The air was damp and chilly. The ground lay wet from last night’s drenching rain. The pleasant tang of pine trees and grass filled my nose.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
Startled by the voice, I jumped and spun back, my fists clenched. “Jesus Christ, Karson, don’t scare me like that.” The burst of fear switched to annoyance. “I’m going for a run.”
His annoyance matched mine and then some. He threw out his hands as he stalked down the stairs. “We do not know if you’re safe yet, and you want to run on your own?”
His eyes drove into me, pinning me to the spot. “I thought Ethan went to deal with it, I’m sure there’s no one here for goodness sakes,” I snapped.
“I haven’t heard from Ethan and until I do you are not to go anywhere alone.”
Concern replaced anger. “Haven’t heard? Is he okay?”
“I’m sure he’s fine, he’s probably at the club, or wrapped in the arms of a girl or two he’s picked up. He can take care of himself,” he said casually.
This news didn’t make me feel any better. I stomped back inside, snatched my phone from my handbag, which, much to Ethan’s annoyance, I kept in the hallway side-table cupboard. Isent him a text. It was too early to call. He could read the text when he woke. Or finished doing whatever it was he was doing:
‘Is everything okay?’
I slipped the phone into my jacket pocket, debating whether I should argue about going for a run or leave it until we heard back from Ethan. One look at Karson’s steely face and I decided to leave it. I snapped the door shut, folded my arms and scowled.
“Do you always wake up in such a cantankerous mood, Amelia?” he asked as if we shared a little joke between us.
“I never wake up crabby, Karson. If my mood is influenced there is cause for it, and if you’re wondering what it is, there’s a mirror upstairs,” I retorted, vexed by his attitude. “If you can see your own reflection, that is.”
He chuckled. “Well, perhaps we should see if we can find a way to lift your mood, shall we? And at the same time you can also get the exercise you crave.” His face acquired an organic beauty when humor lit up his eyes. It lit up the room. And my mood shifted in a heartbeat.
I tilted my chin, suppressing a smile. “I’m not sure, do you think you’re up to the task? It’s quite the skill.”
“I’m confident I am but I’ll let you be the judge of that.”
He wrapped his hands beneath my bottom as I twined mine around his neck. He lifted me up effortlessly. I swung my legs around his waist. His mouth met mine, soft and sweet. I dug my fingers into the back of his neck, pressed my body into him and let out a small groan of sheer pleasure. The one-night stand might just be a two-day stand. I was hesitant to wish for more, though I did. I could spend days, weeks, months, wrapped in his embrace.
“You have to be fucking kidding me.”
Surprised, I pivoted my head around. Dahlia stood in the doorway, her eyes as sharp as a blade. I don’t know why, but Ifelt like I was a naughty teenager caught by my mother kissing my date. I untangled my legs.
Karson smirked and lowered me to my feet. I was embarrassed and annoyed with both of them. Dahlia for her blatant intrusion, and Karson because I knew he must’ve heard her coming.
“Dahlia,” I said, not even trying to contain the sarcasm in my voice. “I didn’t expect you until later, do come in.”
“Clearly.” She threw Karson a furious gaze. “What the hell are you doing, vampire?”
“I would have thought it was obvious, Dahlia.” The smirk remained. “But I’m happy to give you some in-depth detail if you require it.”
I threw daggers at him, which was a perfect waste of a searing gaze. He kept his eyes fixed on Dahlia.
“Well I hope it’s worth your five minutes of fun.”
A glint formed in his eyes. He was perched on the cusp of saying something wholly inappropriate, which, if I had to guess, included references to being longer than five minutes. The hate they held for it each other was manifestly clear; although I knew neither would cross the boundary. Even if she wanted to, Dahlia didn’t have weapons, and Karson looked like he was thoroughly enjoying bating her.
“I’m going to shower. You two idiots try not to kill each other. Or do, whatever,” I said, throwing up my palms and heading upstairs.
I showered for a long time, allowing the stream to cascade over my body, feeling a kind of satisfied glow that comes the morning after sex. Not just ordinary sex, but amazing sex with mind-blowing orgasms, and plenty of them. It was a thrilling experience and I found myself smiling again. I dressed back in running gear, given I had no idea what we would be doing todayand I wanted to be comfortable. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and headed downstairs.
Dahlia was seated on the couch sipping coffee. Karson was at the kitchen table reading a book. The air was distinctly hostile.
“Anyone hungry?” I asked in a light mood, descending off the last few steps.
