Silencing Eve

tentative.”
    “Mind games. I told you that Caleb had that capability.” She paused. “And the touching was more intimate than the first time. That’s all that was different.”
    “I still think I should kill him.” He tilted back her head and looked into her eyes. “Because I’m sensing something else about you. There’s a difference. You’re more…” He searched for a word. “Open.”
    He was right, she had never felt more open, more free. All the boundaries were gone. She smiled. “But that’s a good thing. Can’t you understand that?”
    “No, why don’t you tell me?”
    “I will. Because I realized something when you sent me to Caleb tonight. Not at first, I was too confused and hazy to be able to think clearly during those first moments, then Caleb was dominating every—”
    “I don’t want to hear that.”
    “But I have to be honest with you. I want you to know everything that I’m feeling. It’s important. You were right when you said that I have an erotic response to Caleb. I can’t seem to help that response. It may have something to do with that damn blood thing. I don’t know. But I don’t have to act on it. And it’s just sex, Trevor.”
    “Just? That’s damn important.”
    “But not most important.” She took his face in her hands and looked him in the eye. “Love is more important. Love and trust.” This was harder than she’d thought it would be. “I … love you, Trevor.”
    “Love,” he repeated. “That’s the first time you’ve said that to me.” He paused. “Have we had a breakthrough?”
    “I do love you.” She moistened her lips. “And I trust you. You said I didn’t trust anyone but Eve, but I do trust you. You’d never lie or do anything that wasn’t honest or good.”
    “I’m no angel, Jane. You should know that better than anyone.”
    “I trust you.” She kissed him. “Now will you stop trying to talk me out of this? It’s all new to me, and I’m having a tough time adjusting. You wanted trust and commitment? You’ve got it. Unless you’ve changed your mind.”
    “Changed my mind? After all these years of trying to get you to admit that we were born to be together?” A brilliant smile broke the gravity of his expression. He picked her up and whirled her in a circle. “And all I had to do was throw you into bed with another man.” He kissed her long, hard. “But that’s not going to happen again.”
    “It would if you thought it would help me,” she whispered. “Because that’s what your love is about, Trevor. It’s giving and caring and not taking.” She nestled closer. “And I thank God for it. I do love you, Trevor. You said I seemed open. That’s the way I feel. Everything is flowing out to you. I want to give you my thoughts and feelings and dreams…” She suddenly broke away from him. “Let’s go bring Caleb out here to monitor those machines. I want to go somewhere and be alone with you.”
    “My, how aggressive.” He smiled. “I’m not sure that Caleb will welcome that call to duty.”
    “He said we’d used him, and I realized how callous I’d been. We shouldn’t have done it. It was wrong,” she said. “But this time I don’t care. We don’t have much time, and I’m going to steal a little.” She headed for the bedroom door. “You call down and get us a room on this floor, and I’ll go get Caleb.”
    And hope that he was not still naked, she thought dryly. She wouldn’t put it past him to open the door nude for sheer devilment.
    But when Caleb opened the door to her knock he was no longer naked but wearing jeans and a turtleneck sweater. He smiled. “You need me?”
    “To monitor the machines.” She added deliberately, “Trevor and I are getting a room. Unless you’ve decided that you’re going to opt out of finding Eve.”
    She couldn’t read his expression, but she could see the tension of the muscles in his shoulders and abdomen. “That would be very foolish of me. I told you it wasn’t over.” He strolled out into the sitting room. “By all means, run along. Comparisons are always interesting.” He dropped down in the chair by the table. “I’ll let you know if you should drop everything and come running.” He glanced at Trevor. “But you should thank me for the gift I gave you.”
    “No way.” Trevor took Jane’s hand and led her toward the door to the corridor. “I’d be a fool to do that when this is how it was meant to be. You didn’t give me anything, it was