"I know you do," I joked.
"Really? Right after talking about death?" she teased.
"It is your realm."
"Well, if you keep it up, maybe I can put my hands to good use later," she said. "Though I did have some other ideas."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"You'll have to invite me back to yours to find out." She sat back in her seat with a satisfied smile on her face, like she knew the effect she was having on me.
"And will you be sneaking out in the morning?" My heart raced as I asked the question, knowing that this was the point at which it became clear whether or not this would be something.
"I have no intention of sneaking out." She reached out and cupped my cheek in her hand. "And I have every intention of going on more dates with you."
"You're not scared of getting hurt?"
"Terrified," she responded. "But sometimes, it's worth it."
I put my hand over hers and gave her a soft smile. "I hope to prove that it is."
"I'm certain that you will." She leaned in and pressed her lips against mine.
This kiss was different from those we'd shared on the first night. It was sweet, and full of promise that this wasn't something that would be forgotten in the morning.
I shuffled closer in the booth and pressed myself against her, feeling the response change within me, even if I should know better than to make out with someone in the middle of a restaurant. Thankfully, the booth was dark and no one was around to witness us.
"Maybe we should go back to mine," I murmured against her lips.
Hel pulled away and shook her head. "Not without having dessert first."
I laughed. "Are you serious?"
"Of course. Have you tried their triple-fudge sundae? I wouldn't say it's better than sex with me, but it's better than sex with someone else."
Amusement filled me. "Well, then we're going to have to order it, and I'll be the judge of which is better later."
"Challenge accepted." The expression on Hel's face said that she was willing to make sure that she was the victor in the impromptu game, and I had no doubt that was true, but I was planning on making her work for her victory, if only to get my revenge for a kiss like that and making me eat dessert before we could act on it.
A serious expression crossed Hel's face. "Just so you know, this isn't about sex for me. I try to only spend one night with people because I know that I can fall fast. It's about protecting myself. Being here with you...it's not because I want to sleep with you tonight, though I do, you look gorgeous. It's because I can see something with you."
I swallowed hard as I thought about the consequences of what she was saying. "My cousin warned me about falling for a goddess."
Hel laughed. "Did she?"
"She said that forever is a long time."
"It is," Hel said. "But that's also something we don't have to talk about now. Plenty of immortals have relationships with mortals. I should know, I've done the funerals for many of them." A sad expression crossed her face, and it almost made me want to proclaim that I'd turn immortal for her right now, but I knew it was too soon.
"I don't want you to hurt like that," I said softly. "I'm not saying that I would definitely take immortality if you offered it to me, but I am saying that I'm open to it."
Hel relaxed in a way that I hadn't expected. Even though she'd said as much about grief, I was still surprised by how much it had been weighing on her. "Thank you, I appreciate that." She reached out for my hand and gave it a squeeze. "And I look forward to discovering modern relationships with you."
My heart skipped a beat. This wasn't what I'd expected from a one night stand, but I was welcoming it with open arms.
Chapter 17
CLARA
