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He places the cheese on the sizzling burgers and sighs. “I told you, you’re different. You have nothing to fear from me. Even if I were to become angry with you, I could never hurt you. My instincts would not allow it.”
“Butwhy?”
Pressing the topic is making him uncomfortable, but I have to know. I hadn’t thought him to be under my whacked out spell, but if he is, I need to know. I can’t stay here if he’s infatuated with me.
Terrance slathers some mayo on his burger, and I drench mine in mustard. While we both add lettuce, tomato, and onion, he purposefully focuses on his burger and says, “Even after I refused to help you, you stood up to a master vampire on my behalf and offered to help me find Shandra, no questions asked. You went against your master’s wishes at a sacrifice to your own personal health and safety, and you didn’t even ask for compensation afterward.”
“A) that bastard was not my master, B) I told you—I understood why you couldn’t help me. And C) you were kind, and Shandra was innocent. You both deserved my help. I was more than happy to give it.”
As he grabs a couple cans of soda from the fridge, his quiet reply catches my attention. “Yes. And for that, you have earned my trust and my loyalty.” Handing me a drink, he finally meets my gaze and sits at one of the counter stools. “That is rare among my kind, especially outside one’s clan. It isunheard ofoutside our species. I don’t understand it, but tonight you invoked my protective instincts.”
He uses the phrase likeprotective instinctsare some kind of official troll thing, and he’s staring at me as if he’s dumbfounded by the possibility that I invoked them. The attention makes me uncomfortable. “Is it really such a big deal to feel protective?” I ask. “I mean, I’d have your back in a fight, too.”
“I—” He pauses and seems to change his mind from whatever he was about to say. “You’re right. It’s not that big a deal. It’s just surprising. Like I said, it’s a rare thing for a troll to befriend someone outside his clan. You can trust me, though; you’re safe with me. I snore like a troll, and my feet smell like troll’s feet, but if you can handle it, I don’t mind the roommate.”
He brushed off my question, and I hate that I feel like he he’s hiding something, but I do. I want to trust him, but I’ve had too many bad experiences, especially with men. I need to clear the air in this department or I’ll never relax around him, so I drop onto the stool next to his and spit out what has me so bothered.
“Um, Terrance…?” His brows draw low over his eyes at my sudden nerves. “I just, um…I don’t date. Anyone. Like, at all. Ever. I mean, I doubt you were thinking that direction, but if I’m going to crash here, I figure it’s better to just lay the ground rules now, you know?”
I place my hand on his forearm with a grain of guilt. I hate reading people’s minds, but I need his honest reaction this time. And though I’m afraid of what I might hear, I have to know. I like Terrance. I want this new friendship to work.
His thoughts surprise me. He’s relieved.Reallyrelieved. Having someone to take care of and protect is so new to him. He’s still reeling from the intensity of his instincts earlier. I guess that was the first time it’s ever happened to him. He thinks it’s going to take him some time to learn to control himself. He’s afraid having to deal with any possible suitors of mine might throw him over the edge. He was certainly ready enough to kill Henry, and likely would have gone into a full rampage at the club earlier had Wulf not stopped him.
Nowhere in his mind is there any disappointment. His interest in me is purely platonic. He’s right about his protective instincts. He only means to look out for me and help me when I need it. He wants to take care of me, and he’s excited by the thought of having a friend—a companion that he doesn’t have to feel pressured to date. It’s been a lonely seventy years away from his family.
He’s been here on his own forseventy years?How sad.
I’m pulled from my mental eavesdropping when Terrance chuckles and pats my hand. “You’re breaking my heart right now, Trouble,” he teases, “but I’m sure it’s for the best.” Eyeing me critically, he adds, “I doubt a little thing like you could handle all of this.”
He gestures to his enormous body, the motions thick with innuendo. I laugh, grateful he’s broken the awkward tension I created. “I’m sure you’re right. I’d be terrified to even try.”
He unleashes his booming laugh again. “I like you, Trouble.” Elbowing me lightly, he tries—and fails—to sound serious when he adds, “Strictly platonic, of course.”
“Of course.”
I finally take a large bite of the amazing burger Terrance grilled up for me. For a moment, I almost regret the platonic thing. He’s an amazing cook. Moaning with pleasure, I quickly finish off the burger. Terrance grins at me as I suck the grease off my fingers. “You keep feeding me like this, and you may never get me to leave.”
I’m teasing, but the jaunt seems to please him. Judging from his thoughts I’d overheard a minute ago, I’m not sure he’d mind this situation being permanent. If I weren’t so desperate to leave this shithole city, I don’t know that I’d mind, either. I’ve never felt like that about anyone before. It’s crazy how quickly my life has changed.
As I take my plate to the sink, I look around the room again and am hit by a sudden lump of emotion. I feel safer right now than I have in my entire life. No one has ever been so kind to me, either. Swallowing back the threat of tears, I force myself to smile at my new roommate. “Thank you, Terrance.”
“No thanks necessary.” Terrance joins me at the sink with his empty plate. “I’m happy to have you.”
An awkward silence falls on us that’s broken when I yawn. “It’s late,” Terrance says. “You need anything before you go to bed?”
“Nope. I should be good.”
When he reaches for his wallet and keys again, I give him a curious glance. “You going back out?”
He shucks a thumb toward the front door. “I’m going to head back to the club and help finish with the cleanup.”
On closer inspection, I realize he doesn’t look the least bit tired, while I’m practically dead on my feet. “Are you nocturnal?”
He bobs his head up and down. “Mostly. Not that I can’t be up during the day, but I get even grumpier than normal when I have to be.” He frowns at me and adds, “I didn’t think about that. We’ll be on different schedules. Is that going to be a problem for you?”
I smile at his concern. “I’m a big girl, T-man. I can amuse myself when you’re sleeping. And I’m a bit of a night owl anyway, so we’ll see each other plenty. You’ll be ready to kick me out in no time.”
His frown melts into a grin. “All right.” He glances around the room and sighs. “Well, as long as you’re here, make yourself at home. I’ll get a key made while I’m out tonight. It’ll be waiting for you on the table when you wake up. Feel free to come and go, and help yourself to whatever.Mi casa es su casa, and all that. You going to be okay here all by yourself? If you aren’t comfortable here alone yet, you’re welcome to come to the club with me, but you look exhausted.”
