Page 51 of Protected in Darkness
“Are you hungry?”
Penelope shrugged.
“Why don’t you sit down. I’ll have room service bring breakfast.”
“Eggs and bacon,” she said, releasing the grip she had on her purse when he reached to take it from her. “Would you mind if I … uh … use your restroom?”
He nodded toward the bedroom, then turned back to the phone, giving her some privacy.
It took a hearty breakfast and a dreadful two hours of some vampire chick flick before she was relaxed completely. And while Obsidian hadn’t a clue what the fuck that whole glittering bullshit was, he would’ve endured it a million times over just to spend time with her.
When Penelope yawned, he grinned, pushing to his feet.
“Let’s go to bed.” He held out his hand.
Penelope’s eyes widened, a hint of her panic from earlier replacing the serenity he’d witnessed a moment before.
He held his hands up in a sign of surrender. “I promise, completely innocent.”
“I have a few questions first.”
He could handle questions.
Maybe.
“Hit me.”
“What’s your last name?”
“I don’t have one.”
That didn’t seem to be the answer she expected, but it also didn’t sway her from asking another. “What are your brothers’ names?”
“Stygian, Eclipse, Shadow, Piceous, Aphotic, and Cimmerian. Not in order, and no, they don’t have last names, either.”
“How tall are you?”
He couldn’t help it, he smiled. “Six ten.”
“Wow. Okay.” Her golden gaze bounced over his face as she stared up at him from her position on the sofa. “What color are your eyes?”
Obsidian swallowed hard. “Silver.”
That evidently wasn’t the answer she was looking for because she continued to stare. When she reached for his hand, tugging him toward her, he sat on the sofa once more. Penelope shifted to her knees, moving closer, while he remained where he was. He didn’t move a muscle when she reached for the sunglasses shielding his eyes.
Inhaling deeply, he closed them briefly, realizing for the first time in his life, he felt true fear. The absolute last thing he wanted was for Penelope to be scared of him.
Penelope’s cool hand cupped his cheek. “Please let me see.”
After a deep, cleansing breath, Obsidian opened his eyes.
“Holy…” Rather than move back, Penelope remained where she was, her gaze bouncing back and forth over his eyes, studying them. “They’re … beautiful.”
Realizing he’d been holding his breath, Obsidian exhaled slowly. “Intimidating’s usually the word humans use.”
“Humans?” Her head canted to the side slightly. “You say that as though you’re not one.”
Since she hadn’t asked a question, he didn’t answer.
