his shirt, filling them out with no room to spare. His chest pulled the front of the shirt taut as well.
Without really realizing what she was doing, Claire found herself staying close to his side as they walked.
“It’s okay,” Pietro said, obviously recognizing her nervousness. “I’ll protect you. You’re safe with me.”
That same quiet confidence of his body language extended into his voice as well. There was no doubt there, no bragging. Just simple fact that he knew he was strong enough to keep her safe from anything that might want to harm her.
“Thank you,” she said, lost deep in thought.
Something was bothering her subconscious. A fact that she’d overlooked about the entire situation. Focusing on it, however, made the strand of knowledge disappear. Whatever it was, it wasn’t coming to the fore, no matter how much she tried.
So Claire went the opposite direction. She distracted herself as they neared her parents’ place.
“Do I have to worry about the vampires attacking the house?” she asked, suddenly fearful for her parents.
“No,” Pietro said promptly. “You’ll be fine inside. Vampires have certain limitations in this world.”
“Like the movies!” she exclaimed, wondering if that’s what he meant. “Does sunlight kill them?”
“Yes,” Pietro said. “Well, UV rays kill them. It doesn’t have to be direct sunlight, but that’s the most effective method.”
“So during the daytime I’m safe?”
“Yes. Only at night can they come after you. They also cannot enter homes. Note, I said homes, not houses. It must be a lived in home, not just a house. The thresholds are too strong in a home. A house, however, may not prove impossible for them to enter, though it will take time, and will weaken them as well.”
“What you’re saying is that once I’m inside, I’ll be safe?”
“Yes. Without an invitation, they can’t come inside. You will be out of harm’s way, as will your parents.”
“How did you know that?” she asked, cringing at the reminder of where she lived.
“Trent,” Pietro said, sticking out his tongue. “Information flows both ways you know.”
Claire blushed, shaking her head. “I’m only back here on vacation for a bit. That’s why I’m staying with them.”
Pietro looked over at her as they slowed to turn up the driveway. As he did, his eyes dropped to the arm where Pete had been grabbing her tightly. The red marks of his fingers were gone, but she understood the point he was making.
“Okay,” he said, making it clear he didn’t believe her excuse but that he wasn’t going to push her on it either.
Claire stared straight ahead after that until they were at the side door, the one that led to the basement ‘guest house’ that was where she was staying while at her parents’. The light was on overhead, bathing the entry area in soft white light.
“Thank you for walking me home,” she said, turning to look up at him and gasping at his proximity. She’d not realized he was that close.
Her eyes met his, and she found herself staring into twin pools of blue-green that captured her gaze and held it without effort. How had she never noticed before how pretty his eyes were?
A ghostly memory of their shared hug earlier descended over Claire, filling her with a desire to feel that way again. It had been a long, long time since she’d felt that at ease.
Is he as good a kisser as he is a hugger?
Claire stiffened, forcing the thought out of her head. She did not need to go down that path with Pietro right now.
I don’t need to go down that path with anyone right now, she amended. After all, she was still dealing with the last one, and that was proving to be a nightmare on its own. The last thing Claire needed was another man in her life.
“I’m glad you got home safe,” Pietro said. “Do you mind if I get your number? I’ll be around tomorrow night if you’re out, to make sure nothing happens to you. I…I can be discrete, so you don’t have to actually feel me around. I just want to know you’re safe.”
Claire thought about it, then shrugged. “Sure, what the heck. It’s just a phone number.”
They exchanged texts to ensure both parties had the others number.
“Hopefully by then we’ll have found the vampire,” Pietro said quietly. “So it won’t be an issue. But just in case.”
“Yeah,” she said, still mesmerized by his gaze, trying to keep her composure, all while wondering if she could trust herself to hug him again,