“I didn’t know it would be like this,” he says in a whisper. And then: “I’m scared.”

“I’m not this girl,” she whispered against his lips. He had to know, this wasn’t her. She didn’t kiss strange men. She didn’t feel this deep hunger inside.“I know you’re not,” he said. “But I am this man.”

“I’m so sorry to disappoint you,” she said, breathing hard. “But it would take far more than that to scare me.”A quick flex of his arms, and their bodies collided. And he whispered, just as his mouth fell on hers, “God, I was hoping you’d say that.”

“I’m sorry, Nick,” I whispered, slipping his pendant from my neck. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

“I didn’t even know he knew any mellow shit. Dear gods…is he ill? (Urian)I don’t know. In nine thousand years, I’ve never seen him like this before. (Alexion)I’m beginning to get scared. This has to be a sign of the Apocalypse. If he breaks out into Air Supply, I say we sneak up on him, drag him outside and beat the holy shit out of him. (Urian)”

“I hate you.”“I know,” he whispered.“Kiss me.”He didn’t hesitate.”