Chapter 16

Who’s Staring?

Danielle had talked Ethan into staying in their bed until long after the sun had set and his heart had stopped beating for the night. But the next morning she awoke to an empty bed. It seemed he stayed until she’d fallen asleep and then slipped away. She didn’t like that. She didn’t want to be separated from her husband at bedtime, sleeping in different bedrooms. It just wasn’t right.

Waking up alone hadn’t put her in the best mood, and she decided she needed to hit something. Again, frustration was fueling her need for studied violence. She dressed in her workout clothing, brushed her hair back into a ponytail, gathered her heavy metal music, and made for the garden. It was getting cold out as fall began to set in, but she planned on moving enough to not notice.

The three guards still lingered, but they wouldn’t be as close as they had been before. Danielle secretly missed the silly banter that went on amongst them, and thought maybe they were a little like the three stooges. As well as making her cry, they’d made her laugh quite a bit. However, she was extremely happy to be able to get out of the house. With Ethan home, she’d be able to enjoy a few more freedoms. If she was believed to be here now then she could go outside, right?

As she approached the door, Merrick captured her arm.

“Ow! That’s where the bruise is. Do you mind?”

“Oops, sorry about that.” He released her promptly.

She reached for the handle again, and Merrick stepped in front of it.

“Um, I’m just going out to exercise.”

“Did you ask Ethan if you could do that outside?”

“Ethan’s not around to ask,” she replied angrily. “I’m not a child; I don’t need his permission for everything.”

“Let her go, Merrick. She’s supposed to be pretending that she’s immortal, remember? I think she’d still be doing her training if she were,” Richard said.

“Hmm, I see your point. Sorry, Danielle, old habits are hard to break.” He chucked her chin like she was his little sister.

Danielle smiled. “I understand,” she said as she went out into the chilled morning.

She’d only been allowed to look at their yard from inside, until now. Moving across the grass she decided she could see why it reminded Ethan of England. It was formal with shrub topiaries surrounding it. These weren’t the amazing animals Beon liked to sculpt, these were simple balls and twists, but they still provided an English-style effect.

The northern side was teaming with rosebushes but they’d lost their pretty blooms for the season. Irish moss carpeted the ground below, which still had little white flowers sprinkled over it because it was a hardier plant. An herb garden lay at the south side of the yard, but most of it had gone to seed and she knew frost would soon destroy what was left. A neglected and dying vegetable garden stood next to a fountain. She frowned realizing that Ethan had probably planned on enjoying the fresh produce himself. However, now he couldn’t do that.

Danielle chose the space in the middle of the lawn to begin her workout. She set the iPod dock down and pressed play on her iPod. The banging song electrified the air and she loved that.

“I’m afraid you may have it too loud. The neighbors could complain.”

She turned to face Richard, who’d obviously followed her out. “If it’s too loud, then you’re too old.” Danielle started her routine.

“You really like Aerosmith?”

Left block, forward punch, uppercut. “I’m surprised you even know who they are.”

“They’ve been around long enough to be noticed, even by me.”

“Yes, they’re great for this.” She punched and kicked in his direction.

“I’m impressed. I can see you’ve been studying this for a long time. Your technique is nicely polished.”

“Too bad it’s useless against the likes of you. Regardless, I keep doing it because I like it, and I need the exercise.” She moved through two roundhouse kicks, and several blocks and jabs.

“I’ll spar with you.” He reached out and caught her fist in the palm of his hand.

She jerked free. “I don’t think so. Ethan might be angry that you’re even out here with me.”

“She’s right about that,” Ethan said.

Richard dipped into a quick bow and left after he said, “Good day.”

“Where were you this morning? And when did you leave me?”

“You tempt me when you’re sleeping, I couldn’t stay.”

She stopped what she was doing, and one look into those mystical eyes of his made her dizzy, so she dropped her gaze to his shirt. “My blood? Is that what tempts you?” she asked, fingering one of his buttons.

He slid the backs of his fingers over her cheek, and she swallowed. His hands were cooler than her morning chilled cheeks. She was more aware of his temperature changes after being so close to him when he was mortal, and while the sun had risen, he hadn’t warmed up much yet. It must be a gradual thing, she mused.

“No,” he said, “I wanted to make love to the angel sleeping next to me, and if I woke you for that, then I would be tempted ... to use the curse. It was less painful to sleep in another room.”

“What does it feel like? That temptation.”

“It feels wicked in a bad way. Evil.”

“And the taste?”

“The taste is only a small part of it. In truth, it’s more about drawing energy and power.” He shuddered like he was disturbed by his own words. “Just feeding feels so immoral to me. I rather preferred the pangs of hunger, and the uncomfortable tightness of being too full. Food is heavy. I liked that.”

“And because of this, you can’t sleep next to me?”

“I—just—I couldn’t do it last night.”

“This sucks.” She dropped her hand from him, twisted away, and went back to her techniques, getting more violent with the movements.

“Richard watches you. Did you know that?”

She stopped again, but kept her back to him. “Um, don’t all of my guards watch me? Practically nonstop?” She could see one even now, guarding the back gate.

“Well, yes, but not like Richard does.”

