Chapter 9 #3
“I’ve seen more public executions than I can count, witch.
They were not attended by bloodthirsty monsters, but by unassuming humans.
Laborers and tradesmen, aristocrats, families.
Mothers and fathers with their children.
People capable of love and compassion who still went to watch other humans die. ”
“Times have changed, Nyte. There haven’t been public executions like that for a long time. Most people would be horrified if something like that took place. I would be.”
Ember gestured at the television. “It’s all acting and special effects.
The actors are paid for their work, and they go home when it’s done and continue on with their lives.
Movies tell stories as much as books do.
And just because we enjoy watching or reading about something doesn’t mean we want to experience it for real. ”
Ember had consumed enough dark romance novels to know that for as thrilling as it was to read on the page, she sure as hell wouldn’t tolerate any man treating her that way in real life.
Nyte frowned, eyes flicking over the screen. “Movies are…illusions?”
“In a sense, yes. It’s all fake.”
His attention shifted to Ember, his gaze heavy. “But the emotions are real.”
She smiled. “That’s the power of storytelling, especially combined with very talented actors.”
Ember looked back at the movie just in time to get the biggest jump scare of the evening—unexpected pounding on her front door.
“Pizza’s here!” she announced, pausing the movie and getting up. When Nyte began to stand, she waved him back down. “I’ll get it. You can stay here.”
“I’m disinclined to leave you alone, witch.”
She chuckled as she walked backward toward the hallway, wiggling her fingers in the air. “Do you think I’m going to cast a spell to make the pizza delivery person fall in love with me?”
He scowled. “No. But we have been watching a movie about humans being murdered in grisly fashion.”
“Oh,” Ember said a little uneasily as she dropped her hands. “Um…well… Murders at night in homes are not unheard of.”
Nyte became a torrent of shadows, moving to stand before her so quickly that she instinctively jerked back from him.
His expression was deadly serious. “I’ll accompany you then. Just in case.”
Her heart quickened as she stared up at him with wide eyes. He was being protective of her, and damn if that wasn’t sexy as hell.
Nyte raised his hands to her chest. His long, claw-tipped fingers deftly caught the dangling ribbons of her pajama top, which he drew fully closed, tying it securely. He motioned down the hall. “After you.”
Though he’d tied the ribbon to conceal more of her cleavage, that didn’t stop her nipples from hardening in response to his actions. The brush of his fingers, the teasing scrape of his claws, and the possessive gleam in his eyes stoked the embers of desire smoldering in her core.
I seriously need to do something about that if he won’t.
Turning, Ember made her way toward the front door, and the trepidation she would have normally felt about opening it at this time of night was gone knowing that Nyte was guarding her.
Through the long, thin window next to the door, she caught sight of the red uniformed delivery man holding a pizza box in one hand.
Ember unlocked the door, opened it, and smiled. “Hello!”
The man’s eyes widened, and he stared at her. “Um…got your, uh, pizza here.”
Why was he—
The facial mask.
Ugh! How could I have forgotten that?
She chuckled awkwardly and waved to her face. “It’s self-pampering night.”
“Uh-huh,” the delivery man said, his gaze dropping from her face to run over the rest of her.
“I’ll gouge out his eyes if he doesn’t raise them immediately,” Nyte growled from behind her.
Ember grabbed the box from the delivery man. “Tip was already paid! Thankyougoodnight!”
She closed the door swiftly, locked it, and looked at Nyte, grinning. “One might think you were jealous.”
He mimicked her grin, his fangs making the expression far more wicked. “And one would be incorrect.”
“Mmhmm.” She cast him a knowing look before she carried the pizza back to the living room.
She wasn’t fooled one bit.
Lowering herself onto the blanket, she set the box down in front of her as Nyte returned to his spot. She reached up and peeled the mask of her face, folding it up and setting it aside, then beckoned Nyte closer. “Let me get that off you.”
Planting a hand between them, he leaned toward Ember, the fire in his eyes accompanied by a hint of mirth. “Be gentle with me, witch.”
“Aren’t I always?” Smiling, she took hold of the mask at the base of his horns and slowly drew it away, revealing that exquisite, celestial face. She rubbed in some of the gel on the tip of his nose. “How does your face feel?”
He arched a brow. “Wet.”
Ember laughed. “Your skin is positively sparkling.”
“So it’s exactly the same as it was before?”
Shaking her head, she set his folded-up mask atop her discarded one. “At least you’ll never have to worry about aging. There’s only so much we mortals can do to keep our skin looking youthful before the inevitable.”
Something dark flickered across his features, chasing away the amusement that had been present in them. His gaze lingered on her before he moved it to the pizza box. “Let’s have at it, then. I’m eager to learn whether this pizza tastes as good as it smells.”