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Raphael shifts beneath me, getting more comfortable. Then he wraps both of his arms back around me and tries to pull me into him.

“You can sleep if you need,” he whispers into my ear.

An unwanted shiver travels down my spine as his breath brushes against my skin.

Surprisingly, I do feel fatigue settling in, but I shake my head.

I’ve been sleeping for days, perhaps weeks. I want to be awake and aware of what’s going on.

Asher caved and said we’re not heading for Boston, but what if he decides to change his mind?

I need to be prepared to bail at the first opportunity.

Pressing his mouth closer to my ear, Raphael whisper-growls, sending more shivers down my spine. “If you insist on being stubborn then at least get comfortable on me.”

Irritation sizzles through my veins. Is he being serious right now? Does he expect me to drape myself over him like Chloe is with Asher? After what he’s done to me?

Shoving at his chest, I whisper-hiss back, “If you want me to be comfortable, I’ll need my own seat.”

He smirks at me as if he finds me cute. “I’m afraid that’s not an option at the moment.”

“Why?” I demand, forgetting to lower my voice.

Asher shoots me a dark look.

Raphael drags his breath slowly down to my neck. “Because I’ve waited centuries to feel you in my arms.”

His nose nudges at me affectionately, and that spot on my chest twinges with… something.

Something I can’t quite put my finger on.

It both frightens me and pisses me off.

As angry as I am with him, my skin shouldn’t bebuzzingbeneath his touch.

Nor should my neck want to bend in invitation for more.

He’s not even really touching me… he’s just breathing on me.

Yet my stupid body suddenly yearns to press against him. To close what feels like an enormous distance between us.

Like everything else that’s happened so far, it’s crazy and makes no sense.

But I can’t seem to find the physical strength to pull myself away.

So, I do the only thing I can do to make it stop.

I use my words. Grinding them angrily between my teeth. “You’re wasting your time trying to use your dirty vampire trickson me. Chloe already let me know they won’t work unless I want them to work.”

Raphael pulls back from my neck.

“Dirty vampire tricks?” he asks, appearing genuinely confused.

I thought getting him away from my neck would be a relief, but glaring at his face is somehow even worse.

It’s like God decided to make the very definition of everything I find appealing and attractive into flesh.

The man is simply too handsome to look at without feeling… tempted.