“Yes, they go with me wherever I live. They were the first pieces of erotica I ever purchased. It’s where I got the idea for Rapture, so I like to keep them around. I also have a rather extensive collection of sketches by Gustav Klimt, but they’re on loan to a museum at the moment.”

“Wow. I didn’t know that.”

“Well, I’m full of surprises, and apparently, so are you,” Bennett said, pointing to Lisa’s damp hair. “I thought you were only going to brush out your bedhead.”

“I did, except you don’t own a brush, so I took a quick shower. You’re out of conditioner, by the way.”

“No worries. There’s more under the vanity, but along those same lines, I hope you don’t mind, but I called Ruby and asked her if she’d go over to your place to get a few of your things. Max arranged for the cleaners to tidy up everything, but I wasn’t sure you’d want to go back there given what’s transpired.” When Bennett saw Lisa’s expression grow pensive, she frowned. “I’m sorry. Did I overstep?”

“No, not really. I just keep thinking I should hate Ruby, but I’m having a hard time doing it. I mean, she’s the reason I’m alive.” Bennett’s sigh was audible, and when she bowed her head, Lisa sighed, too. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant.”

“But it’s the truth,” Bennett said, raising her eyes. “And it’s one I have to live with.”

Lisa walked around the counter and wrapped her arms around Bennett’s waist. “I love you, Bennett, and it doesn’t matter how I got to be what I am now. It really doesn’t. All that matters is I’m alive, and unless I’m overstepping, I think that means we get to be together for a very, very, very long time. Can you live with that?”

“Absolutely,” Bennett said in a breath.

“Good, then let the other thing go.” Lisa gave Bennett a quick kiss on the cheek before going to refill her coffee.

“Before you have any more of that, you should have some of this,” Bennett said, opening the mini-fridge. Taking out two bags of transfused blood, she grabbed a couple of tall crystal tumblers from a cabinet.

“Let me guess. Brunch?”

“I suppose you could call it that.”

“But wasn’t what I got from Ruby enough? Do I need more already?”

“For the first few days, you should actually overfeed. Once we get to Max’s, you’ll be able to feed on one of his guardians, but until then, this can’t hurt,” Bennett said, opening a bag to empty it into a glass. “And by the way, about Ruby, if you ever have to feed on her again, may I ask you use her wrist and not her neck?”