Chapter Five
CHAPTER FIVE
Caolan
I could spend days just using my phone.
These devices are going to be very helpful in transitioning my people to life on Earth.
It’s hard to be sad when you can listen to music or play a game or read a book just at the touch of a button.
Noah showed us how to make voice and video calls and send written messages, although that’s still difficult for us, because the translator spell is verbal and auditory only.
After that, Alistair came and showed us all kinds of apps, including the one Garin talked about with the kittens trapped in bubbles.
There’s also one that will help us learn to recognize written words while we work on an adaption to the translator spell.
But for now, I reluctantly put it in my pocket.
Garin, Dustin, and I are expected at Sam and Gideon’s home for dinner and a review.
Eerika has begged off, claiming she’s all talked out—which is fair, because I’ve never seen anyone ask questions as much as Noah.
She’s going to stay at the hotel and make sure there are no problems with the advance teams as they settle in.
I’ve just checked in on all of them myself, and they’re acquitting themselves as I would expect of such highly trained individuals, but this is a very strange place, and Eerika has the advantage of having been here a few extra days.
Dustin comes out of the apartment he’s sharing with me and Garin (although technically, I’m still living at Sam and Gideon’s house).
I’m not willing to leave Dustin without direct supervision for long.
He’s been very well behaved so far, but all his natural exuberance has to be building up, and it’s best if I’m there to deal with the fallout when he lets it free.
He looks a little nervous right now, and I’m reminded that not only is he still quite young—only four thousand—he’s also very sheltered.
We can’t really blame him for being spoiled, and he has been trying very hard today.
“Are you ready?” I ask, and he nods.
“Could we walk there?” he asks uncertainly. “Is it very far?”
“I’m not certain,” I admit. Given the need for speed and secrecy, I’ve been traveling from my lodgings to the office building via portal, so I’m not familiar with the distances or how to navigate them.
We walked from the office to this hotel, guided by our hosts, but nobody mentioned which way we would go to get elsewhere.
“Why don’t I call Sam and ask?” I suggest, because that means I get to use my phone.
It’s shockingly easy, and soon I hear Sam’s voice in my ear. “Hello? Caolan? Is everything okay?”
“How did you know it was me?” I ask, astounded.
“Noah programmed all your numbers in all our phones,” he says, sounding amused. Certainly more relaxed than he was earlier today. “The same as he put our numbers in your phones. That means that when you call, your name shows on my screen.”
These phones are amazing devices.
“Is something wrong?” he asks.
“No, nothing’s wrong. We were just wondering if it would be possible to walk to your house. Is it far?”
“Not far at all—just a few blocks. When you exit your hotel, turn to the left. Uh… do you remember what we talked about today, about crossing streets?”
“We have to wait for the walking man,” I say. “I remember.”
“Great. So you’ll need to cross three streets. When you get to the building on a corner with the big red door, turn right. There’s one more street to cross. I don’t think you’ve seen the front of the house, though, have you? I’ll get someone to wait out front so you don’t miss it.”
“Turn left. Cross three streets. Turn right at the red door. One more street. We can do that.”
“Are you all disguised to look like humans?”
“Yes. We decided to leave those spells active most of the time, so we can get used to having them.”
“Then we’ll see you soon. Call if you need anything.”
I press the red circle to end the call, just like Noah showed us, then put my phone back in my pocket. “Easy,” I declare. “Let’s go.”
David has been watching me across the table all through the meal. At first I was worried that I’d committed a huge error, but it didn’t take me long to realize that wasn’t the reason. I’ve seen that expression on the faces of many people before.
He desires me.
Yes.
This is excellent. His attraction to me is increasing.
He’ll soon realize how deep the connection between us is.
Of course he’s been distracted by all the things that have been happening, and it’s caused him to overlook his growing personal feelings for me, but clearly something happened today to change that.
Maybe he was impressed by how resourceful I was in arranging the walk from the hotel? Or perhaps he liked the forceful way I shut down Hagen when he dared to flirt with David.
Just the thought makes me angry, but I push that aside. No time for it.
