The Original Immortal had known nearly everything about Xander at one time, one of the only in existence who ever did.
"Women are safe from you," Jule said. "Relatively speaking."
"Unless it involves a certain issue. You remember?"
"Betrayal." There was a thoughtful silence. "You took care of the Grey God's issue before the immortal world went up in flames a few months ago."
"With pleasure." Xander had no pity for the woman who betrayed the Grey God, Darian, and his brother, the White God. Rushed for time with the immortal world crashing down around him, he hadn't had much time to toy with her, and he hadn't been gentle.
"There was someone else …" Jule frowned, struggling to recall.
"You don't want to remember that one," Xander said. "Trust me."
"No. She drowned." Jule's gaze sharpened. He bristled. "You were exiled by then. That was after the Schism."
"Maybe the Watchers aren't the only ones who fucked with your head."
The woman I gave up the immortal world for? No way, Xander. Jule said into his mind.
Does it matter? You've got your woman now, Xander replied.
Jule leaned forward. "You don't do things without a reason."
"Then trust that I had one, and it was damned good." Xander refused to say more, aware there was no benefit in opening old wounds, especially the kind that had driven the five Original beings a part - thereby leaving them vulnerable to the Watchers and Others - before the Schism.
"I don't know why I trust you," Jule admitted.
"With some people, the truth is too scary," Jessi said. "Go with it, or they suck your blood in the middle of a photo shoot and then plaster embarrassing pictures of you on the internet."
Jule tensed, not sensing her approach. Xander smiled. Jessi's glare was on him.
"What kind of pictures?" Charles asked.
"Not the kind you're interested in."
Charles was coiled, as if ready to take a bite out of her. Xander cleared his throat, and the former vamp eased back into his chair, obeying the silent command.
Oblivious to her danger, Jessi's eyes dropped to her phone. She was texting with one hand and reached for the purse on the chair beside Charles with her other.
"You quitting or coming back?"Jule asked.
"She's quit every day this week," Xander said.
"I'm going home, after my coffee date with my soon-to-be-boyfriend," she replied with a pointed look at Xander.
"The spineless pretty boy who couldn't defend you against a paper plate?" he asked.
"Exactly. I like my men the same way you like your women: pretty and easy."
"Yet you haven't gotten laid in four years."