Chapter Five

Kae pulled up two chairs to the middle counter and set down the full plate along with two cups.

"Would you like some tea? I've made a pot."

Qhuinn grinned.

"English breakfast, English tea, English girl…guess this is a day for culture shock huh," he chuckled and Kae felt her cheeks burn at the way he smiled; it was self confidant, penetrating and very sensual.

Kae did not know how she knew this; her experience of males having been limited to her Father. But Qhuinn's eyes held a light that suggested he was interested.

She cleared her throat and poured two cups of steaming hot tea, adding milk and sugar before passing one over to him.

The both picked up their forks and began to eat, Qhuinn starting on the bacon and Kae trying the sausage. They ate in silence for a few moments before Kae speared a piece of the sausage and held it towards Qhuinn's mouth.

"You have to try this, it's delicious."

Qhuinn froze. Kae looked at the food on her fork.

"Is there something wrong with it? Don't you like sausage?"

He said nothing, merely stared at her with an expression of utter disbelief.

Kae dropped the fork and picked up her tea.

"Sorry…forget it, it doesn't matter."

She drank deeply from her cup, her cheeks flushing crimson in embarrassment.

"Do you know what kind of honour you just paid me by doing that?" Qhuinn's voice stirred the silence and she jerked her head back around to look at him.

"Doing what?"

He gestured to the fork that now lay abandoned on the plate.

"Offering to feed me from your hand? That's a very intimate, very personal gesture to a male."

Kae looked up, the glorious colour of his mismatched eyes drawing her gaze.

"Oh God, I'm sorry. Was that offensive to you?"

She looked down and sighed, exasperated.

"Qhuinn I'm not the same as normal females. I've only ever lived with my parents. Until today, I never saw another vampire in my life. My Mum and Dad are both common civilians and they never really taught me much about aristocratic social customs so occasionally I'm gonna put my foot in it big time."

She looked up, fully prepared to weather the obvious despair and irritation in his eyes.

Instead, she met with a gaze that was both intimate and warm.

"If this is the way you normally screw up Kae, you can make mistakes with me anytime you like. As for all that aristocratic social rules bullshit, I'd sooner cut my arm off than conform to those kinds of rules anymore."

Kae felt flushed as his quiet words passed between them. He was sat so close now she could feel the heat radiating from his skin and for the merest fraction of a second, she fought the urge to place her hands on his arm and connect to his warmth and solid strength.

The sudden rush of heat frightened her a little. She had never felt desire before and didn't know how to react to this new feeling. As if he could sense his, Qhuinn backed off a little.

"Listen, I'm gonna head back to bed now," his voice was low and soothing, "I'll let you finish your breakfast but if you wanna hook up later and do something, I'll be around. Just ask Fritz for me."

Qhuinn winked, his grin indecently decadent as he sauntered towards the kitchen door.

"By the way," he paused by the doorjamb, "thank you for sharing your food and company with me."

Kae smiled, not nervous or shy but one of genuine warmth at his kind words.

"You're very welcome Qhuinn."

Later, as she washed her things in the sink, she felt that her first interaction with a male had gone very well indeed. So much in fact, she secretly hoped she would run into him a lot more often from now on.