I hold up my hands. “Actually, if everybody could put everything down, I don't want to have to undo all of your hard work. It’s just that I'm much, much faster than you and a picky interior designer.”
Galyna turns around. “Even your mattress?
“Even the mattress,” I say.
Everyone puts everything down, and then I show them exactly how fast and strong a vampire can be. Lazare stops me when I get a little sloppy and my hood shifts, burning my chin in the sun.
“Hey, careful. Don't hurt yourself.”
I smile, my chin already healing. “Okay.”
* * *
The group looks at me,mouth agape. I dust off my clothing, annoyed to find a small tear in my tailored button-down. Looking around, I shrug.
“What?”
“What the fuck was that?” Galyna asks, gesturing at the now perfectly appointed and completely furnished house next to us.
“That was me moving. I adjust my speed for the human world, but when it comes to my own place, there's just no reason to make you all work so hard.”
Looking a little flustered and turned on, my werewolf cracks a smile. “Babe, I couldn't even barely see you. You’re like the Flash.”
“Yeah, if the Flash somehow gave off smoke every time his skin met the sunlight,” Doc says, cracking himself up.
“Hey now, we all have our things. My skin burns in the sun, and you’re slow as molasses.”
Eloy decides it’s his turn to take a swing. “Don't you need to take a nap or something? Have you furnished your new place with a coffin yet?”
I put my hand on my hip. “Eloy, this house has the same sunshades that yours does. Why would I need a coffin? It's not 1852.”
Lazare shifts, scratching the back of his head. “Did you really used to sleep in a coffin?”
I shrug. “It's pretty much the only thing that was guaranteed to be lightproof.”
Eloy, Doc, and Galyna nearly fall into each other, laughing. Lazare is damn lucky that he manages to bite back a grin because he certainly would be paying for it.
“You're welcome,” I say, flicking his shoulder. “You didn't even have to lift a finger, and the house is already cozy and perfectly prepared for us.”
“Oh really?” he asks, snaking an arm around me, pulling me in close. “I guess you should show me then.”
“Gross,” Eloy mutters, stalking off toward the main house. “Count me out for all of that gushy bullshit.”
The rest of the crew filters back into the big house, leaving Lazare and me on the front porch.
“Well, are you ready to see what I did?”
He bends down and kisses me, pulling on my hood to make sure that nothing is exposed to the sun. “Always.”
I open the door, and we walk into the open living space.
“This was supposed to be more of an efficiency setup, but I discovered that we have an attic. So, I put the living room here with some of the pieces I found in Lillian's storage and set our bedroom upstairs.”
“I recognize the antiques. I thought Lillian said they were haunted.”
I grimace, looking at the pretty, freshly polished furniture. “Should I return these? Lillian was pointing to her attic’s storage area. I thought she meant for me to take them.”
He grins and kisses my forehead. “I'm kidding. They're not haunted. She just didn't want to ruin them with all of the big ugly weres in her living room. But stop stalling. Show me the bedroom.”
