"You're incorrigible," Serena said as she chuckled.

"No, just desperate and horny."

Damon broke into laughter, and Serena closed her eyes and touched her forehead with her hand.

"Surely there are men at your pleasure palace who wouldn't mind fucking a woman's brains out," she said to Damon.

"Pleasure palace? That sounds so . . . cheesy." He actually looked affronted.

"Sorry," she mumbled. "House of loooove then?"

He cracked a grin. "You don't want love, remember?"

"Damn straight. Thanks for that reminder."

"But yes, I'm sure there are any number of men who would be more than willing to take you on," he said as he fought another smile. "We'll do the usual background checks, medical histories, et cetera. Give me a week or so to get everything together and I'll do my best to give you your fantasy."

"If it's not asking too much, I'd like to schedule two nights. Now, ahead of time. I don't want to deal with the awkwardness of doing another after the first night, and if it's already set up, then I don't have to stress about it."

 "Of course," Damon agreed. "But if you decide it's not to your liking or if there's anything you want me to change, let me know."

Julie put her hands together in front of her and grinned in delight. "Thanks, Damon. You're the best."

He shrugged. "It's the least I can do to repay you for kidnapping Serena for me."

Serena glowered at both of them, but Julie didn't miss the flash of emotion in Serena's eyes as she looked at Damon.

"I need more details as well," Damon continued. "If you aren't comfortable giving them now, you can e-mail me later, but I need specifics. Boundaries. The do-not-cross lines."

Julie cocked her head and thought for a moment. "I don't have a problem telling you now. I'm not into bondage shit. No way I want to be tied down with strange men, even if I asked for strange men."

Serena laughed and shook her head.

"A blindfold is all I really require because I don't want to know. Don't want to see them, although I'm counting on you not to give me anyone hideous," Julie said.

"Now why the hell should you care if they're hideous if you're blindfolded?" Serena asked in exasperation.

"It's the principle," Julie said. She looked back at Damon. "And no small dicks. If I'm going for the gusto, I want to be treated right."

Damon's shoulders shook as he tried valiantly to keep his composure. "No small dicks. Got it. Anything else?"

"Just give me someone who knows what to do with a big dick," Julie said. "I don't want to have to coach the guy. I want a man who knows what to do with a woman."

"I think I can handle that," he said. "Blindfolds and big dicks. Shouldn't be too difficult."

Then he lost it and started to laugh. Julie grinned before she started chuckling along with him. Serena shook her head but burst into laughter as well.

"I always swore Damon wasn't a pimp, but now I'm not so sure," Serena said ruefully.

"Hey," he said in protest. "Can I help it if desperate women keep throwing themselves at me and begging me to help?"

"He's got you there," Julie said as she dug her elbow into Serena's side. "Between you, me and Faith, the man's got enough experience to run a whorehouse."

"Oh, I'm sure he had plenty of experience before we came along," Serena said dryly.

"Maybe we can retire him after he hooks me up," Julie said mischievously.

"Now I sound like a stud horse," Damon muttered. "Serena better damn well not retire me out to pasture."

Serena smiled that silly, goopy smile she got whenever she looked at Damon, the one that made Julie slightly nauseous. Julie cleared her throat before both of them dissolved into slimy little puddles.

"Okay then, if everything's set, I'm gonna skate on out of here and leave you two to do your slave thing."

"For God's sake, Julie," Serena groaned. "Do you ever just shut up?"

Julie blew her a kiss as she got up. "No, but you love me anyway."

"I do but damned if I know why," Serena said wearily as she got up from the couch.

"I'll be in touch, Julie," Damon said as he rose.

"Thanks, Damon. I really appreciate this." She turned to Serena. "I'll see you later this week for your massage, right?"

"You aren't afraid that Nathan will barge in?" Serena asked.

Julie snorted. "I'll just lock up. You and Faith are my only appointments. Besides, he hasn't been around in a few days. Stung pride and all that. He'll get over it and move on. I know I have."

"Just how hung up are you on Julie Stanford?" Micah asked Nathan as they sat down at Cattleman's to eat lunch.

"What the fuck kind of question is that?" Nathan demanded.

It was bad enough that Julie had completely messed with his mind, but now he was fielding comments from the guys about how fucked up he was over the woman.

"Its a simple question," Micah said calmly. "Either you are or you aren't."

"Nothing is simple when you ask it," Nathan grumbled.

"So?"

"So fucking what?" Nathan snarled. "Give it a rest, man. You know what happened. If a gorgeous woman came on to you, sucked you dry and then off, what the fuck would you do?"

"Toss her over my shoulder and lock us in a room for a week?" Micah said with a grin.

"I'm tempted ... if I could find the wench."

"I just happen to know where she'll be this weekend," Micah said casually.

Nathan pinned him with a stare. "And how would you know that?"

Micah smiled. Smug bastard. "I have my ways."

"Cut the crap, will you?"

Micah gripped his beer bottle and tilted it back, taking a long swig. When he lowered it again, he looked long and hard at Nathan. "There's a reason I'm asking how hung up on her you are."

"And that is?" Nathan asked.

"Because apparently she's serious about leaving you in her dust."

Nathan snorted and downed the last of his beer. "Tell me something I don't know."

"Normally I wouldn't even tell you this, because I usually side with the women, but I think you have a thing for her."

Nathan blew out his breath in irritation. Nice to know he was so fucking transparent. But how transparent could he be if Julie hadn't even figured it out? Hell, she thought he'd spent the last few months ignoring her. As if any breathing man could ever not notice that woman.

"Yeah, maybe," he said grudgingly.

"Well, she's hooked up this weekend for some hot, anonymous sex at Damon's place. And the following weekend as well."

Nathan's jaw dropped about the time the beer bottle fell out of his hand and hit the floor.

"What?"

Micah eyed him cautiously, and maybe he did look a little deranged. He couldn't very well act calm, when he felt like a volcano about to erupt.

"Run that by me again," Nathan growled. "Use short words. Don't leave anything out. What the fuck is she doing at Damon fucking Roche's sex club?"

Micah snickered. "I wasn't even sure you had any idea about The House."

"I wouldn't if I hadn't overheard you and Gray talking about the time he hauled Faith out of there. Faith, for Christ's sake. If I had any inkling she was wandering in there, I would have snatched her out by her hair. I can't believe Damon allowed her in there. I know he's your friend, but that was ridiculous."