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  “No. I’m sure it’s fine. This shirt is really nice. Thank you.”

  “Okay.” She scooped the small pile into her arms. “Have fun tonight.”

  Michael opened the door for her, and she cast him a bright smile before stepping inside the penthouse’s elevator.

  Syssi was such a nice person, and beautiful, but she wasn’t his type.

  Kri was.

  Pacing around the living room, he waited for her to come for him, wondering what was taking her so long. It’s not like she ever fussed with her hair or makeup like other girls. Hell, most days she was ready before him.

  A few moments later the door opened and the mystery was solved.

  God, what did Amanda do to my girl?

  Kri had makeup on. Not much, but even that looked weird. She was naturally beautiful, and painting over that perfection was like ruining the Mona Lisa.

  And she was wearing a dress.

  And earrings.

  And she was clutching a handbag.

  Her smile wilted as she took a gander at his expression before he had a chance to control it. “You don’t like it.”

  Fuck.

  “No, I do. It’s just that I’ve never seen you in a dress, that’s all. You look really nice.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Just tell me the truth, Michael. I did this all for you.” She waved a hand over her face. “I hate this stuff. It feels like I’m covered in gunk.”

  She had done it for him?

  Wow.

  Why?

  He crossed the few feet between them and pulled her into a hug. “You don’t have to put on anything for me.” She felt stiff in his arms. “In fact, I like you best with absolutely nothing on.”

  That got a chuckle out of her, and she slumped into the embrace. “Should I wash it off?”

  “Definitely.”

  “And the dress? Should I change into my regular garb?”

  “Keep the dress. It shows off your magnificent legs.”

  “Really?” She searched his eyes.

  “Really. I like the dress.”

  Kri pushed away from him. “Okay, wait here. I’ll be right back.”

  It took her no more than two minutes to get rid of most of the war paint, but traces of black mascara—or perhaps it was an eyeliner, he wasn’t an expert on the stuff—still framed her big blue eyes.

  She rubbed at them. “I couldn't get rid of all of it because I don’t have the special remover.”

  Michael pulled her hands away before she did more damage, and used his thumb to wipe away the new smear she’d just made. “Leave it. This little bit is actually nice, makes the blue of your eyes stand out.” He used Syssi's phrase, hoping it was the right thing to say. He'd already made enough of a mess.

  “You think?” She walked over to the mirror hanging by the front door.

  “Yeah, you’re right. This is not bad at all. And the best part is that I can hardly feel it.”

  Phew.

  “Good. Are we good to go?” He took her hand.

  “Yeah, I just need my damn purse. There are no pockets in this dress.”

  He reached for the small bag and handed it to her. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 12: Kri

  By Invitation Only was like no other restaurant Kri had ever been to. Just to get to the place from the parking lot they had been escorted by an attendant through what looked like an enchanted garden. The guy had left them in the capable hands of the hostess, the leggy brunette who was now leading them to their reserved table. “This is even fancier than I’ve imagined,” Kri whispered in Michael's ear.

  He squeezed her hand.

  Poor guy, he seemed so uncomfortable, and for a good reason. The two of them belonged in a place like that like a pair of elephants in a china shop. Even though dressed in their borrowed finery, they must’ve looked like the poor relatives someone invited out of charity. Not to mention that they seemed to be the youngest amongst this opulent crowd—or at least Michael was. Kri just looked it.

  Damn, everyone’s eyes were following her, but it sure as hell wasn’t because she was such a looker. Kri knew what they were staring at—a big woman with linebacker’s shoulders and the gait of a soldier. A woman who had no business wearing a slinky, above-the-knee halter dress.

  She didn’t belong here, among the millionaires and their trophy dates, the movie stars and starlets, the politicians and their wives or their husbands.

  Whatever, pushing out her chest, Kri flipped her long hair back and lifted her chin. She had a few things going for her and wasn’t too modest to flaunt them. Her wavy hair was long and thick, her cleavage was impressive without the help of implants, and Michael had said that her legs look great.

