Chapter 47
FORTY-SEVEN
Connor turned off the engine of his van when we got in front of Vail’s house.
“Do you want to come in for a bit?” I asked him.
He nodded and opened the door. He was silent on the whole drive over, and I didn’t want to pry into what he was thinking because I knew he was processing everything that happened tonight.
Thankfully, Vail did the dishes, and there were no bloody cups anywhere.
If Connor didn’t go into the fridge, then it would be fine.
As I closed the door, Connor kicked off his shoes a little too aggressively and ripped off his coat, throwing it on the ground. He walked into the living room, putting his hands over his face, and let out a small growl.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked him.
“What’s wrong with me?” He whirled around.
I’d never seen him angry before. “I just found out that my cousin is not only a drug lord, but also apparently a witch, too? Which, by the way, we haven’t gotten enough evidence on that.
Why am I so stupid for not noticing what was right in front of me?
When did this happen? How could I let this happen?
” Connor’s words came out in rapid-fire speed as he spoke.
He barely looked at me as he paced around, then flopped down on the couch in defeat.
“Do you believe me now?” I asked, sitting next to him.
“I believe you. I’m sorry for thinking you were lying.”
“I would never lie to you about that.” I felt my chest tighten as I thought about the actual huge lie I’d been hiding from him.
Connor smiled at me, his dimples so deep.
He pulled me into a hug and held me close, sniffing my hair.
“I don’t deserve you,” he said under his breath.
He pulled back and kissed my forehead. “I have something for you. I’ll be back.
” He put his shoes back on and left. When he came back, he had his hands hiding behind his back. “Close your eyes,” he said.
I did as I was told, though I could already smell what he held. “Okay, open.” I opened my eyes, and he was holding out a terracotta pot with a small rosemary plant inside.
“I bought this for you the other day when I was at the store. I thought you would like a new garden to take care of.” I looked at him holding that tiny plant, and my chest tightened.
I was fucked.
“Thank you.” I took it and breathed in deeply, the smell filling my senses. I looked up at him through my lashes.
“I understand that gardening may be challenging for you. I thought this could be a nice temporary solution. If you’d like, I’d be happy to help you plant it outside in the spring,” Connor offered.
“Connor, I … I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“Yes, I liked it … and I like ... you,” I said in a voice so small I thought maybe he hadn’t heard it.
His eyes grew wide, and I could see he was happy.
“But I don’t want to,” I added.
Connor came over and took the plant from me, placing it on the coffee table. He wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Please, want to,” he whispered, lowering his head, so our foreheads touched.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” His voice was low, and me gave me a small kiss on my nose. The gesture was so gentle and tender, I felt the heat rising in my body.
“Because I can’t,” I repeated. “I’ve been hurt in the past too many times and I don’t want to hurt you.”
“It will hurt me if you don’t try,” he said, his lips brushing mine, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I kissed him.
Our kiss was slow and sensuous at first, teasing and tasting, then as my fingers found their way into his hair, the kiss deepened with our tongues finding each other.
“Don’t you know I’m no good for you?” I said between kisses.
Connor sucked my bottom lip, bringing it into his mouth, his teeth carefully grazing it before kissing me again.
His hands explored down my body and landed on my ass, he squeezed, and I let out a small moan.
He lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me toward the hallway.
“Which room?” he panted.
“The left.”
He opened my bedroom door and lowered me onto my bed. He stood staring at me for a moment. I thought he was going to change his mind, but I said, “Connor, I want you,” and he quickly came over to me, kissing me again.
His lips trailed down my neck and onto my collarbone, kissing and licking. I moaned, and his hand travelled down my stomach. His touch was gentle and possessive, awakening my desires.
His hand traced the contours of my hips, and just above the waistband of my jeans. I almost begged him. He flicked open the button, sending a rush of heat coursing through me.
As he helped me wiggle out of my jeans and discarded them carelessly across the room, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of vulnerability wash over me.
I was used to being naked around people, and I’d been naked around Connor before, but this time it felt different.
I felt exposed, vulnerable as his hands roamed over my thighs, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake.
