Max turned the weapon around in his gigantic hand. “I’ll have our guys get on duplicating it and then creating defenses. We need updated bulletproof vests, anyway.”
Garrett frowned. “I wanted to keep it.”
“You can have it back after the tech guys figure it out.” Max slipped the weapon into his jacket pocket.
Talen reopened the door. “Call me with info.”
“You got it.” Max clapped Garrett on the back on his way out. “Watch out for your folks.”
“Always,” Garrett said.
The door closed behind Max, and the tension in the room naturally dissipated. Garrett shuffled his feet. “Since we have guards stationed all around the building, Logan and I thought we might hit a few bars in town.”
Talen nodded, his heart rate kicking up. He did require some alone time with his mate, after all. “Be home in time to leave for the airport tomorrow morning,” Talen said and then paused. “I take that back. Be home tonight.” He waited a beat. “Alone. Just the two of you.”
Garrett blew out air. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” Talen clapped him on the back. “Seriously.”
Logan sighed. “Let’s hit the bars anyway. I could use a drink after the fight earlier. And about five pizzas.”
Garrett’s eyebrows rose. “Pizza is a good idea. I’m starving.”
Talen slipped him cash. They’d need a lot of pizza, knowing the two of them. He waited until they’d hustled outside before shutting the door and leaning back against it.
Cara watched him with fire in her eyes.
He crossed his arms. “So, mate. Ready to chat?”
* * *
Cara eyed her mate. For months they’d danced around this, trying to settle into a routine after the war. But that was the rub, wasn’t it? Talen Kayrs wasn’t a male tosettleinto anything. Even though he’d raised two kids and now adored little Hope, he was not a retired immortal but a fully trained vampire warrior in his prime.
In his fuckingprime.
His golden eyes flared and darkened, sizzling to a vampire secondary green color. The hue of a fire too hot to touch. A vein pulsed in his corded neck, and primal dominance suddenly hardened his entire face.
Oh, it had been too long since she’d seen that look, but it was way too late to turn back now. “What did you wish to discuss?” She kept her voice level to hide the fact that her heart was absolutely pounding against her rib cage.
“What part of ‘stay in the secured area’ did you not understand?” he asked mildly, the muscles flexing in his arms.
He dwarfed her and always had. While some women might’ve been intimidated by his size, weakened by it . . . she enjoyed every inch made just for her. He’d put that big body between danger and her more than once, and his sheer deadliness gave her a sense of security not many people in life enjoyed. Plus, he more than knew how to use that body to pleasure her.
Even so. Sometimes he made her feel too feminine . . . too protected. “I understood every word,” she admitted, meeting his gaze evenly, while a shiver of nervousness caught her unaware. It had been too long since she’d poked the beast.
“Then why did you leave safety?” His voice lowered at the last. If a tone could be a warning, he’d found it.
“I heard gunfire.” She winced as she hurried to add, “My son and his friend were in danger.” Sometimes it was that simple.
His jaw tightened. Displeasure mingled with an unreal heat in those eyes that had turned green with temper—and passion. Even so, a golden rim encircled his green iris, making him look like something . . . other. A vampire showing his true colors.
She shivered. The storm gathered strength outside, pelting rain against the wide wall of windows across the living room.
His lids half-lowered. “Did you really think I wouldn’t protect Garrett and Logan?”
She inched a step back from the barely vibrating anger in his voice. “I knew you’d protect them, but you’d moved on to challenge a helicopter.” For goodness’ sake. If anybody was justified being angry about their spouse doing stupid, dangerous things, it should be her. The man had challenged a fucking weaponized helicopter.
His nostrils flared.
