She nodded in the dark. Yes. She knew he would. “Now let me out.”
“Let yourself out.”
Bev laughed. Then busted through the wooden lid like the box was made of paper. On her feet in the next instant, she stared at Cane, who stared back at her. A tentative grin played on his lips.
“You’re okay, then?”
“Okay? No, I’m mad as hell!”
“Bev, you were dying and—”
“Not about that,” she said and smacked him on the arm. A seemingly light touch, but it physically moved him and he winced. “Oh. Stronger than I know. Sorry.”
“Yeah,” he said and rubbed his muscles. “Comes with the territory. You’ll get used to it.”
She inhaled deeply. The dank smell wasn’t the least bit pleasant. A single bulb illuminated the large, brick-walled room in which they stood.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“My basement.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, which was bare, as was the rest of her, she demanded, “Why in the name of all that’s holy did you put me in a coffin?”
“I had to,” he said, looking contrite. And a little tortured. “You were crawling up the walls and clinging to the ceiling. Screaming and hissing and… I figured the cops would show up eventually so I had to put you…away.”
Like some der
anged lunatic in need of being restrained in a padded cell? “That bad?”
He winced. “Let’s just say it was painful to watch.”
She melted instantly. “Oh, Cane.” Falling into his open arms, she said, “I’m so sorry. I know you didn’t want to do this to me.”
“I didn’t want to lose you either. Greed won out.”
“No,” she said as she snuggled close to him, nuzzling his neck, smelling his wonderful, dark, musky, familiar scent. “Love won out.”
“Please tell me you believe that.” His voice was suddenly tight, all traces of teasing vanishing.
And she knew he’d tried to play it light with her in order to gauge her response to becoming a vampire. In order to keep everything on an even keel while he assessed the situation. Made sure she wasn’t a horrible, wretched, evil creature like Amy.
Stepping out of his embrace, she stared up at him. “I heard you. When I was going through the change. I was so lost. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think, but I heard you. Talking me through this. Telling me I’d be the same, that I’d still be the woman I was before. The woman you love.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “You were so tormented, having to do this to me. But, Cane, this is exactly what I wanted. To have my immortality back! So that we can be together. Forever.”
His hands cupped her face. “You still have a lot of adjustment ahead of you. Everything’s different for you, Bev. This isn’t like being an immortal by birthright. You’ll have to get used to some necessities that will be less than pleasant.”
Ah yes. “The blood.”
“For one.”
“And no sunlight.”
“Not direct sunlight.”
“Meaning observe the rays from a dark shadowy corner?” He nodded. She sighed. “Yes, that will definitely take some getting used to. But I can still smell the flowers and the rain at night, so that’s a consolation.”
“You’re not…upset?”
A soft smile touched her lips. “Why would I be? We’re together. That’s all that matters.”