“I’d rather stay here in case you need me,” he insisted.
“What happened wasn’t your fault,” she assured him.
“Not my fault?” he asked with a humorless laugh. “You practically ran out of that restaurant because I was acting like an ass, so I’d say that makes your accident my fault.”
“I was frazzled and walking around in a broken shoe. I’ll admit that I was unnerved by your flirting, which quite frankly was rude. Still, I should have stood up for myself. That’s been a problem of mine for years.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Why what?”
“Why don’t you stand up for yourself more?” he asked.
Trish thought for a moment. Honestly, she’d never spent much time pondering why she was this way. “My mom was pretty wrecked after my dad died. I remember feeling mostly numb about everything, like I didn’t want to believe it. That made it easier to take care of my mom. I pasted a smile on my face and kept it there through everything. Now, I know that makes my mom sound bad, but you have to understand how hard this was for her. She didn’t see it coming. No one did. My dad’s death not only left her in denial, it left us broke, because when it was ruled a suicide, my mom couldn’t collect on the life insurance. It was a newer policy, so she got nothing. They had savings, but not nearly enough to cover the mortgage on the house we had back then. She needed me to be there for her.”
“How old were you?” he asked.
“I was eight when my father threw himself in front of a train. That’s what the police said happened, but my mom never believed it. We used to go out to the spot where he died. Even then, it seemed strange to visit that spot and not his grave, but my mom couldn’t let it go. Okay, that probably makes it sound like she’s sitting around mourning him still, and she’s not. It’s just that my mom is convinced he was murdered, and that makes it hard for her to completely move on.”
“I would imagine it does,” he said, looking somewhere between sympathetic and annoyed. “Why would she take you there?”
Trish cocked her head to the side. “I don’t think she even realized I knew how he died. We still don’t talk about it. Anyway, my point is that I started trying to be positive all the time so my mom wouldn’t be sad. Any time something bothered me or I had a problem at school, she sunk into these deep depressions. She’s much better now. Honestly, she’s great, but it took a few years, and by then, I tensed up at the thought of confrontation.”
“That explains why you bring fake dates to clubs,” he said.
“I only go to clubs because I like live music. No, I love the music, but I hate dealing with the guys that hit on me. Turning them down is hard for me, which is unfair of me because most of them would move on if I said I wasn’t interested. Instead, I end up worrying about hurting their feelings and giving them vague answers that make them think I’m on the fence.”
Leaning forward, Alek took one of her hands and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Eat,” he said, pointing to the barely touched sandwich on her plate.
There was a determined knock at the front door before it opened. Trish wasn’t at all surprised when Caitlin marched into the room with Justin right behind her.
“I’m here to take care of you,” Caitlin announced with all the warmth of a cobra.
Trish’s laugh morphed into a moan as pain shot through her head. “No offense, Caitlin, but your bedside manner might be enough to make me go back to the hospital.”
Caitlin raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to be a doctor. I can handle this compassion thing.”
Justin’s lips twitched, but he said nothing.
“As sweet as your offer is, I think it’s best if Alek stays with me and you go home,” Trish said patiently.
Caitlin snorted. “I am not leaving you with the ultimate man-whore.”
“Hey! I’m sitting right here,” Alek said indignantly.
“I need sleep,” Trish said. “We both know Justin is only here to use the toys you have in your old room. I have no interest in listening to the two of you go at it all night while I recover. Go home.”
“Toys?” Alek sounded intrigued.
“Now is not the time for that,” Trish said.
Caitlin sighed. “Fine, I’ll go, but I want you to promise to call if you need me, even if you just need me to tell Alek to back the fuck off.”
“Maybe I don’t want Alek to back off,” Trish said, enjoying the shocked expressions of the other people in the room.
Chapter Seven
Nothing could have surprised Alek more than Trish’s comment about not wanting him to back off. Actually, she’d said maybe, and she’d probably only said that to shock Caitlin. That was the only explanation that made any sense, not that Trish trying to shock Caitlin made much sense.
He missed the rest of Trish’s conversation with Caitlin because he was caught up in thoughts of Trish letting him strip her naked and slide into her body. That had his mind wandering down the all too familiar path where he wondered what kinds of sounds she’d make in bed. He’d be willing to bet he could make her scream. That thought brought him crashing back to reality. No screaming. He was here to take care of Trish, not fuck her senseless.
“If you hurt her, I will cut your balls off,” Caitlin said from right beside him. Apparently, she was done talking to Trish and ready to make dire threats.
All Alek could do was nod and hope he didn’t look too guilty. Caitlin could read minds like Ivy, so it was entirely possible she knew what he’d been thinking about.
After the front door closed behind Caitlin and Justin, an uncomfortable silence descended around them— uncomfortable for him anyway. Trish was enjoying her sandwich, oblivious to the effect her words had on him.
“I can’t remember the last time I had grilled cheese,” Trish said after she finished the last bite. “My mom used to make them for me when I was sick. She’s the one who stocked up my house with groceries last. For some reason, she thinks I’ll starve while she’s on her cruise.”
