Page 54 of Vampires of Eden

“Just admit it.”

“No.”

“It’ll feel better if you face this.”

“There’s nothing to face.” I can’t possibly be this dumb. With everything I’ve been through, there’s no way my nature is this twisted and masochistic. Maybe I have indigestion or something.

“I’ll grab that last table,” Alexander says, approaching us once more and carrying two folded tables in his grip. “Is there anything else that we need to do?”

“Nope,” Leoni says, taking one from him and sliding it into the van where she’s created space. “We’re all done. I’m going to stay here in town to visit with a friend. Daniel will drive you back to the cottage.”

“Alright, that’s fine.” Alexander stalks off to grab the last table.

Leoni turns to me. “Try inviting him inside again. But this time, do it the normal way. Not ‘for restitution’s sake.’”

“Ugh.” My palm flies up to my face once more from humiliation. “Why did I let you bully me into this? What a disaster.”

“It isn’t, Danny. You told me that talking to him was nice, so just go with the flow. Why don’t you watch one of thosenerdy human shows that you both like on the projector? Have some popcorn and make an afternoon of it. Be friends!”

“I don’t need a friend that’s apurebred princefrom one of the major houses of Eden. The last thing he should be doing is sitting on a couch with me and watching outdated albeit classic pop-culture television shows.” There’s probably a whole mausoleum of his ancestors rocking inside their gilded urns right now at the mere thought.

“But those are just words, cariño. Archaic titles. The reality is that Alexander is sweet—and probably lonely. He’s a good vampire and you two have a lot in common… more than he even realizes. You should tell him.”

“Tell him? Tell who, what?”

I jump when Alexander appears behind me. He blinks, holding the last table and looking back and forth between me and Leoni.

“Are you two talking about me?” he asks.

“No,” I spit with my nose upturned. “News flash, not everything is centered around you.”

Leoni groans in exasperation and walks toward the side door. Alexander shakes his head, grinning.

“You definitely have a switch, too,” he says. “I swear, I never know which Daniel I’m going to get from one moment to the next.”

“Keeps things exciting,” I say, straightening my shoulders to mask my embarrassment. I lift my chin. “Spicy.”

He chuckles, lifting and pushing the table inside of the van. “Spicy is putting it kindly.” The width of his shoulders flexes as he moves and my eyes trail down to his waist and narrow hips. His butt sits high and curves nicely in his jeans, like a well-proportioned bubble atop his long legs.

I bite my bottom lip because my body feels warm all over. Inklings of something I haven’t felt in years.

God. This is terrifying.

This can’t be happening to me.

“You alright, cariño?” Leoni’s voice snaps me out of whatever strange and spellbinding trance I’d fallen under while staring at Alexander’s ass. She eyes me with a knowing smile, as if she can read my mind. Confused, Alexander turns around, blinking and looking at me, too.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I say, but it comes out defensive. Smooth, Daniel. Real smooth. “Are we ready?”

“I’m all set,” Leoni announces with her canvas bag slung over her shoulder. She tosses me the keys to the van. “You two drive safely.”

“We will,” I say, then look at Alexander. “Get in, loser. We’re going for a ride.”

He huffs, amused as he closes the rear doors, then heads to the passenger side. Soon, I’m in the driver’s seat and we’re pulling onto the main road.

The unwelcome sensations quietly churning within my nature have made me silent. Why… What is happening to me? How do I stop this insanity?

Of course Alexander is attractive. Objectively speaking. The rich luster of his bright eyes framed by his heavy lashes and the handsome, sturdy structure of his body are obvious. But those things have absolutely nothing to do with me and my too pale, too weak body. Why am I thinking about this?