CHAPTER TEN - Scare
The next day I was perfectly fine and went to work as usual. Mick had a couple of little cases to work on over the week, so we kind of went about our business as usual. I usually went over to his place after work and got him out of the freezer, which was always fun! He always wanted to get warmed up after his freezer time, and I was more than happy to take care of him!
Ben was very solicitous and professional toward me. It wasn't until the following Monday that he called me into his office.
"So, you're looking well, Beth. You saw your doctor and I trust everything is okay? How are you feeling?"
"I'm just fine, Ben—thanks for being concerned. And thanks again for taking care of me when I was sick. That was really awful." I blushed slightly, remembering everything. Not something I'd ever be proud of! "So how are you doing? You look a little tired lately—you've been in court every day, so I suppose that's stressful!"
"Oh, no more than usual. I just haven't been sleeping very well, I guess. Must have too much on my mind." 'Yeah,' Ben thought, 'I keep thinking about you and I can't sleep!'
"I'm sorry—try milk and cookies before bed!" I flashed what I hoped was a charming smile at Ben, but he seemed immune to my charm at the moment.
Ben watched Beth smile at him and felt an unpleasant twist in his gut. "I've got to ask you if you're still planning to marry St. John."
"Well, of course I am," I said with conviction. "I told you last week that I was still going to need those two weeks off, and that begins the day after tomorrow."
Ben sighed and twisted in his chair. I noticed how he fiddled with the cuff on the leg of his pants as he sat with one leg across the other. He was upset and stalling, it seemed to me.
Ben thought back to all of the research he'd been doing since the day after Beth got sick and was frustrated that so little information had come to light. He'd been hoping to expose St. John's activity in something nefarious.
He leaned back in his big chair and said, "Are you aware of the fact that there's virtually no personal information on a Mick St. John in any records department in the State of California?" His eyes pierced me. "Does that bother you?"
"Well, no." I sighed and tried to act nonchalant. "Mick is a very good P.I., even you know that, and he certainly wants to keep any personal info out of the public realm, so I know he tries to be very private." My stomach felt heavy. Oh Please! I didn't want to get sick again!
"Still, all I could find is a Birth Certificate and a Facebook page. Do YOU know his history? Do you know what you're getting into?"
I really resented this third degree by my attorney/boss! "Ben! That's very rude! Of course I know! What's the matter—you didn't find out what that supposed "list" is? That's bothering you so much that it's making you be a--a jerk?" Ben looked daggers at me. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
"Now I think THAT is a bit harsh, Beth—"
"YOU are trying to discredit my husband—or—my husband in a couple of days! I think that's just so uncalled for!" I was fuming, and saw that Ben had his jaws locked; he was so tense. I could see the muscles twitching in his cheeks.
"All right. Fine. I have a very bad feeling about this marriage, but you're an adult and able to make your own mistakes."
"Well, thanks so much for that!" I crossed my arms over my chest.
"I don't mean to be condescending, Beth," his manner softened. He looked at me with pain in his eyes that I couldn't interpret. "If you ever find you ARE in over your head with St. John, I hope you'll come to me because I'll help you out any way I can."
"That's both insulting and decent of you." I looked at him and saw he looked kind of forlorn. I wondered what that was about! I respected and liked Ben, but he had no right to interfere in my personal life!
"Okay, well, why don't you take off tomorrow as well. I'm sure you could use an extra day to get ready, and there isn't anything going on here that's pressing right now. I just have to get that drug dealer safely put away, and that's taking up all of my time right now." He stood up and so did I. Ben seemed in a hurry now to get me out of his office. He walked over to his door and opened it for me and said, "Good luck, Beth. I mean that. I hope this all turns out okay for you."
"It will, Ben. You'll get to know Mick better over time, and you'll see what a good man he really is." I smiled weakly and left.
As I walked out of the office building I was still wondering why Ben felt he had to be so difficult about this. Still, I was very glad to hear that Mick kept his Birth Certificate looking authentic. I supposed the vampire community had ways of dealing with public records. How strange to be involved with such a secret society! Now they would be part of my life! No more getting sent away if "vampire business" was going on in our place! By marrying Mick, I must be marrying into their "vampire nation" as well! I pushed through the double doors and let the sun shine on my face. It felt so good to be out of there!
'Just another perfect day in LA!' I thought as I walked to my car. I was always in a hurry to get to Mick's place after work! As I was unlocking my car, a man in black sweats with a cap pulled down low over his eyes came running by, bumped into me, hard, and in a low, threatening voice, said, "Watch out, pretty girl!" And off he ran. I was so startled and angry that I didn't move for a second, then quickly picked up my purse that I'd dropped and started running after him.
