"It is, but not very comfortable. This morning, I woke up with your elbow in my ribs."
"That's because you move around too much. If you stayed still, my elbow would stay where it belongs."
"And where does it belong?"
"Somewhere that isn't your ribs. I'll work on my aim."
Dimitri laughed, some of the tension leaving him. Mattie's humor was one of the many things he loved about her. She'd been through hell, was still going through it in many ways, butshe hadn't lost her true self. It was still there, shining through in moments like this.
"I'm still getting another bed," he said.
"Fine." She sighed dramatically. "But I'm going to use you as my mattress anyway."
"It will be my pleasure." He transferred the plastic bag to his other hand.
They walked in silence for a few moments, with Dimitri thinking of ways to rearrange his room so Mattie would be comfortable living there, and she probably thinking along the same lines.
"I'm glad I won't have to use the stinky potion," she said. "I was worried it might deter you as well as those it was supposed to deter."
So, she wasn't thinking about the room arrangements after all.
He'd forgotten about his failed experiment, most likely because it wasn't working.
"I'm still very much attracted to you, which means that it doesn't work." He turned to her. "What about the immortals in the bar? Did it work on them?"
"Not that I could tell. No one was crinkling their nose or pulling away when I brought their drinks. But I also didn't get any of the usual leering looks tonight. No one made suggestive comments or tried to grab me."
"Maybe the immortals in the bar tonight just weren't interested in you."
The words were out before Dimitri could think them through, and he immediately wanted to take them back. "That came out wrong. I didn't mean?—"
"That I'm not attractive enough to leer at?" Mattie snorted. "Please. Those immortals are always interested. Some are just nastier about it than others." Her expression darkened. "And Tarik was the nastiest. He's a pig."
"That's an insult to pigs," Dimitri said. "I happen to like pigs."
Mattie laughed, but the sound faded quickly. "Maybe the potion did work a little." She shook her head. "Or maybe I just got lucky tonight. Either way, it doesn't matter now. I'm done with the bar."
"I'm glad that you don't have to do it anymore," Dimitri said. "You're safe now."
She shook her head. "Tarik is still out there. He still knows where to find me."
He stopped walking and turned to face her. "I'll figure something out. A better potion. A different approach. And if that doesn't work, I'll come with you everywhere you need to go." He took her hands in his. "You're not alone in this, Mattie. Not anymore."
Her eyes glistened in the dim light, but she smiled. "You can't be with me every second of every day."
"Why not?"
"Because you'll get bored with my company."
"Never."
"That's what you say now. Wait until you have to be around me twenty-four-seven."
"I'm looking forward to every moment."
Gazing into his eyes, she swallowed hard and seemed to want to say something, but then she thought better of it and resumed walking.
What had she wanted to say? That he shouldn't get so attached to her because their relationship was so new, and it might not last?
