Chapter 25

I lay in my hotel room bed after my evening with Addie, staring at the ceiling. The entire afternoon, I couldn't stop thinking about the anguish in Simon's eyes as he told me there wasn't enough time. I tried my best to be present with my sister but found my thoughts drifting off with every spare moment.

I hadn't told her about Simon yet. I was afraid she'd scold me over the danger of lingering around vampires. What was it about this damned city? Did everyone who came here flirt with a vampire in some capacity or another?

I groaned. I shouldn't be flirting with any vampires…but Simon kissed me like I was the breath of fresh air he desperately needed.

Images kept flashing in my mind of his tongue on mine, his hands on my cheeks, and the frantic look in his eyes. He said he wanted to memorize me. The way I breathed. The smell of my blood. My laugh.

He barely knew me.

And yet he'd seen a part of me no one else had.

I rested my hand on my chest, counting my heartbeats. In the few days I'd been in Paris, I discovered more about myself at Simon's side than I had in twenty-three years. I discovered I loved art, and I wanted to spend my eternity experiencing new things. The rush of something new, something grand, was unlike anything I'd ever felt. My heart raced. My soul soared. I smiled so wide my cheeks burned. I could live like that forever.

Simon told me I needed to do whatever it took to feel alive in three days. Two days had already come and gone, and I thought I'd done well. I'd seen half a dozen new places and spent the entire time smiling and laughing. I never would have done any of that at home.

I'd asked Addie to take me to Versailles tomorrow morning, but something about that felt wrong. I grabbed my phone and texted Addie. Can I rain check on Versailles tomorrow? Feeling a little overheated after this afternoon.

It wasn't entirely a lie. The summer heat was getting to me. I thought about what Addie said—that heat and cold were intolerable to her as a vampire. I dragged my hand through my hair.

What the hell was I getting myself into?

Addie's reply came a few minutes later. Of course! Text me when you're feeling okay tomorrow.

My shoulders slumped. I was doing this because I loved my sister more than anything. It didn't matter what I went through; spending forever by her side would be worth it. Tomorrow would be a wonderful day, and then I wouldn't have anything to worry about.

I needed to become a vampire.

And to become one, I had to do whatever I wanted for the next twenty-four hours.

I had to be brave.

I had to experience everything there was.

I let out a long sigh and tried to settle back into bed. It was almost midnight, and I needed rest. I could continue my journey tomorrow after sleeping for a few hours. It was for the best.

Except, every time I closed my eyes, I thought of the way Simon's eyes widened when I dragged my thumb over his fangs. I rolled onto my side to shake him out of my head, only to remember how he leaned into me when he kissed me on the Eiffel Tower.

I buried my face in my pillow and groaned.

That was it. I knew what I wanted.

I was going to see Simon.

I pushed myself out of bed and crossed my room in the dark to dig around in my carry-on. I didn't bring anything truly worthy of visiting a vampire in the middle of the night, but I pulled out the best options I had. I washed my hair and curled it, then redid my makeup and dressed in the best clothes I could find.

Less than an hour later, I stepped out of the hotel into the dark. Other than the occasional soul I avoided by crossing the street, the streets were mostly abandoned. I walked a couple of blocks to Simon's apartment building and didn't hesitate when I pushed the downstairs door open.

I found my way up the stairs, holding my breath.

Worries rattled through my brain with each step I took. I worried he wouldn't be home, or worse, that he hadn't meant what he said earlier. Worst of all, I was terrified he wasn't as attracted to me as I was to him.

I swore and shook my head to rid myself of the insecurities, pausing at the top of the stairs. The last time I made it here, Simon's door opened the moment I stepped onto the last stair. Now, the hall was eerily silent and almost completely dark, the only light a flickering bulb in the middle, three doors before Simon's.

Step by step, I made my way down the hall. My heart beat faster with every inch closer I came to Simon's door.

He told me to do whatever I wanted.

I wanted this.

I raised my shaking hand and knocked on the door—only twice.

The silence that followed was deafening. I waited for one minute, then two. Three. When he didn't open the door, I took a step back.

The door clicked open.

Simon wore a pair of dark gray sweatpants but no shirt. My eyes trailed over the stiff muscles of his chest that led down into a deep ‘V' on his lower waist. His hair was mussed and his eyes drooped for half a second before widening in surprise.

My lips parted in shock. "You were asleep."

"Yes," Simon murmured, his voice dark and husky. "What are you doing here, Lucinda?"

I swallowed my heartbeat, slipping past him into his apartment without waiting for an invitation. He pushed the door shut and locked it, his eyes following my every movement as I stopped in his living room.

I didn't know how to ask for what I wanted, so I opted to show him instead. I let my travel purse fall to the floor, following it with the light cardigan I wore.

Simon watched as I undid the buttons on my shirt—one at a time and as slow as I possibly could. I shrugged out of it, leaving me in a dark blue lace bra.

I reached for the button of my jeans.

Simon appeared before me, moving too quickly for me to register. He was across the room, and then he wasn't. His hand caught mine. "What are you doing?"

I watched black veins ripple beneath his eyes. The sight sent cold shivers of anticipation over my skin. I brushed away his hand and continued my movements. Simon's eyes widened when I popped the button and then lowered the zipper. I stepped back to shimmy out of my jeans. Once they were over my hips, they fell to the ground and I stepped out of them.

I was left in nothing but my blue bra and panties, standing in front of a vampire.

"Lucinda," Simon warned.

I shook my head, cutting off whatever he was about to say.

"Memorize me."