Sydney’s heart constricted at the thought that there could be anyone else in his life. Then she knew in an instant that meant she was in trouble. Shit. I am falling in love with him. No, no, and hell no. This couldn’t be happening, yet it was. No one in her entire life had made her feel the way she did last night: wicked, euphoric, loved. That was it...loved. Did he love her? Is that what he meant when he kept saying she belonged to him?
Eventually they would need to talk about what this all meant. How was she supposed to have a relationship with a vampire? First, there were location issues. She lived in Philadelphia, he lived in New Orleans. She had a job, commitments to the children’s center. Second, he would totally outlive her. She’d be an old woman, and he’d still be looking like he stepped off the cover of GQ. Third...third? Why was she even running through these scenarios? She wasn’t even sure he was serious about her. For all she knew, being 'his' meant he thought she was one of many women. A harem? A bloody vampire harem. Stop worrying, Syd!
Needing to clear her head, she tiptoed away from the bed into the shower. A nice, hot shower would make everything okay. Damn, she really was falling in love with him. An ache started to grow in her chest as she stepped under the hot spray. Nice job, Sydney. You are falling in love with a vampire. A sexy, hot, romantic vampire. Shaking her head in disbelief, she quickly washed her hair, soaped her skin, rinsed, hopped out of the shower, and dried herself.
When she opened the door, the bed was sadly empty. Where did he go? Feeling a sense of loss, she got dressed and avoided looking at the bed where they had made love. Hearing a familiar buzzing, she frantically searched for her cell phone. Why can’t I be more organized? Finding it in a pile of clothes, she answered the call, “Hey.” It was all she could manage amid her confusing thoughts.
“Hey to you too. It’s Tristan. I got down early this morning. I’m staying at my brother’s condo on Royal Street. How about you grab a taxi and meet me for beignets?”
“Now, that's what the doctor ordered. You’ve got my weapons?” Sydney felt as if she was suffocating in the guest room. A little time away from vampires would be good for her.
“Sure thing, I packed them up in a backpack so no one will notice. It's about four o’clock now. Can you get down here by four-thirty?” he asked.
“Yes, sounds great. Meet you there. Thanks Tris!” Sydney sighed, clicking off her cell. She and Kade would have to talk later, but for now, it was back to reality. Sydney desperately wanted her weapons, especially after last night’s incident with the vampire in the hallway.
Feeling girly after a night of decadent sex, Sydney slid on a flirty, purple sundress and adjusted the thin straps that supported her C cupped breasts. She slipped on a sexy, black, lace thong on the off chance she’d get surprised by Kade later. Thank goodness, she was able to find a pair of comfortable sandals on her shopping trip the other day. Comfort was a must for running around in the city. Glancing in the mirror, she pulled her long, blonde hair into a ponytail and added pink, shimmer lip-gloss. She almost left the room without grabbing her silver knife. With nowhere to conceal it on her body, she quickly slid it into her purse on her way out of her room.
Walking through the house, she noticed it was quiet, too quiet. Nothing but silence filled the great room. Where did Kade get off to now? She steeled her emotions, afraid that he might not be serious about her. What man leaves a woman’s bed while she’s in the shower? Wet? Naked? Sydney peeked down the long hallway past the kitchen, time to explore. Sydney heard Kade’s voice coming from one of the rooms. Even though the door was cracked open, she didn’t want to intrude on his business. But then again, why the hell not? He did leave her bedroom after the most fabulous night of making love, ever.
Brimming with confidence, Sydney swung the door open and leaned against the doorjamb. With a hand on her hip, she watched Kade intently. Did the man ever stop working? He leaned back in a black, leather chair with his feet on an antique, cherry, Victorian flat-topped desk. She noticed the desk was in excellent original condition, nice desk...a picture formed in her mind of her bent over the desk, with Kade taking her from behind. She gave him a wicked smile. He smiled back, blew her a kiss and waved, but kept on conversing about Issacson’s company investments while she stood there waiting for him to get off the phone. God, that man was sexy as hell...but infuriating. He wasn’t hanging up the phone for her, really? Sydney, sorely lacking patience, innocently waved again, turned on her heels, and trudged back toward the kitchen. Screw that, okay, a note. If he couldn’t get off the freakin’ phone, then the man was getting a note.
She quickly scrawled a note letting him know she was going to meet Tristan for beignets and that she’d be back in a couple of hours. Convinced that Kade wasn’t getting off the phone any time soon, she taped it to the inside of the front door. Patience wasn’t her strong suit, but at least she let him know where she went. Sydney loved New Orleans and was hoping she’d get a chance to window shop for antiques on Royal Street on her way back. She really wanted to go over and check out the address they got last night, but she knew that the other vampires wouldn’t be at full strength until sunset. And after last night, she had no intentions of going to the address by herself without backup.
Deciding against a taxi on a warm, summer day, Sydney opted for a ride on the St. Charles Streetcar from the Garden District to the French Quarter and then grabbed the Canal Streetcar over to the Riverfront Streetcar to meet Tristan. She loved taking the breezy streetcars, talking to other tourists who were from different parts of the country, and taking in the sights of the city. Within a half hour, she arrived at her stop and hustled down the riverfront steps to Cafe du Monde. Tristan was already seated at a corner table under the open-air canopy with a large platter of beignets sprinkled with powder sugar and a cafe au lait awaiting her. Sneaking up behind him, she wrapped her hands around his neck and planted a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Hey, mon loup, you want some company?” She teased seductively.
He laughed heartily. “You really are looking to get me killed down here in New Orleans, aren’t you Syd?”
“What are you talking about, Tris? Can’t I give a wolf a little love? I missed you! You don’t know what it's like being surrounded by vampires twenty-four-seven. You have to come back with me to Kade’s. We have an address we are checking out as soon as the sun goes down.”
Tristan handed her a cup of cafe au lait and put a plate of beignets in front of her. “First things first, you really don’t get how a little wolf lovin’ could get me killed, do you mon chaton?” he asked. “Look, Kade and I go way back, we’re close. And let me tell you that in all the years that I've known him, he has never expressed his desire to claim a woman. I can smell him on you. Remember? Super-wolf sniffer? And as well as you tried to hide it with makeup, I can see that he marked you. You may not know it, sweet Syd, but you are his.” He grinned, bringing his cup to his lips.
Sydney was incredulous. She nearly spilled her coffee, slamming it down on the table. “Marked? Claimed? What the hell is that supposed to mean, Tristan? Claimed like luggage? I'm sick as shit of all this supernatural lingo, and rules! Rules that don’t even apply to me, by the way, as everyone down here keeps reminding me that I'm human, which I pretty much I take to mean ‘less’.” She picked up another beignet, fully intending to shove it into her mouth. “You know what, Tristan; don’t even explain it to me. I'm sorry I asked. As much as I love the Big Easy, I am so ready to get back to Philly where I'm appreciated for my kick-ass human qualities.” She bit into the beignet, and powder sugar sprayed over her plate.