She sighed. “I sat with my dad for a few hours by her bedside. He told me how sorry he was that I’d been unhappy.”
“He loves you,” Gregori whispered.
“I love him, too. I love all my family.” She smiled sadly at Gregori. “There are times, though, that I feel like I don’t belong. Like an outcast.”
“I know the feeling. I’m an outcast, too.”
Her eyes widened as she gazed at him. It took all his control not to pull her into his arms.
She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “We do have a lot in common.”
Time stretched out while he tried to think of something incredibly deep and insightful to say. Something that would impress her. “There’s something hard in my pants.”
She moaned. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Really uncomfortable.” He reached down to his jeans to get a hold on it.
“Oh God, don’t let it out.”
“Got it!” He pulled his hand out and showed her the Droid.
She laughed.
He dropped the phone on the bedside table next to him, then snuggled up close to her.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re going to sleep, right?”
“I thought you slept during the day.”
“I do.” He wrapped his arms around her.
She rested her head against his chest. “You’re just going to lie there? Sounds kind of boring.”
“Not at all.” He stroked her hair. “I get to hold you. Listen to you breathe. Think.”
She yawned. “About what?” She closed her eyes.
“Keeping you warm.” He tucked the comforter around her. “Keeping you safe.” Her breaths deepened, and her body relaxed against him.
He kissed the top of her head. “Keeping you mine.”
Half asleep, Abigail reached for Gregori. She couldn’t remember ever sleeping so well. She’d loved the feel of his arms around her and the way he’d stroked her hair. She’d felt safe and loved, and now that she wasn’t so tired, she was remembering other things. Like how broad and muscular his chest was. How gentle and sweet his hands were. How he made her laugh. Made her hot.
“Gregori,” she mumbled and stretched her hand out to feel his hard abs.
Nothing.
She jerked awake and sat up. She was alone. And good Lord, it was almost noon!
Gregori must have teleported away hours ago. She glanced at his pillow. It was still indented where his head had rested. She touched it. How sad that she had to wait till sunset to see him again.
She picked up the pillow and nestled her cheek in the valley. His scent filled her nostrils, and she hugged the pillow against her chest. She was falling fast. She’d been falling for some time, but things were a little different now. Before, she had hoped to somehow stop the feelings before they grew any stronger.
Now she knew there was no stopping it. She wanted him. She wanted years of laughter with him. And all those scream-filled nights he had promised her.
But there were always consequences. Could she actually live with a vampire? How could her parents accept him? What kind of future could she have with him?
With a groan, she tossed the pillow aside. She was tired of always approaching life like a scientist. Why couldn’t she just enjoy herself for once?
She dressed and went to see her mom in the clinic. The doctor and Nurse Debra were getting her ready to take to the hospital.
She pulled Debra to the side and whispered, “Is she worse?”
Debra shook her head. “The same, but Doc wants to run some tests.”
Abigail sighed. “I’ll pack her a bag.”
That afternoon, an ambulance took her mother to the hospital. The media was swarming the streets around the White House. Abigail covered her face as she dashed from the South Portico to the waiting limo. Her sister and father joined her, and they followed the ambulance. Her brother, Lincoln, had already been notified, but Dad told him to stay at Harvard since he had final exams coming up. His mom was just having a few routine tests done.
After a few hours of pacing at the hospital and drinking coffee, which only made her more edgy, she was told the first test was done. No results yet, but they could see the first lady.
Abigail’s heart stuttered when she saw her mother, looking so pale and worn in the hospital bed. Her father sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand.
He loved her so much. Abigail could see it in his eyes.
“We’ll leave you alone a minute.” She dragged her sister into the hall.
Madison frowned at her. “Why’d you do that?”
“I didn’t want to cry in front of Mom.” Tears stung her eyes. “She and Dad still love each other.”
“Well, duh.”
Abigail sniffed. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Yeah.” Madison gave her a curious look. “When did you turn into such a mushy romantic?”
Abigail sighed and thought about Gregori holding her in his arms while she slept.
“Oh my God,” Madison whispered, her eyes growing wide. “You’re in love!”
Abigail started to object, then reconsidered. “You’re not going to tell, are you? Dad might refuse to let me go on the trip, and—”
“I won’t say anything.” Madison grinned. “Has he tried to bite you?”
“No, of course not.”
“Oh.” Madison looked disappointed. “I’d let a vampire bite me.”
Abigail smiled. “I’m going to go the lab for a few hours. This sitting around being useless doesn’t work for me.”
“You’re lucky,” Madison said with a wry look. “It works for me.”
An hour later, Abigail was in her lab, printing out photos of the three plants they would search for in Yunnan. The one that looked most promising was in the eastern part of the province. It went by a name roughly translated as the Demon Herb. Ominous-sounding, but it was rumored to have a powerful effect on a person’s ability to heal.
As the sun set, her thoughts returned to Gregori. Where had he slept? Was he getting up now? Was he thinking about her?
She turned on the desk lamp, then closed the blinds on the window. Back at her desk, she opened the clear plastic container she’d bought downstairs in the commissary. She took a bite of the turkey sandwich. Tasted like every other sandwich she’d bought at the commissary. She opened her Diet Coke and took a drink.
“Good evening, sweetheart.”
She choked and spewed soda onto her lab coat. “Good Lord.” She grabbed a napkin to wipe her face and coat. “You should give me a warning when you’re about to come.”
“Are you referring to sex?” Gregori asked, his eyes twinkling. “I’ll remember to do that.”
With a smile, she shook her head. “I missed you when I woke up alone.” She strode to the door to make sure it was locked.
“I woke up alone, too. It was very sad.” He gave her a droopy puppy-dog look.
She was so tempted to kiss him. “It was a dreary day. My mom went to the hospital to have some tests done.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
She nodded. “I don’t like feeling useless. I’ll be glad when our trip gets under way.”
“The guys reported in. They’ve already set up one base. I think we should start teleporting west tomorrow night.”
“Oh.” Her heart raced. It was actually happening. She was going to travel to China. With no Black Suits.
