I found myself highly interested in my shoes. Julian had rough edges, but there was an unexpected softness to his words. “I still want to.”
“Want to what?” he asked.
“You know.”
“Thea,” he said, sounding exasperated, “if you can’t say it, you shouldn’t do it.”
Was he turning me down? I felt my lower lip quiver, and I bit down to stop it. None of this was going like I’d expected it to go. I had always assumed I would meet a nice guy and fall in love, or, at least, just get drunk and get it over with. I never expected to find myself arguing over whether I was ready. I was so annoyed that I found myself actually reconsidering. It wasn’t like I’d pictured finally sleeping with a guy while my roommates slept across the hall. But still, the rejection stung.
“I shouldn’t have told you,” I murmured to myself.
“I’m glad you did. You saved us both from making a terrible mistake.” His words raked across me like nails on a chalkboard. That’s what he thought? Sleeping with me would have been a mistake?
Tears smarted my eyes, but now they were fueled by anger. “Maybe you should go.”
“I’ve upset you.” He studied me for a moment like a serpent contemplating a butterfly. I couldn’t be more than a fragile, silly creature to this god.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re right,” I said, swallowing back an ache in my throat. “It would have been a mistake.”
His eyes narrowed, and I half expected him to strike. “You misunderstand me.”
“Oh, I understand you.” I planted my hands on my hips. It was hardly an intimidating move considering he had a good foot and a half on me.
“It’s more complicated than you realize,” he said, his mouth twitching as if he wanted to laugh.
Just what I needed, more half-truths and mysterious insinuations. The longer we stood there, the more adrenaline drained from my body. In its absence, all I felt was bone-deep exhaustion. It had been a very long day. “Look, I have class tomorrow.”
“Class?” he asked.
“I’m about to graduate from Lassiter,” I said. Why was I telling him this? He didn’t care. Also, had I really almost had sex with a vampire who knew virtually nothing about me?
“Music?”
I nodded, a pang hitting me as I thought of my cello. Then a terrible realization struck. My cello was unplayable, which meant I would miss my audition for the Reed Fellowship. I stumbled a few steps and dropped onto my bed. “Look, just leave. I worked all day, and I have to be up in a few hours. Thanks for getting me home and feeding me.”
“It was the least I could do, considering,” he said slowly. “Is something wrong? You seem quiet. I hope I didn’t offend you.”
“It’s nothing.” I waved off his concern, hoping he would leave soon. “I’m going to miss an audition. I’m sure I can reschedule.”
That was a lie. This wasn’t the type of audition I could simply rearrange. Julian didn’t need to know that. He already felt obligated to me, and look where that had gotten us.
“Thea, I–”
“Please,” I cut him off. “I just want to go to sleep.”
He tilted his head, but he made no move to leave. “Go to dinner with me tomorrow night.”
I sighed. My life wasn’t exciting, but it was busy. It wasn’t as if I could just drop everything to go out with him, especially since I wasn’t sure I wanted to anymore. “I work until late.”
“Another job?” he asked, displeasure rippling through his features.
“Yeah, not all of us have had centuries to invest. Look, you already said this was a mistake. Let’s just leave it there.”
“I fucked up,” he said abruptly. “All night. I’m sorry for that. Let me make it up to you.”
His apology knocked the arguments out of me. I wasn’t sure who Julian Rousseaux really was. Was he the handsome stranger I’d caught staring at me? Or was he the vampire who’d ripped a head off in front of me? Or, maybe, he was the guy who’d demanded I eat something before he delivered me safely home? I couldn’t keep up with him and his constantly shifting moods.
“I don’t know,” I said, at last. “And, honestly, I don’t get off work until after eight.”
“Think about it.” He drew his cellphone out of his pocket. “I assume you have one of these?”
I suppressed a giggle. He really had been asleep for the last couple of decades. “Yeah, I do.”
“How do I call it?” He waved the phone like it was a wand, and its screen lit up.
“Here.” I took his phone and opened his contact list to add my name. Of all the ways I’d imagined tonight would end, adding my number to a vampire’s cell phone hadn’t been on the list. Honestly, I wasn’t sure which one of us was in more danger in this city. I might not have known vampires prowled the streets until today, but he seemed equally lost.
“I don’t know why anyone would want a phone everywhere they went,” he grumbled.
I snorted, unable to contain myself any longer. Julian might look like a gorgeous thirty-year-old, but he definitely acted like an ancient vampire.
“What?” he asked suspiciously.
“Nothing,” I said with a shrug. “You just sound like an old man.”
“And that amuses you?” he said in a flat tone. It was clear he didn’t share my sense of humor regarding the matter.
“It’s just funny to see a big, strong vampire overwhelmed by a phone.” I smiled sweetly in response to his glare. “Still want to take me to dinner?”
