Page 174 of Eternal Surrender

She sipped the bubble rich wine in between bites of fruit, and I kissed her pink-tinged lips, sharing in the mergence of tastes.

“I can’t go back,” she said, a smile curling on her lips. “Mortal men will never compete with you.”

“Maybe you don’t need to,” I said, wanting to believe we could be more.

I reached over to the ice bucket resting on the bedside table and lifted out the Krug and topped up her drink, then rested the bottle back into the cooler, crunching it into the ice.

It wasn’t the wine I missed, it was the sharing of it. Talking and eating, letting the evening stretch out between us. I missed the closeness of that, the intimacy of sharing. If she questioned this too, she didn’t say it.

She sat up, resting against the headboard. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my future.” She put her glass down. “It terrifies me I’m even considering it.”

A sudden rush of thoughts flooded my mind, hers, sending a shiver through me. The meaning behind her rumination frightened me.

“Maybe that’s your answer.” I climbed out of bed and began to dress. “I have to find Dominion.”

“William, we should talk.”

I knelt on the side of the bed and kissed her forehead.

“Fabian thinks we make a good team,” she said.

I buttoned my shirt. “What you’re essentially asking, Ingrid, is for me to. . .” I refused to say the words.

“Turn me,” she muttered.

A selfish part of me longed for it, burned for it, but I would not do that to her. Morally, I loved her far too deeply.

“This discussion is over.”

Someone was swiping a key card at the front door, trying to gain entry. Though Ingrid was oblivious to the imminent intrusion.

“You’re perfect just the way you are.” I shot my finger to my lips gesturing for her to be quiet. “Wait here.” I headed into the living room.

It was Lucas.

He held up a small bottle and said, “Pain killers. For Ingrid.”

“How are you feeling?” I asked him.

“Fine.” He looked away, seemingly still rattled. “I thought I’d give you two time to talk. That’s why I took a little longer.” He peered passed me. “Hey there.”

Ingrid stood in the bedroom doorway, dressed now and pulling a comb through her hair.

She approached Lucas and took the medicine from him. “Thank you for getting me that.” Ingrid tucked the tablets into her handbag. “I’m going to pop home and get some fresh clothes. Call me, okay?”

“Of course.” I tried to hide my frustration of not wanting to waste any time and start interrogating Lucas.

Lucas’s eyes glazed over, as though realizing something was wrong.

Ingrid opened the door. “William, I don’t suppose you want to come with me?”

“This shouldn’t take long,” I said.

“Sounds ominous.” Lucas strolled over to the bedroom and his expression changed when he saw the disheveled sheets.

“Wait for me, Ingrid,” I said. “I’d like to take you home.”

“Don’t be so old-fashioned,” she said, that sparkle in her eyes reflecting all we had just shared, the intimacy, the pleasure, the astounding affection.