"Hey! Wait!" I shouted at him. "What did you mean? Stop!" I ran until I was winded. He was obviously in better shape than I was. I would never have caught him. I stood watching him blend into the shadows of the buildings as I wondered what he had meant. He was trying to scare me!
Omigosh! Had Ben sent him to try to scare me? Now I was livid! That was way out of line! I walked quickly back to the building, skipping the elevator, I ran up the stairs and went straight up to Ben's office. I barged right in on him—he was on the phone. I was still panting and probably looked disheveled and wild-eyed, and I saw alarm in his face as he quickly got off the phone. He got up and came over to me immediately.
"Beth! What is it? You look—like you've seen a ghost!" He put his hand on my arm and I shook it off.
"Did I? Ben—did I see a ghost? Or was it just one of your goons?" I was so mad and tired from running that I felt light-headed. I tried to breathe, but bent over to put my head down.
This time, when Ben put his hand under my arm, I didn't resist.
"Get over here and sit down!" He led me to a chair, where I bent over and put my head between my knees. "My gosh Beth! What happened! Are you all right?" His large hand was on my back, and it was comforting as I gulped air in and let the blood rush to my head. When I felt better a minute later, I sat up. I was looking into his eyes which were nothing but concern and fear. Seeing the stricken look on his face, I decided that he couldn't have pulled such a stunt, but if not him, then who would do that?
"I thought you had sent someone to scare me." I was still panting and I felt clammy and a little sick.
"What? What are you talking about? Beth! Talk to me!" His hand was on the arm of my chair. That was good. He could catch me if I fell over.
"I was getting into my car and some guy came running by me and crashed into me and told me I'd better be careful! I thought maybe you had him do that, considering our recent conversation!"
I felt light-headed again, and my I put my head back down. I certainly wasn't going to pass out on Ben for the second time in a week! I could hear Ben's breathing coming in stressed-out little puffs. I felt him put his hand back on me, large and warm, in the middle of my back.
"How could you even think I'd do such a thing! Beth! I was serious when I said I hoped this all turned out okay for you!" I heard him breathing hard. He was upset. I sat up again, feeling very pale.
"Well, if it wasn't you, who would do that to me? Scare me to death out in OUR parking lot!"
"Well, it certainly was NOT me! Tell me what this man looked like."
"He had on black sweats and a cap pulled down really low so you couldn't see his face. I saw him coming toward me, but didn't pay any attention to him until he was bearing down on me and ran right into me! And the way he said those words! It sounded threatening!"
"Tell me exactly what he said."
I was licking my lips and my throat felt very dry. Ben must have noticed. "Just a sec—I'll get you some water." He got up from kneeling by me and got a cold bottle from the refrigerator. I had a distinct sense of déjà vu. He held out the bottle and I grabbed it, gulping, feeling the cool water soothing my throat. Ben was simply waiting.
"I think he said, 'Watch out, pretty girl.' That's all he said, and he kept running. I ran after him, but I couldn't catch up."
"You ran after him? Beth! You can't be chasing down bad guys!"
I probably looked stupid. "Yeah, it was a bad idea, but I wanted to know what he meant."
"Well, I'm calling Security right now—we'll see if we can find him on the surveillance cameras."
He went to his desk and punched two numbers. "Yeah, Bill—can you come up—this is Ben—we've had an incident in the parking lot, so bring your forms with you. I'm going to be sure we get this looked into."
I slumped back in my chair, taking another swig of water. All I wanted was to get home to Mick! I decided I'd better call him and leave a message that I'd be late.
While Ben sat down, I dialed Mick and instead of getting his voice mail, he picked up. "Hi, honey. Are you on your way home?"
"OH, I wish! I was kind of attacked in the parking lot—I'm not hurt! I'm fine, but I have to fill out some forms."
He asked me where I was. "I'm in Ben's office. We're waiting for the Security guy to come up here. It shouldn't take long."
"I'll be right there," Mick said and hung up.
Bill came in looking worried. "What's this all about, Talbot? There was someone assaulted in the parking lot?" Ben nodded at me and I raised my hand.
"I wouldn't exactly say assault, but I did get hit pretty hard. . ."
Talbot's door burst open. Mick had gotten here in record time.
"What's going on? Beth! Are you okay?" Mick knelt in front of me. I smiled weakly and said,
"Don't worry, Mick, I'm fine." I felt hot under his close scrutiny.
