“It’s not a lifest
yle, Cade. It is my life. And seeing as how you should be used to Vampires and their habits, having studied them for so long, it quite frankly surprises me that you are squeamish.”
“It is different from this side,” he says. “Here I have to accept it, not loathe you for being what you are.”
“Then accept it. I drink blood. I have drunk yours, even. No biggie.” I shrug it off.
Catching me off guard he asks, “The other day when you said you had theory to keep me alive but not turn me, what did you mean?”
“I wonder if you drank my blood without me draining you first, would it lengthen your lifespan?”
He looks disgusted by that but interested enough to follow up with, “Why would you think that?”
“As it has been pointed out, I am no ordinary Vampire. My blood is special.” I shrug. “It is only a theory.”
He nods and drops it. “Go and get changed and then I will take you to the beach.”
“Beach? I am not here for sunbathing.”
“For a run,” he says as if I am stupid.
“A run? Oh, that might be fun. I haven’t been for a run in years.” I get on board with the plan and change into suitable running attire, pulling my hair back into a ponytail. Ray-Bans in place, we make a quick stop at his room for him to change and, rocking the running gear look, we head out to the beach.
“First time I have not seen you in a suit,” I comment. “You look good all casual-like.”
“So do you,” he says back to me with a winning smile that is mostly sarcastic. I think.
“Can you keep up?” I ask as we hit the sand. The beach is quiet being February and a Monday.
“I run every day,” he says.
“I am a Vampire,” I say as I take off.
“Ah, but you can’t use your Vampirey skills out here in public,” he says as he runs next to me.
“Not speed, no, but I can run the entire length of the Florida coastline without breaking a sweat. Can you?”
“Well, no, I suppose not,” he grudgingly admits. “And before you say it, no, I don’t want you to turn me so that I can,” he adds with a sidelong glance.
I laugh because I was indeed about to say that. It is great being outside. I spend far too much time indoors. I should make more of an effort to get out in the world. Especially now that I am no longer working. Well, at my day job anyway.
We run for an hour and then after some stretches, he takes me to Tai Chi in the park and yoga back at the beach, both of which I have to run to. Followed by another hour’s jog. Geez. I haven’t worked this hard in a long time. And yes, the man has stamina. Christ. I thought he would have dropped ages ago.
“How do you feel?” he says as we finally stop.
“Actually, pretty damn good,” I say with a smile. “Thank you. It was a good idea. And I am impressed. You can keep up.”
A proper smile appears that reaches his eyes and crosses his face. Those are few and far between. “Well, it would be kind of pointless to do this job if I couldn’t.”
“Yes, that is true.” I nod.
We head back to the hotel for showers and, for me, a nap.
“Do you want me to sit with you?” he asks. “You aren’t supposed to be alone.”
“No, I will be fine. I will call you if I need you.”
He hesitates but accepts it and I close the door to the suite and go for my shower, which I stand under for too long and then crawl into bed. This is a nice bed, but I miss my own. I sigh as I snuggle further into the pillows, dreaming of my sumptuous custom-made bed back in L.A.