Page 192 of Immortal Bastard

Though Delilah was only a young female in the vision, she still had a fire about her. “Bite me, Meghan.”

Christian’s eyes moved to the nameplate on the desk. The woman’s name was in fact Meghan.

The memory shifted to another one. This time in Delilah’s childhood home. “Please!” she begged. “Everyone else is going.”

A wrinkled female Delilah recognized as a maternal figure named Nanna, looked at her and said, “I don’t have fifty dollars for your ticket, Delilah. Maybe if you didn’t dye your hair every color of the rainbow and wear all that black makeup, you could have found a date to treat you. Boys don’t want to date girls who look like you.”

Shame and sharp heartache bit into him. He sifted through her memories, to her experience with the girl named Meghan.

The memory of the bullying blonde returned. “It’s better this way anyway. Prom’s a classy affair. No trash allowed.”

“You’re lucky I don’t steal your date.”

Young Meghan scoffed. “Yeah, right. Joey wouldn’t even look twice at you. No hot guy would. Maybe try the burnouts and losers.”

Christian saw enough. His eyes narrowed on the woman behind the counter. She was nothing particularly special to look at, and now, knowing that she was unkind as well, he found her grotesque.

He glanced at Delilah, who stood oddly silent at his side. It bothered him that this human could trigger his feisty mate into silence.

“Did I ever tell you about the first time I saw you,” he asked softly but kept his words intentionally clear for the other woman to hear. “You were sitting next to that man at the bar. He wanted you. They all did. You were the most beautiful female there.”

The clicking of computer keys slowed as Meghan glanced up from her computer and frowned. He kept his stare on Delilah. “I’ll never forget how your eyes shined when you looked up at me that first time. I knew, in that moment, my heart was gone.”

She looked up at him now, much the same way as she had done then.

“I was enchanted by every part of you.” He traced a finger along the line of her jaw, sliding his hand under her hair, his thumb lightly caressing the soft spot where her pulse raced. I’ve seen many fine things in my life, Delilah, but nothing ever as beautiful as you. You were perfect.”

Her cheeks flushed pink and she smiled up at him. The sorrow that emanated from her moments ago was replaced with great pride and gratitude.

“I needed to have you,” he confessed, leaning closer but keeping his words clear. “The first time I heard your voice, my body literally burned for you. I thought, if I could just make her love me, if I could just teach her to trust me, I would gladly take care of her every need for the rest of my life.” He looked into her eyes, their lips a mere kiss apart. “And now you’re going to be my wife.”

Tears quivered in her eyes. She didn’t look at the other woman. They didn’t need to. Jealousy had an unmistakable sour stench, and Meghan was swimming in it.

“I love you,” Delilah whispered, and he grinned, closing the distance to kiss her. She drew in a fortifying breath and turned to the woman at the counter. “My name’s Delilah, not Morticia. And I didn’t run away or die. I moved on, to get away from prissy little bitches like you.” She glanced up at the water-marked ceiling and the particle board walls. “But it looks like you’re doing great. How about that rental?”

The woman’s expression fell as she dropped her gaze. “We were kids. You know how it is in high school—”

“Not really. You and I had different experiences. I just wanted to peacefully get through my day, and you wanted to make sure that didn’t happen, all while getting banged by half the varsity team. That must have been exhausting for you.”

She scoffed and glanced up at Christian, but Delilah stepped in front of him.

“Don’t look at him. Just get us the keys and whatever paperwork we need to sign. Then you can go back to roasting in this box of an office as you finish your shitty burrito in the back to whatever pathetic soap opera you’re watching while wishing your life had turned out differently.”

He didn’t comment on her language because, in this case, such profanity seemed justified and appropriate.

When he pulled out several hundred dollar bills Meghan gaped. “We don’t accept cash.”

“Cash will be fine,” he said, compelling her to take the money. “Find us keys.”

As soon as they left the stuffy office, Delilah squeaked and bounced by his side. “Holy crap, that was incredible! Did you see how jealous she was? I could literally smell her envy.”

He smiled, glad to see the woman had not upset her for more than a minute or two. “What is prom?”

“It’s a dance. Girls wear pretty gowns and get their hair done, and the guys wear tuxedos. It’s sort of a rite of passage that comes at the end of senior year.”

“You did not attend?”

“No. We were dirt poor and my grandparents couldn’t swing it. I dropped out anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

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