Bass didn’t get chance to answer before the door was swung wildly open, and Katalina was dragged into the arms of her grandma.
“Oh, God, Kat, it’s you. It’s really you. I thought… Oh, thank God, you are safe. Let me get a look at you,” Grandma said, holding her at arm’s length, her eyes focusing on the white dressings on her shoulder and down her arm.
“I’m all right, Gram, nothing serious.”
“Well, I thought, after your mom and dad, well I…” her voice trailed off with emotion. Composing herself, she asked, “Where have you been, Kat?”
“Oh, I…erm” Shit, shit, shit! She glanced at Bass out of the corner of her eyes, hoping he had some idea of what to say.
“Her father found her on the side of the road, the other side of those woods. He took her to hospital, but she couldn’t remember who she was, or what had happened when she woke.”
Katalina’s grandmother gave a startled squeak, only just noticing Bass. “Kat, who is this?”
“Oh, erm, he’s my friend.”
Bass took a step forward, offering his hand, “Sebastian Evernight, but my friends call me Bass. It’s nice you meet you.”
Grandma took his hand, still looking startled. “I’m Kat’s grandmother, M-Mary. You said her father?”
“Her biological father.” Bass didn’t seemed fazed at all.
“And he didn’t think it was important to inform her family she was alive?”
“I’m certain he wasn’t aware she had any more family, and with Kat not having any memory, he was uncertain of what to do. Of course, when she recovered, I brought her straight here.”
“Where is he?”
“Gram,” Katalina jumped in, “I’m so tired. Can we talk about this in the morning, please?”
“Oh, yes, of course. You must be exhausted. Your friend can stay in the spare room.”
They stepped over the threshold, Arne scampering in and curling up in his bed.
“It’s so good to be home, hey, Arne?” Katalina smiled at her dog. “Come on, Bass. I’ll show you the way.”
With another quick hug, Katalina kissed her grandma on the cheek, and took Bass’s hand, dragging him off down the hall.
Her home wasn’t large. It had four bedrooms but the smallest was an office. Katalina walked past the spare room and realized her grandma had been asleep in there.
“He’ll have to stop in the office. I…I couldn’t bear to touch your parents’ room.”
Katalina swallowed down her tears as she walked past the next door. Slightly ajar, she caught a glimpse of her parents’ bed, still unmade as if they would be jumping back into it any moment.
“Here it is,” she said to Bass, overly cheerful.
He pulled her in for a hug. “There is no need to put on a brave face for me, Kat.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said, giving him a quick squeeze. “I’ll go find some sheets. I’m afraid it’s just a sofa bed. Hope that’s okay?”
He answered with a soft kiss to her forehead. She returned a few minutes later with an armful of sheets and blankets. Bass took them from her before she could make his bed.
“I’m capable of making my own bed. You need to rest, Katalina. Is that your room?” he said with a nod toward the door opposite.
“Yep, bathroom is next door. Do you need anything else?”
Bass smiled, a wicked smile, his eyes glancing down the hall and then back at her. The silver flecks sparkled as he spoke low and the awareness between them jumped. “Just one thing.” His words wrapped around her, making her shiver. His lips touched hers, softly at first, teasing, and then increased their pressure, becoming urgent. She moaned into his mouth, opening up for his tongue to explore, to taste.
Katalina pulled away breathlessly. “Bass, my grandma is just down the hall.”
He smiled again, that naughty, wicked smile, which made her weak at the knees. “She’s asleep. Can’t you hear her?”
“Of course I can’t—” Katalina’s words stuck in her throat. She could hear her. Her breaths were soft and even. “Wow.”
“It’s about time you started using your new senses, Katalina.”
“Hmm, I still need to go sleep, Bass. I can’t spend the rest of the night kissing you.”
“Are you sure?” The hunger in his eyes made Katalina take a step back. If she didn’t put some distance between them, she’d not be able to resist the pull she felt for him.
“Yes, stop that!” she said, trying to sound firm but failing. Part of her so desperately wanted to lose herself in him, but the more sensible half of her knew she needed to be well rested for the inevitable visit from Jackson.