Page 42 of 'Til All the Seas Run Dry

“But they’re not dates. They’re… meetings. As friends.”

Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. “Friends.”

“Yes. And as we’re just friends. No more kissing. Definitely no sex.”

“But—”

“No sex,” she repeated. “You can be my friend, or you’ll be nothing.”

The businessman in him, the person who had negotiated countless difficult deals, wanted to remind her that she had no real collateral to bargain with or against either. She’d never find the skin without him. She needed him. But that was the businessman. The man who had loved her for nearly a thousand years, who had just pondered carving out his own heart for her, knew that he could never deny her anything.

And so with a slow nod, he stuck out his hand. She took it, and they shook.

“Verra well, Jory. Friends.”

17

Jory couldn’t help the tiny smile that tugged, unbidden, at her mouth. Callum returned it with a twitch of his own mouth that wanted to be a smile—would have been a smile—if he’d let it.

“What time is it?” she asked.

Callum crossed to the desk and picked up the watch. “Seven thirty.”

“Shit,” she hissed between her teeth. How had she been there all night? “I’ve got to go! I’ve got to open the store.”

Callum stood staring at her, his arms down by his sides. Jory could hear the subtle, barely audible ticking of the watch in his hand. She did need to leave now if she wanted time to grab a shower and eat breakfast, perhaps drink a cup of coffee before opening the store. And shehadto change her clothes. Her sweater was smeared with Callum’s bloody tears. But she found herself struggling to make herself pick up her purse and coat, to climb out of the vault.

“I wish you didnae have to go, Jory,” he said quietly.

She didn’t really want to go either. But she had a business to run. More to the point, he was dangerous. She’d been so confident a few moments before, when she’d forbidden kissing. But the truth was, she knew that if she stayed in this small, cozy space any longer, she was likely to throw all of her own rules out the window.

Besides, he had a ragged, weary look on his face.

“You look tired, Callum.”

“I am tired.”

“So sleep.”

He looked at the floor, as if thinking. Then he murmured, “I dinnae expect I’ll sleep much today.”

“Why not?”

He looked up at her. “Because I’ll be remembering everything that happened tonight. I dinnae want you to leave without a plan to see you next.”

It was all too much. His focus, his attention,him. She spun around and reached for her coat, sliding her arms into the sleeves before bending to retrieve her purse. She put it on her shoulder and turned, gasping loudly when she nearly ran into him. He’d moved directly behind her, and she hadn’t heard.

“Easy,” he said, his big hands holding her upper arms to steady her.

“What the fuck, Callum?” she said, slapping his chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack!”

He released her arm and pressed a palm against her furious heartbeat. “Dinnae joke about such things.”

“I—“

“Please, Jory. I cannae bear to even hear the joke.”

“Friends. We said friends,” she blurted out because she needed the reminder, because she couldn’t breathe with his hand there.