“’This above all’? What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Shido snarled to himself as he stared blankly out the car window.

Yayoi didn’t answer. She studiously concentrated on her driving.

Shido let out a long sigh. This is ridiculous. What is Cain trying to prove here? His own reflection in the car window looked angry, on edge. Almost feral. I almost lost it in there. All these years of working as a detective, and it counts for shit when I come across a bit of gore. The crime scene replayed itself in his mind; the slashed woman, the buckets of blood soaking into every available surface… Okay. Maybe it was more than a “bit”.

He heard the leather sigh as Yayoi shifted uncomfortably in her seat. He glanced over at her, eyes almost distractedly following the long, smooth line of her legs.

“Shido.” At the sound of his own name, he transferred his eyes to her face. “Are you… okay?”

For a moment he was unreasonably angry that she’d asked, as if he were some sort of rookie cop who’d puked his guts out at the sight of the body. But he knew that wasn’t precisely what she’d asked, so he shoved the foolish temper down. He forced himself to smile at her, hoping it didn’t look too wolfish. “I’m fine, Yayoi.”

She looked doubtful, a tiny frown trying to form between her sculpted eyebrows. “You just seemed a little… Tonight, when you were looking at the body, you were…” She trailed off, as if not knowing how to put it into words.

He gave his most casual shrug. “You know how grumpy I am without my dinner.” His grin was decidedly wolfish now, but he didn’t try to stop it. He reached over and ran a finger down the side of Yayoi’s neck.

She shivered, taking her eyes off the road for long enough to give him a look that was part heat and part surprise. And maybe, maybe just a tiny bit scared.

Shido decided he liked the look.

He leaned over in his seat till he was close enough to kiss the side of Yayoi’s face, if he wanted to. “Mm…” he purred. “My, but you smell good.”

“Good enough to eat?” Yayoi tried to make it sound like a joke, but there was a breathy little catch in her voice at the end. Close as he was, Shido could hear her heart speed up and her breathing become faster.

“Most definitely,” he replied, smiling, as he nuzzled her hair, breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo. He leaned closer and the leather seat creaked loudly. Yayoi jumped; her pulse was strong and fast. He could see the large vein in her throat pulsing like something alive. Shido brushed his lips across it, gently. Yayoi made a small noise.

“Shido…” Her voice was high, a little frightened. He saw her swallow hard. “You know… You know it makes me nervous when you do that while I’m driving.”

His tongue flicked out, tasting her skin. She made another tiny sound, a helpless sound. “You know I won’t let anything happen to you, Yayoi.” His voice was rough.

There was a long period of silence. Finally Yayoi said, “I know that.” But she still sounded nervous.

Shido heard himself chuckle darkly, seductively. It was a sound for bedroom activities where lots of leather was involved. “You also know that I know what I’m doing, right? I won’t hurt you.” He put one hand on her knee, very lightly. He kissed the side of her neck again. “I’m hungry, Yayoi.” His hand whispered along her thigh, moving upward.

Yayoi gasped. “Shido!” Her eyes were very wide. “At least let me… Let me pull over.”

He nodded as his fingers traced an idle path along her skin. She was so deliciously soft…

The car slowed as it pulled off to the side of the road. Yayoi put it in park but kept her hands on the wheel. She stared straight ahead into the darkness beyond the windshield.

For a long minute Shido did nothing, said nothing. The silence was broken by the sound of Yayoi’s breathing and the wild thumping of her heart. He could almost smell her blood, rushing just below the surface of her silken skin…

He nuzzled her throat. Yayoi jumped again, as if she hadn’t expected it. Shido’s hand smoothed its way along her thigh again, touch still light, barely-there. This time he let it travel higher, to the hem of her minidress.

“What… are you waiting for?” Yayoi’s voice was a little desperate. “Don’t you want it?” She lifted her chin, exposing the long, pale line of her throat.

Another dark chuckle. “Oh, yes. But I had something slightly… different in mind.”

“What—OH!” Yayoi fell backward as Shido pulled the reclining lever on her seat. She let out a purring laugh. “Shido, you cad.”

He grinned down at her, flashing fangs, his eyes gone golden and wild. Yayoi shivered, but gave him a sultry smile. “Come and get it.”

He leaned down, brushing his lips once more against her throat. Yayoi made a pleased sound and tilted her head back, closing her eyes.

But then Shido moved away.

“What?” Yayoi sounded dazed. “What are you…?” She started to sit up.

Shido pressed her back into the seat. “I told you I had something different in mind.” His hand was still on her thigh, and now he was gently but firmly pulling her legs apart.

“Wait a minute, what exactly are you—AH!” Shido had bent over and was running his lips across the inside of her thigh. “Shido!”

“Shhh,” he soothed, mouth against her skin. “It won’t hurt.” He parted her legs further.

It didn’t hurt, or not exactly. There was the first startling feel of his fangs, and then… “Mmm, oh God…” Yayoi closed her eyes tightly.

Sweet, so sweet, like the ripest fruit dipped in sugar… Shido’s fingers roamed willfully, tracing the lace of Yayoi’s panties, tickling the inside of her thighs. He could feel her trembling, but it wasn’t from fear, not anymore. She was moaning softly, her legs parting on their own now to give him better access. And all through it, her hot blood poured into him, feeding his hunger and inflaming it all at once, like some delicious champagne he couldn’t get enough of…

He ran his fingers almost unconsciously over the front of her panties, dipping between her thighs, feeling warmth and wetness. Her back arched almost violently and she cried out; she shuddered all over, and Shido realized he’d brought her to orgasm.

Yayoi panted for a few moments. “Shido… Oh, my…”

There was a long pause.

“Shido… I’m getting kinda light-headed here…” She said at last.

Shido wasn’t listening. Too much… It’s too much… I should stop now… But he didn’t stop.

“Shido? Shido?” She was starting to sound scared again, voice high and shaky. “Shido, stop. That’s enough. Shido, STOP!”

Something cool and hard was suddenly pressed to his temple. After a long moment, Shido realized it was Yayoi’s gun. Oh God, what am I doing?

He pulled himself away so fast the gun was nearly yanked from her shaking fingers. Shido pressed himself back against the car door, as far from Yayoi as he could get without leaving the vehicle. His eyes were wide, horrified.

Yayoi kept the gun pointed at him, face expressionless, but there was real fear in her eyes. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Shido hid his face in his hands. “Yayoi… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… to…” He went silent, not knowing what to say, how to apologize. I would have stopped, wouldn’t I? I could never hurt Yayoi. But apparently, Yayoi wasn’t so sure. The gun stayed pointed at his head.

“Forgive me. I don’t know… what came over me.” He swallowed hard. The taste of Yayoi’s blood, of her skin, was still on his tongue. He squeezed his eyes shut.

There was an agonizing pause. Shido looked up at Yayoi. His eyes were still slightly wild, but they had gone back to their serene ocean-green color.

Yayoi sighed and put her gun away. “Shido, you owe me dinner for this one.”

Shido laughed weakly. “Anything you want, Yayoi.”