Page 66 of Just the Pool Boy at Vampire Mansion

“That’s actually a good idea,” Theo said. “It’ll be a disaster, but Owen will be alive at the end of it.”

“No,” Bentley said. “I can’t babysit the human. It’s beneath me.”

“You’ll do it,” Geraldine said.

“And you will keep Owen safe while there, or we will strip you of the Witherborne name.” That came from Leander and landed cold in the room, like a judge’s gavel coming down.

“Fuck my life.” Bentley rolled his eyes. “Can I eat him after?”

“I’ll rip your fucking fangs out,” Theo growled.

My body did that “Hello, Theo” shiver it liked to do now when he got all possessive and threatening—“I’ll be your karma.” Be still my touch-starved heart . . . and the rest of me.

Leander turned toward me. “Only if Owen would like that?”

Was he actually asking if I wanted Bentley to eat me? “That’s a hard no from the human.”

“Then it’s settled. You’ll both go over there and bring an end to this with a diplomatic discussion. And if that doesn’t work, we’ll burn their house down.”

“Uh . . .” The burning part had not been on my to-do list.

“Remind me why we’re going there? I wasn’t listening to most of this conversation,” Bentley asked, clearly only paying attention now he had a role to play.

“To talk to them and tell them to stop sending creatures through our pool,” Geraldine replied. “But mostly to discover what they want Theo for and persuade them to stop. You can do that, can’t you, Benny? Make yourself useful for once?”

“And they’re just going to tell us because Owen is cute and harmless?” Bentley asked.

“Darling, use your many assets to persuade them.”

“Flirt with them?”

“Threaten them, dear. Use you fangs as the weapons they were intended for.”

“So, I can eat the Briars? Just so we’re clear. I don’t want to get blamed for leaving a trail of dead bodies.”

The parents both looked at each other and nodded.

“Finally! You should have led with murder, pool boy.” Bentley grinned, in a wholly predatory way. “I am always up for killing.”

“I didn’t actually . . . uhm . . . agree to murder, but . . .”

They were all leaving, going in completely opposite directions. Even Fleur left. So it was just me and Theo in the big quiet room. Apparently, that was the end of the meeting.

“I think that went well,” I said. “Considering . . .” Nobody had tried to kill me, and they had listened to some of it. We now had a plan. I’d take it as a win.

Theo scowled, clearly unhappy. “If you die, I will never forgive you.” He pushed off the wall and made his way over, using his runway-walk hip sway that pulled my gaze lower every time.

“I’m not going to die. I’m a gatekeeper. Your father said so.” I had no idea what that meant, if it meant anything, but it sounded important.

He stopped close and ran his finger up my jaw, sending tiny little shivers down my body. I tilted my head up, responding to the touch like a flame to paper. And just like that, I was back on the rooftop, aching to be touched all over. The need came up fast, and absolutely out of my control.

“A week ago, I thought you just scooped leaves, and now you’re telling my mother what to do.” His voice had dropped, going deep and dark and slow. “You constantly surprise me, more than anyone I’ve ever met.” His soft dark lashes framed eyes I was falling into. “I like it . . . like you, Owen. A lot.” And just like that, his mouth was on mine, tongue teasing my lips apart.

A little huff, or maybe a groan, slipped out of me. My brain hadn’t caught up to the fact that this was happening. Theo was kissing me. Not a fake kiss, I didn’t force anything this time. His lips were on mine. His finger was still under my jaw, light, just enough pressure to keep me tilted up and set my skin ablaze.

Then the surprise melted off, and I leaned into him.

He made a low, pleased hum against my mouth, like I’d confirmed something, and his other hand found the small of my back. He drew me in tight, body to body. He kissed as though we had all night, coaxing rather than taking. It left me chasing the next press of his lips before he’d even finished giving me the last one.