Unafraid
is incorrect. I’ve seen you during the day countless times
and you haven’t burst into flames, but it can’t all be wrong. Even
myths begin with some kernel of truth. For instance, I know you
need to consume blood to live.” She paused and looked out over the
park. Griffin knew she was nervous by the way she fidgeted on his
lap and held herself slightly away from him. There was
determination in her gaze when she looked back.
    He stiffened, but tried not to look
forbidding while his little love looked for the answers she needed
in his eyes. He didn’t want to have this conversation. It would be
far too easy to tell her everything she wanted to know. The
constant longing for her that had taken up residence in his chest
was making it harder and harder to deny Tessa anything she wanted,
including the ability to destroy his life and expose his people.
This was it. The unspoken ultimatum was there in the air between
them. He had to give her some answers, or let her go.
    “Are you immortal?”
    He had to either trust her now or call in his
father for help erasing her memory. Griffin didn’t think he could
do it. He had tried several times to enthrall her but it had never
worked. She would begin to do his bidding, but quickly shake off
the compulsion as if it wasn’t something she really wanted to do.
He’d tried to block her mind from hearing his phone conversations,
but it didn’t work. He either had to leave the apartment or ignore
the call. Griffin didn’t think he was capable of erasing her
memory, even if he could do the job. He wanted her too badly and
the idea of losing her was nearly as painful as the thought of her
screwing that Italian pretty-boy. He was jealous for the first time
in his life. He hated the human male for touching Tessa. He loathed
every male that ever so much as looked at her. The demanding urge
to erase every other male Tessa had ever known and prevent her from
seeing them again had forced him to her bed every night.
    It occurred to Griffin in that stunning
moment that he loved her. He was in love with Tessa. That nearly
painful ache in his chest had a name that he hadn’t been willing or
able to recognize before. His parents hadn’t been a good example of
what it meant to be in love. Their blood bond had been arranged by
their parents long ago. Griffin knew his parents cared for each
other and had a need to be near one another, but he doubted it was
the all-consuming emotion he felt for Tessa. He wondered if a
forced bond could ever compare to a true connection. Sadly, he knew
he would one day find the answer to this question. For now he would
give his little love all he could give her. He would give her as
much of the truth as he was able.

    Griffin pulled her close and kissed her
deeply. The vanilla taste and wet warmth of her mouth made him
eager for more but he took his time, enjoying the connection they
shared. He knew she loved him too. Before, he hadn’t recognized
that look in her eyes or what it meant when she touched him so
reverently. He didn’t understand it until he discovered it in his
own heart. Yes, she loved him too and that made the kiss all the
sweeter. Griffin pulled back to finish this conversation before he
let his growing arousal carry him away.
    Now he had to make some compromises if he
wanted to be with her. Griffin sighed deeply. He trusted Tessa with
his life. It was the need to protect his people and the rules of
conduct among humans that had been drilled into him since birth
that kept him from relaxing with Tessa.
    “ No, we are not immortal, but we have a
much longer life span than humans. On average we live about four
times longer than humans, but just like humans, the better care we
take of our bodies the longer we will live. There are those who
have lived twice as long with the proper care. We heal quickly if
injured, but if our hearts are injured beyond our body’s capacity
to heal in time to stop loss of blood, we will die. Like any other
creature, if

Similar Books

False Nine

Philip Kerr

Fatal Hearts

Norah Wilson

Heart Search

Robin D. Owens

Crazy

Benjamin Lebert