Chapter 9

“WHY aren’t you sleeping yet?”

I shuddered when I suddenly heard Ingram’s voice behind me. I didn’t know that he was awake now. When I thought he had fallen asleep, I covered myself with a robe, walked towards the window, and stared at the night sky.

It had been a couple of weeks since I allowed Ingram into my life. Since then, we’ve been making love night after night. He’d been sleeping in my room. And yes, his lessons did help. Because I was able to finish my gothic novel sooner than I thought. Although while writing about the Vampires, I didn’t know why Ingram’s face would often appear in my mind. His enigmatic behavior, his intense and powerful aura, his tips on how a Vampire makes love to a woman, everything was in my novel. I was actually more inspired to write now than ever.

Before the sun rises, Ingram would return to his apartment to prepare for his job. That was when I found out that he wasn’t a vocalist. He just happened to sing that night at the bar where we first met since he said he knew the band. I don’t have the slightest clue about his real profession. Each time I’m about to ask, he would silence me through his kisses until I became distracted.

He asked for a duplicate key in my apartment which I handed to him willingly because I liked having him beside me. I feel uneasy now without seeing him around, that’s why he was free to come in and go as he pleases.

But I’m not the kind of woman who lets men easily in her life, especially someone like Ingram since I don’t know him enough. Yet, I allowed him to get close to me emotionally and physically. He was the first man I surrendered myself to. And it scares me.

I’m scared of the changes he brought to my life. Yet, every time he was nowhere to be found, I get agitated. As if I was missing half of me. I don’t feel complete by myself anymore. I needed him now to feel complete.

I’ve only been with him for three weeks and I’m already like this.

“What are you doing to me, Ingram?” I said achingly. “Please tell me who you really are. Tell me that I can trust you.”

Ingram pulled me close to him and had me turn my face towards him. He caressed my cheeks. “You can trust me.”

“Then why do you refuse to tell me anything about yourself? Don’t leave me hanging.” I know I sounded desperate. “What are we? Do I always have to wait for the sun to come down before I get to see you again? What are you doing during daytime? Where do you go?” I turned my face away when Ingram was about to kiss me again. “Please don’t kiss me right now. Don’t distract me again.”

“Does it really matter who I am or where I came from? Isn’t it enough I told you that you can trust me? I know that you can feel it in your heart that you can trust me, Brianna. You wouldn’t have let me in if you didn’t feel that.”

“But that’s not enough.”

“I’m one of your fans. I once told you that I’ve read your works. They’re more than just words. They’re more than just novels,” he said instead.

I should be delighted but no. I feel frustrated. I couldn’t even tell which country he came from or how long he had been staying in Manila. I have endless questions and they would remain at the back of my mind forever unless he chooses to introduce himself.

Ingram was hiding something from me. I can feel that. I suddenly remembered what took place the night we went out to watch a movie…