Empath (Book 1 of The Empath Trilogy)
Page 42
Ch. 34
Eventually, I became aware of something cool and wet on my forehead and that I had somehow made it to the couch; then it registered what had happened. James had carried me here after I fainted. I’d never fainted in my life. Stephen gets tortured for two days and runs through two states to get home and I faint? I was mortified.
“Claire,” his voice was thick with concern. “Claire, are you okay?”
My eyes fluttered open, and blinking, I took in my surroundings. I saw that there would be no hiding this embarrassment. The entire household was standing around the couch. The sound I heard was my own groan. Raising my hand to cover my face, I found my voice. “Can we pretend this never happened?”
Someone giggled nearby. I wasn’t sure if it was Tonya or Tara. Either way, I wished they would find something to do away from here.
I rolled toward the back of the couch and willed them all to go away. There was a quiet shuffling as they left the room and then I felt the couch cushion shift. His hand was on my shoulder as he tried to roll me over to face him. Feeling exceptionally childish, I held my body tight and whined, “no” until he pushed a little harder and made me roll over in spite of myself.
I looked up at his eyes, dark with worry. “Claire, what happened?”
“Didn’t you hear the thud when I fell?”
“No,” he said sounding exasperated. “What I am asking is if you remember what happened before you fainted?”
“Yes, I felt really tired.” I dropped my attitude; it wasn’t helping.
He was nodding his head. “You looked pale. Your eyes were glassy as well. Maybe you are in shock.”
Considering that, I canted my head to the side. “Yeah, but now would be a funny time. I mean, nothing’s happened to me for a while.”
His expression remained clouded as he was thinking and he spoke slowly. “I want you to take it slow the next few days while we figure out what is going on.” Seeing my eyes beginning to roll, he spoke quickly before I could disagree. “It’s probably nothing, but let’s just keep track of your symptoms and see if anything else happens.”
Reluctantly, I agreed. It felt selfish to take up anyone’s time with my weaknesses while they all had so much to do.
“Are you still feeling up to the wedding? We can bow out if you want to. We could find a hotel in another town to wait until our flight Sunday.”
“No,” I surprised myself with my resolve. “I want to go. I have a chance to have a normal family function. I want that. Plus, I get to have the hottest date there.”
“I was hoping you would want to go. I want to speak to your father.” He was watching his fingers tracing the outline of my healed jaw.
I felt my eyes go wide. He chuckled. “Not about any of this. You must remember that I was raised in another time. In my youth, when a man wanted to court a woman he asked her father for permission. I would like to have the opportunity to do things right. It bothers me I haven’t been able to speak to him yet.”
I couldn’t fight the laugh that bubbled up. “You want to meet my parents?”
He nodded, very serious. “I want to let them know my intentions. It would be nice to have one thing that we don’t have to hide from them.”
“We aren’t hiding. People know I am here.”
“Work doesn’t count. Henry is your boss, and I believe your professors know you are staying with a ‘friend’. Besides, I am trying to do the honorable thing here.” He was starting to get agitated.
“James, have I done something that has upset you?” My nerves were starting my stomach churning and I felt dizzy again.
Reaching out to touch my cheek, James spoke uncertainly. “Claire, do you think your father will approve of you being with someone so much older?”
Taking a moment, I swallowed the disbelief at the comprehension that he could stare down death but had a perfectly human fear of a father’s approval. “James, what parent wouldn’t adore you? You have an exciting job, a lovely home and their daughter is crazy about you. Who cares that you’re a few years older? They’re a few years apart too. By the way, how do you explain your lack of a family? I should probably know so I don’t say the wrong thing.”
Winking, he grinned crookedly. “Haven’t I told you about my trust fund? It explains the money, the lack of family and I have a legitimate excuse for being a prick once in a while.”
“So, you’re wealthy as well? Again I ask you, how could my parents not love you?” I sniggered. “I do.” His skin right in front of me was a temptation. Stretching my neck I reached my lips to the base of his throat exposed by the open neck of his white shirt. My kiss turned into two and as I grabbed his arm to pull him close, I felt his body go still and he pushed me down out of reach. My hurt must have shown on my face. “What did I do?”
“Nothing.” James’ objection was harsh. He hurried to soften the blow. “Claire, you fainted about fifteen minutes ago and you are a few shades paler than normal. Although you are testing my self-control, I must ask you to wait until you are better. We should get a good meal in you first. Besides, I thought we would get on the road soon. I’ve always enjoyed Duluth and I thought we could get up there a few hours early and spend some time on the town.” His brow furrowed. “You know, we’ve never had a real date.”
“Yes, we have, remember the night we went to the club?”
James’ face darkened. “How could I forget the night I introduced you to a psychopath? And for the record, it was not a date. It was homework.”
I sighed, “Look at the up side.” The look he gave me told me he didn’t see one. “We’ve spent every moment together since that night. I can’t see it as all bad. Can you?” Even with his recent declaration of love for me, I still worried it would fade in time when the newness of me wore off. What if I aged badly, what if he met some super hot vampire chick that could keep up with him better and wasn’t going to die in seventy years? He’d said it himself, “a vampire’s feelings are fleeting.” How could I expect anything but what his nature promised?