pomme de sang
. I looked for good sex, dominants, because everyone needs more muscle. I did not look for good conversation, or someone with interests like yours. I wasn't looking for a date. I was looking for food and fucking."
    "You need a woman in your organization, Auggie. Being all guys limits you."
    "Are you saying I need a woman's touch?"
    "Yeah, and there isn't a woman of Belle's line that will go with you just to be your whore. We promised them that they'd have choices when they came here."
    "Are you saying I have to court them?"
    I nodded. "Yeah, I am."
    "And Jean-Claude agrees to this?" Octavius said.
    I nodded. "He gave his word that no one would be forced to have sex against their will."
    "Ah," Auggie said, then he laughed. "Dating. I haven't dated in decades. I wonder if I remember how."
    "The Master of the City does not have to date," Octavius said, "he commands."
    "You're in the wrong town for that attitude," I said.
    "You are so certain of that?" he said.
    "Absolutely."
    "Taste Haven," Auggie said. "If you don't like him, then I'm going to have to send home for some less dominant take-out."
    I looked up at the tall man in front of me. He looked down with that soft, laughing face, and I just didn't buy it. It was like the smile and sparkly eyes was his version of a cop face. A way to hide everything.
    He dropped gracefully to his knees. Which made him not that much shorter than me. I added at least another inch to his height. He laughed,