"You shield if you want me out."
I threw up full shields and gave him a glare. It was water off a duck's back. "What do you mean, neither of us are ready to share that sort of experience?"
"Just that. Merging minds during sex is as intimate as you can get, an experience that can forever effect you."
I raised an eyebrow. "You've done it?"
He hesitated. "Once."
"With whom?"
"The whom isn't important - "
"See," I cut in, throwing up my hands. "You want me to go exclusive, and yet you're not willing to tell me a damn thing about you or your past."
"The past is not important."
Maybe it wasn't, but the mere fact he didn't trust me enough to tell me was. But if he wasn't smart enough to realize that, then what was the point of even mentioning it?
"Just leave it casual," I said softly. "And take it from there."
"I can't."
"Why not?" I asked, perplexed. "I mean, we were casual a month ago, and you did that just fine."
He finished his drink then placed it in the small holder near the chair and stood. "As I told you before." he said, turning to look out the window. "A vampire is very territorial. You've invaded my being - and that being now considers you mine. Do you know how hard it is for me to sit back and watch you with other men? I couldn't do that for weeks on end. I'd kill them, Riley. I wouldn't be able to help it."
There was no emotion in his voice, but the flicker of pain that seared my mind told me this had happened before. And that that death was at the base of him hating weres. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "What about a compromise?"
He didn't even bother looking at me. "What?"
"When you're in Melbourne to see me, I won't see anyone else. But when you're in Sydney, I'm free to see whom I wish. And the days leading up to the full moon are mine."
"What about Misha?"
"Misha is part of this mission, and until the mission is over, this agreement will not come into force. Besides, we both know Misha is not the only sinner I might have to kiss before this case is solved."
"If it was just kissing I wouldn't mind so much." He muttered, then turned around. "A deal, then."
My hormones let out a collective cheer. "And you'll accept the fact that there will be other lovers besides you?"
His dark eyes gleamed with displeasure. "As long as you stick to your promise once this mission is over, then yes."
Finally, we had an agreement we could both live with. "Want to celebrate the deal by cooking me another burger?"
A small smile touched his lips. "That I can do." And he did.
The function was being held on the eighth floor of The Haborside, a brand-new hotel complex that boasted views over the old Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. The ballroom itself was decked out in cream - walls, ceiling, and tables - as if not to compete with the magnificence of the views so visible through the windows that enclosed two sides of the room. The only glint of color to the scheme was the gold in the frames of the chandeliers., and the spray of rainbow hues across the ceiling as the light hit the heavy crystal pendants.
Of course, no one had told the guests that competing with the view wasn't an option, and the ballroom was a blaze of human color - at least when it came to the women. And I was pleased to note that most of the dresses were as short as mine. Liander had been right, as usual.
Quinn pressed a hand against my back as we followed the waiter down the stairs. Though the touch was light, it seared right down to my spine, and had need humming through my body. While I knew I couldn't afford to lose any more blood tonight, that didn't stop me from wanting him. By the same token, I didn't actually want to go to Misha feeling this way. The bastard didn't deserve it.
People glanced our way as we passed them by, some of them nodding in greeting at Quinn. He didn't even bother looking at them, much less responding. His gaze was strictly front and center, and I frowned, searching the crowd ahead of us, wondering what had caught his attention. Not that I could see much beyond the glitter of all the diamonds on show around us. It was just as well the room had lots of discreetly placed guards, because the truck-load of jewels on display would call to a thief as surely as nectar to a bee.
"What's wrong?" I asked, after a few seconds.
He glanced at me, dark eyes flat. "Thought I saw someone I knew."