Rogue Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Nicole grinned as some of her initial self-consciousness fell away. “That may take some getting used to.” She had little experience with this kind of intimacy and familiarity. “But we can give it a try. For now, though, I have to go.” Since they had showered last night before finally falling into an exhausted slumber, she grabbed a bra and panties from the top dresser drawer and donned them. “I’ll take my phone so you can track me and pester me with texts.”

“You aren’t leaving campus, are you?”

“No. I’ll just jog a couple of miles and then get us some goodies from one of my favorite lunch trucks.”

“I still don’t think you should go alone. Let me call Cliff. Or better yet, Aidan.”

“I won’t be alone, Sean. Did you forget Chris has stationed a special ops team on campus?”

His frown eased a bit. “Actually, I did.”

“They work eight-hour shifts and cover us night and day. I’ll have eyes on me the whole time I’m gone.” She dug a pair of sweatpants out and pulled them on. “Plus, no one is going to try anything in broad daylight with over fifteen thousand students on campus, ready to witness it and record it on their phones.”

“Okay.” He sat on the side of the bed. “I still wish I could go with you.”

Something in his voice compelled Nicole to pause and study him. She’d expected Sean to look worried. But a hint of wistfulness had entered his expression.

Did he miss being able to go out during the day and feel warm sunlight on his skin?

Though he had transformed voluntarily, she suspected his answer would be yes if she asked him.

Odd that she hadn’t noticed that before, perhaps because he usually slept while she ran errands during the day.

She forced a rueful smile. “Well, I don’t. You would insist on carrying the food for me and eat it all before we got back.”

He laughed. “True.”

Happy to have lifted his spirits, she drew a Blue Devils sweatshirt over her head and stuffed her feet into her favorite running shoes. “It’s Taco Tuesday. Do you want tacos, quesadillas, or burritos?”

“Yes,” he answered promptly.

She grinned. “Want me to get enough for dinner, too, so we can eat in?”

“No.” Rising, he loosed a beleaguered sigh. “You’re Becca. As you keep reminding me, you’re supposed to be seen.” Closing the distance between them, he looped his arms around her and pressed his forehead to hers. “I don’t like this. I don’t like you taking risks.” He had made that abundantly clear the previous night.

Resting her hands on his chest, Nicole toyed with the hair there. “Want to know a little secret?”

He nodded.

“That feeling you’re having right now? That feeling in here?” She tapped his chest.

“Yeah?”

“That’s how I feel every night when you leave to hunt.”

He regarded her with surprise. “It is?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Sean.”

“You worry about me?”

“Of course I do.”

“But I’m immortal.”

“You’re mostly immortal. And you’ve almost died twice during my time as your Second.”

“So have you,” he pointed out.

“Yeah.” She faked a frown. “We’re going to have to stop doing that.”

Smiling, he hugged her a little tighter. “I tell you what. I don’t get many nights off, so I may as well enjoy it while I can, especially since Tessa intends to watch over us.”

“Who is she partnering with?”

“I don’t know. I forgot to ask,” he answered absently. “Let’s have a date night and eat at your favorite restaurant tonight.”

A little flutter of anticipation filled her. “Because you’re supposed to be Becca’s boyfriend?”

He shook his head, rubbing noses with her. “Because I want more than friendship with you.”

Her heart beat faster. “You do?” she whispered. More than friends with benefits? She’d feared it was too soon to clarify that, so she hadn’t asked.

“Yes.” Smiling, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “Be safe.”

“I will.”





Chapter Eleven





Nicole’s jog ended up being as uneventful as all the previous runs she’d embarked upon as Becca. She didn’t wear earbuds, though many runners did. It was kinda hard to hear someone coming up behind you when you had music in your ears. And her belief that no one would try to kidnap Becca in broad daylight did not reduce her vigilance. The network had trained her well.

Without acknowledging it, she spied at least five special ops soldiers hidden among the student body. Six, if that flicker of light on the roof of one building was what she thought it was—the sun reflecting off the lens of a scope.

They blended in well. Anyone lacking her training would remain oblivious, especially since many students she encountered were looking at their phones, reading, or fooling around with friends.

As soon as Nicole returned to the dorm, Sean hugged the stuffing out of her, then dove into the food with amusing enthusiasm. She expected him to take her to bed afterward, but he seemed content to sit and chat with her, laughing and teasing the way they did at home.