I walked out of the store, ready to head to Whitney’s to meet her and Abby. Trent went out to feed with Jax, Wyatt, and Sean, so Whitney had declared a girls’ day at her house. I had no idea what she had planned, but whatever it was, I hoped it was inside because I did not want to be out in the snow any more than absolutely necessary.
“Hello, Chloe,” Ivy said.
I froze with my hand on the car door handle. “Ivy,” I said, swallowing back my fear. “What’re you doing here?”
Not that I really needed to ask—she made no secret of the fact she was following me. Watching me. I suppressed a shiver.
“Shopping.” She smiled. “Same as you.” She nodded at the bag in my hand.
“Right.” I nodded. “Well, have fun.” I opened the car door.
“Wait,” Ivy said. She approached me. “How are things? The bond with Trent is going well?”
I narrowed my eyes. Why was she asking me that? Was she secretly worried the bond wouldn’t hold?
“Yes, the bond is fine. Though, I still have some lingering connection to Jax,” I said, infusing as much accusation into my tone as I could.
“Well, that bond was strong. But with time, all of that will fade. I promise.” Ivy smiled. “So, no other problems I should be aware of?”
“No. Should there be problems?” I asked.
Ivy chuckled. “No, of course not.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Have you given any thought to the other offer I made you?”
I tossed the shopping bag with Abby’s gifts onto the front seat and rested my arms on the open car door.
“No,” I said, even though that wasn’t completely true. I had thought about it a couple of times, but there was no way I could drag Isach into something like that. Why did Ivy need him anyway? Weren’t they sworn enemies?
Frowning, Ivy shook her head. “You could have everything you’ve ever wanted, and you’re not the least bit interested? Why?”
“Tell me why I need to get Isach involved,” I said, brow raised.
“Ask him. He’ll know why.” Ivy rubbed her hands together as if they were freezing cold. “But a word of advice, Chloe. Don’t pass on this opportunity. It’s the only one you’ll ever get.” She turned on her heel and walked inside the store.
I stared after her a moment. Why did that sound like a threat? And how would Isach know what she was talking about? I climbed into the car and headed toward Whitney’s.
Should I mention anything to Isach? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little curious. But I couldn’t ask him for more—he’d done so much already. And he was struggling with telling Abby the truth about who he was; I couldn’t add more stress to him.
I arrived at Whitney’s and walked in without knocking. I found her and Abby in Whitney’s room. They were lounging on the bed. “Hey,” I said.
“Took you long enough,” Whitney said with a laugh. “Did you get what you needed?”
“Yup.” I flopped down in a chair and stared out the window, wishing with all my might that the sun would make an appearance. Sadly, I was wasting my time.
“I still have no idea what to get Isach for Christmas,” Abby said.
She’d been complaining about this for over a week now, and I was tired of listening to it. She wasn’t the only one with this problem. Ugh. This weather was making me cranky. I couldn’t wait to go to Malibu.
“I don’t know what to get Trent, either.” I shrugged.
Then again, I hadn’t asked him. He hadn’t asked me if I wanted anything, either, because if he had, I would’ve told him I wanted another ring on my finger.
“Have you asked him?” Whitney asked Abby, and I narrowed my eyes. Was she poking around in my head?
“Yeah, and he keeps saying he doesn’t want anything.” Abby groaned and stood from where she’d been sitting on the bed.
“Hey, careful.” Whitney clutched a bottle of bright green nail polish. She was attempting to paint her toenails, but she was doing a horrible job.
“Here, let me.” I moved to sit in front of her and took the bottle of polish. She rested her foot in my lap. “Well, what does he like?” I asked Abby.
“Her.” Whitney snickered. “He likes her. A lot.”
I eyed her and smiled. “You could give him your virginity,” I suggested with a shrug.
“I already did,” she said quietly.
I froze mid brush stroke, my ears ringing. “You had sex with him? And you didn’t tell us?”
