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His breath is knocked from him. “I’m okay. Thank you. This was really nice of you.”

“You have to be starving.”

“Are you going to join me?”

I take a step closer as if my legs can’t stop themselves from eating up any distance there is between us.

“Do you…do you want me to?” I grab the back of his chair, needing to hold on to something to keep me from dragging him to the bedroom.

He looks too fucking good in my clothes. Don’t even get me started on how amazing he smells. I’m hanging on by a thread, staring at his wet curls that are begging to be tugged on.

He peers up at me with those light green eyes that seem brighter, framed by pitch-black lashes.

I’m obsessed with wanting to know everything about him. What he loves, what he hates, the places he wants to experience, the pains he has lived through. Anything. Everything.

“I’d love for you to join me,” he admits, his voice softening in a way that lets me know he really does want me around.

I listen to his heart rate to see if it speeds up to tell if he is lying. It’s pessimistic of me, I know. No one volunteers to be around me. I’m a bad mood that people seem to catch if they are around me long enough.

Don’t sound too excited. Don’t move too fast. You’ll give your excitement away.

“Let me grab a plate.” I hold my breath, casually walking away, forcing myself to remain calm and collected. I’m having to really focus on not using my speed.

The quicker I move, the faster I can sit with him at the table.

None of this food will make me feel better. The only sustenance that can save me now is Leo’s blood, and I’ve learned over the years that people don’t freely give it. It’s why vampires take without asking most of the time or use their influence for the humans to forget about the feeding.

I couldn’t do that to Leo. I couldn’t take from him without his approval. His deciding to feed me is one of the most intimate things we will ever share with one another. I can sense him now, but that bond will be different once we share our blood.

I’ll be able to tell what he is feeling or if he is scared and something is wrong. I’ll be able to protect him more.

I throw a quick plate together, similar to his but with more food. If I can’t drink his blood, I have to eat as much as I can so the craving for Leo is manageable.

Pouring a cup of coffee, I snag my plate and pause before heading over to him. I’m about to have breakfast with my mate. This could be an everyday habit. This could be, hopefully, the start of our lives together.

Blowing out a breath, I bury my nerves and set my plate down on the table before taking a seat.

“Hi.” He smiles directly at me.

Me.

As if he is actually happy to see me.

“Hi.” I smile too. Actually, I blush.

I don’t fucking blush.

Except for him. I have a feeling Leo could get me to do anything he wanted, and I wouldn’t put up a fight.

Is this what love feels like? Light and airy with so much excitement it twists your insides into knots? It almost has me feeling a little sick, yet I can’t get enough of it. I want to be around him more.

I want to chase this feeling to the edge of the universe, and if he still makes me run after him, I will, until the end of time.

“Hi,” he says again, clearing his throat and lifting his eyes to look at me every few seconds.

He grins again after taking a sip of juice, showing that cute fucking gap between his teeth.

I’m obsessed with it.