I’m running late, wait for me.’ This was an order—much like a parent talking to a small child, and his words made me feel all warm inside.
‘Okay. I’ll wait for you—no matter what.’ I made a face, kind of a pout, but underneath I was thrilled.
He shook his head, a smile just touching his lips. Then he leaned sideways, and putting his hand behind my head he pulled me toward him, and kissed my forehead.
‘Good night, sweet Lili. Enjoy your evening, and give my regards to Debs and Ian. I will see you Wednesday, at five, if not before.’
I didn’t know how I could wait that long. Every particle of my being screamed out, wanting to be close to him. I wondered if I was falling in love … if this is what it felt like. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this way with David. This was something much, much more. Or was it simply because he was a vampire? Was this some spell he’d cast on me? Could vampires even cast spells?
I watched him drive off until I could no longer distinguish his car from the others. Then I remembered to breathe again, and went inside.
~ C HAPTER N INE ~
I could hardly believe it when I spotted him. He was here to meet me, just as he’d said.
‘You make a lovely witch, Lili,’ he said, his voice low and soothing.
‘Were you watching us?’ I asked, embarrassed.
‘Just for a few minutes—the kids seem quite taken with you. I think it’s this beautiful hair of yours,’ he said, stroking my hair softly. The sensation was electrifying.
I smiled, and couldn’t resist the temptation to poke him in the side but he was quick, reaching down and grabbing both my hands before I had a chance to get them close to him. ‘Behave yourself, Lili. The kids may still be watching you,’ he laughed.
I looked around, but we were alone. ‘I’ll cast a spell on you if you don’t release me right now,’ I said in the best witch voice I could muster up.
‘You already have, Lili. That’s my problem.’
I looked into his eyes, expecting to find him laughing at me, but he seemed serious. My heart fluttered.
‘Let’s go,’ he said, releasing my hands, and placing one of his in the small of my back.
We walked along in silence, occasionally bumping up against one another. As we passed his house, I looked toward his front door longingly, wishing he’d invite me in. He must have picked up on my feelings, as he stopped, and turned to face me.
‘I’ve got an idea. How about we have a games night, you know, with Debs and Ian? We can play cards or a board game if you prefer. Do you think that would work? I don’t want them to think I’m avoiding them.’
‘Sure—Debs likes cards, and Ian will go along with anything she asks. I’ll mention it tonight. When were you thinking?’
‘Whatever suits them, I guess. But make it after dinner …’
He reached over and took my hand and we continued walking. It didn’t matter that we didn’t speak; I was content just being in his company.
When we got to the apartment lobby there were a lot of people coming and going, so he simply gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and said goodnight. And as much as I wanted so much more, I knew I’d have to be satisfied with that—for now.
~~***~~
On both Thursday and Friday nights, Sam met me at work and walked me home. I was becoming more and more comfortable with our little routine, and ached with the anticipation of seeing him each night.
Saturday morning I knew he’d be busy at the market, but after spending the morning with Debs, I wandered up to the gardens for a run at around three, hoping he’d be on his way home soon after that.
Sure enough, I’d only done two laps when I spotted him making his way up to the top of the hill. He wasn’t far from his tree.
He nodded the moment we made eye contact. I suddenly had this image of me running to him and throwing my arms around his neck—and of course it was in slow motion. I shook my head, called myself an idiot, and walked up to him and simply
‘Okay. I’ll wait for you—no matter what.’ I made a face, kind of a pout, but underneath I was thrilled.
He shook his head, a smile just touching his lips. Then he leaned sideways, and putting his hand behind my head he pulled me toward him, and kissed my forehead.
‘Good night, sweet Lili. Enjoy your evening, and give my regards to Debs and Ian. I will see you Wednesday, at five, if not before.’
I didn’t know how I could wait that long. Every particle of my being screamed out, wanting to be close to him. I wondered if I was falling in love … if this is what it felt like. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this way with David. This was something much, much more. Or was it simply because he was a vampire? Was this some spell he’d cast on me? Could vampires even cast spells?
I watched him drive off until I could no longer distinguish his car from the others. Then I remembered to breathe again, and went inside.
~ C HAPTER N INE ~
I could hardly believe it when I spotted him. He was here to meet me, just as he’d said.
‘You make a lovely witch, Lili,’ he said, his voice low and soothing.
‘Were you watching us?’ I asked, embarrassed.
‘Just for a few minutes—the kids seem quite taken with you. I think it’s this beautiful hair of yours,’ he said, stroking my hair softly. The sensation was electrifying.
I smiled, and couldn’t resist the temptation to poke him in the side but he was quick, reaching down and grabbing both my hands before I had a chance to get them close to him. ‘Behave yourself, Lili. The kids may still be watching you,’ he laughed.
I looked around, but we were alone. ‘I’ll cast a spell on you if you don’t release me right now,’ I said in the best witch voice I could muster up.
‘You already have, Lili. That’s my problem.’
I looked into his eyes, expecting to find him laughing at me, but he seemed serious. My heart fluttered.
‘Let’s go,’ he said, releasing my hands, and placing one of his in the small of my back.
We walked along in silence, occasionally bumping up against one another. As we passed his house, I looked toward his front door longingly, wishing he’d invite me in. He must have picked up on my feelings, as he stopped, and turned to face me.
‘I’ve got an idea. How about we have a games night, you know, with Debs and Ian? We can play cards or a board game if you prefer. Do you think that would work? I don’t want them to think I’m avoiding them.’
‘Sure—Debs likes cards, and Ian will go along with anything she asks. I’ll mention it tonight. When were you thinking?’
‘Whatever suits them, I guess. But make it after dinner …’
He reached over and took my hand and we continued walking. It didn’t matter that we didn’t speak; I was content just being in his company.
When we got to the apartment lobby there were a lot of people coming and going, so he simply gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and said goodnight. And as much as I wanted so much more, I knew I’d have to be satisfied with that—for now.
~~***~~
On both Thursday and Friday nights, Sam met me at work and walked me home. I was becoming more and more comfortable with our little routine, and ached with the anticipation of seeing him each night.
Saturday morning I knew he’d be busy at the market, but after spending the morning with Debs, I wandered up to the gardens for a run at around three, hoping he’d be on his way home soon after that.
Sure enough, I’d only done two laps when I spotted him making his way up to the top of the hill. He wasn’t far from his tree.
He nodded the moment we made eye contact. I suddenly had this image of me running to him and throwing my arms around his neck—and of course it was in slow motion. I shook my head, called myself an idiot, and walked up to him and simply
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