Page 53 of Ellie 3
“I was going to suggest the same thing for the science,” Joyce muttered. “I think Dr. James should do the same. It can’t hurt besides possible burps. It might be a good idea to have the data to even push it with shifters the week or two before their blood drives. Get more bang for their buck when some of this is a PR campaign for them.”
Sad but true. Many were doing it just to appease vampires when they were reminded the vampires were everyone’s military. Seeing how quickly South America was overthrown by pissed-off vampires whose warlock president had risked the lives of their fellow soldiers for a cash grab to get ASH and control of the best blood… Yeah, people were behaving better.
As. They. Should.
The meeting was another way things were going well. Ellie wasn’t being pushed so hard, more blood was being made to sell—all positive all around. Would there need to be more in the future and other plans?
Yes, absolutely.
But it was handled for today and the near future.
Total win.
Which was why she seemed a bit confused when I followed her to her office and locked the door behind us.
“Are you feisty after we were talking about you biting me, Ha-joon?” she surmised.
“I’m always feisty around you,” I drawled, but then snorted. Yeah, that was completely accurate. “But no.” I pulled out a gift bag that I’d been hiding behind my back and set it on her desk. “For you.”
She set down what was in her hands and went over to the bag, frowning as she looked inside, which confused me. Nothing should make herfrownin my mind. She pulled out the stockingsand garters, something coming off of her that I couldn’t put a name to. She cleared her throat and set them back in the bag.
“No, sorry, but no.”
Well, I hadn’t seen that one coming.
15
Ellie
Things were going so well between us, and as much as I hated to throw a wrench in that, I couldn’t just go along with what he wanted this time. My head had still been in the meeting we’d just had and trying to crunch numbers and the figures of what blood was coming in—too much.
Always too much even if good news.
Then it was something fun and a present that I hadn’t seen except I felt like I was standing in the past. Over ten years ago even and hearing that I really should know better and wear lingerie for my lover.
Staring into the bag and seeing the stockings and garters was like a slap to the face. Taking them out and seeing them up close made them real and not just a flash or my mind making me—this wasn’t me projecting. I stuffed them back in the bag and tossed it to the edge of my desk.
“No, sorry, but no.”
“What?” he asked. “Wait—what? Why not?”
I let out a slow breath and kept focused on my desk. “I’m not wearing lingerie for a man ever again.”
He was quiet for several tense moments. “So this is about Tommy, not us.”
I ran my tongue over my teeth and decided to be as shitty. I raised my head and was glad he flinched at whatever was on my face. “No, it’s about not repeating past mistakes and learning to not be stupid.”
Anger filled his eyes. “How is my gift—”
“This is the first gift you’ve given me and it’sstockings?” I drawled. “A garter. Yeah, I’m fuckingtouched.”
“No, not the first,” he argued.
“We buy each other food,” I pushed. “Yes, you’ve gotten me flowers. We did spa stuff. The funny brownies. All gifts. I accept that.” I gave him a moment with that. “I gave you drawers and closet space. You told me you love me and then stopped saying it. Then you give me stockings and a garter. Not a sweater that matches my eyes or would complement my hair.”
“Wait, okay, so clearly—”
“Not earrings after I lost one of mine at your place—not that I’m hinting, but that would be something sweet for a partner to do,” I told him. “Or I was thinking of getting you a new band for your Apple Watch because you said yours was getting loose, but you like the silicone ones and those are like ten bucks.”
