His warm breath caressed the nape of her neck.
“Yes,” she said, as surprised by the thought as the fact she’d admitted it. “I’ve never denied the attraction. I’ve just tried not to do anything about it.”
“Hmmm. Is this so bad?” His fingers pushed the last strands of hair aside, as his lips brushed her neck. A silken touch that sent a fire through her. Ari shivered in his arms. Andreas laughed softly. A totally masculine sound.
“Not when I’m with you. I forget all my good intentions.”
He stilled. “What are those intentions?”
Ari wiggled to free herself, and he let go. She moved out of reach before turning to face him. “When I’m away from you, I always vow to stay away. I remember all the reasons why this won’t work. You’re a vampire, one of the undead. I can’t seem to handle that. I don’t understand you, or your powers. I don’t know what this strange bond is between us. And I’m afraid I’ll get lost somehow.” Growing more uncomfortable, she started to turn away.
“No, don’t run now,” Andreas said, gliding forward, closing the distance between them. “Do you think this is any easier for me?” He placed a finger under her chin, tilting her face to look at him. “I do not understand the pull between us anymore than you do. Nor the magical power that woke me and allowed me to see into your mind. It is unique, but unsettling. Yet, somehow, I know it was meant to happen.”
“That’s not all of it,” she said, looking at him with a frown. “There are issues that won’t go away. A ton of them. While you’ll be young…forever, I’ll eventually grow old and wrinkled. Have you thought about that?” Ari glared at him, resentful that the admissions made her feel exposed. So what if she was as vain as the next woman? Maybe she wasn’t beautiful, but her skin was still young and smooth. It wouldn’t always be that way. What would he think of her then?
Andreas laughed. “I trust that will not happen soon.” He stepped back and crossed his arms. “All right, madam witch. Tell me the rest.”
Harold Shale’s list of negatives came back to her, but there was only one that was really important. “Kids,” she blurted. “I always thought someday I’d have one or two little Calin witches or warlocks.” She blushed at having such a personal conversation before they’d even had a first date. “You could never give me children, and I have a duty to the next generation. My heritage is important, Andreas. You can’t expect me to throw it aside. We have no future.”
“Are you done?”
“I could go on, but the other things are minor in comparison, so, yes. For now.”
He dropped his arms and came to her side, placing two fingers lightly against her lips. “You are thinking too much and too far ahead. Making this more complicated than it should be. We have today. There are never guarantees for tomorrow.”
“Unless you’re immortal,” she shot back.
“Now you are talking nonsense. I am not immortal. Hard to kill, maybe, but I can die like anyone else. You know that—or we would not have had the recent scene in the hallway. You are wasting time, avoiding the inevitable.”
Ari stiffened. “Inevitable? Like I have no choice?”
“No, like we are mutually attracted and that will eventually lead to something. I am suggesting we let that happen now,” he said, sliding his hands around her waist.
She thought about it, distracted by his nearness and his hands touching her. She pulled away again, and this time he sighed and stepped back.
“I know exactly where inclination will take us, Andreas. And it’s not where I want to go. Without a future, I don’t want any ties. Can’t we leave things the way they are?”
“I am not sure I understand. You want us to be friends?” He looked skeptical.
“Why not? Something wrong with that?”
“I do not feel exactly friendly.”
“Meaning?” Some evil genie wanted to hear him say it.
Andreas was too clever for that. “It means I will have to learn patience, little witch,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Something I have not had to practice in a couple of hundred years.” He paused before adding, “Sometimes I forget how young you are. In time, you will change your mind.”
Ari stared at him. “And do what? Throw myself at your feet?”
“Are you trying to force me away with a wall of anger?” he asked gently. “All I meant was