Page 32 of To Kill a Vampire
Gabriel wipes the sweat from his brow as he wanders over to me, pulling my attention from the setting sun. Mud speckles his white shirt, and sweat clings to the front defining the lean muscle tone of his chest. He’s been out here since dawn but doesn’t look ready to quit yet.
“Are you ever not thinking about her?”
I bite back a smirk as I look at my friend. “I think of other things.”
He cocks a doubtful brow at me, his hands resting on his hips.
“Well … sometimes I’m asleep.”
His laughter carries, a chuckling and freeing sound that only Gabriel can make. A few of the mortals stop their training for a few seconds, probably intrigued by what two recently liberated hybrids could possibly have to laugh about.
“If you’re going to walk around with this angst filled, love-struck, worried look on your face, you might as well just leave,” Gabriel tells me, pushing my shoulder gently, his bionic fingers scratching my arm a little.
“That seems like a lot of emotions for me to portray.”
“You’ve always been an emotional mess. Usually it was anger though, not this sappy love stuff … I almost like the love look better on you.”
My eyes narrow on him, a smile tugging at my lips again. “Thanks. I think …”
“You should probably go before I say anything weirder.”
I nod and begin jogging away before he professes his love for me, or worse, hugs me.
Sixteen
Denial
Fallon
The predator that lives inside me comes to life as I watch them train. From several yards away I hide within the trees, the branches almost tangling into my thick hair as I stand with a stillness I wasn’t aware I possessed. The darkness is heavy now, the moon shining beautifully on the hundreds of people who are working so desperately for change.
The distance I keep between us is just enough. The wind doesn’t pull their scent my way; it throws it in the opposite direction, allowing me to find pride in the mortals who were once my people.
We can do this.
I hear soundless footsteps behind me, and I know it’s him even before he presses a light kiss to the side of my neck. Warm hands wrap around my waist, brushing over my hips as he aligns his chest with my back. My breath catches, mostly as a precaution, but also an uncontrollable gasp that he always seems to pull from me.
My eyes flutter closed as he presses soft kisses to my collar bone.
“They’re so dedicated,” I whisper, trying to hold on to the situation at hand even as I shift to grant him more access.
He hums a quiet response before kissing slowly up my neck, his warm tongue flicking across my skin.
“Kenzent told me what you said.”
Finally he stills, his hot breath fanning across my shoulder. A little part of me feels triumphant to have the upper hand again.
I turn slightly in his arms until I’m looking up at him, and his beautiful silver eyes shine down on me.
“They trust us,” he whispers before slowly licking his lips. “But more so, they believe in you. It’s like they’re finding strength in your actions. It’s amazing.” His hand leaves my side and pushes my hair back, tucking it behind my ear.
“I think we can do this,” I tell him with just a hint of uncertainty lacing my words.
“I know we can.”
“Set up a meeting tomorrow night. We need to be ready.”
His dimple appears as he smiles down at me; a look of pride touches his perfect smile. His happiness is his only reply.