"Hey, St. John, I'm not so sure how 'fine' she is—she's practically passed out here twice."
"What do you mean—Beth—what is going on?" His eyes were so full of concern that it choked me up.
"It's probably nothing, Mick. As I was starting to tell Bill here," Bill reached over and shook Mick's hand.
"I'm Bill Deal from the Security Department. Rest assured that we're going to get to the bottom of this."
"I hope so!" Mick said with a lot of emotion behind the statement.
"So, Miss Turner," Bill said, "You were telling me what happened. Could you start at the beginning?"
I took a breath and said, "Sure." Mick stood up and put an arm on my shoulder. I looked up at him and put my hand over his. He nodded, as if saying, 'I'm here, so everything is all right.'
I began, "There's not much to tell, really. I was walking to my car in the outdoor lot. It was such a nice day, I wasn't paying any attention to what was going on around me, I just kind of had my face up to the sun, so the attacker completely surprised me. I got to my car and was just about to open the door when a man wearing black sweats and a black cap pulled down low over his eyes ran up to me and then he ran right into me! He almost knocked me over, but I didn't fall, just dropped my purse."
Ben said, "And tell Bill what this guy said to you."
"Oh, well, he said, 'Watch out, pretty girl,' and then he ran off. I chased him for a while, but he was really running fast. When I knew I wouldn't catch him, I came right in here and told Ben."
Bill was writing furiously. "So you couldn't see any facial features?"
"No. But I'd say he was about 5 feet 10, less than six feet, maybe a hundred sixty, hundred seventy pounds. I think he was white or Hispanic, and his hair was long and black, kind of curly, from what I could see under his cap. He wasn't skinny, but he was bulky when he hit me. Maybe he was muscular, but I couldn't be sure, due to his being covered up."
"Did you see his shoes?"
"Only that they were once white and now pretty old and gray."
"Okay, very observant, Ms. Turner. That will help when we scan through the videos."
Mick squeezed my shoulder. "Do you need us for anything else? Or can I take her home?"
"Here, Ms. Turner, just read this over and sign if it's accurate." Bill handed me the incident report. I read over what he had written, which was exactly what I had told him, so I signed the sheet and handed it back.
"If you remember anything else, let me know. Here's my card. Or tell Ben. I'm sure you know his number."
"I will, and thanks. Can we go now?"
Bill looked at Ben, who shrugged. "Yeah, Beth, get out of here. Just be careful." He looked at Mick and said sternly, "You'd better keep a good watch over her. I'm still not sure she's steady on her feet."
"Yeah, I got her." Mick said, picking up my bag and lifting me out of the chair. "Let's go, honey."
We left the office and Mick punched the button for the elevator to go down. Then he encircled me in his arms. "Beth, I'm so glad you're okay. I love you so much." He kissed me, a kiss of relief and possession. Nobody was going to hurt his woman! I knew how his mind worked. If that guy ever did show up, God help him! The elevator was slow, so we waited, me leaning on Mick, Mick with his arm strong and steady around me.
--
Ben was watching from the glass in his office door. He could see their reflection in the big mirror on the wall across from the elevator doors. He felt strange watching Beth kissing St. John. Geez, that whole thing really had caught him off guard, and he was usually pretty good at not getting caught off guard!
--
We walked out the front door and Mick put his arm around my back. Where's your car?"
"Over there," I pointed. He took me by the elbow and started out in that direction.
"Show me where you were standing when he hit you." We walked over to the driver's side and I showed him where I was when I had caught my first glimpse of the man, and how he had just crashed into me right on this spot.
"Okay, so you were standing right here, huh?" I nodded. Mick sniffed the air and looked around. I wondered what images he was seeing.
He looked at me, and an alarm bell rang in my head. "What is it, Mick? What are you seeing?"
"Beth--we have to be really careful of this one. This wasn't just random. This guy targeted you specifically."
A chill went up my spine and I shivered. I looked at Mick who was taking in everything around us with all of his keen senses. I silently thanked God for his superior abilities, but I was definitely getting very scared.
"Why? You're scaring me, Mick!"
"I think we should be scared. It's not so much what I see here, but what I smell. In fact, I could smell it on you in Talbot's office. This guy is a vampire."
I put a hand over my mouth to stifle what might be a scream. I was trembling. Mick put his arms around me and held me close. "Don't worry, honey. I'm not going to let this guy or anyone else get to you. Can you think of anything that's happened in the past week or so that would make you a target?"
