Nightfall (Grim Gate 1) - Page 14

Ethan, looking equally startled, steps forward. “There’s a café down the road that’s open. Let me buy you a cup of coffee.”

I know what café he’s talking about, and they’re notorious for their terrible coffee. I’m a I’ll take my creamer with a side of coffee type of person, and eating anything sounds terrible right now. Though if I do order food and Ethan doesn’t eat, then I’ll know he’s a vampire.

“Sure,” I say, eyes darting behind him again. Pulling my purse up over my shoulder, I fall into step with him as we go to the street corner. A man on a bike whizzes past us, sending an icy chill right down my spine. He’s a ghost, I’m able to sense it right away, and I’m too drunk to force my mental shields up. Turning my head down, I intently look at the cracks in the sidewalk with little bits of grass and weeds doing their best to grow. I don’t see it, but I hear the inevitable crash and feel a flash of pain as the guy on the bike gets hit by a truck.

“So you had a bad day?” Ethan asks. The light changes and we cross the street. I glance up at him and my insides respond on their own accord. He really is an attractive man.

“Very bad. It started with Bob and ended with Travis.”

“I’m not sure what to make of that, but I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I wave my hand in the air. “Bob’s dead.”

“Oh, shit. I’m really sorry.”

“Nah, it’s fine. He’s been dead for a while.”

Ethan looks at me dubiously for a moment. “But Travis is alive?”

“Unfortunately. Well, I shouldn’t say that. I don’t wish him dead. An STD maybe—as long as he doesn’t go around spreading it.”

“This guy didn’t hurt you or anything, did he?”

I look back up at Ethan, wondering why he cares so much. “No. We knew each other in high school and ran into each other for the first time since graduation today. I overheard him tell his friend I was the most un-bangable girl in high school and I still am today.”

Ethan actually stops walking and slowly runs his eyes up and down my body, mentally stripping me down. Dammit, I like it. “You are un-bangable? Was that asshole blind?”

“It’s a long story. I’m weird.”

“But hot.” A cocky grin takes over his face. “That’s enough for me to say you are very bang-able.” His eyes meet mine and his tongue darts out, slowly wetting his lips. I suck in a breath, remembering how only a few hours ago, I vowed to have a one-night stand tonight. If I was going to go home with anyone, Ethan has my vote.

“Well, thanks.” A bit of color rushes to my cheeks and I tuck my hair behind my ear, forgetting about the scab on my forehead. My nails scrape over it and I wince. “Fuck.” Way to ruin the mood, Anora.

“You’re bleeding,” Ethan says, brows furrowing.

“Yeah, I, um, see that.” I bring my hand away from my face and look at the little bit of blood on my fingers. “I fell off my horse,” I say, feeling like I need to offer an explanation. I’m being overly chatty, really, which happens when I drink. “I’m fine.” I wipe my hand on my pants and keep walking. We’re almost to the café, thankfully, and once we’re there, I go right into the bathroom to clean myself up.

I’m not bleeding nearly as bad as before, since only a small part of the scab came off. I hold a paper towel over it to stop the bleeding, and then carefully position my hair to cover it up. When I come out of the bathroom, I find Ethan at a table. He took off his jacket, and the sight of his tattooed, muscular arms almost does me in. I’ve always been a sucker for some good arm porn. There’s one cup of coffee and a chocolate chip muffin on a plate in the spot across from him.

“I thought you could use this,” he says when I sit at the booth across from him, and slides the muffin over.

“You don’t want anything?” I ask carefully.

“I’m not hungry.”

I look at the muffin, which actually looks really damn good, and then back at Ethan. “Are you a vampire?”

“No,” he says, amusement on his face. “I’m not.”

“Prove it,” I say, leaning back and crossing my arms. He reaches forward, picking up the muffin, and taking a bite.

“That’s good,” he says with his mouthful and then takes another bite. “Enough proof for you or do you want to feel my—”

“Pig,” I shoot, wrinkling my nose. “But nice try.”

“I was going to say pulse,” he finishes and extends his arm, turning his wrist over. “Though you can see my veins.” I look at the blue lines of his veins under his skin. “Vampires don’t have the same type of blood flow humans do. You hardly ever see their veins like this.”

Tags: Emily Goodwin Grim Gate Paranormal
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