Page 71 of Gray

When he chuckled, my heart turned to mush. His hand slid to my nape, his fingers threading in my hair. Our lips brushed together, once, twice, before he kissed me deeper.

My soul hummed.

He broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to mine. “About last night…”

“We don’t have to talk about it.” Not right now anyway. I was happy and didn’t want to tank my mood.

“Yes, we do. I’m still hesitant to trust this vampire guy.”

“Konnar,” I said. “Not vampire guy.”

“Yeah. Konnar.” Mason pushed his face into my hair in that familiar way, as if it brought him some level of comfort. “I’m going to try, okay? Because you were right. We’re all on the same side. It’s time I act like it. Until he gives me a reason to think otherwise, I’ll—”

I cut off his words with another kiss. He smiled against my lips before returning it.

“What happened after I fell asleep?” I asked. “Were my brothers mean to you?”

“I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”

“That didn’t answer my question. Am I gonna have to kick their butts?”

“No.” The edge of his mouth hitched up. “We talked. That’s all.”

My eyes narrowed. “Somehow I don’t believe you.”

“Well, Galen did a lot of growling and threatened to kill me. Then Simon came outside and calmed him down.”

“Nowthatsounds more believable.” I kissed his throat.

Mason tensed. And my heart broke a little when I realized why.

“I’d never bite you without your consent,” I said, pulling away. Dang it. My eyes burned with tears. “I… I’m gonna go help Ray with breakfast. He’s awake now.”

“Don’t go.” He tugged me back to his chest, hand cupping the back of my head.

“You’re scared of me now because of what I said about me drinking blood.”

“No, I’m not.” Mason wiped away one of my tears. “Fuck. Please don’t cry.”

“I can’t help it.” Vision blurring, I closed my eyes, and more tears escaped. “I don’t want you being scared. I don’t want you being disgusted with me. Not you of all people—”

Mason silenced me with a kiss. His lips softly pressed to mine, and though the center of my chest was tight and hurt like hell, I kissed him back.

Was I a monster to him now?

Chapter Ten

Mason

Just when I thought I couldn’t hate myself any more, I made the sweetest person on the planet cry.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my heart shattering as he released another small whimper. Truth was, his confession that he drank blood had shocked me. And I’d let my unease about it show, albeit briefly, when his mouth had been at my throat.

Which was stupid. Blood drinker or not, Gray would never hurt me. I should’ve known better than to think otherwise.

“You don’t deserve him.”

Damn if that wasn’t the truth. I didn’t deserve Gray. I had told myself when we’d had sex at the motel that it was a onetime thing, that it meant nothing. But one taste of him and I was hooked. Addicted, really. After him fucking me into his mattress the day before and confessing he felt more for me, I knew I couldn’t walk away from him.