The brief exchange between the brothers drewthe attention of a few of Kyle’s hunters. Aida’s hackles rose whensome of the women’s gazes ran ravenously over Julian. She almostsnapped at them to back off, but she bit back the words. He wasn’thers to defend. He could do whatever he wanted with anyone hewanted.
He’d been traipsing around the world,probably going from one woman to another as easily as he traveledfrom one country to another. And she’d been… well, she hated toadmit it, but she’d been trying to get over akiss.
She’d dated plenty of guys, kissed them, andmade out with them, but she’d never dated anyone long enough inhigh school to have sex with them. After the island, she’d beentrying to get her shit together to date again, and once she finallyfelt stable enough to date, she found herself comparingeveryguy to Julian. They all failed.
She couldn’t count the number of times shecursed his name while she stomped back to her apartment afteranother failed attempt at a relationship and sex. Often, she wouldimagine him as she slid her hand between her legs to easeherself.
Afterward, she would sometimes feel so lonelyshe would cry herself to sleep. Other times, she cursed him forputting her into this miserable position.
Everytime she told herself it wastime to forget him and move on, but that was easier said than done.Then, before she could get herself together enough to find a guyshe could love, Julian strolled back into her life and turned itupside down.
The thought soured her mood as Kyle set afoaming mug before Julian.
“One of my favorites,” Kyle said.
“Thanks,” Julian said as he pulled thechilled mug closer. Kyle nodded and walked away.
“So, how did your travels around the worldgo?” Aida asked.
Julian sipped his beer as he recalled histime away. He’d enjoyed traveling. In the beginning, even though itwas difficult to be around people so much and was abigadjustment for him, he also enjoyed meeting new people. But hestill thought about her all the time and would often wonder how shewould react to every new thing he saw.
“It was interesting,” he said. “There are alot of beautiful places in this world. I want to show them to youone day.”
Unsure of how to take it, Aida ignored hislast comment. “What was your favorite place?”
“I loved Antarctica. I know it sounds crazy,but it was so stark and barren and—” and he went there right afterreaching maturity, so the lack of humans was perfect, but he didn’treveal that— “it had penguins.”
She couldn’t help smiling as she imagined himbundled into a puffy snowsuit and hanging out with penguins. “I betthose penguins melted your heart.”
“They did.”
“You’re such a horrible vampire.”
He chuckled as the teasing glint returned toher eyes. “I’m the worst.”
He’d meant it to sound teasing too, butsomehow, it came out flat. The malicious evil residing inside himwas the worst in many ways. When his thoughts weren’t consumed byher, they were filled with killing. That didn’t make him a goodman, and she definitely deserved better, but if she would have him,he’d spend every day of his life striving to be a man who wasworthy of her.
Aida frowned when the amusement vanished fromJulian’s face. “Was there anywhere else you liked?” she asked todistract him from whatever upset him.
“There were many places. The Great BarrierReef was amazing, as was the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. I spent a lotof time exploring the Serengeti and watching the animals.”
“That sounds amazing,” she breathed.
“It was. You could take some beautifulpictures there.”
“I could.”
She turned her bottle in her hands as shetried to think of something more to say. She couldn’t bring herselfto ask the question on the tip of her tongue—did you meet anywomen along the way?
But of course, he had. It would have beenimpossible not to encounter women, and with his looks and vampireability to attract them, they would have flocked like flies to him.Had he met someone whomattered?She didn’t think so, hewould have brought them back if he had, but maybe the other personor vamp had decided they didn’t want him.
Always a glutton for punishment, she foundherself asking, “Did you meet any interesting people?”
“Lots of them. There are so many differentand fascinating cultures, and most welcomed me and were eager toshow me their ways.”
“That’s awesome,” she said as she finishedher beer.
He still hadn’t given her the answer shewanted, but she couldn’t bring herself to push it any further. Whenshe set her bottle on the edge of the bar, Kyle set a new one infront of her. She dragged it toward her but didn’t take anothersip.
