Choices (The Forever series, Book Four) (9 page)

He smirks at me. "Well you clearly have something about
you that warrants a second look. Unless you are just that good a fuck," he
whispers to me and I pull my hand up and slap him in the face. Much to his
amusement, but the horror of the rest of the restaurant. "Is that all
you've got?" he murmurs and CK is now at my side, hand on my back to calm
me down.

"I suggest you apologize to the lady for whatever it
was you said," he says quietly.

"Lady? I wouldn't call her that exactly," he says,
rubbing his face where I had slapped him. "But I don't want to cause more
of a scene so I apologize for calling you a good fuck. Although I would have
thought that would be a compliment?" He looks at CK in question. "Is
she?"

My hand goes up to my mouth, as I cannot believe the
audacity of this man. My mortification goes up several hundred notches though
as my sire, clearly out to ruffle some feathers as opposed to just ripping the
head off the chicken, casts me a sidelong glance and says, "Oh you have no
idea. The things she can do will make you forget yourself."

Cade looking now equally as astounded as me but with a
desire burning in his eyes quickly adjusts his features. "I doubt
that," he says as nonchalantly as he can.

"I wouldn't protest if she were so inclined to show you
herself, but judging from the look on her face I think she would much rather
take me home and show me all night just how good she is," CK says and with
that he takes my arm and pulls me back to the table and sits me down. I chance
a look back over my shoulder but as expected he is gone.

The restaurant is now incredibly busy and we feel
uncomfortable talking about supernatural stuff so we turn our attentions back
to small talk and have a few trips down memory lane, on the tacit agreement
that we will talk when we get home. Neither of us eats much so we mostly just
talk and enjoy being in each other’s company. As we head out of the restaurant,
I realize I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and tell him so.

He smiles down at me, pleased. I smile softly back up at him
and ask, "Can we walk back? It can't be more than a couple of
blocks."

"Five, but okay. Although I warn you if it starts to
rain and this suit gets wet I won't be very impressed. I have ruined enough
clothing for one day," he says with a cheeky smile.

I chuckle at him, "Well that little stunt left us both
feeling unsatisfied then."

He shoves his hand in his pocket and I curl my arm through
his. Still fairly harmless should we get our photo taken. Nico gives us our
space but follows us nonetheless.

"I am beginning to wish I had declined your request to
walk. This is taking too long," CK murmurs.

"Hm, well if you hadn't denied me before, you wouldn't
be quite so anxious."

"Yes, I suppose that is true. I am a very stupid man."
A slight smile tugs at his lips.

"But so handsome so I'll let you off," I simper at
him to his delight.

"I never could quite pinpoint this way you have,"
he says suddenly.

"Pardon? What way?”

"I mean with regard to male companions. Even those who
dislike you still want you."

"I'm sure I have no idea where you are going with
this."

"Tonight, Aefre. I take you out and within the space of
a few minutes you have two different men eating out of your hand," he
snaps with annoyance.

"Who?" I ask bewildered.

"Your little Demon friend and our resident Hunter,
obviously."

I burst out laughing, "Are you kidding me? Xane was
just being pleasant and Cade couldn't dislike me more if he tried."

"Maybe so, but I saw how he looked at you, how they
both looked at you."

"Jealous? You were the one who offered me up on a plate
to him," I remind him sweetly and he hisses at me.

"Don't push your luck, my sweet. I was gauging his
reaction."

"Hm. I have no interest in them. And for your
information there is someone who pays me no mind no matter what I tend to
do," I say but immediately regret it as he looks sharply at me.

"Oh? And who might that be?"

"No one. It doesn't matter," I say, avoiding his
burning gaze.

"Aefre. What are you up to?"

"Nothing," I say but I must cast a glance back at
Nico inadvertently as CK stops us dead in the middle of the busy sidewalk.

"What game are you playing?"

"No game."

"Aefre," he warns.

I sigh, "It just annoys me that he doesn’t notice me.
There are these shutters in place and I just want to break them down and see if
he does actually…you know…"

"What? Desires you?" CK snaps at me. "I'm
sure he does, my dear, as it seems that no one can resist your charms. However,
on pain of his own death he has the good sense to stay away from you," he
growls at me as I look away. "Now leave him be. He is not your toy to play
with."

