“What? No!” I giggled. “I knowthat.”
“Then what are we discussing?”
“I know nothing is going to happen, but I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t check.”
“Okay?”
“When you bit me earlier . . . Is it going to change me?”
He chortled.
“Don’t make fun,” I pouted, swatting his solid thigh.
“Don’t worry, my sweet. The only way a human can be turned vampire is if they drink vampire blood after being bitten.”
“Not what I was thinking. I know I won’t become a vampire, but while we’re on the topic, how long does it usually take for a human to turn?”
He glanced at me as if he didn’t fully believe that I wasn’t worried. I smirked. He said, “It’s different for everyone. For me it was two days, like I mentioned before, though some humans can change in an hour or two. On the rare occasion, instantly. I’ve never turned anyone, but I’ve seen it done.”
“I was wondering about side effects. Am I going to getreallysunburned when I go outside? Blistery?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Nowyou ask me this? What if my bite had changed you permanently?”
“I trust you wouldn’t do anything to harm me. And I got caught up in the moment,” I said with a shrug. “I’ve always wondered what your vampy bite would feel like.”
“And how did it feel?”
“Amazing.Indescribable.”
He eased down on his back. “You won’t become sunburned more than you normally do.”
“What about having superhuman strength?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Damn,” I said, touching the sensitive area on my thigh where his teeth had gone in. There were two small crusty circles there. I stood up and started to pull on my dress.
“You aren’t leaving me, are you?”
I wanted to laugh.Not a chance.“No, but since I won’t be changing into vampire any time soon, I need to take care of a few human matters. Where is the, uh . . .” I looked towards the door. It seemed ridiculous, feeling shy about needing to pee. The man had sampled my blood, for goodness’s sake.
“Oh, right,” he said. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a bathroom in my sleeping chamber, as I have no need for it. The closest is up the stairs and down the hall.” He paused. “I will have facilities installed for you very soon.”
“You’d install a toilet for me?” How strangely romantic.
“Anything for you, Olivia.”
I went upstairs to do my business, whistling along the way. I swiftly concluded that I might be in love with the vampire. Giddy as I was, I considered revealing this to him as soon as I was back in his strong arms. Would he think it was too soon? We really hadn’t been in each other’s lives that long, though it felt like I’d known him forever. And, no, I didn’t think it was afterglow talking.
In the bathroom, I stood in front of the vast marble sink and splashed water on my face. My mascara, which now clung to my lashes in clumps, required some scrubbing. Eyes stinging, I moved a hand over the surface of the sink until I located a bar of soap, which smelled divine.
I washed and dried my face, which devastated me unexpectedly, because I was reminded of how Liz and I had often shared our apartment’s tiny bathroom while we did our hair and make-up. Suddenly, I burst into tears. I sank down against the wall, pulled my legs under me, and cried for all I was worth. Nose dripping, I reached up and ripped off a wad of toilet paper. I’d heard that grief can hit when you least expect it, and now I knew what that truly meant.
A glittering object in the soap dish caught my eye. I stood up, extracted it, and exhaled sharply once I comprehended what I was looking at. I was so stunned that I dropped the ring—Liz’s heirloom ring—on the counter.
I backed away, as if the ring emitted poisonous gas. There was no denying it; beyond a shadow of a doubt, I knew it belonged to my dead best friend. I’d seen her wearing it every day since I’d known her. But why was it at Robert’s?
Liz had likely been killed by a vampire. Her throat had been ripped open. I shook my head. No-no-no. I couldn’t assume the worst—
