Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood 10)

"Oh, of course. I always do. "

As she disappeared around the corner, he watched her go, her limping form carrying an innate dignity that he abruptly felt he hadn't been honoring.

"We have a date, remember?"

Glancing to the right, he shook his head at Lassiter. "Not in the mood. "

"Tough shit. Come on - I've got it all set up. "

"Look, no offense, but I'm not good company now - "

"When are you ever?"

"I really don't - "

"Blah, blah, blah. Shut the fuck up and get your ass in gear. "

As the angel grabbed hold and pulled, Tohr gave up the fight and allowed himself to be dragged up the staircase and down the hall of statues - and out the other side. They went past his room, past the boys' rooms, past Z and Bella and Nalla's suite. Out into the staff quarters. Over to the entrance to the movie theater.

Tohr stopped dead. "If this is another Beaches marathon, I'm going to Bette your ass until you can't sit down. "

"Aw, look at you! Trying to be finny. "

"Seriously, if you have any compassion in you at all, you'll let me go to bed - "

"I have peanut M&M's up there. "

"Not my style. "

"Raisinets. "

"Feh. "

"Sam Adams. "

Tohr narrowed his eyes. "Cold?"

"Downright icy. "

Tohr crossed his arms over his chest and told himself he was not pouting like a five-year-old. "I want Milk Duds. "

"Got 'em. And popcorn. "

With a curse, Tohr yanked open the door and ascended into the dimly lit red cave. The angel made everything seamless once they got up there: Deep-dish ass palaces engaged. Sam Adams with backups on the floor in a bucket with ice. An embarrassing caloric display with, yup, a yellow box of Milk Duds. And the damn popcorn.

They sat down side by side, and kicked up the footrests.

"Tell me this isn't a fifties-era sex-ed film," Tohr muttered.

"Nah. Popcorn?" the angel said as he hit play and offered a bowl. "Extra butter - the good plastic kind, too. Not that bullshit real cow crap. "

"I'm okay right now. "

Up on the screen, some movie studio's intro played along with a bunch of credits. And then there were two old people sitting on a couch. Talking.

Tohr took a pull of his beer. "What the hell is this?"

"When Harry Met Sally. "