Page 78 of Your Coffin or Mine
His hand moves to cup my elbow and we make our way out of the cellar, coming to a stop near the kitchen counter. “I am curious about what it is you do. I haven’t been on social media long, and the simplest solution was to see for myself. George offered his services.”
My jaw falls. “Huh?”
He places his hands on the counter on either side of me and lowers his head to stare into my eyes intently. “Aubrey, I want to date you.”
“Oh, shit.”
What is even happening? I start to say just that before reality kicks in.You just got out of one relationship.But does that make it too soon?
Nausea somersaults in my stomach when he pulls away. “You don’t seem enthused.”
“I just, yeah...” I suck in a deep breath. “It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that I still feel like I’m in limbo with Chad. I don’t want you to feel like you have to fight my battles, and now the internet thinks we are a couple. It feels rushed, you know? Not to mention, I live literally across the world.”
Just say it: I haven’t been totally honest with you, and I’m worried I’m here so I don’t have to focus on how fucked up my life is. I’m in Romania, sleeping with a man I’ve known for one week, despite recently going through a break up. I just really don’t know how to handle all this, but also, if I were going to date anyone, it would be you.Who would say no to him? Shit.
“I don’t care about the internet. I only care about you. Things can go as fast or as slow as you want them to. I am not trying to rush you, but I do want to make my intentions known.” He raises his brows and leans back to shove his hands into his pockets. “I would prefer Chad not have any part in your decision, and it does not matter where you live. If you are mine, where you go, I go.”
My stomach dips, and he turns to rest his backside against the kitchen countertop.
I can practically feel him shutting me out with each second that passes, and panic hits. I start to fidget, twisting my hands together nervously. Oh man, don’t say I’ve hurt his feelings. Why is thissohard?
His eyes narrow on me and his jaw tics. “Is this why you didn’t want to tell me about Chad earlier today?”
My face flushes. “Yeah, I mean...” I shake my head, not knowing what to say. How do you say that you realized you never loved a man that you basically took care of for years?
Relief flows through me when he says, “I am willing to wait.”
Those eyebrows of his wrinkle as he eyes the bottle in my arms. He places it on the counter before taking my palms in his hands and pulling them to his lips, kissing each one.
“Before you start torturing George for his lack of loyalty, are you ready for our dinner?”
Our dinner. We’re practically dating already, and what’s weird is the thought doesn’t make me want to run as much as I imagined it would.
I adore the idea of a night out on a normal date, instead of the ones I’m used to where it’s a farce—nothing more than a simple set up of cameras selling romance to the public.
“I would love to, but, umm, do I need to change?”
“No. You are perfect as you are for where we are going.” He doesn’t even bother looking down at my outfit, a cashmere sweater and jeans he bought, his eyes never leaving mine. He smirks and reaches for the wine bottle, moving it further off to the side.
He chuckles boyishly. “If only she would look at me that way,” he teases, as I gaze at the bottle longingly.
“Ha ha, very funny,” I mock, a smile threatening beneath the surface. “Wherearewe going?”
His brown eyes roll away as he turns. “I’m afraid that part is a surprise.”
My gaze narrows at him as we walk. “I’ve had enough surprises to last me a while, I think.”
He ignores my expression, his lips curving into a slow grin. “I believe, madam, you will continue to be disappointed if surprises are an issue for you.”
A few minutes later, I’m looking at a mountain of food, and Vlad is obviously nervous. It is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. “I have set up sort of a movie theater in a room that overlooks, umm...”
I look around at the tall ceilings and forest-green papered walls, but the most interesting part of the room is the shape of the windows. Massive stone oval windows line the room, and I can just make out a matching railing outside.
“It overlooks where the bats are?” I continue for him.
“Yes, exactly.”
“You called it a refuge, didn’t you? How about the bat cave?”
