Zoey
My day without Kalona had been rather uneventful. I sat in my room reading for a while and the found a little portable DVD player and a stash of DVD's at the bottom of the bookshelf. I spent a few hours watching random chick flicks, all the while expecting Kalona to come busting into my room and lose our bet. But no, he didn't come in like some character directly out of a chick flick and cry out how much he loved me and kiss me passionately, therefore losing the bet. Now I was incredibly shocked. I rolled over and looked at the clock on my bedside table. 8:00 A.M. flashed back at me that meant that I had a couple hours until bedtime, and more or less, in twelve hours my bet with Kalona would be over. If he didn't kiss me in the next twelve hours, which probably wouldn't be that hard to do because we would be sleeping for nine of them, he would win the bet. The thought honestly scared the hell out of me, because if he won, the next day he would be able to kiss me as much as he wanted.
This thought was super scary, and the worst part was that part of me wanted him to win our bet. Part of me wanted to kiss him over and over again. At the same time, I wanted to go up to his room and try and make him lose the bet. Then my judgment and my heart would be safe from his passions for an entire week.
However, in the next moment my stomach growled and I realized that I hadn't eaten anything in the past two days. I had more or less been living off bottled water.
With that I closed the DVD player and got out of the bed. I looked down and realized that I was still in my pajamas. It didn't really matter since I was going to bed again soon anyway. I suddenly realized that the majority of the past forty-eight hours had been spent in bed. It didn't really matter, its not like I could leave the penthouse anyway, and I didn't have anyone to do anything with, besides Kalona, and I was determined not to get involved with him, despite my promise, and despite the fact that deep down I really, really wanted to spend time with him.
I flung open my bedroom door and walked down to the small kitchen. I half expected Kalona to be sitting at the small kitchen table, but he wasn't. The kitchen was deserted.
I wandered over to the fridge and to my relief found it stocked with brown pop. I remembered what Kalona said about him building the penthouse to fit my desires. Well, he had been right about that. Oh goddess, he was a god. I grabbed a can of brown pop and drank it down greedily. Then I grabbed a baggie of blood and sucked it down like a Capri Sun. yeah, I know that sounds nasty, but it was so good. I finally grabbed another brown pop, found a bagel in the breadbox and also a bag of nacho cheese Doritos. I brought my munchies back to my room and ate them slowly.
After all of that I had only wasted about a half an hour.
I sighed and tried to think of something fun to do. Also, I had to think of something that would force Kalona to lose the bet. So with that I decided to jump in the shower. I knew, based on chick flicks, how guys reacted to wet girls wrapped only in a towel, and even though I knew that I wasn't sexy or seductive, I hoped it would be enough to make Kalona kiss me so he couldn't do so for the next week.
In fifteen minutes I was clean and out of the shower. I took an enormous, fluffy, white towel and wrapped it tightly around me. My hair hung dripping wet down my bare back. I felt like an empowered heroine in a cheesy chick flick as I tiptoed up to Kalona's room. The door was shut so I knocked softly.
"Come in," he called.
I opened the door and stepped into his room.
Kalona was stretched out on his bed wearing nothing but silky black pajama bottoms. Honestly, he looked really hot just lying there with a book in his hand. He wasn't coming on to me . . . yet. He just looked completely relaxed, and suddenly I wanted to be relaxing with him. I pushed the dangerous thought out of my head, however, and smiled down at him. "Hey," I said.
Kalona looked up at me. When he realized what I was wearing (or not wearing to be precise) an expression of mild surprise covered his gorgeous features. "What are you doing?" he asked, sounding mildly amused.
In my best flirty voice I said, "I got lonely."
He smiled. "You were lonely? So you got out of the shower and came up to see me?"
"Well, the shower was very lonely," I said, trying to sound flirty. However, I felt as if I just sounded ridiculous.
The look on Kalona's face confirmed that I was not at all flirty or seductive. In fact, he was practically laughing at me, which confirmed that I was just being ridiculous. I suddenly felt ashamed of myself, however, I was determined to make him lose the bet.
Kalona laughed and shook his head. "Zoey, I know what you are doing. It's not going to work."
I smiled slightly and walked over to him. I sat on the edge of the bed and then I leaned back until my shoulders were leaning against his bare chest. I threw back my head and looked directly into his amber eyes. "Why not? I asked.
"It's not worth it," he said simply. If I gave into temptation now, I'll have to fight it off for an entire week. Now why don't you be a good girl and go to bed. When you wake up we can kiss all you want."
