I stole a glance back and saw his mouth wide open, occasionally biting his lip as he continued to pound me. I wished the intense passion we had before making love lasted throughout the entire experience. I’m not sure what making love actually feels like—this is all I know.
This is what I accept.
I carry on,I carry on.
Chapter Two
Gabe’s rough stubble grazed my cheek as he kissed me awake, a familiar warmth spreading through me alongside the gentle pressure of his lips. I peered at his elated smile while his honey-golden eyes radiated enthusiasm in the gentle morning light. Leaning on his elbow, his slick hair still perfectly in place, the blanket revealed half of his toned abs. His usual demeanor was strong and silent, a quiet strength, but I was the only one who could coax out his playful side.
“Happy birthday, handsome.” He smiled at me, and the crinkles in the corner of his eyes deepened. “Officially.”
I pulled his face toward mine, engulfing my lips with his. Here we were, another birthday. I appreciated how he still got excited about these things because I found myself feeling disconnected year after year. Sometimes, I even forgot when his birthday was; he didn’t care, though.
“How old are you now?” He winked at me as a spirited glance danced in his eye.
I raised one eyebrow. “I’m officiallytwenty-one.”
“Hmm.” He pursed his lips and silently counted his fingers in faux wonderment. “So that makes you…eighty-six years old, right?”
“Asshole.” My fingers tightened around the soft cotton pillow behind my head as I swung my arm, making direct contact with the side of his face. I wasn’t expecting his sass so early in the morning.
“Hey, hey, be careful, old man!”
We both laughed at his stupidity, but he was somewhat right. Following the distribution of my blood, we observed a noticeable slowing of the aging process in those who received the cure compared to those who hadn’t. So technically, I’m twenty-one in vampire years but eighty-six in human.
A serious expression took over my face as I hooked my knees around his waist, mounting him. With my arm outstretched, I clamped down on his neck, pressure building with each tightening squeeze. “Stop with the old man shit.”
“Are you trying to make me horny? Because it’s working.” He licked his lips, and his fangs retracted. “But we don’t have time for shenanigans. You have an appointment with your dad today.”
Oh yes, my yearly scheduled meeting with my father—great. I yearn for the comfort of our past, the days of togetherness and happiness, filled with sweet shared memories. Now he’s strictly business. Even in our shared moments, a chilling sense of distance replaces the easy camaraderie we once shared. He saved the world; he’s a worldwide treasure. But even though he’s different, the dad I grew up with remains in my memory. I long for those days, for that normalcy.
Gabe’s lips found mine one last time, a long, passionate kiss that left me breathless. “Hey,” I said after he pulled back. “I have a question for you.”
“Anything.”
“What’s The Carlton?”
A sudden rigidity seized him. He stood frozen, and the air was thick with tension. “How do you know about that?”
I shrugged and slipped out of bed. “I heard two guards talking about it at Louie’s yesterday. They said there’s a rumor people from other Elysiums would be there.”
“Who were they?” Gabe’s voice was a low growl, and his eyebrows furrowed in a deep frown.
“I…I don’t know. I’ve never seen them before.” It had been years since I saw him so taken aback and angry. I knew this must be something I shouldn’t know about. “What’s happening there?”
His eyes searched mine, a silent question hanging in the air as he struggled to find the right words. “It’s a party,” he admitted. “Anything goes at The Carlton. That’s why people like it so much.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“It starts as a club, so the normal debauchery: drinking, drugs, you name it. But then there’s the back rooms…” He paused, his brow furrowing as he considered whether to go on. “It’s all sex stuff, different rooms for different things.”
Saying The Carlton sparked my curiosity would be an understatement. The idea of going to a club or a sex party sounded intriguing, even though it was something entirely new to me. Cooped up on this floor, my life became monotonous, so any new experience, no matter how small, was appetizing. I wouldn’t partake in any activities because I am committed to Gabe, but it would be fun to see it all. “Haveyoubeen to The Carlton before?”
“I need to know who those officers are. They aren’t supposed to discuss outside activities while on the job.” His face grew red, and his shoulders tensed. “Don’t ask about it again.”
I jumped in the shower, allowing the hot water and steam to cleanse my body, but my thoughts remained wild. Gabe’s reaction to The Carlton had me even more intrigued. I needed to find a way to sneak out—the idea of feeling alive again was too tempting to ignore.
“Hurry up in there.” Gabe banged on the door. “We can’t keep your dad waiting; he’s a busy guy.”
