AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I mean, we're married," she pointed out.
He nodded. "And we've also bumped uglies a few times. Now, you might not believe this, but Ihavedated women before. I even have some really smooth pick-up lines, and they sometimes even work. Normally, I am not this big of an idiot."
She laughed, feeling all of the tension finally vanish. "Me either, but this still doesn't make anything clear, does it?"
"No, not really," he admitted.
She nodded, accepting that. "The problem is that I don't know what we're doing either. I just know that I want us to be doingsomething. Not just trying to defeat the Church or all of that other stuff. I'm talking about you and me. I don't want this to be about easy sex and nothing else. I don't want this to be just so we can take down the Church. I want to get to know you, and be the type of partner that can finish your sentences. I also don't want to rush it, because you are nothing like Mei. You aren't her replacement, and you aren't a placeholder. But I don't honestly know you well enough to say much more than that."
"Yeah," he agreed. "I want to be the person you want to talk to about things. All the things. I don't care if that's cute clothes, kicking someone's ass, or a good pickup line you learned. I'm trying to figure out how to balance the relationship parts with the sex parts, but I think that's more my problem than yours. I'm sorta used to that whole concept of one man and one woman."
"Don't tell me your Church is against homosexuality too," Dahlia groaned.
"Of course they are," Thane said. "It doesn't help them make any magical little babies, and that's all they care about. Me? I don't give a shit. I just…" And he grunted, clearly deciding he didn't want to finish that.
"No, what?" she pressed.
"I get jealous," he said. "I don't mean to, and I keep trying to tell myself that I know you're doing all of this because of how you survive, but the other night? After we got married? The fact that you went out to find someone else instead of me? It made me feel like I wasn't good enough. And you? Dahlia, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and so far out of my league, that IknowI'm not good enough."
"But you are," she said. "That's the thing I keep coming back to. Thane, I have been walking around this earth since the Bronze Age, and I have never found a man that impresses me as much as you. That's why I don't want you to go anywhere. From what little bits I know, you seem perfect for me, but you're nothing like Mei, and she was perfect for me too. I just don't know how all of that fits together, but I do know one thing. I didn't pick that guy because you aren't good enough. I picked him because I didn't want you to think that you're only a meal to me. I'm not sure what you are - not yet - but it's a hell of a lot more than just a meal."
"Yeah, that helps," he admitted. "I picked you because I like you too."
Dahlia just laughed. "I like you enough that if that succubus bitch comes near you again, I will rip her head off her shoulders."
Thane reached over to pull her up against his side. "Now that? That is fucking sexy. Keep talking that way, and it's entirely possible that an inquisitor might fall in love."
Dahlia just leaned her head against his chest. "Or maybe I should beat her to death with her own arm? I mean, it would just be a body death. Then again, I could always borrow your clavum." Then she looked up at him. "So, more talking like that? Doesn't make you feel weak?"
"Makes me feel like it's ok to be weak sometimes," he admitted. "And yes, you should do more of that. Lots more. I dunno, like sixty or seventy years’ worth of more. Sound good?"
"Sounds very good," she agreed.
ChapterThirty-One
ROARKE
Cain's little meeting made the entire eidolon community shape up their act. Interestingly, Nikki's crosses had been an even better reminder of the dangers of the Inquisition than anything else. Plus, with the local paranoia, the area's nightlife had dried up, making all meals scarce. Combined, it became very good incentive for the eidolon to make a few changes to their lifestyles.
But with the clubs being dead for the last few days, Roarke hadn't been able to arrange a casual hookup. So, now he was dredging the bottom of the barrel. The guy beside him was cute, but not amazingly hot. Then again, happy hour at a gay bar wasn't exactly the best time to try for a no-commitment fuck. Hell, five minutes ago, Roarke was convinced that he'd struck gold.
Then the guy had started talking. His name was Matteo, and he wouldn't shut up. This wasn't the overly nervous type of talking that a lot of guys did when taking someone home. No, Matteo was currently trying to explain to Roarke about the political race for some seat that was supposed to be a big deal. Yeah, needless to say, Roarke was doing a pretty good job of tuning him out.
Times like this made him wish he had a good wingman. Thane had been amazing when they'd spit-roasted that girl. Sure, Dahlia's husband had been nervous about it, yet he hadn't turned into an idiot like this guy. He'd played his part, making sure the girl stayed interested. Plus, for Roarke, the view had been incredible.
Even Nikki made hunting a lot more fun. That girl had a bit of a wild streak in her, but she also knew how to play it safe. Or maybe it was simply the fact that he liked having somebody around to watch his back. Sure, they were supposed to be safe from the Inquisition here, and yet that paranoia was the sort of thing that just lingered. For a moment, Roarke let himself try to imagine what it would be like to work with Dahlia.
But Matteo was really getting into his soliloquy now. Roarke heard something about Democrats and Republicans, two political parties he could never keep straight, and decided that he needed to end this sooner rather than later. The last thing he wanted was to be naked in this man's bed when he got busted for not listening to a word he'd said. That didn't really qualify as going unnoticed.
"How much further to your apartment?" Roarke asked.
Matteo just pointed across the street at a park. "Two blocks on the other side of that."
Roarke's lips curled into a smile. The sun was going down, but it wasn't all the way dark yet. Still, the streets were a lot quieter than they'd been in days, and from what he could see, the park was completely empty. If he could talk this guy into a quickie, then there was no need to worry about the whole post sex awkwardness.
So Roarke jogged across the street, encouraging Matteo to follow. Once they were on the grass, Roarke reached over to press his hand against the guys back, nice and low. Matteo's face got a little darker, proving he wasn't used to public displays of affection. Maybe he could use that?
"Ever done it in public before?" Roarke asked.
