Third on my left, you said."
He went to the door she'd described, still amused. Now that the danger
of becoming one himself was past, he discovered he was beginning to
like these blood-drinkers, and to hope the Count would find a good,
sympathetic Liaison Officer.

He didn't have to knock; the door opened as he neared it, and Kaufman
invited him in with a flourish. "Nice to see you again, Captain," she
said, smiling--and this time Thompson let himself respond to her hunger
and her gleaming fangs. He went into her open arms, leaning his head
to one side.

She brushed his throat with her lips, and he felt amusement mixed with
her hunger. "May I assume that your Corporal Nkomo won't pull you away
from me this time, my dear Captain?" she murmured.

"You may, my dear Chief." Thompson relaxed completely, feeling the
assurance she projected. "This may be my only chance, so drink as much
as you want."

"As much as I'd take for a Change, yes. You'll go into a deep sleep,
and wake up hungry enough to eat a hellbeast."

"That's what my socio spec told me." Thompson's earlier desire was
back in full force, stronger than ever; he licked his lips, wishing
she'd get on with it.

Warmth on his throat, the sensation of hunger, hard sharpness-- He
cried out at the sudden intense pleasure of fangs in his throat, his
blood filling the Kin's eager mouth, satisfying her driving hunger . . .

* * * * *

He woke with that memory, his hand going to his throat and caressing
the wounds there. It was comfortable lying in bed--he knew, somehow,
that he was back in the apartment he'd been assigned--and he'd like to
stay there, holding on to the memory of Kaufman's feeding, but he was
much too hungry. He got up and used the 'fresher, then dressed,
intending to go to the dining room.

It wasn't necessary; a covered serving tray sat on the coffee table in
his apartment's living room, with a note beside it. He uncovered the
tray and began eating, curious about the note but not willing to
interrupt until he'd taken the edge off his appetite. Whoever had
prepared the tray, he thought gratefully, had a pretty good idea what
one of the "near-misses" like himself needed; by the time he emptied
it, he was satisfied.

He picked up the note and leaned back, chuckling as he read it.

"Dear Jase,

"By the time you get to this, you'll have eaten and I'll be asleep. I
want you to know: you were delicious,