There was a provocative intelligence lurking behind this flawless, beautiful face. He made me realize how intolerant I had become of anyone truly young.

Suddenly the coffee was set down before us, and I wrapped my naked hands around the warm cup. I let the steam rise in my face. He watched this, with his large clear brown eyes, as if he were the one who was fascinated, and now he tried to hold my gaze steadily and calmly, which he found very hard. Delicious mouth, pretty eyelashes, perfect teeth.

“What the hell’s the matter with you?” I asked.

“You know. You’ve figured it out. I’m not fond of this body, Monsieur de Lioncourt. A body thief has his little difficulties, you know.”

“Is that what you are?”

“Yes, a body thief of the first rank. But then you knew that when you agreed to see me, did you not? You must forgive me my occasional clumsiness. I have been for most of my life a lean if not emaciated man. Never in such good health.” He gave a sigh, the youthful face for a moment sad.

“But those chapters are closed now,” he said with sudden discomfort. “Let me come to the point immediately, out of respect for your enormous preternatural intellect and vast experience—”

“Don’t mock me, you little pissant!” I said under my breath. “You play with me, I’ll tear you apart slowly. I told you I don’t like you. Even your little title for yourself I don’t like.”

That shut him up. He calmed down altogether. Perhaps he lost his temper, or was frozen with terror. I think it was simply that he stopped being so fearful and became coldly angry instead.

“All right,” he said softly, and soberly, without all the frenzy. “I want to trade bodies with you. I want yours for a week. I’ll see to it that you have this body. It’s young, it’s in perfect health. You like the look of it, obviously. I shall show you various certificates of health if you wish. The body was quite thoroughly tested and examined right before I took possession of it. Or stole it. It’s quite strong; you can see that. Obviously, it’s strong, quite remarkably strong—”

“How can you do it?”

“We do it together, Monsieur de Lioncourt,” he said very politely, his tone becoming more civil and courteous with each sentence he spoke. “There can be no question of body theft when I’m dealing with a creature such as you.”

“But you’ve tried, haven’t you?”

He studied me for a moment, clearly unsure as to how he should answer. “Well, you can’t blame me for that now, can you?” he said imploringly. “Any more than I can blame you for drinking blood.” He smiled as he said the word “blood.” “But really I was simply trying to get your attention, which isn’t an easy thing to do.” He seemed thoughtful, utterly sincere. “Besides, cooperation is always involved on some level, no matter how submerged that level may be.”