" She shook her head and winced in regret. " I’ve been on the floor long enough that my butt’s pretty numb now. "
" Okay. " Seth eased back into his folding chair. Where should he start? " I’m sorry you got involved in all this. They used you to get to me. "
Camille nodded and chuckled softly. " I got that. I don’t know why I thought you were a bartender or something all this time. Must’ve been the hours you kept. "
" Well, you understand why I have to keep my work a secret from others, don’t you? "
" Of course. There would be panic in the streets if people found out what was really ha ppening right under their noses. I mean, my sexy neighbor is immortal. That’s just unbelievable. Like something from the movies. Say, " she paused, " you aren’t going to erase my brain or anything like that, are you? "
" No, " he assured. " We don’t do stuff like that. We believe the experience you've had is enough to keep you quiet. Out of gratitude if nothing else. "
" Okay. " Camille took another sip of her soda. " I don’t think anyone would believe me, anyway. " She looked down at her can, her brow furrowed with concern. " How do you live like this, Seth? Night after night battling God-knows-what, unable to confide in anyone? It sounds absolutely terrible. "
" It gets easier as the years go by. " Decades. Centuries. If Michael did restore his mortality, he wouldn’t have to cope with it any longer. He wanted desperately for Michael to release him . He didn’t long for death, but he had grown weary of his life. If he could spend the next fifty years growing old with someone like Camille, he would die happy when the time finally came.
" I guess the idea of marriage and children must seem like a far off fantasy. Do you even date? "
Date was not the right word. Hook up, perhaps. Nothing that would last long enough for them to notice he didn't get sick, or hurt, or age. " Not really. I just admire beauty from afar. " He smiled and watched a flush rise to Camille’s cheeks. " Of course, I’ve never considered dating someone already familiar with my work. Say, a formerly possessed neighbor, for example. "
Camille rose to her feet and walked to the cell bars. She watched Seth for a moment before a smile spread across her face. " Are you asking me out? "
" I think I am. If you’ll say yes. "
" I guess after you’ve writhed around naked on the floor in front of a man, the least you can do is let him take you to dinner. "
Seth nodded. " I think that’s only appropriate. " He stood and moved to the cell, gripped the bars, and rested his forehead against them. " I’ve wanted to ask you out every time I’ve seen you for the past few months. I just didn’t want to get you involved in all this. "
Camille placed her hands over his and looked up into his eyes. " Too late. " She rose up onto her toes and leaned in to kiss him.
Unlike their earlier encounter, her kiss was soft and inviting, her lips trembling ever so slightly against him. He reached into the cell to cup her face with his hands. Seth pulled her as close to him as he could without forcing her against the rough bars of her cage.
Camille reciprocated, moving her body against him, the soft curves of her breasts pressing against his chest. He deepened the kiss, tasting the sweetness he’d craved for so long. Their hands moved frantically between the narrow openings of the cell, touching, exploring, their desires left unfulfilled.
" I want you so badly, " he groaned as their lips finally parted. He pounded his head against a bar with aggravation then let it rest there, throbbing. Even the pain couldn’t dull his desire for her.
" I know, " Camille breathed against his cheek. " But you’re in luck —— it’s just past six. Go get the key, " she urged, her chest rising and falling with exertion.
Seth moved as fast as he could, disappearing through the doors to the elevator. He dashed across the lot to the gate. Jeff was waiting for him there, the
" Okay. " Seth eased back into his folding chair. Where should he start? " I’m sorry you got involved in all this. They used you to get to me. "
Camille nodded and chuckled softly. " I got that. I don’t know why I thought you were a bartender or something all this time. Must’ve been the hours you kept. "
" Well, you understand why I have to keep my work a secret from others, don’t you? "
" Of course. There would be panic in the streets if people found out what was really ha ppening right under their noses. I mean, my sexy neighbor is immortal. That’s just unbelievable. Like something from the movies. Say, " she paused, " you aren’t going to erase my brain or anything like that, are you? "
" No, " he assured. " We don’t do stuff like that. We believe the experience you've had is enough to keep you quiet. Out of gratitude if nothing else. "
" Okay. " Camille took another sip of her soda. " I don’t think anyone would believe me, anyway. " She looked down at her can, her brow furrowed with concern. " How do you live like this, Seth? Night after night battling God-knows-what, unable to confide in anyone? It sounds absolutely terrible. "
" It gets easier as the years go by. " Decades. Centuries. If Michael did restore his mortality, he wouldn’t have to cope with it any longer. He wanted desperately for Michael to release him . He didn’t long for death, but he had grown weary of his life. If he could spend the next fifty years growing old with someone like Camille, he would die happy when the time finally came.
" I guess the idea of marriage and children must seem like a far off fantasy. Do you even date? "
Date was not the right word. Hook up, perhaps. Nothing that would last long enough for them to notice he didn't get sick, or hurt, or age. " Not really. I just admire beauty from afar. " He smiled and watched a flush rise to Camille’s cheeks. " Of course, I’ve never considered dating someone already familiar with my work. Say, a formerly possessed neighbor, for example. "
Camille rose to her feet and walked to the cell bars. She watched Seth for a moment before a smile spread across her face. " Are you asking me out? "
" I think I am. If you’ll say yes. "
" I guess after you’ve writhed around naked on the floor in front of a man, the least you can do is let him take you to dinner. "
Seth nodded. " I think that’s only appropriate. " He stood and moved to the cell, gripped the bars, and rested his forehead against them. " I’ve wanted to ask you out every time I’ve seen you for the past few months. I just didn’t want to get you involved in all this. "
Camille placed her hands over his and looked up into his eyes. " Too late. " She rose up onto her toes and leaned in to kiss him.
Unlike their earlier encounter, her kiss was soft and inviting, her lips trembling ever so slightly against him. He reached into the cell to cup her face with his hands. Seth pulled her as close to him as he could without forcing her against the rough bars of her cage.
Camille reciprocated, moving her body against him, the soft curves of her breasts pressing against his chest. He deepened the kiss, tasting the sweetness he’d craved for so long. Their hands moved frantically between the narrow openings of the cell, touching, exploring, their desires left unfulfilled.
" I want you so badly, " he groaned as their lips finally parted. He pounded his head against a bar with aggravation then let it rest there, throbbing. Even the pain couldn’t dull his desire for her.
" I know, " Camille breathed against his cheek. " But you’re in luck —— it’s just past six. Go get the key, " she urged, her chest rising and falling with exertion.
Seth moved as fast as he could, disappearing through the doors to the elevator. He dashed across the lot to the gate. Jeff was waiting for him there, the
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