Free Timeless (Immortal Love Series) by Amy Richie Page B

laughing fit.
    “ Why did you go out in your underwear anyway?” he asked suddenly.
    “ My what?”
    “ Those clothes.”
    “ What about them?”
    “ Those are not meant to be seen by anyone else, and you just walk around like its nothing.” He walked over to stand in front of me.
    I shook my head in confusion. “I just…I don’t…” These clothes weren’t right?
    “ These are things you wear under your dress. And actually these are not women’s underwear.”
    “ How do you know?” I looked down at my clothes. “Did you put them on me?”
    “ What?” He flinched back. “Of course not.”
    “ I have no memories of these clothes Nickolas,” I said softly. “I don’t know what to say. I am sorry if I embarrassed you.”
    “ I wasn’t worried about me, Eva.” he nodded towards one of the chairs. “You sit there. I’ll get you a blanket and then start a fire.”
    “ A fire. Where?”
    “ In the fireplace.”
    I was appalled to see that he was pointing to the hole of ashes. “Don’t you think that would be kind of stupid?”
    “ Stupid? Why?”
    “ To start a fire inside your house.” His face was still blank. “Nickolas, your whole house is made of wood. I just don’t think it would be a good idea to start a fire inside of it.”
    He laughed sweetly, making me smile despite myself. “You are so funny, Eva,” he said fondly.
    I smiled back at him and forced a laugh. I wasn’t trying to be funny.

Chapter Ten
     
    The fire crackled pleasantly in the fireplace. Nickolas lay sprawled on the floor in front of the warm flames. I still sat in one of the wooden chairs, wrapped securely in a blanket. It was pulled close to the fire too.
    “ Are you still amazed that I have a fire in my house?” Nickolas asked with a grin.
    “ No. I just couldn’t understand why you would want a fire in your house. Now, I think I understand. It’s kind of nice.” I smiled down at him.
    “ Yeah, it is kind of nice,” he mimicked, then laughed.
    I shook my head but didn’t look at him, afraid I would laugh too. I took another sip of the black liquid he had given me. I tried not to wrinkle my nose. “What is this called again?”
    “ Do you not like it?”
    “ Mmm,” I shrugged, “it’s ok.”
    “ Here, I’ll drink that and I’ll get you some…milk.” He reached for the grey mug.
    I felt my nose wrinkle again. “You like this stuff?”
    “ It’s coffee and,” he took the mug, “yeah, I’ve been known to drink a cup or two.” He laughed again.
    At least he was enjoying my temporary memory lapse. “Do you have any apple juice?” I asked brightly. Apple juice sounded good. He looked at me strangely, curiously. “What?”
    “ Eva, apples don’t grow here. The villagers here probably don’t even know what apple cider is.” He continued to stare.
    “ But you do.”
    “ I’m not from around here.”
    “ Where are you from?”
    “ The south.”
    “ That’s a bit broad.”
    He flashed his teeth. “Milk?”
    “ Yeah.”
    He jumped up and bounded off to get my glass of milk. I leaned back in my chair and pinched the bridge of my nose. No apples here? I guess I already knew I wasn’t from around here, but it was so frustrating not knowing.
    I suddenly heard a voice in my head, “He’s changed his mind Eva. He is his friend.”
    I sat upright. “Oh.” I gasped when I looked up and Nickolas was standing in front of me with a glass of milk, just staring.
    “ Your milk.” He handed me the glass without his easy smile.
    “ Thanks.” I took a large gulp to avoid his questions.
    He sank down to his place on the floor. “So,” he looked up at me with a half-smile.
    “ So.” I didn’t want him to start asking me questions. I quickly asked the first thing that came to my mind. “Do you have any family?”
    “ Most people have some sort of family,” he answered easily, “even you.”
    “ But I can’t remember mine right now. Do you remember yours?” I raised my eyebrows in an