She stomped her foot. “‘Sunshine’? Don’t call me that.”
I strode over to her and stuck my nose in her face. “Or what, sunshine?”
“Then how did that lamp fall?” she asked, taking her anger down a notch.
“No clue, but maybe you’re experiencing some of my powers, given that you have a gallon of my blood in your system. And that’s not the issue right now, is it?”
“No. You stealing my phone is.” She gripped my balls. “Tell me why you took it.” She bared her teeth.
I grinned like the ass that I was. “Or what? You can’t hurt me.”
“I can tear your nuts off.”
I chuckled. “Then you would never experience last night again, now, would you?” She’d raved about the feelings from our orgasm together.
She poked a finger into my chest with her free hand. “Let’s get something straight. If you want us to coexist, you can’t be stealing my things or leaving me out of shit. You know something, and you’re not telling me. And I would bet my right tit that whatever you’re not saying relates to Rianne. You’re trying to protect me. I get it. So talk.” She let go of my balls.
I frowned.
She snorted, sticking her hands on her hips.
I sized her up. “Are you naked under that coat?”
She huffed. “Sam, this is your last chance before I bring down the house. I’m sure Webb and Jo won’t like that.”
I didn’t exactly know how strong she could be with the amount of my blood in her system, and I didn’t want to test her ability. Jo and Webb had renovated the home recently, and my sister would stake me if we ruined her perfect hideaway.
I tugged her over to the couch. “You’ll need to sit down for this one.”
She didn’t argue. She crossed one leg over the other and began to move her foot back and forth.
I created some distance between us and sank into the chair across from her. “I’m sorry I took your phone. I should’ve come clean last night. But I wanted us to relax for one night at least.”
Her foot stopped moving. “Thank you for the apology.”
I leaned my elbows on my knees. “Before I fill you in on what’s going on, I need to know where your head is at with us.”
“Are we about to talk feelings and I love yous?”
“Just answer the question.” Irritation was scraping along my nerves. “Where’s your head at, Layla? Baby, life, enemies, future… anything. We need to leave here today with a clear plan. Are we in this together or not?” Frankly, whether we were or not, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight. But it would be easier if we sang from the same sheet of music.
Puffing out her cheeks, she stared at the tranquil Atlantic as the sun began to crest the horizon. On a long intake of breath, she pinned me with hard blue eyes. “I’m afraid to say anything right now. The minute I do, it’s real, Sam, and I’m scared.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“You. Me. Us,” she said with surety. “How does a human fall for a vampire? I mean, I know how. But it’s sad to think I will grow old and you won’t and neither will our child.”
She had a point. If I lost her and didn’t die in battle, I would walk the planet as one depressed, hurt, and pissed-off vampire with so much rage I would probably wipe out humans with just one look.
“You’re not frightened?” she asked. “We’re having a baby, Sam. That doesn’t scare you?”
“Fuck yeah. I’m flipping out. I don’t know the first thing about being a dad. I’m not sure I believe it yet, either.”
“Me too,” she whispered.
I crossed the room and sat on the coffee table in front of her. “Look, the bigger issue right now is Roman and anyone who will want to profit off a Mason. Jo and I were used as lab rats. My kid isn’t going through that. I’m a Mason, and I come with baggage you’re not ready for. Hell, I’m not ready, either. It’s bad enough I’m always looking over my shoulder. And then we have Abbey. Now our kid too. Don’t even get me started on your family.”
Her shoulders slumped.
