My readers deserved better. Fourteen-year-old Felix deserved better. Carter and Angelica’s nephew and even Kierandeserved better.
His life could’ve been different if he’d had a book like this. I wanted to make a difference for all of us, for all the kids like us whoright nowneeded to see themselves in their favorite hero.
“Hey,” Kieran squeezed my hand. “Like I said, I don’t regret it. Even if you eventually get a no. You tried your best, we both did.”
“Youmorethan tried your best,” I said, squeezing back. “I won’t ever forget it.”
* * *
Apparently,Kieran wasn’t in as much of a rush to leave New York as he’d seemed to be.
At least, not judging by the way he was sprawled out over one side of the bed, perfect butt on full display where the covers had slipped off, snoring softly and drooling into the pillow.
I’d never had a better view while I worked.
Unable to resist any longer, I reached out to touch his hand where it was curled into the sheets, gliding my thumb over his knuckles.
Kieran hummed, turning his head and blinking over at me.
“Did I fall asleep?” he murmured, squinting to focus in the dark, my laptop screen the only light in the room.
“Only for like five hours,” I said, reaching out to pet his hair, combing it away from his face where it’d fallen forward.
I loved how soft he was when he’d just woken up.
“That all?” Kieran asked, pushing his head into my hand like a big cat. “Back to work?” he asked.
“Back to work,” I sighed. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to miss a moment with Kieran before now, but I couldn’t put my entire life on hold much longer. “Your ass has been an inspiration.”
Kieran snorted, sitting up and shuffling over to settle next to me, head resting lightly on my shoulder.
“That’s me. Professional muse,” he said. “Are you supposed to work in bed? Isn’t that, like, one of those big forbidden work-from-home things?”
“I’m a rebel,” I teased. “I don’t follow the rules.”
“That’s new,” Kieran murmured, turning his head to nuzzle my neck.
Focus, Felix, my brain scolded me, but blood was already rushing away from it, so the order seemed weak and reedy.
Since when did I listen to my brain above my dick, anyway?
“Is it?” I asked, already forgetting what we’d been talking about.
“Mm,” Kieran hummed, the sound vibrating against my neck as he pressed a kiss behind my ear.
Damn.
Angelica would understand. I had the hot, horny boy of my dreams in bed with me, kissing my neck, clearly trying to convince me to stop working and start playing.
She would’ve done the same.
“You used to be such a good boy,” Kieran added, breath ghosting over my skin, sending a hot shudder rolling through me.
No one could resist this. No mortal with a sex drive couldpossiblyhave said no.
I wasn’t sure anynon-mortals would’ve fared any better. Vampires? Not a chance, they were essentially mankind’s personification of all their darkest sexual fears and impulses. A vampire who didn’t fuck was pointless.
… also not real. Where had I been going with this train of thought?