"I don't want that. I want you to kiss me right now."
"No, you don't. You just think you do. Honestly, if I kissed you now, we both would regret it."
I scowled up at him and sat up. "You know you want to."
"I never said I didn't want to. But I would rather wait. I'm going to win our little wager." He then put his hands on my shoulders and pulled me down into his arms. His eyes locked with mine and suddenly our lips were only centimeters apart. "You want me to win deep down. I am not one to disappoint, and I am not one to lose. Now go to bed, and I will see you in the morning."
I scowled up at him. "I hate you."
"No you don't," he said.
Despite myself I smiled. "Fine. I really, really dislike you."
"I'll take that for now since you are clearly upset. Now go downstairs. I'll see you in the morning."
"Whatever," I said as I got up and left the room.
-/-
When I was back in my room it was about ten o'clock in the morning. I put on a different pair of pajamas and slid under the covers feeling totally defeated. Now I was almost certain that Kalona would win our bet. Tomorrow would be a totally long make out day, which honesty was a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, no matter how much I hated to admit it. I wanted him to win the bet. I wanted to keep my promise and spend time getting to know him. I already had really strong feelings for him, even though I didn't want them and I didn't know quite what they were. Still, I wanted a chance to find out because deep down a part of me knew I was supposed to end up with him, despite all that he was. Deep down I had a feeling that Kalona really could change for me. After all, love was a powerful force. It could totally change people for the better. Also, I knew that things would be infinitely easier if I ended up with Kalona, because despite his promise to leave me alone after a month, I didn't really believe that he would stop chasing after me, no matter what he said. So the rational thing to do was to let myself fall in love with him.
However, I was in love with Stark, and that meant that I needed to resist Kalona in every way possible while still keeping my agreement with Kalona. I knew that I would probably be happier with Stark. My life would seem more normal. However, I couldn't help but think that even if I ended up with Kalona, I would always have Stark in my life. After all, he was my Guardian. So no matter what, Stark would always be with me in one way or another.
That being said, I didn't fall asleep until noon. I kept thinking about Kalona, even though I totally didn't want to.
Kalona
Kalona sat in his bed waiting for the bet to be over. He hadn't slept all night and now it was 7:00 P.M. In an hour he would be the victor.
Kalona laughed as he remembered Zoey, dripping wet, in nothing but a towel. It had all been a strategy to break his resistance. However, much to Zoey's disappointment, he had resisted the temptation and thwarted Zoey's attempts for sabotage. In an hour or so he would reap the benefits of his victory. Oh how sweet this single victory would be.
Zoey's attempt at sabotage was laughable. Yet, Kalona had to wonder why she was so intent on making him lose the bet. Had she realized that he really could exercise self-control? Is that why she had come to him wearing practically nothing at all? Mortal women were so foolish. They imitated the modern media. They were not rational or realistic. Yet, despite these flaws, Kalona knew that he still wanted Zoey to be his, after spending a few months with him plus as she grew up, Zoey would become less weak, less foolish.
However, maybe it wasn't a bad thing that Kalona would be spending his life with a mortal. He had been so used to Nyx and when he had fallen he had just terrorized and conquered Indian villages. He had pillaged and plundered, but never had he actually gotten to know a human woman. Of course, Zoey was more than a human, but she was mortal, maybe it was a mortal dedicated to Nyx that could put him back on the right path.
Kalona sat alone thinking of Zoey. He constantly looked over his shoulder at the clock, which was ticking closer to his time with Zoey. For an hour he was a man obsessed, and he was beginning to see the dangers of falling for Zoey. However, he didn't even care, because in his mind, she was the only mortal woman who was worth feeling for. Still, feeling this way, when he hadn't in so long, was strange.
Finally the twenty-four hours of the bet had elapsed. Kalona smiled as he stood up and changed into a pair of tight black jeans. Then he went over to his bathroom and combed through his thick dark hair. He brushed his already shining teeth until they glistened and then he sprayed himself with Axe, a human concoction that women loved, well according to Neferet anyway. Zoey would be powerless to resist, and even if she did resist, he would get to remind her that he had won the bet. Kalona laughed. How sweet the next twenty-four hours would be.
Kalona walked down the stairs, then down the hall that lead to Zoey's room. He quietly opened the door. Then he walked over to the side of her bed and smiled down at the sleeping fledgling. Again, she looked like an angel, and she was an angel that he would make his.
