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“It’s nice to hear it,” I said and had trouble holding his gaze all of a sudden. “You’re not too bad yourself.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

His voice had grown deep, husky. I wasn’t sure I was ready for what I heard in his voice, but I didn’t hate it. “And you’re not put off knowing that I was in love with someone else?”

He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table. “No, because it’s gone. This male who held your heart has been banished from it. Which means there’s now room for you to fall in love with someone else.”

This male was smooth. He knew all the right things to say. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I hadn’t been around too many males this well adjusted or controlled. All the males around me, besides Arthur, tended to be volatile. “I’m not sure I’m in the market for love just yet,” I said and tried not to fidget under his direct stare.

“No one goes out looking for love. It finds us whether we’re expecting it or not.” He grinned, and I got a flash of fangs. “That’s what I’m told anyway.”

“You’ve never been in love?”

He took a sip of his drink, then shook his head. “No, I never have.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m surprised you feel that way, even after the pain you suffered?” His gaze dipped to my mouth and back up. “And don’t be sorry. Everything happens for a reason, yes? My time will come if it’s meant to.”

“I hope that’s true. I like to believe we’re not all wandering around like idiots, making the same stupid mistakes over and over again.”

His grin widened. “It’s a nice thought.”

“As for love. Yes, my feelings were unrequited, and I may not feel it anymore, but I haven’t forgotten the storm that would whip up inside me whenever I saw him. The excitement, the stupid, useless hope.” I screwed up my face. “I guess deep down I’m a romantic…or a sadist.”

He chuckled again, and his head tilted to the side. “And have you seen him since?”

“Yes.”

“What did you feel?”

“It was gone. The storm had passed completely. I care about his well-being, but that’s all. No more excitement, no hope for more. No pain thinking about him with someone else.” I’d felt none of that earlier when I went to his house. It was an odd feeling. Was I relieved? Absolutely. But there was a small part of me that missed it.

“I’m glad,” he said. “I hated seeing you in so much pain.”

An hour later we were sitting in Xavier’s car outside my aunt’s house. “I had a great time tonight, Jasmine. I’d love to see you again sometime.”

“I did too.” And I meant it. “And I’d like that.”

His deep lavender eyes dipped to my mouth before he reached out and gently cupped the side of my face, leaning in. Did I want him to kiss me? There was no reason to stop him, right? I leaned in as well, and his lips brushed mine softly before he lifted his head.

“I’ll be in touch,” he said.

I opened the car door and got out. “Night, Xavier.”

“Good night, Jasmine.”

I shut the door, and he drove away. My fingers lifted to my mouth and I stared after his car as it turned the corner. He’d kissed me. I tried to decide how I felt. I mean, it was…nice.

A scrape came from my right, and I spun around. Ren stood there. He was in gray track pants and running shoes. His shirt was off and tucked into the waistband of his pants. His eyes glowed gold from the shadows, the moonlight highlighting his muscles that were glistening with sweat. Before, seeing him like that would have had my knees trembling. Now? Well, that hadn’t really changed. Ren was still beautiful. There was no denying it. But it was just lust, nothing else.

He was panting. “Good date?”

“Yeah, it was.”

He planted his hands on his hips. “That was him, the car that just drove away? Xavier, Ronan’s friend?”

“Yep.”