“My history doesn’t matter. It stopped mattering the moment my eyes locked with yours. From that moment on, Amelia, I knew all I needed was you in my present.”
She made a little noise that sounded like a whine. Her face blushed pink as she smiled up shyly at him and her hands hooked around his hips. “You can’t say that to me then leave straightaway.”
Her pulse beat fast against the skin on her neck, the scent of her desire drifting into his nose, mixed with her blood. It was rich like nectar and soft spring wilderness. Her scent was intoxicating; it made him hungry, made him horny, heated his blood. Yearning churned like a simmering volcano.
A smile tugged the corner of his lips. “No?”
Her fingers trailed lazily down to his ass, sending a rush of desire coursing through his veins. “Or you could get your vampire colony to look for Leah, and you could stay home and show me how much you care for me.”
He wanted her like he had never wanted anything in his life. Aside from blood, of course. “There is not enough time to show you how deep it runs.”
“We can start with the prelude.”
His answering groan was deep and frustrated. He needed to find Leah. Darkness had long descended, defeating the light the new vampire would be sensitive to. She would also feel incredibly unwell and in pain; sometimes the effects of turning had new vampires bedridden for days. But somehow she had managed it, and she could be out killing already, though it appeared that she was largely in the revenge stage that transition and the thrill of unbridled power often brought on.
His body worked without command as he lifted her up by her ass and his lips fell to her neck. She moaned as he kissed her slender throat and wrapped her legs around his waist. Then he lowered her to the bed, untangled their limbs, and rested her head against the pillows. Her eyes brimmed with desire, with need.
“You need to go, don’t you?” she said quietly when he didn’t attempt to touch her further. Not many vampires had the willpower he did.
He forced a smile. “Duty calls.”
She sighed, soft and long. “You look tired.”
He was beyond tired, he was exhausted. The kind of exhaustion that came from not just being physically drained, but mentally. Staring at her face was a reminder of all he had to lose. Her loss wasn’t something he ever wanted to face.
He ran a finger down her arm, watching as goosebumps rose in its wake. “I’m fine, I’m a vampire, remember.”
She took his hand and tugged him to the bed. “You’re also part human.”
He sat down beside her, his thumb stroking her knuckles. “I may come from humans, but I am full vampire.”
She scowled. “You have to have human DNA. You need to rest too.”
“I’ve never been tested to know.” He pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “And I will rest when this is all over.”
She pressed her head against his chest, tilting her face to peer up at him. “After this ends, will you go back to Church Heights?”
“I will go wherever you want to go and do whatever you want to do.”
She let out a breath of relief. Her eyes drifted to the rain tapping against the night, but her gaze shifted to somewhere far away and her face relaxed as though imagining what life mightbe like after this was all finished. “We’ll go wherever we both want to go. You need to be happy too.”
He let go of her hand and tucked his arm behind her head, his fingers gently massaging her scalp. “If I’m with you, I’m happy, Amelia.”
She smiled and his heart expanded at the beauty of it. He kept stroking her hair until her eyes drifted shut and she fell asleep, her body nestled to his.
For those precious minutes, he felt at peace, he felt whole, for the first time in a long time.
Chapter 21
She Was Thirteen
Iheard them murmur and cry out in their sleep a few times. But the children were still fast asleep every time I checked on them. I got up before the sun rose, made coffee, and moved back to the sitting room. An orange glow from the fire washed over the room, bringing warmth and a cozy peace. I placed the mug on a side table and lowered myself to the couch, curling my feet under me.
A shadowed figure stalked past the window.
“Fuck,” I breathed, my hand on my heart. Which was stupid. I needed to learn to put my palms up instinctively; they were useless to me against my chest. It took a moment to register it was just a vampire on patrol. He was closer to the house than he needed to be; maybe he was sheltering from the rain?
Then a thick vibration slid through to my bones. Vampire close by. I spun back to the shadowed figure at the door.
