30 All you need to know (1/2)

He came up beside her, ”Um, you can follow me this way. It's been an incredibly long time since I've had a girl over so…” He set his hand on the small of her back and guided her through the garage toward the door of the main house. ”Sorry about pulling straight in here, I'm not trying to give off a 'serial killer' vibe, I just prefer when people don't know when I'm home.” He followed her gaze as she slowed down when they passed by the trio of motorcycles. ”If you'd like to go for a ride later, I'd be more than happy to take you.”

She blushed thinking about what it would involve riding on the back with him, ”I don't know if that would be the best idea, but they are nice.” She continued walking stepping away from his hand that had been guiding her.She turned the handle of the elaborate door, then shot him a questioning glance as it opened easily. ”You don't lock your doors?”

He shrugged a playful tease in his tone as he answered, ”Who's going to break in on a vampire?” His eyes sparkled as he smiled at her making direct contact, the glasses pushed atop his head. When she blushed and looked away, he stepped closer and asked, ”What is it?” He tugged her face up to meet his gaze, ”Having second thoughts about being alone with a vampire?”

She held his gaze, though his eyes weren't glowing as brightly as they were on the beach earlier, they still had an incandescence that was mesmerizing. ”It's not that, It's, just that…” her face heated more as she fought to pull her face away. When he wouldn't let go she swallowed hard and whispered, ”Your eyes are stunning.It's a shame you hide them so often.”

He suddenly released her as surprised once again overtook his features.He gave a shy smile, his cheeks stained with a faint blush as he replied. ”I'm sorry... I was intentionally trying to disarm you,but you answer with such honesty.” His voice softened to a near whisper, ”You are constantly surprising me.”

She didn't reply but instead turned and pushed the door the rest of the way open. He nudged her through the door as he followed behind her.Her eyes quickly adjusted to the dim recess lights illuminating for down the hallway. She was standing in what must be the mudroom, with neatly organized shelves and hooks above a leather covered storage bench.There was a wetsuit casually hung on one of the hooks but nothing else.Her eyes trailed over the sleek polished marble tile running throughout the areas as far as she could see.Her eyes trailed up the walls landing on a beautiful set of ship paintings that someone had framed and lit perfectly.She walked closer to the painting and ran her fingers along the contour of the waves.

Xavier came up behind her, ”Do you like art?”

She nodded, ”Yes, very much.” She spoke as she continued looking over the paintings. ”I work as a curator of a gallery in town.I also work as a teaching assistant on campus.”

”Really? I pegged you as more of a student.” His breath tickled the back of her neck.

She stepped to the side and met his gaze. ”I'm working on my graduate degree now, so I work with undergraduate classes.”

He smiled down at her, unable to hide his happiness to have her so close.He took a step toward her.Her cheeks colored as she averted her gaze and stepped away.A surge of excitement shot through his body as he realized she wasn't backing away because he was a vampire, rather because he was a man and she was a woman.His smile widened as he stepped around her to move farther down the hallway. {Patents, patents…} He kept repeating to himself.It was all that was keeping him from slamming her against the wall and taking her right there in the mudroom.He walked into the kitchen and was rummaging through the refrigerator, ”I'm sorry I don't have too much to offer.” His voice was muffled by the large double doors of the refrigerator.

Joslyn let her eyes travel over his obviously unused kitchen. It was every chef's dream with a six burner gas range, a pot filling spout over the back eye, double ovens, a large double sided sink, and a large bar in the center of the room. Her phone vibrated once again; she glanced down at it to see it had completely died. She huffed out a sigh before tossing it up onto the counter.She watched as Xavier popped up from inside the giant stainless-steel fridge with a bottle of water in his hand.He closed the door and walked over to where she stood.”I can't tell you the last time a non-vamp was here…” he shrugged a grin spread across his face, ”My housekeeper is even a vampire.”

She took the water, ”Hum… I didn't realize there were so many in the area.”

He shrugged, ”It's a good location for non-violent vamps who can move freely in the daylight.” He watched the questions form in her mind as the words left his lips. ”I guess I should elaborate. So, you know the myths about vampires not being able to go out in the sun, even bursting into flames in the sun.Well, there is some truth behind it.”He took her free hand and guided her farther into the house.He kept his grip loose so she could pull away whenever she liked and wouldn't feel trapped.

She came to a dead stop as her mouth dropped in awe. ”Wow, Xavier, this is amazing!” The entire end of the living room was glass doors that had been left open.A lavash lazy river ran along both sides of his spacious outdoor living space, dumping into a large infinity pool overlooking the ocean.

He smiled down at her, ”Would you like to talk out there instead of in here?”

”Yes, please.” She said as she began walking to the large open doors, still holding his hand.

He led her to the large sectional directly in front of the pool.He reluctantly released her hand but decided against his better judgment and sat down beside her.He leaned back against the plush cushions of the sectional as the light fragrant breeze from the ocean tossled his hair. ”Anyways, as I was saying.There is some truth behind the myths of vampires and the sun.You see, everything you've heard about us all revolves around blood consumption.”

She pulled her attention away from the waves crashing in the distance and met his eyes before asking, ”Blood consumption?”

He nodded, ”Yes, the more blood we drink the stronger we become, our abilities become more effective…”

She interrupted him again, ”Abilities?”