"What are you doing here, anyway?" I asked.
Liam sent a challenging look at me. "What? You don't appreciate my timely interference?"
"I'd appreciate it more if I knew the reason for it."
Liam was a tricky one. Just because we sometimes shared a bed didn't mean he gave me a free pass.
He leaned forward, dropping a kiss onto my frowning lips. "So suspicious,mo chuisle. A man would think you didn't enjoy his company."
When I only stared at him, he smiled again. "I really did come to congratulate you and Connor on establishing a house. It is a big step."
I thawed, seeing his honest happiness. I wasn't entirely overjoyed with the way this house had come about, but I could admit it had already proved beneficial.
I slid a glance toward Connor. Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.
"But since your meal was interrupted, how about I help you find a new one," he offered.
I scoffed, not fooled.
Every time he'd 'helped' me hunt, we ended up in bed with my fangs attached to his neck.
It was why I'd elicited Caroline's help in Operation Feed.
Liam's lips tilted up in a taunting curve. It was the exact same expression he used when we sparred, seconds before he would knock me on my ass.
"Aaand, I'm out," Caroline said.
I blinked at her. "The night is still young."
There were plenty more hours for fun.
Her grin was lopsided. "Maybe for nocturnal creatures, but for the rest of us, it's getting late."
She scratched her neck as she looked around the club.
My gaze followed hers, my eyes narrowing as I noted a few familiar faces in the crowd.
It looked like Liam wasn't the only one who'd wanted to offer congratulations. Nathan and Anton watched us from their post at the bar.
"Besides, knowing I'm surrounded by vampires on all sides kind of takes the fun out of the evening." Her gaze was rueful as it met mine. "It's hard to cut loose when you know you're being sized up to see how juicy you might taste."
Sure enough, I found more than one pair of eyes focused on our little group.
I sagged with disappointment. "This isn't exactly how I thought the evening would go."
Caroline shrugged. "No worries. I had fun."
I did too, right up until the vampire with an attitude problem interrupted.
"I'll walk you to your car," I told her.
She flipped her hand up, already walking away. "No need. You're not the only badass in town."
With that, she slipped into the crowd, lost from view within seconds.
"I guess that means my evening is over too." Disappointment filled me. All dressed up and heading home before midnight. What a depressing thought.
Liam's hand on my hip stopped me, his chest brushing my back. His breath whispered across the exposed skin of my shoulder as he leaned down. "Stay."
