Sidney sped off. Dust and bits of gravel dinging off the glass drew Callie's attention to the window, where she saw the glare of the sun dance off the highly polished surface of Sidney's black Audi as it raced down the driveway.

"Something's got Sidney's knickers in a knot," she said to the empty room.

"I think she's just worried about Sam," said an unexpected deep growl from the doorway. "She's been with him a long time now, and I believe this is the first time she's seen him hurt so badly."

Callie spun to face the shifter who had fed Sam from his wrist the day before. "Hi, I didn't hear you come in."

"Obviously," he said, sarcastically. He came further into the room and stepped up to look out the other window. He didn't take his eyes from her until he reached his destination and even then, he used the reflection in the glass to track her movements as she turned away.

"How is Sam this morning? I haven't been allowed to see him yet," she asked, casually brushing her fingers lightly along the vertical spines standing proud on the closest bookshelf, subconsciously noting that they were all first editions.

"Good. He's improved a little this morning."

Callie was unsure if he had meant good to her not seeing Sam, or if it was his condition that was good. "And how do you feel? You donated a lot of blood yesterday. Shouldn't you be resting?" She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

He smiled, showing a lot of teeth, and shrugged off her concern. Callie had a feeling it wasn't a friendly smile. "I heal particularly fast - even for a shifter."

They fell into an awkward silence and Callie felt an almost overwhelming urge to leave the room. The shifter wasn't being openly hostile toward her, but she was aware of some sort of resentment directed at her. She wasn't one for leaving things unfinished.

"I have a feeling you don't like me much," she said bluntly.

"That would be because I don't," he replied, equally as blunt.

She folded her arms in front of her chest. "Would you care to enlighten me to the reason for that?"

"What do you care?" He snarled.

"I don't really, but considering we've only met I was wondering if you make snap judgements about everyone or do have something personal against me?"

"Look, I saw what you did to Sam first-hand. The way you looked at me yesterday, it was as if I was nothing but a blood bag for your supper, so don't you dare come off with your high-and-mighty, little-Miss-Innocent act with me. I can see right through you."

"This is personal then. I'm sorry if you feel I didn't control the blood lust very well. Or do you feel that way about the others too?"

"Leave Sidney and Sam out of this. They're nothing like you. They respect the shifters," he snapped. "Ha! Blood lust my ass! Only the new ones suffer that for a year or so. If you'd had blood lust, you'd have ripped us all apart to get it. You are nothing but the worst type of parasite," he all but ground out through his teeth.

Callie thrust her hands on her hips and stared him down. "You think you know everything, don't you?" She moved toward him slowly. "Well I have news for you, Mr. what-ever-your-name-is. You know sweet Fanny Adams about me." She stood toe to toe with him and looked him in the eye before poking him in the chest with her first two fingers, accentuating her every word. "Get. Your. Facts. Right. Before. You. Throw. Accusations. Around."

She stomped from the room in a hurry only to collide with the third male who had been in her house the day before, knocking both an apple from his hand and several pictures off their hooks. He grabbed her arms to steady her, but she pulled herself from his grip with a muttered thanks as she ran off up the hall in search of the kitchen.

"What facts don't you have, Chris?" the newcomer asked, lifting the apple off the floor and polishing it on his sweater before taking a huge bite.

"Did you see how she looked at us yesterday? Like we were walking blood bags!" Chris threw his hands in the air in exasperation. "Some of these vamps really get on my nerves man, thinking they own us or something."

"Are you talking about her? Callie?" he asked around the mouthful, pointing in the direction she'd left.

"Duh, did you see anyone else here?"

"Did she tell you to let her feed from you or what?"

"Nope, didn't give her the chance to either. No way is she getting anything from me voluntarily. Not after the way she treats us, like ready meals."

"Okay mate, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but she's right about you needing the facts. Sidney told us what happened. Must've been while you were sleeping off the blood loss. That little hottie is Sam's new baby vamp. She's just over a month turned from what I gather. Her and Sam where apparently getting it on last night when he collapsed. He ripped a huge chunk from her neck during the convulsions and tore into her jugular. You saw the state of the bedroom?"

Chris nodded.

"That was all hers. I'm surprised she was still standing, never mind able to carry Sam to the bathroom and flush the poison from him. I'm even more surprised she didn't drink us all dry after losing so much. But, apparently, she wasn't even going to feed from Nico at first, she only agreed in the end because there was no other blood in the place. Sidney had to talk her into it."

Chris turned a deep shade of red with embarrassment. "Uh oh, so I let rip into a new vamp who was practically starved, just because she drooled a little when I opened a vein for Sam?"

"Yep, bet you feel shitty now huh?"

"Well crap! Now I'm going to have to apologize." Chris swore as he dawdled toward the door. "Did you see which way she went?"

"Toward the kitchen, I think."

Chris made his way to the kitchen, rehearsing in his mind how he would apologize to her. He'd not only accused her of attacking Sam but of being a parasite too. He made it as far as the door to the kitchen when he heard her scream in frustration.

"Damn it! Where in hell are the blood bags? ...Somebody? ...Anybody? Does Sam even keep any here?"

