Accidentally Wolf (15 page)

“
That brings me to something else,
”
I said carefully, taking another big gulp of my drink before continuing.
“
We need to set some rules. I don
’
t know how you lived before, and it
’
s not really any of my business. From now on though, no feeding on unwilling humans, no breaking the law, and no killing anyone. You live with a Chief of the FBI
.
I can
’
t have someone living with me that does anything illegal, okay?
”

“
That is not a problem with me,
”
Tristan answered, giving me that
gorgeous
smile again.
“
I prefer it that way actually.
”

“
Okay, well that
’
s good. Also, I
’
m assuming you heard enough of my conversation with
Vlad
and then my Chief to know what I accidentally did,
minionizing
you
,
isn
’
t supposed to happen.
”

“
I could have told you that, Sera.
”

“
I figured, but you get we need to keep it a secret, right?
”

“
For your safety, of course.
”

“
I
’
m not trying to be a bitch or act like I
’
m ashamed of you. But I really don
’
t want a target painted on me for other vampires, okay?
”

“
I understand, probably better than you do.
”
His eyes got dark
, becoming almost navy,
as if he foresaw having to protect me a lot. Right, I could take care of myself. Except when I was exhausted and mostly focused on food and sleep it seemed.

I also wondered if the eye color changing thing was a paranormal thing. Since I
’
d been made a wolf
,
I
’
d
noticed my own had gone from regular blue/green to midnight blue. I
’
d also seen them go almost black when I was pissed. Just another change to add to the growing list of how I was now special!

“
Fair enough
.
”
I
n
odd
ed
, because he probably did
understand better than I did
.
“
Look, Tristan, I don
’
t want a
minion
, do you get that? I understand somewhat that however I
tethered
us, you need to be close to me now. But I want you to still have your life. Still have your job, or whatever it is that you do. Act more like roommates, does that make sense?
”

A smile broke out over his face.
“
It
’
s highly unorthodox, but I understand your meaning.
”

“
That
’
s a start, I guess. Do you have a job?
”

“
Yes, I work at
The Cat
’
s Cradle
, one of
Vlad
’
s clubs
,
as a bartender,
”
he answered me.

“
Did you work there because
Vlad
made you? Or do you like working there?
”

“
Originally, because
Vlad
makes all of his vampires work a
t
one of his places or another,
”
Tristan replied.
“
But I actually like it. It
’
s fun to interact with others,
and
I make decent money. Keeps me from getting bored, plus there
’
s always many willing blood donors.
”

“
Okay then
.
”
I chuckled, wondering if he understood how bad that sounded.
“
I guess you can talk to
Vlad
tomorrow and see if you can keep your job. As for living arrangements, I guess we
’
ll have to find someplace bigger. I
’
m sure you
’
d like a room of your own.
”

“
I would prefer it
.
”
H
e snickered.
“
I can be in the sunlight of course, but most vampires prefer the dark when we sleep.
”

“
As do us humans
.
”
I laughed.
“
Well if you still have a job, let me know your schedule for this weekend. We can look at some houses to rent.
”

“
I will need to purchase a car,
”
he informed me.
“
I used to live with
Vlad
and his other vampires. Most
of
his establishments were right by where we lived
in the Loop
.
”

“
Um, I
’
m not sure if this is rude to ask, Tristan. But you have the money to buy one, right?
”

“
Oh yes
,
”
Tristan chuckled.
“
I
’
ve lived for over five hundred years
.
I
’
ve accumulated a fair amount of wealth.
”

“
Ahh,
”
I replied feeling a little stupid for having asked.
“
Well, my new office is over by the airport, so maybe we could find a place that
’
s in between work for both of us.
”

“
That would be wonderful, Sera. I am sorry that I have
inconvenienced
your life.
”

“
It
’
s not you, Tristan
.
”
I fel
t
bad I
’
d made him seem like a burden.
“
You
’
re being great about the whole thing. If I
’
d ever wanted a vampire to
sovereign
, you
’
d be my first choice. Two weeks ago, I was a normal FBI agent, working a case undercover. A lot has changed for me in a short time.
”

“
Well, if nothing else, I should be an asset to you. I have lived in the
paranormal
world for centuries
.
I can help you acclimate.
”

“
Thanks, I
’
d appreciate that
.
”
I
smil
ed
at him
.
H
e was trying. It
’
s not like any of this was his fault
any more
than mine.
“
I
’
ll get you a pillow and blanket for the couch for now.
”

“
Thank you, Sera.
”

“
You
’
re welcome,
”
I replied, finishing my drink before standing up. I headed down the hall to the linen closet where I grabbed a sheet, blanket
,
and pillow for him. Turning around, I walked back down the hallway and froze when I got the living room. Tristan was standing next to the sofa in nothing but a pair of dark blue boxer briefs
, his clothes lying folded in a neat pile on the
chair
. His body was more gorgeous than anything I could have ever imagined.

I swallowed loudly then walked the rest of the way and handed him the bedding. Before he could say anything, I all but ran to my room. So much for being a sophisticated woman around a
half-naked
man. But he looked so good, I was e
ither going to touch him or run…
S
o I ran.

Chapter 5

I stared at the ceiling of my room as I lay in bed, deep in thought about everything that had happened tonight and the past two weeks. It really would have helped if I could just get a breather before something else happened. Maybe just a small window of time to let everything sink in, adjust to the changes.

The floorboard squeaked outside my closed door
.
I
n a flash I was sitting up, my Berretta in hand, safety off. The door knob turned and the door slowly opened
, a thin beam of light spreading across the floor
. I took a deep breath, ready to fire if need be. Then I sa
w
it was only Tristan.

“
Fuck, Tristan
.
”
I
l
et out the breath I
’
d been
holding.
“
You scared the shit out of me.
”

“
I
’
m sorry, Sera
.
”
His voice was quiet as he
walk
ed
into the room.
“
I wanted to see if you were still awake. But if I knocked on the door and you had been sleeping, I would have woken you up.
”

“
What
’
s up?
”
I asked
,
flipping the safety back on my gun before putting it back on the nightstand
next to my alarm clock
.
“
Are you okay?
”

“
I
’
m fine
.
”
He came over
and s
a
t on the side of the bed
, his body only a few inches from mine
. I realized then I only had a camisole and bed shorts on and pulled the sheet up so I wasn
’
t revealing so much of my body.
“
I actually came to check if you were okay?
”

“
I
’
m, um, good, thanks
,
”
I replied, confused as to what he meant. Also very aware
that he only wore boxer briefs as he sat on my bed.

“
Why did you run from me earlier then, Sera?
”
h
e asked as he leaned over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
“
Why do you cover yourself when you see I am looking at you?
”

“
Look, Tristan
.
”
I t
ook
his hand
in mine
to hold it still so he
’
d stop playing with my hair. I was incapable of coherent thought while someone was playing with my hair.
“
I didn
’
t run away from you
.
I was startled to find you undressed in my living room. It seemed polite to give you your space.
”

“
Then why pull the sheet up when I sat down?
”
H
e look
ed
in
to
my eyes
as if they held the answers.
“
I heard your heart beat faster earl
ier
.
I could smell your desire.
”

“
Well, yeah, you have to know how gorgeous you are, Tristan. I
’
m only human
.
O
f course I
’
m attracted to you. But I don
’
t really know what
’
s going on here with this vampire/
sovereign
/
minion
/mystical thing. I don
’
t want to do anything for the wrong reasons and have it come back to bite me in the ass later.
”