Chapter 9 –Window or Door? – Claire's POV

It was 11:00pm and I couldn't sleep. Again. A familiar restlessness settled over me. I had tried to deny it for the past weeks, but I was becoming more and more certain my feelings for Myrnin went well beyond just physical. There had been moments when I thought that he felt the same way. Times when he held my gaze and the teasing slipped away, replaced with an unguarded look of longing. But in the next instant, it would disappear and he would be back to his normal rambunctious and mischievous self.

I knew I was setting myself up for disappointment. He was an 800yr old vampire, for heaven sakes! To think that he might be interested in me as more than just his friend and apprentice was ludicrous. And even though he teased me unmercifully sometimes, I couldn't give in to the sexual tension. I had no plans to be anyone's booty call. Not that he was looking for that. I hadn't seen him partake in that type of behavior. He had dated a few times over the past two years, but nothing serious. Of course, I wasn't with him during the nights to know what his actual sexual behavior consisted of.

I tried to convince my heart that I was perfectly okay to never have anything more with him than what we had right now. But the traitorous organ didn't seem to agree with me. And the painful ache, whenever I was away from him, was getting harder to bear.

I sighed loudly. Either way, Shane deserved better. He deserved a girlfriend who was actually in love with him, wanted to spend time with him and wanted him in her bed. The truth had become shockingly apparent. That girl wasn't me. But I was too much of a coward to tell him. At least not yet. There was a simple reason. I had been in a relationship with him for two years and was desperately afraid of being alone. I know, coward right?

I groaned. All of these thoughts weren't getting me any closer to blissful unconsciousness. I finally gave in and rolled over to find my phone. I couldn't seem to fall asleep anymore without texting with Myrnin. He was certain to be awake. I typed in a quick message: What are you doing?

He took longer to respond than normal and I became anxious. What could he be doing? He rarely slept and we almost always texted this time of night. The minutes ticked by, and I had almost given up, when my phone pinged.

Myrnin: Headed out. I have a date.

It felt like a knife had gone right into my chest when I read his words. I didn't know he was seeing someone. I struggled to breathe. My hands trembled as I typed: Where are you going?

Myrnin: Movie. Oliver recycled the old grain mill into a theater that plays old films and movies. They are quite nostalgic to watch. 'Titanic' is playing at midnight.

I didn't know what to say. My body felt numb. Finally I gave up and just dropped the phone back on the nightstand without replying. I turned to my side and rolled into a ball with my knees curled up to my chest. I desperately fought to keep the tears at bay, afraid that once they started, I wouldn't be able to stop.

Five minutes went by and my phone pinged again. I didn't want to look, didn't want to see more words that I knew would cause me agony. But I couldn't seem to stop myself. I reached for the phone again and read Myrnin's incoming text.

Myrnin: Are you there?

I knew he wouldn't give up if I didn't reply. It killed me to type the words but I forced myself anyway: Have a nice time.

Myrnin: Don't you want to know who with?

That knife turned a little bit more in my chest. I really did not want to put a face to his date, to the nameless girl I wanted to be. I quickly replied: It's none of my business.

Myrnin: I disagree, because I am going to be there in ten minutes to pick you up.

My heart thundered in my chest again, but this time for an entirely different reason. He was coming here?! In ten minutes?! I tapped out a reply: When were you going to tell me?!

Myrnin: When I got there, of course.

Of course! Why shouldn't I expect him to show up in the middle of the night to take me on a date? Shit, Shane was right down the hall. There was no way I could get past him to sneak out. He was a light sleeper and my door creaked every time it opened. And this certainly wasn't the way I wanted to break up with him. Yeah, I could see it now. Maybe I should just ask Shane to get the door when Myrnin arrived, and let him figure it out from that. Brilliant. No, there was no way I could go out with Myrnin tonight.

I hurriedly replied: No, I can't go out tonight!

Myrnin: Why not?

I huffed: You know why not. First, I couldn't get out of here without everyone knowing. And second, how would I explain that?

Myrnin: I'll come through the window. No one will even know you are gone.

Me: You are crazy! There is NO way I'm going to let you jump out of my window with me in your arms.

Myrnin: Okay, I'll meet you at the front door and you can tell everyone we have nighttime experiments to run on the sound system at the new theater. And since I know you cannot lie worth a flip, I will bring equipment so that we can actually test the sound system once the movie is done. That way, you will be telling them the truth.

His lack of logic was a little astounding. Like Shane would ever be okay with that nonsense. My fingers clicked away again as I replied: No, I just can't go tonight. Why can't we see the movie during the day?

Myrnin: Because I wanna see it now.

When I read his words, I could exactly imagine the pout he had on his face. He liked to get his way and was usually cunning enough to do so, but not tonight. I replied firmly: Absolutely not. I'm not going.

Myrnin: Okay, maybe this pic will change your mind.

I looked at the image he included with the text. It was a photo of his face with a Cheshire Cat grin. I snorted and typed back: That adorable smirk of yours isn't going to change my mind.

Myrnin: You think I'm adorable?

I rolled my eyes. Of course that would be the only thing he took away from that sentence. I noticed he had included another photo, this time of his neck. He hadn't even captured his face in this one. I shook my head and teased: I think you need to practice your selfie skills.

Myrnin: Oh, I can assure you little bird, my skills are impeccable... Are you quite certain you won't go with me?

I inhaled sharply at the underlying sexual innuendo. All the more reason for me not to sneak out with him in the middle of the night. I sent back: Nope... Still not going.

He didn't keep me waiting long for a response. His next text did not include any words, just a picture of his bare chest. My breaths came short and shallow as I stared at the image. I began to suspect he was up to something and typed suspiciously: What are you doing?

Myrnin: Changing your mind.

It was a damn good thing we were not in the same room, because I could pretend that seeing his bare chest did not affect me. I replied: It's good to know your ego is still firmly intact. But I've seen your chest before, remember?

Almost immediately, I received his response. It was so fast, that I suspected he already had the message ready to go and had just been waiting for my reply. I peered down at the attached image. He had included another photo, this time of his washboard abs, a perfectly defined eight-pack of male goodness. His caption included the words: Last chance...

I gasped loudly, my heartbeat kicking into overdrive, because now I clearly understood what he was doing. The images of him were progressively going down his body. And I knew what was coming next! I could barely stop my hands from shaking as I hastily replied: STOP! Don't you dare! I'll go!

Myrnin: Perfect, pick you up in ten. Window or door?