optimistically ventured, pointing to the leather outfit before him. “That is, if you’re wearing one of those.”
Her eyes darted to the apparel display, and the edges of her mouth upturned slightly.
Smart kid
.
“Hate to tell you, Sherlock, but it’s not like one of our kind hasn’t already thought about that,” she offered in a milder tone. “It’s not without some risk and not very practical for anything but riding around. But yeah, I’ll bite.”
She paused with an evil grin, which merely elicited a groan from him.
“However, you have to promise
me
something,” she stipulated. “If
I
give you a daytime ride,
you
have to commit to a nighttime ride.”
“You’re on,” he agreed with a shrug.
Then he wondered what the catch was.
She seemed quite satisfied as she picked one of the black leather suits from the selection before her. She selected a set of leather gloves and briefly browsed the leather riding boots. Minutes later, she proceeded over to the counter with the additional merchandise while the salesman observed her with anticipation.
After dinner, they returned to the estate, where Katrina was surprised by Paige’s purchase, but smoothly congratulated her on the acquisition. Caleb recounted a more sedate version of his test drive experience and deliberately avoided any mention of his riding agreement with Paige.
The following day, it was barely eleven o’clock when Caleb sat down to lunch in anticipation of his daytime ride. As he ate, Katrina walked into the kitchen to heat some blood in the microwave.
“Somebody’s hungry early, I see.”
He casually shrugged. “I’ve got plans at noon.”
“That’s nice,” she remarked as she removed the glass of blood and took a quick swig.
At least he’s staying active with all his spare time.
“What’s on the agenda?”
“Riding with Paige,” he replied around a mouthful of potato chips.
A steely expression crossed her face. “At noon?”
Paige walked through the kitchen with an armful of clothes, heading for the utility room at a speedy pace. “High noon, Red. A deal’s a deal.”
Katrina’s green eyes narrowed to slits, and her demeanor darkened as she intently stared into Caleb’s eyes. He shivered slightly at their intensity.
“What deal?” she demanded in a stern, quiet voice.
He swallowed his bite of sandwich and drank from his glass of cola.
Oh no
.
Not good
.
Katrina patiently waited, looming before him like a statue while staring at him flatly.
“Um,” he awkwardly began, “Paige offered to give me a ride on her cycle at noon.”
“Caleb Taylor!” Katrina exclaimed.
He winced slightly.
“How could you? As if you don’t fully know how dangerous that is.”
Paige zipped back through the kitchen wearing a mischievous grin. “Ha! I get him tonight, though.”
As the blonde vampire raced upstairs, Katrina demanded, “Exactly what does that mean?”
Caleb immediately regretted the agreement with Paige. “Well, I kind of agreed to a nighttime ride in return for a day ride.”
She glared at him, and he swallowed hard at the stony expression on her face.
“Kat, it’s just a ride,” he protested. “And, after all, she’s going to wear protective gear.”
Paige reappeared, twirling around like a model in her new leather outfit complete with black leather boots. A cocky expression accompanied her energetic aura as she pulled on a pair of leather riding gloves.
Katrina took a moment to stare at her friend before looking to the ceiling with exasperation.
“You’re an idiot to go through with this, Paige,” she said. “What if something goes horribly wrong?”
“Everything will be fine. Just a quick out and back,” Paige insisted in a cavalier tone. “Keep your shirt on, Red. Tell me we haven’t done far more dangerous things for far less reasons.”
“We both did some stupid, careless things out of sheer ignorance when we were younger,” Katrina corrected. “Now I know my limitations better
Her eyes darted to the apparel display, and the edges of her mouth upturned slightly.
Smart kid
.
“Hate to tell you, Sherlock, but it’s not like one of our kind hasn’t already thought about that,” she offered in a milder tone. “It’s not without some risk and not very practical for anything but riding around. But yeah, I’ll bite.”
She paused with an evil grin, which merely elicited a groan from him.
“However, you have to promise
me
something,” she stipulated. “If
I
give you a daytime ride,
you
have to commit to a nighttime ride.”
“You’re on,” he agreed with a shrug.
Then he wondered what the catch was.
She seemed quite satisfied as she picked one of the black leather suits from the selection before her. She selected a set of leather gloves and briefly browsed the leather riding boots. Minutes later, she proceeded over to the counter with the additional merchandise while the salesman observed her with anticipation.
After dinner, they returned to the estate, where Katrina was surprised by Paige’s purchase, but smoothly congratulated her on the acquisition. Caleb recounted a more sedate version of his test drive experience and deliberately avoided any mention of his riding agreement with Paige.
The following day, it was barely eleven o’clock when Caleb sat down to lunch in anticipation of his daytime ride. As he ate, Katrina walked into the kitchen to heat some blood in the microwave.
“Somebody’s hungry early, I see.”
He casually shrugged. “I’ve got plans at noon.”
“That’s nice,” she remarked as she removed the glass of blood and took a quick swig.
At least he’s staying active with all his spare time.
“What’s on the agenda?”
“Riding with Paige,” he replied around a mouthful of potato chips.
A steely expression crossed her face. “At noon?”
Paige walked through the kitchen with an armful of clothes, heading for the utility room at a speedy pace. “High noon, Red. A deal’s a deal.”
Katrina’s green eyes narrowed to slits, and her demeanor darkened as she intently stared into Caleb’s eyes. He shivered slightly at their intensity.
“What deal?” she demanded in a stern, quiet voice.
He swallowed his bite of sandwich and drank from his glass of cola.
Oh no
.
Not good
.
Katrina patiently waited, looming before him like a statue while staring at him flatly.
“Um,” he awkwardly began, “Paige offered to give me a ride on her cycle at noon.”
“Caleb Taylor!” Katrina exclaimed.
He winced slightly.
“How could you? As if you don’t fully know how dangerous that is.”
Paige zipped back through the kitchen wearing a mischievous grin. “Ha! I get him tonight, though.”
As the blonde vampire raced upstairs, Katrina demanded, “Exactly what does that mean?”
Caleb immediately regretted the agreement with Paige. “Well, I kind of agreed to a nighttime ride in return for a day ride.”
She glared at him, and he swallowed hard at the stony expression on her face.
“Kat, it’s just a ride,” he protested. “And, after all, she’s going to wear protective gear.”
Paige reappeared, twirling around like a model in her new leather outfit complete with black leather boots. A cocky expression accompanied her energetic aura as she pulled on a pair of leather riding gloves.
Katrina took a moment to stare at her friend before looking to the ceiling with exasperation.
“You’re an idiot to go through with this, Paige,” she said. “What if something goes horribly wrong?”
“Everything will be fine. Just a quick out and back,” Paige insisted in a cavalier tone. “Keep your shirt on, Red. Tell me we haven’t done far more dangerous things for far less reasons.”
“We both did some stupid, careless things out of sheer ignorance when we were younger,” Katrina corrected. “Now I know my limitations better
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