After a few minutes, she felt Kohl’s eyes on her. Standing side by side like this, the top of her head barely topped his shoulder. It was kinda strange for a girl who was used to being as tall or taller than many of the men she met. She felt tiny beside him. Fragile. She wasn’t sure she liked it.
“I’m sorry that happened to you because of us. Because of things like…me.”
Surprised his thoughts were running in that direction, she frowned up at him. “It wasn’t because of you. It was because they thought the fact that they were human gave them the right to decide who lives and who dies. They thought they were acting for God. Or that they were better than God. I disagree with that logic. Who are we to decide what souls should be allowed to live, or not?”
“Do you really believe I have a soul?” The words were hesitant, as though he were almost afraid to ask.
“Of course. We all have souls.”
“Hmph. If I have a soul, then it must be damned.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I’m a killer, Devon. I’ve done things. Fucked up things. Things I couldn’t stop myself from doing. Especially when I was young. I can try to act differently. I can try to control it, and I usually can—now. But at my core, I’m a predator. A killer.” He watched her closely. “Thou shalt not kill, right? So, if you’re right, and I do have a soul, it must be damned.”
His argument didn’t hold for her. “Animals are killers. They hunt for their food, or just for sport. Even sweet little cats and dogs. I don’t believe their souls are damned, because that’s how God made them. It’s an instinct for them and, I would imagine, for you. It doesn’t make you bad. Or evil. Not when you’re doing what you need to do to survive.” Her voice rang with conviction, conviction that was real. She truly believed everything she’d just said. The Christian’s judgmental and vengeful God was not the God she believed in.
His eyes were intense on her face, as though he was trying to see right through to her soul. It made her uncomfortable, and she twisted her fingers together self-consciously in front of her. His interest in her as a person was more than she was ready for. Hot, sweaty vampire sex she could handle. But not more than that. Not right now. Not with him. Forcing a smile, she said, “Should we get back to our picnic before the ants carry off my dinner?”
The spell was broken, and she watched as the tension visibly left his body. “I have them spray for ants.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, then, how about we get back to dinner because I’m still hungry, and I don’t want all of the trouble you went through to go to waste?”
“We can do that,” he said. “But first…”
Devon blinked as he disappeared from her line of vision. A second later he was back. Music drifted to her from the direction of his bike. The song was slow. A bluesy, soulful mixture of country and rock she instantly fell in love with.
He held out a hand. “Will you dance with me?”
The old-fashioned gesture was out of place in this day and age…and completely endearing. Her heart pounding out of her chest, she took his hand and stepped up to him, her other hand finding his shoulder. Muscle moved beneath her fingers as he pulled her in close and tucked their joined hands against his chest, and she found herself swaying in perfect time to the beat.
She fit against him like a puzzle piece. “Who is this band?”
“They’re called Lucero.”
“I like them.”
He rumbled a response, and his arm slid beneath her open jacket and tightened around her back. Devon closed her eyes and laid her head against his chest, happy to shut up for the moment and just enjoy the warmth of his body and the pleasure of being so close to him.
They danced in silence for a while, swaying to the raw twang of the singer’s voice. She felt drunk. And it had nothing to do with the wine. Kohl’s heartbeat was strong beneath her ear, and his big arms held her safe against him, shielding her from all of the messed up shit in the world. For that short time, there was no one and nothing else but the two of them, and Devon found herself wishing the song would never end.
Until it did.
As the last notes faded away and their dance gradually slowed until they were no longer moving, she went to step away. But instead of releasing her, Kohl slid his hand up her back until he reached her nape. Gripping a handful of hair, he tugged gently until she tilted her head back.
His eyes travelled over her face and locked on her mouth. “I want to kiss you.”
Her breath hitched as she waited. But he just stared at her lips, his eyes bright with hunger.
Was he waiting for her permission? “You can kiss me, Kohl,” she said.
His heart began to pound so hard she felt it vibrate in her own chest. Or maybe that was her heart. It was hard to tell where he ended and she began at this point.
His upper lip lifted, flashing his fangs. A growl rumbled low in his throat and his hand tightened in her hair. But he still made no move toward her.
“Kohl, please kiss me.” She tightened her hand on his shoulder and rose up onto her toes, bringing their lips closer. “Kiss me,” she ordered.
That strange light came on behind his eyes until they glowed the color of amber. Releasing the hand he still held, he cupped his large palm against the side of her face. “So beautiful,” he whispered. His head lowered inch by inch, until he was so close she could smell the sweet scent of the wine on his breath.
