I’d asked him before, and he’d cut me off. Clearly his vampire origin wasn’t something he wanted to discuss—not that I blamed him. As an unclaimed—a vampire who had no Family—he’d likely experienced something traumatic to make him choose such a dangerous life.
The best thing I can do is respect his boundaries and wait for him to feel comfortable enough to eventually tell me. I value our friendship too much for anything else.
I studied him for another second while I sipped my coffee before I settled down and read my book. Soon the only noises in the apartment were the clicking sounds from Connor using the keyboard and wireless mouse, the occasional shuffle when I turned a page, and the consistent tick-tock from the old-fashioned grandfather clock pushed against the far wall.
Time passed—the bright light cast by afternoon sun turned into a subdued gold color and I finished my coffee while Connor downed the last of his blood drink. When I checked my phone, I saw an hour had passed.
Connor pushed his laptop screen down, shutting it, with a single finger.
“All done?” I stretched—flexing my limbs before I muffled a yawn.
“For now. Do you have to leave for work?” He stood up and sauntered over to me, coming to a stop behind my chair.
“Not yet—I’ve got well over an hour before I need to leave.” I put my bookmark in place, then shut my book and peered up at him. “Unless I’m in your way? I can head out.”
Connor, gazing at his windows, shook his head. “You’re fine.” When he lowered his gaze to me his eyes seemed darker than usual. “But it is downright hilarious you’re so comfortable in my apartment.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked.
He rested his forearms on the back of my seat and a low laugh I could feel through the chair escaped from his chest “No reason.” He slid his right hand down the side of my armchair, then reached out and coiled one of my short, red curls around his index finger, winding it just above the gold ring he frequently wore.
The moment made my heart thump oddly in my chest. I would have blamed it on his vampire pheromones, but those didn’t work on slayers. Most likely, it was that I was used to being affronted by handsome supernaturals but not at such a close range.
“Is there a reason why you’ve been more physically affectionate recently?” I asked, genuinely curious. “Are we at a new level of friendship that introduced it?”
Connor lost his usual confident grin, his expression turning blank as he stared down at me. “What?”
“You’ve been touching me a lot more,” I pointed out. “Arms over the shoulder, touching my hair, that kind of thing.”
He kept on staring at me, not replying.
“I don’t mind it,” I said. “But is this some kind of vampire tradition I don’t know about?”
It wasn’t. At least, as far as slayers knew it wasn’t. But I didn’t think it was some secret tradition—werewolves were the touchy-feely bunch out of supernaturals. A good number of vampires were still scandalized if you flashed your bare ankle.
“Does it matter?” Connor asked, his voice coming out like a purr as he sauntered around my chair, keeping his right hand tucked in my curls, then crouched down in front of me.
“It does if you want me to reciprocate,” I said.
Connor burst into laughter so deep, he had to let go of my hair so he could stay standing without losing his balance.
I waited for some of his laughter to subside before I asked. “Was the idea really so funny?”
Connor plucked my book from my fingers and set it down on the coffee table where I’d left my mug. “It was logical, which I should have expected from you.” He slipped his hands into mine and tugged me into a standing position. “I’m not sure if I should be relieved that you don’t think I’m attempting to seduce you or offended that I am apparently not up to the level you require for romantic entanglements.”
We were so close we almost bumped into each other, which could create a possible accident that, worst case scenario, could end with me getting scratched and bleeding—something to avoid at all costs. So, I let Connor keep ownership of my hands, but crabwalked sideways to put some distance between us.
“I told you before, my focus is on making friends, not starting a romance,” I said.
Besides, as flighty as Connor is, I doubt he’d be good backup in most fights. He’d probably spend most of the time verbally raking his opponent over hot coals.