She bit into his pec, drawling blood, trying to keep from screaming his name.
He ground against her, jerking several times inside her and shuddering with his own climax.
She kissed the bruise she’d just left on his chest and leaned back, panting wildly. Okay. Maybe fighting with Adare wasn’t so bad. She chuckled to herself.
* * * *
The woman was nothing if not tenacious. Adare fought the urge to fuck her again and instead held her close in the sprawling bed while the storm beat ice and snow against the windows. “We need sleep. Stop talking,” he ordered.
She wiggled her bare butt against his groin. “I’m just saying that we have to live normal lives, and my attending my friends’ baptism is part of that.”
“We are not normal, we will not have normal lives, and you will not attend.” Maybe he should spank her for real. She had to understand he was serious about her safety. “I’m finished discussing this with you and suggest you call your friend tomorrow and let her know, just to be polite.”
Grace yawned, her shoulder blades brushing his chest. “Listen, buddy. A guy who doesn’t have emotions doesn’t get to be boss.”
“Says who?”
“Everybody knows that.” She settled her chilly feet on his calves and moaned softly.
Interesting. “I have emotions; they just don’t dictate my life.”
“Ha. What emotions do you have?”
Who knew she’d be so chatty after sex? “I like you and have vowed to protect you throughout eternity. I promise to keep you safe and make sure you want for nothing.” That was what he had in him and what he had to give. “That’s my job.”
She was quiet for a moment. “What’s my job?”
“To enjoy life and stay safe. It’s up to you if you’d like to have children someday.” It was her decision, really. A little boy with her eyes would be endearing. “Though you should probably know that vampires only have males. You knew that, right?”
She yawned again. “I knew that but thought that maybe it had changed because Hope is part vampire. Because of that virus everyone caught way back when, right?”
“Something like that.” He hadn’t paid attention, to be honest. “But I don’t think the proclivities of our species have really been changed. So far, parents with vampire blood have only created males. Something for you to think about.”
She stiffened slightly. “Do you want children?”
“Yes. Someday.” Not for quite a while, however. Anyway, it usually took centuries for immortals to conceive, although there were definite exceptions, obviously.
“What if I decide to go to the baptism, anyway?” she asked.
“You’re not going. Take that in any way you wish,” he said, his eyelids closing. It was time to sleep. They’d gone over this enough times, and either she got it or she didn’t. He was done.
“You can’t watch me every minute of every day for the rest of eternity,” she countered.
His eyelids popped wide open. “I would prefer not to.” The workings of her mind were truly fascinating. He waited, wondering where she’d go next.
“I’ll make you a deal.”
Not his usual course of action, but what the heck. He flattened his hand over her abdomen, smiling when her stomach muscles clenched in response. “What’s the deal?”
She audibly swallowed. “I will promise to keep my safety at the top of my to-do list, and you promise to open yourself up to emotion and to love. It doesn’t mean you have to love or anything, but that you are open to it. That’s all we can do.”
What a sweetheart. “Fine. I will open myself to love.” How hard could it be?
She relaxed against him. “Good. I’m glad we got that taken care of.”
“You’re still not going to Colorado.”
“Damn it, Adare.” She shook her head, and her hair fluffed across his face. “Why are you so impossible?”