  Besides, she had to remind herself that she was doing this for him.

  The hostess stopped next to a small table set for two and pulled out a chair for Kri.

  “Thank you.” Kri smiled a big fake smile. If she was going to play a part, she’d better do it right.

  “Would you care for something to drink while you’re looking over tonight's selection?”

  “A Perrier, for me. Michael?”

  “Just water.”

  “Very well.” The hostess inclined her head and sauntered away.

  The woman was a knockout, slim with long legs that looked even longer in the spiky heels she was wearing. Those things must’ve been murder on her feet. Even if she weren't six feet tall, Kri would’ve never subjected herself to such torture.

  The menus had no prices on them, but she’d known coming in that the dinner was going to cost her half a grand at least. Not a problem. She had the money. Aside from her share in the clan’s profits, her Guardian pay was substantial. She had more money than she knew what to do with.

  Michael frowned. “Where are the prices? How am I supposed to know what to order?”

  Kri opened her purse discreetly and pulled out the small box that had been the main reason for schlepping the thing with her. It wasn’t as if she had a comb or a lipstick in there, and the two plastic rectangles, her driver’s license and credit card, could’ve fitted in Michael’s pocket. She reached across the small table and took his hand. “Don’t worry about it. It’s my treat. Happy birthday, Michael.” She lifted the wrapped box from her lap and placed it in front of him.

  His surprised and delighted expression was the best thank-you he could’ve given her.

  Michael pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I had no clue. I thought you’d forgotten.”

  She laughed. “Are you kidding me? Your twenty-first birthday is a big deal.” Leaning towards him she whispered, “You can finally use your real driver’s license to order a drink. Should we toast with a glass of champagne?”

  “How about a Bud Light?”

  “A Budweiser? In this place? They probably don’t have something as plebeian.”

  “What about Snake’s Venom?”

  Kri snorted. “Do you want to get drunk on your birthday? Not that I mind if you do,” she said with a shrug. “After all, this is your celebration. I can drive us home.”

  Michael squared his shoulders and shifted back in his seat. “I won’t get drunk on one beer, not even Snake’s Venom. I had plenty of them at Kian’s bachelor’s party and was perfectly fine.”

  Kri wanted to roll her eyes. Here he goes again. His male ego getting hurt by nonsense.

  She patted his hand. “Whatever you want, baby. When they come to take our order, we will ask what they have. But first, open your present.”

  Michael lifted the box, examined it from all sides, and even gave it a little shake. “Hmm, what could it be?” he taunted.

  She was so excited for him to see what she'd gotten him, and the guy was teasing her, prolonging her anticipation.

  She’d spent a small fortune on this gift. He’d better like it.

  “Ugh, just open it already.”

  With a smile, he loosened the blue silk ribbon, unwrapped the box, and popped the lid open.


  Kri was practically bouncing in her chair, her eyes darting between the box and Michael’s face.

  “Oh, wow!” He lifted up the watch, checking it out. “This is amazing, thank you.” He looked closer. “Patek Philippe? I’ve never heard of this brand. What is it?”

  Damn. I’ve spent close to twenty grand on it, and he doesn't even know that this is one of the most luxurious brands in the world.

  “It’s a very good watch and it keeps its value. If you ever want to sell it to get a different one, it will fetch a good price. This one is their entry level watch, but that’s not why I bought it. It’s elegant yet young, luxurious yet understated.” She smiled. “Or at least this is what the salesman claimed. Anyway, I hope you like it.”

  “I love it. Thank you.” He put it on his wrist then pulled her hand for a kiss.

  Obviously, Michael had no idea that this wasn’t a mass-produced piece one buys at a department store for a couple of hundred bucks. If he had known, Kri had no doubt he would’ve refused to accept it.

  Eventually, he would find out. Someone would say something about it and he would go on the Internet to check it out.

