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“I’m not kidding. He’s got plenty of money.”

“I accept those terms,” Ryker agrees with humor.

“Guys, can we sit?” Serenity asks. “My feet are killing me.”

Ryker looks alarmed and ushers us all to a table. It’s such a normal thing for a panicked man to do, I lose some of my nervousness.

“When are you due?” I ask.

“Maybe a month.” She lovingly rubs her bump. It unexpectedly makes me miss my mom. “It could be longer. We are just guessing at the time frame for a vampire baby.”

“We should be at home,” Ryker grumbles. “But it seems as if I can’t deny you anything.”

“You said you wanted to come.” Serenity frowns.

“I did not. I said I would come if you insisted,” he reminds her.

“That is not the same thing at all,” Elijah says, taking great pride in pointing it out, placing his hat at the end of the table.

“Don’t make me use my knife on you,” Ryker sneers.

“Bring it, vampire,” Elijah hisses, but his eyes are twinkling.

“Can we order? The baby is hungry,” Serenity cuts into theirmy penis is bigger than your penisbanter.

Ryker waves over a waitress.

My mouth is watering from all the choices. How long has it been since I’ve been to a nice place to eat? It seems like forever. Out of habit, my eyes go to the prices first. The diner seems dirt cheap compared to this place.

“Order whatever the fuck you want,” Elijah says quietly in my ear. “I may not be rich like Ryker kind of rich, but I can buy you a meal here, if that’s what you are worried about.”

Even though I know the vampires can hear, I’m distracted by his breath in my ear and I shift restlessly. He sits back with a knowing look in his eye.

I glare and settle on a small steak with a baked potato. They bring a basket of fresh bread and I have to wipe the drool off my chin.

Elijah picks up a piece and spreads butter on it. I hold myself back from snatching a piece. I stare stupidly when he puts his piece on my plate. He goes back for another. I look from the bread to his face. Why does the simple act shake me so much?

“Eat,” he commands.

When was the last time someone thought of me like he does? Why wouldn’t I want to be his mate? I shove my feelings away to examine at a later date and take a big bite. I have to stifle my moan.

“So, what brought you here, Saylor?” Serenity asks, interrupting my moment with my bread.

I swallow too big of a bite, gulping harshly. I stare at her a moment too long.

“Ryker didn’t tell you?” Elijah asks.

“He summarized,” she admits. “I was trying to be polite.”

“Sometimes, being polite is a waste of time,” Elijah says.

“Elijah,” I say, my eyes big.

“What? It’s true.”

“I actually agree,” Ryker says.

They grin at each other.