"Sophia." Nona narrowed her eyes over her third glass of red. "You're getting skinny. You no eat?"

Soph suppressed a sigh, and Marco's hand found her knee under the table for a reassuring squeeze.

"Of course I've been eating, Nona. Look, I'm eating right now!" she wound the pasta around her fork and jammed it into her mouth for effect. Nona pursed her lips.

"How's work been going, Marco?" Stefan butted in before Nona and Soph could continue their argument.

"Oh it's fine, though a bit hectic lately. We had an issue with an intern who was calling in sick every Wednesday..."

Soph tuned out of the conversation and went back to her meal. She and Marco were going well, particularly after she'd gotten over the initial shock that he had an eleven-year-old son and an ex-fiance.

At first she'd felt jilted that he'd somewhat coerced her into a monogamous relationship before revealing that she was actually walking into a ready-made family. He'd explained later that Jacob's mother had been quite young when she'd had him, and after their relationship had broken down, she'd gone through a string of boyfriends. Marco had promised himself he wouldn't bring a woman into Jacob's life until he was sure they were serious.

"Should we head off soon?" Marco asked, drawing her back from her thoughts. They had planned to go out for a few drinks before heading home. And with Soph's mother taking over her apartment, she really had started thinking of Marco's place as home.

Soph glanced at Nona, who was now bickering with Luie about details of the wedding. She nodded to Marco. Best they get out of there before Nona thought to start questioning them about an engagement.

***

"Sinners?" Soph asked dubiously as Marco drove by the club and around the block to park.

"You said you've never been," he replied with a smile, mistaking her surprised expression as a good one.

As they approached the club, Soph had to convince herself that she wouldn't see Eli. She didn't know what she was concerned about. Was it that she didn't want him to know she was in a relationship? That a part of her wanted to keep the door to him open? She hoped he would be at one of his other clubs.

Inside Sinners, male and female dancers wove around bars up high near the ceiling in great glass orbs. Others led patrons away from the main bar to not-so-private glass cubicles set along the walls. The floor they were on was predominately a bar and seating, but a second-floor balcony revealed a DJ and dance floor.

"Can you get the drinks?" Marco asked, handing her some money. "I just have to go to the bathroom."

Soph watched him go, then approached the bar. "A red wine and an apple martini," she shouted at the bartender over the music. He nodded and set to making her drink. She hadn't been waiting long when she felt a hand on her waist. Her stomach sank.

Low enough on her back to indicate a familiarity with her body, and fingers adding pressure with a sense of possession. It could only be Eli.

"I didn't know you were going to be here tonight," he said and his breath whispered against her neck. Her eyes closed briefly as she felt that all too familiar tug of desire beneath her navel, then she turned to face him.

"You have to go," she told him. He frowned.

"This is my club," he reminded her. She glanced towards the bathroom. Was that Marco she could see coming through the crowd?

"I'm here with someone," the words were hard to get out. "My boyfriend, actually."

"Boyfriend." Soph didn't know what to expect. Anger, indifference. She certainly hadn't foreseen the flash of hurt that passed over his features. She glanced towards the bathroom again. She could definitely see Marco coming. Heart hammering, she pushed Eli away. "Just go!"

For a moment she was afraid that he wouldn't listen, but he backed away slowly, then turned and melted into the crowd. Marco arrived.

"This one mine?" he reached for the red wine sitting on the counter. Soph hadn't even realised the bartender had delivered their drinks.

They found a table and Soph listened to Marco talk while she threw furtive glances over her shoulder, looking for Eli. She knew he'd be watching, and his invisible presence was agitating. They only managed a few more drinks when Marco finally said, "is something wrong?"

"What do you mean?" Soph tried to feign nonchalance, but she couldn't stop the nervous twitch of her knee under the table. She thought she'd managed to stamp out the lure of Eli by committing to Marco, but seeing him again had her torn.

"You look anxious."

"Just thinking about the job interviews I've got coming up." she glanced away again, scanning the room. Marco sighed.

"Should we go?"

She rose from her seat with perhaps too much haste, but she was glad to be getting out of there. Her relief was short-lived, however. The moment they were outside the club in the fresh night air, Marco asked her to wait. "I'll go round and get the car."

She didn't even have time to open her mouth to protest before Marco left her standing on the street. She turned back towards the door of the club and as she'd expected, Eli was striding towards her.

"A boyfriend?" now he was angry. "Why wouldn't you tell me something like that? I don't appreciate being a bit of fun on the side, Soph."

"You weren't fun on the side," she told him, wrapping her arms across her chest, more in worry that Marco would come back than anything to do with the cold. "Marco and I have only recently started going out."

"And you didn't think to talk to me first? I thought-" he stopped abruptly.

"You thought what?" Soph prompted against her better judgement. "We haven't spoken in weeks! Do you expect me to run every decision I make past you?" he stared at her, his jaw working.

"I have feelings for you. I thought you knew that."

His word had both her stomach clenching and her heart fluttering. She'd almost convinced herself that he didn't feel the same way, that he was out of her league, that because he didn't message her meant he wasn't interested. But why would he kiss her like that if he hadn't caught feelings for her? She was kidding herself if she thought she could deny his words.

Even standing here before him in the cold outside his club had her yearning for his touch. He was intoxicating. And he was dangerous. Too dangerous. She steeled herself.

"I'm with Marco now, Eli," she hoped her voice came across as resolute as she intended. "He's what I need right now. He's stable, he's not supernatural. He has a son and-"

"A son?" Eli cut across sharply. "I didn't pick you for the instant family type."

Neither had she.

"At least he can have children," she retorted, "and grow old like a normal person! Now you need to go. He'll be here any moment."

Rather than backing away, Eli grasped her arm. He looked furious, but Soph was too.

"Going to use your powers on me to make me stay?" she hissed. She was sure she saw a gleam of the Possessive green in his eyes as he contemplated it. Then he let her go with a jerk and vanished at lightning speed. Marco's car pulled up alongside her.

"Are you okay?" he asked as she got in the car and slammed the door. She wondered how she must look to him. She'd finally made her choice between Eli and Marco, so why did she still feel so torn about it?

"Fine." she left no room for conversation and they drove home in silence.