I’m kind of curious about where he works, but I also know that if I start asking more and more things about his personal life, I’m going to get attached, and I can’t get attached. Not now. Not ever. This is just fun. This is something to entertain myself with and to break away from all the rest.
“In here,” I say as I jog down a rock path and slip to the left between two rock slabs. When I step inside, it’s completely dark besides the light peeking in at the far end of the mini cave. “I brought you to see your brethren!” I wave to the ceiling where there are presumedly bats, but I really have no idea.
Bentley immediately starts laughing, which disrupts a few other hikers who are wondering why this man’s laughter is echoing through the cave. “Ah. Lovely. However will I thank you, River?”
“Gosh, don’t make me blush,” I say with a grin, secretly proud of myself for amusing him. “I know sometimes I’m just too thoughtful. Can you hear them?”
“I actually can. There are quite a few wondering why we’re trying to disrupt their sleep. This was very thoughtful of you. Come on,” he says as he starts walking deeper into the cave.
“Yeah, I can’t see shit,” I say hesitantly.
“I can’t either… oh wait, my sunglasses are still on.” He reaches back and I realize he’s holding his hand out to me. And even though it’s just a hand, and he’s just planning on guiding me so I don’t fall on my face, I hesitate. Because it’s so much more than that. When he touches me, will he know that I’m not as indifferent as I pretend to be? Will he realize that I long so fucking much for just someone… anyone in my life?
I slowly set my hand in his and his fingers close around it as he gives me a gentle pull up onto a rock. His hand is warmer than I thought it’d be. I thought for sure I’d be filled with disgust at a vampire touching me, and instead, I feel warmth fill me. When I squeeze his hand without thinking, he squeezes back before guiding me after him.
“It’s not a very deep cave, I can see the end, but it’s really neat. When we get away from the other hikers, you could pull your phone out and use the flashlight to look around.”
“I’m sure you’re quite knowledgeable about the layout,” I tease.
“Yeah, but I usually don’t walk it. Most of the time, I’m fluttering through on my wings.”
I grin and as his teasing breaks the tension I was feeling, I step in line with him.
When we reach the end of the cave, he turns to me. He’s merely a shadow at this point, but I don’t mind it. He doesn’t make me nervous, even in the dark. Despite being a vampire, he makes me feel comfortable and I can’t help if it’s just because I long for someone in my life.
I flip my flashlight on and look around myself as I realize I’m still holding his hand. I don’t bother letting go as I turn and look before I wind up facing him.
“This is really neat. I can’t believe I’ve never been here. I’ve been in this area fifty years and I feel like I get hung up on doing the same thing day after day,” he says as I let go of his hand and drape my arms over his shoulders. I’m kicking myself in the ass for doing it, but I still do and I feel like if I pull back now, it’ll just be awkward.
I’m such an idiot.
I flick the flashlight off, like not being able to see him will help, even though it’s clear he can still see me. He presses into me until I feel his body against mine and I lean into him. I’ve never made a move this fast, but I feel like I have no time to lose. Who knows what’ll happen today or tomorrow or the next day?
He presses his lips against mine and I press my body harder against his as heat rises in my body. In the dark of this cave barely lit by the light streaming in, I find myself so unbearably drawn to this man. His touch and kiss draw me into him, making me push back all the guilty thoughts. The kiss is so gentle and soft until I feel his hand touch my neck and pure fear spikes through me. I rip away from him and my foot slips, causing me to fall backward.
His hand slides around my wrist and pulls me forward before I can crash against the ground. “I’m so sorry—”
“No, it’s fine!” I say, wondering why this man is so nice. He’s too nice. He’s a vampire so he shouldn’t care about me or feel bad for what happened.
“I’m really sorry. I misread the situation and I apologize. And even after you told me it wasn’t a date. I’m so sorry.”
I grab his hand that’s still on my wrist but instead of pulling it off like I’d been planning, I just hold it against me. “It… it wasn’t your fault and you didn’t misread it. I wanted to kiss you, otherwise I wouldn’t have leaned into you or kissed you back or any of that. I just…” How much do I tell this man I barely know? I strangely feel like he wouldn’t judge me, but is that even reason to tell him? “I just… have a thing about my neck being touched. I should have told you before. It’s this weird thing I have and why my hair’s longer and I always wear these stupid collared shirts. Just… if you kiss me, don’t touch my neck.”
“Were you bitten?” he asks, and the question stills me.
I don’t know if I assumed he’d just go along with it or ask why, but I didn’t expect him to ask that question. “No. I… just… shit happened.”
“I’m sorry. I promise I’ll be careful, and I don’t ever want to do anything that’ll make you feel uncomfortable.”
My hand squeezes his again. “Why are you so nice? I think you’re too nice to be a vampire. Are you sure you’re a vampire?”
He chuckles. “That or I’m really old with a strange fetish for blood.”
I can’t help but grin, thankful for the distraction. “I bet it’s that one. Want to go grab something to eat?” I ask as I hold my hand out to him. He takes it and starts leading me back through the danger zone.
“I’d love to.”
“Ooh, or you could read some of your unicorn porn to me as I drive.”
“Or that,” he teases.
Chapter Five
RIVER
I’ve made a mistake. I thought it’d be easy. Just walk into the club, hunt him down, and slip the drug into him. I didn’t account for two things: the loud music and the cameras watching the place.
As I watch Bo Huang lean back in his seat, surrounded by young women, I question what the hell to do now. All I seem to be able to do is hold my drink to my chest as a headache I’d acquired earlier in the day begins to rage against the music. Whose idea was it to have music this loud?
“Hey,” a pretty woman says as she hesitates at my table to see if I look at her with anything resembling interest.
I smile at her, knowing that if I refuse her, it might look a bit odd for me to be standing here in a club alone if Huang seemed to disappear sometime tonight. “Can I buy you a drink?” I ask.
She lifts her nearly full cup. “I’m good. What about a dance?”
I shrug as I keep my expression playful. “Well, that depends. Would you like to watch me embarrass myself? If so, then I’d love to.”