Chapter Thirty-seven

“I just… wanted you to know that you’re not alone. I kinda know how you’re feeling right now. And wanted you to know why the other nannies haven’t really worked out. I have some baggage from my past that I’ve never really gotten over.”

“Who does that kind of stuff to kids though?” Her voice was angry. He let his eyes wander a bit, and he could see her standing in the shower through the mirror. Just a silhouette through the glass. Her arms covered her breast and her stance showed nothing but a side view. He looked away, feeling guilty.

“The point is, bad things happen sometimes. We have to learn to deal with it.” He said but felt bad for it. No one should have to learn how to deal with any of this. That was a crock of shit if he ever heard it. And Bram knew it.

Izabella turned off the water, and he heard her flip the towel into the shower. She was about to come out. A part of him wanted to run, another part wanted to stay. He couldn’t bring himself to move. With the towel wrapped around her, she stepped out.

“I won’t accept that.” The smell of orchids overtook his senses.

He couldn’t look away.

When she touched his cheek, he nearly melted. “I’m sorry. No child should ever have to go through that. I understand your hesitation in sharing that with anyone. And thank you for trusting me enough to tell me.” Her small body slid into his arms, the only thing between them the thing towel. Bram squeezed his eyes closed, and felt his jaw tighten. His heart was slamming in her chest. She was going to push every boundary he had built up throughout his centuries of living. “I’m sorry, I’ll get dressed. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

When she let him go, he stood up, freezing with his hand on the doorknob. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable. But, I should tell you, I am drawn to you in a way I haven’t been drawn to another in a very, very long time. I realize that you need comfort, and nothing more right now. It did take some restraint on my end to not react to you hugging me with just a towel on.” He said those words staring at the door, but when he turned to look at her, she was actually smiling. Her green eyes shining at him.

“How did I get so lucky as to find you?” She was clinging to her towel.

Bram felt his eyes start to wander, so he closed the betraying things with a smirk, turning the doorknob. “It wasn’t luck, my little stalker.” He chuckled, stepping into the hall and clicking the door behind him quietly.

Bram had a new beer open and waited for her in the kitchen. When she stepped out, she was drying her hair with the towel still. The white t-shirt he gave her was bigger than the shirt she had been wearing so showed more of her shoulder. Her cheeks were pink, and he was glad to see that she seemed to be calmer now. As she rubbed at her hair, she blushed at him from across the dinning room table. “I really do swear, I wasn’t trying to stalk you.”

Bram smiled, stepping toward her, “I was just teasing. It worked though, you smiled.”

“How can I not when you spout such sweet things and look so embarrassed?” She walked the towel back into the bathroom and came back out brandishing a brush. “Are you still up for a movie? I know it’s late, I’m just not quite ready to try to close my eyes.”

“Sure. Anything you want. Would you like a beer or glass of wine? It may help you relax a little.”

“I’ve never had either. May I try a sip?” He handed her his beer, going to the wine cabinet in the kitchen. He pulled out two bottles, one was white the other red. He opened one of each and poured a small amount into two little nightcap glasses. They were crystal with red accents, little flowers etched through the red all around the glass.

“It’s kinda bitter.” She held the beer back out to him.

“Yeah, if I’d known you might want to share, I would have gotten a lighter beer. This one is pretty hoppy, not a great starter drink.” He held out the red wine. “Red is also a bit more on the dry side, while whites are usually sweeter. Sniff it first, it will help your pallet decipher the different blends and prevent the tastes from the beer to interfere with the wine.” He winked down at her.

Izabella seemed to consider all the options, “I definitely prefer the wine. I also think I prefer the white over the red.” Bram nodded, pouring her a glass. “Thank you.” The two of them sat on the couch. She was close enough that her arm was pressed against his. “Do you like romantic-comedies?”

“Sure. I don’t usually have time to watch television, so I haven’t seen a lot. I don’t watch enough to have a big opinion over what we watch.” She flicked through the options, resting her head on his shoulder. She selected one with a girl who follows her boyfriend on vacation to surprise him, then finds him cheating. She goes to get revenge on him, only to find that she’s starting to care for the new guy helping her.

It took about twenty minutes for her to finish her wine, and when she asked, he did get her another half a cup, but it went down more quickly than he would have liked. He put his arm around her, but as the wine settle its haze over her, she started letting her hands roam over him. The back of his neck, his arms, legs… she climbed into his lap, letting her face nuzzle his shoulder. “You smell so good.” Her lips moved against his neck, and he groaned. “I think I’m ready to sleep now, but I don’t want to be left alone.”

“Devon’s already in my bed, you can join us, but it may be a bit cramped if we all sleep in there.” This was a bad idea. Bram thought to himself. Especially if she stayed as handsy as she was.

“Can I kiss you? Other than at the store today, I’ve never kissed a man before.” Her fingers traced his lip, and his hands found the way to her back and the side of her face. He leaned in, wanting to give her what she was asking for, but the haze in his eyes reminded him, she was drunk for the first time too.

“Not right now. I really want to, but it will be best if we wait. Make sure it’s special.”

“You are special to me.” She leaned into him, but he held her back.

“And you to me. That’s why we’re going to wait. I want you to remember it, and find nothing but enjoyment in it.” He clicked the television off. He pulled her to his chest and stood, carrying her with him to his room. Had he ever allowed anyone but Devon to sleep in his bed? Well, there was Tyler for a time, but that had been different. None that he could remember. He put her in the center of the bed, then crawled in beside her. It didn’t take more than a moment for her body to be pressed up against him.

This was going to be a long night.