  Either way, she fully expected him to fight her about it.

  Not tonight, though.

  Chapter 13: Michael

  Michael wiped his mouth with a napkin. The meal had been fantastic. Not a big surprise. He'd sampled this restaurant chef's creations before at Kian and Syssi’s wedding. While people had been mingling and dancing, Michael had stayed close to the appetizer buffet, stuffing himself with more than his fair share of the small delicacies.

  Regrettably though, unlike the spread at the wedding this hadn’t been an all-you-can-eat affair. The three courses had been amazing, but the quantities had been tiny, more a taste than enough to fill up on. He could easily handle a burger or two right now.

  Kri was pretending as if she was full, but he knew her capacity wasn’t significantly less than his, so she must’ve been still hungry as well, but he wasn’t going to suggest they order more stuff. This outing was probably costing Kri a fortune. She wasn't hurting for money, but he didn’t want to feel like a mooch. And this was on top of what she’d already shelled out for the watch, which was at least several hundred.

  He took it off his wrist to examine it more closely, discovering that the underside was made from a clear plastic or some other see-through material, and the watch’s intricate mechanism was visible.

  “Look at this.” He dangled it by the strap so she could see the back. “You can see the thing’s guts. It’s so cool.”

  She chuckled. “I know. The salesman at the jewelry store made a big deal out of it.”

  She bought it at a specialist store? Damn, it must’ve been more expensive than he thought. “I hope you didn’t spend too much on it.”

  It looked like a simple sports watch, but Michael knew next to nothing about such things. Hell, he didn't even own one. Who needed it when your cellphone could tell you what time it was with perfect accuracy, automatically adjusting for whatever time zone you happened to travel to around the world?

  Watches were a thing of the past—a piece of jewelry the older generation still clung to. Which was a reminder that Kri, despite her youthful hotness, had been born a couple of decades before him and hadn’t grown up with a smartphone superglued to the palm of her hand.

  She smiled. “As long as you like it, it was worth every penny.”

  He cocked a brow. “It sure don't look like something you can buy with a jar of pennies.”

  Kri shrugged. “So, how did you like dinner? It was delicious, right?”

  Clearly, she was trying to change the subject. He should drop it. Inquiring about the price of a gift was rude.

  “It was amazing. But it’s too pricy and fancy for a regular date, or even for a birthday. A place like this is perfect for a proposal, or celebrating a special anniversary. You know me, I would’ve been happy with burgers and fries.”

  Kri crossed her hands over her chest. “It’s your birthday, and I wanted to do something special for you.”

  He took her hand. “I know. Thank you. Next time we come here, though, it will be my treat.” He made a point of looking around. “I'm thinking of proposing to you here.” He said it with a wink, even though he was a hundred percent serious. Except, Kri would’ve freaked out, and the wink had been meant to put her at ease.

  The snort that left her mouth was somewhat hurtful. “Don’t be ridiculous, Michael. Even as a joke it’s not funny. You’re so young. You haven’t experienced life yet. How many women, or rather girls, had you been with before me? One? Two? And you’re talking about a lifelong commitment?”

  Michael shifted uncomfortably, but didn’t reply. Her questions, or rather statements, were offensive and didn’t deserve an answer.

  Except Kri wasn’t very perceptive for a woman, and she completely missed his cues. Either that, or she just wasn’t ready to give up. “Joking aside, how many females did you have sex with before me? I’m curious.”

  Fuck, he really didn't want to answer, but Kri was stubborn, and she'd keep pushing until she got what she wanted.

  “One. You’re happy now?”

  She pouted. “Yes and no. I’m not happy that you have so little to compare me to, but I’m happy that you’re mine. Seriously, though, I shouldn't be selfish and keep you for myself. The right thing to do would be to set you free and let you explore. And if you still wanted to come back to me then great. But I don’t know if I can do it. I’d be too jealous.”

