Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Chloe stared at him, not sure whether she should be afraid or angry. “Amos,” she said, her voice choked with disappointed hurt. “Why p>
He sighed, brows drawing together. He didn’t answer her immediately, but Chloe waited while he found the right words. “I wanted to see more of you. I wanted to watch over you. Guard you p>
“Guard‘ me. Like a possession?” Chloe asked, anger stiffening her spine. She’d never been able to tolerate jealousy in men. It frightened her, made her feel caged.
“No,” Amos said quietly. “Like a queen p>
“Oh.” And just like that, her anger deflated. No man had ever called her a queen, or wanted to treat her like one. But Amos had done just that tonight–protecting her from an attacker and seeing to her welfare afterwards. But she had to be sure. “So you weren’t following me to make sure I wasn’t doing something you wouldn’t
like p>
Amos frowned. “What would you do that I wouldn’t like p>
Chloe searched his face. “I don’t know…feed another vampire p>
His gaze snapped with sudden intensity, pupils dilating wide, inky blackness stretching his iris to the thinnest ring of red. “You’re right,” he said, fangs flashing. His voice was so low it was practically a growl. “I would not like that p>
She should have been alarmed by his possessive reaction. Instead, her breath caught and her thighs clenched together. Embarrassed, she looked away, staring at their reflection in the window. Despite his possessiveness, she was reassured by his reaction. It hadn’t
Chapter 99
occurred to him until she’d brought it up that she might do
something he wouldn’t like. He wasn’t following her to try to control
her.
“I wouldn’t do that, you know,” she said.
Amos let out a breath, seeming to collect himself. “I know you wouldn’t. The thought is just… upsetting p>
“Why?” She could guess, but she wanted it out in the open.
His expression softened, the tension falling away to reveal vulnerability that bordered on despair. “Because I like you, Chloe. You’re beautiful and sweet and clever. You smell like heaven and taste like paradise. I spend all my free time counting down until your next visit, and then I spend every visit despairing that soon you’ll leave p>
Chloe didn’t know how to respond. She hadn’t expected anything beyond, I like you.
Amos drew back, expression closing off. “That was too much. I’m sorry. I don’t…” He dropped his head back until it thunked against the booth divider and stared up at the ceiling. “Is it possible you could forget everything I just said p>
“No,” she answered, watching Amos’s shoulders tense. “I don’t want to forget it. I like you too, Amos p>
He lifted his head, brows raised, meeting her gaze.
“And I would like to see you more often p>
A hopeful, boyish smile tugged crookedly at his mouth, exposing the tip of one fang.
“But you can’t keep following me at night,” she said firmly.
Chapter 99
The smile faded.
“It’s creepy p>
A stubborn look entered his eyes, but he didn’t argue.
“I know you’re going to worry about my safety, especially after what happened tonight.” Hell, she was worried about her safety. Signing up with HemoMatch and meeting Amos had led her to believe that vampires were all civilized, upstanding members of society. Now she knew otherwise. “So I have a compromise. On days when I don’t come by for feeding, we can hang out during my lunch break. And on days when you’re not with me, I won’t leave the building for
lunch p>
Amos considered it. Slowly, the boyish smile returned. “I accept your compromise p>
The waitress appeared with Chloe’s sandwich, and she tucked into it happily, the mood suddenly much lighter.
“You have a healthy appetite for somebody who was just attacked by a thrall,” Amos observed in an approving tone.
“I’d have a healthy appetite in the middle of my own vivisection, Nothing puts me off my food.” She had the ass and thighs to prove it–and that wasn’t a complaint. Chloe appreciated her curves and, suddenly, she realized that Amos did too. His gaze swept subtly over her body. The more lush half of her was hidden beneath the table, but he’d already been acquainted with the feel of her thighs wrapped around him, so it wasn’t any kind of mystery,
That awareness seemed to strike them both at the same time. Amos’s gaze sharpened as it returned to hers.
Chapter 100
AdminJ