"You two are impossible," he said, but wrapped his free arm around Mal's waist and pressed his lips to her temple. Just as I was visited by a pang of jealousy that tightened my stomach, I heard a car door shut outside.
"Morgan's here," I said, uncrossing my legs and bounding off my stool. I glanced back at both of them and pressed my hands together. "Please, for the love of God, have clothes on when I get back."
I smoothed my hair as I traveled the hallway, then pulled open the front door. He'd parked an SUV in front of the brownstone.
Correction, I thought, as Morgan popped out of the passenger side - Morgan's driver parked the SUV. I guess Morgan preferred to be chauffeured these days.
I stepped outside, hands on my hips as I waited for him on the stoop. He strode toward the house, dressed in jeans and a couple of layered T-shirts, a shamelessly happy grin on his face, a paper sleeve of flowers in his hand.
"Hello, Chicago's newest Master."
Morgan shook his head, grinned. "I come in peace," he said, and bounded up the stairs.
He stood on the step below mine, which put us nearly at eye level. "Hello, beautiful."
I smiled down at him.
"In the interest of detente between our Houses," he said, leaning in and lowering his voice to a whisper, "and to celebrate this historic meeting of vampires, I'm going to kiss you."
"Fair enough."
He did, his lips soft and cool against mine, the length of his body warm as he pressed in. The kiss was sweet and very, very eager. He nipped at my lips, whispering my name as he did it, hinting at the depths of his desire. But before we'd gone further than propriety would have allowed, given that we were standing on the stoop in full view of the street, he pulled back.
"You look" - he shook his head as if in awe - "outstanding." He grinned up at me, dark blue eyes alight with pleasure... and what looked like pride.
"Thank you. You don't look half bad yourself. I mean, you're a vampire, but that's not really your fault."
Morgan clucked his tongue and leaned around me, gazing through the open door. "You should be affording me the Grateful Condescension I'm due. Is that salmon?"
I appreciated that the boy's love of food was nearly as big as mine. "That's what I hear."
"Sweet. Let's go in."
We made it as far as the hallway before he stopped me, before he sidled me against one of the few parts of the wall that weren't covered in Carmichael family photographs.
Then he tucked his index finger into a belt loop on my jeans and tugged me closer.
He leaned in, smelling of bright, grassy cologne. It was kind of an odd smell on a night-dwelling vampire.
"I really didn't get a chance to say hello and good night properly," he murmured.
"I think you were gearing up for the salmon."
His voice was barely audible, a sultry rustling of sound. "Exactly. I got distracted, and I really don't think I gave it my best."
"In that case..." was all I got out before his lips found mine. This kiss was just as eager as his last had been, his mouth hungry and urgent, tongue teasing and insistent. His hands slid around my back, enveloping me in his arms and his spring-green scent. He sighed at the contact.
"Hey, did Morgan ever - Oh, dear God."
Morgan's head popped up, and we both looked to find Mallory just outside the kitchen door, hands over her eyes. She waved.
"Uh, hi, Morgan. Hi. Oh, God. Sorry," she sputtered, and immediately turned on her heel and walked back into the kitchen.
I grinned happily. "And now she knows what it feels like."
"Except we were actually clothed," Morgan pointed out, then looked back at me with a knowing smile. "But we could remedy that pretty easily."
"Yeah, getting naked to teach Mallory a lesson ain't real high on my priority list."
He barked out a laugh, leaning back with the force of it, our bodies still pressed together at the hips, then smiled down at me, eyes bright, grin wide. "I missed you, Mer."
I couldn't help it - my smile faltered, and I hated myself for it. I hated that I couldn't return that careless, joyous smile. I hated that I didn't - or maybe just didn't yet? - feel that same spark that lit Morgan's eyes. I wondered if it could grow, with time and with nearness. I wondered if I was being too hard on myself, expecting too much to think that I could fall for someone after just a few weeks. Maybe I needed more time. Maybe I was vastly over thinking it.
Morgan's smile dipped a bit at one corner. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just... It's been a really long night." That was entirely true, so it was really only a lie of omission.
"Yeah?" He pushed a lock of hair behind my ear. "You wanna talk about it?"
"Nah, let's go get some food and make fun of Mallory and Catcher."
He closed his eyes, a tightness at the corners. I'd hurt him, by not telling him about my night, by not sharing more of myself with him, and I slapped myself mentally for it. But when he opened his eyes again, his expression was forgiving, a corner of his mouth tipped up into a smile. "You're going to have to help me out here, Merit. I can't be the only one doing this."
I gave him points for honesty, and for not saying that I owed it to him to try, given that Ethan had all but ordered our courtship. I half smiled back at him, simultaneously feeling a sense of relief, that at least he'd put the relationship issue out there, and a sense of foreboding, that I was going to be the one to bring that relationship down around us.
"I know," I said. "I know. I'm really about as good at relationships as I am at being a vampire. I'm kind of a smart but surprisingly inept girl." That was the entire truth.
Morgan laughed full out, then pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Come on, genius. Let's eat."
Dinner was ready by the time we made it into the kitchen, our fingers linked together as we walked. Morgan slipped his hand away and presented his bundle of red-tipped white tulips to Mallory. "Thanks for having me over."
"Oh, these are gorgeous." She enveloped him in a hug he didn't look like he was expecting, but seemed inordinately pleased by. "And you're welcome. We're glad you could come."
Mallory gave him a bright smile, and gave me a concealed thumbs-up, then set about finding a vase for the flowers while Morgan and Catcher said their manly hellos - consisting of a symbolic head bob from Catcher (of the "You're in my lair now" variety) and a responding nod from Morgan (of the "You are clearly the king of this castle" variety).