Page 5 of Thirsty for the Bartender

MALLORIE

Sunlight streams into my eyes, drawing them open. The huge windows around me are covered by thin, semi-sheer red curtains, giving the room a pink hue. It’s cozy feeling, but makes me want to laugh. You’d think a vampire wouldn’t want so much sunlight.

I roll over, off of my stomach, noticing the empty spot next to me. Where did Emris go? Sitting up, I clutch the sheets to my chest, scanning the room more closely. His clothes from last night are still strewn about like mine, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

The door to his bedroom creaks open, and he pushes through, a towel draped below his waist as he ruffles his hair with another one. Seeing me sitting there, his eyes widen, a soft smile appearing on his lips.

Hell, if we hadn’t been so busy last night, I might just jump him right now; that towel is hanging dangerously low.

He walks over to me, placing his hands on the side of the bed as he leans down and plants a soft kiss on my forehead. “Good morning, beautiful,” he says chipperly, keeping his face near mine. “How are you feeling this morning?”

I let out a small laugh as my cheeks flood with heat. “Good, I mean, good . A bit sore.”

His smile turns to a smirk as he plants a kiss on my lips this time. “Sorry about that, but not really all that sorry.”

“Hey, I never said it was a complaint.” I laugh, playfully narrowing my eyes at him.

He stands straight, his eyes not leaving me. I’ve never been one to feel uncomfortable after a night with a man, but for some reason, I’m weirdly aware of my nakedness right now. All I can think of is, does he still find me attractive? Or is the heat from last night long gone?

“Would you like to shower?” Emris offers, resuming drying his hair. “I can make breakfast while you’re in there, then we could eat together.”

I stare at him, blinking a few times. “Really?”

His smile falters slightly. “Yes.” Nodding, he leaves the room.

Faintly, I hear the shower turn on, running water pattering against tiles. He’s sweet, sweeter than I expected a man like him to be. At this point, though, I don’t know why I’m surprised; our first date was extremely thoughtful. I guess I’m just not used to this.

I get out of the bed, keeping his sheet wrapped around me as I head toward the sound of the water. Inside the bathroom, he has his hand under the stream, testing the temperature.

“I don’t know how hot you want it.” He sounds slightly embarrassed, like this is something he should know. “Vampire body temperature is not the same as a human. We’re usually resistant to temperature, so it doesn’t matter what we set our showers to.”

Does that mean I’m the first human who has stayed over? The only one he has shared his shower with? It’s not like me to hope so, but I do. I want to be someone special to him. Hesitating for a second, I can’t help myself but to ask, “You actually want me to stay for breakfast?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” His voice hardens, brows dropping slightly as he looks over at me.

I shrug, feeling awkward for the first time in a long time. “I don’t know.”

“Mallorie.” He removes his hand from the water, drying it quickly on his towel as he closes the distance between us and places his hands on my arms. “I want you around, for more than just the morning. I don’t want this to be a one, well two, night thing.”

“You really don’t?” I try to stifle my uncertainty, but it’s overwhelming.

He shakes his head. “Absolutely not. You make me feel…different than I’ve ever experienced before.”

I let out a small laugh; I know that feeling. My normal sass and confidence seem to have left me, and my heart pounds a bit faster every time he looks at me. No man has ever made me feel this way, in the bedroom or out of it.

Emris came across as cocky and full of himself when I met him, and to some degree he is, but it’s confidence more than anything. Beneath all that, he’s kind and thinks things through. He’s gentle and caring.

“I told you, I want it all at no cost,” I tease, letting a smirk dance across my lips.

“And I told you, as a business man, I can’t accept that deal.” The corner of his lip twitches, his voice lowering. “All I want in exchange for giving you everything I can give is you. Your love. You are all I desire.”

Raising my arm, I jokingly tap on my chin, as if I’m pondering his offer. He lets out a chuckle, shaking his head at me. I slip my arms around his neck, pulling him down and gently grazing my lips against his.

His hands fall to my waist, the sheet loosening around me and threatening to come tumbling down. The kiss is sweet, gentle, with a different desire than the passionate ones we exchanged last night. This kiss feels eternal.

“Counter offer,” I whisper as I pull back, his forehead resting against mine. “I want everything. Love, stability, independence, and support, the kind two people share when they mean everything to each other. Everything you give me, I’ll give you, too.”

He nods against me. “Deal.”

