“Do you really want to talk about work?” He smiled gently.
She nodded, letting his hand go. The tension broke between them suddenly.
“You are incredible,” he said, staring at her admiringly. “You’ve just been through a traumatic event, and already you are thinking about others.”
She blushed. “I’m fine, really,” she said.
“Okay then,” he said, sitting in the seat next to her. She felt the sudden distance between them like an amputation. She wanted him back, next to her. So close that she could almost feel the beat of his heart.
“I had an idea,” he said slowly. “About our theory of a parasite, which was linked to your idea about it being in the water. An internet search led me to an amoeba, which is water borne, and attacks the brain.”
She sat up, her mind suddenly clear. “And you think that this amoeba might be the cause? Why this particular one?”
“Just a hunch,” he said. “I’m not sure if it is this particular one, but maybe one like it.”
He couldn’t tell her yet that he had narrowed it down by searching for parasites of South American origin. She would want to know why, and until he had proof, he couldn’t tell her about the doctor and his trek in the Amazon.
If the doctor was working for the Vilgath, then he was dangerous. And he didn’t want Allie knowing about it. It would put her in danger.
“Why did you rush off, without telling me?” she asked. “Where did you go?”
He frowned. “This amoeba is detected by examining the spinal fluid. I wanted to get some samples, and get back to you straightaway with them, for analysis.”
Her eyes widened. “So why didn’t you?”
He frowned again. “Unfortunately, I had to spend most of the day tied up in red tape. They didn’t want to give me the samples without further proof and without Dr. Morgan’s consent.” He took a deep breath. “And I didn’t want to go through Morgan.”
She took a deep breath. “He’s not happy with you, Caleb. He thinks that you are being stubborn, clinging to this idea. For some reason, he is persistent that it is pathogenic and won’t look at other possibilities.” She frowned. “Although he did get the water analysis that I requested done, for all it was worth.”
He gazed at her. “What happened?”
She sighed. “It was negative,” she said, feeling again that crushing disappointment. “Nothing suspect in it. I was so sure that it was being transmitted that way, and now, we are back to the drawing board.”
“He told you?” he pressed, staring at her. “When?”
“Before I left for the evening,” she said. “I had to go to his office myself to remind him. He seems so distracted at the moment, even worse than usual. I suppose the pressure of it all is getting to him.”
Caleb’s lips thinned, thinking of the doctor. Distracted because of the pressure, or because he was part of this? He thought again of the photos he had seen and the missing money from his account. Dr. Morgan was part of this, he was sure of it. If only he hadn’t been disturbed the previous evening, when he had been searching his drawer. He was almost certain that what he had felt at the back of it was something significant.
He gazed at Allie. He could tell that she was disappointed with the water analysis, and he didn’t blame her. But then…he sat up straighter, thinking furiously.
What if Dr. Morgan hadn’t sent the water for analysis, at all? What if he had lied to Allie, to put her off the trail? That would mean that there still could be evidence in the water.
If only he had been able to get those fluid samples. His fists tightened at the thought of the frustrating day that he had spent. The director at the hospital had refused without Dr. Morgan’s approval. It was like a vicious circle: without evidence in the water, the hospital would refuse the samples. But how could they get evidence, when the water wasn’t analysed?
He had been overwhelmed with frustration when he had headed home that evening, trying to duck the festival crowds after he had dropped the car off, as usual. And then, he had seen Allie’s car, seemingly abandoned on a random street. His instincts had told him she was in trouble, and he was just so grateful that he had found her when he had. All thoughts of his frustrating day had fled from his mind. Seeing her so vulnerable in that crowd had frightened him.
It seemed that fate was playing with them again. Leading him to her. Almost like it was inevitable, as if they didn’t have a say in any of it.
He gazed at her, lying on the sofa. He had placed her there gently, after he had brought her in, placing a blanket over her. He had stared down at her, almost choking on the emotions that were swirling through him. Concern. Anger. And something else that he didn’t recognise and instinctively fought against.
“Caleb,” she whispered, now, interrupting his reverie. “I think I remember. What I was running away from.”
“What?” he said, gently, leaning towards her.
“It was a man, in a costume,” she said haltingly. “A frightening costume, all black. He had a black mask on, so I couldn’t see his face. It was painted with strange symbols, in gold.”
Caleb felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
“Go on,” he said slowly.
“He lunged at me,” she whispered. “I couldn’t see his face through the mask. Only his eyes. And he said something to me, something that frightened me. It was why I was running so desperately.”
Caleb stilled. “What did he say?”
Allie bit her lip. “He told me that he knew me,” she whispered. “He told me that I couldn’t escape. When I ran away from him, he was following me. It was why I was so overcome and fainted, I suppose. It wasn’t just the press of the crowd.”
Caleb stared at her, his blood running cold. It could have been anyone, of course. Some drunken fool in a costume who thought it was fun to intimidate women alone in a crowd. But he knew that it also could have been something else entirely.
