My cock swelled and pulsed, earning a low groan from James as I emptied down his throat. He swallowed, drawing it out until I trembled in his grip. Sensitive, I shuddered through him licking me clean, scrabbling at his shoulders when the torture became too unbearable.
As my heart rate lowered, James popped off my cock and wiped his mouth. I rose onto my elbows, watching him fisharound in the nightstand. I crooked a brow, my heart jumping when he withdrew a bottle of lube and slicked up his fingers.
“If you think you’re getting out of finishing that fantasy, think again.”
Chapter 19
Two weeks later,we were no closer to discovering the identity of my attacker. We spent night after night pouring over resources that Gabriel brought to us and trying to get closer to Virtus. During these visits, Luke was either scarce or nowhere to be found at all. If he did show his face, it was when Gabriel wasn’t in the room. There was still tension between Luke and Dani though. At least, there was for the first few days. With Dani getting stronger and gaining more control over her new life, Gabriel was quick to relocate her into a place of her own. She still had to lay low, considering that the entire town thought she was dead, but gaining her independence was a huge step for her recovery.
Our light in all of the chaos was the upcoming wedding. The big day crept closer, so close and yet so far away at the same time. Our suits were delivered, Hannah dug her dress out of the back of her closet and sent it to be cleaned, and our rings were dropped off to be repolished before the ceremony. Everything was coming together.
“What’s got you smiling like that?”
I raised my head from my phone, finding James by the front door, predictably dodging his nightly greeting from Carlos—the one thing he hadn’t quite grown used to. He’d spent the day overseeing Kian’s first solo shift, and since I hadn’t heard anything, I assumed that it had gone well. I’d hoped it would: All he needed was a bit more confidence. He was shaping up to be an amazing bartender.
Not as good as me, but he might get there someday.
“Raleigh,” I responded. “He’s asking what color jockstraps I want for my bachelor party and whether glitter is an acceptable option.”
James snickered. “I don’t know what kind of strippers he thinks he’ll find around here but he’s welcome to try.”
I watched him as his long legs ate up the space across the living room. He ducked into the kitchen, returning with a glass of whiskey for each of us. It wasn’t until he fell into the seat beside me that I spoke again. “You’d be okay with that?”
“Glitter? Hell no, we’ll never get it out of the house.”
I gave him a playful shove, accepting my drink. “Smartass.”
“We’ve come a long way since that night. I trust you.”
As he spoke, his hand drifted into my hair, his nails scratching my scalp. Like a cat, I practically purred and leaned into his touch.
“Hannah called me, by the way,” he continued. “She said if your mom calls about dress colors, ‘red’ and ‘black’ are not sufficient answers.”
My heart fluttered. I knew I was being teased, but I didn’t care. My vampire knew me so well. “I’m so ready to marry you.”
James’s mouth eased into a genuine smile, the one reserved for when I’d truly caught him off guard. His eyes swirled, and he dropped his attention to his feet. “And I’m ready to marryyou,Ryder Clark.”
“You’re cute when you’re bashful.”
James scoffed incredulously. “I am not bashful!”
“Oh, yes you are—if you could, you’d be blushing.”
“Vampires don’t get embarrassed.”
“Oh, just like they don’t get tired?”
We bickered all the way down the hallway, right until the bedroom door shut behind us.
After drifting off into a deep,sated sleep, I awoke only a few hours later. James was in the shower, if the running water and the light creeping under the bathroom door were anything to go by. I wasn’t sure what had woken me up, but as soon as I had the thought to join him, my phone lit up beside me.
Another vibration demanded my attention. It was Kian, and he was asking if I was awake. I replied, and Kian responded almost immediately.
I’m outside. Can we talk?
I glanced toward the bathroom again. The water had shut off, which meant that James was already aware of Kian’s presence. Hiding anything from him—even if I wanted to—was pointless. So, I told Kian I’d be right out, then waited for James to emerge.
He opened the door a moment later, towel wrapped around his waist. I sat up in bed, reaching for my sweats that had been tossed on the floor in our earlier scuffle.
