“Josh! Darling!” interrupted a gushing voice. An instant
later, Jerri Cusack embraced Josh, and everyone fell back
to give her room. Her movements were all quick and
dramatic, and she seemed to have released him almost
before she’d grabbed him, reaching behind her in high
excitement to exclaim, “I’ve just got to introduce you to
Adam Simon!”

The name alone would have made Elizabeth turn in the
direction of her grasping hand, but the speed of Josh’s
spin to meet the man interested her far more. She stepped
aside to get a better view, and almost dropped her glass.

He walked toward her, his black hair flowing loose over
his shoulders. Alone of the men present, he wore no dinner
jacket, just a black shirt that might have been velvet or
crushed silk, with a matching tie that looked more like a
cravat. He moved with all the grace and threat of a
panther.

All this she absorbed in the first instant before his
beauty blinded her, as it had always done. Yet it never
even entered her head to doubt her own sanity, or to
wonder whether her recognition was faulty. His mask had
fallen.

He gazed only at her. She took a step toward him without
meaning to, and he smiled, the rare, full smile that
haunted her dreams. Shock overwhelmed the emotions
struggling for release.

Then joy broke through like a tide, propelling her forward
and into his arms, her face already raised for his kiss.
Amber flames danced in his black eyes, burning her with
the force of his desire. His mouth no longer smiled as it
covered hers.

Elizabeth, he said silently. Elizabeth.

Saloman.

It was an instant, a very small instant of bliss. The
powerful arms she’d never thought to feel again closed
close around her, while his mouth, his incredible,
wonderful mouth, moved over hers with tenderness,
accepting all her need and all the uncomplicated happiness
of her kiss.

But it wasn’t uncomplicated. And they weren’t alone. A
fact that Saloman, clearly, had never lost sight of for a
moment. Even as she gasped into his mouth, trying to force
herself to draw back, to ask questions that had only half
formed in her brain, he was already releasing her. Her
stunned lips felt cold, her body rebellious as his arms
fell away. Although the tips of his fingers trailed over
her naked back and lingered, so that she stood in the
circle of his arm, being inexorably turned as if to be
shown off to friends.

She shivered, desperately reaching for what dignity or
even sense she could muster. They were being watched by
several people with varying degrees of surprise, interest,
and disapproval.

As if from very far away, Josh’s voice said, “I didn’t
realize you two were acquainted.”

“Neither did I!” Elizabeth hoped she didn’t sound as
hysterical as she felt.

“We met in Eastern Europe,” Saloman said, and God, yes,
his voice still sounded the same. A little more modern in
its intonation, perhaps, but it still reached right inside
her, turning her outside in. “I expect Elizabeth remembers
the Hungarian form of my name.”

“Oh, yes,” Elizabeth agreed, fighting the urge to laugh.

“What would that be?” Jerri asked eagerly.

“You couldn’t pronounce it,” Saloman said blandly.

Elizabeth, who, incredibly enough, was still clutching her
champagne glass, hoped she’d spilled some of its contents
over his mocking, arrogant person. Lifting it to her lips
with fingers she prayed didn’t shake too visibly, she took
a sizable gulp and tried to think.

What the hell was he doing here? And why was he posing as
Adam Simon? Shit, what had he done with the real
businessman? Was he after Dante?

No, you blind, blithering fool! He’s after Josh! Josh,
whom you came here to protect, remember? To warn him
against this very vampire? Well, Silk, now’s your moment!