The Harvest Parade, and the festival the night before it, were old traditions in the city of Covenester. He knew that they had been happening since the city was founded, and that they were older even than that. The parade and festival were the modern-day equivalent of ancient festivals and rites, when the harvest was celebrated. A time when the demons came out to play, to try to wreak havoc on the people.
Yes, people dressed up as a bit of fun. But the Vilgath also used it as a cover, when they could roam the streets, undetected. In disguise, but also as themselves. He knew that they used symbols of their species on their costumes, at these times. It gave them power, and no one recognised what they really were.
What Allie had just described was a demon. A Vilgath demon walking the streets.
He shuddered, going cold with fear. It had said that it knew her, and that she couldn’t escape.
Chapter Twelve
Caleb stared at her as if through the force of his will he could make her safe.
“Caleb?” Her voice was tremulous. “Are you alright?”
He forced himself to nod. “Yes. Just thinking of the idiots who roam the streets during the festival.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry that you had to go through that, Allie. It was bad luck, all of it. I called a mechanic, by the way, to see to your car. It needs a new battery.”
Allie gazed at him, her eyes glistening with tears. “Thank you, Caleb. You didn’t have to do all of that. I feel like such a fool.”
His heart lurched. “You’re not a fool,” he said fiercely. “It could have happened to anyone. And you had to walk through the crowd to find assistance. What were you going to do, sleep in your car?”
She smiled tremulously. “I’m usually more organised,” she said. “I should have seen that my phone needed charging, but I was so tired and distracted by what is happening. A good lesson to keep on top of things better.”
He stared at her, his eyes softening. “You are amazing,” he gently said. “You have had the strength to move to a city where you know nobody and start a new li
fe. That’s difficult. Don’t be so hard on yourself, Allie. I admire your independence, but we all need each other in life from time to time.”
The tears that had been threatening spilled over. She turned her head away from him, towards the wall. What would he think of her, crying like this? She had never felt more vulnerable in her life.
Suddenly, he was beside her, turning her face towards him. She gulped, taking a deep breath. What she saw in his face made her gasp with wonder. His vivid green eyes were tender as they gazed down at her.
“Allie,” he whispered. He gently wiped away a tear running down her face with his thumb. The touch of it made her gasp again.
“We haven’t talked,” he said, slowly, his eyes raking over her face. “About what happened between us.”
“No, we haven’t,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I sense that you don’t want to get involved, and I understand. I’m not sure I want to, either.” She took a deep breath. “The kiss was a mistake.”
“Was it?” he said, still staring at her intently. “I know that I have been aloof with you. There are reasons for that—reasons that I can’t explain to you. But this…connection between us is so strong, and I don’t know if I can fight it anymore.” He laughed ruefully. “I don’t know that I want to.”
She gazed up at him, her eyes shining. “What are you saying?”
In response, he leaned forward so that his face was so close to hers she could see every individual eyelash. Every pore in his skin. And then he touched his lips to her own, hesitantly. Giving her time to pull away, if she wanted to.
But she didn’t want to.
The need overwhelmed her. The desire to be as close to him as possible. She kissed him, fiercely.
The response was instant. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer to him. The kiss deepened. They seemed to stay like that for hours, but Allie knew it was only minutes. When he pulled away, to take a deep breath, her head spun slightly.
“Allie,” he whispered. “I want you so much. I haven’t ever wanted a woman as much in my life. Do you want me?”
She gazed at him. She knew what he was asking, and her head spun again. She wanted him as much as he seemed to want her, but was it a good idea? Considering the reservations she had been having. The fact that he lied to her about going into that warehouse. The fact that there was obviously more to Caleb Stone than he was telling her. Could she just ignore all that?
She stared at his face, as open and as vulnerable in this moment as she had ever seen it. She could see that he was trembling. She raised a shaky hand to her hair, pulling it back. She was trembling, too.
She wanted to be close to him. She wanted to be intimate with him. The need was so strong. She could ask questions later, couldn’t she?
She would just have to risk it that he would answer them.
“Yes,” she whispered, nodding. “I want you, Caleb Stone.”
She saw the joy that suddenly shone in his eyes. He leaned forward, and she was suddenly swung into the air. She was in his arms.
“You’ll have to tell me the way,” he roughly whispered into her ear.
Her knees felt weak, and when she opened her mouth, not a sound emerged. She pointed towards her bedroom wordlessly.
He walked towards it, pushing the door open. For a moment, she was self-conscious. Had she remembered to make her bed this morning? Had she cleared her dirty clothes off the floor? But then, she relaxed into his arms, staring up at him.
None of it mattered. There was only this moment, stretching forwards endlessly.
He closed the door behind them and walked with her in his arms to the bed, gently lowering her down. He stood over her for a moment, just gazing at her. His eyes were shining.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered. “I think that I was a goner from the moment that I first laid eyes on you, Allie Holloway.”
In response, she leaned up, pulling him down on her. They kissed again. All thought flew from her mind.
She didn’t want to be anywhere else. She wanted to be with him so badly it hurt.
