He nods. "It was plain as day in that picture," he says. “I mean I know you do, obviously, but you’ve always tried to hide it from me, haven’t you?”
"Oh, Cole. I suppose I have in a way. I don’t know why. But yes, I do love him, and I was happy last night. Happy that we had sorted through our issues, that he forgave me, and we moved on. The happier he is with me, the better it is for us. For you and me. You know that," I whisper in earnest.
He looks grim as he says, "I suppose so. I really hate that he has so much control over our relationship. It should have nothing to do with him."
"I know. I wish it was different, but I don't want to talk about him. I’m here with you and I have missed you." I kiss him to bring his attention back to the present and back to me. Thankfully, he responds, wanting that as well.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIVE
Sometime later, we pull ourselves away from the bedroom and I step into the shower. Cole joins me a minute later with a frown.
“Who is Seb?" he asks suspiciously. I turn to him with a surprised look. “Your phone was ringing, caller ID said “Seb”,” he explains as I remain quiet.
"Sebastian would be my sibling," I say cautiously, wishing that I had been able to tell Cole about him in my own time and my own words.
"Oh. And where did you meet him?"
"He's staying with CK for a while. He's nice. You'll like him."
"Humph,” he mutters unconvinced. “Old or new?"
"Old. Oldest, in fact, the first."
"First?"
"His first change. It's quite strange that I never even thought about it before."
"So, he's as old as him?" he asks, still refusing to call Constantine by name. We are stuck with a bunch of confusing pronouns, but I leave the grammar lesson and let him deal with it in his own way. He is clearly still angry about the way CK has been treating me and his threats. I need to talk to him about forgiving, but now isn’t the time.
"Yes."
"And you like him?"
"Yes. He's fun, and we have a shared interest in poking fun at our sire. It's all quite amusing," I say lightly but he is still not impressed.
"Are you sleeping with him?" he asks, as I knew he would. He accepts my bonds but is fiercely against anyone who isn’t tied to me.
"No. It's not like that," I say patiently. "Please, Cole. Don't read any more into it than is there. Trust me, please. Trust me to keep in the boundaries you have set."
"Christ, Liv. Don’t sound so resentful, it’s not an unreasonable request.”
“I know it’s not. I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to make it sound that way. You accept the way things are and I love you for it. But you need to trust me.”
He sighs. "I do. It's everyone else I don't trust."
"Well, forget about them. Concentrate on me," I say and pull him to me for a kiss. He lifts me up against the wall and takes me again under the pounding water.
We forget about everyone and everything else, including my nightly feed, as we head off downstairs to mingle in the hotel’s bar.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIX
We settle comfortably together in a big chair. Cole is happy to be with me, next to me, and touching me, as I am with him. These times apart are not good for him and I do get worried that he will slip. He has been the model charge so far, but I don't think that has much to do with me but more him and his moral standings.
My phone goes off in an actual ringtone which surprises me, as I have it set only to vibrate. I frown as it is Falco's “Rock Me Amadeus”. I grimace as I see it is Sebastian video calling me. Fuckhead. Well, it would look odd now if I ignored him, so I accept the call with an apologetic smile to Cole.
"Livvie!" Sebastian shouts into the phone with a quick wave. He is in a very loud place with a group of people behind him.
"Sebastian. Nice ringtone, you arse. How did you manage that?" I say.