“What is it about the way he watches me that bothers you?” She felt a chill slice up her spine at the idea.

“There’s just a look in his eye that troubles me. And he stares; the others don’t stare at you.”

“If you don’t trust him then why is he in charge?”

“Because Max chose him, and I agree that he is the best man for this, and I don’t think he means you harm. He just seems a little too interested.” Ethan had his lips to her ear now, and Danielle shivered as his cool mouth moved against her lobe.

“Isn’t he married? I forgot to ask that…. I know that Merrick is, and Cedric just married Anna—”

“He’s single.”

“That can’t be.” Her voice dropped down to a whisper. “Isn’t he nearly seven hundred years old?”

“He’s been married a few times.” Ethan’s breath fanned her cheek. It wasn’t as cold as his flesh, possibly because it came from inside him and with the sun up he was warming up.

“What happened?” Danielle turned to face her husband, but she avoided his eyes. She buried her nose into his cold shoulder instead. So much for getting some exercise….

Ethan responded by rubbing her back. She felt herself sag against him as his fragrance surrounded her. “He’s been divorced a few times,” he said.

“Why? I mean he’s rather grouchy, but he’s got a soft side hidden underneath it all.”

“The point is that he’s looking.”

“And you think he wants me? Now you’re paranoid and jealous. Ethan, I’m married to you, and everyone knows I’m expecting your baby. That’s generally a major turn off for most men.”

“You’re the one who discovered the cure…”

“Oh, please! I only did what you told me to do, and any mortal could do it. I think you’re wrong. He’s just anal about this military stuff, and keeping me alive is the main objective.”

“I hope you’re right, Danielle, but I want you to keep your distance from him.”

“All right, I’ll be careful.” However, she still needed the violence she’d come out to the garden for in the first place. So far, she’d done more talking than karate. “Fight with me, Ethan. I need to punch something!” She shoved away from his chest and struck out at him, hoping he didn’t notice how she swayed from his influence.

Ethan chuckled. “Go for it, darling. Just don’t overdo it this time.”

They sparred, but it was plain to see the he was being extremely careful with her. He blocked a few of her strikes but let the majority fall. And he never struck out at her, not even in jest. She continued until she’d cooled her anger, but hadn’t exhausted herself. “Thanks, honey, it’s nice to have a dummy I can’t hurt.”

“Anytime, darling.” His gaze met hers then. She’d been careful about avoiding that until just then, and she swooned.

Ethan scooped her up into his arms before everything went completely black. “Did you eat before you came out here?”

Danielle flushed with guilt. Nope, in her anger she’d skipped that again.

“That’s what I thought. Next time you exercise I want you to eat first.”

“Yes, sir.” She knew he was right. She had to stop being so distracted and focus on taking care of herself, and this baby.

* * * * *

“Ooo! Pancakes! May I have some?” Nadia asked as she walked into the kitchen. She and Max had just arrived.

“Sure, have a seat. There’s still some batter left over.” Ethan turned the burner back on, and dropped more butter into the pan as the heat returned.

Max popped his head in to say, “I’m taking our stuff to our room, or rather rooms. Which way do I go?”

“Last two doors on the left, at the top of the stairs.”

“Thanks.” Then he added, “Oh, and Nadia already had breakfast.”

“But not pancakes…” she muttered as Ethan gave her a fork and a glass of milk while the cakes were cooking.

“You get to sleep alone too, huh?” Danielle asked.

Nadia nodded.

Ethan flipped the pancakes. “I’ve already explained that…”

“We know. It still sucks.”

He dropped the pancakes onto a plate and placed it in front of Nadia with a bottle of syrup.

Danielle was finished with her pancakes and she’d stood from the table to help herself to an apple. She got out a plate and knife to cut it, but Ethan snatched the blade from her like she was the toddler who’d just gotten into the knife drawer.

“I can cut the apple,” she argued.

“You’re in a house full of vampires and you’re pregnant. You won’t be cutting anything.”

“The sun is up, and I’m fairly certain that pregnancy doesn’t make me incapable of slicing fruit.”

“Humor me.” He kissed her soundly on the forehead as he presented her with the cored and sectioned apple. And she noticed right away that his lips were warmer than they were earlier.

“Fine,” she said as she lifted a slice to her lips and then rolled her eyes at Nadia.

Nadia smiled while drowning her pancakes in syrup.

After Ethan had cleaned up, and left the kitchen, Danielle sat next to Nadia again. “It’s nice to have a fellow mortal in the house,” she mumbled around another bite of apple.

“I know what you mean.”

“How have things been?”

“Crazy. Max is constantly on edge. I think he misses the food.” Nadia stuffed a syrup-dripping, double-layer square of pancake between her lips.

“I know Ethan does.” Danielle stared at her last piece of apple, trying to decide if she had room for it or not.

“Let’s go shopping today.” Nadia made the decision about the fruit for her by stealing the wedge and then gave it a lick before she chomped off half of it.

Danielle smiled as she stood, gathered their dishes and turned to put them in the dishwasher. “I’d like that. Do you think we’ll be allowed?”

“It can’t hurt to ask.”