his words. The reminder that Lex had found it easy to walk away from me wasn’t pleasant. Finn’s eyes returned to mine and he looked at me as though he were searching for something in my face.
“I’m sorry, Ivie,” he said softly.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”
One corner of his mouth kicked up. “I’m sure,” he murmured.
His hands caressed the bare skin of my shoulders, causing me to shiver slightly, before he released me.
“Now, I’m sorry to ask this of you, but Conner and I need a few moments to speak. Could you excuse us?”
I nodded and glanced at Conner, forcing my eyes on his face. He might be a gorgeous hunk of man meat, but he was also my best friend’s fiancé. It wouldn’t be right to ogle him.
“How about I make some coffee?” I asked.
He smiled tightly at me. “Make it tea and that would be perfect.”
Though Conner was Scottish, I rarely saw him drink tea. Still, I didn’t even bat an eye at his request. I headed into the kitchen and filled the kettle on the stove. While I waited for the water to boil, I got down a teapot and filled it with hot water from the tap to warm it. Then I spooned loose tea into a large mesh tea ball. As the kettle began to whistle, I removed it from the heat before I poured the hot water out of the teapot into the sink.
Focusing on my task rather than the possible reasons for Finn’s late night visit, I placed the tea ball in the pot and poured the hot water over it. After a few minutes of searching, I found a tray. I heard the kitchen door open behind me and glanced over my shoulder.
Donna was standing in the doorway, looking mussed and a little sleepy, but also worried.
“Here, let me help,” she said.
She grabbed four cups, the sugar bowl, and poured some milk into a little pitcher. We placed it all on the tray. I let her carry it into the study because I didn’t trust myself not to drop the entire thing on the floor.
When we entered the study, Conner was seated behind his desk, looking grim. Finn was sprawled on the sofa near the fireplace, one arm stretched along the back and his legs straight in front of him, crossed at the ankle. Donna placed the tray on the desk and started pouring tea. She added sugar and milk to one and handed it to me. I thanked her and decided to sit next to Finn on the couch. Mostly, because his appreciative eyes were making me a little uncomfortable and there was a blanket tossed over the back of the sofa.
As Donna poured the rest of the tea and gave Conner and Finn theirs, I put my cup down on the table next to the couch and grabbed the throw. I sat on the cushion, pulled my legs up to sit cross-legged, and draped the soft chenille around me. After I grabbed my cup and took a sip, I glanced around. Conner was contemplating his tea while Donna stood next to him, running a comforting hand over his shoulder. Finn was smiling slightly as he looked at me, as though he understood that he unsettled me and thought it was funny that I felt the need to cover up.
His astuteness and subsequent amusement made me feel a little foolish for rushing to wrap myself up like a mummy. Rather than show my embarrassment, I gave him a bland look and continued to drink my tea. His little smile widened into a shit-eating grin, but he said nothing.
Finally, Donna broke the silence. “Okay, I hate to interrupt this wonderful awkward moment we have going, but will someone please explain to me what’s happening?” She looked at Finn. “I enjoy your company, Finn, but you typically don’t show up here in the middle of the night without calling first.”
Finn put his cup on the side table without taking a sip. “I have some news. Important news.”
Donna and Conner both came to attention. I focused on keeping my hands steady as tension filled the room.
I watched Finn straighten, his face serious. “There is a new group forming among vampires. They’re calling themselves The Faction.”
I wanted to snort at
“I’m sorry, Ivie,” he said softly.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”
One corner of his mouth kicked up. “I’m sure,” he murmured.
His hands caressed the bare skin of my shoulders, causing me to shiver slightly, before he released me.
“Now, I’m sorry to ask this of you, but Conner and I need a few moments to speak. Could you excuse us?”
I nodded and glanced at Conner, forcing my eyes on his face. He might be a gorgeous hunk of man meat, but he was also my best friend’s fiancé. It wouldn’t be right to ogle him.
“How about I make some coffee?” I asked.
He smiled tightly at me. “Make it tea and that would be perfect.”
Though Conner was Scottish, I rarely saw him drink tea. Still, I didn’t even bat an eye at his request. I headed into the kitchen and filled the kettle on the stove. While I waited for the water to boil, I got down a teapot and filled it with hot water from the tap to warm it. Then I spooned loose tea into a large mesh tea ball. As the kettle began to whistle, I removed it from the heat before I poured the hot water out of the teapot into the sink.
Focusing on my task rather than the possible reasons for Finn’s late night visit, I placed the tea ball in the pot and poured the hot water over it. After a few minutes of searching, I found a tray. I heard the kitchen door open behind me and glanced over my shoulder.
Donna was standing in the doorway, looking mussed and a little sleepy, but also worried.
“Here, let me help,” she said.
She grabbed four cups, the sugar bowl, and poured some milk into a little pitcher. We placed it all on the tray. I let her carry it into the study because I didn’t trust myself not to drop the entire thing on the floor.
When we entered the study, Conner was seated behind his desk, looking grim. Finn was sprawled on the sofa near the fireplace, one arm stretched along the back and his legs straight in front of him, crossed at the ankle. Donna placed the tray on the desk and started pouring tea. She added sugar and milk to one and handed it to me. I thanked her and decided to sit next to Finn on the couch. Mostly, because his appreciative eyes were making me a little uncomfortable and there was a blanket tossed over the back of the sofa.
As Donna poured the rest of the tea and gave Conner and Finn theirs, I put my cup down on the table next to the couch and grabbed the throw. I sat on the cushion, pulled my legs up to sit cross-legged, and draped the soft chenille around me. After I grabbed my cup and took a sip, I glanced around. Conner was contemplating his tea while Donna stood next to him, running a comforting hand over his shoulder. Finn was smiling slightly as he looked at me, as though he understood that he unsettled me and thought it was funny that I felt the need to cover up.
His astuteness and subsequent amusement made me feel a little foolish for rushing to wrap myself up like a mummy. Rather than show my embarrassment, I gave him a bland look and continued to drink my tea. His little smile widened into a shit-eating grin, but he said nothing.
Finally, Donna broke the silence. “Okay, I hate to interrupt this wonderful awkward moment we have going, but will someone please explain to me what’s happening?” She looked at Finn. “I enjoy your company, Finn, but you typically don’t show up here in the middle of the night without calling first.”
Finn put his cup on the side table without taking a sip. “I have some news. Important news.”
Donna and Conner both came to attention. I focused on keeping my hands steady as tension filled the room.
I watched Finn straighten, his face serious. “There is a new group forming among vampires. They’re calling themselves The Faction.”
I wanted to snort at
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