Blinking her eyes open, Sarita glanced around with dismay as a loud crash sounded and she saw Domitian slamming to the floor with Thorne on top of him. She gaped briefly as the two men began to roll on the floor, grappling to get their hands around each other's throat, and then some of her good sense returned and she hurried around the pair to reach their heads. Bending, she grabbed each man by an ear and twisted.
"What the hell are you doing?" Sarita hissed when they both froze, their eyes shifting sideways to take her in.
"I did not start this," Domitian pointed out stiffly. "I was just . . . er . . . and then he suddenly knocked me away from you."
"Er?" she asked dryly.
"Is that what you call biting her?" Thorne growled and started to struggle with him again, but froze at once when Sarita gave his ear another twist.
"Dammit, woman, stop that," he growled. "I am trying to protect you from this vampire."
"He is not-"
"Hello?" Her grandmother called through the door, knocking. "I heard a ruckus coming from in here. Is everything okay?"
Sarita bit her lip, and then looked to Domitian and said, "Control his mind and make him tell her everything is fine."
Domitian turned to Thorne and concentrated on his forehead.
"Hello?" her grandmother called again, more loudly.
"What's going on, Maria?" Mrs. Dressler's voice sounded from downstairs. "Is everything okay?"
"I don't know, Elizabeth. No one is answering me."
"I cannot read or control him," Domitian whispered finally, sounding both surprised and worried.
Sarita's eyebrows rose. "Another life mate?"
Domitian gave a start at the suggestion, but then shook his head. "He's not wholly human. Perhaps that is why I cannot read him."
"Hello?" Her grandmother started pounding on the door.
"It is all right, Maria," Thorne said suddenly. "I was just moving my chest for Domitian and dropped it."
"Oh, all right, Thorne dear," her grandmother said, sounding relieved. "Well, don't stay in there too long. Domitian needs his rest after swimming all night."
"Of course," he said grimly and then arched his eyebrows at Sarita.
"It's okay, Elizabeth," they heard her call now. "Thorne just dropped his chest."
"Oh, good. Okay, well sleep well, old friend," Mrs. Dressler called.
When Sarita heard her grandmother's answer sounding farther from the door as she apparently left, she released both men. Backing up she watched warily as Thorne got off Domitian and stood up. He didn't offer Domitian a hand to rise, she noticed, but crossed his arms and watched them both warily in return as Domitian got up as well.
"Let me see your neck," Domitian murmured with concern, immediately moving toward her.
Thorne stiffened and took a step forward, but Domitian cast him a glare and growled, "I am concerned some damage might have been done when you tackled me. If there is tearing she could bleed to death."
Thorne looked concerned at the comment, but didn't try to interfere as Domitian examined her throat. He looked relieved when Domitian said, "It seems all right. I retracted my fangs quickly enough it would seem."
Relieved herself, Sarita nodded, and lowered her head when he released her. She glanced to Thorne then and sighed when she saw his expression. He was going to need explanations.
"I will handle this," Domitian said quietly, taking her arm and attempting to usher her to the door.
Sarita stuck her ground and shook her head. "I don't trust you won't fight."
"We will not fight," he assured her and then glanced to Thorne and said heavily, "Will we."
"Not if she tells me she's okay with you biting her," Thorne growled.
"I wouldn't say I'm okay with it," Sarita admitted wryly, keeping her voice low. "But I came in here of my own free will and without being invited and told him to do it. The swim here obviously left him in need, and there is no bagged blood here like on the island where we were staying."
Thorne shifted his gaze to Domitian. "So that's why El Doctor wanted you? You're a vampire. I didn't think they truly existed."
Frowning, she said, "He's not-"
"Mi Corazon," Domitian interrupted. "Please. Go to bed. Thorne and I will talk."
Sarita hesitated, but then sighed and nodded. She was tired, and didn't really want to go through the explanations of what Domitian was and so on. This time when Domitian tried to urge her to the door, she went without protest.
"I will see you when you wake up," he murmured, and pressed a kiss to her forehead before opening the door.