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I watch her walk away with her shoulders slumped.

Even my cold heart ached to hear their hushed conversation. Serenity was kind to a man that hadn’t shown her the same consideration. She has relied on her vampire emotionlessness to make it through the day, but now it is breaking down. We are detached a lot of the time, but that doesn’t mean we feel nothing.

She has done amazingly well in the transition. Many new vampires can’t cope with all the new needs of their bodies. Most don’t have the chaos she has had to deal with also.

I slip into one of the other bathrooms to shower. I want to take her mind off the events of the day in any way I can. I slip on some sweats before going to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine. I find some cheese and crackers along with some grapes and arrange them on a plate.

I have little experience with romance. As I have been alive for many years, you would think I picked up some tips. It didn’t mean as much in my other relationships as it does now.

I lit some candles Harmony gave me and set them around the room. She will be amazed I actually used them. When she gave them to me, I put them away and hadn’t thought about them until now. What man lights candles for himself?

Serenity steps out of the bathroom and gasps. She’s wearing another one of my shirts, but it’s a tank this time. It’s more like a dress on her but looks a hell of a lot better on her.

“Feel better?” I ask. I put the plate on the bed and stood across from her to pour our drinks.

“Yes.” She waves her hand. “What’s all this?”

“You’ve had a hard day. I wanted to relax you.” I frown. “Did I do it wrong?”

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong,” she giggles.

“What?” I grow concerned. I knew this romance shit was more complicated than I thought. I should stick to killing; it’s what I’m good at.

“You did amazing.” She comes to the edge of the bed. “It’s just you. This big, gorgeous vampire lit candles and put together a meat and cheese tray.”

“There isn’t meat on it. Should I put some?”

“No, no, Ryker, it's perfect. It makes all the difference that you put in this kind of effort for me.”

“Well, I love you, so why wouldn’t I?” I say. She still looks shocked, so I continue to defend my actions. “I hear Harmony blathering on all the time about her mates doing shit like this for her, so I thought you would appreciate it too.”

She walks around the bed to stand in front of me. “You love me?” she asks.

“Of course.” I searched her face. I can’t read her expression or what it means.

“Ryker, that’s the first time you have said that to me.”

“Is that bad?”

“No, no, it’s not bad,” she says warmly. She takes the glasses from my hands and sets them down behind me. “I love you, too.”

Those words do something to me, coming from her luscious lips. “I get it now. I like hearing those words.” I cup her cheek.

“I do, too,” she smiles. “I like everything you did, but in the future, if it doesn’t feel natural to you, you don’t have to do it. Having you here with me, concerned for my well-being, is enough for me.”

“I will probably do many things wrong, just so you know.” I grin. “But in other ways, I’ll do many things right.”

“I bet,” she chuckles.

“Are you hungry?” I ask. I sit on the bed and reach for the plate.

“Very,” she replies.

“I know it’s not much. I can get you something else if you want.”

“Ryker, I want you to do those other things,” she whispers. She steps between my legs.

I drop the food back to the plate, look at her, and tilt my head. “Will it make you feel better?” I ask, my lips twitching.