Page 88 of Wedlock (Vampire Bachelor Games #3)

Her pleasure and surprise are genuine as we land near her parents’ house.

The flight over had been virtually silent, both of us wrapped in our own thoughts. I was thinking over her kissing me and what this sudden change in her attitude towards me could mean. Something doesn’t sit right, but I can’t put my finger on it.

I’m not sure what she was thinking, but occasionally she flashed me quick looks, and blushed before looking away.

“No!” She gasps now as she recognises where we are.

“It’s safe,” I assure her quickly, “and it’s Sunday.”

“Sunday? Everyone’s here?”

I nod. When we were on The Games she’d told me this was her favourite day with her family.

The Sunday roast was a time for all her brothers to come over, with all her nephews.

She’d described their meal as being fed by love.

I’ve never known that feeling, and she sure as hell hadn’t experienced it since meeting me, but I hope to give it to her once more, tonight.

I also hope to win the approval of her family and seek her parents’ forgiveness for how I’ve treated her in the past.

If all goes well, she’ll agree to be mine again by the end of the evening.

Her tears start immediately, as I suspected they would, and I reach over and pull her onto my lap, surprised when she doesn’t resist, but instead wraps her arms around my neck and buries her face in my collar.

I tighten my arms around her waist as her scent hits me.

If she only knew how long I’ve waited for her to voluntarily be in my arms. If she only knew how much I’ve wanted to comfort her like this for a million wrongs.

“I haven’t seen my parents or anyone other than Adam and Marianne since…”

“Since you entered The Games,” I murmur into her hair, “I know.”

“I thought it would be too dangerous to see them,” she whispers. “That you’d find me or someone would hurt them…”

“I would never have allowed anyone to harm your family, Angie,” I murmur. “Even at my most deranged, my most angry, that would not have occurred to me.”

“Jag said it wasn’t safe,” she whispers.

“Jag knows me better than that,” I grunt. “I contacted them a few weeks ago and arranged everything. As far as I’m concerned, your family should be part of your life again. Whether you choose to return to me or not, there’s nothing stopping you, or our son, from being with them.”

She shakes her head infinitesimally.

“Falcon, you can’t know how much this means to me. You’ve saved the best for last.”

I pull her slightly away and look into her eyes.

‘Last? Is she telling me she’s not going to date me after this? Is that why she kissed me earlier? Is she telling me goodbye? Is she going to fucking run AGAIN?’

I don’t have time to ask anything, though, as her eyes flick behind me and I turn to see her extended family making their way outdoors and heading for the aircraft, along with someone else I definitely don’t want to see.