"You are such a strange girl. Ow, " he said, in the way that meant he hadn't felt it at all. "You riding with Eve?"
"When she passes the snarling cannibal phase, yeah. Another two cups of coffee, probably. "
"You sure you don't want a bodyguard?" He meant it. Shane didn't have a job -- she wasn't really sure he could get one, after what his dad had been up to in Morganville recently. Probably better he kept it low-profile for a while. The fewer vampires -- and vampire loyalists -- he came in contact with right now, the better. He was still thought of as an unindicted co-conspirator to his dad's revenge rampage, and even though the Mayor had officially signed his pardon, nobody had much liked it.
Accidents happened.
"I don't need a bodyguard, " Claire said. "Nobody's out to get me. Even Monica's gotten all friends-making with me. "
That earned her a too-sharp look, which didn't go well with his reddened, kissable lips. "Yeah. Why is that?"
She shrugged and avoided his eyes. "I don't know. "
He tipped her chin up with one finger. "So, are we at the lying part of the relationship already? Usually that comes after the exciting hot sexy honeymoon period. "
She stuck out her tongue at him, and he leaned forward and -- to her horror -- licked it. "Ewwww!"
"Then don't stick it out. " Shane smiled. "If you're going to hang out in my room and tempt me, there's a penalty. One item of clothing per minute comes off. "
"Perv. "
He pointed to himself. "Male and eighteen. What's your point?"
"You are so -- "
"Say, you got any pleated miniskirts and knee socks? I really get off on -- "
She squealed and dodged his grabby hands, then checked her watch. "Oh, crap -- I really do have to go. I'm sorry. Look, you'll be --you're okay, right?"