  Damn right, she should be jealous. He couldn't even think of her with another man. What was wrong with her? Was it an immortal thing? Or a Kri thing? Was he the problem? Or was Kri suffering from an acute case of commitment phobia?

  Michael shook his head. “What am I to you, Kri? A boyfriend? A friend with benefits? A boy toy? How can you even think about me with someone else?” He threw his napkin on the table and got up. “I need some fresh air. I’ll wait for you by the front door.” Michael was boiling inside, and it had taken a lot of self-discipline to temper his response to something that sounded semi-civil.

  What he really wanted to do was march back to the parking lot, get in the car, and drive off.

  Somewhere in the back of his mind, Michael was aware that he was overreacting. Kri might’ve lacked tact and had spoken without thinking, but she had taken it back just as soon as she’d blurted it out. Letting him fool around with someone else was just as abhorrent to her as it was to him. Or at least he hoped so.

  Problem was, it was quite obvious that he loved her more than she loved him.

  If she loved him at all.

  Kri never said the words. Neither had he, but only because he was afraid of her reaction.

  Perhaps it was time to stop being a chicken and lay it all out on the table. The truth was that Kri had stolen his heart right from the start, and when she'd taken him in after his transition they had become an item. But they had never discussed the future, and Michael had no idea where he stood with her.

  Not that he was in any position to make demands when he had nothing to offer. Before the big talk he was planning on having with Kri, he’d hoped to make some headway with the Guardian training first—to get to be at least good enough to start receiving a trainee salary.

  Arwel had explained that Guardians trained for decades before earning the title, and as a full-time commitment was required, no one expected them to be doing it for free. Once a certain threshold was met, and a person was officially accepted as a Guardian in training, he or she started getting paid. It was less than half of what the Guardians were making, but it was good pay nonetheless.

  When declaring his love and asking Kri to make a commitment to him, he shouldn’t be the guy who lived on an allowance and didn’t have a job, or even a prospect of one.

  How would she ever take him seriously?

  Trouble was, Michael now knew that he still had a lot of training ahead of him before he got officially accepted in
to the program, and telling Kri how he felt couldn’t wait this long.

  He’d almost blown it with her by working himself into exhaustion while trying to hasten his acceptance. It had taken his thick skull too long to realize what she must have been thinking. It seemed that Kri had gotten it into her head that he was training so hard because she’d done better than him in that alley fight.

  Silly girl.

  This wasn’t about some stupid competition, or worse, about her being a female with superior fighting skills to his meager ones. How could she ever think that? Was her opinion of him so low?

  Hell, he was damn proud of Kri and her awe-inspiring performance.

  What had really happened that night, was that he’d realized how far he still had to go.

  No one had told him that it would take him decades to become a fully-fledged Guardian, or that all his work up till now had been just training to get accepted into the program. Before telling Kri that he loved her and wished to spend the rest of his immortal life with her, Michael had wanted to have at least this one thing accomplished. Except, it seemed that he needed to revise his plan.

  Chapter 14: Kri

  With a heavy sigh, Kri finished telling Amanda and Syssi about the mess last night had turned out to be. Instead of making things better between Michael and her, she'd managed to make them worse.

  “You didn’t…” Amanda gasped.

  Kri grimaced. She’d bungled things pretty bad with Michael. What had possessed her to suggest he needed to experience sex with other females? Sometimes her big mouth talked before her brain had time to weigh the consequences.

  Fuck.

  Everything had been going so well, he’d seemed so happy, and then she’d put that hurt expression on his handsome face. She was such an idiot.

  “Yeah, I did. And I don’t know how to fix it. We’ve been making such good progress and then I had to shoot my stupid mouth.”

  Grabbing the end tail of her braid, Kri twisted it between her fingers. “It’s just that he startled me with all this talk about proposing. He just turned twenty-one for fates’ sake, and he is talking about marriage? A lifelong commitment? I felt like I needed to throw some cold water on his head to cool him down.”