Guilty Pleasures   ::   Гамильтон Лорел

“You aren't all right,” I said.

He opened his eyes and turned to look at me. The blood had run down his neck, a dark, glistening stream that shone in the flashes of the streetlights. “You were hurt a lot worse last night,” he said.

I looked away from him, out the window. I didn't know what to say. “I'm all right now.”

“I'll be all right, too.”

I looked back at him. He was staring at me. I couldn't read-the expression on his face, and wanted to. “What are you thinking, Phillip?”

He turned his head to stare straight ahead. His face was all silhouette and shadows. “That I stood up to the master. I did it. I did it!” His voice held a fierce warmth with the last. Fierce pride.

“You were very brave,” I said.

“I was, wasn't I?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

“I hate to interrupt you two, but I need to know where to drive this thing,” Willie said.

“Drop me back at Guilty Pleasures,” Phillip said.

“You should see a doc.”

“They'll take care of me at the club.”

“Ya sure?”

He nodded, then winced and turned to me. “You wanted to know who was giving me orders. It was Nikolaos. You were right. That first day. She wanted me to seduce you.” He smiled. It didn't look right with the blood. “Guess I wasn't up to the job.”

“Phillip … “ I said.

“No, its all right. You were right about me. I'm sick. No wonder you didn't want me.”

I glanced over at Willie. He was concentrating on his driving as if his life depended on it. Damn, he was smarter dead than alive.

I took a deep breath and tried to decide what to say. “Phillip … The kiss before you … bit me.” God, how did I say this? “It was nice.”

He glanced at me, quick, then away. “You mean that?”

“Yes.”

An awkward silence stretched through the car. No sound but the rush of pavement under the wheels. The night flashes of lights, and the isolating darkness.

“Standing up to Nikolaos tonight was one of the bravest things I've ever seen anybody do. Also one of the stupidest,” I said.

He laughed, abrupt and surprised.

“Don't ever do it again. I don't want your death on my hands.”

“It was my choice,” he said.

“No more heroics, okay?”

He glanced at me. “Would you be sorry if I died?”

“Yes.”

“I guess that's something.