Immortals And Melodies (Blood And Guitars #2) (20 page)

“Thinking about your dad?” I asked.

He sighed and his blazing, blue eyes met mine. “I’m sorry. I just can’t believe he showed up like that today out of the blue.”

“Don’t be sorry,” I said. “It’s a lot to process.”

“When I was younger,” he said wistfully. “The only thing I wanted was for him to want to spend time with me. I’d see other kids playing ball with their dads or going fishing, and I wanted to have that with him.” Trey stared at the fire for a moment and sipped at his cocoa. “As I got older, I just resented him for not doing any of those things. I tried to give him a chance when he showed back up the one time, but he just wasn’t capable of doing things right by me or my mom. I just don’t know what I want from him now. I haven’t known in a long time.” I rested my head on his shoulder and he kissed my hair.

“It must be hard for you, knowing we’ll never have kids of our own,” I said softly. I felt Trey’s weight shift, and I sat up again to look at him. “You’ve probably had that thought a thousand times, about how you would do things differently with your own kids. I’m sorry that’s not really in the cards for us”

“Hey,” he said, touching my chin. “The most important thing to me is being with you. I’m sure O’Shea, Chase and Jonas will eventually have kids one day, and I’ll get to be the fun uncle.” I gave him a questionable look and he smiled and added, “I’m serious. I’ll be the one who always has great hair and brings the kinds of fun toys that parents hate.”

I smiled, trying to visualize what he was saying. “It’s just that I’ve seen you with Joshua,” I said, referring to Ken and Serena’s infant son. “I know how much you love kids. You’d make a great father.”

Trey put his hot chocolate down on the coffee table and turned to face me. “I love you,” he said softly. “The only thing I’m concerned with is being a great husband.” Then he took my hot chocolate and put it down next to his, leaning into me. I felt his lips brush against mine, and I let myself be carried away in his kiss.

When the kiss ended I moved over to the sofa and gestured for him to sit on the floor between my knees. “Lose the shirt,” I said as he sat down.

He smiled and pulled his Y-shirt over his head. “Whatever you say.” I started rubbing his shoulders, trying to relieve all of the tension he was carrying there. “Right there,” Trey said, sucking air in through his teeth as I encountered a knot above his left shoulder blade.

I worked to relieve the knot, leaning forward to whisper in his ear as I did so. “Close your eyes,” I said softly. I felt the hum of the moon’s power in the back of my mind and harnessed it to send soothing scenes into Trey’s thoughts. I flooded his mind with memories of the two of us enjoying the ocean waves and waking up next to each other in white satin sheets. I felt his muscles stiffen briefly in response to the surprise, but he relaxed again just as quickly, giving me full control as he let himself be swallowed up in the images. Within five minutes, all the tension had gone completely out of him, and I released his mind. He shook his head lightly to clear it and then got to his knees, turning around to face me.

“That was new,” he said, giving me a lazy smile. “I had no idea you could-”

 
“I’m just full of surprises.” I traced the design of his tattoo lightly with my fingernail. “Besides, I thought you might like that.”

“Like it?” He laughed. “You blew my mind. Literally. Do you have any more tricks up your sleeve?”

“I can think of one more,” I admitted. I’d been trying to figure out how to tell Trey about the emotional link that occurred every time we kissed for a few days now, but after projecting into his mind tonight, I finally had an idea. “I’ll show you, if you think you’re up to it.”

He narrowed his eyes at me, the smile never leaving his face. “Just tell me what to do.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but decided against it. Instead, I projected an image of him kissing me into his thoughts. Trey’s eyes went unfocussed for a brief second while he processed the image. I released his mind, and our eyes met for a heartbeat before he leaned forward, and I felt his lips on mine.

I let my heartbeat quicken to match his own, completely caught up in the adrenaline rush that is kissing Trey. Instead of trying to decipher his feelings, I focused on my own. I reveled in the way all of my senses reacted to him and then tried to project that into his mind. His reaction was undeniable. I felt it in the kiss. Because the connection was now working both ways, I experienced Trey’s wonder at the emotional link. The sense of euphoria was heightened, because it was coming from us both, like our souls were brushing against each other. I could have gone on kissing him like that forever, long after my fangs unsheathed themselves and my eyes began to glow. When we finally pulled apart, he stared at me in awe. His chest was rising and falling against my hand as he tried to catch his breath.

“What ... was that?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t exactly have a name for it.”

A soft laughed escaped his lips, and he put a hand on top of mine over his heart. “So, this isn’t normal?”

I grinned. “I’m not sure anything about us is
normal
.”

“Huh....” He was silent, breathing for a moment. “Does it happen all the time?”

I bit my lip, buying a second to think. “Ever since you kissed me that night after your painting lesson,” I replied.

His eyes widened. “That was our first kiss.” He gazed at me and I nodded in agreement. He chewed his lip in thought. “It’s not like mind-reading, is it?”

I shook my head. “It’s an emotional link of some kind.” I took a moment to appreciate the way he could look at me, fangs and all, and make me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. “I don’t know why it happens.”

