Chapter 32: Chapter Thirty-Two

"How did you sleep?" Damien asked me softly, turning to look at me.

"Am I dreaming?" I asked him, looking up at the clear blue sky, then down to the beautiful meadow. I sighed with content as the wind blew softly, filling my nose with the scent of the various flowers surrounding us. Looking at Damien made it seem even more like a dream. His beautiful blue eyes alive with love as he watched me. We were both still naked from our vigorous love making the night before, my body ached softly, reminding me.

"It does seem that way, doesn't it?" He chuckled as he leaned over and kissed me softly.

"Wait, you can be in the sunlight?" I asked, sitting up quickly.

"Yes, but not for long periods of time. After a while it gets uncomfortable, then through the six degrees of burning, then death. The older the vampire, the longer we can stay in the sun." Damien answered as we stood. He put on his pants, and wrapped the comforter around me before picking me up, and walking back into the house.

"How long can you last?" I asked, wrapping my arms around his shoulders, and resting my head on his chest.

"Depends on the season. In the summer, about and hour before it gets uncomfortable." He responded as he walked me upstairs, and into my room. He started the shower, then set me down on the bed softly. "Do you want to come to work with me? Or would you like to stay home?"

Damien had asked me the same question every morning for the past few weeks. I knew it was because he disliked spending time away from me, but every day I'd answered no.

"Sure." I said, pulling him down into a kiss before I stood and walked to the bathroom.

After my shower, I put on the outfit Damien had left on the bed for me. Today he'd picked out a blue denim dress, with a pair of over the knee-high white socks, and set my tan boots at the end of the bed to go with it. I used a belt to raise the hemline, as the dress went down to my knees. After it was raised about two inches, I added a nude lace garter belt to the outfit, before walking downstairs where Damien was making breakfast. When he saw my addition to the outfit, he growled softly.

"Is it necessary to wear such things? Do you know how hard it is to keep my hands off of you? Let alone when you wear things like that." He said as he plated the breakfast, and led me to the dining room.

"You picked it out, Damien. I don't want to hear it." I said with a shrug as I began eating.

"I did not add the garter belt, nor did I suggest raising the hemline."

"Should I be worried that you know what a garter belt is? Or that you pick out super cute outfits?" I asked him mockingly, with a shake of my head.

"You must forget my age, kitten." Damien said with a chuckle, his face filled with amusement. "I pick your outfits so you don't have to stand there for thirty minutes, trying to find what to wear. In a lot of ways, you differ greatly from other women. Being decisive, is not one of the ways you differ, I'm afraid."

I wanted to be upset with him, but I couldn't. He was right, if he didn't pick out my outfit then I would stand there and try to find one. After a while, I would most likely ask him to pick something anyways, so he was just expediting the process.

"I have a question, that I know you aren't going to like." I said, biting my lip and looking down at the table.

"What is it?" Damien asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Can I warm up a mug of blood for Sinclair? I just feel so bad for him. Please?" I spoke quickly, afraid if I spoke slowly it would upset him more than the question would regardless.

"You are too kind for your own good, kitten." Damien said after a few minutes of silence. "I know you've been going downstairs, while I've been away at work. I understand that you can't help it. It's just who you are as a person. Yes, you can bring him a mug, but only after you finish your breakfast."

I smiled softly, embarrassed and ashamed that he already knew. He didn't say anything about it because he didn't want to cause a fight, other than the one we already had.

"Thank you, Damien. I'm sorry, I was going to tell you, I swear. I just wanted to wait..." I trailed off, unsure of what to say next.

"I know, that's why I didn't say anything about it." Damien said with a nod as he motioned to my plate, telling me to continue eating.

Once I'd finished my breakfast, Damien washed the dishes as I warmed a mug of blood for Sinclair. Damien placed the mug on a tray, and went into a back room to turn on the fuse for the basement. I scoffed when he told me that there was actually light down there. If I had known that, Sinclair would not of had to bathe with nothing but a flashlight.

"You're here earlier than normal, Bast. And I see the lights are on now." Sinclair said with a grin once I'd walked closer to his cage. Every day, he seemed surprised to see me, despite the fact that my visits were daily. I assumed this was due to thirty years of no one to talk to, but himself.

"Yes, I told Damien I wanted to bring you something to eat, before we left for work." I said as I watched him walk to the back of the cage. I didn't have to ask him to do this anymore, he did it as soon as I shone my flashlight on him, waiting, so I could see him as he backed away. It seemed almost redundant at this point, seeing as how I now considered him a non-threat, and as a friend. I wasn't sure if he considered me a friend, or if he just liked my company.

"So you have taken my advice? That's good. I hope you don't mind me saying, but you look absolutely gorgeous today, Bast." Sinclair said as I bent down to put the cup through the bars for him. "But I must apologize."

"What do you need to apologize for?" I asked him, cocking my head to the side, curiously.

Before I could fashion another thought, Sinclair was on the outside of the cage. He put his hand on my mouth, making sure I couldn't scream as he slowly walked out of the basement, using me as a shield. I tried to scream, to yell to Damien, but to no avail as Sinclair's rough hand muffled my every sound.