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“I think you’re right about Gerald,” she said quietly when we were finishing up.

“Are you saying that to make me jealous and I have a green light to have you?” I asked, genuinely not sure why she brought it up. I cleared my throat when she shot me an unamused look. “I’d prefer to be honest and ask instead of misunderstandings. Clearly, I miss the mark too. So where is your head at?”

She huffed and covered the leftovers. “I was—I thought I’d been dismissive. I was validating you. I wasn’t—I don’t play jealousy games. I was saying I trusted your judgment and paid attention. I think you’re right.”

I moved behind her and pressed my body against hers, kissing her neck. “Thank you for explaining. I’m glad you understand now and yes, he wants you as his, not just for fun. He’s—it’s clear he wants me out of the way to make a real move.” I flinched.

“What?” she asked, turning in my arms when I didn’t respond. “What? Tell me.”

“I don’t want to start trouble, and I don’t know if I’m right, but there is something you might need to know,” I hedged, sighing when she waved me on. “I didn’t put it together until now, and it only made sense after I overheard the security guys talking about keeping their mouths shut that you came from a rich vampire family and had to run from them.”

She put it together without me having to say it. “I figured Gerald knew. Yes, I’m from that Reed family. Your mother knows and there’s no reason to deny it. You didn’t ask, but—it’s more complicated and I doubt even your mother knows that.” She cleared her throat and ducked under my arm to get away. “No sane Alpha family would want me to mate in if they—”

“Most shifters are way more understanding of crazy family dynamics than you’d expect,” I promised her. “I’m not prying and you’re not ready to tell me. I just want that clear.”

Shit, I’d said too much. She gave me a scared look and like I was crazy.

I chuckled and cornered her again. “I didn’t mean foruswhen we’re not even officially together, Ellie. I just—there are enough misconceptions out there. It’s only when it’s the eldest or maybe in the old days the next eldest. Otherwise, Alpha familiesare pretty understanding and support inter-species matings even.”

“That’s not been my experience, so your family is just better than most, pup,” she warned me quietly. “Or maybe London, but be careful. There are a lot of packs and prides—tons of shifter groups who still outlaw inter-species matings.”

I frowned. “That’s been against the law for—”

“I know, but webothknow that people get around a lot of what’s legal.”

That was more than fair and yeah, we did both know that.

I gave her a soft kiss. “I know I’m rightfully in trouble, but you could stay and just… Stay. I’ll be good.”

“You’re always too good which is half the problem,” she grumbled, eyeing over my body before meeting my eyes. She flinched. It was minor, but I caught it. Then she cleared her throat and moved her hand to my chest, gently pushing me back.

I took the hint and didn’t fight her, stepping away and giving her space.

“I have work and stuff to review. Renee is coming by too—she wants to talk and check out the renovation ideas. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Of course,” I accepted. I snuck another quick kiss. “I’m glad you liked the place. Have fun, and if you want any insight, I just renovated some of this place too.”

“I will,” she said before collecting her things—including some leftovers so she wasn’t eating Gerald’s food—and was out the door.

I sighed. Heavily.

She was holding back and I had no one to blame but myself. I’d made us backslide.

“Tomorrow,” I reminded myself when I felt lost.

Except tomorrow never came.

Well, it did. Of course it did. But she didn’t come over and spend the night. I didn’t get to catch her or stay at her place either.

Time for more luring my sexy vampire in.

In the morning, I posted in the doctor’s lounges that I was starting a running group before office hours. That was the only time to do it since it was already getting to be hot now that it was the first days of May.

Something I took advantage of. My schedule was light since things were recovering in dermatology. So after my last patient before lunch, I went on a run—well, more a sprint to get some energy out. Then I showed up to the cafeteria with my tank top tucked into the back of my shorts and my chest covered in sweat.

“Okay, enough of the calendar shoot, Clark,” Dr. James called over.

I took a few gulps of my water and chuckled. “It’shothere, mate. Like—are ya all having a laugh with this heat already? Yeah, my shirt comes off. You’re lucky I’ve got anything on. I had to sprint because that was all the sun I could take.”