“You’re awake,” Augustus said. He sat on the sofa reading a book. The room was dark barring a single light hanging from the ceiling.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep or something?” she asked, moving closer.
“I’m not tired. It was a long night.”
“Where’s Gregory? I don’t see any sign of him.”
“He’s gone to get you some food and hand your notice in at the café.” Augustus put the book aside and tapped the seat beside him. “Have a seat.”
Marianna took the seat and frowned. “I need my job.”
“No, you’re staying with us. Gregory and I are in agreement of you staying. We want your company.”
“I need that job.”
“No, you don’t. Please, Marianna, don’t waste time arguing about a job you don’t even like.”
She opened her mouth and closed it.
“Good. I hate wasting time fighting about matters that really don’t matter.”
Marianna stared at him for several minutes. The years seemed to have piled on him in the hours she’d been asleep. His mentioning about arguing and the fact Gregory wasn’t around when she woke up confirmed her suspicions. “You and Gregory had a fight, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not going to tell me what about?”
“No. Our argument is not my story to tell. Gregory will tell you if he wishes.”
“Do you think he’ll come back?” she asked, staring up at the door.
“Regardless of his drug addiction when I met him, Gregory has never had a death wish. He’ll come back if he values his life.”
She saw Augustus’s jaw tense. “You’re not happy.”
“A vampire I may be, but fighting or arguing leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I have so much more interesting things to do.” He picked his book up and started reading. “Are you sore?”
Embarrassment crashed down around her.
“Why are you embarrassed by that question?” Augustus threw the book at the wall. She was shocked to see some on the paint crack around the impact of the paperback book. “Last night you had sex for the first time. It’s a huge step everyone takes, and yet you’re behaving as if I’ve asked something personal, which I haven’t.”
“Asking if a woman is sore after the first time is personal. It feels personal to me.” She slammed a hand against her chest to emphasise her point. “I’ve never had a man, so it must tell you I’m not easily seduced.”
Augustus wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think. I fear my manners have gone with Gregory.”
Resting her head against his chest, Marianna accepted his comfort. “I forgive you.”
“I didn’t ask for forgiveness.”
“I know, but you want it all the same.”
He snorted. “You women are all alike.”
She chuckled. “Not all of us are alike. We’re all different.”
“I don’t know. I’m starting to doubt that.”
Tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear, Marianna looked into his eyes. “What were you fighting about?”
Another sigh escaped him. “He wants to be turned, and I refuse.”
Marianna waited for him to speak.
“I can’t do it. I refuse to give him this kind of life. It would be cruel of me to do that to him.”
She liked how Augustus stroked her hair. “I fell asleep last night.”
“I know.”
Looking up at him, Marianna straddled his lap. “After one fuck with my friend you’ve turned into a seductress?”
His words stung. Marianna pulled away from him.
“No, no, no. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that to you.” He pulled her close. “I’m a bastard when I don’t get what I want.”
“I was offering to comfort you.”
“I don’t need that kind of comfort. I’ve made such a mess of everything. Between you and Gregory I should be staked.”
“Is that what will kill you, a stake?”
“I wish but no. I can’t be killed by a human, love. None of you are strong enough to take me on. Not even Gregory is strong enough, and he survives on my blood.”
“Well that’s a bummer. I guess I could hit you a few times to make the pain go away.” Marianna teased him hoping to put a smile on his face. Her words fell on deaf ears. Augustus wasn’t paying any attention to her.
“Do you need blood?” she asked.
“No. I’m fine.”
“You’re not looking fine. You look like you’ve aged.”
She presented her wrist to him. “You can have some of mine.”