“Deal.” I beam up at him, excitement building in me.

My lips meet his again, his hands pulling me closer. I melt into his arms, his cool touch warming my heart. He’s the one, I just know it. No one compares to him, and no one ever will. He is the change I desperately needed and wanted, and now, he is mine. Is it crazy to think I might just be in love…this soon?

“Now, shower up, I’ll make breakfast,” Emris says as he breaks the kiss, his hands slipping from me.

I nod, turning my head to watch him as he crosses the room. He stops at the door, looking back at me and smiling, eyes sparkling. My cheeks flush, and I scrunch my shoulders slightly.

He lets out a chuckle and steps out, closing the door behind him. I drop the sheet and make my way to the shower, slowly testing the water. It’s perfect. Somehow, he chose just the right temperature. It’s hot enough that some may say it’s scalding, but I like a hot shower.

It feels like Emris knows me inside and out already, remembering every little detail about me and then some. I want to learn everything about him, be able to do little things like this for him. Anything to make sure I can keep him around forever.

Somehow, breakfast lasted all day, and now that it’s nearing dinner, I made Emris take me back to my place. We spent the entire time talking, joking, flirting; it was nice. There really is more to him than his CEO persona, and I can’t get enough.

Now, his hand is intertwined with mine as we walk through the halls to my apartment. He asked if he could see it, since he wasn’t ready to part ways just yet—honestly, I wasn’t either. I told him yes, but now that we’re here, I can only think of how messy my little place is.

As we round the corner to my hallway, my steps slow and my heart stutters in my chest. Sitting outside of my door in the hallway is my estranged mother, someone I haven’t seen or spoken to in five years. What could she possibly be doing here? And how did she find me?

At the sound of our footsteps, her eyes lift from whatever she’s doing in her lap. Emris stops beside me, sensing something is wrong and giving my hand a squeeze.

“What are you doing here?” I call out, still standing at the far end of the hallway.

She pushes herself up, walking toward us as she calls back, “I’ve been looking for you.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” I bark, my blood beginning to boil.

My mother’s eyes don’t soften at all, still staring into me with the aura of disappointment they’ve always possessed. “You need to come home, it’s been long enough of you playing this game, running off to this godforsaken city.”

I stand my ground, my heart pounding in my chest as she reaches us. I haven’t been this close to her for five years. There’s not even a trace of warmth between us. Maybe there never was. Now that I’ve experienced real caring with Emris, I truly know what I was missing. “I am home.”

She rolls her eyes, letting out a scoff. “Enough already. You need to come home. Your father is sick.”

“What does that have to do with me?” I press, furrowing my brows.

Once upon a time, I may have been saddened at the thought of my father falling ill, being on his deathbed. Now, after many years of silence and separation, I have no feelings about it. None at all. They made their choice when they scorned me for rejecting their close-minded ideals.

Something shifts inside my mother, her shoulders falling limply and a deep breath leaving her. “We’re going to lose the house. The mortgage payments are too much for just me.”

“So, you want me back to pay for your house?” My voice begins to rise. I can’t believe she would interrupt my life for this shit. “Get one of your children to help you.”

Her eyes flicker as she narrows her gaze, snapping, “That’s what I’m doing right now.”

“No, what you’re doing right now is harassing me in my home. If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police and have you removed.” I hope the insinuation that I’m not her child is apparent.

“You would really not help me? Help your mother? Your father?” Her eyes dart to Emris, who has been standing silently at my side. “Whoever this monster is must’ve skewed your perception. Exactly the kind of thing we warned you about.”

With my free hand, I raise a finger in her face, jabbing it forward. “He is less of a monster than you, than father. My perception isn’t the one that is skewed here, yours is. Don’t ever think that you can speak like that about someone I care about. Insulting me is one thing. Him? That’s another.”

Silence follows my berating, her lips thinned and fists clenched at her side. Emris still makes no sound, and I’m thankful he doesn’t try to step in. This isn’t for him to be involved in, any more than he is right now.

“Fine, abandon us yet again,” my mother hisses, her eyes turning back to me. “One day, you’ll wake up and realize all these monsters want is to use you.”

“You’re right, all you monsters want to do is use me,” I say, my eyes burning with rage as they pierce into her.

She sways where she stands, like she wants to say something else, but can’t come up with any words. I guess I got my wit from my father. As she tips her chin up, she walks past me, her shoulder hitting mine.

