Chapter 91
Chapter 91
But she’d needed the money. So she’d signed the NDA and promised not to do anything that would force their hand against her. The sign–on bonus alone had been enough to get Mom out of arrears on the mortgage, and when the first week’s payment came through, she’d be able to get one of the credit cards caught up.
She’d moved out of her own apartment and back in with Mom so that the money she would’ve spent on rent and utilities could be put towards the debts Mom had been saddled with after Dad’s death. If everything went well, between her day job–if you could call it that when you worked third shift–and the payments for blood “donation,” she could get Mom back on stable footing in a year until she was sure Mom would be alright, she wouldn’t be able
on with her own life.
At thirty–three years old, she was more than overdue. She hadn’t had a real vacation in over two years, not since Dad got sick. She hadn’t seen much of her friends, too consumed by the needs of her parents. while her friends were all busy starting their own families. And that was probably what ate at Chloe the most–she hadn’t been in a
relationship in several years.
And she certainly couldn’t start one now–not when she was living with her mother and working third shift and spending three nights a week having bloody orgasms with an undead stranger.
She liked to think of herself as a Strong, Independent Woman who
Didn’t Need No Man, but the fact was, she was lonely. She missed the emotional connection of being in a relationship. She missed the comfort of knowing somebody was there for her. And then there was sex. God, she missed sex. Furtive masturbation in her childhood
bedroom really wasn’t getting it done.
But relentless, venom–induced orgasms while being clutched in the
Chugher 93
of sping, undead farm boy? Would it be absurd of the
anked bike to cuddle afterward?
Probably. Her gaze slid to the outline of his still hard cock beneath
Bus jeans. Yeah, ne asking for cutitles.
Teeling beter? Anes added
She joked her gate in mortified But Amos hac
caught her
weging en tos dick. Be attention was on the energy bar wrapper,
whh he was nearly falling in a precise spiare.
“We you a farm Chion Strest
Amos miniert 40 tulis ito mack by the ultion change of topic
to a motor?. Squat the ty my whole lin. I worked at
mit. Expsing parte tur inige signes trams, ships, things like
mand grant” se quiet, amor restantly
Woth. Come mume She glucoot at her code work at a hospice in
Fara sand dunes kookant usely bank facet, en slightly
maandious. A space.” The repeated.
Sharonet har egenvie. Wes is that way?
not use is it’s just, you speed your days caring for people who
gryf dying and men when you re done with that, you Race of us wideed ammo. You have a diverse resume p>
mwizi.
sa sevard for her still–scattered mind to grasp the way. When th, she pulled “Well, if we’re being technical about it, I car
of the sideed word i go to the hospice. I works
Chapter 91
nights p>
“Ah, so you see the sun about as much as I do p>
“Well, I get to see the sunrise after work in the mornings. But then I
go to sleep and wake up in the dark p>
They were both quiet for a moment. Chloe’s eyes landed on the bright, sunshiny flowers.
“Do you miss it?” she asked.
“The sun p>
She nodded.
“When I was first turned, I missed it desperately. But I’ve become accustomed to my life as it is.” He shrugged. “And I’ve learned how much beauty there is in the night. Moonlight on still water. The city lights against the night sky. The quietness of the streets. And when you leave the city, go out into the country, there’s even more. Fireflies in the summer. The brightness of the stars in a winter sky. The presence of night creatures like foxes and owls. When I was mortal, I slept through all that p>
She was so caught up in the simple poetry of his words and the soft rumble of his voice, it took her a second to realize he’d finished speaking. “Oh.” She straightened. “That sounds really nice p>
“I’m sorry,” Amos said suddenly, looking chagrined. “You told me that you have to go to your job after this, and I’ve been droning on p>
Had he mistaken the dazed look on her face for boredom? “No, really, it’s fine.” Then again, maybe he was trying to politely kick her out. She got up and grabbed her bag. “Thanks for, uh… having me p>
Their eyes met. A fraught silence stretched between them. Amos was
Chapter 91
the first to break, a wry smile pulling at his lips. Chloe smiled back as a choked breath escaped her, dangerously close to a giggle.
“I assure you, it was my pleasure,” Amos said.
It was definitely mine, she thought, following him as he walked her
back to the front door.
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