Page 103 of Taming His Vampire Mate

“This wasexactlythe right time,” I countered.

I took a step closer. Then another. Until I was within arm’s reach. Thierry looked on the edge of breaking, but if he didn’t know by now he could fall apart with me and still be safe, he hadn’t been paying attention. Because there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him.

When I pulled him into my arms, Thierry collapsed against me. He shuddered, words thick and strange when he said, “I can’t be the cause of your death, too.”

“You won’t be,” I told him simply, kissing the top of his head, reveling in the feel of him warm and solid against me. “He’s not going to lay a finger on you, either. Because we’re going to kill this murderous bastard. We’re going to kill him dead. Together.”

My vampire swallowed. At last, he nodded. “Very well.”

“We’ll have Poppy cast a locator spell. Or I could call Daniel. We’d have the element of surprise if we—”

“No. That can be a problem for tomorrow,” Thierry said softly. “For the rest of the day, I just want—”

He broke off.

“What? I’ll give you anything, you know that.”

He chuckled, and the sound sent a warm flare through my chest. “You know what? Idoknow that. How very odd for me.” Then he paused. “I think I just want to pretend there are no towns filled with vampires, no spells, no ancient enemieswaiting in the wings. Just for a little while. I think I want to lie in bed with you for the day.”

I smiled, kissing his hair again, my arms secure around him. “You know what? I think we can make that happen.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT || JEREMY

We spent the next day in bed together. We watched some of our favorite shows, ordered delivery from a Thai place down the street that Thierry swore was one of the best in the city, and made love until we were both sweaty messes. Later, while browsing a streaming service on his laptop, I discovered my vampire liked romantic comedies.

He tried to hide it, of course. But when I paused on a Hallmark-style holiday rom-com, I felt his interest through the bond, even as he tried to tamp it down.

“Really?” I asked, smirking. “A big, scary vampire like you with a secret soft spot?”

“I don’t judge your love of documentaries.”

“You like reality television,” I countered. “And I’m not judging that either. But this is just… adorable.”

He threw a pillow at me.

I ducked it, grinning. Then I made us watch three rom-coms back-to-back.

“Are wolves always so sappy?” Thierry sniffed hours later, though his eyes were wetter than they ought to have been. It turned out he liked happily-ever-afters. “It’s quite unseemly, you know.”

I laughed. “Yes, actually. We’re emotional creatures. But I’m a man first and a wolf second.”

“I—I am, too,” he said softly. “A man first, a vampire second.”

I cupped his face, stroking my thumb across his cheek, affection burning through me and dispelling the last of my doubt. “Yeah, I know.”

“May I make a confession?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t know if I ever want to leave this bed,” Thierry admitted, his voice oddly intent. His eyes searched mine. “Because if I do, it means the rest of the world still exists.”

“It does have a tendency to do that,” I said solemnly.

“Tell Reed you didn’t mean it,” Thierry pressed, unease bleeding through the bond. “Go back to your pack and tell them he’s in charge now. Or, even better, we can hop on a plane. Anywhere in the world. Dinner in Paris. You can call them from halfway around the world. Or send a text.”

“You know I can’t do that. I have a responsibility to my pack. To the people of Crescent Springs.”

“To die for them?”