I don’t turn around. Instead, I call out, “By the way, this is my boyfriend, who I’m very much in love with. Make sure to tell Dad, it might just send him over the edge.”

There’s no response, but I can hear the falter in her steps as she trips over my words. As her footsteps disappear, my chest feels heavy with guilt. I shouldn’t have said that last thing, but it came out before I could think straight.

Oh, my gods, did I just say that out loud? That I love him? It’s so soon, but it felt so right in the moment. I didn’t just say it to make my mother mad, I really meant it. But, what will Emris think? Is it going to scare him off?

My shoulders shake slightly with each exhale, a combination of rage, sadness, and nerves swirling up inside of me. Emris moves to stand in front of me, pulling me against his chest, wrapping his arms around me.

I rest my head against him, tears biting at the backs of my eyes, but I don’t let them free. Those people aren’t worth my tears. They aren’t worth a second of my thoughts. Not after they cast me out for being open-minded. Not after they sent me—freshly eighteen—to the streets to fend for myself.

“Are you okay?” Emris asks quietly, not releasing me from his hug.

Nodding against him, I exhale, hoping the long breath takes my anger and sadness with it. “I’m sorry you had to see that, deal with that. My parents, they think very differently from me.”

“Don’t apologize.” He hushes me, kissing the top of my head. “And…I love you too.”

I look up at him with wide eyes. “You do?”

“Without a doubt,” he reassures me. “Honestly, I’m surprised it came from you first.”

A small laugh escapes me, my cheeks feeling warm. “Well, it felt right. It feels right.”

His arms slowly release me, and I slip my hand back in his, leading him to my door. As I reach for my keys, I notice that the handle is sitting slightly ajar. Did my mother try to break it? That’s low, even for her.

I push on the door and it creaks open. This time, I’m unable to suppress my tears. Everything is in ruin, the furniture destroyed, tipped over and broken. I’m sure I locked my door yesterday before work. This can’t be my mother’s doing; she was waiting in the hallway.

“Well, um…” I sniffle, dropping his hand and wiping my eyes. “This is not how it usually looks.”

As I scan the room, I walk through the mess, looking for anything salvageable. My clothes are fine, strewn about my room as if they were rummaged through. My bedside tables are emptied clean, just garbage and knickknacks lying about. Anything I had that was worth something is gone.

“I’ll call the police,” Emris says from behind me, his tone cool and collected.

I shake my head. “Don’t bother. This is a high-crime neighborhood; it happens all the time. They won’t be able to do anything. I’ve just got to, um, clean up and start over.”

Looking over my shoulder at him, his finger hovers above his phone. His eyes are soft, while his jaw is hardened, his brows furrowed.

I give him a thin-lipped smile, one I’m sure isn’t very convincing.

“Why don’t you come stay with me?” he offers, putting his phone in his pocket.

I blink at him. “What?”

“I know it’s quick, but why not? Instead of seeing this as another hardship to overcome, let’s look at it as a sign to move on. Move forward. Together.” He gives me a sheepish grin, seeming nervous for the first time since I’ve met him. “My place has plenty of room, and you can change it however you like.”

This is crazy, isn’t it? Moving in with a man I’ve only met recently. A man who I’ve had one real date with. But he’s the man I am in love with, and who loves me.

Everything about this crazy, yet, somehow, it feels right, just like how my hand feels in his, like how our bodies melt together perfectly. He is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Why shouldn’t that start right now?

“Are you sure?” I give him the opportunity to change his mind. “This isn’t out of pity, is it? I don’t want a handout.”

He shakes his head, stepping toward me. “Absolutely, I’m sure. And I would never pity a woman like you. You are strong, stronger than any person or monster I’ve met before.”

“I don’t know if I can afford the rent at a place like yours,” I joke, wiping the remaining tears from my eyes.

“Who said anything about rent?” He scoffs, cupping my face with his hands.

Shaking my head, I say what needs to be said. “I can’t live there for free.”

He stares at me, his eyes searching my face.

There’s no way I can accept such a gracious offer from him for free, even though this is quite literally what I told him I wanted originally—everything, at no cost. I never thought I’d actually be presented with the offer, and now that I am, it feels wrong to accept it.

“I have an idea, but you’ll have to trust me.” He sounds sure, his eyes glistening with excitement.

I nod because I do trust him, but I can’t help but be curious. “What is the idea?”