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He stretched out, blanketing me with his entire body. “Let me take care of you tonight, love.”

I wanted to protest. I truly did. I wanted to argue, to shove him onto his back and wrestle for dominance until one of us surrendered. I could blame the buzz, but that wasn’t what made me submit.

James rolled his hips, our hard lengths gliding together and crying for attention. He pulled back, lips seeking out every bit of exposed skin within reach. I arched into his touch as his fingers explored my chest and stomach. My cock wept, milking another drop of liquid onto my abdomen.

“Hands above your head,” he said.

In lieu of friction, my hips bucked into his hot breath. James only laughed at my impatience. “Hands up,” he repeated, voice a little sterner. “If they move, I stop.”

I obeyed, hooking my fingers into the mattress. James knocked my legs apart and knelt between my thighs. My breath hitched. “It’s okay,” he cooed, kissing my heated flesh. “Can you trust me?”

I shook my head against the pillow, then forced myself to look down and meet his eyes. Oh, how he didn’t realize how much weight that question truly held.

James grinned, eyes transforming in front of me. Breathtaking crimson swirled in a pool of melted chocolate. He was hypnotizing. My pulse raced, and his eyes flicked to my neck. But they snapped back to my face when I spoke.

“I accept.”

Chapter 7

I’d only just falleninto a deep sleep when a fist pounded against my door. I groaned, peeling one eye open to the early-morning sun streaming through the window. Once I’d accepted the bond, James had me up all night. I sat up, and it was as if I could still feel him inside me.

“The hell is going on?” James mumbled, cuddling in close to my side.

“Raleigh.” Because his name was answer enough.

“Ryder?” Raleigh called. “Are you awake?”

“Mm, sort of.” The door flew open and I yelped, yanking the blanket to cover up. “Hey!”

“I knocked!” He made himself right at home, leaping onto the mattress. “Morning, vampire.”

“Why are you waking us up at the ass crack of stupid?” James said in response.

“So I can start my day staring at your pretty faces.” Raleigh grimaced, picking at a loose thread on the blanket. “There’s a situation at the Hopyard. We need to get back early.”

My heart sank. They were supposed to be in town for another week. “Is everything okay?”

“Aside from Jack being an incompetent excuse for a bartender? Yes, everything’s fine. I just need to get back and deal with it.”

I snickered. It had to be the Tanqueray delivery again—it wasalwaysthe Tanqueray delivery. “Get out.”

Raleigh flinched, clutching his chest. “Damn, Clark. I at least expected a goodbye.”

I kicked the unsuspecting Raleigh to the floor. “Get out so I can get dressed. I’ll drive you to the airport.”

He collected himself, swiping his sleep-tousled hair out of his eyes. “You don’t have to do that.” The only response he got was a flat look, daring him to challenge me. He held his hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. Thank you.”

Once Raleigh vanished, I pushed myself from the bed, pausing when James stroked my thigh.

“I can drive them if you want more sleep,” he offered.

I removed his hand from my thigh, kissing his fingertips. “It’s okay. I’ll drop them off and meet you at the bar in time to open.”

Feeling his eyes on me, I turned around before reaching the bathroom door. James’s dark gaze traveled over every inch of my naked body.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, squirming.

James stretched, pulling the sheet away to reveal his hard cock. “You want some company in the shower?” he asked, wrapping his fist around his shaft.