"See you tomorrow, Genesis."
I waved with my free hand while Ethan placed a death grip on my other. Yeah, things were about to get embarrassing really fast.
The minute we were outside, he pushed me into the car.
The silence was thick. Tense.
"So," Ethan spoke in a gravelly voice, "'Three Hundred and Sixty-five Positions for Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Days.'"
My body flamed.
"And what was the other?" He scratched his head. "'Kama Sutra for the Advanced'?"
I banged my head against the car's window. "In my defense, I was distracted."
"Mmm, care to share what had you so distracted?"
"No."
"I feel very much distracted," Ethan mused. "In fact, I may need you to distract me from the distractions."
My heart picked up speed. "Oh?"
"Yes."
He said it like a mere whisper, but I felt it in my chest. I felt the yes everywhere. I gripped the leather seat with my hands to keep from reaching for him.
"Work," I blurted. "You said you'd show me what you do."
"I'm not thinking about work right now."
I trembled.
"Care to know my fixation?"
I turned, slowly making eye contact with him. "Books?"
"Genesis." He said my name like a vow.
I reached for him at the same time he reached for me. Our mouths collided; warmth spread from my chest down to my toes as he lifted me from my seat.
And then a sudden chill filled the air.
Abruptly, he let me go and cursed. "He's close. Let's go."
Freaked out, I buckled my seatbelt and almost hit my head on the dash as Ethan peeled out of the parking spot. When I glanced at the rearview mirror, it was to see Cassius standing on the curb, blowing an ice-filled kiss in my direction.
"Fish," I repeated in disbelief. "That's your job?"
"What?" Ethan shrugged.
After our almost-run-in with Cassius, Ethan had decided it was best to confuse the Dark One and get my scent all over Seattle.
We'd gone to at least three bakeries, two Starbucks, bought flowers, berries, and finally ended up by the pier.
The building said Immortal Industries.
Talk about blatant.
"You ship fish?" I still couldn't believe it.
"Worldwide." Ethan grinned. "Disappointed?"
"The name needs work."
"Yes, well, I decided that sometimes the best way to hide is to do the opposite of hiding." He frowned. "You're cold?"
I shivered. "A bit."
He wrapped his arms around me. "It's Cassius."
"You lied to me."
His breathing slowed. "Eavesdropping is frowned upon — always."
"What aren't you telling me?"
"A lot."
"At least you're honest about that much."
Ethan went very still. My back was to him; his arms wrapped around my body, warming me from the inside out. "I'd have to show you — talking about it is too difficult."
"Is it scary?"
"No." His lips touched my neck. "Just very sad, embarrassing, a lot of other unfortunate emotions."
"Show me."
"Not here."
"Yes, here." I turned in his arms. "Eventually, you're going to need my help, right? You can't just keep information from me then expect the bond — or whatever we have — to make up for everything else. We're at least friends, right?"
His eyes widened. "Yes."
"And friends share."
"They do."
"And you drink from me."
"Shhh…" He pulled me closer. "Yes."
"So, you owe me this. Honesty, you owe me."
"You raised your voice." He sounded amused.
"Yeah, well… you make me angry."
Another heavy sigh. "If I show you, you may leave me."
"I'd have a choice?"
"We always have a choice, Genesis."
"So trust me to stay."
He was still again; his heartbeat slowed — I could feel it like it was my own. Finally, he answered with a brisk, "Alright."
We walked in silence back to the car.
"It's safer at the house," he whispered. His gaze no longer had light in it; it was like the conversation sucked all the energy, all the spark from his body, leaving him haunted.
When we walked hand in hand through the door, Mason was waiting. Ethan chucked the berries at Mason's head and dragged me down the hall and up the stairs.
Once we were blanketed in the silence of the bedroom, the doors locked behind us, Ethan turned, his eyes black, his fangs elongated. "Promise me to wait ten minutes."
"What?"
"Ten minutes. When you wake up, wait ten minutes before you decide to leave or stay. At least give me that."
"Okay…" I swallowed the lump in my throat. His heart was breaking, I could feel it, and I had no idea why. "Ten minutes."
His teeth ripped into his wrist, and then that same wrist was pressed against my mouth. "Try to understand…" His last words before sleep overcame me.
Before a dream appeared in front of my eyes.
Before I came face to face with the most beautiful woman in the world. The same one from Ethan's dreams when the transition had occurred.
Her eyes danced with life.
Ethan adored her.
I adored her.
She danced around him.
He laughed and tugged her across his body. "I love you."
"I love you too, silly." She drank from him freely, yet she was human. She had fangs — just like Ethan. But I knew she was human. I could feel it.