"I got engaged to you." I said it softly and slowly, and the statement just hung in the air like a bad smell. I could tell Mick was upset.
"You did, and this was a vampire, so that does kind of make you wonder if there's a connection." He paused, thinking. "Hey, Talbot mentioned some list? Do you know what that is?" He looked at me, assessing my agitated state. "Wait—don't tell me now—you're shaking and I want to get you into the car. Come on."
We walked to his car with his arm firmly around me. He opened the door for me and locked it after I got in. Taking no chances, I guessed. Then he went around an unlocked his door. As he got in, he slid over to me and kissed me. "Ah, I've been wanting to kiss you all day, and that little one by the elevator wasn't enough. I can't ever get enough of you, Beth." Soon we were in each other's arms, making up for the hours we had been apart. I had never known a love like this! So giving, yet I wanted so much back! We kissed until it was getting to the point where we'd have to get into the back seat, or try to wait until we got home. I pulled back and gave Mick a little smile. His eyes were a little glassy-looking.
"Hey, lover, I get tomorrow off. Have any ideas about what we can do?"
His head went back and he laughed softly. "Oh, I could keep you busy all day and all night, but I have to finish up my case before we take off for two weeks! Want to come along?"
"What are you doing?"
"Just sitting in a restaurant listening to people. It's kind of surveillance. A guy hired me to see if his daughter is living with her boyfriend. I guess he really hates the boyfriend! They're going to be having lunch together tomorrow. All you'd have to do is sit and eat while I listen."
"Sounds do-able—lately I just love to eat! You've got a date!" I smiled and so did he. "It'll kind of be like the old days--us going on a case together. I like that."
"Good!" Mick started up the car. He was thinking that this was more than good. There was no way he was leaving Beth all by herself tomorrow!
"What about my car?" I asked. "Should we just pick it up after lunch tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Good idea. Let's get home now."
On the way home, I told Mick what I knew about the list, which wasn't much. He was upset when I told him that Emma and Jackson were both on it, but were crossed out. I told him that he and Josef were on it, but not crossed out. I didn't know who else was on it, and I hadn't had any luck finding it in Talbot's office, which I had rifled through every chance I had gotten.
"Well, it's definitely something I'll have to investigate further when we get back from our honeymoon. For now, let's try not to think about it too much." His hand lwas lying over mine, and he gave mine a squeeze.
We went back to Mick's place, where he grilled me a nice little filet and served it with a salad and baked potato, with some grilled asparagus on the side. I could smell garlic in the asparagus and raised my eyebrows. He smiled, serving me up a glass of ice water. "Don't worry about the garlic. I promise not to complain about garlic breath!"
"You promise?" I asked as I took a huge bite, smiling back.
"Absolutely. And it won't even repel me!" He laughed and watched me eat as he sipped from his glass. He sat down next to me at the table. "Is it okay?"
"Mmmmmm. Wonderful, but I feel bad about eating steak in front of you—I know you used to love it!"
"I did, but now I have something even better!" I looked at him quizzically. "I have you to watch enjoying it for me!"
I rolled my eyes. "I told you you'd get tired of watching me eat!"
"And I said?" I just smiled at him, chewing. "I said 'I hope so,' and I meant that then, and I mean it even more now."
"Mick, you are the absolute sweetest man on earth." My eyes kissed him and his kissed me back. The eye contact between us was always charged with an electric current that I felt from my head to my toes. I kept eating while we adored each other with our eyes. When I was done, Mick picked up my plate and took it to the sink, then came back and sat down next to me again.
"I don't want to upset you, Beth, but Talbot said you were on the verge of passing out today. I thought the doctor gave you the 'all clear!' So what's this passing out thing? Do you always pass out when Talbot is around?" He kind of smirked, then went serious.
"Oh, yeah, he just makes me pass out all day long. It gets really tiresome trying to do my job while I'm on the floor!"
"That sounds difficult. But seriously, honey, I want to know what happened."
"I ran after that guy who bashed into me, and I guess I got a little winded, and then I ran up the stairs to Ben's office instead of taking the elevator, so up three flights of stairs, and being all upset and chasing the guy, it just made me feel light-headed."
"Do you think this is still related to your getting sick last week? Or is this something new? I've been around you a lot in the past year, Beth, and you don't faint, from what I've observed."
He was so serious that he actually made me think about what he was saying. I'd passed it off as stomach virus, but it was a little strange.
"I don't really know, Mick. I was thinking I was over the being sick, but today I thought—maybe not."
