Page 9 of Mutual Obsessions

Over the years, we’ve amassed a fortune in many different parts of the world because we couldn’t stay in one place for too long lest humans begin to question our lack of aging over time. I wouldn’t say I’d done any of it for myself, not even the restaurant.

“No. I’ve worked many odd jobs over the years, but I can’t say any of them were my passion projects. How about you? If you could choose what you want to do, what would it be?”

Ryker stared into his beer glass, lost in thought. I hoped my question hadn’t been too intrusive. “You don’t have to answer me. I just think about what I’d want to do if I could do anything. Maybe it’s just my bored mind wandering. Ignore me.”

Ryker finished his beer and turned to me with a smile. “I’d like to be the director of a nonprofit that helps families. I didn’t grow up with one—I was in the foster system, and many of the foster families had ulterior motives for taking me in. Most of it was the money, and they made no bones about making sure I knew I was a burden.”

His words touched me deeply. My coven was made up of members who weren’t related prior to meeting Killian. We’d all been changed by Killian, and not for the right reasons, but we supported each other and walked the eternal path together. I was grateful for them, and my dead heart was pained for Ryker.

“I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what’s wrong with some people. I’m unable to father children. That’s a gift I’ll never be blessed with. It’s a shame people take it for granted.”

I stood from my stool and walked around the bar to pull him another beer. He’s making me even more thirsty. Don’t you want a taste, Etienne? Do I need to remind you that you’re a vampire? I rolled my eyes at the beast.

I grabbed the near-empty bottle of cabernet and took it with me to make it appear as though I were drinking from him—with him. My mind was playing tricks on me.

“That’s very true. If I met a fairy or a genie and they could give me three wishes, I’d wish for money, which usually isn’t allowed in most of the fairytales I’ve read. I’d make sure struggling families had resources so their children didn’t go to sleep hungry at night or cold in the winter. I’d ensure kids had access to green spaces outside the city where they could just enjoy themselves and not worry about being harmed in ways I don’t want to consider.”

Ryker took the glass I set in front of him. “Thank you. I’m sorry to bend your ear about this crap. Just the ramblings of a man facing a mountain of student loan debt.”

After taking a drink, he turned to me. “So, tell me about yourself. Have you always lived here in New Orleans? Do you live in The Quarter?”

“I, uh, live on the third floor. My family and I live upstairs. We sort of stick together.” It wasn’t a lie.

Just a taste. Let’s just get a taste. It won’t hurt him.

“That’s nice, I guess. Don’t you wish you had your own space? I can’t wait to get out of the house where I live with six other people. It’s a constant struggle for privacy.” His beautiful eyes showed the longing in his soul for something more than what he currently had.

“There are many things worse than a lack of privacy. Loneliness and loss can destroy a soul.” I remembered when I left the coven when I was younger. Being unable to form relationships outside of my family because of the beast had made the time unbearably lonely, and losing Farrah… I never wanted to go through any of that again.

“You sound like a man who knows of what he speaks. Did you have a restless period?” Ryker’s smirk was sexy, my desire spiking.

“I did when I was younger. My, uh, my father was the head of our family. He suffered from mental illnesses that made him hard to live with, so I would leave for months” —decades— “at a time until I realized that by leaving my siblings alone with him, I wasn’t protecting them. Finally, I decided the only way to keep my family safe was to get them away from Father.” I wasn’t telling the full story, but it was more than I’d ever told another human.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know my family well enough to know if that was in my future. I admire you for protecting your brothers and sisters. I’m sure sacrifices were made to achieve your goal, Etienne.”

Ryker studied me for a long moment before he leaned forward and brushed his soft, warm lips over mine. It sent a jolt through my body unlike anything I’d known.

Give us one taste. Just a small sip, you selfish asshole.

I pulled away and slid my stool back far enough that I couldn’t reach him. He was beautiful and my soul longed for him, but the beast would only do him harm. It was time to stop playing with fire.

Chapter Six

Ryker

Etienne pulled away from me, and my body flamed with embarrassment. Had I read him wrong? Wasn’t he interested in me? God, had it been so long since I’d had sex that I was seeing signals that weren’t really there?

I glanced at my watch. “Wow, I didn’t realize it was so late. I really need to go. I’ve gotta work tomorrow. Thanks for the beers. I’m sorry if I jumped to the wrong conclusions about you. I didn’t mean to offend you. I, uh, good night.”

I stood from the stool and gave Etienne a nod before I headed toward the door. I unlocked it and rushed to the street. I’d gone home to change into jeans and running shoes while waiting for the bar to close. Clearly, I’d made a mistake by coming back.

I went to bed when I arrived at the house on Dauphine and stared at the ceiling until the alarm on my phone blared. I quickly shut it off and went to shower.

The previous night’s activities—after I got to the bar—circled my brain as I washed myself. How had I been so wrong? I’d thought Etienne had been into me from the minute we looked into each other’s eyes as we stood at the host stand by the door. I’d thought he was into me when he saw me running by The House of Tremblay the first time we saw each other. What the fuck was wrong with me?

I quickly dressed in khakis and a short-sleeved polo. I slid my feet into sneakers since I was sure I’d be at the firm alone and grabbed my messenger bag. I needed a walk, and it was only eighty-degrees, so the early morning was a good time to do it.

The sky was a light lilac as I set a brisk pace. I planned to stop by Mother’s just a few blocks away from my building in the Warehouse District to pick up a ham and cheese biscuit and coffee. I hoped by the time I got there I’d have my head on straight, but the memory of Etienne’s beautiful eyes kept appearing behind my eyelids when I blinked, and I wasn’t sure what to do about it.

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