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“Ha ha. No, John’s great, but I had to sneak away to the bathroom to call you. There are six vampires dining at the table in the corner.”
“On food?”
“Of course on food. Do you hear a restaurant full of screaming people?”
“Hey, stranger things have happened.” He reached into the closet and grabbed a sturdy pair of combat boots that would hold up in a fight. “Are they looking settled, or ready to leave?”
“They’re eating appetizers and talking about venturing out for dessert after dinner.”
He stepped into his boots and grabbed a coat long enough to cover his sword. “They won’t be going out for ice cream. No vampire hot spots around here that I’ve seen. Must not be local. I’m so fucking sick of vampires.”
“So why are you friends with one?”
“Maybe I’ll explain one day. When you’re older.” He laughed and plopped down to tie his boots, bracing the phone against his shoulder.
“You’re on a roll. Your date must be going well?”
“It’s not a date, and yes, it was going well.”
“Sorry. I’ll make it up to you both.”
Fuck. Now he had to make lame excuses. “Keep an eye on them until I get there, but stay in the crowd so you don’t end up being their dessert.”
“Will do,” Lexi said, with a calm and brighter tone. “Be careful.”
“Oh, and watch what you say near them. They have markedly acute hearing. Glad you called from a noisy bathroom, but in the restaurant, even at a whisper, good chance they’ll hear you.”
“Good to know. Will do. Okay. Thanks again.”
He stuffed the phone into his pocket and walked out of the room.
Eryn waited by the door, an unopened beer in her hand.
“I have to go.”
“No worries. I’m stealing a beer.” Not a trace of surprise. No disappointment. “I’ve been on call many times. I get it. Hope everything goes okay.”
Hell. Casual or not, it fucking sucked.
He dashed out and caught her in the driveway. “I’m really sorry. Make it up to you?”
“Sure. I’ll be around.” She stepped close and hooked her fingers in his waistband, yanking him closer.
He leaned down and cradled her cheek.
No dancing around, no games, their mouths mated on impact.
Quick and hot, the kiss knocked him hard, stars floating in his vision as he pulled away.
9
Nothing turned her on like an unavailable guy. Not the hard-to-get thing, but unavailable guys didn’t have time for commitment and therefore wouldn’t pressure her.
I.e., they wouldn’t become one more hostage in the fury’s fatal game of chicken. Chess. Something challenging that ended in death, anyway.
Eryn wiped the fog off the bathroom mirror with the hand towel. The dark circles under her eyes had faded. At least she no longer looked look like she was a third of the way into a curse. Not that the curse had brought on the circles. Work had caused them. And the premature grays.
He was a fucking fantastic kisser. Of course, she’d hardly let him come up for air, forgetting that non-cursed people needed to breathe.
