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«I kept waiting for there to be a quiet time, when you weren't ass-deep in alligators, but…»
«But I'm always ass-deep in alligators.»
«Yeah,» he said.
I rose and nodded. That was fair. «I'll think about what you said, and that's all I've got tonight, okay?»
«That's wonderful. I mean it. I was afraid…»
I frowned at him. «You really thought I'd dump you because of this?»
He shrugged and wouldn't look at me. «You don't like demands, Anita, not from any of the men in your life.»
I unbuckled my seat belt and slid over so I could turn him to look at me. «I can't promise that this won't eventually break me, but I can't imagine not waking up beside you most mornings. I can't imagine not having you puttering in our kitchen. Hell, it's more your kitchen than mine. I don't cook.»
He kissed me and drew back with that smile that made his face shine with happiness. I loved that smile. «Our kitchen. I've never had an 'our' anything before.»
I hugged him, partially because I wanted to, and partially to hide the expression on my face. On one hand, I loved him to pieces; on the other hand, I wished he had come with an instruction book. More than almost any other man in my life, he confused me. Richard hurt me more, but most of the time I understood why. I didn't like it, but I understood his motivation. Nathaniel was so far outside my comfort zone sometimes that I had no clue. That I understood vampires that had been alive over five hundred years better than I understood the man in my arms said something. I wasn't sure what it said, but something.
«Let's go inside before Jean-Claude wonders what happened to us.»
He nodded, still looking happy. He got out on his side with the box in hand. I got out, hit the button to make the Jeep beep, and eased between the cars onto the sidewalk. He'd put his hat back on. Nathaniel in disguise. I put my left arm through his, and we walked over the melting snow toward the club. He was still all glowing from the «our» comment I'd made. Me, I wasn't glowing. I was worried. How far would I really go to keep him? Could I send him to a stranger for slap and tickle? Could I share him if I couldn't meet his needs? I didn't know. I really didn't know.