Page 21 of The Vampire King's Gift

He was staring with such intentness at Christian that Christian actually pulled back against the couch. His breathing filled his ears so he couldn’t hear anything else. He recognized the outfit David was wearing. The faded jeans and untucked button-down shirt with the mixture of red checks. The sleeves were rolled up to David’s elbows showing off his muscular forearms with the dusting of dark hair. Christian’s gaze followed them down to his hands. For an academic, David’s hands had a well-used look to them. He had often wood-worked in his garage. His fingers showed the nicks, cuts and roughness. It had been erotic to have those hands on his untouched skin.

You thought his hands made him more adult. Different from yours,Balthazar’s voice was suddenly in his head, holding him lightly, keeping him safe.

I did. They were an adult’s hands.

Balthazar’s hand was suddenly covering both of his. His hands were so different from David’s. Not less mature. Just different. Better. Christian laced their fingers together as he stared up at David. He wanted David to see.

I’ve moved on past you. You need to move on past me…

But David stepped closer and Christian’s breath began to frost the air.

“Interesting,” Lisette said. “He’s actually trying to take energy from you in order to more physically appear.”

“The cold? That’s what the cold is all about?” Balthazar asked.

“Yes, you best teach him not to do that, Christian. You’re new as a Vampire and need your strength,” Lisette said.

“How does he make it stop?” Balthazar frowned at the spirit who lingered just a foot away from them now.

Christian was glad that Balthazar had asked. His tongue clove to the roof of his mouth. He couldn’t look away from David’s pleading eyes. Was that what he had looked like that last day as he drove frantically around looking for Christian and couldn’t find him?

“Whoa! Christian! Let’s not–I guess we are standing,” Balthazar said as he stood beside Christian.

“I can look you in the eyes now. I’m as tall as you, David,” Christian found himself saying.

Cold caressed his skin as David tried to touch him.

“You should not let him do that either,” Lisette protested, but softly as if she already knew that he wasn’t listening to her and would do what he wanted.

“How does he stop David exactly?” Balthazar demanded.

“Why are you still here, David?” Christian demanded.

David opened his mouth but there were no words that he could hear.

“Why can’t you leave mealone?” Christian’s free hand that was clutching Balthazar’s clenched into a fist.

David tried to touch him again. Christian lurched backwards.

“Why do you still think you haveanyright to be near me?” His voice rose. It never rose. But he was shouting.

David tried to cup his face..

And this time, instead of pulling away, Christian actually pushed David away with one hand flat against his chest. There was an electric zing the moment he touched David’s body and the ghost flew backwards. There was a shocked hiss from the Kalys. Lisette’s eyes were wide and her mouth went from an “O” to a grin.

“You can touch them. Actually touch them,” she breathed. “Amazing. I cannot wait to see what other things you can do!”

“Demonstration is over,” Balthazar growled. “Lisette, how does he put the genie back in the bottle?”

Christian was staring down at his hands. He could stillfeelDavid on his palms. He looked up. David was starting to back away. He was going to hide so he wouldn’t be imprisoned. There was still that pleading look on David’s face.

But no explanation. No apologies. Just this insane need to be near me no matter what. Oh, David, I have tried not to hate you, but you are giving me very little choice...

“Lisette, he’s getting away,” Balthazar’s voice was tight.

David was retreating to the corner of the room. He had started to disappear from view.

“Yes, yes, now, Christian, you need to take more blood and intend--”

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