Her eyes widen and she glances at the window like she’s making sure the sun hasn’t risen.
Looking back at me, she asks, “It couldn’t have beenthatlong. Right? My apartment is still here, after all.”
I shrug, glancing at the clock on the microwave. There’s clocks everywhere these days.
“Probably five minutes.” Humans nowadays sure are obsessed with time. “Give or take.”
“That’s all?” Her shoulders visibly relax, as if she’s relieved.
And she should be.
She seems calm, almost too calm. Like she’s got no idea how close to dying she actually came.
And how close she still is.
I can feel her lifeforce wavering where it pulls at mine through the link.
If it weren’t for my energy feeding into her, she’d still be passed-out in that bed.
“Catch,” I say, tossing her a half-full jug of juice. “You should drink all of that. And then we’ll find you something to eat. It’ll make you feel better.”
She looks at me funny as she catches it.
Like I’ve done something wrong?
No.
Not like that. Not quite.
Like she doesn’t know what to make of me.
“Hey, don’t get the wrong idea.” I open the fridge, which is getting conspicuously empty. Where do humans these days get more food? “I only saved you because we’re connected. And you still owe me my freedom.”
To my surprise, she’s still watching me when I look back.
And in a quiet voice, she says, “Thank you.”
Those two little words shouldn’t make me feel the things they do.
I shut the fridge, leaning against the wall with my head tilted back, just staring at the ceiling.
She really is a sorceress, because just those two little words have me wanting to do whatever it takes to hear her say them again.
“Are you tired?” she asks, catching me by surprise. “We should go to bed.”
I turn slowly to stare at her.
And there’s that fantasy again, the one I’ve really gotta get out of my damn head. The fantasy from that kiss.
“We?”
16
Going to Bed With the Hot Guy
Ziros
“We’re both adults here,” she says, pushing back from the table. “It’s fine. No funny stuff, just sleep.”
