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“That wasn’t your fault. None of that was your fault.”

“I’m guessing your deep dark secrets probably aren’t completely your fault either,” Quinn replied softly, his somber eyes searching mine. “But I’m willing to wait until you’re ready to tell me.” Then he drew in a sharp breath, his expression going more brittle. “Just—please don’t lie. Okay? You’re the only person I trust completely. And I just—I can’t, Derek. I need to be able to trust you.”

I nodded. “Yeah. You’re right. I’m sorry. And you can trust me, I promise.”

Quinn swallowed hard, flashed me a small smile, and squeezed my hand gently. “I know. And it’s okay. We’re good, Derek.”

I placed my other hand over our interlaced fingers and returned his smile. “Yeah, we are.”

Two tables over, Sadie rolled her eyes again.

All in all, it wasn’t a terrible first date.

* * *

“So, I guess this is it,” I said, walking Quinn down the stairs to the basement of the vampire headquarters. It was technically a dungeon of sorts—a place to put the bad apples who broke the vampire king’s rules against harming humans in the city until their fate could be determined—but it was where Quinn had been living for months.

Sadie had offered to set him up with an apartment more than two months ago. Quinn had refused, saying he wasn’t ready yet.

“And see?” I added. “You didn’t hurt anyone.”

“Thank you,” Quinn said, turning to face me. A smile swept across his lips, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I don’t think that would’ve been as easy if I was with anyone else.”

“Let’s not find out,” I told him.

He cupped my face and planted a kiss on my lips. Like always, his breath tasted of mint and his lips were deliciously warm and firm.

I slid my arms around his waist and pulled him tight, deepening the kiss. I couldn’t help reveling in the feel of him against me—compact, yielding, and still masculine, perfectly him. It wasn’t just lust, exactly, but a desire that felt like fire burning beneath my skin and somehow, paradoxically, also like comfort, a deep sense of coming home, of belonging.

Quinn’s lips parted for me easily and he let out a soft noise of need that stirred my cock to attention and caused a primal part of me to back him into the door, pressing against him more firmly, my hands dropping lower—

“Stop,” he said, gently pushing my chest with one hand, turning his face away from me.

I released him immediately and took two steps back, giving him space. I put both hands in my back pockets so I wouldn’t be tempted to do anything else to push him.

“I’m sorry,” I said breathlessly. “You kissed me and I totally mauled you.”

“No,” he said, still looking away. “It’s not that. That was good. Too good. I just—” He grimaced. “I’m having a vampire moment.”

As he spoke, I saw the tips of his fangs between his lips. His gaze was still averted from mine.

“Quinn—it’s okay. Not to sound like I’m that guy or anything, but literally all of my friends are vampires.” I wanted to comfort him, but I didn’t move. “And the love of my life is a vampire. I know what that means. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You don’t need to hide your face from me. It’s okay, I promise.”

“It isn’t. I hate it.” He gestured to his lips, his expression shuttering. “I hate this. I hate feeling afraid of myself. Of what I might do, if I go too far.”

Those words stood between us for a long moment, daring me to contradict them. But I knew I couldn’t—and I wouldn’t, even if I could. They were how he felt. And even if I knew he wouldn’t hurt anyone now that he was himself again, it was still real to him. And it probably would be for a long time.

“I think I’d hate that, too.” I swallowed hard and the urge to say or do anything to comfort him took over and made me say way more than I should have. “And if it feels like you’ve got this dark cloud hanging over you that you can’t escape—one that might someday hurt the people closest to you. Believe me when I say I understand. I get it completely.”

His gaze snapped to mine and something went softer in his expression. “Yeah, that’s exactly how it feels. Like, no matter what I do, I’m never going to be able to escape it. Or make things right.”

“You aren’t alone, Quinn. You’re never alone. You’ve got me for as long as you want me, okay? I’m not afraid of you. And I never will be.”

His eyes went glassy and he nodded, but it seemed like he didn’t quite trust himself to speak.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? If that’s—” I broke off, searching his gaze. “It’s okay if you need space. You know that, right?”

He shook his head, giving me a watery smile. I wasn’t sure if he was telling me yes or no.