“You have a tongue that could clip a hedge.”
I put my hand on his thigh and gave it a firm squeeze. “But you like my tongue.”
He moved my hand away and crossed his legs. “Best not be doing that in here.”
The drinks were making me a little tingly, so I stretched my legs across the sectional that ran alongside the rear window. Blue was zonked out on the sofa beneath the panoramic window, her long hair hanging to the floor. I looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to us, but they weren’t. Claude and Niko were chatting at a table by the bar, and I wasn’t sure where Viktor had gone.
“I never knew people like them existed,” I said, my thoughts steering back to the kids. “Born human, but they can become any Breed they want to?”
“Only if they find someone to fornicate with. Some go their entire lives without ever knowing what they are.”
“Where do you think we’re going?”
“Maine?”
“No, we’re heading south.”
“And how do you know that? The sun’s too high up.”
I folded my hands across my stomach. “Think real hard.”
“Sometimes I forget you’re a Mage.” He put his arm around me. “When I look at you, all I see is a gorgeous Vampire.”
I kissed him softly.
Tenderly.
“But I’m also a Mage. You can’t just love half of me.”
“Would you like me to prove my unflinching love for you?” He waved a finger at my shoes. “Take off your trainers, and I’ll rub those dry hooves.”
“Why don’t you take off your coat? You look like a spy aboard the Orient Express. Viktor doesn’t want us to draw attention to ourselves. Remember?”
“No one’s back here.”
“You’re scaring the kids.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time that happened.” He leaned forward and shook off his coat, revealing a soft V-neck beneath. When he sat back, I got what I wanted—to curl up against him and feel his heat. I held his bicep and rested my head against his shoulder. Christian tucked his hand between my legs. I liked sharing moments that weren’t sexual, where I could breathe him in and enjoy his company.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” he said. “Lay off the alcohol, you hear?”
“Why? Viktor had a glass.”
“Viktor wouldn’t assemble a team if this wasn’t a dangerous job.”
“You said no one on the train is Breed.”
“We can’t be too careful. Those young ones need us at our best. There’s no telling what we might encounter.”
Viktor emerged from the narrow hall that led to the main door. He set a paper bag on Claude and Niko’s table and then made his way to the back.
I curled up my legs to give him room to sit by the rear window.
Viktor sat down and unrolled another paper bag. “Hot dogs. They serve meals on plates, but I did not want their staff coming in here. You like?”
“I’m not hungry, but thanks.”
He took one out and folded away the wax paper. “The children asked for snacks, but cookies are not what growing children need. I asked them to bake french fries instead and leave them with Shepherd. Dinner will be much later, so you won’t have another chance to eat for a while.”
