“Yes. Vampires can’t tolerate any level of sunlight. Immortals have greater tolerance to it because of our advanced DNA, but younger ones like me are still vulnerable.”
“Oh.”
He studied the faces of as many guards as he could see from this perspective. “I believe I’ve seen one or two of these men before, but have never spoken with them.”
“And yet they would die for you.”
He nodded. “It isn’t a one-way street. They know we risk our lives every night, hunting and destroying vampires who would prey upon them. There was a night not long ago when Richart, Lisette, and I, along with the other immortals you will meet later, risked our lives battling not vampires, but humans who would have killed or tortured every man you see out there.” He drew back from the window. “Couldn’t you sleep?”
She shook her head. “I always have trouble sleeping in a new place.”
“And the past few hours have been difficult.”
“Yes. So much has happened.” She shrugged. “I’m still having trouble processing it all. My mind is racing. And I keep obsessing over the stupidest things. Like how Sean and I are going to explain the crater in the living room floor and the bullet holes Sheldon said riddled every wall to our landlord.”
“Don’t worry about that. We’ll take care of it. We’re very good at cleaning up our messes.” He touched her shoulder, the silky material cool beneath his fingers, and guided her toward the sofa. “What you need right now is something that will take your mind off of everything so you can relax.” She sat down at his urging, the V-neck of her shirt giving him the briefest glimpse of shadowy cleavage. “And what I need is something to take my mind off of you in those pajamas.”
She smiled and fingered the neckline. “They really aren’t my style. I’m more of a sleep-shirt kind of girl.”
He groaned and sank onto his haunches to examine the DVDs lining the shelves beneath the large flat-screen TV. “Don’t put that image in my head.”#p#分页标题#e#
Krysta stared at his broad, muscled back and narrow waist, bare and totally drool-worthy, as was his chest when he faced her. “Tit for tat. I lost my ability to concentrate as soon as I turned and saw you wearing nothing but those sweatpants.”
Surely, he had heard her heart’s crazy antics.
He laughed.
She liked his laugh. Smooth and deep.
He chose a DVD and slipped it into the player. Rising, he grabbed the remote and joined her on the sofa.
And he didn’t leave any space between them. His hip pressed against hers as he draped his arm across the back cushion. “I keep telling myself to keep my distance, but . . .”
She nodded, leaning into his side. “I’m too tired to worry about it right now.” She smiled at the television. Monk?
He nodded. “It’s smart. It’s funny. And it advocates true love.”
“It’s a tragic love, though. His wife is dead.”
“Don’t most love affairs end tragically?” he asked, frowning at the screen.
“I don’t know. Your brother seems pretty happy.”
His face lightened. “Yes, he does. I didn’t see that coming.”
“If you tell me you’re psychic, too—”
He laughed. “I’m not.” Still smiling, he glanced down at her. “I didn’t see you coming either.”
Manic butterflies invaded her stomach as she licked lips suddenly gone dry.
The amber glow returned to his eyes as he followed the motion with his gaze.
The TV brightened with the menu for Monk.
He looked toward it.
Krysta sighed. She had been sure he was going to kiss her.
“I thought I would be pushing my luck if I did,” he murmured.
“Oh.” She didn’t even care that he was reading her thoughts again.
“I also thought you might need a little distance.”
She fought the urge to laugh. Their sides were glued together and his arm now rested across her shoulders, his fingers toying with her hair.
His lips twitched as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “Note I said I thought you needed some distance. Tonight I find myself needing the opposite, so this was my compromise.”
She smiled. “I’ll take it.”
The show began.
“You didn’t say why you were up,” she mentioned. “Couldn’t you sleep?”
“No. Too many bodies nearby, moving and murmuring. I’m used to it only being Cam and I and sometimes my siblings.”
“Ah.”
A moment passed.
“And,” he continued, “I found myself obsessing over a thought.”
“What thought?”
“That, had I not arrived when I did last night, you likely would have died.”