“How can I be so sure?”
Roman adjusts, which I find odd considering he could literally stand for days and never move or flinch. Many vampires work as window models because of their ability to be statues for long periods of time, not to mention their good looks. But Roman, without knowing his age, it makes me wonder if he’s worked hard to blend in or if he’s really kept his humanity over the years.
“Honestly, you can’t be sure. Just as you can’t be sure if a human wouldn’t hurt you. Life is a gamble, Fiona, but I’m an honest man.”
“My friend says you’re not a man, but a monster. An abomination.”
“Created by gods,” he says as he looks away. I feel as if he’s growing uncomfortable. Instead, he turns and looks into my eyes. “Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. I’m asking you to form your own by getting to know me. Spend time with me, Fiona. Learn about who I am and decide for yourself.”
“Okay, but can you do me a favor?”
“Name it.” Roman smiles.
“Kiss me.”
“With pleasure,” he says seconds before his lips press against mine, and his hands gently cup my face. Anyone who says vampires are made of concrete is wrong. Roman’s lips are soft and move fluidly against mine. He parts my lips easily and slides his tongue into my mouth, causing me to moan. His taste is intoxicating, and I need more.
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“Moan,” he says. “I may be a vampire, but my human parts still work the same and feeling you moan does things to me that shouldn’t happen in restaurants.”
I think about laughing, but the idea quickly goes away when he returns to kissing me. This time he doesn’t hesitate to deepen the kiss, and I don’t hold back either, that is until my tongue drags across one of his fangs.
13
Roman
I’m completely fucked. Her kiss is sweeter than anything I’ve tasted in my lifetime. She runs her delicious tongue along my teeth, and comes upon a fang, stopping suddenly and pulling away. She raises her small hand to her lips while examining me.
“Oh!” she exclaims softly, looking surprised, or perhaps even confused.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, hoping the moment hasn’t passed.
“I just.. I didn’t realize…”
“That I had fangs?” I interject with a slight grin. It’s the elephant in the room it seems, so I figure let’s cut to the chase.
“Well, no. I mean, I knew you did. I was just surprised to feel them.” She lowers her eyes to her lap where she’s placed both her hands.
Gently, I rest one hand on hers, and with the other, I lift her chin, so she meets my eyes. “Fiona,” I pause, looking for the right words. “I know that this is new, and perhaps even strange in some ways. Let’s have some dinner, and some polite conversation to go with it, and you may ask me anything you’re even remotely curious about. How does that sound?”
I watch as a sweet, almost bashful smile forms. “I would like that, Roman.” She turns her hands over, so she’s holding mine softly and says, “Thank you for being so patient with me. It’s just all such... undiscovered and new territory for me.”
Now, I feel a grin of my own spread across my face. “There’s no place that I would rather be than right here and now with you Fiona.” She could explore this territory for the next thousand years as far as I’m concerned.
Lydia walks back to our table, smiling as always. Even though it’s perfectly normal that she is married to a friend of mine, what’s not normal is that he will outlive her by hundreds of years. “Roman, Fiona, are you ready to place your order?” She looks to Fiona first.
“Oh, I will have the filet. Rare please.” I can’t help but find this choice funny, and I let out a bit of a chuckle.
“What?” Fiona asks, looking confused and furrowing her
eyebrows at me.
Before I can answer that I’m amused by her choice in raw meat for dinner, Lydia steps in to stop me from acting a fool.
“Honey, he doesn’t even eat. Ignore him. You gotta get some food in your system to keep up with them, believe me.” She winks at Fiona and flashes her giant engagement ring and wedding band at her.