Chapter Eleven
“I love him, I love him not . . .” Tessa glanced at the vase of red roses sitting on her desk across from the vase of pink ones. The red ones had arrived first thing in the morning. “My office is beginning to look like a florist shop.” She burst into giggles as she plucked the last petal from the rose in her hand. “I love him.”
She hadn’t been able to stop smiling or stop thinking about Andrei since last night. Her boss, Mr. Ambrose, had cast several curious glances in her direction. Three of her coworkers had asked if she’d won the lottery.
If what she was feeling wasn’t love, Tessa mused, dropping the denuded stem into the wastebasket beside her desk, it was darn close. Even though she knew it was impossible, she would have sworn she could still feel his lips on hers, his arms around her. Still hear his voice murmuring that she was beautiful, desirable.
That he loved her.
Sighing, she refocused her attention on the file in front of her, but her gaze kept straying to the time in the lower corner of her computer screen.
Barely noon. Hours to go until she would see Andrei again.
* * *
Jileen was even more upset than Tessa had expected.
“I can’t believe you let him take you home last night! What is it with you? Have you got a death wish or something?” Jilly added sugar substitute to her iced tea, then stirred it so vigorously it slopped over onto the table.
“I think having him around is the best thing ever,” Tessa said, helping Jilly mop up the mess. “I haven’t been attacked in days. I think word that he’s protecting me is spreading.”
Jileen shook her head. “You’ve lost it, haven’t you?” Leaning forward, she tapped Tessa on the forehead with the end of her spoon. “Come back to the real world, Tess. And if, as you say, he’s keeping the other vampi . . .” She glanced warily around the cafeteria. “. . . keeping the others away, I’m sure it’s only because he wants you all to himself.”
“Jilly, I appreciate your concern, really I do. But I’ve got to see where this thing with Andrei goes. I think I might be in love with him.”
Jilly’s look of horror would have been comical under other circumstances. “You’re in love with him? A man you’ve known for what? Less than a month? A man who just happens to be a . . . you-know-what?” She sighed dramatically. “I give up.”
“I have to trust my instincts,” Tessa said. “And I know I can trust him.”
“It’s your life,” Jilly said. “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
* * *
When Tessa told Andrei about Jileen’s reaction at home later that night, he wasn’t the least bit surprised.
“She’s worried about you. It’s only natural. Think about it. She’s dating a hunter. I’m a vampire. The enemy.”
“She thinks you’re driving the other vampires away because you want me all to yourself.”
“Well,” he drawled, pulling her into his arms, “she’s partially right. I definitely want you all to myself.”
* * *
Jileen’s attitude toward Tessa was several degrees cooler at work the next day. She usually popped into Tessa’s office a couple of times before noon, but not today.
As Tessa left her office, she wondered if Jilly would meet her for lunch.
In the cafeteria, she feared she might have lost her best friend when she didn’t see Jilly at their customary table. Sighing, she went through the line, thinking, yet again, how complicated her life had become since she met Andrei. And how much she’d miss Jilly if they couldn’t mend the rift between them.
She was halfway through her sandwich when Jilly slid into the chair across from her. “Sorry I’m late.”
“I was afraid you weren’t coming.”
“I wasn’t.” Jilly picked up her fork and pushed the salad around on her plate. “But then I decided I wasn’t going to let a man come between us. Even if that man is a . . . you know.”
“I’m glad.”
“Well, it’s not just me. Luke thinks you’re crazy to go out with him too.”
Tessa laughed as the tension between them dissolved.
“Would we be tempting fate if we tried another double date?”
“I think maybe you’re crazy,” Tessa said.
Jilly blew out a heavy sigh. “It’s probably not the best idea I’ve ever had, but . . .”
“Have you talked to Luke about it?”
“Not yet, but I will.”
“Okay. I’ll mention it to Andrei and see what he says.”
* * *
Tessa brought up the subject when Andrei was taking his leave from her place later that night.
He lifted one brow in an expression that was becoming familiar. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Tessa shrugged. “It was just a thought.”
“A surprising one, all things considered. But if it’s what you want, I’m game to try one more time.”
“You mean it?”
“I said it, didn’t I?”
“Where should we go?” Tessa asked.
“I’ll leave that up to you and your friend.”
“Do you have many friends?”
He hesitated a moment before saying, “None still living.”
* * *
Tessa found herself thinking about what Andrei had said while she changed into her pj’s and climbed into bed. None still living. Did vampires make friends? Besides herself, who in their right mind would want to associate with one of the undead?
Assuming vampires made friends, she supposed they sought out others of their own kind. After all, it might be difficult to hang out with someone who was also prey.
She was still turning that over in her mind when her cell phone rang.
It was Jilly. “So, did you talk to Andrei?”
“Yes. He’s willing to try again.”
“Really? I’m surprised he agreed. Not just because of what happened last time, but, you know, it’s just hard to imagine vampires dating.”
“I know.” Tessa plumped the pillow behind her head. “What did Luke say?”
“Well, after what happened on Halloween, he wasn’t too thrilled at the idea of double-dating again.”
“I can understand that,” Tessa said, grinning. “I’m still surprised that you suggested it.”
“Believe me, I’d rather you were going out with anyone else, but that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, Luke said he’d go, if that was what I wanted.”
“Then I guess the big question is, where and when?”
“Dinner and a movie Friday night?” Jilly suggested.
“Okay. See you tomorrow.” Tessa ended the call, switched off the lights, and slid under the covers.
She was thinking about Andrei—when wasn’t she?—when she felt his presence in the room, felt the bed sag as he sat on the edge. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“I was hoping for a good-night kiss.”
“How did you get in?” Sitting up, she turned on the light. “The door was locked.”
He arched one brow in amusement. “A lock? Seriously?”
“Oh, right.” She leaned toward him. “Didn’t you say something about a kiss?”
Desire darkened his eyes as he reached for her, his arm curling around her waist, drawing her up against him. “I’m not crossing the line, am I?” he asked, his voice a low growl.
“Not yet.” She closed her eyes as his mouth covered hers. Heat spread through her like liquid fire, magnifying every touch, pooling deep inside her. His hand stroked up and down her back, delved into the hair at her nape as his tongue teased her lips, then dipped inside to duel with hers. She gasped his name, her hands clutching his shoulders, as the heat within her intensified.
Andrei lifted his head, his eyes dark with passion. And tinged with a faint hint of red.
Tessa stared at him. “Your eyes . . .”
He turned his head away.
“Are you all right?”
“Of course.” He looked back at her, his face impassive.
And the red was gone. “Did I imagine that?”
He didn’t have to ask what she meant. “No. It happens sometimes, when passion fuels my hunger.” He ran his knuckles along her cheek. “I should go. I haven’t fed yet, and you’re far too tempting.”
“I wouldn’t mind letting you have a taste of me.”
“Probably not a good idea at the moment,” he said, rising, “but I’ll be glad to take you up on it tomorrow night.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Murmuring, “Sweet dreams, dragostea mea,” Andrei kissed her on the forehead and then, in a swirl of sparkling, dark gray motes, he vanished from her sight.