Oh. He is trying very hard not to look at my naked body. Bless him. That is the sweetest thing ever. I know how difficult it can be for humans.
“Do you want me to put some clothes on?” I offer.
His cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink. “No! No, not at all. It’s fine. This is your home.”
We make it to the kitchen. Ned is sitting at the table reading a newspaper. The blinds are down and the gloom feels strange after the bright sunshine.
“Hi Ned!” says Sammy cheerfully, as he heads for a cupboard.
A proud smile stretches across my face. My Sammy isn’t at all scared of the grumpy vampire.
Ned looks up from his paper with a scowl. Then his dark eyes widen and ping-pong between Sammy and me.
“What the hell!” he exclaims gruffly and very forcefully.
Sammy whirls around in alarm. My heart is pounding so loudly it’s practically the only thing I can hear.
Fuck. Ned can sense the mate bond.
“What?” Sammy asks. His blue eyes are wide with concern.
I stare at Ned imploringly. My eyes are probably bugging out. If only Ned and I could talk telepathically.
“Blue, are you okay? You’ve gone as white as a sheet,” says Sammy as his focus snaps entirely to me.
Ned lifts one dark eyebrow.
“I’m fine,” I squeak.
“He’s fine. I just made him jump,” says Ned and he shakes his paper aggressively. “Stupid young people get stupider every day!”
Sammy’s shoulders relax, and he turns back to the cupboard with a soft giggle. Ned looks nineteen, so I understand how him muttering about young people can be amusing.
“Thank you,” I mouth silently to him.
The vampire rolls his eyes, gives me a look that says I owe him, and goes back to reading his paper.
I do owe him, and I’m so thankful I could kiss him right now. That was a very close call. And it has made it very clear that I do need to tell all the boys. So they can help me solve this and so they know not to tell Sammy.
Sammy can never know he is my mate. I’m adamant about that. I’m not messing up and disrupting his life anymore than I already have.
The boys will help me fix this and then Sammy will be free and none the wiser.
It is the way it has to be.
Chapter ten
Sammy
Ihave no idea what is going on with this reality TV show. It’s one of those where people get voted off, but I can’t figure out the voting system. Probably because I’m not paying attention.
Instead, I’m sitting here in the living room alone, trying not to think about Blue. It’s too early to go to bed, and it’s pointless to go out and try to find customers on a Sunday night. They’re all tucked up in bed with their wives, ready for Monday morning in the office.
I glance at the TV, where a dramatic elimination scene is playing out, contestants lined up, anxiously waiting to see who will be sent packing. The host drags out the suspense, and the audience holds their collective breath. It’s supposed to be tense and gripping, but all I feel is emptiness and confusion. How can anyone care so much about these strangers and their petty dramas? But maybe that’s just a me problem. I’m too absorbed in my own drama, with my mind a storm of unresolved feelings and half-formed thoughts. Leaving no room for anything else.
Whatever the cause, distraction is not working. I’m sitting here while every single part of me is yearning to go out to the pool and hang out with Blue. Which is ridiculous. The man needs space. I can’t glue myself to his side twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Gotta give the poor man a break. He deserves some peace and quiet.
Never mind the fact that there are only so many swimming lessons he can give me. I clearly suck at it, and there is not a lot that can be done about that. Blue is a siren, not a miracle worker. He’s been patient, in his own gruff way, his soothing voice guiding me through the water, but it’s clear that my clumsiness tests even his boundless patience.
