A Tale of Two Goblins - By H. P. Mallory Page 0,12
that I’d gone on a date with Bram.
“You do not appear well,” Bram said and his expression revealed concern.
“I have a lot on my mind,” I answered, and it was one hundred percent the truth.
“Well, let us speak of friendlier subjects. Have you an update on your book?”
I nodded, pleased with the distraction from the tailspin of thoughts colliding in my head. Yes, my book was a great subject, a neutral, easy subject. Bram only wanted to discuss it because he happened to be the muse for my main character, also a vampire. Only I’d named my vampire Raven. Aside from the name change, the book was pretty much solely about Bram—his life, how he’d become a vamp and his experiences over the last three hundred years.
“Well, as you know, I finished it a few months ago.”
“Yes, I do recall.”
I continued to stir my soup, feeling like a witch tending to her cauldron. “I think I told you I’d been attempting to get an agent?” Bram just nodded, so I continued. “I sent out my queries, and one agent requested the entire book.”
Bram smiled widely. “I did not doubt you, Sweet. I am very pleased.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty stoked, myself.”
“And what will happen now?” Bram continued and accidentally or not, brushed his foot against my leg underneath the table. Instantly I shifted my leg and pretended not to notice.
“Now I’ll just wait to see if they want to offer me representation.”
“Well, do ensure this is the best possible agent, Sweet. We want the best for our book.”
I didn’t find his reference to the book as “ours” at all offensive. In fact, I was proud, happy that Bram claimed ownership to something that meant a lot to me. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was as much his book as mine because it was his life, so he probably had just as much invested in it as I did. “The agency is well respected,” I finished.
“Very good,” Bram said and eyed my untouched soup. “Are you not hungry?”
I let go of the spoon, realizing how rude it was to play with one’s food without ever trying it or intending to.
Bram laughed. “No wonder you are of such slight figure. If I did not know better I would think you must be vampire as I do not believe I have ever seen you eat.”
“You saw me eat the last time we were here, remember? On our first…date.”
Bram relaxed into his chair and eyed me with an expression that was difficult to categorize—a studious gaze, as piercing as it was appreciative. “And now we are on our second date.” He was quiet for a moment. “Does this mean we are…dating?”
I was quick to answer “no.”
He didn’t lose that bizarre expression. If anything it was now deeper, more exacting. “Then what would you call this, Sweet?”
“I would call it what it is—you want to get into my pants, and I won’t let you so you figure the more dates we go on, the more I’ll drop my defenses and eventually, my panties.”
Bram was silent for exactly two seconds and then threw his head back and exploded into a raucous chuckle. “Do you think so little of me?”
“I don’t know that I think little of you,” I started. “I just know you for who and what you are.”
Bram nodded, a smile still highlighting his full and sensual lips. “Perhaps we should give this theory of yours a try?”
I returned the smile and before he got too excited, shook my head. “Thanks but no thanks. I prefer our friendship.”
He didn’t look disappointed. “I will not give up, you do realize that, Sweet?”
“Bram, I would never accuse you of being anything other than…persistent.”
“Ah, you do know me well.”
“I like to think I do.” I paused, and he leaned back into his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. “So, as long as you don’t jump me like you did earlier,” I continued. “We can continue our friendship.”
“I did already apologize for that, Sweet.”
“You did but I’m not convinced it was sincere.”
Bram held up two fingers like he thought he was a boy scout or something. “I do honestly and truthfully regret it,” he pledged, then dropped his hand. “I should have known I could not force my will upon you and furthermore, had I succeeded, I would not have enjoyed the conquest. I prefer you in your natural cantankerous state.”