"Can I ask you something terribly personal?" his eyes were boring into me, but I could tell he was just a little uncomfortable. What was this?
"Mick, you can ask me anything! Anytime! My gosh! I can't keep anything from you!" I took a swallow of my water and looked at him. He had a kind of odd look on his face that gave me a few butterflies in my stomach.
"Okay, I was just wondering when you're due to get your period."
I know my eyes went a little wide. I felt kind of bad having to give him the news. "It's bad timing, Mick, but the day after the wedding, actually." I was sorry about that, but what could we do? Nothing.
"And I'm pretty sure you're not on the Pill?"
"No, I can't take any of them. They all make me really sick. I get panic attacks from the hormones."
"Have you felt panicky at all lately? I don't mean today, just, anytime before today. Since we've been together."
"Well, yeah, actually. I have been feeling little panic attacks just here and there. I thought it was just wedding jitters. Why?"
"Humor me here, Beth," he said matter-of-factly and drummed his fingers on the table. When he looked back at me, my stomach lurched. He had such a look of love and longing in his eyes! I felt weak.
"What is it, Mick?" I whispered.
He leaned over to me and put his forehead against mine, and took my hands in his. A very intimate closeness came over me, caressing, drawing me to him, like he was pulling me into him. I concentrated on breathing. Something was going on in his mind; I had no idea what.
"Beth, I think we should get a pregnancy test." I looked at our hands together, felt his breath on my face, and suddenly a ray of clarity shot through my brain. Of course! The coffee? The wine? My sore breasts? I never had sore breasts!
"You know something, Mick. You know, don't you?"
He pulled his head away from mine, but kept a hold of my hands. His look was honest and open. "Honey, I don't know for sure, but you don't like wine or coffee, and that's not normal for you! And I'm not sure how to say this, but-- you taste a little bit different to me."
"I taste different? How different?" This was disturbing, somehow.
"You taste exquisite. You always do to me, your skin, the way you smell and taste, I love it—it's just that now, you smell and taste even better. It's a subtle change, but I notice things like this! I know it doesn't prove anything, but I just wondered--How about if we try a pregnancy test?"
I felt my eyes tearing up and I reached out for him. He simply pulled me onto his lap where I buried my face in his neck and sobbed. He held me there, picking up my napkin and drying my tears, the ones that hadn't drenched his shirt. He held the napkin out to me. I looked up at him and he nodded. "Go ahead. It's washable."
So, I blew my nose into his nice cloth napkin and wiped my face . "Oh Mick! You think it's really possible, don't you! You think I might be—"
He held me close, turning my face to look into his. We were a breath apart. I felt he was looking straight into my heart. "I'm hoping, Beth. I'm just hoping and praying that you are, and I'm hoping that's okay with you, honey. Like I said, I never, ever expected this to. . ."
I put my finger on his lips. "Shhhhh. Mick—I'm so stupid! I didn't even think of the symptoms! I really didn't think this would happen, but, OH, Mick! If I could give you a baby!" I got teary again and hugged his neck again, the dampness from before still there. We just sat there, silent for several minutes.
"You're happy then? If it's true?" he said so quietly I could barely hear him.
"Of course I'm happy! I'm ecstatic! I couldn't love you more, Mick, and if this is true, it just somehow adds to the miracle of our love!" I smiled through my tears and watched as his eyes also got moist. Suddenly, he stood up with me in his arms and walked to the bedroom.
I woke up in his arms. He slept. Our lovemaking had been so sweet, so gentle, so giving, so amazing. I felt loose all over, like I'd just been to a day-long spa massage or a marathon whirlpool treatment. I was getting used to having this fabulous sex every day! I could hardly remember what it was like before Mick! But then, yeah, I could remember, and this was SO much better!
I looked at him and wanted to cry again just watching him sleep! He was so perfect, so handsome and manly and such a delight to my eyes. I soaked him in as he slumbered, seeing the shadows of his impossibly long eyelashes resting on his cheeks, his beautiful nose, manly and straight with just a little downturn at the tip, just the right size. I looked at his lips, so wonderfully formed with the little cupid's bow on top, and the bottom lip so full and lush and kissable. If he hadn't been asleep, I'd have had to nip and suck on that bottom lip. Love for him overwhelmed me. Oh, I hoped I could give him a baby that looked exactly like him. Before I cried again, I snuggled into his chest and fell asleep.
