Marguerite asked.
"She's not kissing anyone but me," he said grimly.
"We're trying to help you here, Christian," Julius said impatiently.
"It's your bloody help that caused this in the first place," he snapped. "Telling her I'm g*y of all things. I should just march down there right now and tell her the truth about everything."
"Do you think she's ready for that?" Julius asked quietly.
"She may be," Marguerite murmured, surprising everyone.
When Christian peered at her hopefully, she said, "She did feel comfortable enough to talk to him about sex." She frowned. "Of course, that may be just because she thinks he's g*y and therefore safe, but I think if she isn't ready she's very close... Unfortunately, close isn't good enough. I'd rather you wait just a bit longer to be sure, son."
Christian shook his head. "I want to tell her everything and take my chances."
"In front of Bethany?" Julius asked.
"No, of course not, I'll ask Carolyn to come outside."
"And tell her on the stoop about immortals and lifemates and that she's yours?" he asked dryly.
Christian frowned with frustration.
"And what will you do if she runs?" Julius asked.
"Chase her," Christian said without hesitation.
"You can chase her, but you can't keep her if she's unwilling.
We'd have to wipe her memories of you, and you could never go near her again."
"What?" Christian gasped with horror.
"It's what is done," Marguerite said quietly. "We can't take the risk that she'd repeat what you've told her. It would endanger not just you, but our entire people."
"But you said Lucern, Bastien, and Etienne's women ran," he said desperately.
"Yes, but Kate, Terri and Jackie already loved them and wouldn't have turned them in. It would have ripped out their own hearts to harm them." She tilted her head and asked, "Does Carolyn love you already?"
Christian frowned. He'd realized today that he loved her, but...
"Do you want to take that chance?" she asked.
Christian sighed in defeat and shook his head. Not yet.
He wouldn't take the chance and lose her.
"Why not sleep on it tonight and wait and see what happens tomorrow?" Julius suggested sympathetically.
"If Bethany comes down to dinner, Santo can put the moves on her and act as a distraction."
"Put the moves on," Santo echoed dubiously.
"And you can get more time alone with Carolyn. If your mother's right, she's gaining trust, and she likes you.
Perhaps love isn't far behind."
"Right," Christian muttered, and finally slapped the bag of blood to his teeth.