Page 44 of Fangs with Benefits
‘I can make people do things,’ he agrees. ‘It is how I got this job.’
‘Not very ethical of you.’
‘Can’t make you do anything, though. Amnesia is the only way you’re forgetting this, I fear.’
I blink, astounded by this revelation, then remember the few times he’s spoken to me with such intensity, like he was willing me with all his might to do what he said. I think about how I laughed in his face or called him weird each time.
‘Why?’
‘Don’t know. I can’t compel you, can’t change your thoughts, can’t move you to action, can’t even seem to charm you—’
‘You’re charming in your way,’ I mutter, interrupting his flow.
Elijah breathes out an almost-laugh and then shakes his head. ‘Maybe you were sent here to torment me. See through me and discover all my secrets.’
‘I don’t know all your secrets, just this really big one,’ I say, but I do want to know all of his secrets. I have an insatiable desire to pry him open and extract every one. It’s creepy how much I want to snoop about his brain. ‘But I think the opposite is true. I think you were sent to torment me. First you take my job, then they make me train you and you’ve never even heard of a VPN.’
Then you made me like you. Kissed me like you were possessed.
‘I’ve been sort of out of commission for the last little while. Missed some things,’ he says.
‘How long is a little while?’
Elijah shakes his head, almost laughing at himself. ‘About a hundred years.’
‘Oh,’ I say, message received. Elijah’s been ‘out of commission’ since the last time he killed someone. Whether that was of his own accord or not, I’m not sure and I don’t think I’m supposed to ask. Maybe he’s been serving a sentence in vampire prison. What do I know about vampire politics?
‘I’m reintegrating now. I think it used to be easier to do, but things change so exponentially I’m just feeling a bit… well, you’ve seen it. I’m slow.’
He’s right, but a flare of defensiveness for him ignites in my stomach. I’m not sure why I want to assure him that he’s doing better than he thinks when he’s mostly been the bane of my work existence for a month. Maybe it’s because he’s doing much better now. Or maybe it’s because I feel like the only one who can say something critical about his work performance is me.
‘Why do you need the job anyway?’ I ask instead.
‘Same as you, I’m guessing. Money.’
‘Wait, you’re like four hundred years old and you still haven’t figured out personal finances? Aren’t vampires supposed to be rich?’
Elijah doesn’t look offended, only huffs a laugh and lightly bumps his elbow against my arm.
‘Rude,’ he chides, still smirking. ‘You’re right, though. Vampires are rich, usually. But my funds are tied up, unfortunately. Plus, I wanted to work. Something to do.’
‘How would you learn about the politics and inner workings of corporate America otherwise?’
‘It is riveting,’ he agrees. ‘And fun.’
‘Yeah?’
‘Well, some parts,’ he says, looking down at me. ‘There’s a beautiful woman who’s unbearably mean to me, for instance.’
‘I don’t know who you’re talking about, but she’s probably very gracious and friendly.’ It feels so good to slip into flirting with him that I can almost pretend he didn’t confirm a life-altering secret minutes ago. ‘Does your friend know? Dylan?’
‘Yes, he’s—’ Elijah cuts off and coughs. ‘He knows. He’s been helping me. With the whole modern society thing.’
‘And how’s that going?’
Elijah tilts his head from side to side then scratches the back of his neck. ‘Rather poorly if this conversation is any indicator.’ His lips pinch in a tight line, amusement from moments ago now gone.
He shouldn’t beat himself up for the fact that a woman who came of age during the vampire craze figured out that he was a vampire–honestly, the odds were stacked against him in this one case. I doubt Ryan or Kenneth would even think to guess that he was actually a supernatural being. I’ve heard Kenneth say ‘that guy’s a beast’ in reference to Elijah, but that’s because he thinks Elijah has buff shoulders (true), not because he sustains his life force by way of human blood.
