“This is an assault on the senses, Cassie,” Frederick said, shouting to be heard over the din of the station and the whoosh of the approaching train.
“You’re not wrong about that,” I shouted back. Sam’s party started at seven, and the platform was packed with people—some heading home from work, some on their way to a Cubs game （if the sheer volume of Cubs hats and jerseys people were wearing were any indication）， and still others who, like us, were simply going out on a Friday night.
The noise and the crowds that went along with riding the El at rush hour on a Friday were a lot to handle, even for someone who did this almost every day. In hindsight, I probably should have introduced Frederick to public transportation at a saner hour. But he wanted to learn about life in the twenty-first century. Might as well throw him into the deep end of the pool.
The train cars opened with a loud ding-dong sound. I kept my hold on Frederick’s arm, wordlessly signaling him to wait until everyone who wanted to get off had left the train.
“One small step for vampire, one giant leap for vampire-kind,” I murmured into his ear as we stepped aboard, pleased at my little joke. But his forehead creased in confusion. He looked like he was about to ask what that meant when a loud group of guys in Cubs jerseys shoved past us from behind and muscled aboard the train.
“Oh!”
Frederick’s hands flew up to grip my arms, steadying me as I nearly toppled to the floor. The train lurched forward a moment later—and while usually I prided myself on my ability to ride public transportation without losing my balance, the suddenness of Frederick’s fingertips digging into my upper arms caught me completely by surprise.
I quickly regained my footing, averting my eyes as a warm flush crept up the back of my neck. I tried not to think about how close he was but pretty much totally failed. He relaxed his grip a little once it became clear I wasn’t going to fall, but even though I was clearly totally fine now, he seemed not to know what to do with his hands once he’d put them on my body.
Which just made things that much more awkward when the train jerked unexpectedly, one of the Cubs fans stumbled into me from behind, and I fell directly into Frederick.
“Shit!” My exclamation was muffled by his broad chest. His burgundy sweater was so soft it might as well have been made of angel kisses. I breathed in, deep and reflexively, and then immediately wished I hadn’t because, god, he smelled good.
Beyond good.
I had no idea if it was some sort of expensive cologne, or the soap he used—or if all vampires smelled this amazing if you breathed them in right at the source. All I knew was that the scent of him made me want to crawl inside his soft, fitted shirt and wrap myself up in it. Right there, on the crowded Red Line train, all the other passengers be damned.
“Cassie?” Frederick’s voice rumbled in his chest. “Are . . . are you okay?”
He sounded concerned but made no move to disentangle himself from me. Not that he could have; the wall of the train was at his back and we were packed in there like sardines. However, he could have at least tried to put some space between us.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he slowly slid his hands from where they still rested on my shoulders down to the small of my back, enveloping me in his arms in the process.
He pulled me closer.
“It isn’t safe in here,” he murmured, his breath fanning cool and sweet across the top of my head. “I will hold on to you. For your own protection, I mean. Just until we reach our destination.”
What he was saying was just an excuse to keep holding me. I knew that. But I didn’t care. I shivered, tucking myself closer to him before I could remind myself that cuddling in public with one’s vampire roommate was probably not a smart idea. But his body just felt so delicious against mine. Despite the chill he radiated, I felt nothing but heat suffusing me, excitement racing down my spine as he pulled me closer and rested his cheek against the top of my head.
The rest of the train ride simultaneously took far too long, and by passed in an instant.
FIFTEEN
Letter from Mrs. Edwina Fitzwilliam to Mr. Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, dated November 11
My dearest Frederick,
I will not beat around the bush with you.
I have it from the Jamesons directly that you have continued to ignore my entreaties and are still returning Miss Jameson’s gifts to you unopened.
This will not stand.
I have booked passage on a direct flight from London, where I am currently on holiday, to Chicago next Tuesday evening. Given that the mail is not a speedy business, I suppose there is a chance that I will arrive in Chicago before this letter does. If that happens, so be it. Perhaps it would be better if you have no forewarning before I arrive. That way I will be able to see for myself the mess you have made of your life.