“It came as a surprise to me as well. Though not quite as shocking as learning they exist. What happened next?”
I bit into my toast. “One of the humans gave me a tour and explained everything—about the place itself, about vampires, about the legion, about how it was optional for us to let vamps feed from us. She promised I could leave anytime, providing I allowed one of the more powerful vamps to erase my memories of the place.” I took another bite of my toast. “The idea of having my mind messed with bugged me more than the idea of staying. It sounds dumb, I know—”
“No, it doesn’t. I’ve had a vampire walk through my mind. I didn’t much like it. I’d rather have my memories and deal with the fall-out of a situation than live a life of ignorance, so I get it.”
Having finished one slice of toast, I moved onto the next. “I think what really put me at ease and made me consider staying was Sam. I imagined the ruling vamps to be ancient and otherworldly and super scary. But Sam and Jared … well, I don’t know if I’d call them mentally stable, but they’re very genuine. Especially Sam. She’s real. Blunt without being cold. I kind of needed ‘blunt and real’ right then, because I was dizzy from realising I didn’t know as much about the world as I’d thought I did.”
Damien nodded. “Considering how much paranormal fiction is out there, you’d think it’d be a lot easier to accept that there’s truth in some of that fiction, but it can be a fuck of a shock.”
“It can, and I’m surprised I held it together. But I did, and I chose to stay, thinking it would be a fresh—albeit sort of weird—start for me.”
“Any regrets?”
“No. None.” I bit into my toast again. “The life I have now is better than my old situation in many ways.”
He cocked his head. “Your human life wasn’t so great?”
I took a long swig of my juice. “That’s another story.”
He looked about to push for more info—typical alpha. But he apparently decided to rein in his curiosity, because he changed the subject to something lighter.
We chatted about mundane things as I finished my breakfast. I was glad he hadn’t just cut and run earlier, but I supposed it was stupid of me to have thought he would. Damien wasn’t that guy. He wouldn’t make a woman feel used.
Once I’d eaten, I walked him to the front door.
His long fingers curling around the handle, he stared at me for a short moment. “I’m glad you invited me in, Lexi.”
I felt my mouth tip up. “I’m glad I did, too.”
He tucked my hair behind my ear, a faint smile on his face. “See ya.” With that, he left.
Closing the door, I flicked the lock and puffed out a breath. His presence alone took up so much space that the apartment suddenly seemed so much emptier. And as it hit me that he’d never be back here, I felt a twinge of pain in my chest. “Fuck.”
CHAPTER FIVE
(Lexi)
“What a way to break your dry spell.” Maisy fanned her face. “Seriously, we should pull out the pompoms because, damn, Damien really did us proud.”
Taking a step forward in the line of customers leading to the concession counter, I frowned. “What’s with the ‘us’? You weren’t there.”
“No, but I was hoping he’d make it super good for you. And he did. Like on a whole other level than what I’d anticipated. You deserved that, so I’m all for expressing my appreciation in some way.”
“I don’t think he’ll be expecting a thank-you from you, so the pompoms can stay in your closet.”
“As you like.”
I shook my head, smiling. The cinema’s brightly lit foyer was loud, thanks to the patrons talking, the rattling of the popping popcorn, the gurgling of drinks as they poured out of dispensers, and the movie trailer playing on the monitors above the counter. The smells of nachos, butter, salt, and popcorn laced the air, making me hungrier than I already was.
“You know, I’m kind of jealous,” Maisy went on as we took another step forward in the line. “I’ve never had an evening like that. Where a guy took me that many times in that many ways, I mean.”
“Neither have I.” If Damien had deliberately set out to ensure I’d never forget him, he’d damn well succeeded. There was no way for the memories of a night—or day, in this instance—like that to just … fade or fracture so that you were left with only the highlights.
“It’s almost like Damien had all these fantasies stored up and was determined to make them a reality, isn’t it?” Maisy put her hand on my arm. “Oh, and the salt bath thing? That was so sweet. And the way he stuck around and talked to you earlier to be sure you didn’t feel used and discarded was just as sweet. Not many guys would do that. He’s a keeper.”