Lucian opened his eyes when Leigh shifted sleepily against him. He'd blacked out again, but just for a heartbeat this time, he was sure. Leigh, however, was still under. He didn't mind. It meant he got the chance just to lay here, holding her and planning their future. The years stretched away in his mind, full of happiness and laughter.

Leigh liked his house, which was good. There'd be little to do to accommodate her there, though he thought they should get a bed like this big round one of Thomas's. A smile crept over his face as he recalled all that they'd done, and all that they could still do on a bed like this.

Of course, he realized, they couldn't stay at his house all the time. She had a business in Kansas City she'd want to oversee, but perhaps he could persuade her to hire more help and spend less time there. He'd have to see. He wanted her happy.

Lucian toyed with a strand of her hair and wondered what her own house was like. He was imagining it small and cozy, full of overstuffed furniture and comfy pillows. He supposed he'd find out soon enough. They'd head down there once Morgan and Donny were caught and out of the way.

Leigh murmured sleepily again, rubbing her head on his chest like a cat, and Lucian smiled. Releasing her hair, he let his hand run down her warm skin, caressing her back, his smile widening as she murmured and cuddled against him while arching into the touch. He loved touching her. He loved how she responded. He loved her.

The thought didn't surprise him. Their minds had merged while they'd made love, and he'd caught glimpses into her. Leigh had a quick, intelligent brain, a kind and loving heart, and she cared for others before herself. She was also as alone and lonely as he was. A kindred spirit.

Unfortunately, she also had a passel of fears bundled up inside her. He had only touched on them, but knew there were some things to get past before their future could be pursued. But for the most part, he felt sure everything was fine.

"Hello. How long did I sleep?"

Lucian glanced down and smiled at the sexy, sleepy look on Leigh's face.

"Not long. Are you ready for a shower and breakfast?" he asked, though it was going to be more like a late lunch. It had been past lunchtime when he'd tried to cook. Now the clock on the dresser said it was close to three in the afternoon.

"Oh yes," Leigh moaned, then gasped with surprise as Lucian suddenly shifted and swung her up in his arms as he slid off the bed.

"Mmm," she purred, slipping her arms around his neck. "You'd better watch it, Argeneau. What with you feeding me, then carting me about... you'll spoil me with all this care, and I'll come to expect it."

"And so you should. A smart man treats his life mate as the jewel she is," Lucian said softly, and Leigh's smile faded, a flicker of concern drifting through her eyes.

"What is it?" he asked, but she glanced away, then cleared her throat as she saw he'd carried her into the bathroom.

"Ooh, this is nice," she murmured, peering around the huge room with its sunken sauna and stand-up shower that could fit four, maybe five people. "Thomas certainly has luxurious taste."

"He can afford it," Lucian said with a shrug, setting her on her feet as she began to wiggle. He felt her absence as she moved to the shower and opened the door.

"Are we sharing?" Leigh asked, tossing him a smile over her shoulder.

"Water conservation is always a good idea," he said with feigned solemnity.

Leigh chuckled as she stepped into the shower and moved to adjust the water taps. "Yes, well, that's all well and good, but you behave yourself. I am hungry, and if you start something, we'll never get out to breakfast."

"I think it will actually have to be brunch," Lucian admitted as he stepped into the shower stall with her.

Leigh was fiddling with the selection of knobs on the wall, trying to sort out what would start the shower. Lucian found the curve of her back irresistible and stepped up behind her, his hands catching her waist as he pulled her back against him.

"Lucian," she said in warning.

"What?" he asked innocently, pressing his semierection against her backside, then he squawked and jumped back as cold water shot out of the shower head.

Leigh laughed and quickly began turning knobs, trying to adjust the spray.

"Sorry." She turned toward him once she finally got it at the proper temperature. "I couldn't figure out the -- "

Her words ended on a gasp as he kissed her. Leigh allowed it for a moment, then pushed at his chest.

"Food," she said, her voice husky.

"I have to soap you up. There's no reason I can't kiss you while I do it," Lucian said mildly, and reached for the soap, then put his arms around her to lather behind her back as he bent to her lips again.

Leigh sighed into his mouth, her arms slipping around his neck as he kissed her. Then she shifted and sighed again when he broke their kiss and turned her out of the water, blocking it with his own body as he ran his soapy hands over her back.

"You're like a cat wanting stroking," he growled by her ear as his hands drifted lower.

"Cats don't like water," Leigh reminded him, pressing against his erection as his hands now slid up her arms, then under them and around to cover her breasts in lather.

