“I’ve never denied that, Petal. You knew I wanted to while I was drinking amber instead of you. I marked you with my eyes several times. I’ve marked you with my fingers. How else would you have me mark you?”
This conversation is taking a turn that I didn’t expect this evening. That’s not to say that I don’t want it to.
I want that desperately.
“I’ve had dreams about you.” She won’t look at me while she speaks. We can’t have that.
“Keep your eyes on me, Petal. I want to see them when we talk. Don’t hide from me. What did I do in these dreams?”
“Everything,” she says plainly. The single word is huge and full of meaning.
“Everything could mean many things.” I recline back in my chair just a bit and slide my palms against my slacks-covered thighs, keeping my eyes focused directly on her.
She shifts nervously in her chair and opens her mouth to speak, but before she can, her cell phone vibrates loudly and buzzes across the table.
Nora
I jump at the vibration for so many reasons. Whoever this is better have a fucking amazing reason for halting our conversation. I can feel a heat run through my body that is so different. I’ve wanted men before. That’s not the problem. What the problem is, is how much I want this man. He’s part wolf, which I don’t mind. He’s part dark knight from another age, which makes me swoon like some lady of a certain breeding. The part that intrigues me most, is the man only I seem to see.
I finally am able to grab my phone and answer it. “Hello? Hello?” I try one last time, thinking the stacks and stacks of books might be playing with the signal. “Hello?” All I end up hearing is a sigh then a click. I can’t decide if we were saved by the bell or if I want to smash my phone. “There was no one there. I think I should go. I really think I should go.”
“All right.” He rises from the chair like he is completely unaffected by what almost occurred here and it’s kind of infuriating. “How are you planning to get home?”
“I don’t live far. I was going to grab a cab or just walk, actually. I could use the fresh air.” He spins around to face me and stares like I’ve grown a second head. “What?” I ask.
“It’s entirely too late for you to be getting into a car with a stranger, and you’re certainly not going to walk all the way there alone. Absolutely not. I’ll take you home. We can walk if you’d like the air, but I’ll be walking with you.”
“Remember what I said about being able to make my own choices? This is my choice. I’m capable of seeing myself home.”
“Just because you’re capable, Petal, doesn’t mean you should. I wouldn’t forgive myself if one of the knucklehead, riffraff trust babies or worse decided it was open season to follow or speak with you. No. This is not open for negotiation. I will even carry your pizza box so my hands are full.”
“Did you just say riffraff? All right, Grandpa, you can walk me home,” I tease.
He shakes his head and picks up the pizza box. “You’re lucky my hands are full.”
***
It’s a clear night out, and even with the glow of the city just to the west of us, you can almost make out some stars. I’ve missed those.
“I would have been fine, you know? I hate that you’re going so far out of your way for me.”
“It’s not out of my way. I missed the gym this morning. Just consider it allowing a grandpa, as you said, a little exercise.” He keeps his eyes firmly forward as his hand between us is in his pocket.
“I’m sorry if I offended you. Sometimes I forget that you speak from another age.”
“There was no offense taken. I do enjoy a little ribbing now and then, even if it is at my expense.” He peeks over at me with that grin again.
We take the corner that leads out onto a main sidewalk that isn’t part of campus, and there is a bit more foot traffic, even at the late hour. We have to sidestep a few people who are certainly too drunk to be out, but that’s not what shocks me the most.
Not even close.
The shock of the night comes from the tall, leggy red-haired bombshell scurrying toward us shouting his name.
“Tristan!” she bellows again.
At first, I thought it had to be another Tristan. Then, the closer she got it was obvious she was talking to the man at my side. I watch her get closer and closer. Tristan never moves. He doesn’t flinch or give me any indication this is an unwanted or unexpected encounter. She kisses first his right cheek then his left.
“I was just thinking about you then here you are.”
“Good evening, Katya. May I introduce you to Nora Morgan. Nora, this is Katya Petrov.”
“Well hello, Nora. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“Oh, Tristan. It’s been ages since we’ve…connected. I’ve missed our time together. Maybe we could try for next week?”
She shifts her position and her coat falls open just slightly, the cut of the top of her dress is about the same as the slit that runs up her thigh. Christ. If I had a pinup body like that, I’d live in those dresses. What gets under my skin more than that is the way she’s so carefully choosing her words in front of me, then looking for what I can only classify as praise from him.
“I will have to check my calendar, Katya. It’s been rather full as of late.
I want to crawl in a hole and die. No, scratch that. I want to simply evaporate. Talk about keeping your options open. Well, Professor. I think your calendar just opened up quite a bit.
“I can leave the two of you to catch up right now. I live just around the corner. Thank you, Professor for seeing to my safety. It was…enlightening to meet you, Ms. Petrov.”
I turn on my heel and set out to march in the opposite direction, away from the actual way I should be going, but I don’t care. I’ll find a different way that prevents me from going anywhere near the pair of them. I just can’t look at her with him. It makes my skin crawl with something I can only assume is jealousy. I don’t like even admitting that word to myself.
“Nora.”
I hear him call my name in his normal tone. I can even hear it above the people on the street.
“Nora.”
I look around at the cross streets and take a quick left to round the block the long way.
How could I have been so stupid? I bought everything he said to me. How could he possibly be interested being near me when he clearly has fucked a woman like that? This street is a stark contrast to the one we were just on. It’s much darker, kind of like me at the moment. My heart feels like it’s breaking. Why? This was just a game, clearly. This was just a game.
“Nora. Stop!”
To anyone else it would sound like a plea. To me, this was a feral growl that was an order not a request.
I obey, however, even if every fiber in my pride is telling me not to, but I won’t do it without a fight.
“Tristan, don’t.” I turn to face him, but I keep my feet in one spot. “I just need to go home.”
“You’re running from me, and I want to know why.”
“How can you possibly not know why?” I nearly laugh, “I would assume you’re not that daft.”