“You’re just kicking us out? No goodbye or anything?” Dennis placed a hand over his heart, like he was offended. Offended my ass.
“Get out while we change. You can come back after, if you really have to.” I waited for them to leave before shutting and locking the door.“Kay, you can change now.”
Ari pulled her clothes off and dropped them on the floor while I searched through drawers for my own pajamas. Once we’d both changed I opened the door.
“Where’d they go?” She pouted.
I shrugged.“Who knows, who cares. Are you hungry? ‘Cause I’m hungry.” I waited for an answer, but she only yawned.“Goodnight, Ari. Love you.” I tucked her in as her eyes fell shut.
“Night good, love you, too.” She barely managed the words before falling asleep.
I turned off the light and gently closed the door, then quietly went downstairs. “What’re you doing?” I froze in the kitchen doorway. Again, both guys were making themselves way too comfortable.
“Mateo’s right,” Dennis was sifting through the fridge, “there’s no good food in here.”
“Can you cook us something? You live here, make us some steak.” Sean sat on a stool, watching me expectantly.
“You guys are obsessed with steak. Are you even supposed to eat?” I bumped Dennis aside to reach for something specific.
“Is that cheesecake?” Sean asked, eyeing the container.
“Mycheesecake.” I maneuvered past both vampires and went to the living roomcouch, kicking my feet up.“You guys can go home now,” I added. I took a bite and closed my eyes in contentment.
“Or I could just…” Dennis stole the plate and fork right from my hands.
I hopped up but he was already gone.“Dennis!”I spun in a circle. As expected, he was nowhere to be found.“Sean?” I searched the entire downstairs to no avail.“If you eat my cheesecake, I’m gonna kill you. I know you can hear me.” I gave up and waited near the kitchen counter. They’d have to come back at some point, otherwise I’d find my knife and hunt them down.
“It’s not nice to threaten people.”Dennisappeared and backed me against the counter, his hands resting atop it on either side of me. He was so close our bodies were nearly touching. And of course, my kidnapped cheesecake was back like it had never left.
“Well it’s not nice to steal hungry people’s food.” My heart skipped a beat as he smirked.
“I’m not a nice person.” His hazel eyes were intently on mine.“You’ll figure it out eventually.” He ran a hand through my hair and leaned forward to smell it. I shivered as his fingers grazed my skin.
“Why are you sniffing me?” I forced myself to stay calm, though my heartbeat was running wild.
“No reason.” He laughed and pushed away from the counter.
“You’re so creepy,” I muttered, following him from the kitchen. I didn’t even want the cheesecake anymore.
He stopped at the foot of the stairs to say, “We’re leaving.”
“Bye, Emy.” Sean was down the stairs and walking past me before I could blink.
“Bye, Vixen.” Dennis pulled the door open, and then they were gone.
I locked it behind them before looking at the stairs. What had Sean been doing up there? I rushed upstairs and pushed my door open to see Ari fast asleep. She was sprawled beneath the middle of my covers exactly how I’d left her, pillow in one arm and Frankie snug in the other. Everything seemed fine. I carefully rolled her over so there was room for me too, then slid Frankie from her arm and turned off thebedside lamp.
An Alarming Proposal
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” I poked Ari.“Wake up.” I shook her shoulders a little harder, but she still didn’t move. I grabbed a couple of pillows and set them on the floor, then crouched beside her and shoved. I laughed as she tumbled to the floor with a loud squeal. Her head popped up a second later, followed by a flying pillow that smacked me dead on. I toppled to the floor with a yelp.
“Why? Why would you do that?”
“Because you wouldn’t wake up,” I said. “You’re welcome. Jeez. So ungrateful.” I got up and set to work making the bed.“It’s three in the afternoon and I already showered and did makeup and everything.”
“It’s three already? How did that happen?” She stood and began feeling around for her glasses.
“What’s on your arm?” I grabbed her arm to examine, then started laughing when I saw what it was.“Looks like Sean wrote his number on you in sharpie last night.”
