Page 84 of My Big Fat Vampire Wedding
“Didn’t want to scare her off by letting her meet you,” Victor said, eyes dancing as his hand went to Pandora’s lower back, guiding her toward the hall.
“I’ll put my headphones on. Won’t hear a thing.”
If Pandora could blush, she would be crimson right then. Victor simply ignored him, though, as he led her to the last room in the hallway, right past the center bathroom that was remarkably clean, considering how many guys lived there.
“This is me,” Victor said, opening the door to his bedroom and stepping inside.
It was a small space dominated by an extra-long twin-sized bed and the antique writing desk butted up underthe window, which served not only as the work station but also the nightstand.
Instead of a headboard, there was a row of shelves overflowing with dozens of books. Across from the bed itself, there was a telly mounted on the wall beside the wardrobe.
Otherwise, the space was neat. His backpack was hung on the door. His desk was organized. His bed was made.
Clearly, he was on a limited income but he was making the best of it.
Though, in her opinion, the whole space would feel a lot more alive and cozier if he had some hanging plants in front of the window.
“Is everything all right?” Victor asked once they were behind a closed door.
“What? Oh, yeah, fine. I just wanted to pop by. I, um, have something to give you,” Pandora said, suddenly kicking herself for not concocting a convincing story on her way to his flat.
“To give me?” he asked, pulling the chair out from his desk and turning it to sit.
“Yeah, it’s … it’s kind of a family heirloom,” she told him, proud of her quick thinking. “I was hoping you could start wearing it. You know, like, daily? That way, if we happen to see my family, they will see it. And it might …”
“Help sell how serious this is,” he said, making Pandora’s shoulders relax slightly.
“Yes, exactly.”
“What is it? Some kind of jewelry?”
“Yeah, it’s a pendant,” she said, reaching in her purseto produce the chain. “It’s not too crazy. You know, given my family’s sort of eccentric taste.” She let the pendant fall into view.
“Yeah, that’s not bad at all,” he said, reaching for it.
“Here,” she said, snatching it back. “I’ll put it on for you.” She wedged herself into the small space behind the chair, then opened the chain to slide it on for him. “There.” She caught herself starting to rest her hand on his shoulder, then pulled away. “Just make sure you always have it on, OK?” she asked as she sat on the edge of the bed.
Victor looked puzzled at that but he nodded. “OK. I don’t have to worry about damaging it?”
“No. It’s pretty well-crafted,” she said.
The silence stretched long enough to get uncomfortable. “How have things been at home?” he asked. “I still can’t believe I got so drunk so fast,” he added, looking embarrassed.
“My family’s wine can be kind of potent,” Pandora said, feeling guilty about his embarrassment. And the fact that her cousin had taken advantage of his mind. “No one noticed.” Since, by the time he’d got back to the table, he’d been pretty much back to normal. “We’ll just water it down next time or something.”
“Yeah, I …” A litany of curses came crashing through the walls from the living room. “Sounds like he switched from rugby to video games,” he said. “Want to go for a walk? Get some air?”
Pandora knew her mind was going to go into an inappropriate place if they stayed in his room. With a bed in it. That she would love more than anything to pull himdown on, claim his lips with hers, feel his hands sliding down her …
“Yes,” she said, popping up at the same time that Victor did, making both of them collide in the tiny space, his whole front brushing against hers.
The electricity sizzled across Pandora’s skin as her head tipped up, seeking him, wanting to know if he was as impacted as she was.
But Victor stepped back before she could read his expression, turning his back to her, and made his way to the door.
Having no choice but to shelve her own desire, she followed him out to the living room where Tate was trash-talking someone he was playing in his game.
“That was quick,” Tate said, making Pandora’s eyes go round. “Gotta work on your game, man,” he added, getting a growling sound out of Victor.
