AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I understand,” he said with a smile. “I don’t expect everything to be magically fixed.”
"This thing right now, it's nowhere near where it needs to be, and we have to work on that," I tapped his chest. "So, no more sex."
Dorian looked like he was suddenly punched in the gut, and I slipped past him.
"It'll complicate things, rush our feelings," I said while walking to the other side of the island, but I couldn't help laughing. "Why do you look like you’re about to die."
“I think I might,” he groaned and held his heart.
“What’s happening there? Heartburn?” I asked, and he cracked a playful smile.
“Are you going to the supermarket today?” he questioned, and I shook my head.
"Wait, yes, I am," I corrected myself. "I have a few things to do, not much, though."
“And Isaac, have you seen him since the last time when I was there?”
His question threw me off for a second. It was such a random change of subject.
"I haven't," I answered. "Why? You know Isaac and I are just friends, right?"
“I know,” he rubbed his chin, his eyes averted, and I frowned. "But how much do you really know about him?”
I took a breath and tried to hide my annoyance, but I doubted I was successful. I didn’t want to have this conversation because it wouldn't end well. I understood Dorian's concern, but he was judging Isaac without knowing him.
“Can we not do this?” I smiled and turned away to head upstairs.
We'd had a great night and a beautiful morning, and I wanted us to leave things as it was. I didn't want us to argue the second I agreed to give us a shot.
"Marian," Dorian called, and I stopped. "I just want you to be careful, okay? That's all. If you see him acting strangely, I need you to tell me."
“So you can kill him?” I asked, and Dorian pressed his thumb into his tear duct, clearly as irritated as I was, but he'd started this conversation. "What if him acting strangely is just him having a bad day like the rest of us? You know what, you're right, I don't know much about him. I just met the guy, and I'm defending him constantly, but what am I to do when you keep forcing us to have this conversation?”
"I won't judge him for his species. He's been nothing but kind to me, Dorian, and respectful. That's all I know about him. Is that enough? Or do you want me to milk him for more details?" I sighed. "He's just a man."
"What?" he growled. "Don't be naïve, Marian. What he is, is a predator pretending to be prey."
I stared at him. I couldn’t say anything because this was exactly what I was afraid of. Perhaps Dorian and I were just too different now.
"I'm being naïve?" I asked, and he sighed. "The last I checked, werewolves can be predators too if they wanted to be. Witches can be predators, fae too, and let's not get started on humans. You refuse to hear me, Dorian, and you can't see that you're a hypocrite. You have the same potential to cause damage just like him, but it's a choice not to do so, right?"
I walked away to go upstairs. "I'm doing what I was taught, Dorian, to not judge others because of their species." I stopped at the stairs, and he hadn't moved from where he stood. "Isn't that why we're here right now, a werewolf and a human?"
I didn’t wait for him to respond.
"Marian!" he called, but I went upstairs, grabbed my clothes, phone, and car keys, and ignored him as I left, still wearing his shirt.
I wasn’t going to do this.
This wasn't just about Isaac. It was about Dorian forcing his beliefs on me. I wasn't a completely naïve moron, but he certainly thought so.
***
I closed the office door, my laptop bag in hand, before heading into the supermarket. My steps were slow, my mood a total wreck. My mini argument with Dorian this morning poisoned my mood for the rest of the day, and I just wanted to go home and have a glass of wine.
I hadn't had a drink in ages, so it was overdue.
When I passed the meat section, I paused and took a step backwards; sure enough, I hadn't imagined him. Isaac was buying more blood.