Kalona sat on the edge of the bed and lifted Zoey into his arms. He bent down and brushed his lips across hers. Her eyes fluttered open. She smiled. "You lost the bet," she said.
Kalona laughed. "No. I won. Look at the clock."
Zoey
I looked over at the clock and then back at Kalona. "Damn," I whispered.
"Don't act like you are upset about this, Zoey. You're not a very good actress," he said, smiling down at me, openly teasing me.
"So, it's you and me for the next twenty-four hours," I said, trying to sound angry about it, but yet again I only ended up sounding slightly annoyed.
He laughed. "No. It's you and me for the next twenty-nine days." Then he kissed me.
"I really don't want to make out for the next twenty-four hours. How about you go on the bet a little longer and I'll think of a different reward."
"You don't really want me to stop, Zoey."
Then he kissed me like he did the previous day. I melted in his arms and threw my arms around his neck. The familiar rush of adrenaline jolted through by body, but it was also laced with a forbidden desire, and I couldn't tell if the desire was his or mine. It didn't matter at the moment, because he kept kissing me, and all my rational senses were blurred, however my passionate senses were heightened. I leaned into him and allowed him to deepen the kiss. He was still being uncharacteristically gentle and kind. He rand his hand down my back and then he pulled me closer to him until I was sitting in his lap.
It was at that moment when I caught a whiff of his Axe. If it weren't for the fact that my lips were locked with his, I would have smiled. Kalona thought using Axe would weaken my resistance. Well, he was right, as much as I hated to admit it, my defenses were totally weakened. Even though I should be freaking out because of it, at the moment, when he kissed e like this, I didn't even care.
When he finally broke the kiss, I'll admit that I was pretty bummed.
He smiled at me. "Oh, Zoey, see what can happened when you don't fight against me. Couldn't you just act like there is a chance for us to fall in love?"
"I don't want to fall in love with you, Kalona," I said softly.
"I know you don't," he said, "but would it be so bad if you did?"
He sounded so gentle, so sincere, and so kind. However, I had to remind myself that this was an act. I had seen it before. Kalona really wasn't this kind. "You're not really this nice, Kalona. You are totally devoted to Darkness. You are fully against Nyx. I can't be with a guy like that."
"I have already offered to change for you, Zoey. I assure you that I can."
"I don't think you can. You are just not that guy. I just don't want to be with you. I don't want to fall in love with you."
"Well we are together for the next month, Zoey, and don't you agree that you are much happier when you are not constantly fighting against me?"
"I guess so," I admitted. "It is a lot more less exhausting. But if I let my guard down there is no telling what might happen. I love Stark. I don't want that to change."
"Stark," repeated Kalona. "You are still hung up on him. Allow me to ease your mind."
Then he kissed me again. Even though I knew he was jealous and pissed off he still kept the kiss gently and inviting. I couldn't help but melt in his arms again. He was getting good at taking down my defenses. Now all that was left to do was repair the broken shards of the attraction I felt for him. Then I thought, would it really be that bad? Kalona had made two very important points. I was happier when I wasn't constantly fighting against him. He also had made an intriguing point; it truly wouldn't be so bad if I just acted as if we had a chance to fall in love.
Kalona's kiss managed something I thought to be impossible. He broke my defenses and made me realize that even though I was totally dedicated to Stark, the next month with Kalona didn't have to be hell. So for the next month, I would act as if Kalona and I had a chance, even though we didn't. After all, he had surprised me by showing that he could keep from kissing me for an entire day. Maybe this showed potential. With my mind made up I broke our kiss.
"Okay, Kalona, you win. I'm not going to fight against you. I'm going to try and get along with you. But I'm not promising anything."
"This is all I could hope for at this point in time," said Kalona. Then he kissed me again.
"I'm not going to sleep with you," I paused, " again."
"Again?"
I was taken aback by the question in his voice and by the confused expression in his gorgeous eyes. "I'm not going to sleep with you, especially after you forced me to."
"Oh," he said, "Right. Of course. No, you don't have to if you don't want to."
"Right," I said. However, something was suspicious. Kalona had acted as if he had forgotten what he had done. Maybe it had been a ruse. Of course, I didn't know for sure, so for now I would act as if I had slept with him, and I would find out the truth after I got know him, and maybe, if even possible, after I learned to trust him.
"Let's play a game," I said.
"What," asked Kalona.
