Asking you to bite me.
I couldn’t say that. I must have been blushing because he averted his gaze, smiling benevolently like he was giving me privacy to work through my embarrassment.
“Are you ready to go home?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to take a walk with me?”
“Um.”
He lifted a hand, showing me his palm. “Just a walk. I won’t do anything inappropriate, I promise.”
“Okay.”
He gestured for me to go first, and my shoulder nearly brushed his chest as I passed him.
We stood next to each other in the elevator, and I struggled to keep my breathing under control. I kept staring at the metal door in front of my face, but I could smell him, pine and a hint of wood smoke, and my heartbeat went wild. He must have heard.
“Eddie, you don’t have to fear me,” he murmured.
“I’m not afraid of you.” I wasn’t, was I? I was afraid of myself, of this pull between us that eroded everything I’d thought I knew about myself.
“No?”
He was dangerous for me, but not because he was a vampire and I was his prey. “I’m…”…scared of wanting you.
“Nervous?”
I let out a helpless chuckle. “Always.”
“Why am I making you nervous?”
It was such an unfair question. “I don’t want to answer that.”
He sighed, but it was soft, without frustration, like he understood. “Okay.”
The elevator buzzed, and seconds passed.
“I’m nervous around you too,” he said.
“I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true. I’m afraid to do something wrong. I don’t want to cause you any harm.”
I glanced at him, surprised by his admission. “Can’t you just…not cause any then?”
God, his face! Yearning, sadness, and tenderness. When I saw him look at me like that, the crushing wave of want nearly flattened me.
“I’m selfish, and I’m not being fair to you.” His gaze dropped to my lips. “Eddie, do you want me to stay away from you?”
Yes. Tell him to stay away. Tell him to be cold and impersonal and never look at you like this again.
I couldn’t say it. Caught in his warm, golden eyes, I couldn’t make myself form a single word, let alone a sentence. He wasn’t hungry now, not like last time, but he still wanted me and that was intoxicating.
The elevator dinged, and the door slid open.
Russel broke eye contact and walked out. I followed. After we said goodbye to the receptionist, he paused on the sidewalk outside.
