Page 18
Story: Vampires and Violas
“I was changing,” Noah says from the archway between the kitchen and living room. He’s swapped the button-up for a soft, semi-fitted dark gray T-shirt, the slacks for jeans, and ditched the laptop.
My eyes slide over the cottony expanse of his shoulders. I swear they should have their own zip code. And a fan club.
It’s just hormones,I remind myself.Vampire hormones.
Ew.
“Do you want me to light the grill, Piper?” Cassian asks, stepping closer than usual and touching my shoulder.
I eye his hand, suspicious. “That would be great, thanks.”
“Of course,” he answers, practically purring.
I give him a silent look that says, “What’s with you?”
He merely smiles and then turns for the door.
Okay then.
I expect Noah to go outside with him, but Olivia follows Cassian out the French doors that lead to the patio instead, leaving Noah and me alone.
Noah stares at the door they just went through, looking like he’s contemplating something—and not liking whatever it is. Several seconds later, he turns, giving me his full attention.
Silence settles between us, super awkward. And I don’t know why.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, shifting.
“Nothing,” he answers.
More silence.
“Listen, I know things might be a little strange between us for a while,” I say hesitantly. “It’s fine. It’ll go away.”
“What can I do to help?”
I busy myself by taking the steaks out of the fridge. “Nothing. It’s not like we were dating, Noah. We went to a movie and then made out in Cassian’s over-the-top vampire castle. It’s not a big deal, really.”
I scoot him out of my way so I can set down the packages on the island. He shifts to the side and then leans a hip against the counter, staying close.
Too close.
I dare a quick peek, but that’s a mistake. My eyes snag on his smirk.
He quirks a brow. “I meant, how can I help with dinner?”
Oh.
“I know that,” I lie, my answer coming several seconds too late. Then I turn, giving him my full attention. “Why are you acting so weird? You’re freaking me out.”
He exhales, letting his guard down and looking a touch weary. “It was a long day.”
“I imagine it’s hard settling into a new job.”
“People won’t let me work. All they want to do is talk.”
“How awful,” I say dryly.
“One of the conservators said I need a plant for my office.”
My eyes slide over the cottony expanse of his shoulders. I swear they should have their own zip code. And a fan club.
It’s just hormones,I remind myself.Vampire hormones.
Ew.
“Do you want me to light the grill, Piper?” Cassian asks, stepping closer than usual and touching my shoulder.
I eye his hand, suspicious. “That would be great, thanks.”
“Of course,” he answers, practically purring.
I give him a silent look that says, “What’s with you?”
He merely smiles and then turns for the door.
Okay then.
I expect Noah to go outside with him, but Olivia follows Cassian out the French doors that lead to the patio instead, leaving Noah and me alone.
Noah stares at the door they just went through, looking like he’s contemplating something—and not liking whatever it is. Several seconds later, he turns, giving me his full attention.
Silence settles between us, super awkward. And I don’t know why.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, shifting.
“Nothing,” he answers.
More silence.
“Listen, I know things might be a little strange between us for a while,” I say hesitantly. “It’s fine. It’ll go away.”
“What can I do to help?”
I busy myself by taking the steaks out of the fridge. “Nothing. It’s not like we were dating, Noah. We went to a movie and then made out in Cassian’s over-the-top vampire castle. It’s not a big deal, really.”
I scoot him out of my way so I can set down the packages on the island. He shifts to the side and then leans a hip against the counter, staying close.
Too close.
I dare a quick peek, but that’s a mistake. My eyes snag on his smirk.
He quirks a brow. “I meant, how can I help with dinner?”
Oh.
“I know that,” I lie, my answer coming several seconds too late. Then I turn, giving him my full attention. “Why are you acting so weird? You’re freaking me out.”
He exhales, letting his guard down and looking a touch weary. “It was a long day.”
“I imagine it’s hard settling into a new job.”
“People won’t let me work. All they want to do is talk.”
“How awful,” I say dryly.
“One of the conservators said I need a plant for my office.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135