Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
“Hello?” Connor’s voice sounded sleepy. Granted, I called him at two in the morning: I always forgot that humans slept at night. As soon as I heard Vail busy with her work, I locked myself in the bedroom to call Connor.
I debated for a second just hanging up the phone and calling him back in the morning but instead I said, “Hi, it’s Rose.”
“Hey, Rose, how’s it going?” Connor’s voice perked up, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of sheets rustling.
“I can call you back at a different time if you were asleep.”
“No, don’t hang up,” Connor said, sounding eager. “I’ve missed your voice.” His tone shifted, turning sultry and husky. “I can’t stop thinking about the other night.”
“Me too,” I confessed.
We lingered in a moment of silence, both caught up in our memories. Finally, I shook off the haze and decided to get to the point.
“I need to ask you something. Do you know someone named Ryley?”
“Ryley? I don’t think I know a Ryley. Why?”
“Someone I know mentioned him, and he seemed a bit sketchy,” I said, keeping my tone light, as I pictured his dead body contorted in his apartment living room.
“Sketchy how?”
“They didn’t go into detail, but I got the impression he’s not someone you’d want to cross paths with.” I was searching for the right words, “I figured you might have heard something … considering your field of work.”
“Well, if he’s a vampire, then I’m sure Sam knows about him. I’ll ask next time I see him.”
“Thanks, Connor.” I hoped that his digging would shed some light on what the fuck happened the other day and if his friends knew about another witch in town.
“I’ve been thinking,” Connor started. “What are you doing in four hours?”
“Umm, sleeping?” I responded with what I thought was an appropriate human response.
“Well, do you want to go on a date with me?”
“A date? At 6 a.m.?”
“Yeah, I have work at 10, and then we’re playing a show right after. I honestly can’t wait to see you again.”
“Okay, 6 a.m. works for me.”
“Great. And Rose? Wear proper footwear, like hiking boots or runners,” he added.
“You’re taking me out at six in the morning, and I have to wear runners?”
“Yes, trust me,” he said, and I could almost picture the dimples forming on his face. Everything in my instincts screamed at me not to trust Connor. But there was something deep down in my un-beating heart that urged me to trust him, and I wanted to so badly.
“See you in the morning, Rose. Sleep tight,” he said warmly.
“Goodnight, Connor.” I hung up the phone and lay in bed smiling to myself.
Just before 6 a.m., I dragged myself out of bed and hastily pulled on some leggings, a cozy sweater, and my sturdy boots. My hair was a mess, so I piled it on top of my head in a messy bun.
I reached for the front door just as the doorbell rang. “Vail’s going to be mad if you just woke her up,” I told Connor as I opened the door.
He responded by pulling me into his arms, and I felt a rush of warmth as his lips met mine in a tentative kiss.
Pulling back slightly, he murmured, “Morning,” and I couldn’t help but reach up behind his head, tangling my fingers in his hair as I kissed him again, this time with more urgency.
It was partly to make him trust me, to make him want to see me more.
But if I were being honest with myself, it was for me.
After the other night, my desires hadn’t faded, and I found myself needing him.
Breathing in his scent, my mouth started to salivate before I pulled back and smiled at him. “What are we doing this morning?”
He took my hand and led me to his van, opening the passenger side door for me.
Two coffees sat in the centre console, and he handed me one as he settled into the driver’s seat.
I accepted it, feeling the warmth seeping into my palms. “I was thinking, we’ve never been on an actual date.
” His eyes met mine with a spark of excitement.
“What do you mean? We had lunch together, and we almost had shower sex,” I replied playfully.
“Actually, I had lunch, and you pretended to eat your salad to be polite,” he said as he sipped his coffee.
I tried to mask my shock, “I’d had a big meal right before that. I just wanted to see you.”
“Yeah, I figured you were just being nice … and I wouldn’t call almost shower sex a date either.” I could see the tips of his ears blush.
As he turned onto a dirt road leading into the forest, a sudden realization hit me.
I was in a Slayer’s van at six o’clock in the morning, driving into the dark woods, and I hadn’t even told Vail that I was leaving.
This was now the third time I had willingly gone into a Slayer’s van, and a wave of unease washed over me as I began to wonder if this was a very bad idea.
What if Connor had figured out that I was a Vampire?