Since the kitchen was already pretty empty, Alek was guessing her mom was right. “Not much of a cook?” he asked, hoping this conversation about cooking would take his mind off of thoughts of Trish screaming his name.
She shook her head and laughed. “Actually, I’m a great cook, but my mom worries anyway. I’m sure you know how that is.”
“Not really,” he admitted. “Growing up, I was the only confirmed bastard in the family. Although, I suspect we all are. Now, Roman knows Ursula is his mom. Lucky bastard.”
Trish’s cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink that reminded Alek of how young and innocent she was. “Sorry, I didn’t realize that, but having met Sofia, I should have known you didn’t have a loving mom in your life. From what I hear, that woman was awful to all of you.”
Alek shrugged. It was true; Sofia hadn’t been a loving maternal influence in their lives. “I’m sure it wasn’t easy for her. At least with my brothers, most people believed they were hers. With me, I always looked enough like my mother to make it more obvious to the world that I was a bastard. You can’t blame Sofia for being bitter about being forced to be around me.”
“Yes, I can and do blame her,” Trish said angrily, which came as somewhat of a surprise. “You were all children, and Sofia had no right to take out her frustrations with your father on you.”
“What would you do?” Alek asked. “Say you were expected to raise a child who wasn’t your own and pretend they were.”
Trish sighed. “I get that it wasn’t easy for her, but it’s no excuse to treat innocent children poorly.”
Alek studied her for a moment before nodding. “That was a dumb question on my part. I already know you wouldn’t act like Sofia. It’s refreshing to meet someone who expects the best from others. Most people are jaded.”
“You aren’t,” she said with a shy smile. “It surprised me to hear that you’re Roman’s brother. I mean, at your age, I expected you to be more like Roman.”
Alek laugh
ed. “Did you just call me an old man?”
Trish looked distressed, but then she smiled. “I guess I did. Maybe my manners were affected by the accident.”
“I don’t need you to watch your tongue around me,” he assured her, wishing he hadn’t made mention of her tongue because that sent his thoughts spiraling in a very dangerous direction. His thoughts were filled with memories of his tongue stroking hers. The memory of that kiss would likely stay with him for the rest of his life. Thankfully, Trish’s new talent didn’t involve reading minds, or she might slap him for what he wanted to do to her at that moment.
“What? No perverted comment about keeping my tongue busy?” she asked with a sweet smile.
Alek had just taken a drink of water and nearly spit it out. After getting his choking fit under control, a choking fit Trish clearly found amusing, he finally managed to respond. “Are you saying you want me to make a suggestion?”
“No,” she said and then thought for a moment. “Maybe, but I’m not suggesting you use that line now.”
Alek shifted in his seat to make room for the erection that had sprung to life at Trish’s smile, which was a cross between siren and shy virgin. Damn! That was the thing that kept drawing him to Trish in the beginning. There was this fire inside of her, but she had an innocence he didn’t see often.
“If I use that line later, will it work?”
“Since it’s a terrible line, I want to say no, but I don’t seem to act like myself around you.”
Alek groaned. “You need to stop flirting with me,” he said, sounding almost desperate.
Her eyes widened. “Sorry, it wasn’t intentional, and that’s the other thing. I don’t know why I flirt with you. Normally, I’m not like this.”
“I know,” he said and ran a hand through his hair, giving it a gentle tug to try to snap himself out of whatever was going on. “Within five minutes of meeting you, I knew you were way out of my league.”
“That’s a laugh!” she said loud enough to make herself cringe. “Okay, raising my voice is bad.”
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I was just surprised by what you said. Seriously, you’ve been coming on to me every chance you get.”
“Yeah, I can’t seem to help myself,” he admitted, not sure why he felt like a boy at the brink of puberty trying to talk to a girl he liked.
“It’s the forbidden fruit aspect that attracts you to me. Your family saying you couldn’t have me made me more desirable,” she said thoughtfully. “Plus, how often do you get turned down by a woman?” A very attractive blush colored her cheeks. “That came out completely wrong.”
Alek chuckled. “Too late to take it back now. You think I’m irresistible.”
Trish opened her mouth to argue but ended up smiling at him. “I haven’t done a very good job of resisting you so far.”
“If that were true, I’d have been inside you the first day we met, and spent much of the last month enjoying your body.” When Trish blushed again, Alek gave her an affectionate smile. “You have this endearing innocence about you. I don’t make many women blush like virgins.” Then a thought occurred to him. “Are you a virgin?”
Trish snorted. “I’m almost thirty years old. What do you think?”
“It’s possible,” he said.
“Well, I’m not.” She failed to stifle her yawn at the end of that statement.
“You should take a nap,” Alek said, reaching out a hand to help her to her feet. He was oddly pleased when Trish took his outstretched hand.
When she was standing in front of him, he leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. “I really am sorry about the way I acted in the restaurant yesterday. How can I make it up to you?”
She gave him a shaky smile. “Do you want to make it up to me?”
“Yes,” he said.
“I need you to take me somewhere,” she said hesitantly. “This may sound crazy, but I need to go to the place where my father died.”