I smile at David, just a little. Just enough for him to know that I’m here and worship him.
He takes a deep breath and looks away, so I turn my attention back to the conversation.
We’ve already gone over all the important details, and now Alistair is telling everyone the story of how Sam stabbed him.
I’ve already heard it—he told us all this afternoon—but this version seems to be embellished somewhat. Sam has his head in his hands.
Dustin is extremely enthralled by Alistair’s storytelling, so I nudge him and give him a warning glare. It would be very bad for him to start stabbing people.
When I glance back up, David is watching me again. A shiver of delight runs through me. He can’t look away!
He meets my gaze, holds it, and then tips his head slightly toward the door. Is that…? Is he inviting me for an assignation?
Looking away, he pushes back his chair. “Excuse me,” he murmurs, then leaves the room.
My head is spinning. This is it. I was prepared to wait so much longer, but this is it .
I count to ten, then mutter something that comes out in a garbled combination of two languages and slip away from the table.
David’s hovering in the hallway, and he puts a finger to his lips, then grabs my hand and pulls me down the corridor and up the stairs.
It’s not until we’re in the guest suite that he lets me go—and I instantly regret it.
His hand in mine felt so right, warm and strong and slightly rough.
“We have to be quiet,” he says in a low voice, “or they’ll hear us.”
I nod, not sure I trust myself to speak. Is he going to declare his feelings?
“I want to talk to you about… us. This… situation between us.”
Yes. I nod again.
“You’ve, ah, you’ve made it quite clear that you’re, ah, attracted to me.”
That’s… an understated interpretation of my feelings for him. I smile. He’s so earnest and focused.
His pretty blue eyes narrow. “Are you laughing— You know what, never mind. I should get right to the point. I’m not the kind of person who can fall in love easily, but you’re very attractive, and I’m open to a sexual relationship with you.”
I blink. Disappointment settles over me. He just wants sex? He hasn’t realized he loves me too?
I suppose I’ll have to wait, after all. And in the meantime…
“Okay.”
It’s his turn to blink, and a cautious expression crosses his face. “Okay? You understand that I’m not committing to any kind of emotional connection—this will just be sex.”
“Yes. That’s fine. I like sex, and I love you, so why would I say no?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head, muttering something I don’t quite catch, then lowering his hand with a sigh. “I should have checked—are we even sexually compatible? As species, I mean. Do you know?”
“Oh yes,” I say happily, then lower my voice when he glances anxiously toward the door. I don’t want to do anything to add to my beloved David’s stress. “The living archive has many stories about sexual exploits between our species.” Just thinking about some of them makes me hard.
“Your archives sound much more fun than ours. Okay. Well… that’s good. But just to reiterate, this is just sex. Not a relationship.”
“Of course,” I assure him. “Just sex.” For now. This will make my wait much more enjoyable, not to mention, it’s much easier to make an emotional connection with someone you’re having regular sex with.
Momentarily pushing aside my anticipation, I ask, “Is this going to cause trouble with the lucifer? I can be discreet, but if I understand the shifter sense of smell correctly, he’ll be able to tell anyway.
” I really want to be with David, but not even for him will I endanger the future of my people.
He flushes that pink color I like so much. “No. Uh, he’s okay with it. I mean, he said that given how well our diplomatic endeavors have gone, he’s willing to relax the, uh, fraternization rule.”
I might not be able to smell a lie the way shifters and vampires can, but even I can tell that David did a whole lot of prevaricating there. “I don’t mind if you talk to your friend about our sex life. That’s okay. Although if you’re not comfortable with it, I won’t talk to anyone.”
He closes his eyes briefly. “Let’s work that out later,” he suggests. “We can’t stay away too long, or they’ll know without us having to tell them anything.” He clears his throat, then adds, “So, maybe you could come to my house tonight? If that’s okay.”
If I hadn’t already been in love with him, I would be now. “That sounds wonderful,” I say gravely. “Just one thing.” I reach out, snag the front of his shirt, and pull him into my arms. He fits perfectly, and his mouth is almost level with mine. I only have to bend a few inches to kiss him.