Grimacing, she set her bottle well away from her. “What changed?”
Felix tilted his head to press a lingering kiss to the freshest bite on her throat. “You.”
Pressing her thighs together, Dahlia tried to rein in the surge of lust that shot through her whenever he put his lips anywhere on her body. Over the last few weeks she hadn’t just begun to adapt to her new life. She’d also been trained to crave his lips on skin and the sweet pain of his bite.
Feeding him and being fed by him were the two greatest pleasures she’d ever known. It was impossible for her to imagine a life without them now.
“Feeding on me makes synth taste awful?” she asked, voice a little huskier than before.
Felix hummed. “For those of us lucky enough to feed from the vein, synth will never compare. We’re primed to prefer the taste of our own venom mixing with our anchor’s blood. It makes them taste so much sweeter.”
That made sense. Still, Dahlia couldn’t help but mutter, “If you knew it’d be undrinkable, why did you order two hundred dollars worth of synth?”
“We’re in a bar,” he answered, shrugging. “It’d be rude not to order something.”
“You didn’t have to encourage me to drink it, though, did you?”
Whatever levity Felix managed to scrounge up evaporated as his attention snagged on a man striding toward their table. “Let’s call it my toll for letting you talk me into this.”
TWENTY-SIX
It wasinstinct to fall back on her cool customer service expression as the man neared their table. She tried not to tense.I belong here,she reminded herself.I get to sit at this table. I’m not prey anymore.
The man was slightly shorter than Felix but built a lot sturdier. His shoulders were broad and his chest deep. The man was pale, with auburn curls shaved close on the sides and left a little long on top. A red beard had begun to grow in thickly on his cheeks and even though the light was too dim to be sure, she thought his eyes were a soft, warm brown. Dressed in dark pants, a white t-shirt, flannel, and shit-kicker boots, he looked far more out of place than she did. In fact, he looked like he’d just gotten back from a hike.
Flashing a blinding smile full of fang, the man rumbled, “Well, I didn’t want to believe the rumors, but congrats must be in order.”
“Byrn,” Felix greeted. His tone wasn’t unfriendly, but it wasn’t exactly warm, either.
“Amauri. You gonna introduce me to your new bride?”
Looking like he’d rather pull his own fangs out, Felix said, “Dahlia, meet Robert Byrn, head of the Byrn family. Byrn, meet my bride, Dahlia Bowan.”
Smile widening into something that might’ve devastated her before she met Felix, Robert winked and said, “Call me Robbie. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dahlia. Damn shame we didn’t get a chance to be properly introduced before you took a shine to Felix here.”
It took everything in her not to blush when he gave her throat a significant look. Wearing bites proudly — and owning exactly how one got them — was normal in the vampire world. She’d known that for years. But it was a whole new ball game when strangers started ogling them.
“The pleasure’s mine,” she replied, lifting her chin. “Sorry you didn’t get a chance, but my husband doesn’t play fair. Can’t say I mind.”
Robert arched a heavy ginger brow. Sliding an inquiring look toward Felix, he parroted, “Husband?”
Felix shrugged. “Anchor. Mate. Husband. All the same shit. As long as it means forever, I don’t care what word she uses.”
A flurry of butterflies exploded in her stomach. Dahlia had to quickly suck her lips between her teeth to stop herself from breaking out into a big, soppy grin. Felix wasn’t even trying to be sweet. He just meant it, plain and simple.
Robert crossed his burly arms over his chest. “Can’t fault that. You’re a lucky bastard, Amauri. Though I can’t say you won the lottery on in-laws. I heard Alastair torched one of your clubs recently.”
“And I sank his yacht,Atlas,”Felix replied mildly. “It’s a game we play, him and I.”
“Can’t say I expected Alastair to be a gracious father-in-law. Or for you to be an easy son-in-law, for that matter.” Robertgave Dahlia an impressed look. “You must have the patience of a saint.”
She snorted. “I really don’t. That’s why we’re here.”
Nodding, he took a look around the bar. Following his gaze, she noticed several other people watching them, apparently waiting for their chance to approach the table. “Well, if you came to get the rumor mill going, then you’ll accomplish that.”
“We don’t want there to be any doubts,” Felix replied, his smile all sharp teeth and menace.
Robert tipped his head. “There won’t be any of those after tonight. You both look like pin cushions.”
