He stared at her open-mouthed.
Oops.That might not have been the right thing to say.It sure wasn’t the smart thing to say considering how long Sly went without anyone.
“I’m sorry, Sly. I didn’t mean that.”
He shook his head. “I’m not ready to discuss this any further right now. Maybe you can give me a little space.”
“Oh-oh. ‘Space’ can be a euphemism for I don’t want to be with you anymore.”
He gave her an intense look. “You have to get over this insecurity, Morgaine. I don’t want to be talking with you right now. It doesn’t mean I want you to go away forever.”
She nodded, sadly. “I understand.” She rose and strode to the door.
He was beside her in a split second. “I love you,” he said and kissed her.
When he released her lips, he escorted her to the stairs. As she ascended, she heard him lock his apartment door and go outside.
Chapter twenty-three
“Oh, Gwyneth, I’m afraid I blew it.”
“Of course you didn’t. Any fool can see that Sly loves you with all his heart.”
“He probably does have to think it over, Morgaine.”Chad interjected.“This isn’t the kind of decision a man like him would take lightly. Now, if it were me, I’d say definitely not, because who wants to be saddled with the same ball and chain for centuries? Maybe millennia? Not me.”
Morgaine flopped backward in her chair. “Thanks, Chad. You’re a big help.”
“I’m just sayin…”
“Don’t listen to him, Morgaine. Idon’tthink the problem is with Sly. Personally, I think you are nuttier than a tree full of squirrels forwantin’to be turned.”
Morgaine questioned her own sanity for the umpteenth time. “I probably am. I don’t know. It just feels so right.”
“Let’s pretend for a minute that he did it. He turned you. What would you get out of it?”
She placed a finger over her lips as she thought. “Hmmm…immortality. The chance to spend eternity with the man I love.”
“Every woman’s dream…to be twenty-nine forever.”
“Thanks, I’m thirty, and Sly is twenty-seven. He turns twenty-seven again next month, and the year after that and the year after that…”
“Anything else?”
“Strength and speed, I guess.”
“Okay, and what would you lose?”
“As long as we have Sly wine, nothing.”
Gwyneth planted one hand on her hip. “Which brings up a major point. What if somethin’ happens and y’all don’t have it anymore?”
“What could happen?”
“What if the building burned down and all you could do was get your asses out on the sidewalk. Or say a nuclear war started. Everything would be contaminated.”
Morgaine huffed, annoyed. “Yeah, and what if a spaceship full of alien monkeys broke in and made off with it?”
“I don’t know about the aliens, but a gang of teenagers might steal all the alcohol you have.”
