“Once we kill Kincaid and put this all behind us, what's going to happen? It's not as if we can go back to the way things were.”

“That,” Rachel said firmly, “is not going to happen.” She wiggled her hips impatiently, and Josh went back to stroking her tail. She made a low, satisfied sound, deep in her throat, sounding like nothing more than a happy jungle cat. She looked up at her husband through her lashes. "So what's the deal, honey? Are you afraid that's what's going to happen? Or are you afraid that it's not?"

“A Little of both, maybe. Don't get me wrong," he said quickly, meeting his wife's outraged glare firmly. "I don't want to go back to the way things were. I Love the fact that we're back together. And I suppose I could get used to the idea of sex with four gorgeous women."

“Five,” interrupted Rachel.

“Or are you forgetting Yasna?"

“No. Not forgetting. But not suggesting, either. That poor girl-"

“Girl? She's almost as old as we are!"

"Girl," he continued. "Emotionally, at Least. She's been hurt, Venus.

Hurt bad. If she wants me, she'll ask. And if she doesn't..." he drew her fingers to his mouth, kissing the tips teasingly.

“Somehow I'LL have to make do with what I already have.

“But what I mean is that our...lifestyle is going to eventually attract attention. The neighbors are going to start to wonder. I mean, eight of us all Living here together?"

His wife snorted her amusement. "So who are you, and what did you do with my husband? When did Joshua Sunderman, bane of political correctness and chief shit-stirrer of the art world, start worrying about what everyone else thought?”

“When it affected our children's lives," he said seriously. "Think about it Rachel, because I doubt Alex and Sarah have. If this ever gets out in public, we will be shunned at best and jailed at worst. And our children will be labeled as perverts and deviants. What do you think their futures will be like, if this becomes common knowledge?"

“Then we will just have to make sure it doesn't, won't we?" she said, arching her bottom up into his stroking hand.

“But I really think you're jumping at shadows, honey," she continued. "We're not all going to be here at once. And I doubt we'll have all eight living here at a time.

“You and me, certainly. Sarah, most likely. Alex? I'm not sure. He might choose to Live up in Evanston. That's one heck of a long commute from here. And that means he might choose to live with Maria. Which means I'll have to find another maid,“ she said sourly. Rachel had no love or aptitude for domestic duties.

“Jeremy? He's been renting a place near UIC during the school year. Though he is welcome here. But

Sarah might choose to Live with him. Kendall College is closer to UIC than we are.

“Which Leaves Althea and Yasna. I don't think Yasna is ready to move in with us. But Althea might. She needs love like a flower needs sunlight,

Josh. And I don't think she is going to want to live alone after spending time with so many people who adore her.

“Moral of the story, honey? Don't borrow trouble. This house might become a...a haven for all of us. Someplace to come to and share love on the weekends. But not a home. Not for most.

“Or it might," she said, her face becoming more cheerful.

“And if it does, who is going to say we can't? If we are discreet and careful, who is going to whisper a word against us? We have Lived in this neighborhood for over a decade. People know us. They aren't going to believe that workaholic Rachel Wainwright has suddenly become a sex-hungry nymphomaniac. Or that Alex is into D and s. Or that Sarah enjoys getting it on with her father.

“Or, especially, that we have an immortal succubus Living under our roof who shares our beds. All of them."

Josh considered her words.