He brushed a strand of hair away from my face and lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I do,” he said, his voice low. “That first night we kissed, I wanted you to know everything. It was the first time I’d ever felt that way with someone. I wanted you to know the effect you were having on me. I didn’t know it yet, but I obviously got my wish.” I smiled at him, grateful that he wasn’t upset that I hadn’t explained all of this to him sooner. “Why was tonight different?” he asked. “I haven’t felt it before now.”

“It only works one way. I had to project it back for you to experience it with me.”

Chapter 26

Aurora

WHEN MY PHONE RANG it was Mark’s name on the caller ID. I realized I hadn’t talked to him in quite a while. I turned away from where Trey and the other guys were working and started walking to a quieter spot as I answered.

“Hey,” I said.

“How’s married life?” he asked.

I sighed. “Don’t be mad. I just wasn’t sure you’d want to-”

“I’m not mad,” he said. “And you’re probably right. I’m still not sure how to feel about your human.”

I smiled. “He has a name, you know.”

“Whatever. The point is I want you to be happy. If he does that for you, then I’ll get over it.”

I smiled. This was Mark’s way of trying to be supportive. It was more than I deserved after everything I’d kept from him. “How’s Hana?”

“She’s fine,” Mark said. “Actually, she’s moving to Clearwater.”

“She is?”

“I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet. There was an opening at the hospital and she nailed the interview. I’m helping her pack right now and we’re moving her tomorrow.”

“Wow.” I said, trying not to sound too surprised. Things had obviously gotten serious. “That’s great. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

Just then Trey hollered at me from across the pier, and several of the extras walked past me in character, groaning loudly. I waved at Trey to let him know I was coming and then held my phone to my ear again. “Sorry about that,” I said to Mark.

“Where are you?” he asked curiously.

“Believe it or not I’m surrounded by a hoard of Zombies at the moment. It’s a long story, actually.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Mark said. “I’d better let you get back to the undead. We should all do dinner one night soon. You know, catch up and everything.”

“That sounds great. I’ll see you at the ritual.”

The call ended, and I looked up to see Trey following one of the zombie extras down the pier. He had his arms out Frankenstein-style and was dragging his feet. I smiled and shook my head, hurrying to catch up to him.

“Practicing up for tomorrow,” he said when I reached his side. He straightened and put his arm around my shoulder as we walked toward the beach.

It was almost four in the morning and Catalyst had just wrapped up night one of shooting the “You Only Live Twice” video on Pier 60. They’d shot scenes of the guys all walking past the
zombified
characters on the pier, and then scenes of the band playing the song with their instruments at the end of the pier. Finally, they’d filmed the band getting rushed by the zombies. Tomorrow night was all about Catalyst being zombies themselves.

“What did you think?” Trey asked me.

“You got some really great footage,” I said. I’d been enjoying the process from near the director’s chair. “It’s going to be a great video.”

“Now the fun begins,” O’Shea said from behind me. “Tomorrow I’m a dead man.”

“Technically, you’ll be un-dead,” Jonas corrected. Then he turned to me and said, “Are you going to be here tomorrow, too?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Good,” he replied. “I’m going to put you in charge of filming some behind the scenes stuff for the fan club.”

“You do realize I’m not a photographer or a camera man,” I said with a smile.

“Close enough. You have a good eye. That’s really all that matters.”

I bit my lip in thought as we continued to walk toward the parking lot. My brother Aden would have been crazy jealous of what I was doing. He would have reveled in the chance to photograph a famous band like Catalyst one day, and he would have a done an amazing job at it, too. I’d enjoy every last second of it ... for him.

“I’m not ready to call it a night,” Trey said.

“That might have something to do with the three energy drinks you’ve downed,” Neon said.

Trey tilted his head in thought. “Probably. Where are we going to find something to eat?”

Chase pulled out his phone. “It’s after two. Nothing’s open.”

“Frozen pizza it is,” Trey countered. “My place. Meet you guys there.” There was a general consensus among the guys that included a few head nods as Trey led me to the BMW. “I hope this is okay,” Trey said once we were on the road. “I probably should have asked you.”

“This isn’t going to be the kind of marriage where we ask permission to do things, is it?” He grinned at me, and I continued. “Besides, now that we’re married, I feel like I just gained three brothers. They’re welcome anytime.”

“Just one of the many reasons I love you,” he said. “The most important being your wicked grilled-cheese-sandwich-making skills.”

I scoffed. “Oh, is that right?”

“You must be doing something right,” he teased.

It was five in the morning before I found myself surrounded by Catalyst and manager in the game room of Trey’s –
our
– house. We’d heated up a few pizzas and brought them upstairs. Jonas and Neon had a game of pool going on and O’Shea had put some music on. Trey was sitting on the floor between my knees while I worked some of the tension out of his neck and shoulders. The white, button-up shirt he’d been wearing for the video shoot was rumpled on the floor near my feet, and his tie had disappeared the moment we’d walked in the house. Jonas’s tie was now tied around his forehead, and he’d been claiming to be a ninja since he arrived. Chase was using his tie like a wet towel to whip anyone who walked past him where he had his feet kicked up on the sofa.