We stay that way for a few more seconds until his grip
tightens on my arm. "Okay. Fine. I am just not used to it. It bothers me
and I have to keep poking at it. Like a loose tooth," I admit.

"Well I can assure you, you have no reason to feel
insecure. Christ knows you have enough men begging at your feet to spend time
with you. Leave my employees alone," he says again, tightening his grip on
me.

"Okay. Geez, I really should learn to keep my mouth
shut," I grumble as we resume walking.

"Well only in the case of you actually speaking,
otherwise I quite like your mouth open," he says pleasantly but with an
underlying tone.

I glare at him, "That is an incredibly rude thing to
say," but I see the smile in his eyes and let him off.

Back upstairs in his apartment, he moves to get us a bottle
of wine to take back to his room. Sebastian is still lounging around but jumps
up when he sees us. Throwing me his iPad, I deftly catch it and he says,
"Ah, young love. Or should that be really, really old love? Quite the
striking couple."

I look down and see a photo of us leaving the restaurant
when he smiled down at me and I looked back up at him with that soft smile. I
wasn't aware I had so much love in my eyes for him and vice versa and it is
quite sobering to see. Cole is going to fucking freak! "I didn't even see
anyone take that," I say as CK sidles over to have a look.

"Hm, beautiful as always, my love," he says
quietly and kisses the top of my head. He hands me a glass of wine and I down
it in one gulp, holding it out for more. I hand the iPad back to Sebastian who
peers at me curiously. "What's the big deal? Your husband knows you are
fucking, it's not like it'll come as a shock to him."

"That isn't the point," I mutter and flop heavily
on the piano stool.

"You, play?" Sebastian says, clearly wanting to
change the subject away from the sober mood.

"Yes," I say and lift the lid, pushing the photo
aside to deal with later. I put my glass down and start to play Bagatelle No.
25 in A-minor.

"Ah ‘
Für Elise,
'" Sebastian says.
"Hey, she's good," he says to CK who smiles with pride.

"I know."

"I had a good teacher," I smile mysteriously and
CK's smile falters slightly.

"Oh?" Sebastian says. "Who?"

I remain silent and carry on playing as CK glowers at me.

"Who?" Sebastian now demands.

I cut off my playing and switch to Piano Sonata No. 8 as CK
growls, "Wolfgang," in a tone that leaves no doubt of his feelings
with regard to that.

"Mozart?" Sebastian asks incredulously. "He
taught you how to play the piano?"

"He did, in Paris," I say casually. "Such a
brilliant man."

"Oh please," CK scoffs. "You are just saying
that because you were sleeping with him."

I stop playing, my anger over this old argument not having
abated over the years. "Hey, that is the other way around and you know
it!" I yell.

Sebastian looks from me to our sire both glaring at each
other and says, "Well, looks like there's a bit of tension there. Do
tell." He settles down onto the sofa with a glass of wine and looks
expectantly at us but I ignore him, not wanting to think of that time, of the
first man I was with after Fraser.

Sebastian is disappointed when neither of us starts talking
and CK is in a bad mood now that a part our past he finds upsetting has been
dug up. I declare bedtime to placate him.

"Come, my love," I say to him sweetly. "You
know I love you."

He acquiesces ungraciously, which makes me laugh.

"Night, Seb," I say over my shoulder as he leads
us to his bedroom and he waves at us.

"Night, Livvie," he says and my heart clenches as
he sounds just like Devon.

"Well, I can’t say that I am thrilled with having those
memories brought up,” CK says. "I propose we make our own music and I can
revel in the fact that he is no longer and I am still here."

Horrified that he dared to say that, I say so, "CK,
that's not very nice."

"Well he took you from me when I wanted a third try.
You knew it was something I wanted and you refused me because of your devotion
to Fraser. I don't harbor great feelings for the man that made you come out of
your mourning-induced celibacy."

"Humph," I say upset and turn from him.

"Oh, no," he says. "You are not going to let
him come in between us tonight. You are no longer mine tomorrow and I am not
wasting a second of the time I have left."