Whitney grabbed a pillow and threw it at Abby. “How dare you not tell us!” She sounded genuinely offended. “Details.” She snapped her fingers. “Now.”
I laughed.
“It happened Halloween night.” Abby returned to sit on the bed, careful not to jar me so I didn’t mess up Whitney’s toes. “He was so gentle, and it was amazing,” she gushed.
“So, you don’t regret it?” Whitney asked, her tone cautious.
“No.” Abby shook her head. “Not at all.”
“You were safe, right?” I asked.
That wasn’t something I had to worry about with Trent, which was both a blessing and a curse. Part of me wished I needed to panic about birth control and condoms, because that would mean there was a real possibility of getting pregnant and having kids with Trent.
Though, if Ivy was right, there was a way to get pregnant. I sighed, my shoulders sagging. It didn’t matter what Ivy said—I wasn’t making another deal with her, and I definitely wasn’t dragging Isach into the middle of it.
“Yes, we were totally safe,” Abby said.
I tapped the side of Whitney’s foot to indicate I was finished. She moved that one and put her other foot in my lap.
“Maybe some sexy lingerie.” Whitney waggled her eyebrows. “You could tell your mom you’re staying here. I’d totally cover for you. But then you and Isach could go somewhere else. Alone.”
Abby hesitated as if considering the suggestion. “That’s actually not a bad idea.” A slow smile formed, and she nodded. “I’m gonna do it.”
“Awesome. Okay, so, you…” Whitney turned to me. “What’re you doing for Trent?”
“No clue.” I shook the nail polish and began to apply a second coat to Whitney’s toenails. “He hasn’t said a word about wanting anything. I don’t even know where to start.”
Seriously, what did you buy a vampire who could get whatever they wanted?
“I heard him talking to Wyatt the other night. Trent doesn’t know what to get you, either,” Whitney said. “I’m getting Luke tickets to see his favorite band.” She smiled proudly.
“I’m sure he’ll love that,” Abby said.
“Yeah, I’m sure he will,” I added absently.
What did Trent mean he didn’t know what to get me? He knew I wanted him to propose. Talk about the perfect Christmas gift.
“There. All done.” I twisted the cap on the nail polish and handed it back to Whitney.
My phone rang, and my heart jumped with excitement. Maybe it was Trent. The guys had gone out to feed—almost three hours ago—and they weren’t back yet. I pulled my phone from my pocket and disappointment landed hard when Isach’s name showed on my screen.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, leaving Whitney’s room and then accepting the call. “Hey.”
“I need your help,” Isach said.
“Okay.” I drew out the word slowly, wondering what he could possibly need my help for. “With what?”
“I don’t know what to get Abby for Christmas.”
I laughed. Clearly, us girls weren’t the only ones stressing about getting gifts. “Well, she really likes Twenty One Pilots. Maybe you could buy her concert tickets?”
And hopefully, Whitney wouldn’t get mad at me for stealing her idea.
“I already tried that. They’re not currently on tour.” He sighed. “And I want to really surprise her, so it has to be something good.”
“Then talk to Trent.” I leaned against the wall near the bathroom, far enough away from the
room so Abby wouldn’t hear me but still close enough that I could see if she walked out of the room. “He’s amazing at coming up with surprises.”
“Fine. I’ll call him. Thanks,” he said as if he were ready to end the call.
“Wait,” I said and swallowed hard. “There’s something I need to ask you.”
My stomach churned. I couldn’t believe I was going to ask him about this, but what harm could come from asking a question? It wasn’t like I was asking him to do anything.
I turned so my back was facing the direction of Whitney’s room. “Ivy told me she could make it so Trent and I could have a baby. Is she right? Is there any sort of spell or potion or magic that could make it possible for a vampire to have a baby?” I bit on my bottom lip, feeling foolish for having asked.
“I don’t know,” he said after a moment. “If there is, you’re talking about some really powerful magic, and that type of magic is hard to control. Too much could go wrong.”
