Page 54 of His Retribution

"What?"

She nods again. "I knew you were different, Havok. I could tell from the first time I saw you. You have an almost ethereal quality about you, other worldly. I don't know if I would have jumped right to vampire, but I knew something was different and now it makes sense."

My brows raise. "And you believe me? Just like that?"

"I have no reason not to.” But then my light chews her thumb and my impending joy begins spiraling towards fear. "Do you need anything?"

I need to feed in order to speed up the healing process but I don't tell her that. No, instead I go for something else entirely.

"I need you to tell me what you are not saying. I need you to ask me questions or share why it is you believe me so easily because if roles were reversed, I imagine I'd be shitting my trousers."

My light snorts and shakes her head. "I have questions, lots of them actually, but nothing that's going to change how much I like you, how much I enjoy having you around. And honestly, with all the other weird shit that's happened since I got here, nothing really surprises me anymore."

"Weird shit?" Though I know what she's referring to, I want her to say it.

My angel nods. "There is so much to talk about, so much shit for me to tell you and try to make sense of, but I really don't feel like doing it right now."

"No?" I arch a brow. "And what, pre tel, do you feel like doing?"

The vacant look passes over her features but she recovers quickly.

"Well, if you don't have anywhere to be..." My light lifts a brow in challenge, the little minx knowing damn well I couldn't go anywhere if I wanted to, which I don't. "Then I'd really like to go back to sleep because the last two hours was the best sleep I've had in my entire life. Then when we wake up I can make us something to eat and we can talk."

Yes.

A thousand times yes.

As important as it is for us to discuss what is on her mind, the idea of holding her while we both sleep deeply for the first time in ages, then have her cook for me, share a meal with me, supersedes everything else. Especially when we've never shared more than a few hours together at a time, let alone share a bed while cuddling.

So I try to tamp down my joy, try not to appear too eager and blurt, "I'll only agree if you allow me to hold you again."

She crosses her arms against her chest and gives me a stern look. "And if I don't agree to your terms?"

"Then I shall throw open your front door and let the sun fry me like an egg on the sidewalk.” I smirk and go to get off the bed. "I'm afraid that if I do not lay in your bed, do not hold you while we sleep the day away, then I shall weep like a babe, and since my fragile male ego cannot take such a blow, I will just have to end my suffering completely."

Small hands grab the back of my shirt as I scoot toward the edge, and tug me back onto the mattress with a thud. Then my light hovers over me, the raven blue waves framing her face as a smile dances in her eyes.

"Then you're in luck because the only way I was going to let you stay is if you stayed right here with me while we took a mini coma."

Gods, how I want to kiss her right now.

And I thank fuck I don't even have to ask.

She looks at me for a beat, looks right into my blackened soul, then places a hand on my cheek, and runs her thumb over the scar under my eye. My angel leans toward me, dips her head down toward mine, and brushes my lips in the softest caress.

My heart beats wildly as I refrain from deepening the kiss, allowing her to take control, to set our pace, and I'm rewarded for my efforts because she does it again with a little more pressure.

Her lips are exactly as I remember.

Soft.

Warm.

Perfect.

And her taste... oh, how I've dreamt of the sweetest of flavors for so long.

Honey.