I decided that making small talk might help distract my mind from the looming uncertainty. However, the first thing that popped into my head was Amber.
“So, how long were you and Amber together for?” I asked, trying to maintain a casual tone.
Connor sat in silence for a moment before responding, “We’re on our first date, Rose, and you want me to talk about my ex?”
“Yes.”
Connor sighed. “Amber and I were on again, off again all throughout college,” he began, “I wanted something serious, but she never did. Honestly, I think I was just happy that I was getting attention.”
“You mean getting laid?”
“Yeah, that too,” he chuckled.
“And then you ended it?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Well, I’m glad you did,” I told him.
“So am I,” he replied softly, pulling his van over to the side of the road, on a dirt patch stretching along the shoulder.
I stepped out of the van and glanced up through the trees.
The midnight-black sky was beginning to transform into a deep shade of blue.
Connor opened the back door, and for a moment, my body tensed as he retrieved a backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
“Okay, let’s go,” he said, taking my hand and dragging me along the path into the woods, a flashlight leading the way.
We hiked over rocks and tree roots covered in moss, following the well-worn path. I took a slow, deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp winter air. It was cool against my nose and carried the fresh scent of pine. I felt at home in the forest.
I studied Connor’s silhouette ahead of me. His tightly fitted sweater didn’t seem to conceal any weapons, but then again, he could easily have stashed them in his backpack. I reminded myself to stay alert. Maybe Sam and the gang were waiting for us at the top, ready to attack.
As we continued our hike, my mind raced with thoughts of potential dangers.
I took a deep breath, trying to catch the scent of other possible humans, but all I detected was the soft aroma of Connor’s shampoo.
I made an effort to focus on the beauty of the forest around us and the warmth of Connor’s hand in mine.
“Do you want any water?” Connor asked.
“No, I’m okay.” I smiled at him.
His brow furrowed. “You’re breathing pretty hard.”
“I’m fine, just enjoying the scents. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a hike,” I reassured him.
“We’re almost there,” he said, helping me over a large rock.
We continued hiking for another ten minutes until we emerged from the trees onto a bluff.
“Here we are,” Connor said, turning to face me and holding his hands wide, a smile growing on his face.
I looked around, scanning the area for any signs of danger, but all I saw was the natural beauty of the landscape stretching out before me. No weapons or Slayers waiting or coming around to kill me.
“It’s pretty,” I said, walking up to him and returning his smile.
“Not as pretty as it will be,” Connor remarked as he took off his backpack and began rummaging through it. I stood there, my eyes fixed on him, hyper-focused on what would come next. He pulled out a blanket and laid it over a rock, patting it before sitting down.
“And now we sit and wait for the sunrise,” he announced, gesturing for me to join him.
I settled next to Connor, gazing ahead as he took my hand in his, giving it a warm squeeze.
A sense of calm washed over me, and I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder.
The treetops held a delicate dusting of snow and as the sun climbed higher, Lakeview below emerged as silhouettes against the magnificent sky.
Minutes passed and the horizon exploded into vibrant hues of orange, pink, and violet.
With no clouds in the sky, the morning unfolded in perfect clarity.
The rays of sunlight stretched their limbs, reaching over the treetops and then out to touch my skin.
It felt like a painting come to life, and for the first time in seventeen years, I basked in the warmth of the sun on my skin.
The gentle sunrays caressed my face, and my breath caught as I squinted against the brightness.
Decades spent in the shadows had left their mark on me. My skin, once vibrant, was now pale and lifeless, devoid of the freckles that once adorned my nose. The sun’s touch felt foreign yet strangely welcoming, a reminder of the life I had left behind.
“Wow, it’s …” I began, but my words trailed off as I struggled with them.
“Beautiful,” Connor finished for me, his voice soft but sure.
His gaze locked with mine, and in that moment, time stood still.
Bathed in the morning light, his tousled hair took on a golden glow, and his eyes radiated shades of green unseen before.
It was as if the sunrise had breathed a new life into him.
“This is for you, Rose,” Connor whispered, his voice as soft as the morning breeze. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him as he leaned in closer, his lips brushing gently against my ear.
His kisses were soft along my neck, and I drew him close. The sun bathed me in its warmth. Pressing my lips to his, I let myself surrender to the moment. Connor responded eagerly, deepening our kiss as his tongue gently teased between my lips.