“Look, I don’t love you.”
“I know that. I don’t love you, either.” His insides twisted and huffed. No, he didn’t love her, but he wasn’t stupid enough to pretend that the signs weren’t there. If things kept on this way—with less atmospheric interference—he could see himself falling for the human.
That wasn’t as scary as he thought it would be.
“But we like each other—and if you’re worried that we have to be more than just friends to make things work out, well... Why don’t we add that to the paper, too? That we work backwards?”
“Sex first, dates later?” Brax raised one eyebrow.
“Yes, because if we don’t fix this problem, there might not be a later to get to. And if you’re worried I’m just saying stuff to get what I want—you’re nuts. Ineverwanted a vampire. I wanted to get away from them. But you’re not all bad. I mean... I’ve seen the vamps in this town. The ones who stay. They seem like they’re just trying to lead good lives, do good things. And I don’t know... I think it’s kind of nice that you could take charge of your life again, and choose not to hurt people, cursed or not.”
“No, Pen, I didn’t think you were putting one over on me. You’ve made it all too clear you don’t like my kind, and I don’t blame you.”
“But I think I likeyou,and I don’t think I can lie. Lying right now would mean I’d have to be able to think of the truth and then a lie to put over top of it. I can barely handle talking.”
It was true. Her breathing had become labored, her head dipping forward more weakly. He noticed that her skin radiated heat even without touching it.
“I believe you.”
“I want to use you. You’ll cool me off. I’ll warm you up. And I’ll feel better. You’ll feel better. If you help me and don’t hurtme when I need you most... I won’t hate you later. I won’t be in love, but I’ll like. Because I already like. Today, I like.”
“Today, I like, too,” Brax whispered, reaching for her head.If we don’t get through today, there won’t be any tomorrow... And, it’s Christmas Eve. It’s a night of miracles, and no one knows more about the truth of miracles than a demon.“Do you trust me?”
She nodded weakly, looking up at him. “Let me have you?”
Hell. Seven layers of it and a cherry on top. If she’d said it any other way, he pretended he could have resisted. As it was... “All yours, baby.”
“YOU’RE BIG. SO BIG. Still cold.” Her hot hands worked with his, taking off his pants and belt, roving over him without any finesse and still feeling amazing.
“I’m not freezing anymore,” Brax admitted, though he was well below room temperature. “I think it’s because you’re so hot.”
And I’m insane. This can’t possibly be happening. So if it can’t be happening, if I’m really just freezing to a near-second-death, dreaming, I’ll just enjoy it.He cautiously touched her forehead, then her hips as she swayed unsteadily in front of him. “So, beautifully, bloody hot.”Love to feel her. Be in her. Take her, let her have me in any way, every way...
PENNY GIGGLED, HANDSskirting around him, knowing something special was happening, but feeling— comfortable. At ease. Had the fever removed the fear? Or was it the man who said he cared about her? She had to believe him, because he had to believe her.That’s what you do in a truce. Have to trust. Carry each other. Believe each other. “I’m not hot like that. I tryto be sexy, but I know— I’m just a freak. A freak. Not a monster, just a human who sees them. Nothing sexy about me.”
He threw his head back, laughing a single shout to the ceiling. “Not sexy! Who told you that lie?”
She shrugged. “I don’t think I am. I think I’m... awkward. Not normal enough to hang out with the humans. Too crazy for my parents. I don’t like monsters and vampires, even the nice ones, because... I don’t know. I don’t trust them. I know something is wrong with them, or maybe with me, in a world where no one else can see them. And with guys... Well. I’m not what the guys around here want. Not trusting enough for the monsters, not normal enough for the ‘regular’ guys.”
“You shouldn’t be what every man wants—then we’d all fight to the death over you. You should be what just one man wants,” Brax half-snarled. “You’re everything any man could want, everythingIwant,” he panted, words desperate, his fists gripping her waist as her hands stroked him steadily.
“There’s a movie. About this.” Penny suddenly whispered conspiratorially.
“About a woman who doesn’t know how beautiful she is? Prob’ly a dozen.”
“You’re so sweet.” Head lifted, lips cracking as they pressed to his.
“You need fluids. Something is burnin’ through you.”
“Deep Throat.Don’t tell my mom.”
“Tell your mother about— No! God! God, no, never!” Then, he was squinting at her. “Are you saying you—”
“Everything else melts. Or disappears down my throat when I swallow.” She looked at him pointedly. “But if something was cold and hard and didn’t melt...
Brax’s panting turned to gulps. “Well, any man would like the idea, b’lieve me, but I don’t think it’ll help.”
“I still have to try! Oh. I mean,mayI?”
