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Stefan extended his hands across the table with both of his palms up, asking for my mine silently. I lightly traced the lines on them with my fingertips before closing my much smaller hands around his, making me think about all of the things those powerful, large hands had touched in the last 975 years. He squeezed my hands gently, his lips tensing slightly as he read my thoughts. Noticing his mood chang
e, I gripped them a little tighter.
"Stefan, I'm sorry. It just boggles my mind sometimes when I think about all you've seen and experienced," I said softly, my eyes dropping to the white linen tablecloth. When I looked up at him, his face was thoughtful and his blue eyes looked ancient, the normal sparkle gone.
"Life. Death. War. Famine. Loss," he said darkly. "Yet never love until the moment I met you. "
Feeling a blush creep over my face, I looked away shyly. My sweet, sentimental vampire. "Sweet talker," I admonished weakly, meeting the intense stare of his gaze. "I love you too. "
"You will see the same things I see now. Centuries of evolution without seeing real change. It is both frustrating and amazing to watch. " He cleared his throat and the sparkle came back into his eyes. "Enough of this conversation. It is depressing and inevitable. "
My mind drifted to consider what it would be like to outlive everyone I knew. To never age, look forever 28. To watch the world change around you while I remained frozen in time. My thoughts then shifted to my week in New York and all I'd learned in the last week: finding out that I now had a father I detested, a mother that I would never meet and a smooth talking brother that wanted our father dead.
"No running, vackra," Stefan warned, his voice barely audible over the low din of the restaurant. He was obviously monitoring my thoughts frequently. He was still cautious and nervous about my inability to handle stress.
"No running. I might as well stop fighting what I am and start accepting it. I have a good teacher. " I tried to make my voice light and teasing, although there was an undertone of remorse that I couldn't hide.
Our conversation was interrupted by our waiter and the constant changing of plates, the delicious food arranged artistically. Wine was poured and refilled without asking and there wasn't much time for conversation. Stefan moved the food around on his plate and watched me eat with a soft smile on his lips.
Feeling pleasantly full, the check was paid and we were waiting for the valet to bring our car around for us. As our car pulled up, the valet seemed much more interested in admiring my legs and ass than giving Stefan the keys. The man's lust slammed into me before I managed to slam my shields in place.
Stefan moved a little too quickly to his side, snatching the keys from the surprised valet's fingers roughly, a wide menacing smile on his handsome face, exposing his even, white teeth. "See something you like. . . " His eyes dropped to the man's name badge. "Seth?"
Poor Seth. You could see the sweat bead on his forehead as he shifted from foot to foot anxiously. "Uh. . . "
"Keep your eyes to yourself and we will not have problems. Understand, Seth?" Stefan asked, the smile on his face never fading. He patted Seth on the shoulder a little too hard and he staggered backwards from the impact. Seth's eyes widened and his face went so pale that I was afraid he'd pass out.
"Stefan, sweetheart. Let's go. " I moved closer to Stefan and pulled on his arm lightly. He looked at me and his eyes went from threatening to tender instantly. He opened my door and helped me into the car and jogged around the car to the slide into the driver's seat.
He shifted the car into gear and peeled away from the curve, the soft purr of the engine filling the car. I glanced over at Stefan and he was clutching the steering wheel so tightly that I feared it might bend from the force.
"Was that really necessary? I thought he was going to shit his pants," I scolded him.
He regarded me for a moment as he glanced away from the road briefly. An amused smile turned up the right side of his mouth. "Was it necessary? No. Did I want to do it? Absolutely. He was disrespectful of you, and in turn to me. "
I was silent as we made the short drive home. Vampires viewed their mates as their possessions. Even though that went against everything I believed, I was going to have to learn to accept it or fight Stefan at every turn.
He expertly parked the car in the assigned space and turned to face me. He took my hand and gently rubbed circles over the top of my hand with his thumbs. "All of this is new to you and I do consider you to be mine. However, I am yours. We are equals. Do you understand?"
"I get it. Women look at you all the time and I don't go all scary psychotic on them. You're gorgeous and women are going to ogle you. But I know I get to take you home. I get to touch you. Only me," I said, as my free hand snaked in his soft, golden hair. "Only me. "
"Come. Let us go in before I take advantage of you in the car. " He winked and exited the vehicle, heading for the elevator. He punched in the code and waited for the doors to open, his large hand over the small of my back. The doors smoothly opened and we were rising to our floor, neither of us talking during the ride.
As the elevator opened at our floor, we both noticed a large package sitting by the door. It was nearly four feet in width and height, wrapped in brown paper. Stefan and I exchanged a glance and he unlocked the door, letting me in to turn on the lights as he retrieved the package. He carried it inside, his eyebrows furrowed.
"It is addressed to you. "
"To me?" I asked. Curiosity had gotten the better of me and I walked quickly to Stefan's side. I glanced at the package to see the label. It was addressed to Josephine Ahearne.
Fucking Kian and his overbearing bullshit! I viciously ripped the paper, gasping when I saw the swirls of red and blue. It was the painting from the art gallery.
"The painting," I breathed out in disbelief. There was a card attached to the back of the canvas and I held the heavy card stock with shaky hands, silently reading the exaggerated cursive writing.
My dearest Josephine,
I watched you admire this painting and couldn't bear to see something so beautiful belong to another.
There will be a day we will see eye to eye, either by choice or by circumstance. Until then, know that I will be waiting. . . and watching.
