Page 64 of A Vampire Bewitched
“Protect me from what?”
Unobtrusively, he tried to move and found he could, so he quickly closed the distance between them. “From me. From this never-ending life.”
Lifting his hand, he took a soft, reddish blonde curl between his fingers. “I can stand here and make all kinds of excuses for what happened earlier. I can say I was messed up from the fight. Or I can admit I’ve been feeling more mortal every day since tasting you, and I don’t want to die. But, the truth of it is,” He let go of her hair and gently took her lovely face between his hands, so small and fragile in his grip. “I’ve been stupid. I’ve been so stupid. And I only realized it when I watched you drink from me. I really don’t want to be alone anymore. I want to be withyou. Only you, Em. Would you consider staying with me? Please?”
He felt her relax a bit. “I’m notjustattracted to your looks, Nik. Although I would be lying if I said they weren’t part of it.”
Nik leaned down and kissed her on the head, before pulling back to dazzle her with his smile. Or try to, at least. “Well, you’re not so bad yourself you know.”
His smile faded as her cold anger fled and her warmth filled him again. “You make me happy. Just being with you makes me feel more at peace than I can remember being in a long, long time. I’ve never felt this way before with anyone else.”
He memorized every feature on her lovely face. “I’m exhausted from trying to fight this thing with us. Give meaning to my ridiculously long life. Let me make you happy, Em. Let me love you. Let me protect you. I know this is all kind of strange. You’ve only known me for a few days, and I’m asking for a very long forever. And I know a relationship like this is way different than anything you’ve ever wanted or hoped for, but please, let me try.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m being such a raging bitch,” she apologized.
He cracked a grin at her description of herself. “It’s a lot to adjust to in just a few days.”
When long seconds went by without an answer from her, Nik began to squirm. He stepped back and ran his hands through his hair. “Look, just think about it. Okay? Please?”
For once he couldn’t read her expression when she said, “Okay. I’ll think about it.”
Chapter 35
Nik opened his mouth to say more, but then thought better of it. “Okay, then.” He took her small hand gently in his. Turning it over, he placed a kiss on her palm. “Let’s just head back to Aiden. I’m not sure what he thinks he found out here, but I’m not seeing any signs of anyone else other than your monsters.” With obvious reluctance, he dropped her hand again and shrugged. “Their tracks must be what he saw.”
As they started walking again, Emma asked, “Is Aiden okay by himself in that cave? I mean, nothing would find him in there, right? If the others still haven’t showed?”
Nik looked back at her. He’d just been thinking the same thing. They’d been so distracted by everything that was happening between them, and he hadn’t known those things were here, or that they even existed for that matter. Had they left Aiden in danger?
He picked up the pace as they continued on, breaking into a jog as they hurried back, Emma close on his heels.
Emma was sprinting to keep up as he rushed back down the tunnel toward the cavern, a small flashlight in his hand to help her see. About twenty feet from the entrance, he stopped and put his index finger to his mouth. Closing his eyes, he listened as Emma tried—unsuccessfully—to quiet her breathing. It didn’t impede his ability in any way, but he appreciated her efforts.
After a few seconds, he gestured for her to stay behind him and stay quiet as they slowly moved into the cavern. After their last encounter, he wasn’t taking any chances.
A quick glance around assured him they were alone, but just to be safe, he took Emma’s hand and kept her near him. There was no movement. No sound. No one was there.
Aiden was nowhere in the room.
He let go of Emma and did a slow tour of the place, looking for signs of a scuffle. Nothing was disturbed. Aiden’s bag was where he had left it. The fire in the pit had burned down and needed more wood, but the torches were still burning, so he couldn’t have been gone very long.
Lifting his chin, Nik sniffed the air for any unfamiliar scents. Nothing.
He fought down the panic rising within him. Where the hell was Aiden?
Emma sat on one of the large stones near the fire.
“Do you see anything that looks strange?”
She shook her head with a shrug.
“Me either. So, where the hell is he?”
Emma just looked at him without answering. Her worried expression echoed his own concern.
“Maybe he went to feed.” Even as he said it, Nik was unconvinced. Aiden had just fed a couple of nights ago. He shouldn’t need to drink again already.
Not knowing what else to do, he glared into the fire, brow furrowed, hands low on his hips, trying to figure out where that damned Brit could be. He wanted to go look for him, but there was no fucking way he was leaving Emma alone. There was also no way in hell he was bringing her along into another potentially dangerous situation. Much as he loved his best friend, he would wait him out.