Lunch would have been boring, but since I got to watch Mick the whole time, it wasn't. Oh, would I ever get tired of looking at him? I thought not. My salad was good, but I couldn't drink the coffee, as had become usual for me. After our little talk last night, I was thinking this wasn't just a little residual from that stomach virus last week. I hoped Mick was right. I needed to get a pregnancy test. I also worried about the wedding and our trip. I didn't want to feel sick!
After lunch, Mick took me to my car in the parking lot at work and spent at least ten minutes checking it over from top to bottom, and finding nothing wrong with it, he said he'd let me drive it home. I told him I needed to stop at the store for a few things on the way home, and he said that was fine, but I was supposed to call him if I even felt a hint of anything being out of place! I was a little surprised that he let me go off on my own, since he'd been so overprotective since my "incident!" I picked up some toothpaste and some energy bars to take with me on the trip. I also got three pregnancy tests, all different brands. I guessed it wouldn't hurt to be cautious. I was disappointed to see that they all wanted my first pee of the morning for best accuracy, so I'd have to wait until tomorrow!. Oh, well. One more day of waiting wasn't so bad, especially since I hadn't even thought about the possibility until Mick brought it up!
As I walked to my car, I caught his eye. Sure enough--watching over me! I waved and got into my car. He followed me home.
That night I packed up my things for the trip. Josef and Simone came over for a short while. Simone was so excited, and I was actually happy they would be coming along to stand up for us! We all talked, excited and happy. Mick and Josef had their drinks, Simone had wine, and I had mineral water with a lime twist. We discussed flying on a private jet, and how I had never been on one! They all assured me it was nothing like flying commercial! No lines, no security checks, no hassle! How cool was that!
Mick and Josef were discussing the details of our stay at the Wynn, and that's when I learned that Simone and I would have our own suite of rooms, and Mick and Josef would have the same with two Jacuzzi tubs filled with ice! Mick wanted us to be in separate rooms until after the wedding! Simone and I laughed and rolled our eyes at each other, but it was set—no sleeping with Mick after tonight until he and I were officially hitched! Simone was totally into being my "bridesmaid," and said she had something borrowed for me. I wasn't sure yet what I'd find that was blue. After they left, I headed for the bathroom to pack up more of my things. What would I need for two weeks! It was a long time to plan ahead for!
I thought about the no-sleep rule, and I had to admit, it was kind of charming to have my "old school" Mick thinking of these more traditional things. I thought back to how he had proposed to me naked on my bed and shook my head remembering. He had been so cute, being so aroused, and yet having to get things worked out with me before we did the deed! He had to be sure that we would get married!. He didn't want to just have SEX with me—he wanted to be sure I knew that making love for the first time was the beginning of our life together. I sighed. He was so romantic! I wondered, though, if the sex had been awful, would he have bailed on me? I was giggling to myself when he came into my room.
"What?" He asked as he slipped his arms around me.
"Ah, I was thinking about how you proposed to me."
"Oh, out on the balcony?"
"No, in my bed, naked, about an inch from the, ah, the point of no return?"
He laughed behind me and kissed the top of my head. "I knew the sex would be great. I loved you so much, and I was so excited to be with you—I just had to be sure you wouldn't sleep with me and dump me!"
I turned around and looked up into his eyes. They were soft pools of emotion. "You knew I'd never 'dump' you, silly!" I said, touching him lightly on his cheek.
"Well, it was YOU—I had to be sure I wasn't going to lose my heart in that bed and then have you run off with it, hypothetically speaking, that is." He picked up my hand and kissed my fingers. He was holding me again from behind as he went on. "You see, I might not have a beating heart like you do, but you're such a big part of me now. I knew that would happen, making love to you. I couldn't give such a big piece of myself away without knowing it would stay with me always."
I turned in his arms, got up on my tip-toes and kissed him, sweet, soft, reassuring. I put my arms around his solid male body. Holding him, kissing him, I knew that piece of himself would be with me always, as would the part of me I had given to him. We'd be together always because there was simply no other way for either of us to survive. I pulled back and his eyes looked so sweetly into mine.
"It seems so inadequate to say this, Mick, but I love you with all of my heart."
He hugged me to his chest. "Thank God for that," he whispered into my hair.
--
Somewhere in the city, dark forms huddled in a dark room.
"He is tying himself to a human. This is definitely not good for us."
"I warned her," said a man in the back.
"I'm not sure a simple warning is enough. We'll have to keep a close watch on them. If anything should happen with the human, who happens to be working for the the District Attorney, where she is even hinting at giving away our secret, she will need to be immediately terminated."
All nodded in agreement.
All heads nodded in agreement.