“Give ‘em hell, kid,” I told her, stamping a kiss to the top of her head as we separated.
With that, the three of us left her to settle in. Hannah had always been independent, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when she asked us not to linger.
The other two stayed a few steps ahead of me as we made our way back across the Harvard campus. It was still summer, only mid-August, but the leaves on the trees were already turning delicious shades of red and orange. The wind blew, and I was grateful for my old leather jacket.
For the first time in a while, I appreciated the beauty of New England. I’d been so eager for something different by the time I’d left that I’d forgotten what it could be like to slow down and take everything in.
“What do you say, Ryder?”
I snapped out of my reverie to find Ben looking back at me. “Hm?”
“NYU is only a four-hour drive. You up for a road trip?” He tugged Erin closer. “You can see my old stomping grounds.”
I considered it. “You two go ahead. I’ve got someone waiting for me at home.”
“Carlos will be fine on his own for one night,” Erin said.
“Cute that you think I’m talking about the dog,” I laughed.
We stayed together until the parking lot, then said our goodbyes. It’d taken a week to drive across the country, but thatdidn’t hold a candle to the way I vibrated in my seat as I made the drive home.
Home.
Salem hadn’t been “home” in a long time. I’d built another in Vegas, with family I chose. I didn’t think I’d ever return to the East Coast. I loved Raleigh and Angel, but now, I couldn’t imagine leaving what I had in Massachusetts.
Carlos was screaming behind the baby gate in the kitchen when I let myself in. We’d nailed house training, but we had yet to figure out how to distinguish food from inedible objects, so he stayed behind the gate. I stood at the back door while he inspected the yard, waiting for that familiar sign.
A chill down my spine had become an anticipated sensation, and I instinctively leaned back when I felt it, connecting with a brick wall of muscle. “You made it,” I whispered.
“I did.” James snaked his arm around my waist, leaning in and nuzzling my neck. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner. I hope Hannah wasn’t disappointed.”
“Nah, I think she was too excited to notice much of anything.” I wrapped my arm around James’s neck to pull him closer as his lips found the sensitive skin above my collarbone. “Everything go okay today?”
James had spent the day interviewing candidates for Dani’s position at the bar. It’d taken months of insurance claims and contractor work to rebuild Liz’s, and for the few weeks since we’d reopened, James and I had been splitting responsibilities—which didn’t leave much time for ourselves.
“Mm-hmm. I found someone.” He nodded against my neck, tongue darting out to wet the skin. “Their name is Shiloh, and they start next week. I’d like for you to meet them before then though.”
“F-fine by me.” I don’t know how he expectedme to hold a conversation about work when he had his tongue on my neck and his cock digging into my ass. “Are you staying tonight?”
“I’ll stay as long as you want me.” He glared at Carlos, who was literally barking up a tree. “Now, get that thing inside so I can take you to bed.” He growled, slipping his fingers through my belt loops and tugging, making sure I felt everyinch of his erection.
“Or you could ignore him and keepyourthing right where it is.”
He spun me around and pinned me against the doorway. “Iwilltake you right here, love. My restraint is only out of respect to your neighbors.”
“Fuck,” I groaned. I was so hard it ached. “Carlos, inside!” He screamed at me, which I interpreted as some form of protest, but I didn’t care. “Come here now or you’re sleeping out there!”
I heard the jingle of his tag, then James dropped my hands and leapt out of the way as Carlos barreled through the back door. “No way am I letting your fear of dogs get in the way of you touching me,” I said, pulling James to me, my back against the doorframe.
“I’m not scared of?—”
“Shut up.” I leaned in and claimed his mouth, pressing into the curves of his body. I dropped his t-shirt, working one arm around his waist and the other into his hair. He broke the kiss with a sigh, grinding his hips into mine. “Now, I believe you mentioned taking me right here?”
James feigned innocence, brushing his nose across mine. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I chuckled, fingering the clasp of his silver chain. I wanted my vampire tonight. With an expert twist, the clasp fell apart and the chain dropped to the ground between us.
“Take me to bed,” I ordered.
His growl started as a low rumble in his chest. “As you wish.”
I yelped as he effortlessly lifted me off the ground, my legs wrapping around his waist. I held on tight as he kicked the door shut, then carried me through the house and to my bedroom. He threw me down on the bed. I grunted as I connected with the mattress. I watched, mouth watering, as his hands flew to his belt. He moved slowly for my benefit, so my eyes could keep up with what he was doing.
Piece by piece, he discarded his clothes. I drank in his flawless, ivory skin. Every dip and curve of his muscles flexed when he moved. I yearned to trace them with my tongue. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach.Mine.He was all mine.
My vampire.