As realization struck, Alek shook his head. “No. You do not need to see your father die. That’s what you’re hoping for, isn’t it? Why would you even want to see something like that?”
“Everyone says my father jumped in front of a train,” she explained. “My mother tried to tell them he wouldn’t have done that. He was a police officer, and he’d been put on administrative leave after an incident. I don’t know the details because I was too young to understand at the time. Whatever happened, he was upset afterward, and everyone said he was depressed. The thing is, I don’t think he was depressed. He was determined to get back to work because of a case. I know I was just a kid at the time, but I think my mom was right.”
Alek wrapped her in his arms, pulling her close to his chest. “People don’t always show any outward signs of depression. I can understand why you want to find another answer, but this may be denial on your part.”
“Don’t try to placate me, Alek,” she said but didn’t pull away. “My mom tried to convince the police he was murdered, but no one would listen. Now, I may be able to find out the truth. I’m going out there with or without you.”
“I’ll go with you,” Alek said before stepping away from her. “Tomorrow,” he added. “First, get some rest. I’m going to buy groceries and fill your prescription. I’ve already programmed my number into your phone so you can call if you need me home faster or think of anything you want me to pick up.”
Alek lingered in the condo for about fifteen minutes until he was sure Trish was settled into bed. Then he headed out to run his errands. The pharmacist had insisted that Trish needed to be there with her ID to pick up the prescription, and it was proof Alek was exhausted when he argued with the pharmacist before remembering that all he needed to do was add a touch of compulsion to his voice to get what he wanted.
Back at the condo, he tried to be as quiet as possible. Trish needed sleep. He’d spent the previous night at the hospital, so he knew nurses had woken her up frequently. He was exhausted himself, and the temptation to head into her room and join her for a nap was strong, but that was a bad idea. As far as he was concerned, her new psychic abilities made her even more off-limits. Unlike many of the men in his family, he wasn’t looking for a wife. There had been a time when he’d wanted that, but he’d stopped believing in happy endings long ago. No, all he could offer Trish was a short affair, and that was something she’d never go for.
After putting away the groceries, Alek settled onto the too small sofa so he’d hear Trish when she woke up.
Chapter Eight
The thing that sucked most about her head injury, or maybe it was her new talent, was the confusion Trish felt when she woke up. Even in her own bedroom, she was somewhat disoriented. Looking at the clock, she was shocked to realize she’d slept for more than three hours. While a lot of people enjoyed a good afternoon nap, she’d never been one of them, but a night in the hospital obviously took a lot out of her.
Climbing out of bed, Trish rummaged through her drawers to find something comfortable to wear. Her shoulders and ribs ached now, making her consider staying in the rumpled clothes she’d slept in. The only thing she’d done before lying down was take her bra off. If she was alone, she’d just wear a sleep shirt, but that seemed like a bad idea with Alek in the condo. While she still planned to seduce him, she wasn’t up to it at the moment.
After her second failed attempt to put a bra on, Trish opted to go braless because it hurt her ribs too much. Funny how she hadn’t even noticed the pain in her ribs and shoulders before. Slipping into a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie, she figured she was covered enough.
In the living room, she found Alek awkwardly positioned on her sofa. How he managed to sleep that way, she had no idea. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she made her way toward the kitchen, but Alek’s voice stopped her.
“How was your nap?” he asked.
“Good,” she said, flinching when she tried to nod.
Alek was immediately on alert. “Are you ha
ving more pain?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “I’m not sure if I feel stiffer after my nap, or my head feels better so I’m noticing all the other parts of my body that hurt.”
“I can help you with that,” Alek said, sitting and stretching his arms over his head. The muscles on his arms and chest rippled under his tight black t-shirt, making Trish long to slip her hands under that shirt.
“I’ll bet you can,” she said with a saucy grin.
Alek chuckled. “I didn’t mean that way. As you may recall, I’ve promised to be on my best behavior while you’re recovering.”
“That’s probably a good thing,” she said. “So, how can you help me?”
“Has anyone talked to you about how Lydia was saved or how Caitlin recovered so quickly?” he asked.
“Duh, Lydia knows,” she said before realizing he didn’t know Lydia well enough to understand. “While Lydia can keep a secret, she prefers not to. She also has this tendency to tell me everything that happens in her life. Needless to say, some of what she tells me can be quite disturbing.”
“Didn’t she keep you all in the dark about her relationship with Dominic for months?” Alek asked.
“Yeah, and that proves he’d found a way to control her mind, because Lyd would never lie to me about something like that.” Trish tried to see the best in people and forgive them when they made a mistake, but she was glad Dominic was dead. He’d not only been so obsessed with Lydia that he’d nearly killed her, he’d also been responsible for Caitlin being kidnapped and tortured. The man had needed to die. “Back to this making me feel better thing. Please don’t tell me it’s more pain pills. While I know I’m going to have to take one again, I hate them.”
“Actually, I was going to offer to transfer some of the energy from my body into yours. It will speed up your healing and should help with the pain. None of us were thinking straight when you were hospitalized or I would have done it then.”
Wanton With a Vampire Page 4
