Page 49 of Love Bites

"Not quite." Talon gave him a smile. "You slept through the day like a proper vampire."

"Oh." Collin yawned. "Can I have breakfast anyway?"

"I don't think there's any food for you other than the donuts and the gummy bears. Unless..." Talon didn't think Collin would need blood again this soon, but he'd never met anyone pregnant with a half-vampire baby before, so he didn't have much to go on.

"Nope, no blood, thanks." Collin said up. "I'll take the donuts for now, but we'll have to get some other food soon."

"If you make a list, I can bring you back some things."

Collin turned to him. "Do you have another job tonight?"

"Yes." There wasn't anything he could do about that. If Talon didn't show up, Zenon would grow suspicious, and they didn't want that right now. If Zenon ordered him to kill Collin... Talon would do it, whether he wanted to or not.

He'd kill himself before he let that happen.

"You can't just stay here?" Collin asked.

"I'm afraid not. I cannot disobey my sire without alerting every vampire to your presence."

"Your sire sounds like a real asshole."

Talon laughed shortly because that was an apt description of Zenon. "You wouldn't like him."

"Do you like him?"

"Not even a little." Some vampires adored their sires. Talon had never been cursed with that particular affliction. Without thinking about it, he touched the side of his cheek. Collin's fingers followed his movement until they rested on top of Talon's.

"Is he the one who gave you that scar?" he asked.

"Yes."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I don't regret a thing."

Collin looked confused, but Talon wasn't about to explain the story behind his scars. Instead, he rose from the bed and put his clothes back on. It was best not to be late.

"When will you be back?" Collin asked.

"I'm planning to do some research once the job is done. Text me that grocery list. And call me if anything happens."

"I will... Oh, could you get some movies that aren't horror?"

"You don't enjoy my movie collection?" Talon asked while buttoning his shirt.

"It's a little one-sided."

"Understood." Collin might have a point there. "What kind of movies would you prefer?"

"Anything with a happy ending."

"I'll keep my eyes open."

"One more thing."

Talon stopped halfway to the window. "What's that?"

"Bring condoms. I'm not letting you touch me again without one."