Sterling Silver (Sterling Hunter Series Book 1)

Chapter 30

Too soon their lips parted, and they opened their eyes to reality. They didn't move. The hairs on the back of Tabitha's neck stood on end as his fingers traced circles across the nape of her neck. He smiled at her, his gaze soaking her in. Tabitha took him in too, wanting more of him. Had she really said she thought to herself that she loved him? Twice?

She... loved him. He grinned, probably reading her mind. Tabitha blushed, averting her eyes to the floor. She really wished he couldn't read people's minds.

"I feel the same way about you Tabitha," he whispered, dipping his head down and searching her out until she met his eyes.

Her eyes widened at the gentleness, happiness in his gaze. "You... do?"

For some reason that seemed a little... surreal. First that she loved a vampire and second that a vampire, as extraordinary and heartbreakingly honest as Sebastian could love her back.

He nodded. "Yes, I do and... I won't say it until you do. Give you time to figure it out. But I want you to know that I will always be here for you. I'll take orders from you without hesitation and trust you. I'll let you cry Tabitha and I'll let you be you but... I do feel the same way."

Yep. She loved him. Tabitha couldn't doubt it. She couldn't stop herself from thinking it. It would be too hard to pretend he hadn't said that and too much effort to pretend she didn't feel the same way. So yeah... she loved Sebastian. She loved how he gave her space and took orders from her and gave her stakes and let her hunt and kill vampires because he understood the dark lust she had deep inside her. But... she wasn't sure she was ready to admit it out loud. Saying it made it real and she wasn't sure she was ready for that.

Tabitha grinned at him and took his hands in hers. "We should probably leave. Jonas is waiting for us."

Sebastian grinned back and got to his feet, pulling her up with him. "Your right. Let's get out of here. Besides you need to take a shower. You look horrible."

Tabitha snorted and nudged him. He nudged her back but before she could stumble over her own feet, he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her close. They left the apartment, rode the elevator down and left the building. Wrapped together with no doubt that they were together. For real together. The kind of together that people envied. Not just friends hanging out together or friends protecting each other but something more. A love sort of together and that thought made Tabitha's smile widen.

She stopped in front of his Mercedes, Jonas sitting in the back, watching them with wide eyes. Tabitha grinned at him as she separated herself from Sebastian and got into the front seat. She was still shaken by what Alistair had told her. By his threats. He had been serious. He wanted to kill her entire family and then turn her. Her smile disappeared and she slid her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

Sebastian got in and backed out of the apartment complex parking lot, whipping out and onto the main roads with a staggering speed. "You alright back there Jonas? Alistair didn't hurt you, did he?" he asked.

Tabitha glanced over her shoulder. Jonas shook his head. He looked pale and shocked but not as bad off as her. His clothes were rumpled with a few splatters of blood on them but nothing else. "No, he didn't, though... he took the files. I... couldn't stop him."

Sebastian waved Jonas's concern away. "Not your fault. I'm sure your parents would rather you be alive and lost the files than their only son dead and having the files."

Jonas just shrugged and stared out the window. Sebastian grimaced. They fell into silence as he entered the high way, speeding up even more and weaving between cars like a maniac. "And you Tabitha? May I... may I know what Alistair told you? Your thoughts are messy and chaotic," he murmured.