Page 90 of Forsaking All Others

Her gasp is audible as my arousal becomes undeniable, and she tries to pull away.

“Wait,” I whisper. “I apologise. Please, just give me a moment.”

She nods and we stand awkwardly on the dance floor as I try to think of battle scenes, bodies, earthquakes, anything at all to induce my body to STAND DOWN!

“Tell me something. Take my mind off it.”

“Friends don’t do this kind of thing,” she says, her voice strained.

“It’s not a conscious decision,” I mutter.

“I don’t want to be here,” she says through gritted teeth.

“Vietnam?”

“No, idiot!” She snaps, “I don’t want to be standing here pressed up against your thing!”

I guffaw at her terminology, my laughter rocking both our bodies and my hard-on becoming, if anything, harder.

“Stop it!” She hisses. “Che schifo!”

“It’s not disgusting, Cat, it’s a natural thing.”

My laughter is not helping matters, but catching another glimpse of Thorun’s downturned lips over the top of Cat’s head reminds me of Valérie. I’d claimed she was bitten by a shark, but I knew immediately who was responsible. Thinking about how I’m most likely going to have to catch and kill Asumpta in the coming weeks allows me to get myself under control.

“There,” I smile down at my furious partner.

“Thank God,” she whispers.

“I am the lead, Cat. For once in your life, trust someone else. Allow your body to completely relax.”

“Easier said than done,” she mutters. “Why did you even ask for the first dance with me? Are you trying to get me killed?”

“On the contrary, I believe you have nothing to worry about on that score at the moment, given the reaction to my date with the Greek and your rising reputation as a bloodthirsty murderess. I asked for the first dance because I wanted to apologise for kissing you.”

“By pressing your penis against me?” She asks, her tone incredulous.

“No, obviously not,” I laugh. “I’m a man, Cat, these things happen. And you don’t need to act so indignant, nor be afraid. I’m hardly going to ravish you on the dance floor, for Christ’s sake.”

“You’re not a man, you’re a vampire.”

“I still have needs. The same needs as a human man.”

“I don’t want to know about those needs,” she says quietly, almost inaudibly. “If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all,” I frown, suddenly aware we’re treading on dangerous ground and heading towards a very real conversation. More real than I’d had with any other competitor. “We’ve both agreed the marriage will be in name only, whoever takes the title of Viscountess. I don’t expect my wife to share my bed if she chooses not to.”

“Good.” She breathes a sigh of relief and relaxes enough that it doesn’t feel so much like I’m towing a statue around the room. “Your name, protection, and immortality, that’s all I want.”

“You won’t have immortality, Cat,” I murmur as the dance comes to a close. “But I can give you the rest.”

I spin her back into the waiting women and hold out my hand to Cherry as the music starts again, watching out of the corner of my eye as Cat tears off her mask and stares at me.

“WHAT?” She shouts from the sidelines.

65

Entering our bedroom I kick aside Valérie’s clothes, still scattered as usual all over the room despite her death, and head for my bed.