still tight, were becoming comfortable again. Rachel supposed they hadn't been all that tight to begin with, and had simply seemed so because she had become used to loose dress pants over the years. After a quick check of herself in the bathroom mirror, she took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and headed downstairs.
Rachel tried to mentally prepare herself for whatever unpleasantness Etienne might wish to talk about, but since she wasn't sure what it was, she couldn't really do much.
Etienne paced the library, his mind racing, trying to line up his arguments. He figured that once he convinced Rachel to stay, he would have the time necessary to work on the Pudge matter. Despite her protest, he didn't think it should be too difficult to convince her to claim the man had kidnapped her--it was in her own best interest too.
Etienne decided it would be best to start by sympathizing with her. Rachel would be concerned about her job and the possibility of losing it. She would be worried about her family, her friends, and their fears and worry over her. She might even have a boyfriend out there, anxious about her well-being.
The thought caught Etienne by surprise. Until that moment, he hadn't even considered that there might be a rival for her affections. It didn't make him very happy to consider it now, but it was definitely something he needed to know.
After explaining that he understood her concerns,
Etienne would then point out that, while these were all valid concerns, the main concern was Rachel's health and well-being--as well as that of his people. He would point out that her immediate return to work and home might threaten her welfare. First, there was Pudge. The man would know she was one of them now if she returned healthy, and that would make her a possible target. Then there was her inexperience and lack of control. Should her teeth pop out, or her hunger overcome her while at work, her change would be revealed, threatening both her and his family. Worse, unable to control minds yet, Rachel wouldn't even have a chance to repair the damage she would cause. And then there was the blood issue. Not being able to feed herself was a major problem.
"Here I am."
Etienne turned from the window and looked at Rachel. She had kept on the jeans, but had changed her top to a green blouse that brought out the color of her eyes. She looked gorgeous. Breathtaking. Every argument Etienne had lined up in his head now marched gaily out of it, leaving him rather lost.
"You wanted to talk?" Rachel prompted, moving farther into the room as he merely stood staring at her.
"Yes. Talk," Etienne agreed, but that was as much as he could manage. He felt like someone had pole-axed him.
Why? It wasn't like it was the first time he'd seen the woman. He'd been aware of her beauty from the first. Perhaps the attraction was from the uncertainty on her face and the way her eyes held mild anxiety. Or the way she caught her lower lip with her teeth to worry it. Then again, it might be the fact that, instead of the covered T-shirt, she was now wearing a blouse with the top two or three buttons undone. That exposed cleavage he had licked in his dreams--or their shared dream.
"Didn't you want to talk?"
Etienne gave himself a mental shake. "Yes. Yes, I... Look, I know you're probably upset not to be able to contact your family and friends and boyfr--Do you have a boyfriend?" he interrupted himself.
"Not at the moment," Rachel said.
"Oh, good." He grinned.
Her eyebrows rose. "Why is that good?"
"Why?" Etienne was stumped for a moment, then settled for, "Well, it's one less worry, right?"
She nodded slowly, looking perplexed.
"Well, anyway." He cleared his throat. "I know you're upset about this, but--"
"But I have to learn to feed before I can leave here," she interrupted.
"You do?" he asked with surprise. Then he corrected, "I mean, you realize that?"
"Of course. It wouldn't do for my teeth to pop out at work, or for me to take a bite out of a family member, coworker, or our priest."
"No. No, that wouldn't be good," he agreed, grinning with relief. She was being very sensible.
"So we should probably get down to the business of teaching me to feed."
"Yes." He nodded but just stood there, staring at her until she arched her eyebrows.
"Where should we do it? The kitchen?" she asked.
"Yes, of course." Etienne