little over thirty hours.”
Valerie grinned. “I’m in med-school, so I’ve smelled worse.”
“I’m sure,” I said and took my leave, scooping up my duffel bag on the way.
The heat of the shower lulled me into an exhausted trance, so much so that the ritual of showering went by without my knowledge and when I looked down at my hands, the shrivel lines of being in water too long creased my fingertips. I turned the water off and wrapped myself in an oversized towel.
Valerie had left the bedroom and I was grateful. I needed sleep, the down comforter and fluffy pillows were more than inviting. I crawled under the warm blankets and was out before my head hit the soft cotton.
Chapter Twenty-One - Damian
The garage wasn’t exactly warm, but it was miles beyond the frigid slap the box of the moving van contained.
I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders before resuming the web design I was already late delivering. My client wasn’t happy with the delay, but when I explained we ’d moved across country and had run into complications that I hadn’t foreseen, they graciously gave me a couple of days more.
My fingers flew over the keyboard and I concentrated on the code string I was creating instead of the flurry of information I had obtained over the last two days. It was easier to drown in work instead of dwell on the possible scenarios for the future. All of them bleak and lonely.
My hands curled into fists and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath and shifting my weight, forcing the thought brigade back.
“If you want this thing done by sunset,” I muttered, reminding myself again of the self -imposed deadline I set.
I opened my eyes and the creak of a door caught my attention.
“Hey,” Valerie said when she stepped out of the house.
“Hey,” I replied and looked behind her at the empty space. “Where’s Naomi?”
“Crashed,” she said and crossed the distance, hopping up onto the tailgate before settling down on the end of the truck bed. “Are you okay?”
This conversation was going to take longer than normal and I sighed, glancing down at my screen. I saved my work and put the computer aside, still trying to figure out what to say to Valerie’s question.
“Not entirely,” I said, opting not to bullshit her. She always could read through it anyway and I could see from the pity written in her expression that Naomi must have done some talking before sleep tackled her.
She just stared at me, waiting for me to continue.
“What do you want me to say?” I asked after a few minutes of silence.
“I don’t know.” She shifted so her back was against the tire -well. “Maybe you should start at the beginning?”
I narrowed my eyes and bit the inside of my lip against a snide remark. Valerie wasn’t the enemy and I couldn’t aim my anger in her direction. “What exactly do you know about me?”
Her smile accompanied a challenge in her eyes. “Everything.” She crossed her arms to punctuate her meaning.
“Bullshit,” I called her bluff. It had been ages since I’d had a mental spar with Valerie and I believe the last time she had just turned sixteen and we had a debate about cars. And the girl won.
“Son of Gabriel. Protector to my bloodline. The only vampire who can shape shift and the only one who looks like a normal human, even though you’re older than dirt.”
I felt the snort of laughter burn my nose. “Sweetie, knowing my history and knowing me are worlds apart,” I returned. “And dirt was around before I was born.”
All humor faded from her features. “I know you love Naomi and not being able to touch her is slowly killing you.”
I started to speak and paused, closing my mouth because she was right.
“I’ve seen th is recklessness in you before,” she said and I cocked my head. Before I could ask, she continued, “A couple of nights before all hell broke loose here. I saw you stalk out of the house and the expression on your face is the same one
Valerie grinned. “I’m in med-school, so I’ve smelled worse.”
“I’m sure,” I said and took my leave, scooping up my duffel bag on the way.
The heat of the shower lulled me into an exhausted trance, so much so that the ritual of showering went by without my knowledge and when I looked down at my hands, the shrivel lines of being in water too long creased my fingertips. I turned the water off and wrapped myself in an oversized towel.
Valerie had left the bedroom and I was grateful. I needed sleep, the down comforter and fluffy pillows were more than inviting. I crawled under the warm blankets and was out before my head hit the soft cotton.
Chapter Twenty-One - Damian
The garage wasn’t exactly warm, but it was miles beyond the frigid slap the box of the moving van contained.
I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders before resuming the web design I was already late delivering. My client wasn’t happy with the delay, but when I explained we ’d moved across country and had run into complications that I hadn’t foreseen, they graciously gave me a couple of days more.
My fingers flew over the keyboard and I concentrated on the code string I was creating instead of the flurry of information I had obtained over the last two days. It was easier to drown in work instead of dwell on the possible scenarios for the future. All of them bleak and lonely.
My hands curled into fists and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath and shifting my weight, forcing the thought brigade back.
“If you want this thing done by sunset,” I muttered, reminding myself again of the self -imposed deadline I set.
I opened my eyes and the creak of a door caught my attention.
“Hey,” Valerie said when she stepped out of the house.
“Hey,” I replied and looked behind her at the empty space. “Where’s Naomi?”
“Crashed,” she said and crossed the distance, hopping up onto the tailgate before settling down on the end of the truck bed. “Are you okay?”
This conversation was going to take longer than normal and I sighed, glancing down at my screen. I saved my work and put the computer aside, still trying to figure out what to say to Valerie’s question.
“Not entirely,” I said, opting not to bullshit her. She always could read through it anyway and I could see from the pity written in her expression that Naomi must have done some talking before sleep tackled her.
She just stared at me, waiting for me to continue.
“What do you want me to say?” I asked after a few minutes of silence.
“I don’t know.” She shifted so her back was against the tire -well. “Maybe you should start at the beginning?”
I narrowed my eyes and bit the inside of my lip against a snide remark. Valerie wasn’t the enemy and I couldn’t aim my anger in her direction. “What exactly do you know about me?”
Her smile accompanied a challenge in her eyes. “Everything.” She crossed her arms to punctuate her meaning.
“Bullshit,” I called her bluff. It had been ages since I’d had a mental spar with Valerie and I believe the last time she had just turned sixteen and we had a debate about cars. And the girl won.
“Son of Gabriel. Protector to my bloodline. The only vampire who can shape shift and the only one who looks like a normal human, even though you’re older than dirt.”
I felt the snort of laughter burn my nose. “Sweetie, knowing my history and knowing me are worlds apart,” I returned. “And dirt was around before I was born.”
All humor faded from her features. “I know you love Naomi and not being able to touch her is slowly killing you.”
I started to speak and paused, closing my mouth because she was right.
“I’ve seen th is recklessness in you before,” she said and I cocked my head. Before I could ask, she continued, “A couple of nights before all hell broke loose here. I saw you stalk out of the house and the expression on your face is the same one
Similar Books
