Chapter Twenty
Savannah
Before I evenopened my eyes, I felt happy. Last night and this morning with Rhys had been everything that I hoped it would be. He touched me with reverence and passion, bringing my body to life in ways I’d never experienced before.
With my abilities, sex wasn’t easy. While I was in high school and college, it saved me from making the mistake of having sex with boys who were only interested in sleeping with as many girls as they could. Then I met Neil, and he had loved me the way I thought I wanted to be loved. I discovered that I enjoyed sex. When Neil made love to me, he made sure I climaxed each time.
But last night had transcended every single one of those experiences even though foreplay had practically been an afterthought. Each time we made love, I felt the bond between us growing, almost as though it were a tangible connection that would eventually become visible.
I lay in the circle of Rhys’ arms for a few moments, luxuriating in this warmth and the weight of his body. Finally, I had to get up. I needed to pee and my stomach was rumbling with hunger.
Carefully, I moved to the edge of the bed, got up, and crept into the bathroom. After I took care of business and washed my hands, I pulled a baggy t-shirt over my head and slipped on a pair of panties and cotton shorts.
Rhys was still sleeping peacefully as I came out of the bathroom and Satchel peered at me from behind his back, her gaze sleepy. Her possessiveness of my boyfriend aside, I was glad that my cat liked Rhys and he liked her. She might be just a pet to some people, but for many years she’d been my only constant companion against the loneliness.
I walked down the hall and straight into the kitchen. I prepped the coffee pot last night and it was full, but the contents were stone cold. With a sigh, I poured a mug full and stuck it in the microwave. Then I poured out the rest, washed the carafe, and set about making another pot.
As I drank my first cup of coffee, I carried it out on the deck behind the house and stared out into my backyard. My mind wandered to Rhys. While I wanted to sit and moon over him, I also needed to think. Yesterday, Ava said he had taken the excess of emotions from me and, when I thought about it, I could pinpoint the exact moment. I felt…lighter when he did it.
I knew that Rhys loathed that part of himself. He felt it was parasitic, the feeding on the emotions of others. Unlike vampires, who could often find partners who would freely give them what they needed, he was in an untenable position. If too many beings learned of his existence, he would be hunted down by supernatural creatures of all types. He couldn’t tell anyone what he needed to survive, his only option was to take it.
Also, the fact that he hadn’t wanted to be what he was, but rather made against his will, affected his view of his need to feed. Vampires and shifters alike were often born or they asked to be turned. Because Gaius made him without his compliance, he saw himself as a monster.
I knew the only thing that would change his view would be him. He needed to open his mind, to accept that he wasn’t evil. All I could do was love him and accept him as he was.
There was one way to help him, but I was certain he would balk at the idea. I hoped that he would at least listen to what I had to say because not only would it help him, it would help me as well.
I heard the door open behind me and turned in time to see Rhys stepping outside, wearing nothing but the athletic shorts he’d worn to bed the night before.
In the bright light of day, his body was mesmerizing. I couldn’t tear my eyes away until I heard him chuckle.
“You’re good for my ego,” he said, walking over to the lounge chair next to mine. He sat down and I realized he was holding a cup of coffee in his hand.
“You know you’re hot,” I replied primly, sipping my own coffee.
“Until I met you, very few people felt true attraction toward me.”
“ThatI don’t believe,” I argued. “Women fawn over you every time you come into the shop.”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “There’s a difference between admiring the physical aspects of a person and being attracted to them on a deeper level.”
I couldn’t disagree with that because I’d witnessed it many times personally. “Good point,” I mumbled.
As we drank our coffee in the late morning sun, I leaned back on the lounge chair and searched for the words I needed to say.
“Rhys, I want to talk to you about something,” I stated.
I could feel the tension emanating from his body as soon as I said the words, but he didn’t reply.
“It’s about something Ava said yesterday.” His tension level rose again, but I continued anyway. “She talked about how you could help me deal with all the excess emotions that build up when I’m around other people and,” I swallowed hard, because even though his amulet made it impossible for me to get a strong read on his emotions, I could still feel the echoes. He didn’t want me to say what I was about to say. “I think I want to try.”
I knew before I looked over at him that he was shaking his head. “Savannah, I think that’s a bad idea.”
“Rhys, please just hear me out.”
I could tell he wanted to get up and walk away, it was in every line of his body, but I was certain that we needed to do this. For both of us.
“If I can give you what you need and do so willingly, why shouldn’t I?” I asked. “You would also be helping me. I’m tired of living my life only here in my home or inside the Bean. I want to be able to go out to dinner, or to the movies, or on vacation. I’m living a narrow life right now, and if this works, you will be giving me something I want very much.”
