Chapter Text
“So...how does it work? With vampires?”
“How does what work?” Miriam replied absently, without looking up from her laptop.
“Well normally I’d ask a lady out to dinner, but I’m assuming tapas isn’t your thing.” Miriam still didn’t look up, but Chris thought he could see her eyes crinkling, like she was trying to suppress a laugh.
“No, Chris, tapas is not my ‘thing’.”
There was an awkward silence while Chris worked up the courage to ask the obvious follow up question: “So, uh...what is your thing? Because I’d really like to take you out, Miriam.”
She looked up then, shutting the laptop and capturing his eyes. Her voice came out like silk, “I’m a vampire, Chris. What do you think my thing is?” She smiled, showing her teeth. He gulped, his hand lifting automatically to his collar.
Miriam held her composure for just a moment before doubling over with laughter. Chris exhaled. “You’re messing with me,” he said grumpily.
“Yes, I am. And my thing is wine,” Miriam said, once she had recovered her composure. She took a step closer to Chris, and then another. “There must be a bar with a decent wine list here?”
Chris nodded, “I’ll pick you up at 8?”
Miriam was just a breath away now. She reached out and adjusted his collar, letting her palms linger on his chest when she was done.
“Text me the address. I’ll meet you there.” She pulled away, grabbed her messenger bag, and strode out of the room.
——
At 7:58, Chris had already been at the bar for ten minutes, getting more nervous by the second. It had been a long time since anyone had gotten under his skin the way Miriam was. He checked his watch, again, and looked up at the door, again. The bartender — his buddy Jess — sent him a look of pity and came over to see him after serving a couple of postdocs further down the bar.
“Who is this girl, Chris? You look like you’re waiting for a job interview, not a date.” She poured out a shot of something honey-colored and pushed it toward him. Chris ignored it.
“She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, J. She’s gorgeous and smart and absolutely terrifying. I’m fucked.”
“Why thank you, Christopher,” a musical voice intoned behind him. Miriam Shepherd slid onto the stool next to him with other-worldly grace.
Jess’s eyebrows disappeared under her shaggy bangs, and she nugged Chris on the shoulder before putting out her hand, “I’m Chris’s friend, Jess. What I can get for you—?”
Miriam took her hand, and Jess flinched slightly at her cool touch. “Miriam. Nice to meet you. I’ll need your wine list, please.”
Yep, Chris thought to himself, I am totally fucked.
—
A few hours, and a few bottles of wine later, Chris found himself leaning over Miriam’s stool, one hand resting on its high back by her shoulder and the other gripping the leather seat near her thigh. He was bigger, much bigger, than she was, but he knew she could snap his neck like a twig if she felt the need. The knowledge that this tiny, terrifying woman was hiding preternatural strength was intoxicating — or maybe that was the wine?
Before he could decide, Miriam caught his eyes and asked the question Chris had been waiting all night to hear: “Will you walk me home, Christopher?”
—
In front of a converted church, Miriam stopped them and turned to face him. “I had a lovely time tonight. I haven’t laughed that much since — well, not in a long time.”
She rested her hands on his chest, tipping her face up towards his. It was all the invitation Chris needed. His mouth met hers in a rush of need, the coolness of her lips and tongue welcome in the humidity of the summer night. A moan rumbled through his chest, and Miriam stepped even closer, her hands moving down his body. She hooked her fingers in his belt and pulled his hips flush against her, his growing erection pressing into her taut stomach. Fuck, she was a good kisser. One hand snaked around her waist as the other wove its way into her thick, curly hair. He couldn’t get enough of her, couldn’t imagine ever having enough of this. But she pulled away.
“You’ve been drinking,” she whispered, not meeting his eyes, “It wouldn’t be right.” Before he could protest, she pecked him on the cheek and was gone into the house.