With each ragged breath escaping my lips, I managed to utter a single word: “Yes.”
“Yes, what?” His voice was low and raw as he stopped to look at me through his lashes. I looked down at him between my legs.
“Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend.”
The surprise in his expression was quickly replaced by a wide grin, his dimples carving deep into his cheeks. “You’re serious?”
“Yes. I think now that we know the scale of Sam’s operations, it’s safe to say I will be in Lakeview for longer than I originally planned. So why not?”
He came up for a moment, and his lips crashed down on mine.
“Yeah, why not?” he murmured against my lips before I pushed his head down between my legs.
With each caress, each tender touch and kiss, Connor was unravelling me, unravelling the layers of protection I had carefully constructed over the years.
The soft glow of fairy lights adorned the room, casting a warm light on Connor’s body as my fingers gently traced the patterns on his skin.
“Did a Vampire give this to you?” I asked him, touching a raised scar along his bicep.
“No, Sam did that when we were young. He pushed me through a window.”
“Ouch,” I said, placing a kiss on it.
“Yeah, it was an accident. We were just playing. That’s why I think I’m so upset; Sam is not a bad guy.”
I stayed quiet for a moment, my lips trailing along to another scar along his ribs. I licked it slowly, feeling the raised flesh under my tongue. “What about this?” I asked.
“Yes, a Vampire did that,” he said, and I licked it again.
I moved back to lay beside him, my head propped up on my arm. “Are you ever afraid of dying?”
He traced my nose with his fingers. “Not really,” he replied softly, his touch lingering. “I’m pretty lucky.” He leaned in to kiss my nose, adding, “I like your freckles. I didn’t notice them when we first met.”
“They come out in the sun,” I whispered, shyly moving my face into the crook of his arm. I haven’t seen my freckles in a long time.
“I think I might be getting more afraid of dying,” he said into my hair.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because then I wouldn’t be able to see you again.” His words were sincere, and I felt a pang in my chest as I realized the depth of his feelings for me. The vulnerability in his voice stirred something within me.
“Connor, I need to tell you something,” I murmured. The rhythm of his human heartbeat and our breathing were the only other sounds I heard. Our legs entwined in an embrace, his skin warm against mine. I felt comfortable. But in that moment, I decided that I needed to tell him.
“What?” he breathed, looking down at me. I hesitated, grappling with the words I longed to say. The green of his eyes, so vivid and alive, stirred memories of the summer grass at my old house by the river. His lips drew near, tempting me with the promise of bliss.
“Connor …” I trailed off, my voice barely a whisper, uncertain as to how he would react. Then my cell phone rang in my pants across the room. For once, I was happy that the ring interrupted our moment. Because damn, he fucked me so good I almost told him that I was a Vampire.
“Answer it,” Connor whispered. “It’s probably Vail.”
I groaned, rolling off the bed and away from Connor's warm embrace. I reached for my jeans, retrieving my phone from the pocket. Vail's name flashed on the caller ID. “Are you on your way home?” I asked, but it wasn't Vail’s voice I heard on the other end.
Connor drove his van through the streets, the tires squealing on the icy roads as he navigated the corners. “So, what exactly did Sam say? Tell me again,” he said.
“He told me that he has Vail and he's going to kill her.” My voice trembled as panic surged within me. I pushed it down; I couldn’t think of all the horrible things that swirled in my mind. I thought about the Vampire in the basement and then Vail.
She’ll be fine, I convinced myself. She’s always fine.
But what if she wasn't? The thought gnawed at me, an unsettling feeling settling in the pit of my stomach.
“But why would he tell us that? Why didn’t he just kill her?”
“I don’t know.” I had to sit on my hands to keep myself from shaking.
Not only from fear but from the rage I felt against Sam.
I glanced behind me, toward the back of the van where the instrument cases were stored.
Among them were the Vampire-slaying weapons, each capable of taking down not only a Vampire, but also a human.
Even if that human, like Sam, was a witch. “Can you drive faster?”
Vail was a strong and confident person, I told myself. Not only was she a Vampire, but also a witch. She could take care of herself. Then why was I so afraid that we were going to be too late?