The Stars Lie {Myrnin, Morganville Vampires}

Starting Over

Chapter 31—Starting Over

Claire

In the back of Claire's mind, she idly wondered if the rocket ship pace of her beating heart would cause her to have a heart attack; while the rest of her brain tried to convince her she wasn't hallucinating as she saw him standing there.

Myrnin!

Myrnin's whole countenance lit up with joy as he looked at her, but altered in the next instant. His eyes cut to Rhysian; a clear unspoken question communicated.

Rhysian shook his head. The movement was almost imperceptible, but Claire had caught it and wondered what question had been asked and then answered.

In the next second, her complete and utter attention was focused on Myrnin as he leaned down to gather her in his arms. Claire felt electrical shocks course through her body as she trembled under his touch.

"Hello, love." He nuzzled into Claire's neck.

She clung to him as tears of joy and relief shook through her frame. She struggled to speak; shock making it impossible for her to utter any more intelligible words than: "You're here....you're here...."

"Yes, love" He spoke, adding in soft shushing sounds, to reassure her that the moment was real – he was real. Myrnin carried her to the couch, sat down and held her tightly in his lap.

With her arms still locked around his broad shoulders, Claire buried her face in his chest; unwilling to let any part of her body, be separated from him again. The only thing compelling enough, to entice her to lift her face away, was a cool finger reaching under her chin.

"Look at me." He whispered huskily in her ear.

Claire felt the hair on her arms stand rigidly as a shiver of anticipation coursed through her. She felt his body respond beneath her; quickly catching up to her desire.

Finally lost in the safety of his immortal gaze, she felt secure enough to unlock her arms, bringing her delicate hands to his face. Neither spoke as she drew the contours of his cheeks, letting her fingers glide along his temple before coming down to trace his lips.

Myrnin closed his eyes and went completely still under her touch. As she leaned in to kiss him, his hand came up and held her back with irrepressible force.

Claire stopped, confused and hurt by his rebuff.

He opened his eyes slowly. Then read the pain in her expression. "Love, you know I want you––," he reassured her, his gaze flickering down meaningfully.

A soft pink spread over her cheeks as she realized what he was referring to. "Why then...?"

"You forget that we are not alone––,"

Oh! Rhy! Claire had completely forgotten him. Was he okay? She snapped her head around to find him. He stood with one hand clamped over his arm; the bleeding almost completely dried up. Claire opened her lips to speak, but the words were stuck in her throat when Myrnin continued his sentence, "––and you need to know who I am."

Claire froze, her brain trying to make sense of his words. She turned into Myrnin's gaze once more. "Who you are?"

"You met me once. A very long time ago..." He waited for her to comprehend.

Claire's eyes opened wide in shock as she realized ––he was the Myrnin from 1409! She scrambled off of his lap and stood facing him.

Myrnin's face fell as she retreated from him, but he let her go.