“You’re in good shape, Nosferatu.” That wasthe understatement of the century. “You should have no problemkeeping up with a mere mortal.”
“I’m not much of a marathon runner, and I’mnot used to working out in jeans. Which is something I hope neverto do again.”
He pulled at the denim sticking like glue tohis legs, and she bit her lip to keep from laughing again. Rising,Maggie stretched her arms and legs before pulling her bottle ofwater free from where she’d strapped it to her side. She squirtedsome liquid into her mouth as she took in their surroundings.
Without realizing it, she’d looped around towithin three blocks of her place. Only a few people were venturingout this early on a Saturday morning. Watching them, she couldn’thelp but wonder if one of them might be working for a Savage andhuntingher.
“At the club last night, I coulddifferentiate between the vamps and the humans, but would I be ableto spot one of the people who work for the Savages?” she asked.
“No. They’ll look and act as human as you.How did you tell the difference between us at the club?”
His words chilled her. Did enemies surroundher now? Was that woman in the pink jumpsuit really someone lookingto take her to something that would tear her throat out, or wasthat man walking his poodle a threat to her?
“Vamps move differently,” she answered asshe studied every possible enemy strolling the sidewalks. “Andthere’s something predatory about all of you that’s almostundetectable unless someone is looking for it.”
“Most people wouldn’t bother to look forit.”
“Most people wouldn’tknowto lookfor it,” she pointed out. “I did.”
“Even if they did know, many wouldn't spotit.”
“You don’t grow up like I did and not learnto trust your instincts and learn your environmentreallywell.”
“And how did you grow up?”
“That conversation is way too complicated tohave right now.”
Aiden took the water bottle from her beforeshe could replace it. She stretched her legs as he squeezed waterinto his mouth and swallowed it. He’d taken his sweater and coatoff before they’d left her apartment. A sheen of sweat covered hischest and abs in an enticing way that had her contemplating lickingher lips, orhim.
“Can all vampires drink stuff other thanblood?” she asked to distract herself from the bead of sweat makingits way through the trail of hair leading from his belly button tohis waistband.
“Yes.” He handed the bottle back to her andtucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. She started butdidn’t pull away from him when he traced the outer shell of her earwith his finger before lowering his hand. She’d almost killed himwith her run, but the sparkle in her eyes was worth it. “We can eattoo if it’s necessary.”
“Fascinating.”
“Do you always run so far and fast?” heasked.
She smiled at him and drank some more waterbefore recapping the bottle. “No. I was trying to work things outin my mind, and running helps me do that.”
“And did you get things worked out?”
“No.”
The smile slid from his face. “I’ll keep yousafe, Maggie.”
“I don’t know you, Aiden. And no offense,but my life has gone to shit since you entered it.”
He winced at the truth of her words. He wassupposed to bring happiness to his mate’s life, not turn it upsidedown and place herindanger.
“What would you like to know about me?” heasked.
She tilted her head to the side. “But yousaid, ‘there are things about me, Maggie, that I don’t want totouch your life.’ Now you’re willing to share with me?”
No.But instead, he found himselfsaying, “If it helps you to trust me more, I will tell you as muchas I can.”
“And what do you expect from me inreturn?”
“Who said I expected anything from you?” heasked.