Tears burned the back of my throat. I licked my lips and nodded, not that he could see me. Of course, there was no way to have a baby with Trent. I was being silly for even allowing that thought to enter my mind.
“Right,” I said, clearing my throat. “I was just curious.”
Isach sighed. “I’ll see what I can find out, okay?”
“Really?” I straightened, a spark of hope taking root in my chest. I stomped it down, knowing full well that I was asking for a miracle. And miracles didn’t happen. Not for me, anyway.
“You’ll owe me,” he said with a trace of humor.
“I hope you’re keeping track of who owes what to who, because I have no idea anymore.” I laughed.
“So, why is Ivy offering you something like this? You already swore a blood oath to break the curse. What else could she possibly want from you?” he asked. He sounded faraway, as if he were deep in thought and simply talking aloud rather than to me.
“Honestly, I have no idea. But she did tell me if I wanted to take this offer, I had to bring you.” I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. “Any idea why she’d need you?”
“No, but I’m going to find out,” he said, his voice full of determination.
Dread settled over me. I really hadn’t wanted to get Isach involved in all of this. Why didn’t I just keep my mouth shut?
“Listen,” I said, trying to get our conversation back on track. “Don’t buy Abby anything. Do something for her instead. Show her how much she means to you. I guarantee she’ll like that a lot more than a physical gift.”
“Thanks,” he said.
I ended the call and clutched my phone to my chest. Isach hadn’t said it was impossible to conceive with Trent; he’d said it would take a lot of magic—magic that could be difficult to control.
Maybe that’s why Ivy needed him, because he was stronger than she was. But why not just tell me that? I shook my head. The thought of having a baby with Trent was taking root in my mind—talk about one heck of a Christmas gift—but if we did this, I’d have to stay human a lot longer than I wanted to. Would Ivy really be all right with that?
“Hey, you get lost?” Whitney called from her bedroom doorway.
I spun around. “Nope. Just got off the phone.”
She narrowed her eyes. “With who?”
“Isach. He needed help figuring out a gift for Abby.” I headed back toward Whitney’s room. “I gave him a few ideas.”
When I walked back into the room, Abby was now painting her toenails, though she’d chosen a much milder color, a soft pink.
I loved Christmas, but gift giving was stressful. Not only did I need to find the perfect gift for Trent, I needed to find gifts for Aunt Beth, Uncle Dean, my dad and Larissa, Little Frank, Whitney… Maybe I should take my own advice and do something special for Trent rather than buy him something. But what could I do that he hadn’t already done for me?
“Do you think it’s weird for a girl to propose to a guy?” I asked as I grabbed a bottle of red nail polish from Whitney’s vanity. I sat on the bed and slipped off my socks. Only then did I realize Whitney and Abby were staring at me, eyes wide.
“What?” I asked self-consciously.
“You’re thinking about proposing to Trent?” Abby asked.
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “He wouldn’t expect it.”
“Don’t,” Whitney warned, and something in her tone made me snap my head up.
Did she know something? Like when Trent was planning to propose? Had he planned something big and romantic?
“Trent is very old-fashioned,” she said, her tone softer. “He wants to propose to you. Don’t take that from him.”
I sighed. She was probably right, and I knew Trent already had a ring. I just wished he’d do it already. The waiting was slowly killing me.
“Wait. Trent is going to propose?” Abby said, shocked.
“He’s talked about it,” Whitney said.
“And you knew he was talking about it?” Abby’s gaze was trained on me.
I nodded. “He’s mentioned it to me a couple of times, that someday he wants to marry me, but he hasn’t said anything about when he’s going to propose.”
“Oh, my God, Chloe,” Abby shrieked. “This is huge. You’re only eighteen. And you two haven’t been dating that long. Marriage is a big step.”
I sliced a knowing look at Whitney, who now stood silently near the foot of the bed.