"Let's play a game. It's called truth or dare. Granted, it's not as fun with only two, but it might help us get to know each other."
"Fine, let's do it. But first, one more thing." He leaned in and kissed me again.
When he broke the kiss, I laughed. "I know you won the bet, but do you have to kiss me every minute?"
"Oh Zoey, I could just be making out wit you and only coming up for air. However, I think you would resent me if I did that."
"I would resent you," I said.
"I know," he said, "which I why I am only kissing you when I have to."
"Oh, well that's really refreshing," I said.
"I know," he laughed. "Now let's play your game."
"Okay, you can go first. Truth or Dare. If you pick truth I get to ask you a question and you have to tell the truth no matter what. If you pick dare I get to tell you to do something and you have to do it no matter what."
"Well, then I pick dare."
I smiled, and it occurred to me that there wasn't much I could dare him to do, because usually teen dares had something to do with kissing ort prank calls. So even though my dare, by teen standards, was totally lame I told him to do it anyway. "Go outside and find me some roses."
"Wild roses?"
"Well yeah, I don't expect you to go out to the grocery store and get me some."
"Well, if you want roses, then I shall get you some." He stood up and before he left, he kissed me on the forehead. "I'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere."
As he walked out of the room, despite myself I whispered, "Hurry back."
-/-
WTF? What was I doing? Why was I acting so open minded? I didn't want to fall for Kalona. I had to promise myself that I wouldn't. However, I couldn't deny that I really liked the way Kalona was acting right now. However, I had to remind myself it was just an act. If he acted like this for the next couple weeks the n maybe there was a chance that he could change. However, I hadn't spent enough time with him to know for sure. I highly doubted that Kalona could be a truly sweet, gentle and kind guy. But maybe against all odds he could be. Well I had a month to find out. Even of he was, I was determined not to fall for him.
However, when he came back with a vase overflowing with beautiful, red, wild roses I couldn't help but feel touched. I had no idea where he had managed to find them in the middle of Tulsa, but he had surprised me in one of the best ways possible.
He got down on one knee and presented the roses to me. It was so dorky and cheesy that I couldn't help but laugh. "You are ridiculous." I put them on my bedside table.
His eyes narrowed. "You dare to call me ridiculous?" He sounded like his old self for a split second, but I soon realized he was joking. "Okay, now it's your turn. Truth or dare?"
"I'll match you dare for dare."
"Kiss me," he said.
I frowned. "Can't you be more original?"
"No. Never once have you kissed me. I have always been the one to kiss you, and even though there have been times where you haven't fought me off, you have never once willingly kissed me."
"You understand that it's a dare. I won't be doing it because I want to."
"Of course, but for once you will be the ne to kiss me."
I rolled my eyes. "You are ridiculous." Then I leaned in and kissed him right on the lips.
When we pulled apart I asked, "Truth or dare?"
"Truth," he said.
"Why do you want to be with me?"
"You are beautiful. You are powerful. You are wonderful. You are the closet thing in this world to Nyx."
"Well, I guess I already knew that, can I ask you something else?"
"I don't think that is how the game works."
"You're right, but can you make an exception for me, just this once."
"I guess so. Ask me anything you want."
"Do you really think that we could fall in love?"
Kalona smiled sown at me and pulled him into his arms. He brushed back a long strand of hair out of my face. "I think that I could fall in love with you. I already have strong feelings for you. I don't know what they are. But I can tell you this, you are the only woman since Nyx and A-ya that I have actually had feeling for. Even though I have no idea what they are they could develop into something meaningful. They could turn to love. As for you, well forgive me if I assume wrong, but I think that you have strong, unknown feelings for me as well. I can sense it every time we kiss. Perhaps if you opened your mind and really got to know me and if I showed you who I could be with you by my side, you could fall in love with me, and I could fall in love with you."
I looked up at him. "Are you always this articulate?"
"I have a way with words. I have the wisdom of the ages. Yet I never get older. I am the perfect age for you."
"Answer my question."
"Yes, I am always this articulate. But understand that when I tried to get to you before my words were just words, now they are supported with truth. I no longer am trying to seduce you. I truly want you to be with me."
"Really? Is that what you really want?"
"Yes," he said.
"Okay, well you know how you said that for now you will only kiss me when you have to?"
He flashed me a brilliant smile. "Yes."
"Well, now you have to kiss me."
He laughed. "As you wish," then he pulled me close to him and kissed me.