Sexiest Vampire Alive(78)
He glanced at the door. “Is it locked?”
“Yes, but—”
“Is there a guard at the door?”
She shook her head. “Down the hall by the stairs.”
“Then we should be fine.” He turned onto his side to face her and smiled. “As long as you don’t scream.”
She scoffed. “I’m going to sleep.”
“I won’t stop you.”
She gave him a wary look. “Then why are you here?”
Why was he here? He’d never climbed into a girl’s bed before just to talk. “I missed you. I wanted to know how you were doing.”
She scooted down into a lying position. “I’m tired. Worried about my mom.”
“How is she?”
“Stable. But not good. They may take her to the hospital tomorrow if she doesn’t improve.”
“I’m sorry.” He brushed a curl back from her brow.
She sighed. “I sat with my dad for a few hours by her bedside. He told me how sorry he was that I’d been unhappy.”
“He loves you,” Gregori whispered.
“I love him, too. I love all my family.” She smiled sadly at Gregori. “There are times, though, that I feel like I don’t belong. Like an outcast.”
“I know the feeling. I’m an outcast, too.”
Her eyes widened as she gazed at him. It took all his control not to pull her into his arms.
She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “We do have a lot in common.”
Time stretched out while he tried to think of something incredibly deep and insightful to say. Something that would impress her. “There’s something hard in my pants.”
She moaned. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Really uncomfortable.” He reached down to his jeans to get a hold on it.
“Oh God, don’t let it out.”
“Got it!” He pulled his hand out and showed her the Droid.
She laughed.
He dropped the phone on the bedside table next to him, then snuggled up close to her.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re going to sleep, right?”
“I thought you slept during the day.”
“I do.” He wrapped his arms around her.
She rested her head against his chest. “You’re just going to lie there? Sounds kind of boring.”
“Not at all.” He stroked her hair. “I get to hold you. Listen to you breathe. Think.”
She yawned. “About what?” She closed her eyes.
“Keeping you warm.” He tucked the comforter around her. “Keeping you safe.” Her breaths deepened, and her body relaxed against him.
He kissed the top of her head. “Keeping you mine.”
Half asleep, Abigail reached for Gregori. She couldn’t remember ever sleeping so well. She’d loved the feel of his arms around her and the way he’d stroked her hair. She’d felt safe and loved, and now that she wasn’t so tired, she was remembering other things. Like how broad and muscular his chest was. How gentle and sweet his hands were. How he made her laugh. Made her hot.
“Gregori,” she mumbled and stretched her hand out to feel his hard abs.
Nothing.
She jerked awake and sat up. She was alone. And good Lord, it was almost noon!
Gregori must have teleported away hours ago. She glanced at his pillow. It was still indented where his head had rested. She touched it. How sad that she had to wait till sunset to see him again.
She picked up the pillow and nestled her cheek in the valley. His scent filled her nostrils, and she hugged the pillow against her chest. She was falling fast. She’d been falling for some time, but things were a little different now. Before, she had hoped to somehow stop the feelings before they grew any stronger.
Now she knew there was no stopping it. She wanted him. She wanted years of laughter with him. And all those scream-filled nights he had promised her.
But there were always consequences. Could she actually live with a vampire? How could her parents accept him? What kind of future could she have with him?
With a groan, she tossed the pillow aside. She was tired of always approaching life like a scientist. Why couldn’t she just enjoy herself for once?
She dressed and went to see her mom in the clinic. The doctor and Nurse Debra were getting her ready to take to the hospital.
She pulled Debra to the side and whispered, “Is she worse?”
Debra shook her head. “The same, but Doc wants to run some tests.”
Abigail sighed. “I’ll pack her a bag.”
That afternoon, an ambulance took her mother to the hospital. The media was swarming the streets around the White House. Abigail covered her face as she dashed from the South Portico to the waiting limo. Her sister and father joined her, and they followed the ambulance. Her brother, Lincoln, had already been notified, but Dad told him to stay at Harvard since he had final exams coming up. His mom was just having a few routine tests done.