"Mmm," she murmured, and covered his hands, her head lolling against his chest, her bottom pushing back to rub against his now full erection as he caressed her soapy body.

"Where have you been all my life?" she asked on a sigh, and groaned as he dipped one soapy hand between her legs.

Lucian smiled and kissed the side of her neck, then nibbled at her ear before whispering, "Waiting for you," as he slid one finger inside her. Leigh gasped, and stiffened as he withdrew his hand.

"Food," Lucian taunted when she groaned in protest and caught at his hand, urging it back.

"Food can wait," she assured him, one hand sliding back between their bodies and closing over his erection.

Lucian held strong and turned her into the water, rinsing her and wetting her hair at the same time.

"Tease," she grumbled under her breath, but quit trying to touch him and let him wash her hair. Little sighs of pleasure slipped from her lips as he massaged her scalp. Despite his words, Lucian had gone hard as a rock. Her body kept brushing his in the shower with teasing, fleeting caresses of skin, and he was hard-pressed not to finish what he'd started. But she was hungry, and he actually was, too, and she needed food.

"This is a big shower," she commented on a little sigh as he moved her back under the water so she could rinse the soap from her hair. While she did that, he quickly shampooed his own hair.

"Yes." He glanced toward the walls as he massaged the shampoo into his scalp, thinking he'd like to make love to her here as he had in the dream of her shower. "Maybe we should put one in at the house. We could arrange to have it done while we were in Kansas so we wouldn't have to put up with the inconvenience and noise of the workmen."

Lucian felt her still, and glanced back to find her eyes open, that same troubled look in their depths. He raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I -- You keep talking like we're -- " Leigh frowned, then said gently, "Lucian, I don't want to rush into anything."

"What does that mean?" he asked slowly.

She hesitated, then said, "I mean, I'm willing to give it a try and date you, but -- "

"Date?" he squawked with amazement. "Leigh, you're my life mate. We aren't dating. We're -- "

"If we aren't dating, we aren't anything," she interrupted, and suddenly stepped out of the shower. He watched dumbfounded as she snatched a towel off the rack and began to dry herself, then he turned and stepped under the water to rinse the soap away before following.

"Leigh, last night -- "

"Last night was lovely, but -- "

"Lovely?" he echoed sharply. "Flowers are lovely, cinnamon buns are lovely. What we shared was incredible, dynamite... rare. Our minds merged, Leigh. We are life mates."

"Yes," she agreed. "It was all of that and I still want to just date for a while." She stomped out of the bathroom.

"So, you sleep with everyone you date?" Lucian asked, following to find her pulling on her clothes. "It meant nothing to you?"

"No, I don't sleep with everyone I date." She frowned, then said on a sigh, "You're angry."

"You're damned right I am. I offer you my heart, my body, my life, and you say let's just date?" Lucian stopped abruptly as he noticed the fear that had entered her eyes and the way she'd flinched as he'd gestured with his hand. Leigh had thought he was going to hit her, he realized with shock, and suddenly understood what this was all about. Kenny. The abusive and, fortunately for him, dead ex-husband. She'd dated him six weeks, married him, and only found out then that he liked to talk with his fists. Leigh had only known him a matter of days and -- life mate or no life mate -- feared making another mistake. This was where the proving he would never hurt her part came in, he realized.

Shoulders slumping with defeat, he sighed. "Okay."

Leigh blinked. "Okay?" she asked with surprise.

"Sure." Lucian made himself shrug, turned to find his own clothes, and started drawing them on. "If you need time to adjust and reassure yourself that I won't start beating you, then so be it. I've waited thousands of years for you, what's a little more time?"

"It's not that I'm afraid you'll become abusive," Leigh began, but fell silent when he turned to stare at her with disbelief.

"If it isn't that, what do you think it is?" he asked quietly. "Aside from the whole life mate thing, we're very compatible. We have similar taste in food, homes, and clothing. We enjoy each other's company and laugh a lot together. From the talk we had at lunch yesterday, I know we both like to read and have similar taste in movies. And we're more than compatible sexually."

Leigh frowned and opened her mouth, but he spoke first, saying, "And I like you, Leigh. I truly like you. Long after the passions are spent and the lust has waned -- which will happen in two or three thousand years -- I know you'll still be my best friend. You've made me laugh again. I love you, Leigh. And you like and love me."

She opened her mouth, but afraid she'd deny his words, Lucian said, "Our minds merged, Leigh. I know your heart. Whether you'll admit it to yourself or not, you do care for me. So the only thing left is trust."

Her shoulders slumped as a sigh slid from her lips. "I don't -- "

"No." He forced a smile. "It's okay. I