Slightly mollified by his words I say, "I am always
yours. I just have other commitments." He looks pleased with this
reminder.

"Come then to bed and I will make you forget your other
commitments."

Well who am I to argue with that? I let him lead me to his
bed to have his way with me several times before I have to fall asleep on him,
much to his disappointment.

I awake at six in the morning as per normal and find myself
alone. My Vampire hearing tells me he is in the shower and I glance at the
clock on the bedside cabinet. His phone is lying there all alone and I bite my
lip, curiosity burning in me over who rang him last night at dinner. I scoot
over the bed and pick it up carefully as if he might hear me and punch in his
Passcode. I thought he might have changed it over his suspicions last night but
no, it's the same and it unlocks. Thumbing quickly through the phone list I see
that it was Devon. My heart nearly stops. He rang CK? Why? I remember his
words, "Everything is fine." Devon must have somehow sensed something
about Xane's visit that caused him to be concerned, but instead of ringing me,
he rang my sire. It breaks my heart that he can't even call me himself to see
if I am okay. Relocking CK's phone I wipe the screen on the sheets and replace
it exactly as I found it. I get out of bed and make my way to the shower. Wet
CK is incredibly hot and I need a distraction.

"Morning," he says to me as I join him under the
jets. "Sleep well?"

"Mm, the best," I reply in truth as I stand under
the water, relishing in the feel of the water hitting my skin. "You?"

"I always sleep well when you are next to me," he
says and I smile at him knowing that for the whole hour he sleeps it makes no
difference if I am there or not.

"We still have various unfinished conversations,"
I point out and he nods.

"I know," he says as he soaps me up and I forget
what I was saying. Something about parents, mountains, Demons, Hunters, and who
knows what else. "Later," he murmurs against my lips as he kisses me
and I completely forget about everything but him.

"I don't want you to go," CK mutters as I get
dressed to leave. A Feeder has just been up and I have fed well. CK, true to
his word, said he would look after me and has made sure that I feed twice a day.

I stop what I am doing and stare at him, saying, "I
have to. I have other…"

"Commitments," he interrupts. "I know."
He sighs and says, "After all this time I never would have thought it
would turn out like this."

"I know," I murmur, also getting the fact that I
am the one doing the rushing off and leaving him.

"What are you doing tonight?" he asks casually.

"I'm spending the night with Lincoln. It's a
thing…before I go to Canada…" I trail off as he tenses up, again out of
the loop of everything that is going on with me.

"I see," he says stiffly and I wish he hadn't
asked.

"I should get going. I have a ton of work to do now
that Devon is gone," I say sadly and he kisses me goodbye before he
resumes getting dressed. "I will call you later," he says and I nod.

Secretly glad that Sebastian is nowhere in sight as I
leave--can't be doing with that guilt trip as well--I head downstairs to find
Lincoln and cement our plans for the evening.

"Hey," he says as I walk in the door.

"Hey. All good?"

"Yep. What shall we do tonight?"

"Something low key. Pretty sure Cole is flaming mad
about last night's photo incident."

Lincoln chuckles and says, "Yes I saw that. Quite the
couple."

I glare at him and say, "Anyway, take out and a
movie?"

He grins and says, "Absolutely. My choice though. I am
still trying to get up to speed on the last fifty-seven years’ worth of
cinematic excellence."

I roll my eyes. So far we have done all the
Godfather
films - twice - plus every other gangster film known to man, plus
Kill Bill
,
and a bunch of the big hit blockbusters starting from 1956.

"Fine. Just get something we… well you, haven’t seen
before. No more gangster crap."

He looks insulted, "Gangster crap? I take
offense."

"Well you shouldn't. That way of life is not
acceptable," I admonish softly and he looks a bit abashed.

"Yes, I see the error of my ways, but really. You could
give me one more?"

"No!" I snap good-naturedly. Having found out that
Lincoln was a true 1950s Chicago mob member before he left in search of his own
kind and got trapped by Lance, I am still surprised.  He is the sweetest,
gentlest, most loving person and I can't imagine him being that way. There
again, who am I to judge? With a kill count higher than I care to think about,
my glass house is no place to throw stones.