Page 84 of Taming His Vampire Mate

Imagine.

Then he sniffed delicately, hunger sliding over his face.

Ice coiled in my gut. Derek was defenseless in the break room.

Quinn vanished in a blur.

“Go!” Jeremy snarled. “I’m right behind you!”

I bolted after him, arriving seconds later. Still an eternity when a hungry vampire was involved.

I skidded into the break room and stopped dead.

Quinn stood over Derek’s sleeping form, his lips parted and his eyes widening in surprise.

“He smellsgood,” Quinn whispered, awestruck. “Why does he smell so good?”

Jeremy appeared in the doorway, clearly surprised not to be leaping into a fight.

“If you lay a hand on him, I won’t hold back this time,” I warned. “I have my limits, and Derek is one of them.”

“Derek,” Quinn repeated, still staring. “That’s a good name. I like that name.”

Jeremy shot me a confused look.

“Step away from the human,” I told Quinn. “Before we’re forced to use violence. Again.”

“I don’t want to hurt him,” Quinn said, brow furrowed. “He smells amazing. But not like food.”

I stared. Impossible. Absolutely not bloody likely.

Derek stirred, stretched, opened his eyes—and smiled at Quinn. “Dude, you’re a fucking mess.”

Quinn blinked, then grinned. No fangs. “Yeah, I am, aren’t I?”

“Um,” Jeremy said, looking between them. “What’s going on?”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “It’s entirely possible he’s just discovered his fated mate.”

Jeremy hesitated. “That’s… good. But are we still hauling him into the dungeon?”

For the first time, I realized I had no idea what to do next.

“Why do they want to take you into the dungeon?” Derek asked, sitting up. He looked more awake now. He stretched and yawned. Quinn all but melted watching him.

“I’ve hurt people,” Quinn said quietly. “I’m guessing that’s why.”

“That’s rough,” Derek said with a grimace. “Did you mean to?”

“I thought I did,” Quinn admitted. “Now… I’m not so sure.”

“Are you planning to hurt me?” Derek asked, curious rather than afraid.

“Definitely not!” Quinn hissed, eyes wide, as though offended Derek could possibly think such a thing. Softer, he added, “I wouldn’t.”

I rolled my eyes again.

It hadn’t occurred to me how annoying watching a murderous vampire meet their fated mate could be. Was this what I’d signed up for—an eternity of this?