The problems at work flew out the window. Her questions about this man stilled in her mind. The frightening experience tonight was wiped clean.
And so, Allie surrendered to the moment.
***
Allie opened her eyes, slowly. Sunlight streamed through her bedroom window. She had forgotten to shut the curtains last night…
She blushed, thinking about what had happened last night. She had not been expecting it—not in the least. And now, in the cold light of day, all the worries that she had flung away came clamouring back into her mind, jostling for attention.
Her eyes turned towards the sleeping man next to her. He had flung his arms and legs out from underneath the quilt while sleeping. Her eyes travelled over him. He was beautiful; so long limbed. There was incredible strength in him. There had been a few moments, last night, when she had been amazed by it.
“Tell me if I am hurting you,” he had whispered into her ear. “I sometimes don’t realise my own strength.”
She had reassured him. He had been tender as well as strong.
It had simply been the most amazing experience of making love that she had ever had.
His eyelids flickered slightly, as if he was dreaming and watching something play out in his head. Allie bit her lip, considering. How would he react when he opened his eyes? Would he regret what had happened between them?
She knew that it could happen, although she hadn’t had any experience of it. There had only ever been Pete. Her childhood sweetheart. And she could hardly remember anymore how it had been between them, at the start. Surely, she should remember? But the details were hazy in her mind, now. A sign, she thought suddenly. A sign that she had been right to break it off with him; that they had not been meant for each other.
She didn’t think that she would ever forget last night with Caleb. It was emblazoned on her mind, like a tattoo. Like a brand. Regardless of what happened between them, nothing could take that away from her.
What did she want to happen between them?
He stirred and opened his eyes, staring straight at her.
“Good morning,” he whispered, pulling her towards him.
They kissed, slow and lingering. She felt that she was about to melt into the mattress, once again.
“How are you?” he whispered into her hair.
“Good,” she said. Then she grinned. “Actually, that’s a lie. I feel fantastic.”
He grinned back, his green eyes shining. “That makes two of us,” he said. “Last night was incredible, Allie. We fit together so well.” He gently traced her lips with his thumb.
Her grin widened. “I thought you were going to crush me sometimes! You are so strong, Caleb. Do you play some sport or go to the gym?”
He smiled, letting her go. “No, to both, although I probably should. I’ve just always been strong, I guess. It’s in the genes.” The wolf genes, he thought to himself.
“I was watching you sleep,” she said. “Your eyes were flickering and you were twitching, like you were dreaming. For some strange reason, it reminded me of my old dog when she was sleeping. Her eyes would flicker, and her paws would twitch, like she was running or sniffing something outside.”
Caleb smiled, but he considered what she had said. He had been dreaming. In the dream, he had been the wolf, running through the wilderness. It had felt wonderful as he had stretched his legs, feeling his paws against the ground. He had turned and howled at the moon. The fact that Allie had seen him dreaming of it, and remarked that he had looked like her dog, made him feel a bit vulnerable.
“I didn’t mean that you looked like my dog,” she said, blushing. “That kind of came out wrong, now that I think about it.”
He laughed. “I take it as a compliment,” he said, stretching. “To be compared to your dog. You obviously loved her.” He paused, staring at her. “Is she still with your parents?” He knew the answer to the question, of co
urse. He had read about her dog who had died when he had been doing his background check on her.
“No.” She shook her head sadly. “She died, just recently. I shouldn’t be sad. She was old, and she had a good life. But I had her since I was eleven, and it was like losing a friend. A best friend.”
“What was her name?” he asked her.
“Tina,” she said, smiling. “She was a dachshund. She had these short, stumpy legs, and she waddled when she walked. Big brown eyes that were like velvet.”
“It’s always sad losing a friend, Allie,” he said softly. “You obviously loved her very much. And I’m sure that she loved you, too.”
Allie smiled then looked away. She still got a bit teary when she thought of Tina. And for some reason, she felt vulnerable sharing the story of her beloved dog with Caleb. It was intimate; almost more intimate than what had passed between them the night before.
“Thank you for sharing that with me,” he said, turning her face back towards him. “The story of your dog. I should have known you would be an animal lover.”
“Why?” she said, staring at him.
He hesitated. “You just seem loving, that’s all. Kind. Compassionate. Usually people who have those qualities extend them to all animals, not just humans.” Like him? He pondered that thought.
What was he, exactly? A person, but neither fully human nor fully animal. A mixture of both. It had been so hard for him to accept himself as he truly was. So hard. He had struggled with it for years, even after Uncle Rich had told him that he wasn’t alone. That there were others like him in the world.
He had shared a glorious night with this woman, as his human self. A part of him still yearned that he could be what was considered normal in this world, and do all those normal things. A fully human man would get up, now, and make this woman breakfast. Shower her with love. Take her to a movie, or for a walk, holding hands.
But none of that was possible for him.
He didn’t regret what had happened between them. How could he? It had been the most amazing night of his life. He had fought against what was happening between them, but once he had decided, it had been okay. The thought of being with her was all that had mattered.
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