Page 87 of The Vampire's Lament

---

He folded his arms behind his head. “I can’t sleep. Maybe having you next to me will help.” He chuckled. “The height of insanity, isn’t it?”

My lips quirked. “I’ll say.”

I moved to the right side of the bed, sliding into the hole.

“I can get dressed,” he said. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

I wriggled under the covers, kind of stunned by my lack of giving a fuck. “I’ve already seen it all.” I threw him a wink.

He laughed.

What was this? Free and easy elf and vampire action? Man, what a whirlwind. But I wasn’t changing my mind. His pillow was like a cloud, same with the mattress. And the duvet’s silkiness already got to work easing me toward a more restful slumber, his body heat an extra hug of bliss.

To hell with him being naked. This felt, well, right. And wrong. So, damn wrong.

I rolled onto my side, yawning, the rightness winning the battle.

He stayed on his back, eyes twin scarlet lights as the floor closed back over us.

“This is certainly unexpected,” he spoke softly.

“Tell me about it.”

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“As sweetcream as can be.” There went another massive yawn.

All my restlessness died, true exhaustion kicking in.

“Sorry about the rambling,” I threw out.

“I understand,” he said.

“Kind of you.”

No answer.

Time to shut my mouth. “Good night. Good day. Whatever.”

“You call me that, if you want.”

“Huh?”

“Silv. I liked it.”

He dragged me out of my sleepiness. “I called you Silv?”

“Yes.”

I strained my tired brain to remember. “Oh. That wasn’t on purpose. That was my throat closing up.”

He chuckled. “I know. But I liked it. I’ve never heard my name shortened before. As far as my memory permits, anyway.”

Were we really having this conversation?

“Isn’t that a bit weird?” I asked.

“Why?”

---