He cleared his throat and leaned against the doorframe. "Blood bag at your service ma'am."

"Go away!" she hissed at him. "I'll do without first." She stormed past him, ramming her shoulder into his side as he tried to block her escape.

"Wait please!" He reached for her and managed to grab a hold of her arm. "I'm sorry, okay. You were right, I didn't know the facts."

She yanked her arm from his grip and pushed him off. "Whatever. Just leave me alone." She ran up the stairs to her room. Nico was still asleep in her bed. "Damn it," she swore, stomping her foot and closing the door again. She made it to a sitting room at the back of the house before the shifter found her again.

"Please," he began, "let me make amends. You need to eat soon. If you don't, you'll end up with blood lust and you'll probably hurt someone."

"Then I'll find someone who doesn't think I'm a leech."

"I've said I'm sorry. Listen to reason: Nico has disappeared; he was in wolf form last I saw him, which means he'll need his energy for when he changes back. Mike is still recovering after feeding Sam this morning. Brian was with Sidney before she left. So that leaves little old me. Can we start over?" He thrust out his hand for her to shake. "Hello Callie, my name is Chris. It's very nice to meet you."

Callie considered telling him where Nico was, but that would mean having to explain why he was in her bed. He probably wouldn't believe her anyway. Instead, she reached for his hand and gripped it firmly. "Fine, we'll start over. Hello Chris, do you mind if I ask what kind of animal you are, or change into?"

He laughed at her attempt at small talk. "I, my dear, am a puma." He laced her arm through his and led her to the sofa that dominated the room. "Why don't you get comfortable and we can get to know each other a little better while you have something to eat. I know you're hungry."

She sat close to the edge of the seat while he knelt on the floor, pushing himself between her legs to face her. He noticed the look of apprehension on her face just before she spoke.

"Nico sat facing the other way."

He chuckled gently and brushed his fingers down the side of her face. "This will work too. Look, I can see you're unsure, don't worry about hurting me, okay? I don't mind a bit of pain, but go gently on me. I don't get a high like the others do."

She brightened at this. "Really? You don't feel the pleasure that comes with a bite? Why do you do it then?"

He shrugged. "Sam and Sidney helped my family out a while ago, and I owe them more than a little blood now and then. It's not so much pleasure the others feel but a rush, a high."

"Oh. Are you sure you want me to? You don't owe me anything, and the thought of bringing you pain doesn't appeal to me very much."

He bent his head forward to expose his neck and leant his hands on the back of the sofa for support. He smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure."

She leant forward to inhale his scent - the way Sidney had told her to do with Nico. The steady rhythm of his pulse beat just below the surface. Her teeth extended, but she moved back again. "I can't do it," she lisped around her canines. "I can't cause you pain."

He pulled her head towards his neck again. "Just bite me already. But gently."

She could feel the tattoo of his pulse under her lips where he held her and she willed herself to be gentle. To give him some sort of pleasure from what she was about to put him through. She opened her mouth and swept her tongue across his skin, tasting the citrus tang of his shower gel. She began suckling him gently without piercing his skin. Her tongue laved him as she kissed his neck. As gently as she could, she allowed her fangs to pierce through skin. The sudden burst of blood filled her mouth and coated her tongue, tantalizing it with the sweetest of sensations. She felt a tingle all the way through to her core - making her throb there. The feeling enticed her to pull harder on his vein. She focused and forced herself to simply let it flow while she continued the open mouth kiss.

He moaned and unconsciously rocked his hips back and forward toward her, bumping and grinding at her core. Sensations spiralled out of control. She could feel the bulge forming in his trousers pushing at her centre and she had to concentrate harder. Had to will herself not to explode with the pleasure he induced. His husky roar of triumph filled her ears and she withdrew her fangs just as she peaked a second later. She screamed in the glory of it.

Chris collapsed on top of her, his weight pushing her back against the seat. She licked his wound to close it, giving him one last shiver of pleasure.

"Holy shit!" he gasped, managing to voice her thoughts perfectly. He slid down her body until his ass rested on his heels and his head lay across her stomach. A gentle rumble began his chest as he sighed in satisfaction.

"Are you purring?" Callie giggled, gently brushing his hair from his sweat-dampened forehead.

The sound of her voice brought him back to his senses; he leapt up to pull his T-shirt from his jeans in an attempt to cover himself. His face flamed as he saw her glance at the damp spot that had appeared at his crotch.

"Shit, I'm sorry. That's never happened before. I swear I wasn't taking advantage of you. I don't know what happened it's normally painful." He rushed the words out as he backed up to give her space.

She smiled at him. "I'm glad it didn't hurt this time and I'm the one who should apologise."

"No way are you apologising! That was the most intense..." he paused searching for the right word, "powerful, amazingly fantastic and completely unexpected thing I've ever experienced. Ever...Wow, just...wow."

She giggled again, flushing herself this time as he walked backwards holding his T-shirt down.

"I need to go...eh change," he stammered.

"Me too," she admitted, hurring to join him when he left the room.

He escorted her to her bedroom door. "Thank you, Chris."

"Absolutely anytime," he replied, turning and practically skipping his way to his own room.