Page 119 of Vampires of Eden

Daniel inhales deeply, then blows it out. “Safe… That is the underlying objective for both of us, isn’t it? Keeping ourselves safe at all costs.”

I blink, confused. “What do you mean?”

“May I clarify some points from my earlier tirade?”

“Sure.”

He pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “First of all, I… I never thought you’d ask me for a formal arrangement—to be your official partner in the eyes of Eden as an aristocracy. That possibility never once crossed my mind, so when you said it, it caught me off guard.”

With my arms comfortably folded again, I listen intently. A formal arrangement makes the most sense to me, but I can see how it wouldn’t to him, given what he’s experienced. A coldhearted purebred who literally manipulated him with her aura and kept him hidden in her room as a shameful secret.

My questions were probably like a shock to his system.

“When I suggested that we could explore each other,” Daniel goes on, “I meant that you could regularly visit the cottage or meet me at Kat and Roland’s, because these are safe spaces for me. I feel deeply for you, Alexander. I want to understand your nature more, within the confines of my ownsafeenvironments. Perhaps the way I phrased it before made it seem like I only wanted ‘secret sex’ with you. That isn’t the case. Also, can we avoid using that phrase going forward. I don’t like it.”

“Understood,” I say, nodding.

“Leoni would obviously know about our relationship,” he explains. “Kat and Roland as well. Eventually, local vampires in the villages too. And that’s fine. Idon’twant to be kept secret. But I also don’t want to be immediately subjected to a hostile environmentbecause I’m with you. Which is exactly what Central would be for me. Does that clarify?”

“It does,” I confirm. “Thank you for explaining your thoughts to me.” Unfolding my arms, I rest my palms against my thighs once more, not knowing where to take the conversation.

“My objective is to be protected from a toxic environment,” Daniel goes on quietly. “And your objective… is to be protected fromme. Because you don’t trust me with your heart. You’re afraid that, inevitably, I’ll break it.”

My throat tightens as I shake my head. “No, I?—”

“Yes,” Daniel says calmly. His pale lilac eyes bore into me. “Deep down, you still believe that I hate you and all purebreds because of what I’ve been through, and my ridiculous outburst in the vineyard only added to that false narrative. You think I’ll turn on you and suddenly change my mind about this, so it’s safer for you to walk away from me now. To keep me at arm’s length as a ‘friend.’” Daniel’s stare is unwavering, as if daring me to challenge him. Daring me to lie to his face and tell him he’s wrong.

I hang my head and massage my chest, a useless attempt to ease the heavy emotion and shame weighted there. “You’re right,” I say quietly. “I don’t… Ineverwant to feel that broken again, but you could do that to me, Daniel. You could do permanent damage and it terrifies me.”

Smoothly, Danny shifts from the trunk and onto his knees in front of me. He wraps his palms around my wrists, sending a warm rush of electricity up my arms, across my shoulders and through my chest. Warming my heart.

“The only way to show you that I won’t hurt you is with time,” he says, looking up at me. “I want to walk this path with you, but I also need time to wrap my head around it. Can we please go slowly? Can you try to trust me, Alexander?”

Daniel’s chest rises and falls as he waits for my response. His grip subtly tightens around my wrists. Every instinct within my body wants this man. Even though it frightens me, my nature is screamingyesto Daniel’s essence and presence. Loudly, as if it willjump out of my body and leave me in protest if I even dare to refuse his offer.

This path is uncertain, but I want to try. I have to. “I trust you. I want to walk this path with you, too. We… we can take our time.”

Danny surprises me when he slowly pushes himself up toward my face. “Good,” he whispers, his breath caressing my lips. He leans and presses a firm kiss to my mouth and it makes my pulse race.

He pulls back, our noses still touching and his eyes are open like slits as he watches me. Waiting, as if he’s posed a silent question. I close my eyes and lift my chin to meet his mouth in reply. Danny parts his lips and the kiss is languid this time—much different from the way he kissed me earlier in the vineyard.

He dips his tongue inside and the kiss is slow, sensual and calculated. Something dangerous that threatens to sweep me away entirely.

Gently, I pull back from his mouth to catch my breath because I’m overwhelmed by the intense cloud of him. Like lightning, black cherries and autumn woodsmoke on my tongue and flooding my every sense. My eyes are alighted, my cock is hard and my pulse beats wildly all over my body.

Daniel rests his forehead against mine, looking down at me with a pleased expression. “I want to keep kissing you,” he says, his voice low. “I don’t want to be your friend. I can’t just be your friend anymore.”

Still breathing, I focus on stifling my nature because his affections and tone are slowly triggering a blazing inferno inside of me.

He dips and kisses my mouth once more, a quick and sweet touch to my lips before he stands straight. “Will you please have lunch with me now? Are we both finished pouting and communicating poorly?”

I snort, grinning. “I think so. Yes, I’ll have lunch with you.” He steps back as I push myself out of the chair.

When we’re standing face to face, he slips his hand into mine. “You’re suppressing your nature right now, aren’t you?”

“Not suppressing—just nature management. I’m managing.”

He stills, taking me in before pulling me toward the door. “It’s okay. We’ll go slowly. You don’t have to be afraid and you’ll see how good we can be. You can trust me.”