Page 167 of Black Bird

“Well,” Rhaena pulled off her shirt, “I don’t think we could make abiggermess.”

“Ha … you wanna bet?” He raised forward, only enough to come out of his own shirt before reaching around her and unsnapping her bra. She took his face in her hands, claiming his mouth again while he took her straps down her shoulders.

“Challenge accepted.” Rhaena snickered, pressing herself harder against his lap and relishing in the spark that ignited in his eyes.

It seemed so effortless. Being here and pretending that all the bullshit they’d dealt with since they’d first met never happened. He’d talked more since they’d sat down to eat than Sarah could ever remember him doing before. He smiled more, and the tension he always carried around in his shoulders was almost non-existent as they laughed through mouthfuls of food and passed a bottle of whiskey between them, not bothering with a glass. He seemed more human right now than vampire … seemed …happy. The food was amazing. Athan ordered traditional ‘Bangers and Mash’, while Sarah opted for a hearty beef stew, slow cooked with bourbon, and paired with Colcannon. It practically melted in her mouth.

“Let’s order dessert.” He reached over, grabbing a small tabletop menu and looking through it while unfamiliar Irish folk music played over the speakers near the bar.

“Are youtryingto make me puke?” Sarah scoffed, rubbing her belly. “I couldn’t eat another thing if I tried.” Her phone buzzed on the seat of the booth next to her and she glanced down to see Brent’s name pop up. She promptly slid the ignore button.

“Would you just taste something if I ordered it? It’s just been a really long time.” He seemed so eager that her heart ached a little. It was easy to forget sometimes, how old he was and everything he’d been through. She hadn’t seen him eat much more than takeout since he’d been able to consume human food again.

“Yeah, of course.” She warmed at his smile as he peered through all his options like a little kid in a candy shop. Athan was likely the sexiest man she’d ever met, but in this particular moment, it was hard to see him as anything but adorable. “Did you always wanna come here because it feels the most like home?” Sarah narrowed her eyes, pressing the mouth of the bottle to her lips, and taking a swallow. He glanced up at her.

“You could say that, yeah.”

“I’m confused. Aren’t you from Old London?” She slid a cigarette out of her pack, and he reached across the table to light it for her.

“I am. But the environment and the food are really similar. You haven’t truly lived, until you’ve had a proper English breakfast.” He smiled, taking a cigarette between his teeth and cupping his hands around the end before lighting it.

“Will you take me one day?” Sarah blew smoke, nearly choking on it when she saw the blue in his eyes light up when she asked.

“I’d really love that.”

“Do you think—” She paused as her eyes caught her phone light up with Brent’s number again, and she forcefully silenced it, sending him to voicemail. “Do you think it would be painful for you to go back there?”

“No, actually,” he answered, taking a sip from the bottle. “I do miss it. I’d be interested to see how much it’s changed since I left. I’m sure my old house is long since gone by now. It wasn’t really much to begin with when my mother and I lived there.” He flashed an apologetic look toward her. “Sorry, I shouldn’t—”

“Stop. You’re fine. We’re orphans, it is what it is. I kind of like that we have that in common.” Sarah took another hit from her cigarette, smiling. That smile slowly diminished and Athan was quick to notice it.

“What’s wrong, love?”

“I love it when you call me that. You sound so …old-timey.” Her smile came back quicker than she’d expected it to, and he mirrored it.

“Old-timey?” Athan grinned, smoke curling from his nose. “I guess that’s better than ancient.” A low chuckle puffed more smoke from his mouth. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Please do.”

“You gonna tell me what’s on your mind? Or is it something we can’t talk about in public?”

Sarah wished she could have said that it was the inappropriate kind of conversation she was hesitant to talk about, but instead she met his eyes and honed in on the burning sapphires within them.

I have something I need to tell you.

His brows perked up, and he leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table.

Oh? This have anything to do with your conversation with Foster?

Sarah simply nodded … slowly.

I told you somebody took me when I was in Seattle. Foster admitted it was her team. They didn’t inject me with anything, Athan. I was born this way.

Athan shrugged, like he didn’t quite understand the issue.

That’s a good thing, isn’t it?

Sarah took a long drag off her cigarette, and he did the same.

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