Turning back to Abby, I said, “I know, but we’ve already promised each other forever.” I held up my hand to show her the promise ring. “Marriage just seems like the next step.”
“Mom and Dad are going to freak.” She finished painting her toenails, then waved her hands across them to help dry them faster.
Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean really liked Trent, and he was extremely charming. I had no doubts he’d be able to get their approval. He’d already gotten my dad’s, though I didn’t tell her that.
“I’m sure it will be a while before he decides to propose,” I said, trying to dismiss the topic. I shouldn’t have brought it up.
Before she could say anything else, there was a commotion in the living room followed by loud voices and laughing. Trent was back! I scrambled off the bed and dashed out of Whitney’s room.
Trent strode down the hallway. “I was just coming to find you.”
He always looked so refreshed after feeding. His eyes were brighter, his complexion less pale, and his mood was always so upbeat.
“I missed you,” I said, greeting him with a hug.
He’d only been gone a few hours, but it had felt like days. The need to spend every moment with him was growing stronger every day, and I had no idea how I survived the time we spent apart.
His lips came down on mine in a hard kiss. “I missed you, too.” When he pulled away, he asked, “How much longer can you stay?”
I shrugged. “Another hour or so. We have to be home for dinner.”
That was the one thing about Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean—they gave us quite a bit of freedom to hang out with friends, just as long as we were home for dinner every night. On rare occasions, they’d let us skip it, but we usually had to make those plans in advance.
“Stop stealing my friends,” Whitney said, arms crossed.
Trent laughed. “She was my girlfriend before she was your friend.”
My eyes widened. “Abby’s in there,” I whispered frantically.
Whitney glanced over her shoulder, then back at us. “She’s texting Isach. I doubt she heard you.”
I sighed with relief. We’d crafted a careful story about how and when I’d met Trent, and if Abby found out it was all a lie, we’d have to tell her the truth. That was a conversation I did not want to have with her, not yet anyway.
“Give me five minutes, and I’ll be back,” I said to Whitney.
Trent took my hand and tugged me toward his room. “Make it more like fifteen.” He ushered me inside and kicked the door closed.
Then, in a flash, I was beneath him on his bed,
his hard body pressing against mine in all the right places. Moaning, I arched into him, and he rewarded me with a searing kiss that left my lips numb and my head spinning.
His hand landed on my hip and made a slow climb across my stomach and over my ribs. That was another thing—he was always way more affectionate after feeding.
“Trent,” I said, breathless. “We can’t do this right now.”
“I know.”
He dragged his mouth across my jaw and down my neck, and I suddenly forgot why we couldn’t do this. I tilted my head, giving him access to do whatever he wanted.
“I just need to feel you for a minute,” he said. His mouth was back on mine in a slow, soft kiss that ended much too quickly.
“You keep feeling me like that and we’re going to be in here a lot longer than fifteen minutes,” I said.
Groaning in protest, he rolled off me. “Nope. This won’t work,” he said, shaking his head, and then positioned himself on top of me again.
I laughed and ran my fingers through his hair, loving the way he closed his eyes, tilted his head into my hand, and half moaned, half groaned as if my fingers in his hair was the best feeling in the world.
“You’re in a good mood,” I said.
“Because I was able to come home to you.” He grinned.
I rolled my eyes. How could I ever compete with that? He always knew exactly what to say to make my heart melt, to make me fall even deeper in love with him. “Can I ask you a question?” I asked.
He smoothed my hair away from my face. “Always.”
“What do you want for Christmas?”
“Nothing.”
I sighed. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Frustrated, I pushed against his chest, and he climbed off me. I stood and turned to face him. He was still on the bed, laying on his side, head propped in his hand, looking relaxed and completely unfazed.
“You don’t get it,” I said, my tone sharp. “You’re always doing these super romantic things for me, and I feel like I don’t do anything for you. And I want to. I want to make our first Christmas together special, but I have no idea how to do that.”
Eternal Love: (The Cursed Series, Book 4) Page 25
