I waved to Anna from the passenger side of Connor's car. She stared at him longingly and gave me one of her fake smiles, I think a bit of jealousy may have broken through. She was definitely pissed. As her car hit the street, I could hear the tires squealing. Connor shook his head and slid into his seat. His engine purred to life, and he backed up slower than Anna had. We drove down the little side road without so much as the radio on. I wanted to ask him why he did not act on Anna's advances. What was it that made him immune to her fiery charms? Maybe his immense prowess nullified hers.

As he turned onto route fifty-one I decided to suck it up and say something.

"So, you weren't very receptive of Anna's advances," I said while staring out the car window.

"Nope."

"Why not?" I asked.

"She's not really my type."

"Oh please, Connor. Anna is everyone's type," I rolled my eyes.

"Not mine. She is too much, and I didn't really like how she kept trying to throw herself at me. I'm really not that type of guy."

"So what is your type?"

"Well, I like independent women who know what they want and are not afraid to go get it, but have class. Someone who isn't so annoying, or have such red hair. I prefer sandy blondes with pale blue eyes," he looked over and winked at me.

"That is rather specific."

"Well, she's a rather specific girl."

"Who is it?"

"She's really a remarkable woman. She is really stubborn and hard headed, but enjoyable to be around at times," he chuckled.

"Hmm, she sounds interesting," I smiled a bit.

The car came to a slow stop as he approached a red light. I could feel his hand on my knee.

"Yes, you are," he reached over and before I could protest, he covered my mouth with his.

The warmth of his breath entered my mouth with his tongue. My heart felt like it stopped beating. He reached a hand up and tangled it in my hair. I gently placed one hand on his chest and used the other to touch the side of his face. After a few moments of getting lost in him, I ended the fantastic moment. I seemed to have a nasty habit of frustrating people beyond belief, including myself. I have no idea why I was compelled to stop him. His lips and tongue felt magnificent.

"Connor..." I let my voice trail off, the smile fading.

"Elysse, I can't sit here and pretend to not have feelings for you. I don't know why you can't see that!"

"I do see it, and I may have feelings for you too."

"So why won't you just go with it? Why do you keep pushing me away?" he asked burying his nose in my hair.

"How would it work out?"

"Like any other relationship."

"This," I used my hands to motion between us, "would not be a normal relationship."

"Sure it will be."

"No it won't. We're not normal people. Nothing about this would be okay."

"Alright, so technically I'm from another world."

"Yeah, Connor, another world. Not to mention what about when you go back? Then what?"

"I never said I was," he said.

"Why would you stay here? If I can help you go home, back to your mother why wouldn't you go?"

"Because, Elysse, you've got to be the feistiest, most beautiful woman I've ever met. I would be a fool to let you go. I may not be from your world, but I know an amazing woman when I see her."

"I'm not a woman yet. I'm eighteen."

"And I'm twenty-one."

"You have family..."

"Who have not seen me in sixteen years. I don't want to leave you here," he grabbed my hand, and held it tight as he drove down the highway.

"You barely know me. Not to mention I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself, plus I have my mom," I muttered.

"All of your reasons not to be with me are pointless. We belong together, Abs."

I didn't want to tell him to stay. I didn't want to admit that I was already falling in love with him. I wasn't about to keep him away from his family.

"Elysse, what kind of emotional support is she going to give you? What kind of life will you have with just you and your mom?"

"She's my mother. It'll be life as usual," I snapped.

"Do you want the usual life? Don't you want something more? Don't you want me?" he sounded like he was almost pleading with me.

"Of course I want something more. Hell, I've been tossed into the middle of a lot more," I looked out the window, trying not to cry, "But I'm not going to keep someone from another life; especially when I've only known him for a week!"

"It has felt like longer," he smiled.

I looked over at him. His hair was a tousled mess, and even in the darkness I could see him clenching and unclenching his jaw. He was stressed. The lights of the city lit up the inside of the car as we crossed the West End Bridge. I was always in awe seeing downtown and North Shore lit up. Connor pulled the car onto sixty-five heading toward downtown. We were almost at our parking garage. I didn't want to leave him. I didn't want to just get in my car, and we go our separate ways. He was right, I wanted more than this. I didn't want him to go back to his story. He had to stay real.

Panic began to set in as he pulled into the garage driving around and around looking for my car. The silver Volvo sat lonely and deserted at the top of the garage. The night air was crisp and clear. For the first time in days it was not snowing.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered.

I sat there with my shaking hand on the handle, trying to think quickly about what to do.

Should I get out and go home? I can't leave. I don't want to leave him. I fought with my thoughts. Not sure what to do.

"Connor," I said meekly.

"Hmm?"

I didn't know how to tell him I didn't want to leave him. He sat there and stared at me, which made it all that much harder. I didn't want to be the reason he was stuck here without family. I really didn't.

"Stop looking at me."

"Why?"

"You're making me nervous."

"Oh?" he cocked his head to the side and kept staring at me.

"Fine. If you won't stop looking at me, I won't look at you," I turned my head and looked at the cement walls that surrounded us.

"What?"

"You're right."

"About what?" he asked.

"I do want more. I don't want to be stuck with my mother forever."

"I know."

I turned and looked at him, tears streaming down my cheeks, "I don't want to fall for you any harder than I have, and you up and decide you want to go back."

"Why this sudden change of heart?"

I sighed heavily, "It's not a sudden change. You're the only one who really knows what I'm going through right now. You're the only one I can confide in."

He reached out and held onto my shoulders, his smoldering gaze just burrowing deep into my soul, "You're not alone. You'll never be alone."

"You can't say that for sure," I sobbed.

"Yes I can."

"How?"

"I'm not going back," he said pulling me into his body.

"You're not?" I snuffed ungracefully.

"No."

"Don't stay because of me."

"Why not? You're the perfect reason for me to stay."

For the first time in my life I was speechless. I kept my head on his shoulder.

"Do you want to go home?" he whispered into my ear.

"No."

"Good," he straightened up in his seat and started his car.

"Where are we going?"

"Back to my apartment."

"Where is that?"

"Not far from here," he said zipping through the empty streets.

***

He pulled up in front of an old brick high rise a few blocks away. Turning down a small alley he headed for a parking lot off to the back. I was a little more than confused.

"I thought you said we were going to your apartment."

"We are," Connor said.

"You live downtown?"

"Yeah."

"At the Carlyle?" I asked in amazement.

"Yeah, what you thought you were the only one with a nice home?"

"Well, no, but the Carlyle?"

"Yes, the Carlyle."

"Okay," I said sitting back.

We walked down the icy, back side walk to the front door. Inside was brightly lit and very warm. A security guard sat behind the desk staring at monitors and watching the door.

"Evening, Mr. Guy."

"Good evening, Henry."

We headed toward a set of elevators which opened when Connor inserted a key card.

"Um, Connor?"

"What?"

"Which floor, exactly, do you live on?"

"Twenty-second."

"The twenty-second floor?"

"Yes."

"Is that the top floor?"

"Yeah."

"Is it the penthouse?"

"Yeah."

"What exactly did your dad do for a living?"

"He was the huntsman," he mumbled.

"I doubt he made the kind of money that place cost by hunting rogue fairy tale wolves."

"And some odd jobs. I don't want to talk about it."

"Ohhhkay, touchy subject," I side-eyed him as we rode the rest of the way up in silence.

I stared in amazement when the doors opened. For it being in a building, it was a huge space. The view from the living area was breathtaking. It was even better than Belinda's office. I was in love with Connor and his view.