and repacking our bags for the trip. Most of Alex’s t-shirts were in dire need of better folding anyway. Being surrounded by his clothes, by his scent, gradually mellowed me out.
When he finally left the bathroom, the sun was down. He smelled of shower gel and deo, his hair was tousled to perfection, and his smile was wide. It was like nothing had happened.
He shouldered both our bags and held out a hand. The same hand that had hurt me. “Shall we?” His gaze was pleading.
I remembered him leading me out of The Gridlock the first time we met, his palm on the small of my back. His touch always made me feel safe, even when he was a human and physically weaker than me, and his long fingers had given me pleasure countless times.
I was beyond pissed that he’d pretend nothing had happened. I wanted him to come clean about his nightmares—or night-terrors, or whatever the hell he saw in his sleep that turned him into a savage animal. I wanted to smack some sense into him.
But I refused to fear his hand.
Promising myself I’d confront him as soon as we returned from our trip, I nodded, and placed my palm in his. “We shall.”
Chapter Seven
“But what if something comes up I can’t handle? Sally may have another breakdown.” Liza’s voice was reasonable, but her gaze betrayed her worry.
I winced, the memory of Sally’s sobs still fresh in my memory. Liza wasn’t sure she’d remain focused on the perks of her newly acquired vampirism. To be honest, neither was I.
“Sally will be all right, and you’ll have Sheena and Wesley here to help you. I’m sure you won’t require any assistance, though. You’re as capable of maintaining balance in the manor as I am.” Constantine trailed his index finger down the perfect slope of her cheekbone and leaned down to place a lingering kiss on her lips. I’m pretty sure she sniffled when he broke away.
I averted my gaze, not wanting to intrude. It was odd, waiting outside the front door with Alex, while Constantine locked lips with all three young vampires. Wesley wrapped his arms around Carrie and Sally, and Sheena touched Liza lightly on the shoulder.
“It’s okay. They’ll be back soon,” Sheena said.
Liza nodded, and looked at me. “Call when you get there.”
“Will do.” I smiled. Our forced cohabitation was evolving into a tentative friendship, and I liked it.
Don’t know how I’d feel if it were my house we’d all camped in, but Constantine didn’t seem to mind the company. That wasn’t the case from the beginning. When I’d sneaked Sheena to his place, to save her from Willoughby, Constantine had found her insufferable. He wasn’t exactly thrilled when I’d volunteered him to take in the three fledglings either. Still, he’d offered Alex and me a place too, when we needed to lie low.
Of course, now he had a steady supply of lovers who didn’t demand exclusivity, a verbal sparring partner in Sheena, an actual sparring partner in Alex, and…me. I wasn’t sure where exactly I fit in, but I was in no hurry to find out.
If anyone was to be bothered by the new living arrangements, it should be Wesley, who took care of everything and everyone, but he’d repeatedly commented on how brilliant it was having new blood—of sorts—enter the mansion.
Goodbyes exchanged, the three of us hopped in Alex’s Chrysler. I rode shotgun, while Constantine made himself comfortable, sprawled in the back seat.
“Anybody feel like a snack?” he asked, tapping the portable fridge next to him.
“Cherry’s brought her own,” Alex said. “I’m pretty sure she emptied the kitchen cabinets on the way out.”
“Someone’s in a good mood,” I muttered. It was going to be a delightful five-hour ride to San Luis Obispo.
Not.
Halfway there—about fifty miles from Santa Barbara—I was hungry for blood, on edge, and sick of Alex’s running commentary on the scenic coastal route. He wasn’t our damned tour guide. He and I weren’t at a
When he finally left the bathroom, the sun was down. He smelled of shower gel and deo, his hair was tousled to perfection, and his smile was wide. It was like nothing had happened.
He shouldered both our bags and held out a hand. The same hand that had hurt me. “Shall we?” His gaze was pleading.
I remembered him leading me out of The Gridlock the first time we met, his palm on the small of my back. His touch always made me feel safe, even when he was a human and physically weaker than me, and his long fingers had given me pleasure countless times.
I was beyond pissed that he’d pretend nothing had happened. I wanted him to come clean about his nightmares—or night-terrors, or whatever the hell he saw in his sleep that turned him into a savage animal. I wanted to smack some sense into him.
But I refused to fear his hand.
Promising myself I’d confront him as soon as we returned from our trip, I nodded, and placed my palm in his. “We shall.”
Chapter Seven
“But what if something comes up I can’t handle? Sally may have another breakdown.” Liza’s voice was reasonable, but her gaze betrayed her worry.
I winced, the memory of Sally’s sobs still fresh in my memory. Liza wasn’t sure she’d remain focused on the perks of her newly acquired vampirism. To be honest, neither was I.
“Sally will be all right, and you’ll have Sheena and Wesley here to help you. I’m sure you won’t require any assistance, though. You’re as capable of maintaining balance in the manor as I am.” Constantine trailed his index finger down the perfect slope of her cheekbone and leaned down to place a lingering kiss on her lips. I’m pretty sure she sniffled when he broke away.
I averted my gaze, not wanting to intrude. It was odd, waiting outside the front door with Alex, while Constantine locked lips with all three young vampires. Wesley wrapped his arms around Carrie and Sally, and Sheena touched Liza lightly on the shoulder.
“It’s okay. They’ll be back soon,” Sheena said.
Liza nodded, and looked at me. “Call when you get there.”
“Will do.” I smiled. Our forced cohabitation was evolving into a tentative friendship, and I liked it.
Don’t know how I’d feel if it were my house we’d all camped in, but Constantine didn’t seem to mind the company. That wasn’t the case from the beginning. When I’d sneaked Sheena to his place, to save her from Willoughby, Constantine had found her insufferable. He wasn’t exactly thrilled when I’d volunteered him to take in the three fledglings either. Still, he’d offered Alex and me a place too, when we needed to lie low.
Of course, now he had a steady supply of lovers who didn’t demand exclusivity, a verbal sparring partner in Sheena, an actual sparring partner in Alex, and…me. I wasn’t sure where exactly I fit in, but I was in no hurry to find out.
If anyone was to be bothered by the new living arrangements, it should be Wesley, who took care of everything and everyone, but he’d repeatedly commented on how brilliant it was having new blood—of sorts—enter the mansion.
Goodbyes exchanged, the three of us hopped in Alex’s Chrysler. I rode shotgun, while Constantine made himself comfortable, sprawled in the back seat.
“Anybody feel like a snack?” he asked, tapping the portable fridge next to him.
“Cherry’s brought her own,” Alex said. “I’m pretty sure she emptied the kitchen cabinets on the way out.”
“Someone’s in a good mood,” I muttered. It was going to be a delightful five-hour ride to San Luis Obispo.
Not.
Halfway there—about fifty miles from Santa Barbara—I was hungry for blood, on edge, and sick of Alex’s running commentary on the scenic coastal route. He wasn’t our damned tour guide. He and I weren’t at a
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