A Stone-Kissed Sea
Page 14

“I know. You’re delightful. In a moody, arrogant way.”
He sighed and closed his eyes, focusing on the delicate weight of the child on his shoulder. “I know.”
“She’s really very nice, you know. We had her over for pizza and a movie the other night. She’s great with Jake.”
“I heard. She’s also funny and smart and organized.”
Natalie glanced at Lucien’s desk, which was piled with books and papers. “No comment.”
“None needed.”
“So you’re jealous of the new doctor in the lab?” Natalie pursed her lips. “Do all the kids want to play with her now and not you? It’s okay, you can tell me.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“No, I’m charming. And cute. And funny.” Natalie cocked her head. “No wonder Makeda and I already like each other.”
“And humble,” he growled, shuffling papers with one hand. “Don’t forget humble.”
Natalie laughed. “I love you, Lucien, but if you were my vampire, you’d drive me up the wall.”
He looked at her from the corner of his eye. “If you were mine, I would drive you up the wall. And you wouldn’t be complaining about it.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Was that a smolder? What has gotten into you? Give me back that baby. Men aren’t allowed to smolder while they’re holding babies. It’s not playing fair.”
He smiled, but he didn’t give her back the baby.
“Seriously though, what has gotten into you?” Natalie asked. “I can tell you’ve been down lately. What’s up?”
When he’d first met Natalie and Baojia, Lucien hadn’t been certain he still wanted to live. Now that he had a purpose, he’d determined to stay alive so he could finish. After that? Who knew? But humans didn’t want to hear about the darker moods of immortal life.
“I don’t like research work,” he said. “I’m a clinician at heart. Research is… not my favorite.”
“And Makeda loves research.”
“Yes.”
“Can this be like a gang rivalry or something?” She leaned forward. “George and I could take sides. Would there be blood?”
“Natalie, there is always blood.” He bared his fangs. “We’re vampires.”
“Not yet, I’m not. Probably soon.” She paused. “It’s important though. What you’re doing is important. It’s going to cure people someday. I know it will. That’s huge, Lucien.”
“But I can’t help Carmen.” He went back to sorting papers, trying to keep his free hand busy so he wouldn’t break something. “I knew going in that I wasn’t going to be able to save them, but I didn’t realize how angry it would make me.”
“You developed the testing kit.”
“That helps vampires. Not humans.”
Natalie narrowed her eyes. He hated that expression. She was too perceptive when she narrowed her eyes.
“I don’t think you like vampires very much, do you?”
Lucien said, “That’s ridiculous. I am one.”
“Doesn’t mean you like them.”
Lucien stopped messing with his desk and put both hands on Sarah’s back, enjoying the rise and fall of her little lungs. He could hold her, just like this, for hours, marveling at the intricate symphony of the human body. The divine machine that had fascinated him for thousands of years.
The beat of Sarah’s heart and the draw of her breath. The ebb and flow of blood racing through veins and arteries. The quiet gurgle of milk in her belly and the soft coos she let out as she slept. And humming through every inch, conducting that symphony of life, were billions of nerve cells. A galaxy of energy contained in one tiny frame.
“Vampires are fine,” he said, rocking Sarah. “We’re boring. But you’re right. The work is important. I’ll try to be nicer to Dr. Abel. Maybe she’ll be able offer something of value.” He couldn’t stop the smile. “Once she gets through my notes.”
“They’re in some obscure language, aren’t they? I hate it when you guys do stuff like that.”
“She won’t complain.” He rocked back in the chair. “After all, I could have written them in Greek.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Makeda was unpacking boxes of dishes on the kitchen table while Natalie cleaned the counters and Jake ran yelling up and down the hallway of the small bungalow set back on a quiet street.
“Gotta love that echo,” Natalie said under her breath. “Jake! Not so loud—the baby’s sleeping.”
“Ooooooooookaaaaay,” the little boy shouted, his feet slapping on the hardwood floor as he made one last trip up and down the empty hallway.
Natalie smiled. “Thank you for being cool about me bringing them.”
“Thank you for being cool about helping me unpack,” Makeda said. “I am very happy I don’t have to live out of a suitcase anymore. And please don’t worry about the kids. I have nieces and nephews galore. There’s something about an empty house that invites running.”
The cheerful redhead peeked over at the port-a-crib set up near the fireplace. “Her brother is so loud. I have no idea how she sleeps through it all.”
“Takes after her father?”
Natalie barked out a laugh, but the baby still didn’t wake. “Well, that’s the truth,” Natalie said. “She’s dead to the world.”