He smiled and lit a second paper.“You’re not. And you were right,”his darkened eyes rose to mine,“it was an invitation.”
“Oh.”I shifted uncomfortably.“You heard that?”And then I mentally slapped myself. Of course he heard it. Why would I ask such a stupid question?
He laughed and dropped the remains of the second paper.“You can shut it now.”I closed the door and rubbed a hand up my arm, suddenly wishing I’d gone straight to bed with Ari. Or at least changed to modest pajamas first.“You seem nervous.”
“Yeah, you’re not.”I stopped to make a face.“I mean you don’t. Make me nervous.I’m not because you don’t make me.”
“Nervous?”His eyes stayed on me as the flame reached a third paper’s edge.
“I am not. You don’t make me nervous. You’re a pyromaniac and it’s creepy.”
“Then why’re you in here?”He dropped the charred paper and closed his other hand around the flame.
“Because I’m too happy to sleep and I wanna talk to someone.I’ma little happier than I probably should be,” I admitted. He set the lighter down as I came to sit beside him.“Can I hang out in your coffin?”
“No.”He gave me an incredulous look, like I’d requested his firstborn child.
“But I’m a vampire and I wanna lie in a coffin. Yours looks so comfy. It’s so nice.”I let my legs fall to either side of the closed coffin, swinging them while I rubbed the smooth surface between. “Please?”
“Fine.” Hestood and flipped it open without warning, laughing as I fell off with a yelp and athud.
“Why are you always knocking me over?”I sat up to glare.
“So you can get in the coffin.” He gestured as I stood.
“I really can?”I grinnedwhen he nodded.“This is so exciting!”I hopped over the back and landed on the soft satin sheets. They were blood red and so comfortable. I crossed my legs and bounced. It was also surprisingly spacious.I wanted this coffin bed for myself.
“You can’t have it.”Dennis pulled his dark shirt off and tossed it aside.
“What’re you doing?” I asked, trying not to stare.
“Changing. You’re welcome to join.”
“I already did.” I pointed at my pajamas.
“So change out of them.”
My eyes fell to his bare chest as I thought about it. And then to his abs. And slowly to the hem of his pants. It was tempting. So very tempting, but…
“Nope. If you want sex, find someone else.”
“I have no interest in that.” He started digging through a drawer while I ogled his muscular back.This was my first time seeing his full tattoos. Assuming there weren’t more elsewhere.
“Why not? I’m sure you could find someone.”
“Strangers aren’t appealing. Once you’re bound, if you’re attracted to your bind, sex with anyone else is nothing. It’s dull. Your bind is the only person you’ll enjoy. If you don’t want your bind then nothing will change. For me, it changed.”
“Really? And it’s the same for me, too? Assuming I’m attracted to you?” I watched as he unbuckled the spiked belt and let his pants drop. He was only in dark boxers now. I shifted, trying to calm my rampant nerves.
“Really. It goes both ways.”
“Sucks for you. I guess you’ll be celibate for a while.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m sure you’re worth the wait.”
“Trust me, I am.” I couldn’t keep the flirtation from my voice, but I was determined to control myself.I must stick to the rule.
“What rule are you talking about?” He returned to the coffin and I scooted to the opposite side. It was taking all my willpower not to pounce on him. This was literal torture.
