Page 51 of The Vampire's Mate

“Are you sufficiently sated, Miss Walsh?”

“I am,” I say grinning back. “I think my heart stopped on that last one.”

“It still beats,” he says, pressing a palm against my chest over the spot.

“It beats for you,” I whisper back, and his dark eyes bore into mine with such intensity, I feel the organ in question flutter.

“And if mine were to beat again, it would beat just for you,” he says.

He kisses me again, then pulls away, bending to pull his shorts back up. Then, running a fingertip along my cheek, he smiles.

“Take your time. I’ll go get your breakfast ready.”

He turns to leave, and when the door closes behind him, I slide off the counter. My knees buckle under my weight, and I quickly reach out to grab the white marble countertop for support. After taking a few breaths, I straighten and breathe a sigh of relief.

After cleaning myself up and slipping my underwear back on, I straighten the bodice of my dress. My fingers touch the spot where Jesse bit me, and I wonder if maybe he took too much blood. Is that why I feel so weak?

No. He would never put me in danger like that. I’m sure it was the multiple, explosive orgasms that left me weak-kneed and wobbly. I wash my hands and press my cool, damp palms to my cheeks before fluffing my hair and heading for the door.

Out in the bedroom, Jesse greets me with a grin as he flourishes a hand over a tray of bacon, eggs, sausage, French toast, and fresh strawberries. My eyes widen, and my mouth waters as my stomach rumbles loudly, letting me know how famished I am.

“Where did you get all this?” I ask, wondering why a vampire stronghold would have a stocked, working kitchen.

“I advised the staff to go shopping yesterday. Erik loves to cook, so he was ecstatic when I asked him to prepare breakfast for you this morning. I fear he may have gone a bit overboard.”

“Erik?” I ask. “The Viking cooks?”

“Yes,” he says with a chuckle. “The Viking cooks.”

I sit down at the small table and pick up a bottle of syrup, drenching the French toast. Jesse takes the seat across from me, his smile waning as he watches me take a bite.

“Does it bother you, watching me eat?” I ask.

“Why would it bother me?” he asks, cocking his head.

I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe because you can’t enjoy food like you used to?”

“I enjoyed my morning meal very much,” he says with a grin that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

Ignoring his attempt at humor, I frown. “Jesse, what’s wrong?”

“I have to leave you for a few hours,” he says, his face dropping into disgruntlement. “I don’t want to, but I need to continue my search for the witch who has cursed my father.”

“I’m coming with you,” I say, setting my fork down beside my plate, my hunger forgotten.

“No, Eden. It’s too dangerous. You’ll be safer, here.”

“In a house full of vampires?” I counter.

“No one would dare to touch you.”

“Even Jasmine?” I grit out, attempting to keep my voice down, though I know it will do no good. Any vampire listening can hear this conversation, even her. “If she really wants to rule, what’s to stop her from coming in here and killing me to make sure you die?”

He studies me silently for several beats, then sighs and rubs a palm down his face. “You are right.”

“Of course, I am,” I say with a soft smile before picking up my fork and stabbing a strawberry.

“You can come with me, but I need you to make sure you do not leave my sight. No wandering off, and no accepting anything from strangers.”