He didn't even place his hand on my back as he led me into the dark house.
I walked mindlessly through the kitchen and up the stairs, not sure if I was even going in the right direction. A slight tap on my back to the left had me turning the corner at the end of the massive hallway.
Double doors.
Huge double doors.
They were at least twelve feet tall; two metal dragons twisted around the large doorknobs.
Ethan reached around me and opened them.
A roaring fireplace was the first thing I saw. It was see-through, and on the other side of the wall, I noted what looked like the bathroom. Extravagance dripped from every corner of the room — from the crystal chandelier suspended overhead to the sitting area with leather couches and fur throw pillows.
A matching fur rug lay in front of the fireplace.
The king-sized bed could fit at least five people. The down comforter was black and looked so plush that I was afraid I was going to get lost in it if I sunk too deep.
"Bathroom," Ethan whispered over my shoulder, "is to your right. I'll have Stephanie take you shopping later this week after you've grown accustomed to your new environment."
I nodded and turned to thank him, but he was already gone; the door shut in finality behind him.
Tears filled my eyes.
I wasn't sure why I was acting so emotional… other than being rejected. I'd been built for tougher situations, right? Hadn't I been prepared for the worst when I'd awakened — was it only twenty-four hours ago?
At least I wasn't dead.
There was that.
But I wasn't accepted, and I think a small part of me had hoped that maybe I would fit in this world better than my own.
I was smart enough to fit in.
I'd studied hard enough to make it a possibility.
But everything I'd studied had been a lie — or close enough.
My own mother hadn't given me the attention I'd craved — too afraid that if by chance my number was called, the separation would destroy me.
And now… I had the most beautiful man in the world kissing me — because he couldn't help himself.
Like a chocolate addict.
I was covered in his addiction; it flowed through my veins, but it wasn't me.
Slowly, I made my way into the bathroom. Expensive soaps lined one side of the tub. I started the hot water and began peeling my clothes away.
When the tub was full, I stepped in.
I'd just closed my eyes when I heard the doors open to the bedroom.
Ethan walked around the corner of the bathroom — like it was the most normal thing in the world — and held out a glass of wine.
I was too stunned to do anything but stare at the glass in his hand; it shook slightly. "I figured this would help you relax."
With a gulp, I reached out, and took the wine glass. Our fingers grazed each other, causing a jolt of awareness to wash over my body. I imagined he felt it too, if the elongating of his fangs was any indication. Quickly, he looked away and walked out of the bathroom.
Slamming the door behind him.
An hour later, and I was in bed, too exhausted to sleep. The door to the room opened again.
I could make the outline of a body.
Then the person moved into the firelight.
"Ethan?"
His eyes started to glow in the darkness as he removed his shirt, followed by his pants, and every other article of clothing on his body.
Was he? Did he think something was going to happen?
I tensed beneath the covers.
"Relax…" His voice was both soothing and commanding. "…and try to sleep, Genesis."
With him. Naked. Next to me?
Right.
I was lucky I was still breathing. The man's body was made for sin. Muscle packed around his midsection so tightly it didn't look real. I blinked, thinking it was some sort of trick, because men really shouldn't be that good-looking.
Then again…
His eyes continued to glow.
He wasn't really a man, was he?
The bed dipped.
My erratic breathing increased. I closed my eyes and focused on calming down my own heart.
"I'm going to lose every ounce of control I have if your heart keeps beating that wildly whenever I take off my shirt." Ethan's voice held amusement, but I couldn't see his face, so I wasn't sure if he was smiling.
His warm hand touched my chest; his palm pressed against my skin. "Sleep, Genesis. Tonight… we sleep."
His words were like a drug, his hand was warm, and soon my entire body calmed down, sinking further and further into darkness.
"That's it…" His lips touched my ear. "Sleep."
My body was still fighting the sleep even though it sounded like a good idea.
Something warm trickled against my lips.
"Sleep," he commanded more forcefully this time.
My body immediately obeyed as I swallowed what I'd later discovered was his blood.